Gaara frowned.
Compared to using his brain, he was a man of force. In the original story, he became the Kazekage and was beloved by many villagers. But the reason for their adoration wasn't because of how strong his abilities were or how well he served as Kazekage.
It was because he had a saintly heart.
Who would hate a saint willing to die for them?
Not to mention, what if you had insulted this saint, and then the saint awakened and decided to destroy the village?
That was why everyone adored Gaara as their Kazekage.
Now, with Gaara in the Imperial Palace and unsure if what Shikamaru said was true, he was a bit conflicted about how to handle him.
The tear stains on Temari's face had been wiped away. Now, her eyes were just a bit red.
"Gaara, let him go. With his stealth abilities, it would be impossible for him to enter here without being discovered."
Gaara heard this, thought it made sense, and released Shikamaru.
Shikamaru's lips twitched.
Because I'm weak, that's why you let me go?
Why didn't you think about that before you grabbed me?
"Sigh." He felt mentally exhausted.
"Since there's nothing else, I'll be going now?" Shikamaru tried to turn and leave.
He didn't want to know why Temari was crying, nor did he want to know why they were appearing openly in the Imperial Palace. He just wanted to leave and say goodbye to trouble.
"Wait." Temari blocked Shikamaru.
"Is there something you need?" Shikamaru froze in mid-stride, his scalp tingling.
So troublesome! Just let me leave already!
"Starting today, we are... subordinates of Hiromi. But we just arrived and don't know anything, so could you please show us the way?" Temari said.
"Where to?" Shikamaru asked.
"I don't know."
"..."
Shikamaru nodded reluctantly and said, "Follow me."
Then, he delivered them to the Hall of Contemplation and ran off.
Temari and Gaara: "..."
Inside the hall, the two looked at each other, feeling a bit lost.
Then...
"That brat!" Temari clenched her fists, gnashing her teeth.
If you said Shikamaru was wrong, he wasn't really—after all, this was Hiromi's residence.
But if you said he was right, they both already knew this place. Did they really need Shikamaru to show them the way?
But was it useless to come here? It actually was useful.
As long as they waited for Hiromi, they would naturally know what arrangements Hiromi had for them.
But... just wait here idly?
The more she thought about it, the angrier Temari became.
Fortunately, it wasn't long before Shisui arrived. Seeing the two of them gnashing their teeth as if they wanted to slice someone up, Shisui immediately said a word in Shikamaru's defense, "He's the one who asked me to come here."
Hearing this, Temari and Gaara's expressions softened a little. But they still decided that the next time they met Shikamaru, they would definitely make him pay.
Then, they were dumped at the Ministry of War and encountered Shikamaru.
For a while, screams rang out continuously.
—
As for the arrangements for Kazuto and Shizuka, Shisui also placed them in the Ministry of War, designated as third-rank officials.
At the same time, because they still held positions in the Imperial Guard, their rank was not lower than Kakashi's position as Minister.
Shisui did this because he wanted Kazuto and Shizuka to see the current Uchiha clan with their own eyes.
Hiromi's temper was known to basically everyone. But as much as outsiders feared him, his own people felt that much more at ease. Shisui believed that once they saw clearly, they would make a satisfactory choice.
Even if the final result was dissatisfaction, with the threat from outside villages now, they wouldn't help outsiders destroy their own clan.
As for Kazuto's Mangekyo dojutsu, Shisui didn't ask. When he was willing, he would naturally speak of it.
Having arranged all this, Shisui prepared to sneak off to the Imperial Guard to watch the show.
The reason he was always disliked by his clansmen but could endure it every time was that he would go watch the Imperial Guard get scolded.
At this moment, Shikaku arrived. "The Senju clan has been restored, what positions should we arrange for them?"
Shisui said, "Arrange the lowest official positions, let them manage minor matters."
"And the position of Senju Clan Head..."
"Do not interfere. For the next step of recruiting talented people from across the world, I'll leave it to you, Shikaku-san."
"Yes." Shikaku bowed his head, watching Shisui leave.
He felt a sense of awe.
