Chapter 39: Mikoto's Resolve, Training with Hiiro, Danzō's Experiments, and Academy Return
Looking at Naraku's gaze, Uchiha Mikoto blushed and continued: "I just want to help you! I don't want to drift further and further away from you!"
Naraku looked at the short but very cute Uchiha Mikoto and realized he hadn't paid much attention to her lately. Since Mikoto had this intention, he naturally wouldn't refuse.
Naraku said seriously to Uchiha Mikoto: "Alright! Mikoto, from now on you'll train in ninjutsu and swordsmanship together with Hiiro. Later I'll have good things for you too—and I'll forge a weapon just for you!"
Uchiha Mikoto nodded with a flushed face.
...
Later, Naraku handed each of them a toy sword and began teaching them the Hatake sword style.
Naraku could only say inwardly to Hatake Sakumo: Sorry, bro. Worst case, after Kakashi is born I'll teach him properly! Or maybe I'll help you keep your wife safe.
Naraku suspected Hatake Mito probably died giving birth to Kakashi—after all, she always looked somewhat frail, and as a housewife she didn't go on missions, so she likely didn't die in combat.
As for why Naraku gave Uchiha Hiiro one of his Naraku-brand toy swords—it was because he was genuinely afraid this little girl might accidentally cut herself with Muramasa and drop dead instantly.
Or accidentally kill Mikoto standing beside her.
As Naraku slowly explained: "Our Uchiha clan's sword style is considered quite good in Konoha. Today I'm teaching you another style. In the early stages, this style focuses mainly on techniques..."
This teaching session gave Naraku a real sense of fulfillment. After all, he saw Mikoto's admiring gaze, and beside her, Uchiha Hiiro was improving at an astonishing speed.
Now Naraku understood why Muramasa had chosen this seemingly ordinary little girl.
After the lesson finished, Naraku treated both of them to a massive Sea King feast—he had already decided to completely slack off.
Worst case he'd grow to 3 meters tall, Mikoto to 2.5 meters.
An eight-shaku lady would have her own unique charm—though it's also possible they wouldn't grow that much. After all, Luffy ate every day and never reached 3 meters.
It was also at this moment that Naraku noticed Uchiha Hiiro particularly loved grilled meat—this made him feel very satisfied. After all, a chef who doesn't move his diners isn't a good forger!
...
At that moment, in Danzō's Root prison cells, Danzō was holding Yatsufusa in front of a group of prisoners.
As Danzō raised the blade, one prisoner after another fell before him.
One prisoner shouted: "Lord Danzō! I really didn't mean it! I just took a piss in that bush! That doesn't deserve death!"
Danzō wasted no words. He channeled Wind Release chakra into Yatsufusa and slashed at the chattering prisoner.
To Danzō, "just happened to piss in a bush"? Why were you the one pissing right above a Root base? And you still dare claim you're not a spy?
As for whether it could be a misunderstanding—Danzō could only say the Root headquarters location must never be known to enemies. Everything was for Konoha!
Soon Danzō had killed all eight prisoners.
Danzō turned his back to them and activated Yatsufusa's power.
Quickly, a group of corpses stood up crookedly. The wounds on the dead bodies were gradually healing.
Danzō's operation directly scared the prisoners in the neighboring cell into wetting themselves.
Then, the corpses under Danzō's control quickly charged at the prisoners next door. Within minutes, everyone in the neighboring cell was dead.
Danzō felt the consumption on himself and discovered that with only chūnin-level corpses, he could control them effortlessly using Yatsufusa.
Still not enough. This level didn't greatly enhance his strength! So he needed to bring even stronger ninjas under his control!
As his thoughts drifted, a dangerous glint flashed in Danzō's eyes.
...
On the other side, after finishing the meal, Naraku let the two girls practice swordsmanship on their own. He casually glanced at the system and noticed there seemed to be new notifications.
Ding...
[Danzō Shimura has reached Beginner utilization of March of the Dead [Yatsufusa]. Talent Replication activated: Host gains Wind-attribute chakra mastery]
Another attribute gained. The day he masters all chakra natures is getting closer.
Naraku glanced at the Dead God Hall again and saw 16 more prisoner-dressed chūnin lined up neatly inside.
Why 16? Naraku couldn't imagine Danzō's audacity—he'd even tested the puppets' combat power.
Now Naraku was almost reluctant to kill Danzō so soon. This guy was truly bold! Less than 24 hours after getting the blade and he already achieved such results—Naraku was ready to award Danzō the championship trophy!
Ding...
[Uchiha Hiiro has reached Beginner utilization of One-Cut Killer [Muramasa]. Talent Replication activated: Host gains Lightning-attribute chakra mastery]
Soon good news came from Uchiha Hiiro's side as well—bringing him the Lightning attribute chakra he needed most. Now he could finally use the Hatake sword style to its full potential.
Naraku went outside, took out his toy sword, and channeled Lightning-attribute chakra to stimulate his body and strengthen the blade's attack. In an instant—
He sliced the tree in front of him clean in half while casually carving different patterns into several other trees.
It could be said that Naraku's current strength had fully reached jōnin level. As long as he further improved his swordsmanship experience and combat wisdom, he would soon reach elite jōnin level.
...
The next morning, Naraku rarely decided to visit the academy. His main goal was to contact Hinata Hana. He felt she was a girl with great potential—if she were to fade into obscurity because of the previous blade selection event, it would be too great a pity.
Second, he wanted to see Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina. One had astonishing ninja talent—especially in space abilities and reaction speed. The other was the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki—Naraku had always wondered if he could get some Nine-Tails chakra from her.
Previously he had used shadow clones to attend school, but after a few days he got bold and stopped bothering. Probably his old homeroom teacher Sarutobi Hiyori had received some instruction from Hiruzen and didn't bother him anymore.
Later Naraku dragged Uchiha Mikoto along to the academy. As for Uchiha Hiiro, she had already graduated, and she seemed a bit socially anxious and didn't like the school environment.
When Naraku slowly walked into the classroom!
All the little kids in the room looked at him curiously—Naraku's change was simply too dramatic. He had gone from a tiny bean sprout to a 1.7-meter big brother (in the eyes of academy brats).
If not for the fact that Naraku still looked underage, they might have thought a teacher had arrived.
"That guy is so handsome—is he a senior?"
"Wow, his smile is so charming!"
"No way? He's clearly super cool!"
Amid the girls' rainbow farts, Naraku directly sat in his old usual seat.
At this moment, only Hinata Hana and Uchiha Katsu—who had attended the previous blade selection event—recognized Naraku.
Naraku's good friend Namikaze Minato was still staring at him. He felt the person in front of him looked very much like Naraku—but reason told him it was impossible for someone to grow that fast.
Naraku smiled at Namikaze Minato: "What's wrong? Don't recognize me anymore? It's me—Naraku!"
This directly stunned both Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina—especially Kushina beside him. She had previously been quite proud of her height advantage—girls developed faster, so she had always been the tallest among the three.
Because of that, she had always positioned herself as the big-sister leader.
Afterward, the three longtime-no-see friends began catching up.
--------------------------
Support us on patreon (+Gain access to 100 chapters in advance)
patreon.com/inkshield