Chapter 144: Truth Lies Beneath Fists! (Third update, seeking all support!)
The special training classes for Chunin and Jonin were proceeding very smoothly, with the Ino-Shika-Cho clans being the first to offer their support.
The Hyuga and Uchiha clans had no objections either, as their Kekkei Genkai couldn't be stolen by others anyway.
With this matter settled, the prestige of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, soared immediately.
Sarutobi Asuma, seizing the opportunity, stepped back to focus solely on being a special training instructor.
The regular Jonin special training class was a semi-annual program, meaning he would train 20 students per year.
Adding the two from the Kekkei Genkai class, that made it 22 students.
And these individuals were all the cream of Konoha's ninja.
There were geniuses among the civilian ninja, as well as ninja from the various ninja clans.
Over time, Sarutobi Asuma gained another title.
Ninjutsu Doctor!
With the seven Chakra Nature Transformations, coupled with Taijutsu and Sword Technique, there was nothing Sarutobi Asuma didn't understand or wasn't proficient in.
He could wield various ninjutsu with ease, earning the utmost admiration from the Jonin participating in the special training.
By the river.
Sarutobi Asuma appeared beside Kakashi, handing over the blade in his hand.
It was a straight-bladed wakizashi, its style a bit unusual for the ninja world.
This was because Sarutobi Asuma had personally reforged the two blades of the Lightning Blade: Kiba, merging them into one and shaping it with Yin-Yang Release techniques.
This was the reward he presented to the top scorer of the previous assessment.
Although the material was the same, this blade was more than a level stronger than the previous Lightning Blade: Kiba.
This was true for its durability and its amplification of Lightning Style.
Kakashi took the blade, drew it from its sheath, and his eyes immediately lit up.
This blade felt very different.
It was much heavier than his father's sword, and he could sense a powerful Lightning Style energy within it.
"Thank you!"
Kakashi expressed his gratitude, admiring the new sword. He then asked, "Does the blade have a name?"
Sarutobi Asuma replied, "No, you choose one. The blade is a bit heavy, so practice with it for a while before using it in actual combat."
After a moment of thought, Kakashi said, "Let's call it the Lightning Fang!"
...
Time flew by.
In the blink of an eye, Konoha year 48 arrived.
The ninja world outwardly appeared more peaceful, with the conflicts between the major ninja villages shifting to the shadows.
And as expected, Uzumaki Kushina was pregnant.
The first to become pregnant was Uchiha Fugaku's wife, Uchiha Mikoto.
Last year, the future Twelve Guardian Shinobi Neji, Tenten, and Rock Lee had already been born.
This year would usher in a baby boom following the end of the war.
In the Hokage's office.
Seeing Kakashi arrive, the busy Namikaze Minato looked up and smiled, "Kakashi, I have an important mission for you."
"Kushina is pregnant!"
Kakashi was stunned for a moment, then quickly said, "Congratulations, Teacher!"
"Thank you!"
Namikaze Minato smiled, "You know about Kushina's identity, Kakashi. Due to her pregnancy, the seal will inevitably weaken, so she requires special protection."
Kakashi's expression turned serious.
Because of Rin Nohara, he also knew that Uzumaki Kushina was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
"Asuma would have been the most suitable for this task, but he is still in seclusion."
Namikaze Minato explained.
According to Sarutobi Asuma's earlier prediction, pregnancy was the most dangerous time for a Jinchuriki.
While it was true that childbirth was the best time to extract the Nine-Tails, no one could be certain.
Furthermore, no one could guarantee that Rin Nohara, if alive, could pull Uchiha Obito back from the darkness with 100% certainty.
Or perhaps, the one attempting to steal the Nine-Tails could even be Uchiha Obito himself.
All eventualities had to be considered, which is why protecting Uzumaki Kushina was essential.
Kakashi was responsible for close protection, and with the numerous Shadow Clones of Sarutobi Asuma within Konohagakure, they were more than capable of handling any external threats. This would continue until Asuma's main body emerged from seclusion.
"Understood, I'll do my best!"
Kakashi promised solemnly.
From that day on, Kakashi began his journey of witnessing others' affection.
February.
Konohagakure was blanketed in snow.
