Itachi managed to deactivate his Susanoo just in time to evade the attack.
But in the instant Itachi's Susanoo vanished, Kawasaki extended his left hand from within his own golden Susanoo. His hand, covered in sealing talismans, slapped directly onto Itachi's body. The talismans spread rapidly, sealing away Itachi's chakra.
Kawasaki then dispelled his own Susanoo, drew his Sword of Kusanagi, and engaged Itachi in a taijutsu battle. Although the chakra seal would only last for a moment, it was more than enough time for Kawasaki to subdue his opponent.
In the end, Kawasaki parried Itachi's strike, grabbed him with his other hand, and slammed him into the ground. A swift stab of his sword pinned Itachi firmly to the earth.
Kawasaki slowly opened his eyes and let out a long breath. His recent training had perfected his fighting style to an incredible degree. He no longer needed to rely on his ocular powers or the might of the Susanoo to defeat Itachi.
He had grown increasingly proficient with his newly acquired abilities, the most potent of which was the technique of divided attention learned from Sakon and Ukon. Now, Kawasaki could perform hand seals for ninjutsu with one hand while wielding the Sword of Kusanagi with the other. He could apply sealing jutsu with his left hand in the middle of combat and could even seal summoning animals with lightning speed. When using his Susanoo, he could now amplify its attacks with Tobirama's Water Severing Wave, a jutsu renowned for its quick activation and immense cutting power, making it particularly effective in mid-range combat.
Furthermore, Karin's healing abilities were top-notch, allowing Kawasaki to maintain peak combat condition at all times. Minor injuries were a non-issue, making his fighting prowess incredibly stable. He was a perpetual motion machine on the battlefield.
As his combat skills grew more refined, Kawasaki was no longer the brute who only knew how to recklessly unleash the power of his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. His attacks were now precise and calculated, a far cry from his previous unrefined style.
In the blink of an eye, three months slipped away.
-
Within the Village Hidden in the Leaves lay Eighth Street.
Eighth Street had once been Uchiha territory, and aside from the Uchiha's own businesses, few other shops could be found there. But after Kawasaki issued his bounty, some people had packed up and gone home to start families, leaving behind a number of empty storefronts.
When the Uchiha's businesses began to flourish, the entire street had buzzed with activity, and the vacant shops were quickly snatched up by various ninja clans at exorbitant prices. As expected, the Uchiha restaurants had lifted the entire area, and any business that opened there seemed to rake in profits.
Unfortunately, this prosperity was short-lived. Once Danzo and the Third Hokage set their sights on them, the Uchiha initiated their withdrawal plan.
Now, the bustling Eighth Street was a shadow of its former self. Empty shops lined the street, their old signs collecting dust—lingering traces of the Uchiha's presence.
The few shopkeepers who remained were from the other clans who had paid a premium for their locations. Seeing outsiders, their eyes filled with a desperate hope. But most people were just passing through, heading straight for the Konoha North Gate to board the Uchiha's sightseeing bus to the new food district. Others, seeing the desolate street, lost any desire to spend money and wandered off to other commercial areas.
Unlike the common folk, the various ninja clans knew the full story behind the Uchiha's departure. Their clan leaders had recognized a certain figure during the Konoha meetings—Danzo. Adding to this, a certain clan of white-eyed individuals, not wanting to take the fall, had quietly leaked information.
Danzo had made a new host of enemies.
He had taken a thirty percent share of the Uchiha recipes to the Fire Daimyo. Though angered, the Daimyo's hands were tied. If he had been willing to invest, it would have been a win-win. But since that deal fell through, Danzo was lucky to get anything at all. The Fire Daimyo could only create his own imitations, launching a promotional campaign for his own team's copycat restaurants.
-
Inside the Hokage Tower.
In the meeting room, the honorary and consultant elders were all assembled. Even Akimichi Torifu, who usually spent his days enjoying a quiet retirement at home, had made a rare appearance. This was the monthly meeting to discuss important village matters.
