Naruto: I am Uchiha Shirou [188]

Konoha Ninja Academy.

The disdainful, cold words of Uchiha Shirou echoed through the corridor, leaving Shimura Danzo's face dark and livid with frustration.

"Uchiha Shirou, this is an order from the village! Does the Uchiha clan have nothing to do with the village?"

Danzo thought he had a cunning plan. As one of the captains of the reserve teams, he tried to rope the Uchihas into his schemes.

Knowing the insidious nature of this scheming old man, sending people to his root organization was like sending sheep into the tiger's mouth—there was no chance of return.

In the past, Shirou might have been powerless to resist and could only remain silent. But now, with the Mangekyo Sharingan awakened, why should he bow to this old dog anymore?

"The village's order? Was it personally issued by the Hokage? If it's such an important matter, why weren't all the major clans summoned to discuss it? Why does the Uchiha clan know nothing about it?

As for whether we Uchiha have a connection with the village—Captain Shimura Danzo, if you've drained your clan dry, don't covet others. The village was built by the combined efforts of Uchiha. Who dares to say that the Uchiha have no ties to the village?"

Shirou showed no signs of backing down. His blood-red Sharingan spun as the three black tomoe in his eyes connected and morphed, forming the legendary Mangekyo Sharingan. The sight left the surrounding Konoha Jonin utterly shocked.

This… is the legendary Mangekyo Sharingan!

"Captain Danzo, you seem to enjoy turning your comrades into emotionless dogs—or wait, my wording is a bit harsh. Perhaps I should call them tools instead."

Shirou's mocking smile barely concealed his disdain for the despicable acts of Danzo's Root organization within the village.

At this moment, Shirou was fearless—not only because of the Mangekyo Sharingan but also because the village needed him. The village needed the entire Uchiha clan.

If he didn't push his advantage now, when would he? After all, the conflict between them was irreconcilable.

"You!"

The oppressive atmosphere made Danzo want to step forward, but Shirou's tall and strong figure blocked his path, making Danzo's expression even darker.

Head of the medical division, deputy head of the police force, and one of the reserve team captains—Shirou's positions made him no less significant than Shimura Danzo.

"Elder Danzo, you seem so eager. Could it be you want to snatch the talented children in the ninja academy and recruit them into your Root? If that's the case, why should the Hokage even bother letting us clans take part?"

Shirou's unrelenting words dragged all the major clans into the conflict, especially those aligned with him.

The ninja from various clans began to glare at Danzo with hostility. After all, they all had family members in the academy.

If their children were selected to join Danzo's Root organization, even clans loyal to the Hokage—like the Ino-Shika-Cho trio—would prefer their children to serve under the Uchiha.

The Uchiha had a reputation for not targeting the weak, and Shirou's personality was a perfect example. If he was dissatisfied, he'd confront you directly—no scheming, no backstabbing.

Watching Danzo being stumped, Shirou couldn't help but grin. The satisfaction was indescribable—this was the thrill of power.

Just as the situation became increasingly tense, Namikaze Minato wanted to step forward to mediate, but suddenly, a member of the Anbu appeared.

"Lord Danzo, the Hokage has ordered that the selection of Jonin instructors for the academy's graduating Genin must be fair and just!"

Hearing such shameless words, Shirou raised his head slightly and glanced upward. The corners of his mouth curled into a smile.

So, they've been watching all along. How irritating… The Telescope Technique, truly disgusting.

"Lord Uchiha Shirou, this is the mission scroll entrusted by the Hokage. Since Lord Danzo is in charge of Root, Lord Shinnosuke is still recovering, and Lord Namikaze Minato is focusing on mastering space-time ninjutsu…"

The Anbu respectfully handed over a scroll. The explanation was meant to defuse the tension in the room.

However, upon reading the mission details, Shirou's eyes narrowed.

Roran.

The intelligence revealed that mysterious puppets had appeared in the Land of Wind's Roran region, suspected to be secret weapons of Sunagakure. Shirou was specifically tasked with investigating.

"Understood. Inform the Hokage that I will depart in a few days."

"Yes!"

This was the first mission assigned to one of the four reserve team captains. It was a simple reconnaissance mission—if danger was detected, Shirou had the freedom to retreat. The mission's flexibility was a gesture of goodwill from the higher-ups, acknowledging the need for unity during wartime.

