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"Lord Third… you're really going to let me, an Uchiha, read the Sealed Scroll?"
A's eyes burned with naked longing.
That was the Sealed Scroll—the forbidden archive of Konoha. Inside were outlawed techniques, secret arts, devastating ninjutsu. Master even one of them and your strength would skyrocket. Calling it Konoha's most precious treasure wouldn't be an exaggeration.
And now Hiruzen Sarutobi was offering access to it? The price he was willing to pay was shockingly high.
"As Hokage, I keep my word," Hiruzen replied calmly. "Of course, that's assuming you complete the mission."
Silence hung in the air.
A clenched his teeth and nodded hard. "Fine. I'll do it. As long as Uchiha Akira is present at the clan assembly, I'll expose his true face in front of everyone."
Fortune favors the bold.
If he succeeded and mastered a technique from the Sealed Scroll, he might even step into Kage-level territory.
The risk? According to Hiruzen's analysis, the worst-case scenario was being crippled. Death wasn't likely.
In his mind, this was a deal where he couldn't lose.
"A wise choice. Return to the Uchiha compound and wait for your chance," Hiruzen said with a genial smile.
"Yes!"
A bowed deeply, excitement written all over his face. In the next instant, he vanished from the Hokage's office using the Body Flicker Technique.
The smile disappeared from Hiruzen's face the moment A was gone.
Let an Uchiha read the Sealed Scroll? Don't be ridiculous.
With the temperament Akira had shown, if A dared to expose him publicly, he would die on the spot.
Trading the life of a disposable pawn for Akira's secrets? Worth it.
A few minutes later—
Creak.
The office door opened. Homura Mitokado, Koharu Utatane, and Hiashi Hyuga entered one after another.
They froze when they saw the mess inside.
"Hiruzen, what happened here? Was there a fight?" Homura asked.
"Just a minor accident. Don't worry about it." Hiruzen waved it off, smoothly changing the subject. "I called you here to discuss something important. It concerns the Uchiha."
They moved to the adjacent meeting room and took their seats.
"Hiruzen, I've got a mountain of work waiting," Homura said impatiently. "Spit it out."
Hiruzen coughed lightly. "I plan to hold a meeting this afternoon. All clan heads must attend."
"Why move it up so suddenly?" Koharu frowned.
"Because I've received reliable intel. If the meeting is this afternoon, Uchiha Akira definitely won't attend. In other words, only Fugaku will represent the Uchiha."
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"Negotiating with Fugaku is child's play. We may not be able to handle the Uchiha head-on, but at the bargaining table? We're the ones in control. What can he possibly do against us?"
This wasn't the first time. They'd forced Fugaku to concede step by step before.
"If we finalize everything while Akira is absent," Hiruzen said coldly, "the Uchiha won't gain a single benefit from this incident."
Homura narrowed his eyes. "You're that certain Akira won't show up? And where exactly did this 'intel' come from?"
"I guarantee it," Hiruzen replied, firm. "As for the source, that's not your concern."
Through the crystal ball earlier, he'd already confirmed it. Akira would likely shut himself away to train for some time.
"Even so," Homura countered, "once Akira learns about it, do you really think he'll accept it? With that shameless streak of his, he'll demand renegotiation. And this meeting's main purpose is to select a new elder to fill Danzo's vacant seat. If the Uchiha walk away without that position, will he let it slide?"
Koharu let out a cold laugh.
"Negotiations have rules. If he tries to overturn a concluded agreement just because he wasn't present, that's unreasonable. And someone who ignores the rules will only isolate himself further."
She tapped the table lightly.
"Recently, because Akira exposed Danzo's crimes, several clans have grown more favorable toward the Uchiha. That's not good for us. But if he causes trouble over the elder seat afterward? Whatever goodwill they've gained will vanish instantly."
Hiruzen shot her an approving glance. The old woman saw right through him.
"Exactly. My goal is to push the Uchiha back into the position of being ostracized by everyone. Let all of Akira's efforts come to nothing."