The honorary elders could only offer suggestions; the final decisions rested with the Hokage and the consultant elders. Although the Hokage held the most power, a unanimous veto from the consultant elders could overrule him, though such a dramatic event had not occurred in years.
Over the past two or three years, the Third Hokage had aged rapidly. The sharp edge of the heroic shinobi from years past was gone, replaced by the weary air of an old man.
"The floor is now open for discussion," the Third said, tapping the table.
With a loud creak, Akimichi Torifu stood up. The chair he had just been sitting on was now severely warped. He hadn't attended a meeting in so long that he didn't even have a designated seat.
"I propose that we buy back the shops on the Uchiha's Eighth Street and seek new tenants to revitalize the commercial district," Torifu said. He had been reluctant to come, but the Akimichi clan had been the biggest investors in Eighth Street. As proprietors of barbecue restaurants, they had hoped to benefit from the Uchiha's customer traffic. Who could have known Danzo would try to steal their secrets, causing the entire Uchiha clan to pack up and leave?
With the Uchiha's businesses gone, the street's foot traffic had plummeted, and the other shops suffered as a result. The properties still belonged to the Uchiha, as the area had been designated for them to facilitate centralized management. Even though they had left, the village couldn't simply seize their private property. Unless the village bought the properties back, Eighth Street would remain desolate forever.
"I agree."
"Agreed."
"I agree as well."
Many of the honorary elders voiced their support. Most of those present were the heads of major clans with sharp business instincts, and consequently, they were also the ones who had lost the most.
The Third Hokage scanned the room. Two-thirds of the honorary elders were in favor, and Akimichi Torifu was technically still a consultant elder.
The Third rapped his knuckles on the table. "The motion passes. Who will negotiate with the Uchiha?"
All eyes turned toward the Hyuga clan's corner, where two men sat: Hiashi Hyuga and his twin brother, Hizashi Hyuga.
Normally, only Hiashi held the title of honorary elder. However, after the spy, Kaito, had turned over his authorization letter to the clan, they had grown fearful of retaliation upon Kawasaki's return. The Hyuga branch family, which had historically maintained close ties with the Uchiha, was already expressing considerable discontent with the main family.
To resolve this, Hiashi had made a decision: he would give the honorary elder seat to Hizashi, who was on good terms with Kawasaki. For years, no member of the Hyuga branch family had ever held a position in Konoha's leadership. This gesture went a long way toward placating the branch family.
After the Uchiha's departure, it was the Hyuga who had spread the news of Danzo's involvement, which both quelled the branch family's dissatisfaction and informed the other clans of the truth.
Seeing everyone looking at him, Hizashi Hyuga stood up. "I will handle this matter."
The Third nodded in satisfaction at Hizashi's initiative. "Hizashi, it's settled then." He gestured for Hizashi to sit down. "Next item on the agenda."
Danzo rose to his feet. "Konoha's monthly mission completion rate is too low. I propose we re-establish Root. My forces can guarantee the completion of one-fifth of the village's missions."
Akimichi Torifu shot up from his seat. "I object!"
With a loud crack, the chair beneath him finally gave out completely.
"Konoha's economy is in decline. Rebuilding Root would be an unnecessary expense." These past few years, Danzo had caused nothing but trouble. If he hadn't forced the Uchiha out, Torifu would still be at home happily counting his money. Rebuild Root? Not a chance.
"I also object. Root is useless."
"I object."
"I object..."
-
At the Root headquarters.
"Hmph!" Danzo returned to his base, his face dark. "Those fools dare to oppose my proposal." Aside from his own Shimura clan, every other clan's honorary elder had rejected his idea. To say Root was useless... the insult stung.
Danzo knew they were all blaming him for the Uchiha leaving. But his hands were tied. He had made a deal with Zetsu to find Kaito, but now Zetsu had vanished without a trace. He had lost his honorary elder status, and his funding had been cut off. It was a massive loss.
His Root was a formidable fighting force, but in this era of peace, the nations had quieted down, and people were beginning to forget the importance of his organization.
