Starting with Naruto, I'll become stronger through my own efforts.

As Hiruzen Sarutobi watched Natsume leave, his body trembled uncontrollably, the tremors growing more and more violent.

The Third Hokage's trembling suddenly stopped when Xia Zuo reached the door, and he slumped into his chair as if all his strength had been drained.

Xia Zuo stood by the door, smiling, and said, "As expected, without Shimura Danzo, the Third Hokage wouldn't have committed such a heinous act as attacking Konoha ninja."

The Third Hokage took a deep breath and asked, "As the person designated by your teacher with special authority, what do you plan to do next? Restore the Senju clan's surname and run for the position of Fifth Hokage?"

Xia Zuo chuckled and said, "Although I am very tall, I am only 14 years old this year. It would be too much of an exaggeration for me to become Hokage."

"The next step is naturally to participate in the Chunin Exams, which I have already registered for. I need to become a formal Konoha Chunin."

Hiruzen Sarutobi: "Huh?"

Xia Zuo ignored him and continued, "As for the surname Senju, since the Second Hokage erased my father's surname, there's naturally no need to take it back."

The Third Hokage breathed a huge sigh of relief. Finally able to relax, he asked with a slightly amused expression, "With your strength, isn't it a bit too much to participate in the Chunin Exams?"

"Besides, who in the entire Hidden Leaf Village would dare to test a Wood Release ninja like you?"

Xia Zuo smiled indifferently: "When I appeared in front of the Konoha ninjas, I disguised my height and appearance."

"If you, Third Hokage, could find out my identity based on my relationship with Uchiha Izumi, then it certainly wouldn't be so easy for others to discover it."

"As long as those who know don't tell anyone, they won't know I'm a Wood Release ninja."

After Xia Zuo finished speaking, he gently closed the door to the Hokage's office and then left the Hokage building.

Every word he said was true, but not all of it.

Because of the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai that had been shown earlier, and Danzo's head that was placed on the table, the Third Hokage made a misjudgment.

Xia Zuo confirmed from the Third Hokage's sudden softening attitude that he had come to believe that Xia Zuo was the Second Hokage's hidden henchman.

Furthermore, given his explicit statement that he would not interfere with power, the two sides should be able to coexist peacefully.

Of course, this peace will not last more than a few years.

Because Xia Zuo was unwilling and did not want Hiruzen Sarutobi to end his life as a hero.

If Tsunade doesn't change her mind and come back within two or three years, then he will take over without hesitation.

What? Xia Zuo promised not to become Hokage?

Nonsense. Xia Zuo remembers it clearly. He only said that "becoming Hokage at 14 is too exaggerated." Becoming Hokage at 16 or 17 would be more appropriate.

……

In the Uchiha clan's territory, many people are clearing away construction debris and collecting valuables and supplies buried under the ruins.

Xia Zuo first set a fire, then used [Wood Release: Advent of the World of Trees], which not only caused the entire house to collapse, but also completely destroyed its foundation.

The current head of the Uchiha clan is Uchiha Izumi.

Because all the higher-ups are dead, she is the only remaining ninja with the three-tomoe Sharingan.

Seeing that she couldn't shirk her responsibility, Uchiha Izumi simply took it upon herself to direct her clansmen in clearing the ruins.

Uchiha Shisui stepped on the cleared ground and sighed, "The foundation has been completely destroyed. We'll have to find another piece of land to build the clan's new territory."

Uchiha Izumi asked curiously, "Isn't this obvious? Why is Shisui-nii worried?"

Uchiha Shisui sighed again: "There aren't any large open spaces left in the village. Where are we going to build a clan estate?"

Uchiha Izumi chuckled and said, "There's no need to worry about this at all. I submitted the land application to the Third Hokage at noon. Now it's his turn to take care of it."

Uchiha Shisui: "Isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

Uchiha Izumi asked, puzzled, "The Hokage is the highest leader of Konoha Village. It's the Hokage's responsibility to oversee the allocation of residential land. Why is Shisui-nii worrying about the Hokage? Do you want to be Hokage?"

Uchiha Shisui was startled: "No, I didn't, don't talk nonsense."

Having experienced Danzo's sneak attack, Itachi's betrayal, and the Third Hokage's tacit approval of the clan's extermination, Shisui Uchiha's beliefs completely collapsed. He was filled with fear of politics and avoided the Hokage like the plague.

"I'm a blind man now, a useless person. I'm already grateful if I can help Izumi, how could I possibly become Hokage?"

"Who said you're a useless person?"

Xia Zuo suddenly appeared beside the two of them, took out a small bottle from his pocket, and tossed it to Uchiha Shisui.

"elder brother!"

Uchiha Izumi cheered and pounced on him, hugging Xia Zuo from behind like a koala, refusing to get down.

Uchiha Shisui caught the bottle, shook it, and asked curiously, "What is this?"

Xia Zuo said with a laugh, "Those are your eyes. I won't be responsible if they get broken."

Shisui was so startled that he almost dropped the bottle, breaking out in a cold sweat.

Xia Zuo continued, "I'm exhausted after a day of traveling more than 200 kilometers."

"We first tried to kill Itachi Uchiha but failed, only managing to retrieve one of his eyes and cripple one of his arms."

"Then I intercepted the Root ninja who had defected, killed Shimura Danzo, and gouged out his second eye from his eye socket."

"Although this operation didn't go smoothly, at least we managed to gather all your eyes. Hurry up and put them on."

Uchiha Shisui carefully cupped his eyes: "Huh? Hurry up and pretend?"

Xia Zuo laughed and said, "What do you mean, 'ah'? Don't you know that your Uchiha's eyes are plug-and-play?"

"Come on, I'll show you."

Xia Zuo ripped the bandage off Shisui's eyes with his left hand, took the small bottle from his hand with his right hand, crushed it, and extracted the Sharingan in its three-tomoe state.

After repeatedly washing with a mass of physiologically altered saline solution, Xia Zuo inserted his eyes into Uchiha Shisui's eye sockets and then infused them with a vital Yang Release chakra.

In just a few seconds, Uchiha Shisui's eyes were able to move again, and he saw the light, and saw Xia Zuo in front of him and the curious Uchiha Izumi.

Blindness is the most despairing disability.

Uchiha ninjas who awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan possess visual abilities a hundred times greater than ordinary people, and the despair they feel after losing their sight is also a hundred times greater than that of ordinary people.

The joy of regaining his lost light was unimaginable, to the point that he couldn't help but shed tears.

Xia Zuo waved his hand and said, "Alright, stop crying."

"Although the Sharingan can be used immediately after installation, you can't overuse them right away, or your vision will deteriorate."

Uchiha Shisui quickly stopped crying. He even closed his three-tomoe Sharingan and took out the bandages again to cover his eyes, just like before.

Uchiha Izumi laughed: "Hehe, is Shisui-nii trying to trick us?"

Xia Zuo rubbed Quan's head and said, "Shisui's reputation for 'Shrinking Body Instant' is so great, how could he possibly fool anyone?"

Uchiha Shisui was in a great mood and smiled as he echoed, "Just like Lord Xia Zuo said, I can't lie even if I'm blindfolded; it just helps with the recovery of my eye power."

Uchiha Izumi was overjoyed: "Great! Since Shisui-nii doesn't intend to pretend to be blind, he can become the clan leader."

Xia Zuo and Shi Shui shook their heads simultaneously: "Shi Shui, I am not suitable to be the clan leader."