Konoha: You're letting me build up my bonds, but you're offending the entire ninja world.

Gengetsu Shimura's expression softened.

The mastermind was myself. Oh well, what is there to be afraid of?

.......

Uchiha Itachi watched Shimura Gengetsu's changing expression with a strange look until he heard the voice of the cat-faced Anbu, at which point his small face became solemn.

"The battle begins!"

As soon as the secret service's whistle blew, the two men moved simultaneously.

One person moved forward while the other moved backward.

Shimura Gengetsu gave chase, while Uchiha Itachi fled.

While maintaining his distance as much as possible, Itachi Uchiha's hands were not idle. His hands trembled as if twitching, and he instantly shot out dozens of shuriken, each of which was connected to a thread that was difficult to see with the naked eye.

As he continued to pull, the direction of the shuriken changed. Some continued to block Shimura Gengetsu from the front, while others flanked from both sides, using the threads to form a large net, attempting to completely lock Shimura Gengetsu in place.

The essence of the Body Flicker Technique is not teleportation, but rather the activation of the body through chakra to greatly increase movement speed. Uchiha Itachi had also trained with Uchiha Shisui, so he naturally knew how to limit the effectiveness of the Body Flicker Technique.

Many of the ninjas watching the battle were immediately impressed.

Appeared.

The Uchiha clan's Shuriken Manipulation Technique!

With the Sharingan's meticulous observational abilities and the enhanced chakra control brought about by increased mental strength, the Uchiha clan not only excels at throwing shuriken, but can also manipulate them in various ways using threads, making them unpredictable and difficult to defend against.

But... Itachi Uchiha hasn't awakened his Sharingan yet!

"Clan Chief Fugaku has truly raised a fine son," a Jonin remarked.

"Yes, another Uchiha Shisui. I wonder what kind of reputation he will make in the future."

"As expected of the number one clan in Konoha, geniuses emerge one after another."

"........"

Hearing the praise from these Jonin, Fugaku Uchiha even used up all his chakra before he could suppress the upturned corners of his mouth.

But he didn't notice at all that none of the four old men, led by Hiruzen Sarutobi, showed a smile; they all just stared blankly.

On the field, Shimura Gengetsu and Uchiha Itachi maintained a certain distance throughout. Itachi's strategy seemed to have succeeded, but...

what?

Itachi Uchiha's expression changed slightly.

Shimura Gengetsu charged again. Just as he was about to pull the silk threads to intercept them, he found that the kunai and shuriken became tangled together with a little force.

Recalling Shimura Gengetsu's erratic movements just now, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he finally understood his intention.

It seemed to have no pattern, spinning around like a headless fly, but as it went on, it tangled all its threads together.

"Uchiha Itachi, I'm only letting you jump for so long because I'm giving Shisui face. This farce ends here."

Swish!

With the Body Flicker Technique activated, Shimura Gengetsu swiftly appeared in front of him and delivered a straight punch. Uchiha Itachi raised his hand to block it, but felt a piercing pain and was sent flying into the air.

Itachi Uchiha felt as if he were facing not a peer, but a fully developed adult ninja. The two were on completely different levels of power.

Using the immense force, Itachi flew backward to create distance, enduring the pain as he began forming hand seals. By the time he landed on the ground, only the last two seals remained.

"Wu-Yin!"

"Art fire escape ho fireball!"

A fireball was spat out of his mouth, rapidly expanding to a diameter of five meters, and rushed forward with a blast of heat.

Shimura Gengetsu had also noticed his movements long ago, and the two began forming hand seals almost at the same time.

Boom! The smoke exploded.

A shadow clone appeared beside Shimura Gengetsu, the hand seals formed by the clone and the original were different.

"Fire Release·Dragon Fire Technique!"

"Wind Release: Whirlwind Breakthrough!"

"Explosive Wind Dance!"

The combined ninjutsu, Explosive Dance, was instantly formed. The wind borrowed the power of the fire, and the fire borrowed the power of the wind. The two amplified each other, and the fire dragon spun and roared as it rushed towards Uchiha Itachi, crashing into the fireball.

The Great Fireball exploded with a bang, and Itachi Uchiha's pupils shrank sharply. He never expected that his ninjutsu would be so easily defeated head-on. With the support of Wind Release, the speed of the fire dragon did not decrease but increased, and its size was also expanding rapidly. The firelight reflected into his pupils, and Itachi Uchiha had no time to dodge now.

next moment....

