Elite Shinobi like Fugaku, Shisui, Minato, and Jiraiya were all listening intently to the Third Hokage's teachings.
The Third Hokage continued, "I have decided to postpone this year's Graduation Exam. Even if they graduate, they'll only be Genin. Are we supposed to send them to face Uchiha Madara?"
"Let the adults handle adult matters!"
"If the Allied Forces really lose, then let's just honestly accept Madara's Eye of the Moon Plan! Let's not raise the children to be a bunch of avengers."
"Such is life; once a move is made, there are no regrets. One must accept defeat gracefully!"
Everyone nodded.
The Third Hokage laughed, "Alright, I'm old and talk too much. This Old Man won't say any more disappointing things today. Everyone, cheer up!"
Fugaku then stood up to toast the Third Hokage, and after speaking words in praise of the Will of Fire, he turned his gaze toward Shisui.
"Shisui, the Police Force has decided to transplant the eyes left behind by the Uchiha heroes into you."
Shisui was somewhat surprised. "Lord Fugaku, this—"
Fugaku patted Shisui's head. "Shisui, this is the clan's decision. Like Obito, you have performed great services for the Village and are the pride of the Uchiha Clan."
"I believe our ancestors would also be willing to entrust their eyes to you, the future of the Uchiha!"
The Third Hokage and the others watched; this was a matter for the Uchiha Clan, and they could not intervene.
To say to Fugaku, "We are the Village higher-ups, so give us a pair of Sharingan too."
This was a line that must not be crossed!
Yashiro nudged Tekka, signaling him to hint something to the Third Hokage and the others.
The Uchiha had given Shisui a substantial reward; Jiraiya couldn't just stop at taking Shisui as a disciple.
Jiraiya taking Shisui as a disciple wasn't just a Jonin instructor-subordinate relationship; he was truly taking him as a successor.
The Uchiha were paying for everything; surely Jiraiya could give Shisui some benefits?
Tekka felt somewhat helpless but still had the thick skin to say to Shisui, "Shisui, isn't your Summoning Crow a bit too weak?"
"..."
Shisui was taken aback and replied, "The crows aren't weak; they can be used in combination with my Genjutsu!"
This idiot!
Jiraiya and Minato both realized that the Uchiha Clan was hinting at them.
Don't just use an empty title to bluff; give some benefits.
Jiraiya looked at Shisui and said, "Shisui, I don't have much to teach you. Although crows can complement your Genjutsu..."
"...they are still too weak. Truly top-tier Summoned Beasts can even suppress Tailed Beasts."
Jiraiya bit his finger, drawing blood to activate the Summoning Jutsu, summoning Gamatada, who kept the Mount Myōboku summoning scroll for him.
Jiraiya took the Mount Myōboku summoning scroll from Gamatada, opened it, and had Shisui bite his finger and sign his name.
"Lord Jiraiya, this is too precious. I'm afraid I cannot accept it!"
Shisui shyly refused. He was already very grateful that Jiraiya was willing to take him as a disciple regardless of his Uchiha identity.
Shisui didn't dare accept such an expensive gift.
The Summoning Toads of Mount Myōboku—the Gamaken Shisui had seen before was already a giant; his crows couldn't compare at all.
Jiraiya had a whole bunch of Summoned Beasts like that, plus the two legendary Toad Sages who had lived for eight hundred years.
The members of the Uchiha Clan were frustrated with Shisui. "We're giving you a chance, and you're not taking it! Giving you a chance and you're not taking it!"
The elites of the Uchiha Police Force wished they could push Shisui aside and sign their own names so they could summon powerful toad beasts to assist them in battle.
The top-tier stats of a giant Mount Myōboku toad combined with the Genjutsu mechanics of the Uchiha Sharingan—this pairing was undoubtedly complementary.
Obito, Kakashi, and Rin also crowded around.
Obito was red-eyed with envy. He didn't have a Summoned Beast yet and wanted a top-tier one like Gamabunta of Mount Myōboku.
"Why are you being so polite with your teacher, kid?"
Jiraiya smiled at Shisui and pulled his hand over.