Hiashi finally spoke up.
"There's one issue. Danzo's crimes were exposed largely thanks to Akira. If the Uchiha don't receive the elder position, some clans that've started warming up to them may object."
"That," Hiruzen said with a thin smile, "is why I called you here. Let's come up with a reasonable explanation for why the Uchiha cannot take the elder seat."
The three nodded, launching into discussion.
Hiruzen stepped outside briefly, summoning an ANBU.
"Notify all clan heads. Meeting this afternoon in the Hokage building's main conference hall."
"Yes, sir!"
The ninja vanished.
Hiruzen returned to the small meeting room and joined the plotting.
…
"Exhale…"
A long breath slipped from Akira's lips.
He opened his eyes.
Dark pupils, deep and mesmerizing, as if they could swallow anyone who stared too long.
He glanced down at himself and nodded, satisfied.
Gone was the four-meter-tall muscle monster he had been. He'd returned to a normal build—around 170 centimeters.
Long, smooth hair fell over his shoulders. His features were sharper now, handsome in a way that felt almost unreal. His skin was pale and luminous, his smile warm like spring sunlight.
He looked less like a shinobi and more like some transcendent cultivator from legend.
With a flick of his wrist, he pulled a white robe from his system inventory and slipped it on. The flowing fabric only amplified that ethereal aura.
He looked slimmer—almost weaker.
But that couldn't be further from the truth.
In this form, he could clearly feel it. He was stronger than ever. His body's defenses had improved another level. His control over power was far more precise.
Compression was refinement.
He curled a finger, gathering strength at the tip, then flicked forward.
Bang!
An air bullet shot out, blasting a hole straight through a wooden pillar across the room.
He gathered force in his palm and struck forward again.
A violent gust erupted. The already-damaged pillar shattered into splinters.
Akira smiled.
So he could compress air itself now. Concentrate power in a single point and release it as an instant shockwave. Its might rivaled A-rank Wind Release—perhaps even surpassed it. And it formed instantly, impossible to guard against.
"This form will be my exclusive combat state from now on."
He thought for a moment.
"White God Mode. That's what I'll call it."
In this state… maybe he could tank a Susanoo head-on with his bare body.
He'd have to test that sometime.
With that, Akira pushed open the doors of the Uchiha meeting hall and stepped outside.
The afternoon sun warmed his face. He inhaled deeply.
Man… sunlight feels good.
"Senior! Senior! You're finally out! I was starting to think you'd stay in seclusion today too!"
Fugaku Uchiha came hurrying over.
"Something wrong?" Akira asked lightly.
Fugaku didn't answer at first. He just stared.
Akira's transformed appearance clearly stunned him.
So handsome… This must be what he looks like grown up. Definitely takes after me, Fugaku thought smugly.
"Spit it out," Akira said, frowning.
Snapped back to reality, Fugaku hurried on.
"Two hours ago, that old fox Hiruzen sent word. There's a meeting this afternoon to discuss the vacant elder position."
"And that concerns me how?"
Akira looked completely uninterested.
"Well… I was hoping you'd come with me."
Akira shot him a look. "You're the clan head. What exactly do you do all day? You need me for something this minor? Besides, I'm not exactly great at wrangling with politicians."
Fugaku didn't take offense. No one else was around, and he was used to it by now.
He chuckled awkwardly. "I'm even worse at negotiations. Every time I deal with Hiruzen, I end up going in circles. I've lost the clan plenty of benefits at the table. I'm not exactly a competent leader."
Then he pivoted smoothly into praise.
"If not for you, our clan might've already faced annihilation. Your strength alone is a deterrent. Just your presence at the meeting would keep them in check."
He leaned in slightly.
"And if you wanted the elder seat, it would be yours. Your contributions to Konoha speak for themselves. No one could object."
Akira considered him for a second, then nodded.
"Since you're at least self-aware, I'll go with you."
"As for the elder position? I'm not interested."
And just like that, it was settled.