However, as Shirou deactivated his Mangekyo and returned to the window, Danzo snorted coldly and left with a sour expression.

"Sigh, what a headache," Namikaze Minato sighed helplessly, lamenting the ongoing conflict within the village.

Meanwhile, Shirou squinted slightly, outwardly appearing to watch the academy students outside. But in truth, his thoughts had already drifted to the Roran mission.

Roran.

The Dragon Vein with the power to traverse time and space.

But is it truly the future, or a parallel world?

If it was the future, his presence here should have already changed its course.

As the intelligence of Roran flashed through his mind, a faint smile formed on Shirou's lips, and in the depths of his eyes, a glimmer of ambition emerged.

This mission would be the perfect opportunity to test his theory. If that protagonist Naruto appeared and remained unchanged—well, then things would get very interesting indeed.

The Nine-Tails, the Uzumaki physique, and even Yamato—each was a treasure trove of potential.

"Lord Shirou."

At that moment, a familiar voice called out, and a young Konan, now poised and elegant, appeared behind him holding a thick stack of documents.

In front of everyone, Konan respectfully said:

"Lord Shirou, here are all the records and performance data of the academy's graduating Genin. I've already organized them by age and class."

Privilege existed everywhere, and Shirou didn't feel the slightest bit awkward about it. Just moments ago, he had mocked Danzo, and now he was openly enjoying his privileges.

If you don't use it, someone else will. Not using it would just make me a fool.

"Shirou, I'm going to be a mentor too!"

Suddenly, a fiery red figure leaped onto Shirou's back, breaking the tense atmosphere with her carefree laughter.

It was Uzumaki Kushina. Her long red hair was tied up in a high ponytail, and her forehead protector added a touch of gentleness to her fiery spirit.

"Shirou, let me pick first, okay?"

Clinging to Shirou's back, Kushina pouted and playfully begged, completely ignoring the stunned onlookers. The Jonin who recognized her couldn't help but marvel.

No fear of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and in public no less. Truly worthy of the Uchiha.

Adding to the spectacle, another figure appeared—a composed and elegant Uchiha Mikoto, dressed in practical attire and carrying a white ninja blade at her waist.

"Mikoto."

"Sister Mikoto…"

The Jonin watching this scene were utterly speechless. Two women, both powerhouses in their own right—one the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, the other the strongest genjutsu user in the Uchiha clan—and yet, there was no conflict between them.

"They're acting all melodramatic, like actual sisters, and their relationship is so close!"

 At this moment, putting aside their identities, many male ninjas couldn't help but feel a sense of envy. They wanted to have such abilities too.

To be surrounded by beauties on both sides—who wouldn't dream of that? Some were jealous, while others were envious. And of course, there were a few with dark thoughts, believing this was all part of the Uchiha clan's conspiracy.

For example, Shimura Danzo. Upon witnessing the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's brazen behavior, his anger only deepened.

"The Uchiha aren't even pretending anymore. Do they think awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan makes them invincible?"

Shirou looked at Uzumaki Kushina with a doting expression. If it had been before, back when she was just the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, there would've been no chance of her leaving the village.

But given the current situation the village was facing, and with Tsunade's support, who would dare stop Kushina from leaving the village?

If anything happened to Uzumaki Kushina, it might even be advantageous to certain people.

"Here's the list of new ninja students for this batch. But considering your special status, Kushina, if you're ever busy, you can always leave this squad to Mikoto to handle…"

Shirou nodded with a smile, casually opening the intelligence scroll. When his eyes fell upon a few familiar names on the list, a glint flashed deep within his gaze.

Due to the warlike atmosphere, the graduation age had been relaxed. This had already been a growing trend in recent years, so there were many transfer students. For instance, Anko Mitarashi was unexpectedly placed in a class with students older than her.

This class happened to be Kakashi's original class. Kakashi's generation would later become the backbone of Konoha's strength.

Names like Ebisu, Yamashiro Aoba, and Sarutobi Asuma stood out immediately—linked to the Hokage faction—and their talents were quite impressive.

If Shirou took all the promising students for himself, others might not openly say anything, but deep down, they'd certainly believe the Uchiha clan was growing arrogant with their Mangekyo Sharingan.

