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Chapter 103n
🕑 Added 2025-07-19 15:05:01 +0000 UTCChapter 103n
2-in-1-chapter
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"Hokage-sama, what happened on the front line this time?" Hyūga Hiashi, wearing a bamboo hat, could no longer suppress his curiosity and speculated that something must have changed at the front. Since receiving that hastily written meeting record from the front line eight days ago, Konoha’s leadership had been stunned.
The Fourth Mizukage captured?
The Fourth Mizukage had long been manipulated by a mysterious figure, and that mysterious figure claimed to be Uchiha Madara?
The Nine-Tails incident five years ago was connected to that mysterious figure claiming to be Uchiha Madara?
This war between Kirigakure and Konoha was also orchestrated behind the scenes by that so-called Uchiha Madara...
That not-very-long meeting was packed with so much information—so astonishing, so unsettling—that Akimichi Torifu nearly choked when he saw the name Uchiha Madara. Just the thought that this man, more terrifying than a demon, might still be alive made the acting Fifth Hokage lose his appetite entirely.
Fortunately,
Along with that record was also a report from Uchiha Rēn, mainly summarizing his own views on the situation at the front and some of his speculations about the mysterious man claiming to be Uchiha Madara. He surmised that this mysterious figure was very likely not Madara himself.
Even if Madara truly was alive, he likely was far from his peak; otherwise, it was inconceivable that he would have remained silent for so many years after the death of the First Hokage.
So, the acting Fifth Hokage’s appetite somewhat recovered.
"It’s good news!"
Akimichi Torifu opened the letter and quickly read through it.
The troubled expression on his face finally eased into a faint smile.
"The Fourth Mizukage has agreed to our terms, willing to cooperate with us to confront that mysterious man claiming to be Uchiha Madara and any organization or forces behind him." As he spoke, Torifu habitually glanced at those around him.
Regarding the possibility that Uchiha Madara was alive, Torifu had immediately issued a gag order. Apart from high-ranking officials eligible to attend meetings, he did not want too many people to know this information, as it would do no good and might even cause uncontrollable panic.
"As expected of Rēn, to have achieved such remarkable results so quickly." Hyūga Hiashi praised with a mixture of helplessness and envy. At this point, he had to admit that as a clan leader himself, both in strength and decisiveness, he was still a notch below Uchiha Rēn.
No, most importantly, it was strength.
That gap in strength left him without Rēn’s decisiveness. His efforts to reform the Hyūga clan had met with significant resistance from the very beginning—not just from the main family but from many branch members as well. After all, a system that had been in place for a thousand years was deeply ingrained in most clan members. And it was not easily changed, even if it was meant to better serve branch members.
Main family members believed that the branch family should naturally devote themselves to protecting them.
Many branch family members genuinely saw protecting the main family as their life’s purpose and even their honor.
Hiashi sighed again internally. The road to reform remained long and arduous.
"So this means the war is about to end?"
Uchiha Genshi spoke up.
He didn’t have many complicated thoughts; he simply missed his grandchildren, whom he hadn’t seen in nearly half a month.
"Not so fast."
Akimichi Torifu shook his head.
"The Fourth Mizukage’s situation is too unusual. It’s certain that unidentified elements will try to disrupt our cooperation with Kirigakure. Even if the war ends, it will likely take considerable effort. But regardless, this time we have an unquestionable major victory in this war against Kirigakure."
As he said this, Torifu’s expression grew more cheerful.
This was far more uplifting than the report from eight days ago. He shook the letter in his hand, motioning for the ANBU nearby holding a lamp and umbrella to come closer. Then he carefully reread the contents from start to finish before falling into thought.
Although the battle was not yet over, unless some unprecedented change occurred, victory was inevitable.
This would be the achievement and glory of his term as acting Fifth Hokage.
"Shikaku, help me draft an order in a moment. Tell Uchiha Rēn that I authorize him to act with the full authority of the Hokage on the front line. Every decision and action he makes there, I will endorse. Make it clear that I need an indisputable major victory to shut up a bunch of annoying old men."
Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane being stripped of their elder advisor positions did not mean Konoha was without elders. The institution known as the Council of Elders had always existed, filled with old men who had survived the Second and Third Shinobi Wars. Torifu himself had once been part of this group.
These elders, truthfully, held little real power anymore, and their strength had withered with age. But they were still people who had once contributed to the village, and otherwise wouldn’t have even been admitted into this mostly honorary body. Some among them were even older than Torifu himself.
When they spoke, even if their words were unpleasant, one still had to at least listen politely. Recently, some unknown instigator had stirred them up to criticize Torifu, accusing him of being glory-hungry, waging war with Kirigakure for personal gain, and disregarding the lives of his comrades.
Hearing this,
Not only did Nara Shikaku look shocked, but so did Hyūga Hiashi and Uchiha Genshi, who all turned to stare at the acting Fifth Hokage. Issuing such an order in front of everyone meant completely aligning himself with Uchiha Rēn—their fates rising and falling together.