Since he had nothing better to do anyway, he might as well tag along and see how people like Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other old political fossils argued in circles at the meeting.
"Then… thank you, Senior!"
Fugaku hurried to express his gratitude, then added with a straight face,
"It seems my vision was too narrow. A mere seat as a Konoha elder could never match your status.
Only the position of Hokage is worthy of someone like you!"
"Hokage?"
Akira let out a short laugh, his tone dripping with disdain. "I've got zero interest in being Hokage."
To put it bluntly, Hokage was just a glorified village chief.
And once you took the seat, you worked yourself to death. Just look at the Seventh Hokage, Naruto Uzumaki. The guy practically turned into a sleep-deprived, hollow-eyed wreck after taking office.
Akira genuinely couldn't understand why so many people dreamed of becoming Hokage.
Was the so-called Will of Fire really that good at brainwashing?
"You don't even care about the Hokage's seat? As expected of you, Senior!"
Fugaku stared at him in open admiration, laying it on thick.
"So your ambitions truly are beyond the imagination of frogs at the bottom of a well like us. I'm in awe!"
The Hokage's seat was the Uchiha clan's lifelong obsession.
And yet to Akira, it wasn't even worth a glance.
Of course. Ants could never comprehend the thoughts of a giant.
"Tch. What a dramatic performance. Let's just go."
Akira walked ahead without expression.
"Heh… hehe…"
Fugaku gave an awkward laugh and quickly followed.
They hadn't gone more than a few steps when a sharp shout cut through the air.
"Stop! You're not going anywhere!"
Whoosh!
A figure flashed down in front of them, blocking their path.
It was Itachi Uchiha.
"Itachi? What are you doing? Don't cause trouble! I'm heading to a meeting with Senior. Move aside immediately!"
Fugaku's voice turned stern the moment he recognized his eldest son.
"My apologies, Father. But this time, I can't obey you."
Itachi gave Fugaku a slight bow. Then his gaze shifted to Akira, cold as winter steel.
"You saved the Uchiha clan. For that, I'm grateful. But one thing is one thing.
My younger brother, Uchiha Akira… where did you send him? Did you kill him?"
"Answer me."
His eyes locked onto Akira, icy and unwavering.
As a devoted older brother, Itachi didn't care about saviors or heroes of the clan. All he cared about was his little brother.
"Outrageous! Is that how you speak to the man who saved our clan?"
Fugaku barked before Akira could respond.
"A warrior of Senior's level wouldn't stoop to harming a mere child. When the time is right, he will explain everything.
Itachi, stop being unreasonable and apologize at once! As long as you're sincere, Senior will surely forgive you!"
He was afraid. Afraid Akira might lose his temper and kill Itachi on the spot.
But clearly, he underestimated the stubbornness of a brother obsessed.
"I'll ask again. What did you do to my brother? Until I have an answer, you won't take a single step forward."
Itachi ignored Fugaku completely.
Fugaku nearly cursed out loud in his head.
My foolish son, are you trying to get yourself killed?
At the last clan meeting, he had witnessed Akira's ruthlessness firsthand. The man hadn't killed anyone, sure, but he had crippled people like it was nothing.
The last thing Fugaku wanted was to see his own son turned into a cripple.
"Senior, please don't be angry. My eldest son only acts this way out of concern for his brother. He's just… too single-minded."
Fugaku quickly apologized, then turned toward Itachi, his expression darkening.
"Senior, give me a moment. I'll discipline this unfilial brat myself."
He rolled up his sleeves, fingers cracking as he prepared to step forward—
But he had barely taken a step when a hand stopped him.
"No need."
Akira smiled faintly, not angry in the slightest. In fact, there was a hint of interest in his eyes.
"I actually admire people who know they're outmatched and still dare to challenge me."
"And I always welcome anyone who volunteers to get beaten."
He looked at Itachi with an almost cheerful expression.
Perfect timing. He could use this kid to test just how durable his current body was.
Let's see if he could tank Susanoo head-on.
"..."
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