Outside the window of Namikaze Minato's home, Kakashi, dressed in a white robe and hood, was lurking.
Sarutobi Asuma suddenly appeared beside him. He glanced back through the window at the affectionate Minato couple inside, then at Kakashi.
Tsk, this is too much!
"Here, have a drink!"
Sarutobi Asuma offered a flask.
Kakashi, still wearing his mask, glanced at it before looking away. "I'm underage, I can't drink!"
"Don't worry, it's ginger soup."
Asuma said.
Only then did Kakashi remove his mask, take the flask, and take a sip.
It really wasn't alcohol!
Sarutobi Asuma smiled. "Big Brother Minato is really going too far, not even finding someone to take your shift."
"And having them being all lovey-dovey in the room while you freeze outside, they have no sympathy for a single dog like you."
"If it were me, I would have arranged for the 'Sage' to come over too!"
Kakashi, looking at Asuma who seemed eager to stir up trouble, immediately retorted, "This spot was originally yours!"
"Besides, with your main body away, you're saying whatever you want. When your main body comes out of seclusion, he'll probably beat you to death, right?"
Sarutobi Asuma spread his hands and chuckled, "Don't worry, I won't give him the chance."
Kakashi couldn't help but sigh in resignation.
Sometimes, this guy was even more annoying than Obito.
Sarutobi Asuma glanced at the room again, then turned back to Kakashi and whispered, "When Kushina-nee-san's child grows up, you'll be his teacher and beat him up well!"
Kakashi's eye twitched. He said helplessly, "Aren't you a little too bored?"
Shrugging, Sarutobi Asuma vanished.
Kakashi took another sip of the ginger soup, feeling warm all over. He couldn't help but secretly think, "Asuma might have a point there!"
Land of Rain.
On top of a tall building, Zetsu appeared behind Uchiha Obito. White Zetsu said cheerfully, "Wow, I've brought back some amazing news!"
Uchiha Obito didn't even turn his head.
White Zetsu was a little disappointed. Black Zetsu spoke up, "The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is pregnant!"
"When she gives birth, the Nine-Tails' seal will be at its weakest. This is an excellent opportunity to obtain the Nine-Tails!"
White Zetsu chimed in, "If you get your hands on the Nine-Tails, your identity will be even more convincing."
"Although Nagato and Konan will still be suspicious, with the Nine-Tails in hand, we can have more control."
Uchiha Obito finally spoke, "I will personally go to Konoha to investigate. We must know the delivery time before we can act!"
...
Winter turned to spring, and the snow melted.
Seeing the gates of Konoha, Uchiha Shisui's somewhat weary face broke into a smile.
He was finally back.
This mission had taken a full two months.
After entering the village and completing his report, Uchiha Shisui eagerly headed for the training grounds.
"Huh?"
Suddenly, Uchiha Shisui stopped in his tracks, his gaze falling on Uzumaki Kushina, who was not far away, carrying a basket and shopping.
Several months pregnant, Uzumaki Kushina's condition was already noticeable, so Uchiha Shisui immediately sensed something was amiss.
"The Hokage's wife is pregnant..."
Uchiha Shisui's heart skipped a beat. His mind involuntarily recalled the genjutsu he had experienced last year.
"The Nine-Tails..."
Uchiha Shisui shivered. His happy, excited, and eager feelings felt like they had been doused with cold water, chilling him to the bone.
After a while, he regained his composure and thought, That was just genjutsu. It's perfectly normal for the Hokage's wife to be pregnant. As for the timing, it's probably just a coincidence.
It was so.
However, Uchiha Shisui became deeply troubled.
Half an hour later.
He arrived at Sarutobi Asuma's training ground and saw three figures from afar in front of the waterfall.
In front of the waterfall.
Sarutobi Asuma looked at Sarutobi Yoshio and Shimura Dan, saying, "Your chakra nature transformation mastery has reached the requirements for evolving a Kekkei Genkai, but to cultivate a Kekkei Genkai, chakra nature transformation and chakra control are merely the threshold and foundation."
"You need to try persistently, strengthen your mental will, firm up your goals, and truly believe that you can achieve it."
"Go back and continue trying. Come back to me every three days."
Sarutobi Yoshio and Shimura Dan nodded in unison, "Yes, Teacher Asuma!"
