After their great defeat, the Cloud Village completely withdrew.
The official reason was that, due to A's succession as the Fourth Raikage, all Cloud Village ninjas had to participate.
But in reality, everyone knew that this was nothing more than a bombastic excuse to justify their defeat and retreat.
With the retreat of the Cloud Village ninjas, all outposts and assets in the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Rice Fields were logically absorbed by Konoha.
Originally, Orochimaru planned to press the advantage of the victory, but Hiruzen Sarutobi strictly forbade him from making any further moves.
Orochimaru had no choice but to obey Hiruzen Sarutobi's order and withdraw his troops.
Several more days passed, and the front stabilized.
On the borderline near the Land of Lightning, most of the ninjas received orders from the village to return and rest.
...
Inside the Konoha camp.
Mirai Uchiha left his room and slowly walked towards Orochimaru's tent.
Along the way, all the ninjas who saw him would bow respectfully to greet him.
After the last war, Mirai Uchiha had earned great prestige in the hearts of these border ninjas.
The young genius in everyone's eyes had completely transformed into the image of a warrior who could stand on his own.
"Lord Mirai, Lord Orochimaru is inside. Please, come in."
Nodding slightly to the guard at the entrance, Mirai Uchiha went inside.
Orochimaru, hearing the noise, looked up, and a faint smile appeared on his face.
"Mirai-kun, I hope I didn't interrupt your rest."
"No problem, what did you want me for?"
Mirai Uchiha waved his hand and asked directly.
"It's nothing important, just that we are returning to the village today, so I wanted to let you know in advance."
Mirai Uchiha raised an eyebrow: "What do you mean?"
"I have already reported your entire performance here to the village, so when you return, my teacher might want to talk to you..."
Orochimaru knew his teacher very well. The immense strength Mirai Uchiha had shown would surely arouse his teacher's suspicion.
It's just that, in that battle, Mirai Uchiha's performance was seen by everyone. Even if he wanted to hide it, he couldn't, so he had no choice but to report truthfully.
Of course, he did not mention in his report that Mirai Uchiha had mastered the Flying Thunder God Jutsu.
"Well, you're warning me."
"Are you ready to accept the conditions I offered you?"
Mirai Uchiha smiled, his expression serene.
With his current strength, what could Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura do to him?
"Mirai-kun, when things unfold just as you predicted, I will consider your proposal."
"This time I called you simply in the hope that you could prepare yourself mentally."
Orochimaru had no intention of hiding his thoughts.
Originally, Mirai Uchiha's words had already made him doubt Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura. And now, just when it was the perfect time to accumulate merits and prestige, Hiruzen Sarutobi was pulling him from the front lines...
This made the doubts in Orochimaru's heart grow even greater.
In other words, although what Mirai Uchiha had predicted hadn't happened yet, he had already lost faith in Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others.
Perhaps his teacher really did intend to train another successor.
Hearing Orochimaru's words, Mirai Uchiha shrugged indifferently: "There's nothing to prepare for. At a time like this, your teacher will absolutely not allow internal conflict in the village."
"Even if he has any ideas against me, he will wait until the war is over."
Hearing that, a profound smile appeared on Orochimaru's face: "Yes, the teacher who was once hailed as the 'God of Shinobi', is now old..."
A week later, Orochimaru led a group of ninjas back to the village of Konoha.
The great defeat of the Cloud Village on the front lines, and the heavy casualties they suffered.
The newly enthroned Fourth Raikage losing an arm on the battlefield.
This news had already reached the village, so on both sides of Konoha's streets, there were villagers cheering for Orochimaru and the others.
Everyone saw them as the heroes who had protected the village.
Among them, the cheers for Orochimaru were the loudest. Every time he passed, the villagers on both sides of the street would chant his name.
"Mirai-kun, it seems your achievements haven't been very well publicized."
Orochimaru said jokingly, looking at Mirai Uchiha.
"It's nothing more than a clumsy tactic."
"In a while, there will naturally be ninjas who speak up for me."
Mirai Uchiha said indifferently.
Of course, he didn't expect Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others to publicize his achievements on their own initiative. For this to happen was to be expected.
Anyway, most of the ninjas from the front had already returned to the village. What happened on the front lines would soon spread throughout the village, and by then, his prestige would be established in the villagers' hearts all the same.
Walking intermittently, Orochimaru and Mirai Uchiha arrived at the Hokage's office.
Upon opening the door, an affable smile immediately appeared on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face.
"Orochimaru, Mirai, you've finally arrived."
"Sorry to have kept you waiting, master."
"No problem." Hiruzen Sarutobi put down the scroll in his hand. "You have done very well this time, you've demonstrated the power of our village of Konoha."
"Especially you, Mirai, you've really made me see you in a new light."
Hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's meaningful words, Mirai Uchiha smiled: "Not at all, what I did were insignificant things."
"After all, I saw that the village didn't give me any publicity."
Hiruzen Sarutobi choked on Mirai Uchiha's response and, brazenly, explained: "Eh... we're in a time of war, the village has too many matters to attend to each day. That was an oversight on my part."
With that said, and without waiting for Mirai Uchiha to reply, he forcefully changed the subject: "Mirai, can you tell me why you are so strong?"
"If I remember correctly, it's only been a little over a year since you graduated from the Ninja Academy, right?"
"Mmm... probably because I'm really a genius."
Mirai Uchiha's words left Hiruzen Sarutobi's face twitching, almost unable to maintain his composure.
A genius?
Who are you trying to fool?!
Who among those present wasn't a genius?
But he hadn't seen any genius defeat the Fourth Raikage with such overwhelming strength and, on top of that, cut off his arm!
Hiruzen Sarutobi forced a smile: "Mirai, you're such a joker. Your strength certainly can't be attributed simply to talent."
"I'm sure there must be other reasons."
Hearing that, Mirai Uchiha nodded in agreement: "As expected of the Third Hokage, how perceptive. What I just said was only a joke."
"Actually, my strength comes only one percent from my talent. The remaining ninety-nine percent comes from my sweat."
"You could say that talent, in the face of the effort I've put in, is not even worth mentioning."
"That's all."
Mirai Uchiha said with a serious expression.
Who said that putting effort into cheating doesn't count as effort?
This time, not even Orochimaru could contain himself.
Good grief! He had never seen such a shameless person!
Hiruzen Sarutobi, for his part, almost spat out blood.
I asked you to answer a question, not to sing your own praises!
But he also realized that even if he kept asking, Mirai Uchiha would probably just continue to play dumb.
So, Hiruzen Sarutobi had no choice but to give up: "Orochimaru, Mirai, you two have just returned from the front. Take this time to rest well in the village."
"Yes, sir."
...
After Mirai Uchiha and Orochimaru left, Danzo Shimura emerged from the shadows.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, with a frown, took a deep drag from his pipe: "Danzo, you heard the whole conversation, right?"
"Do you have anything to say?"
Hearing that, Danzo Shimura struck his cane hard on the ground and snorted: "Things are already very clear! Mirai Uchiha definitely possesses the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan!"
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