"Monopolizing resources doesn't lead to lasting success."

"According to the rules set by the Ninja Academy, each three-person squad is to include a mix of top-performing and weaker students…"

Shirou's calm voice echoed through the hallway, leaving the Jonin listening nearby speechless. All of them cast glances, almost instinctively, toward Shimura Danzo as he walked past.

The Uchiha weren't trying to cultivate their faction; this was a move to irritate certain people. After all, the Uchiha were abiding by the rules set by the Second Hokage. Surely certain individuals wouldn't dare break those same rules, right?

Most Jonin secretly felt a bit pleased. While they might not harbor grand ambitions, none of them wanted to miss an opportunity to build connections. After all, guiding talented ninjas might also pave the way for their descendants.

"The ninja world isn't just about fighting and killing—it's about relationships and connections."

"Shiranui Genma's overall performance is commendable. Binsu Raito and Tetsu Iwashi are both slightly above average. Together, the three form a squad that adheres to the rules."

"As for you, Kushina…"

"Shizune has great potential in medical ninjutsu, Kurenai specializes in genjutsu, and while Anko Mitarashi is already Orochimaru's apprentice, he's currently at the front lines and can't oversee her. For now, the three of them can form a temporary squad."

Beneath Shirou's calm smile, he had already handpicked all six candidates, with Anko Mitarashi being the most notable among them.

An apprentice of Orochimaru—if Kushina chose her, it was an attempt to form connections.

For a moment, the Jonin who heard this all feigned ignorance, pretending to be fascinated by the view outside the window where the graduation exams were taking place.

All of this was a matter for the higher-ups to handle. They were just squad leaders tasked with quickly training ninjas for the village. They didn't want to get involved.

"Shisui has just graduated, and Kakashi, as a Chunin, has been mentoring him. But there's one spot missing in the squad. I think Might Guy, with his expertise in taijutsu, would be a perfect fit."

Shirou spoke in such an offhanded manner that it was clear to everyone his main target was Anko Mitarashi. The others were merely secondary.

Anko's talent aside, the real focus was on Orochimaru's influence.

"Shirou, after all that, the three Genin you've assigned to me don't align with anything I'm good at teaching."

At first, Kushina had been excited, but after reading the profiles of the three assigned Genin, she was dumbfounded. Genjutsu? She only knew how to dispel it. Medical ninjutsu? She relied solely on the abilities of the Uzumaki clan.

And then there was Anko Mitarashi, Orochimaru's apprentice. It felt like she was just there as a chaperone.

Meanwhile, Mikoto, holding the roster for another squad, couldn't help but smile.

"Kushina, Shirou is doing this for your good."

Mikoto's blunt words made the Jonin in the hallway feel a chill down their spines. Was this something they were supposed to hear?

They were paving the way for the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, forming connections, and making plans for themselves. Did they need to discuss it so openly?

"Fine, I get it."

Kushina pouted, looking dejected. It seemed that enjoying the thrill of being a teacher wasn't going to be as easy as she had hoped.

"Be good, Kushina."

In front of everyone, Shirou ruffled Kushina's red hair, causing her face to flush. She hadn't expected him to do something like that in front of so many people.

However, while everyone assumed his main goal was to target Orochimaru through Anko Mitarashi, only Shirou smirked contemptuously to himself.

His true target this time was none other than Might Guy—the man who would one day almost kick the story into its final chapter.

His second priority was Shiranui Genma, Binsu Raito, and Tetsu Iwashi. These three, in the original timeline, had served as elite bodyguards to the Fourth and Fifth Hokage. They also possessed rare time-space ninjutsu talent.

The Flying Thunder Formation, when deployed on the battlefield, would be an incredible weapon. If they could be cultivated early, their future achievements might surpass expectations.

Jonin, and possibly even elite Jonin, weren't out of reach.

"Mikoto, I'll leave these three to Yashiro. I trust he'll handle them well."

Shirou's calm demeanor betrayed no intention of playing babysitter.

"Understood."

Mikoto smiled and noted down the selected names. As for Might Guy, almost everyone dismissed his significance.

But Kushina, standing nearby, suddenly grew excited and slightly shy after hearing something.

"Shirou, are you letting me join you on this mission?"

It turned out Shirou had quietly invited her to accompany him on the mission to Roran.