Chapter 516: A Meeting of Old and New Legends?

Chapter 516: A Meeting of Old and New Legends?

After finishing their training, Itachi and Obito returned to the Uchiha clan's compound with their Pokemon companions.

Having finished dinner with his Pokemon, Sorua, Itachi prepared to take a stroll to aid digestion when he spotted Fugaku Uchiha approaching their home.

"Uncle Fugaku," Itachi called out, guessing that Fugaku might have something to discuss with him.

"Itachi, have you eaten?" Fugaku asked with a nod and a smile as he paused in his tracks.

"Yes, just now. I was about to go for a walk to aid digestion," Itachi replied, nodding back.

"Is there something you needed, Uncle Fugaku?"

"It's not a big deal. Let's walk and talk," Fugaku suggested, leading Itachi towards a nearby stream.

"Have you heard about the Young Ninja Competition?" Fugaku inquired soon after they began walking.

Itachi's eyes narrowed slightly, his enthusiasm for the competition taking on a new dimension.

Just that afternoon, the Third Hokage had asked Mu Yue about their willingness to participate, and now, in the evening, Fugaku Uchiha was also bringing up the same topic.

This was quite an unusual occurrence for the Uchiha clan.

Due to the majority of Uchiha ninjas being employed by the Police Force, the Uchiha clan tended to be rather insular, typically paying little heed to the goings-on in the ninja world.

After all, the Police Force usually only needed to carry out missions within Konoha and did not often venture outside the village.

Uchiha ninja like Itachi's uncle, Shisui, who frequently undertook missions outside the village, were a rare exception.

"I know of it," Itachi replied, lifting Sorua from his shoulder and cradling the Pokemon in his arms. At zero-point seven meters tall and thirteen kilograms in weight, Sorua was a bit too big to comfortably perch on Itachi's shoulder.

Itachi himself was only nine years old, and while Sorua was large for his species, he found it a little uncomfortable having the Pokemon stand on his shoulder.

It was mainly because Sorua was quite big; if he were a little smaller, Itachi thought it might be quite nice.

"I think if you and Obito don't have any pressing matters, you should consider participating in this Young Ninja Competition," Fugaku advised. "It's not just about the prizes; it's also an opportunity to face off against other talented ninjas, gain experience, and build a reputation."

While being too famous could be a disadvantage in the ninja world, as it increased the risk of information leaks, there were also benefits to being known. If one aspired to become the Hokage, it was advantageous to gain fame early on, as a ninja who remained unknown would never be considered for the role.

Fugaku had high hopes for Itachi and Obito, which was why he took the time to personally discuss the pros and cons with Itachi and sent Uchiha Hamada to persuade Obito.

"Thank you for your concern, Uncle Fugaku, but Lady Hokage has already informed us about the competition, and both Obito and I plan to participate," Itachi explained.

All of Mu Yue's disciples, except Yamato, would be taking part in the upcoming competition, including Yoshino Rin.

Itachi saw this as a rare and valuable opportunity, one that offered numerous benefits.

While others might be primarily attracted by the promise of generous rewards, Itachi's main motivation was the chance to test his abilities and gain recognition for the Uchiha clan from the ninjas of Konoha.

If he and Obito, as representatives of the Uchiha clan, could defeat ninjas from other countries in the competition, it would surely earn them some favor from the village, as they would have brought honor to Konoha.

"That's good to hear," Fugaku said, a smile spreading across his face. "And you have the support of the Third as well."

The reason Fugaku had such high hopes for Itachi and Obito was not just because of their natural talent but also because of their ability to easily integrate into the Will of Fire faction and potentially gain its backing.

Obito's Jounin instructor, Minato Namikaze, was a disciple of Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin, making him a part of the Will of Fire lineage.

While Mu Yue, Itachi's teacher, had no direct connection to the Will of Fire in terms of her lineage, she was highly regarded by the Third Hokage and served as the first-ever vice-principal of the Ninja Academy. She was now a well-known and respected figure in Konoha, firmly establishing herself within the Will of Fire faction.

With these connections, Itachi and Obito had a far greater chance of rising through the ranks of Konoha's hierarchy or even becoming the Hokage compared to a typical member of the Uchiha clan.

"If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to let the clan know, and we will do our best to provide for you," Fugaku assured him.

For someone like Itachi, who represented the true hope of the Uchiha clan's future, Fugaku was more than willing to be generous.

"Uncle Fugaku," Itachi began, opting not to make any requests but instead asking a question, "Do you think the current state of the Police Force is ideal?"

