Chapter 68: Seeds of Suspicion

"If that's the case, I'll go check out the commotion too."

Tsunade kept talking, completely oblivious to Akaba's meaningful glances.

A few seconds later, Akaba bowed his head. "I need to wash up. Mind stepping aside?"

"Uh... I'll wait outside for you."

After Tsunade spoke, she opened the window and quietly climbed out.

"Ugh, this whole window-crawling thing... looks like she started it."

Akaba sighed helplessly, then silently stood up to freshen up.

It took quite a while before he finished getting cleaned up. He left the Nara compound and headed toward the manga shop. When he arrived with Tsunade, several people were leaving the shop after buying books.

Obviously the Uchiha hadn't arrived yet. If not for Tsunade, I could've slept a little longer.

"What are you grumbling about? It's not like—"

"Sakuma Akaba, you finally showed up."

Hmm?

Following the voice, Akaba saw a man wearing a fan emblem on his clothes slowly walking out from down the street.

Judging by his attire, this man was at least a Chunin. More importantly, his face looked very familiar to Akaba.

He tried to remember where he'd seen this face before.

"Is he... the father of that guy from last time?"

No matter how hard he thought, he couldn't remember the name.

"Ryo is my son."

Eno Uchiha said calmly. "If you think saying that will anger me, you're mistaken."

"Don't get the wrong idea. I'm just a peace-loving manga artist."

Akaba smiled and waved his hand dismissively.

"Peace-loving?" Tsunade scoffed.

If she still believed such nonsense, she really would be as foolish as Jiraiya.

"Tch, I came here because I want you to revise the latest chapter's plot. The Uchiha aren't someone anyone can insult."

"Insult? Uncle, it's just drawing."

Akaba said with a smile.

"In that case, I'll have to teach you a lesson!"

Eno Uchiha's eyes changed instantly.

Just drawing?

From their brief conversation, this brat had no fear, clearly having some backing behind him.

Danzo's plan begins with this brat's manga — then this ends with him. I'll take his life no matter the cost!

In his heart, a killing intent had already taken root.

"Akaba, something's off."

Tsunade's expression gradually changed.

"Even if you kill me, the manga won't stop. Besides, it's just part of the story."

Akaba narrowed his eyes.

"We'll see about that."

The tomoe in Eno Uchiha's eyes began rotating. His Sharingan had already been activated. "Let me show you the power of these eyes."

"Oh really? Do you think, then, why I've been talking so much?"

Akaba scoffed coldly.

Tsunade was still puzzled when she suddenly noticed that Eno Uchiha had frozen in place. Then, from the corner of her eye, she spotted someone crouched inside the shop, frantically sketching.

"You're so underhanded!"

She couldn't help but comment — this was obviously ambushing him.

"He wants me dead already. Striking first's not just fair — it's necessary!"

Three tomoe?

Just don't let him see them, and problem solved!

A trace of coldness flashed through Akaba's eyes. Should he act now? If he did, while Eno Uchiha was affected by the genjutsu, he could easily take him down.

"That's enough, Sakuma Akaba."

A familiar voice, more chilling than ever, cut through Akaba's thoughts as a figure slowly emerged from the shadows.

Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Poof!

The Shadow Clone standing in front vanished into nothingness, and at the same time, Akaba released his genjutsu.

"Ahh!"

Eno Uchiha screamed in pain while covering his eyes, a single drop of blood trickling down from the corner of one.

Falling for a brat's illusion technique—how utterly shameful!

But this kid's strength and cunning were beyond expectations, almost like another Danzo!

"How does it feel to forcefully break free from an illusion?"

Akaba chuckled lightly.

Eno Uchiha had strong mental fortitude; if he hadn't launched a surprise attack, he would surely have suffered the consequences.

However, Eno was a jonin, and as an Uchiha known for claiming to break any illusion, this move had already deeply humiliated him.

"Brat, I will—"

"Eno Uchiha! You're not assigned to security duty here. What are you doing disturbing this place?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi rebuked angrily.

"Hokage-sama!"

Eno only now noticed that the Hokage stood right there.

His face paled. With the Hokage present, whether this was merely a test or could lead to mutual destruction became impossible.

"Akaba, come with me."

The Third's clone disappeared, clearly signaling the confrontation couldn't continue.

"Sakuma Akaba, you better quickly put an end to all this—"

Eno began to speak but stopped halfway through. He suddenly realized—if Akaba had decided to kill during their earlier battle, would he even still be alive?

To be driven to such a state by a mere child—what else could he possibly say?

Thinking about it, he swallowed the second half of his sentence and silently left.

Seeing the other walk away, Tsunade exhaled in relief but murmured anxiously, "This is the first time I've seen our sensei so angry."

"It won't be serious. I should head out first."

Akaba replied.

He didn't believe for a moment that the Third hadn't been observing in secret.

With the Third's wisdom, as long as he saw what happened and combined it with Danzo's and Akaba's actions, he would reach the same conclusion.

Therefore, the outcome remained largely aligned with expectations.

Now he just wondered what the Third wanted to tell him.

As Akaba secretly speculated, he arrived beneath Hokage Tower without realizing it. Looking up, he spotted a pair of eyes gazing down from inside the building.

Danzo Shimura!

He paused for one or two seconds until Danzo turned away before continuing toward the tower's entrance.

Arriving at the second floor, he met Danzo head-on.

"Don't forget to attend class. You still have training today."

Danzo left those words behind and slowly walked downstairs and away.

Upon hearing that, Akaba felt a bit more at ease. Looks like Lord Danzo took the blame as promised.

Thud-thud-thud.

"Come in."

After gently knocking and receiving permission, Akaba pushed open the door, entering and bowing slightly toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Sakuma Akaba! Why did you do that!"

Hiruzen demanded sharply.

"Hokage-sama, the Uchiha have become too arrogant—they've forgotten Konoha and its civilians. They've practically become a village within the village."

Facing the Third, Akaba dared not offer flippant excuses.

"Even so, you shouldn't have acted this way. You've disrupted peace within the village."

Hiruzen rose furiously, shouting in anger.

Akaba said nothing.

Danzo and the Third must have had a conflict, so not answering now was the best response.

"You need to stop publishing the manga. This plotline has to be changed!"

Hiruzen stayed silent for a moment before speaking.

"Hokage-sama, the seed of suspicion has already been planted. Besides, I haven't even drawn anything yet — just said the Sharingan showed up in someone who isn't part of the Uchiha clan."

"Isn't that enough? Do you want to provoke the Uchiha into rebellion?"

After the intense argument, Hiruzen sank into his chair, eyes filled with disappointment.

Akaba stayed quiet. He understood Sarutobi's good intentions deep down — but unfortunately, not everyone was as selfless and kind as him.

After a long pause, he took a long drag from his cigarette and spoke through gritted teeth, "It's my fault. I shouldn't have agreed to Danzo's condition to let you become his student. Maybe things would've turned out differently for you."

"Condition?"

Akaba stirred slightly, vaguely understanding some of it now.

"Forget it. You may leave."

Hiruzen Sarutobi closed his eyes and showed no sign of speaking further.

"Yes."

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