Danzo paced back and forth, Zetsu's sudden disappearance leaving him deeply unsettled. The new technology Zetsu had provided had restored the freedom of his arm. He no longer needed to use a Mangekyo Sharingan to suppress the Hashirama cells. As a result, Danzo had re-implanted the Sharingan he had previously removed back into his right eye socket, with power to spare.
However, Danzo trusted no one but himself. And now, Zetsu had mysteriously disappeared.
"Summon the medical team," Danzo commanded. Soon, a group of medical-nin assembled before him.
"I am concerned that my right arm may have been tampered with. Place a seal on it!"
"Yes, Lord Danzo!"
...
In the Land of Wind, at the Village Hidden in the Sound.
Three months had passed in a flash, and Kawasaki's progress was remarkable. He could finally defeat Fugaku and Orochimaru with ease in his dream space, meaning he could afford to relax his intense training regimen for a while.
That day, after finalizing his future plans with Orochimaru and leaving behind a sum of money, Kawasaki decided it was time to leave.
Although Kabuto had not returned to Otogakure in the past three months, they could confirm he was still alive through a shared summoning animal. He was likely still training in Sage Mode and could not return just yet.
Since he couldn't get his hands on Snake Sage Mode for the time being, Kawasaki decided to find Tsunade first. He would bring her back to the Uchiha and move forward with the next phase of his plans. His objective was clear, so he decided to travel alone.
"Kimimaro, you'll stay in Otogakure for now. Let Orochimaru examine your body, just as a precaution."
Though Kimimaro was reluctant to see him go, he understood that only by staying healthy could he better serve Lord Kawasaki. "I understand, Lord Kawasaki."
Kawasaki reached out and gently touched Kimimaro's face. "Be sure to listen to Orochimaru."
A blush crept onto Kimimaro's cheeks as he nodded in agreement.
Haku, who had been with Kawasaki for some time now, was well-fed and well-clothed, no longer the scrawny child he once was. He stood to the side, his eyes filled with a timid reluctance, equally sad to see Kawasaki leave.
Kawasaki smiled and ruffled Haku's hair. "Study hard here. Orochimaru has a large collection of Ice Release scrolls. We'll see each other again soon."
Haku looked up, his expression resolute. "Next time, I'll definitely be able to help you, Lord Kawasaki."
"Alright, alright. Next time, you can help me."
Both boys were still young and lacked emotional security. The time Kawasaki had spent bringing them from the Land of Water to the Land of Rice Fields had forged a deep attachment. Thankfully, as Kawasaki's plans progressed, they would all be reunited before long.
After reassuring Haku, Kawasaki turned to Kisame and Kyoko. "Kisame, you and Kyoko can take a long vacation. Your salaries will continue as usual. Stay in Otogakure for a while. When the next phase begins, you and Orochimaru will come together."
Since arriving in Otogakure, Kisame had found it to his liking. Shisui and Itachi were skilled warriors, providing him with a good fight every day. The nearby food was delicious, and best of all, he didn't have to carry out missions that involved killing his comrades. He loved it here. Besides, Kawasaki was paying him even when he wasn't working. A boss like that was one in a million.
"No problem, boss. Thanks for the paid vacation," Kisame said, a wide grin spreading across his face that never seemed to fade.
"Karin, Jugo, listen to Orochimaru while you're here." Karin and Jugo had both been rescued by Kawasaki. Though they hadn't spent much time together, they were closer to Orochimaru, so Kawasaki didn't feel the need to say more.
He gave a slight nod to Itachi and Shisui. He had already spoken with them earlier, so no further arrangements were needed.
Orochimaru did not make an appearance; he never wasted time on such formalities.
"I'm off!" Kawasaki said, waving to the group without looking back as he walked away with a carefree stride. Haku and Kimimaro watched him go, their gazes lingering long after he had disappeared from sight.
...
Once he was far from the village, Kawasaki activated the Gold Dust and Sand Cushion ability he had acquired from Rasa. He hadn't been able to use these skills in the dream space and had been afraid that a failed experiment would mean losing them forever. Thus, he had waited until leaving Otogakure to finally summon them.
The ability was single-use, but it didn't specify a time limit. Kawasaki wondered, if he kept supplying it with chakra, could he maintain it indefinitely?