Everyone knew of the hatred between the Senju and the Uchiha. Even though they joined hands to build Konoha, the Senju lineage had always occupied the position of Hokage, while the Uchiha, who had co-founded the village, were nearly wiped out. The two sides could be said to have a blood feud.
Yet now, the Uchiha did not dwell on this, even helping to restore the Senju surname and rebuild the clan. This showed their broad-mindedness and also hinted at the Uchiha's powerful self-confidence.
But upon closer thought, one could see this was the Uchiha guarding against the Senju clan.
The Senju clan might be gone, but their bloodline had merged into the common people, which posed a hidden danger that would sooner or later lead to trouble.
Now, by gathering these hidden dangers into an open, recognized clan, they only needed to keep an eye on the movements of the Senju clan in their daily lives. They could also use this to recruit talented people from across the world.
Telling the world that the Uchiha had even rebuilt the clan of their rivals, the Senju, showed how much they valued talent.
Even if no one came, the Allied Shinobi Forces wouldn't dare force those rogue ninjas to join the Allied Forces anymore. Because once they forced them, they would just be sending the rogue ninjas straight to the Uchiha.
Rogue ninjas capable of escaping their villages all possess some talent. The Allied Shinobi Forces certainly wouldn't do something that strengthens the enemy.
It simultaneously reduces the strength of the Allied Shinobi Forces and creates the possibility of increasing the Uchiha's power. And rogue ninjas will find things much easier because of this.
It's equivalent to the Uchiha doing a favor for the world's rogue ninjas, showing some consideration.
As for those murderous types who foolishly show up, it would be extremely easy to send them to their deaths under Uchiha control.
With this move, the Uchiha have taken every possible advantage.
With the Uchiha clan already so powerful, they still have so many schemes...
Shikaku was glad that Hiromi wanted to see his choice. Because the Uchiha clan alone is currently enough to take on the whole world.
—
Land of Lightning, Rocky Mountain.
Thunder rumbled as two figures looked at the distant Kumogakure, which appeared as small as an anthill.
One was a young man with grey slicked-back hair, wearing a Yugakure rogue ninja headband around his neck and a Jashinism necklace.
The other wore an orange swirl-patterned single-eye mask.
They both wore black cloaks with red clouds.
"Why won't you let us make a move on Two-Tails yet?" Hidan asked with dissatisfaction.
"To let Two-Tails take a dump? I'm really curious what taking a dump feels like." Tobi said in a lively voice.
Hidan's eyes widened in annoyance. He wanted to sacrifice him to Jashin-sams but he couldn't sacrifice him.
For some reason, his Curse Technique: Death Controlling Possessed Blood had no effect on Tobi. Not to mention Tobi could also use Wood Release. These were things he knew.
What he didn't know was his Possession ability. Possession could enhance the host's strength and mobility. For instance, during the Third Great Ninja War, it was he who possessed Obito, allowing him to shatter a rock wall with a single punch.
With just the immunity to curses and Wood Release, Hidan couldn't beat Tobi.
He didn't want to talk to Tobi, but he was very bored. So, he spent a whole day thinking about why they had already moved against One-Tail and Seven-Tails, but not Two-Tails.
After much wild speculation, he came up with an answer—As long as the Tailed Beasts don't fall into Hiromi's hands, the Akatsuki won't act.
"I'm so smart!" Hidan was very happy.
If Pain heard this, he would probably give him a deadpan stare.
With the war between the Uchiha and the Allied Shinobi Forces about to break out, why capture a Tailed Beast now and stop the war between them?
They were even unwilling to reveal Hiromi's ability to resurrect the dead, just so the Allied Shinobi Forces would fight the Uchiha.
Once they started fighting, the Akatsuki would capture the Tailed Beasts and then pin the blame on Hiromi.
That was the Akatsuki's plan. Therefore, not just Hidan and Tobi, but also the teams of Kisame and Jūzō, and Sasori and Deidara, were eyeing Three-Tails and Four-Tails, waiting for the war to begin.
Meanwhile, Obito went to find Orochimaru.
***
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