"Hokage-sama?"
"This is how it will be."
Torifu interrupted the words of caution Shikaku hadn’t yet spoken.
"...Yes, Hokage-sama."
Shikaku hesitated briefly, but under Torifu’s resolute gaze, he finally lowered his head and agreed. Inwardly, he thought that since victory at the front was already assured, there likely wouldn’t be any major trouble.
Having settled matters concerning the war, Torifu’s attention returned to the issue of the Nine-Tail's Jinchūriki.
"Shikaku, have you thought of any way to reassure the Nine-Tail's Jinchūriki?"
Shikaku’s face immediately fell again.
What could he do?
Konoha’s first two jinchūriki had both been pure-blooded Uzumaki. Uzumaki Mito, the wife of the First Hokage, had controlled the Nine-Tails effortlessly, and Uzumaki Kushina was no less capable—her Adamantine Sealing Chains kept the beast tightly suppressed.
There had been no need to worry about their mental state. If anything, the Nine-Tails was probably the one who needed comforting back then.
Strictly speaking,
Uzumaki Naruto also inherited half the blood of the Uzumaki clan. But the problem was that Naruto hadn’t inherited their sealing techniques. To make matters worse, he was still too young—even if he had inherited them, it would be of little use. The most troublesome issue now was that no one had a good relationship with Naruto to speak with him.
If anyone carelessly provoked him and caused him to lose control of the Nine-Tails, what then?
Even if the chances were slim, that didn’t mean people were willing to take the risk.
Due to Sarutobi Hiruzen’s past handling, Naruto’s personal network was nearly non-existent. Only Hiruzen himself had occasionally visited him. They couldn’t exactly go dig up the already buried Sarutobi Hiruzen, could they?
"Hokage-sama, we need someone who can communicate with Naruto," Shikaku said helplessly. Even if they wanted to calm Naruto’s mental state, they first had to be able to talk to him; otherwise, were they just supposed to stand here and pray?
"Who here has ever interacted with the Nine-Tail's Jinchūriki?"
Torifu turned to ask.
Everyone exchanged glances. In the past, people had kept a respectful distance from the jinchūriki. No one had expected this day to come. For a while, the rain outside fell steadily, but no one spoke.
Uchiha Genshi stroked his beard, wondering whether he counted as someone who had interacted with Naruto. That blond brat was friends with Fujika and had visited their home several times, even eaten meals at their table.
But the problem was he didn’t like the boy—not because Naruto was the Nine-Tail's Jinchūriki, but simply because he disliked that little bug getting close to his precious granddaughter.
After a moment’s thought, he ultimately chose to remain silent.
Better not to get involved with troublesome matters like this. The Uchiha clan was already drawing enough attention. There was no need to give people more reason to resent them.
But trouble clearly wasn’t something that could be avoided just by staying quiet.
"Elder Genshi, if I recall correctly, Naruto is good friends with your granddaughter. He probably knows you too, right?" The first to speak was Aburame Shibi, the usually silent and stoic leader of the Aburame clan. Despite his sunglasses and expressionless face, he was one of the few truly concerned about Naruto’s wellbeing here.
Were it not for his worry that Naruto might lose control and get punished—or worse—Shibi would not have said something that could drag the Uchiha into this situation.
As everyone turned their gaze toward him, even Torifu gave him a questioning look.
"I can try, but I can’t guarantee the result."
Having no way to deflect this, Genshi could only try to disclaim any future responsibility in advance. If that blond brat really did lose control and go berserk, Genshi was determined not to shoulder the blame alone.
"This is a decision made by all of us. Even if something goes wrong, it won’t be your fault alone," Torifu said generously, gesturing for Genshi to go ahead, assuring him that if problems arose, everyone would share the burden.
No one objected to the acting Hokage’s words.
"Elder Genshi, we’re counting on you."
Hyūga Hiashi spoke politely.
With this example set, the others also chimed in, all expressing that whatever happened, they’d bear it together.
"Let’s hope everything goes smoothly."
Uchiha Genshi sighed, then leapt down from the rooftop and headed toward the center of the park.
.......................
Heavy rain poured down as if the sky itself had split open. The rain came down in white sheets, almost forming continuous lines. Uchiha Genshi’s bamboo hat was struck noisily by the bean-sized raindrops. Fortunately, Konoha’s drainage system, built under the supervision of the Second Hokage, worked excellently; the rainwater was quickly drained, so the old man didn’t need to waste chakra to walk on water so as to not get his sokes wet....That feeling was worse than having a kunai stuck in your thigh.
He arrived at the slide and lifted his head slightly, meeting eyes with Naruto, who was sitting on the platform hugging his knees.
Naruto didn’t expect to encounter anyone at this time, in this place. He stared blankly at Uchiha Genshi, frozen for a while, until Genshi spoke and brought him back to his senses.
"Kid, what are you doing hiding here?"