At present, the Uchiha clan had little to offer Itachi, as Mu Yue's Fire Breath technique alone could effortlessly overpower all of their fire-style jutsu. Itachi also had no significant financial needs.

When it came to the Uchiha clan, Itachi's expectations were modest; he simply hoped they could live peaceful lives without causing any trouble.

"The Police Force..." Fugaku trailed off, deep in thought, trying to understand the direction of Itachi's question.

"Aside from the Police Force, I don't believe there's any other department in Konoha that is entirely controlled by a single family, is there?" Itachi clarified.

Fugaku was not only the leader of the Uchiha clan but also the captain of the Police Force. If the Police Force were to undergo internal reforms, it would first require Fugaku's approval.

Fugaku nodded, acknowledging that this level of influence was indeed unique to the Uchiha clan.

"Is it appropriate for a department like the Police Force to be controlled by a single family?" Itachi pressed further.

Fugaku vaguely sensed where Itachi's line of questioning was headed, but he immediately dismissed the idea as too radical.

Asking the Uchiha clan to relinquish control of the Police Force would be like asking them to give up a slice of cake they already had in their hands.

"Regardless, the Police Force is of great importance to the Uchiha clan," Fugaku asserted after a moment's thought.

He couldn't fathom why Itachi would even suggest such a thing, as going against the interests of the entire family would garner no support.

The Police Force wielded significant power; it wasn't merely responsible for maintaining law and order within Konoha.

They had the authority to arrest and detain individuals based on suspicion of criminal activity alone, without requiring concrete evidence. This applied to both civilians and ninjas, and once they determined the facts of a crime, they could directly send the perpetrator to prison, as the management of prisons also fell under their jurisdiction.

In other words, any regulation that the Hokage disagreed with would never see the light of day, rendering the Police Force's rule-making power meaningless.

Of course, some minor details didn't diminish the Police Force's standing in Konoha; after all, no department's authority could surpass that of the Hokage.

"But would the other clans truly allow a Uchiha with control of the Police Force to become the Hokage?" Shisui asked, striking at the heart of the matter.

The Uchiha clan already had a less-than-stellar reputation in Konoha, and their monopoly over a major department did not sit well with the shinobi or the average ninja.

While this arrangement was initially decided by the Second Hokage, in the eyes of the Konoha ninjas, the Second Hokage's significant contribution to the village was due to the Uchiha clan's founding involvement, and they felt the Uchiha should be more mindful of this and not cling to their position indefinitely.

Fugaku paused, taken aback by Shisui's argument, which seemed to hold some truth. Overly concentrated power tended to invite wariness and envy.

"I believe the Police Force needs reform," Shisui asserted, calling his cards. "It can no longer be exclusively staffed by Uchiha clan ninjas; we must also recruit other Konoha ninjas."

This was a crucial step in Shisui's plan to alleviate the Uchiha clan's tensions, and it was a step he knew he had to take.

"This is a matter of great significance and requires careful consideration," Fugaku replied, his expression hesitant.

The position of Hokage was of utmost importance to the Uchiha clan, but so was the Police Force, and while the former was a distant dream, the latter was a tangible power they held in their hands.

If reforming the Police Force guaranteed a hundred percent chance of producing a Uchiha Hokage, Fugaku would immediately convene a high-level meeting.

However, the idea of sacrificing immediate gains for an uncertain future, no matter how much he trusted Shisui's judgment, would undoubtedly be met with opposition from the other elders.

Seeing Fugaku's hesitation, Shisui sighed inwardly.

Fugaku had the strength and capability, but his character was marred by indecisiveness, making it challenging for him to reach decisions swiftly.

If not for Fugaku's personality, with his abilities, Uchiha Fugaku's supporters within the clan would be far fewer, no matter how charismatic and persuasive he was.

"How's Itachi doing?" Shisui asked, changing the subject.

He knew that no amount of persuasion would easily sway Fugaku at this point, and a good performance at the Youth Ninja Competition might be what it took to give Fugaku greater hope and make future discussions simpler.

"Next time, we should call Obito to join us," Shisui thought to himself.

Unlike Shisui, Obito genuinely aspired to become the Hokage.

"He's doing well," Fugaku replied with a smile. "He no longer falls while running, and sometimes he even asks about you, Shisui."

"Uncle Fugaku, is Itachi free now? I'd like to pay him a visit," Shisui said after a moment's thought.

Why Itachi chose to annihilate the Uchiha clan and how he accomplished it remained a mystery, and guiding Itachi was an essential task.

"Itachi only has a study session in the mornings; the rest of his day is free. Let's go together," Fugaku explained.

