'However, what Kakashi said also makes some sense. Maybe the new generation of ninjas really have the potential to learn the Flying Thunder God technique.'
'Just like how Minato rose to prominence back in the day...'
'But who should be chosen?'
Just like when he selected new recruits for the Anbu before, figures and profiles of freshly graduated students quickly floated through Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind.
"It seems like there's only him left to choose, but after all, he's a Uchiha… Even if he hasn't awakened the Sharingan, he might still become a potential threat in the future," Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but think of Uchiha Kage.
But the future can be dealt with in the future. Right now, he had to take care of Orochimaru and the matters with the Hidden Sand Village as quickly as possible.
"Yamato," After Kakashi, Sarutobi Hiruzen summoned another trusted subordinate.
The only ninja in the village who could still use Wood Release.
"You go test Uchiha Kage. See if he really hasn't awakened the Sharingan until now," Taking a puff of his pipe, Sarutobi Hiruzen finally made up his mind.
"Yes!"
'If it's just a test, then it shouldn't be a problem.'
Yamato nodded and soon disappeared on the spot.
———
'No wonder she develops so well when she grows up…'
Hinata's appetite truly amazed Uchiha Kage.
Even after watching her polish off dozens of bowls of ramen one after another, Uchiha Kage still couldn't understand how she managed to eat so fast with such a delicate and refined manner.
Even after eating, she showed no signs of being full.
'If I want to raise a Hinata, the future expenses would probably be massive, right?'
Thinking of the women's wallet that mysteriously appeared in his arms when it was time to pay, Uchiha Kage felt touched, but still returned it to Hinata.
'And besides Hinata, now I've also got Samui and Karin to support…'
He really had to think of a way to make money in the future.
Back in the Land of Waves, he forgot to rob that wealthy businessman and mobster Gato. And he didn't get to steal much of the treasure from the Land of Whirlpools either.
'But the Akatsuki should be quite rich. Maybe borrow a little then?'
Uchiha Kage thought of Konan in the Akatsuki, who threw around 600 billion explosive tags, and Kakuzu, who worked tirelessly to earn money.
What? You say take on missions to make money?
What a joke. How much can you make working for someone else?
Of course it's quicker to rob—ahem, take some "ownerless" money.
For example, right now—
On the way back to his cabin, planning to have some post-meal exercise with Samui, Uchiha Kage used the Byakugan and spotted a sneaky figure tailing him.
The person's speed and stealth were not weak. Probably a skilled ninja.
But with Danzo currently under house arrest, who would dare to openly tail him in the middle of Konoha?
Uchiha Kage was a bit puzzled.
He had to first figure out the opponent's intentions before deciding how to deal with them.
"Attacking me right off the bat?"
'But waiting until I walk into an empty area before making a move. Is he worried about damaging houses during our fight?'
'Someone with this kind of concern…'
'Most likely isn't someone here to deliberately cause trouble.'
Wood Release: Silent Binding Jutsu!
Seeing thick, snake-like wooden branches strike from the shadows around him, Uchiha Kage quickly realized who his attacker was.
The only one in Konoha who could still openly use Wood Release was that sole surviving experimental subject, formerly a member of Root, now serving in the Anbu, Yamato (Tenzo).
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!
Since that's the case, Uchiha Kage couldn't use overly aggressive methods to retaliate.
Chakra expelled from his mouth turned into a violent gust of wind, halting the wooden vines trying to entangle him from all directions.
"To come up with a counter so quickly against my ambush jutsu…"
'Is this the genius of the Uchiha?'
Hidden in the shadows, Yamato never expected his movements to be seen through. He assumed the opponent just reacted fast.
"But in that case, do you have any more tricks up your sleeve?"
Wood Release: Four-Pillar Prison Technique!
The wooden vines blown aside by the Wind Release came alive again and formed a wooden cage around Uchiha Kage, perfectly enclosing him.
And while restraining him, new branches continued to grow inside the wooden cage.
Wood Release: Tree Binding Eternal Burial!
In just a short moment, the branches filling the wooden cage wrapped Uchiha Kage's body into a giant dumpling.