Seeing Shisui's content personality, Jiraiya knew he hadn't chosen the wrong person.
Jiraiya had plenty of reasons to support Shisui.
Shisui was only about 11 years old, an age when the path of a Shinobi was just beginning.
His talent was terrifying among the terrifying; he had awakened the Uchiha Clan's ultimate Dojutsu at such a young age.
Although he had destroyed his own eyes, Shisui's Kage-level stats boosted by the Mangekyo remained.
In terms of personality, Shisui had been forced to reveal his Mangekyo to protect his comrades and had personally destroyed his eyes to prevent the Sharingan from falling into enemy hands.
This earned him Jiraiya's approval.
Most importantly, Jiraiya saw in Shisui the regret the Village felt for failing Ryou.
If the former Third Hokage or other high-ranking officials hadn't specifically targeted Ryou because of his Uchiha identity...
He wouldn't have released the old demon beneath the Uchiha—Madara.
The current chaos in the Shinobi World seemed to let Jiraiya see its true essence.
It was because the Village specifically targeted the Uchiha that a monster like Ryou was bred.
Although the conflict between the Village and the Uchiha had eased somewhat, it still existed. Once Madara was eliminated, the conflict would resume.
What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again.
As long as Konoha continued to target the Uchiha, it would continue to catalyze monsters like Ryou.
So Jiraiya wanted to change the problem at its root by personally accepting the Uchiha Clan members.
The Third Hokage and Minato both watched Jiraiya's decision with no intention of stopping him.
But he arrived—
"No, Jiraiya! Who gave you permission to unilaterally sign the Mount Myōboku summoning scroll over to an Uchiha?"
"Who's there? How bold!"
The members of the Uchiha Clan angrily activated their Sharingan and looked back, only to see an Old Man with bandages wrapped around his eyes.
It was Danzo, followed by Koharu and Homura, and even elders from the Senju Clan.
Kakashi was even dazed for a moment; his vision blurred, and he faintly saw the figure of the Second Hokage from the Hokage Rock on Danzo.
Tobirama has possessed Danzo.
Danzo suppressed his anger and walked up to Jiraiya and Shisui, saying gloomily, "Jiraiya, the Mount Myōboku summoning scroll is of great importance. How can you decide this on your own?"
Danzo had only been gone for a short while and the Uchiha had already revitalized their position. Having inherited Tobirama's dark side, how could he stand to see an Uchiha obtain a Summoned Beast from Mount Myōboku?
He had to come out and interrupt them.
Koharu, Homura, and the Senju elders all criticized Jiraiya, saying he was too reckless. Could such a major matter be decided so casually?
The Uchiha Clan finally saw their enemies clearly today.
The three Advisors other than the Third Hokage and the high-ranking members of the Senju Clan—these were the people who couldn't wait for the Uchiha to be destroyed.
Izumi and Itachi, the two little ones, watched nervously from the back. Izumi rubbed Itachi's bald head and whispered, "Itachi, that bandaged Old Man is a bad guy. You must never listen to him."
"Izumi, can you please stop rubbing my head?"
"Sorry, it just feels so good!"
Itachi felt helpless, then looked seriously at Danzo, Koharu, and Homura.
Although his thinking wasn't limited to the clan, he could see that these people didn't seem to want the Uchiha to prosper.
Jiraiya got a bit angry and snapped back at Danzo, "Mount Myōboku does not belong to Konoha. My family has passed down the Mount Myōboku summoning scroll since before Konoha was even founded."
"How bold!"
Danzo barked, "Jiraiya, do you know what you are saying? The Village's interests are above all. You are Jiraiya of Konoha's Sannin."
"I've never heard anyone call you Jiraiya of Mount Myōboku!"
Fugaku looked gloomily at Danzo. "Elder Danzo, what do you mean by this? Are you deliberately targeting our Uchiha?"
Danzo said, "So what if I am? Uchiha Madara, Uchiha Ryou—which of them isn't one of your Uchiha?"
"I'll put it plainly today: the Uchiha are the source of trouble. They were in the past, and they will be a trouble for the Village in the future."