Fugaku was delighted at the prospect of Shisui and Itachi becoming friends.

As Fugaku and Shisui returned to the Uchiha compound, they found Itachi sitting in the courtyard, gazing up at the sky.

"Father, Shisui-niisan," Itachi greeted them upon noticing their arrival.

Fugaku nodded in response and, after a brief word of acknowledgment, retreated to his study, leaving the two cousins to chat freely.

"Itachi, how have you been?" Shisui asked with a smile as he sat down next to Itachi.

"The same as always, nothing out of the ordinary," Itachi replied honestly.

His days consisted of studying and writing in the mornings, daydreaming or chatting with Mikoto in the afternoons, taking an evening walk after dinner, and retiring to bed at eight o'clock sharp.

"Shisui-niisan, will you tell me a story?" Itachi asked, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

The stories Shisui told were always more intriguing than the repetitive monotony of his daily routine.

"Sure, but this time, I won't tell a historical tale. Instead, I'll share some stories about my teacher, Mu Yue," Shisui said after a moment's thought.

He wanted Itachi to learn from Mu Yue's example and become a warm, just, and upright ninja.

Intrigued, Itachi nodded, curious to hear about Shisui's teacher and the stories that would inevitably include Shisui's experiences.

"The first time I met Teacher Mu Yue was on my first day at the Ninja Academy," Shisui began, a nostalgic smile on his face as he recounted Mu Yue's first lesson. "She didn't start with a formal lecture but instead shared with us the story of Konoha's founding and the Will of Fire..."

As Shisui spoke, his face lit up with fond memories.

Though only three years had passed, so much had happened.

When he first entered the Ninja Academy, he never imagined he would become a jonin at the age of eight or unlock the three tomoe Sharingan so quickly. None of this would have been possible without Mu Yue.

Itachi listened intently as Shisui recounted Mu Yue's achievements.

In Shisui's eyes, Mu Yue was exceptionally capable, a master of fire-style jutsu and an extraordinary teacher.

However, the usually gentle Mu Yue also had a playful side, like when she instructed Shisui to prank Asuma or pretended not to notice Obito's stubbornness and used a pop quiz to scare him.

"She sounds like a truly wonderful person," Itachi said, his curiosity about Mu Yue growing.

...

Eastern Rain Country.

The Six Paths City, still under construction.

Compared to when the Ninja Sect first arrived, the city now resembled a small town.

"I wish the Budokai would start and end soon. It's frustrating to watch our comrades work without being able to help," Yahiko remarked as he rehydrated after their training session, gazing into the distance.

He, Nagato, and Konan were all still within the age limit and would be participating in the Budokai as representatives of the Ninja Sect, so they had been focusing on honing their skills for the upcoming tournament.

"So we should aim to perform well at the Budokai," Konan added as she manipulated a piece of paper back into her hand.

While the Ninja Sect was hosting the Budokai, their performance as a ninja organization was still crucial, and the strength of their younger generation played a significant role.

The better they performed, the more the other ninja villages and organizations would acknowledge the Ninja Sect, bringing greater attention to the Rain Country.

"Mhm," Yahiko nodded, then turned to Nagato with a broad smile. "Nagato, you have to win it all and not let anyone else take away Teacher Souyuuki's ninjutsu."

Yahiko was fairly confident in his own abilities, but if he were to consider the entire ninja world, he couldn't guarantee that he would come out on top.

Nagato was different; with the Rinnegan, the Six Paths of Pain, he possessed a unique power that no one else in the ninja world could match. Yahiko believed that Nagato could defeat anyone.

"I'll do my best," Nagato replied seriously, nodding his head.

He had numerous reasons to win—for Muyue, for the Ninja Sect, and for the Rain Country. There was simply no reason for him to lose.

"It's a shame that Kakuzu is out on business; otherwise, I'd have him help you with combat training. Our strength still pales in comparison to yours," Yahiko said as he stood up, feeling that their break was long enough.

Thinking about Kakuzu made Yahiko quite emotional. Initially, Kakuzu had intended to capture Muyue for the bounty, but he ended up being swayed by her and became an unofficial member of the Ninja Sect, contributing greatly with his experience and knowledge.

Kakuzu had been instrumental in finding sponsors and negotiating with merchants for the Budokai.

"Perhaps in a thousand years, Teacher Souyuuki will also become a mythical figure like the Sage of Six Paths," Yahiko mused, believing that Muyue's deeds in rebuilding the Ninja Sect would be immortalized in legend.

"You two continue your training. I'll help Nagato with his," Muyue said, interrupting Yahiko's thoughts about her.