After bowing, the two departed.
When Uchiha Shisui approached, Sarutobi Asuma looked at him and smiled, "You've reached three tomoe, but it doesn't seem to be through that method."
Uchiha Shisui quickly replied, "Teacher, it's not. It's by following the method you taught me that my Sharingan evolved into three tomoe."
"It's just..."
Sarutobi Asuma raised an eyebrow, "Then you should be happy. What's wrong?"
Uchiha Shisui had no choice but to say, "Teacher, I just met Senior Kushina."
Kushina?
Sarutobi Asuma suddenly understood.
This must be the influence of the previous genjutsu!
Looking at Uchiha Shisui, Sarutobi Asuma asked, "If the scenario depicted in the genjutsu were to truly happen, what would you do?"
Uchiha Shisui fell silent.
This was a question he had pondered many times, but he couldn't find an answer.
If the clan head, Uchiha Fugaku, had also awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, then even if he also had the Mangekyo, he might not be able to subdue the clan head with Kotoamatsukami.
At that time, would the Uchiha clan first fall into internal conflict?
Or would they join forces with the village to suppress their own people?
Neither of these were things he wanted.
He wanted to protect his clansmen, and he definitely didn't want the village to fall into internal conflict!
But he couldn't find a way to achieve both.
Sarutobi Asuma looked at the silent Uchiha Shisui and chuckled, "It seems you can't find a way to both preserve your clansmen and avoid internal conflict within Konoha."
"Why?"
Sarutobi Asuma didn't wait for Uchiha Shisui to answer. Instead, he said, "Because you're not strong enough!"
"And also because of your personality!"
"You can't change your personality, but you can change your strength!"
"There are also differences in strength between Mangekyo Sharingan!"
"Now that you've evolved your Sharingan to three tomoe through your own cultivation, it means you can continue to evolve it into Mangekyo, and even Eternal Mangekyo."
"In theory, your pupil power can continuously increase. Compared to Uchiha Fugaku, you have an absolute advantage, even if you are still young."
"With sufficient strength, you can suppress the radical faction of the Uchiha clan internally, and externally, you can prevent the Konoha higher-ups from easily initiating a purge, although this is only a temporary solution."
Uchiha Shisui couldn't help but ask, "Teacher, are there no permanent solutions?"
Sarutobi Asuma chuckled and shook his head, "The world is always changing, who can say anything can be permanently solved?"
Uchiha Shisui sighed inwardly, but he also knew his teacher was right. After thinking for a moment, he asked with anticipation, "Teacher, if it were you, what would you do?"
"Me?"
Sarutobi Asuma looked at Uchiha Shisui with a half-smile, "Are you sure you want to hear?"
Uchiha Shisui nodded firmly.
Sarutobi Asuma then said, "There are only two choices."
"One, lead the Uchiha clan out of Konoha. Because the Nine-Tails was controlled by the Sharingan, the Uchiha clan has lost the trust of the village's higher-ups. This rift cannot be completely mended even if the one who controlled the Nine-Tails is found, unless the Uchiha clan no longer poses a threat."
"Second, a coup d'état. Without me and the Fourth Hokage, and with one of the Sannin missing, the Uchiha, with two pairs of Mangekyo, might not be unable to seize power."
Uchiha Shisui listened in astonishment, then gave a wry smile.
He couldn't do either of these.
"Shisui, you're overthinking it!"
Sarutobi Asuma said earnestly, "Although the Nine-Tails is powerful, it's nothing to me."
"I will not die fighting to seal the Nine-Tails. If what you experienced in the genjutsu truly happened, let alone two pairs of Mangekyo, even three pairs wouldn't be able to change fate."
"Whether it's me or the Fourth Hokage, unless we're willing to die ourselves, no one in the current ninja world can kill us."
"The Fourth Hokage might be, but me? Impossible!"
Standing up straight, Sarutobi Asuma patted Uchiha Shisui's shoulder and chuckled, "You're still very young, you have a lot of time to strive.
"If you want to change the situation of the Uchiha clan, no matter which path you take, you must have enough power."
"Because, the truth lies beneath the fist!"
The truth lies beneath the fist!
Uchiha Shisui was stunned, his heart struck with immense impact.
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