"Tu Dun·Tu Liubi!"

An earthen wall rose from the ground, blocking the fire dragon. When the flames dissipated, the earthen wall was completely shattered, revealing the figures behind it.

Uchiha Fugaku.

At this moment, the Uchiha clan leader looked solemn as he watched Shimura Gengetsu through the wall.

"Itachi lost this battle, Shimura-kun."

"No, Father, I haven't..."

"Shut up!"

Fugaku Uchiha suddenly turned around and found that his son's eyes were blood red, with a tomoe hanging on the edge of each pupil.

"Itachi, you've awakened your Sharingan?" Fugaku's anger vanished instantly, replaced by pure joy. Before he could say anything, Itachi collapsed to the ground with a thud.

Ding!

[The host has reached the second stage of the bond with Itachi Uchiha, and is rewarded with Uchiha bloodline (rich)]

Fugaku Uchiha carefully picked up Itachi and placed him facing the long table.

"Lord Hokage, I need to take Itachi for treatment, so I'll be going now."

"Go, Fugaku, take good care of Itachi. When he wakes up, congratulate him on becoming a genin." Hiruzen Sarutobi wore a straw hat, so no one could see his expression.

Danzo lowered his head, his face obscured by shadows.

"Thank you, Hokage-sama." Fugaku Uchiha bowed slightly and used the Body Flicker Technique to rush to Konoha Hospital.

Gengetsu Shimura, who had been watching them, clicked his tongue softly.

It seems there's no chance of sealing this seal of reconciliation.

Chapter Seventeen: Hiruzen Sarutobi's defenses are breached! (Seeking flowers and votes!)

With Fugaku's departure, the battle came to an end.

Hiruzen Sarutobi left, and the ninjas who had been watching the match also left one after another. Danzo came to Shimura Gengetsu's side, patted him on the shoulder, and couldn't suppress his smile anymore.

It just looked a little out of place on his face.

"Xuan Yue, you did very well, but don't be arrogant. The evil Uchiha actually awakened his Sharingan at this time. Uchiha Itachi's strength will usher in a period of explosive growth. You must continue to work hard, otherwise you will be caught up."

Genjutsu Shimura waved his hand dismissively, "So what if you have Sharingan? You think you can surpass me after being defeated by me?"

"Impossible, absolutely impossible. He can only ever look up at my back for the rest of his life."

Danzo Shimura's eye twitched. Where did his grandson get this arrogant personality from? Shouldn't he be like him, an old...little sly fool?

Danzo wanted to tell him about the terror of the Mangekyou Sharingan, but it was clear that this was not the place to discuss such secrets.

He simply told Shimura Gengetsu to wait for him to return that night before hurrying off to catch up with Sarutobi Hiruzen.

.....

Upon arriving at the Hokage's office building, Danzo did not knock but simply pushed open the door to Hiruzen Sarutobi's office and walked in.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was standing by the window, gazing at the scenery of Konoha.

"Stop pretending, there are no outsiders here." Danzo sat down opposite the Hokage's throne and sneered.

"I don't understand what you're talking about." Hiruzen Sarutobi said without turning his head.

"He awakened his Sharingan at seven years old. We both know what he will achieve in the future. Add Uchiha Shisui to the mix, and this Konoha... is it our Konoha, or the Konoha of the Uchiha?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze was deep and unfathomable, and a long silence fell over the office.

After an unknown amount of time, a long sigh was heard.

"Danzo, the war is not completely over yet, and we need the power of the Uchiha."

Danzo sneered again.

Hiruzen, you haven't changed at all; you've been using the same formula for decades.

They want both reputation and results.

But that's good, because it's precisely because of your personality that my roots can grow strong and healthy, and one day they will break through the soil and take over the whole tree.

"Let's not talk about the Uchiha anymore, let's talk about Gengetsu."

Hiruzen Sarutobi had returned to normal, sitting back in his seat with a smile on his lips, once again becoming the gentle Hokage he appeared to outsiders.

"So what if Uchiha Itachi is strong? Your Xuan Yue still easily defeated him. His ability to transform into both wind and fire attributes is amazing."