"Teacher Souyuuki, aren't you busy with the Stone ninja? I can train on my own," Nagato said, not wanting to burden Muyue further.

Nagato didn't know how Muyue managed to juggle her responsibilities in Konoha and the Rain Country, but he knew it couldn't be easy.

On one hand, she was the formidable Sun General of Konoha, renowned for her victories against powerful enemies. On the other, she was the newly minted legendary ninja teacher, Souyuuki, of the Rain Country.

"The Stone ninja are taking a break, so I'm free for now," Muyue replied with a smile.

Due to the recent increase in the Ninja Sect's affairs, Muyue often had to split her time between her duties in Konoha and the Rain Country.

While the Yang Seal Shadow Clone technique solved the issue of existence time, the clones were still fragile and susceptible to unexpected dangers.

Additionally, the Ninja Sect had relocated to the eastern part of the Rain Country, the area closest to the Fire Country, reducing the travel time for Muyue.

"I'll test how well you've adapted to the Rinnegan," Muyue said, leading Nagato to a more spacious area.

Seeing her insistence on helping him train, Nagato didn't refuse further and quietly noted her kindness in his heart.

"Get ready. I'm about to attack," Muyue warned, swiftly gathering chakra.

"Lasso Lightning!"

As Muyue finished her hand seals, a sharp lightning spear shot toward Nagato at incredible speed.

Nagato raised his palm to face the incoming lightning spear.

"Shinra Tensei!"

A powerful repulsive force erupted, instantly deflecting the lightning spear, which then struck a large rock nearby, causing it to explode into fragments.

Nagato didn't just sit there and take the attack. He channeled chakra and rushed toward Muyue, once again raising his palm.

"Bansho Tenin!"

A powerful attractive force emanated from Nagato's palm, pulling Muyue's body toward him.

Whoosh!

In an instant, Muyue used the Body Flicker Technique to vanish from her previous spot, leaving Nagato to only attract a few nearby stones.

Nagato casually drew in the stones that had been shattered by the lightning spear and then used the Shinra Tensei on them.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The fragments became projectiles, speeding toward Muyue like cannonballs.

However, to Muyue, who possessed the White Eye's ability to see through objects, the trajectory of each stone was clearly visible, and she easily dodged them all.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Nagato swiftly performed the hand seals and created two clones.

One of the clones used Water Release to create spears of water, while the other infused lightning into the water spears. Nagato's main body then used the Bansho Tenin once more to increase the speed and power of the water spears.

This was one of the results of Muyue's teachings. While the Rinnegan was incredibly powerful, Nagato's eyes had a fatal flaw—they weren't originally his but had been transplanted from Uchiha Madara.

Because of this, Nagato found it extremely taxing to use the Rinnegan.

Even with his vast chakra reserves, if he were to use the Rinnegan to its full potential, his actual performance might be inferior to Kakashi's.

Nagato's Rinnegan was a double-edged sword. It gave him the potential for rapid growth but also came with drawbacks that affected his body.

Using the basic abilities of the Rinnegan was manageable, but if he were to use techniques like the Super Shinra Tensei or summon and control the Gedo Statue, it would severely damage his body and shorten his lifespan.

"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"

Muyue's movements were swift as she erected a massive wall of earth, completing the defensive ninjutsu just in time to block the incoming water spears.

With ease, Muyue dodged Longmen's attack and released the chakra she had gathered beforehand.

A massive surge of water rushed towards Longmen. As the Shinra Tensei needed five seconds to cool down, Longmen had no choice but to leap onto the water's surface and swiftly use his Rinnegan to search for Muyue's figure.

At that moment, Muyue, who had used Water Body Flicker, suddenly appeared behind Longmen and threw a kunai.

After evading the kunai, Longmen immediately released the Shinra Tensei, which had finished cooling down.

Bang!

Muyue, who had been knocked back, transformed into a gush of water—it was a water clone.

In the next moment, a chilling kunai was pressed against Longmen's neck. The kunai that had been thrown earlier was Muyue's main body.

"In battle, you need to be more mindful of how you use the Shinra Tensei. If you always use it as soon as it's cooled down, it'll be easy for your opponent to spot your pattern," Muyue commented as she sheathed her kunai.

She believed there were two situations in which one could continuously use the Shinra Tensei. One was when it was a matter of life or death, where exposing information didn't matter as long as the opponent was defeated.

The other was when one was in extreme danger, and the only choice was between exposing information or dying. In this case, one would choose to expose information as the lesser of two evils.

