Chapter 124: The Pot-Stirrer's Self-Awareness

"Aaargh!"

Uchiha Teru clutched his eye sockets, screaming in agonizing pain. Blood, thick and viscous, oozed between his fingers, and his chakra signature plummeted to its lowest ebb.

Across from him, a short distance away, Tatsuya had ceased his previous ninjutsu.

Sage Art: White Rage Technique.

This was a bonus Tatsuya had received during his transaction with Orochimaru. Perhaps to demonstrate his sincerity, or maybe because he was certain Tatsuya wouldn't be able to master Sage Mode, Orochimaru had included the training methods for both Inorganic Reanimation and the White Rage Technique – two powerful senjutsu – in their deal.

These were the same senjutsu Kabuto later mastered. He had found Ryuchi Cave based on fragments of Orochimaru's memories and learned them from the White Snake Sage.

Beside Tatsuya stood a young man with a slightly pale complexion, holding a test tube-like container. Inside, two freshly extracted eyeballs rested.

They were Uchiha Teru's Mangekyo Sharingan.

This pale-faced young man was the clone Tatsuya had painstakingly developed.

Taking the container from his clone, Tatsuya immediately sealed it away.

A pair of Mangekyo Sharingan, acquired just like that!

With that done, Tatsuya finally looked up at Uchiha Teru.

Gradually, Teru's screams subsided.

"Heh... Akimichi Tatsuya, I truly underestimated you! Everyone underestimated you! To think you were hiding such techniques!" Uchiha Teru released his blood-soaked hands, "staring" at Tatsuya's clone with his gruesome, empty sockets, a manic, broken laugh escaping him.

He had lost this battle utterly and completely!

Tatsuya had too many tricks up his sleeve!

From start to finish, Uchiha Teru had no idea what Tatsuya's trump cards were, and he'd foolishly kept Susanoo active, brute-forcing his way through.

And this was the result.

Thanks to his still-sharp sensory abilities, Uchiha Teru could clearly perceive the connection between Tatsuya's main body and the clone. Tatsuya, for his part, didn't seem to be making any effort to conceal it.

He had no interest in wasting words on this soon-to-be-dead, delusional madman. Tatsuya gave his clone a pointed look.

The clone understood. He drew a kunai and approached Uchiha Teru.

Sensing the clone's approach, Uchiha Teru's emotions gradually stabilized.

Just as the kunai was about to pierce his throat, Uchiha Teru spoke, "Akimichi Tatsuya, you said earlier that Shisui understood better than us how to protect the clan... Will the Uchiha clan be destroyed?"

He tilted his head back, his empty gaze fixed in the direction of Tatsuya's main body.

"I don't know if your Uchiha clan will be wiped out, but at least Shisui's methods are more reliable than yours! Always clamoring for a coup d'état, you're really just speeding up the Uchiha clan's demise! Against the entire village, you have no chance of winning!"

Tatsuya's eyes flickered slightly, and he was silent for a moment before replying.

Having said his piece, he gave Uchiha Teru no further opportunity to blather on. The clone swiftly thrust the kunai, piercing Teru's throat.

In his final moments, a flicker of regret crossed Uchiha Teru's face.

He had finally awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan!

And yet, he died like this, without contributing anything to the clan!

All for Tatsuya's benefit!

After sealing Uchiha Teru's body, Tatsuya quickly departed with his clone.

Their battle had lasted a considerable amount of time, and the commotion it caused would undoubtedly attract attention soon.

Whoosh, whoosh...

A little over ten minutes after Tatsuya left, several figures appeared at the edge of the battlefield.

This was a reconnaissance team dispatched from the Konoha ninja forces stationed on the northern border of the Land of Fire.

Gazing at the scene, which resembled the aftermath of a natural disaster, the four Konoha ninjas on the reconnaissance team were all stunned.

After standing there dumbfounded for a while, the four finally entered the scene to investigate carefully.

Soon after, they also discovered the bodies of two Root ninjas.

Two days later, an urgent report was delivered to the Third Hokage's office.

Inside the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage's expression was grave after reading the report.

"Go and summon Danzo!"

After a pause, he called for the ANBU guard waiting outside and gave the order.

"Yes, sir."

The ANBU guard respectfully acknowledged the order and left.

Shortly after, Danzo arrived at the Hokage's office.

Looking at Danzo, the Third Hokage narrowed his eyes and asked in a low voice, "Danzo, did you send two Root ninjas to tail Akimichi Tatsuya?"

"That's right! I sent them to follow Akimichi Tatsuya," Danzo admitted directly with a nod.

"I recall I gave the order to prohibit Root from undertaking any external operations. Why did you disobey my orders?" The Third Hokage's voice was laced with growing anger.

Danzo remained silent.

After a moment, he spoke, "Hiruzen, with Akimichi Tatsuya acting so recklessly, are you truly not worried about him defecting from Konoha?"

The Third Hokage also fell silent.

Seeing the Third Hokage's reaction, a glint flashed in Danzo's eyes. He continued, "Hiruzen, uncontrolled power, no matter how strong, is of no benefit to the village. I suggest we apply pressure to the Akimichi clan. We must demand they explain Akimichi Tatsuya's absence from the village. If necessary, we could even take those two girls into custody! With them, Akimichi Tatsuya will be forced to return obediently."

Hearing this, the Third Hokage's expression changed drastically. He looked up at Danzo and said, "Are you trying to force him to flee Konoha?"

Danzo's expression remained unchanged. "He won't defect! And he doesn't have the ability to defect!"

Although Root had suffered significant losses in their previous encounter, Danzo was confident he still had ways to deal with Tatsuya. Moreover, besides Root, Konoha had other forces at its disposal.

Shaking his head, the Third Hokage threw the scroll in his hand towards Danzo. "Read this report first."

Danzo caught the scroll and quickly scanned its contents.

His expression changed rapidly.

"According to the report from the reconnaissance squad of the border forces, judging from the traces of the battle, it seems that an Uchiha who had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan fought Akimichi Tatsuya. The final result was Akimichi Tatsuya's victory!" the Third Hokage said gravely.

The reconnaissance squad of the Land of Fire's northern border forces was able to reach this conclusion based on the two Root ninjas.

Judging from their deaths, they had clearly been caught in a genjutsu. Based on the intelligence they possessed, only a genjutsu master like Uchiha Shisui could subdue two Root ninjas of considerable strength so silently.

The battle traces at the distant battlefield seemed to corroborate this from another angle.

It was the aftermath of a clash between two colossal forces!

"Hiruzen, what do you intend to do?"

Lifting his head, Danzo looked at the Third Hokage and asked in a low voice.

"For now, we'll leave it be," the Third Hokage said after thinking for a moment.

Danzo completely disagreed with the Third Hokage's decision. He stared at the Third Hokage and said, "Hiruzen, your indulgence will only fuel their arrogance."

The Third Hokage didn't respond.

Danzo continued, "I will have someone spread rumors in the village that Akimichi Tatsuya killed an Uchiha clan member who possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan."

With that, the two men stared at each other.

After a moment, Danzo turned and left the Hokage's office.

Until Danzo left, the Third Hokage didn't say another word.

When it came to taking the blame, Danzo was always remarkably self-aware!

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