A cloud of fine golden sand materialized in the air, coalescing into a cushion that resembled cotton candy. Kawasaki stepped onto it. The feeling was good, so he channeled more chakra into it. The sand cushion expanded in size, and he comfortably lay down upon it.
The cushion moved forward, guided by his thoughts.
The feeling of flying was magnificent!
Although the sand cushion didn't fly very high or very fast, for someone with the chakra reserves of the Uzumaki clan, the consumption was negligible. The Land of Rice Fields was sparsely populated in many areas, so Kawasaki maintained an altitude just above the treetops, heading straight for the Land of Iron.
The cushion wasn't fast, and injecting more chakra didn't increase its speed. It only expanded its area, which might even risk it collapsing. Still, under these circumstances, Kawasaki was more than satisfied.
Does this count as a hack? he thought to himself, feeling smug.
...
In the Uchiha Clan Compound, Konoha.
Having accepted the mission at his first Konoha council meeting, Hizashi sent a formal request to visit the Uchiha the very next day. He had been half-expecting a rejection but was surprised when Fugaku quickly agreed. Furthermore, Fugaku had arranged to meet him in his personal courtyard, not in a formal meeting room.
When Hizashi arrived, the two sat facing each other. Fugaku focused on brewing tea, saying nothing.
Unable to bear the silence, Hizashi spoke first. "Lord Fugaku, I have come for two reasons. First, to apologize for the information leak, and second, to discuss the matter of the vacant shops on Eighth Street."
Fugaku took a sip of tea and tapped the table lightly. "The leak had nothing to do with you. Your Hyuga clan's apology lacks any sincerity."
Hizashi's heart tightened. This wouldn't be easy. He forced a bitter smile. "Lord Fugaku, our clan head has already stripped Elder Kaito of his position. He is currently under house arrest, awaiting your clan's decision on his punishment."
Fugaku let out a hearty laugh. "Hizashi, you seem so anxious. You used to call me by my name. Why 'Lord Fugaku' all of a sudden? When did we become so distant?"
Hizashi was stunned. From what he understood, the Uchiha should have been furious with the Hyuga for what they had done. Why wasn't Fugaku showing any anger?
Seeing his confusion, Fugaku shook his head. "The Uchiha's plan for independence was set long ago. That incident had nothing to do with it."
"You had already planned it?" Hizashi had suspected as much.
"Even without that incident, we would have used another opportunity. That one just happened to be convenient." Fugaku was being remarkably candid with Hizashi, not because he trusted his character, but because at this point, it no longer mattered if he knew.
"Before Kawasaki left, he said your main family would surely try to restrain you. I'm surprised they waited this long."
"This..." Hizashi held his teacup, at a loss for words.
Fugaku's eyes narrowed. "What terms did the Third offer you in your deal?" Although Hizashi had been made an honorary elder, the public announcement had not yet been posted. Since leaving the village, the Uchiha's access to internal Konoha information had diminished.
Hizashi lowered his voice. "The Third offered an honorary elder position. The clan gave it to me."
Fugaku's mind raced, and he instantly understood the Hyuga's internal situation and why Hizashi had been granted such an honor.
Seeing Hizashi's lingering anxiety, Fugaku reassured him, "Don't worry. As for your clan's transgression, we will have our own exchange conditions. Regarding your Elder Kaito, we will wait for Kawasaki to return before making a decision."
Hearing that there were "exchange conditions," Hizashi felt a wave of relief. If the Uchiha had let the matter slide so easily, it would have been much more difficult for him to answer to his own clan.
"As for the shops on Eighth Street..." Fugaku thought for a moment. "We don't intend to sell them for now, but we can consider renting them out."
"How does Lord Fugaku intend to lease them?" Since the Uchiha weren't selling, renting was an excellent alternative.
Fugaku stood, retrieved a stack of deeds from a nearby shelf, and handed them to Hizashi. "I'm entrusting all of these properties to you. You can manage them for me. Negotiate the rent yourself and just provide me with a summary of the income later."