"With this…"
'It should be over.'
Yamato looked at the tightly bound Uchiha youth. As the resistance on his body got weaker, he internally declared the end of the fight.
This Eternal Burial technique was difficult even for a jōnin to escape from.
"Yamato-senpai, why are you attacking me?", Just as Yamato stood up and was about to release his hand seal, a cold kunai suddenly pressed against his throat.
And beside him, the boy holding the kunai still had black hair and black eyes.
Poof!
At the same time, the Uchiha Kage who was buried by the tree binding turned into a puff of white smoke.
'A shadow clone… and he saw through my Wood Release even without a Sharingan…', Yamato turned to glare at the boy beside him, then his own body also turned into a wooden dummy.
"A wood clone?", Uchiha Kage no longer cared about the wooden dummy in front of him and looked down at his feet.
Crack!
A ninja figure suddenly burst out from the ground beneath his feet.
Wood Release: Fierce Raining Spear Tree!
The real Yamato who surfaced quickly grew rows of sharp wooden spears from his body like lances.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!
Jumping into the air to dodge, Uchiha Kage launched a fire attack midair while evading Yamato's wooden spears.
BOOM!
The fireball collided with the Wood Release, causing intense combustion and forming a more spectacular blazing inferno.
"An impressive counter indeed."
'This should be enough to report back with.'
Knowing that continuing would become endless, Yamato gave up on further testing.
"Thanks for the compliment, but why did you do this in the first place, senpai?"
'This guy's Wood Release may be weak in power, but still useful in some areas—'
'Like building houses, camping, repairing bridges, and such.'
Uchiha Kage originally wanted to see if he could get some fragments from the opponent. But unexpectedly…
He hadn't even started fighting for real, and the other guy already gave up.
"Lord Hokage wants to see you."
———
"Flying Thunder God Technique… for me?"
Uchiha Kage never imagined that stingy old man Sarutobi Hiruzen would one day be so generous.
Looking at the Flying Thunder God training scroll placed in front of him, even if he was surprised, he could only believe that maybe Sarutobi really had changed.
"This is a special reward in light of your contributions to Konoha," Sarutobi Hiruzen really didn't want to hand the Flying Thunder God over to a Uchiha boy.
But there was no other candidate now.
"The village is going through turbulent times. You must work hard."
'You must master it, or this Flying Thunder God Technique might really be lost forever…'
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the boy before him with deep expectations.
'No worries, I still have Shisui's Kotoamatsukami Sharingan in my hands. Even if this boy goes out of control in the future, I can still reel him back in.'
"Yes, thank you very much, Lord Hokage," Uchiha Kage didn't know that he'd already been added to Hiruzen's Kotoamatsukami "backup" list. He just felt like he found a bag of money on the road.
"How was he?", After Uchiha Kage left with the Flying Thunder God scroll, Sarutobi Hiruzen turned to ask Yamato.
"Very impressive. Probably even stronger than Kakashi back in the day. And he really seems to not have awakened the Sharingan," Yamato hadn't held back during the battle.
But all his moves were countered.
'Just basic Wind Release and Fire Release. Where's the style I had back in the day…'
'This Yamato clearly needs some teaching,' Kakashi couldn't help wanting to mess with him a little.
That's right, while Yamato was testing Uchiha Kage, Kakashi was also nearby.
"All right, I didn't intend to test our own village's ninja, but the Uchiha clan is easily swayed by emotion, so I had to keep an eye on things."
But now it could basically be confirmed. Uchiha Kage was neither arrogant nor humble, and loyal to him as Hokage.
Maybe because his eyes hadn't awakened, Sarutobi Hiruzen barely saw any typical Uchiha traits in him.
But that was a good thing.
"Kakashi, Yamato, an unknown masked ninja has appeared in the village. You'll need to increase patrols and vigilance going forward."
"Yes!"
———
"This is… the legendary Flying Thunder God Technique!?"
Inside the small cabin.
Samui endured someone's piggish hands while staring in astonishment at the ninjutsu scroll laid openly on the table.
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through Patreon.
https://discord.gg/bYAfGyp98y