In a normal battle, Muyue thought it was better to be flexible. For example, one could vary the intervals between each use of the technique, keeping the opponent guessing, or feed them false information to mislead them. Instead of always using it after the standard five-second cooldown, one could pretend that it takes seven seconds, for instance. False information was often more deadly than no information at all.

"Mhm, I'll keep that in mind," Longmen nodded.

Although Longmen was a little older than Deidara and the others, his combat experience was lacking in comparison.

This was because Longmen had not undergone formal ninja training and was not a ninja from one of the ninja villages.

Before joining the Ninja Sect, Longmen's combat experience consisted of a few encounters with wandering ninjas, the kind that would be easily defeated by a chunin from one of the Five Great Shinobi Countries.

Muyue then pointed out some issues with Longmen's use of the Bansho Ten'in and finally said, "For now, Longmen, you can focus on developing your Rinnegan, but don't neglect your nature transformation jutsu and taijutsu."

Perhaps it was because his awakening was not complete, or maybe because it was still new to him, but currently, Longmen could only use the Bansho Ten'in and the Shinra Tensei. He was not yet able to use the Devouring Seal to absorb jutsu or the Human Path to extract souls, abilities that required the Rinnegan.

The fastest way for Longmen to increase his strength was to develop his Rinnegan. Even if he could only access the basic abilities, once he had mastered all of them, his high-level dojutsu would give him an edge over most opponents in the ninja world.

However, these Rinnegan eyes did not originally belong to Longmen; they came from Uchiha Madara, who could have left some sort of countermeasure. For Longmen's future development, it was important that he didn't neglect his other abilities.

"Especially the Yang Breath that I taught you. You must practice it for at least one hour every day in the training room," Muyue added.

After Longmen had mastered the basic breathing technique, Muyue, after much thought, decided to teach him the Yang Breath.

Longmen possessed the Uzumaki clan's Sage Body, which naturally endowed him with strong life force chakra, making him well-suited for practicing Yang Release.

A stronger Yang Release would enhance Longmen's Mystical Person Body and, to some extent, counteract the side effects of the Rinnegan.

"I will, Teacher Souyuuki. You should take a rest," Longmen urged.

He rarely saw Muyue at rest; it seemed like she was always busy with something.

"Alright, I'll take a break then," Muyue smiled and sat down beside Longmen to watch him train.

"The Budokai venue should be completely finished within half a month. We can proceed with the next phase of the plan," Muyue thought.

To ensure the Ninja Sect was well-provided for, Muyue had devised a comprehensive plan.

In addition to the extremely enticing rewards, Muyue had prepared some other promotional strategies.

He intended to invite Hanzo as a special guest for the Young Ninja Competition, where they would watch the tournament together.

The presence of a new legend alongside the previous one would undoubtedly attract a lot of attention, and it was also an opportunity to milk Hanzo for all he was worth.

As partners in organizing this grand event, the Rain Ninja Village should provide some support, right? The last time, quite a few Rain Ninjas had come to Muyue's class.

That evening, Muyue sent a shadow clone with a few Ninja Sect ninjas to find Hanzo.

Hanzo had initially planned to pretend he wasn't there, as he felt a bit embarrassed to face Muyue.

However, thinking about the unlimited lectures, Hanzo eventually received Muyue in the leader's office.

"Souyuuki, state your purpose for this visit," Hanzo said calmly.

"I'm here to invite you, Hanzo-senpai, to watch the Young Ninja Competition," Muyue replied with a smile.

"I've been busy with official duties lately and won't have time to attend," Hanzo declined without changing his expression.

He didn't want to go; he knew that if he sat next to Muyue during the tournament, the other spectators would surely gossip about him.

"Hanzo is here? I wonder if he sent Rain Ninjas to compete so he can get his hands on that fire jutsu that defeated him."

"I heard Hanzo and Souyuuki have a grudge against each other. Why are they sitting together? Could it be that Hanzo has been humbled?"

They would definitely be talking about how he had been beaten by Muyue, and when the winner of the first-place prize was announced, they might bring it up again.

Muyue's smile remained unchanged as she said, "Hatake-senpai, what do you think of my lecturing skills?"

Hanzo's expression changed drastically, and his heart trembled. He couldn't understand how his disguise had been seen through, especially since even the Rain Ninjas didn't know he had been listening to the lectures.

After his initial surprise, Hanzo's face darkened as he realized that Muyue's interaction with him was no coincidence but a deliberate act.

Cursing Muyue in his mind, Hanzo quickly changed his tune, "When is it? I wouldn't want to miss such a grand event."

Hanzo had no choice; if it got out that he had been secretly listening in on Muyue's lectures for seven days, he would become the laughingstock of the ninja world.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end