Konoha: This Uchiha is extremely sneaky

Chapter 42 Speculation

The next morning, on the banks of the Naga River outside Konoha Village, beside a cliff.

On a protruding section of the cliff face, more than ten meters above the ground, stands a straight oak tree, as thick as an adult's waist, like a sharp thorn protruding from the cliff face, pointing straight to the sky.

The wind on the cliff edge was very strong; even the oak trees, known for their sturdiness, swayed from time to time with the morning breeze.

Near the top of the oak tree, level with the horizon, a boy sat atop its very tip, his figure swaying in the air with the tree's movement. He resembled a leaf detached from a branch, dancing in the wind, seemingly trying to merge with the world around him.

It wasn't that simple after all!

He stood up from the stone slab beneath him, and even such a large movement did not cause him to lose his balance; he stood steadily on the slab. Occasionally, small birds that were foraging for food in the morning would pass by and rest on him for a while or two, completely unaware that he was a ferocious animal that would harm them.

With a flick of his finger, he startled the little bird on his shoulder. He leaped, clearing the five or six-meter gap between his seat and the cliff edge. He lost his balance as he landed on the stone slab and plummeted to the bottom, shattering into pieces.

Without the toad oil of Mount Myōboku and its unique environment, achieving Sage Mode is indeed incredibly difficult!

With a sigh, Toshiro thought helplessly.

As time passed, he moved his meditation practice to a cliffside spot on the banks of the Nanhe River. With considerable effort, he erected a nearly 20-meter-long oak log from a protruding rock 20 meters below the cliff face, level with the cliff edge and pointing straight to the sky.

[Should we try to obtain summoning scrolls from Mount Myōboku, Ryūchi Cave, or Shikkotsu Forest?]

[Never mind. Although relations between the village and the clan have improved in the past two years, he is ultimately an Uchiha, while those three ninjas are all disciples of the Hokage!]

After nearly four years of meditation practice, his results were remarkable. His chakra manipulation ability had grown rapidly, he had awakened his sensory abilities, and his spiritual energy had become increasingly abundant.

Since it began practicing a month ago, small birds have frequently landed on it to rest. This is proof of its achievements in meditation, demonstrating that it has reached the threshold of the ascetic state.

However! The most crucial step—perceiving natural energy—remained elusive. Without the toad oil from Mount Myoboku as a medium, and without the environment brimming with natural energy, they were completely lost.

Ultimately, they failed to perceive natural energy!

[I recall there being a spirit island in the original story, where the beasts were all incredibly large. The island was rich in natural energy; I wonder if it would help my ability to perceive natural energy?]

In the original story, this island is called the "Island of Oblivion." The summoning beasts on the island are enormous. As the war intensifies, researchers, in order to gain greater power and obtain stronger summoning beasts, have created the strongest summoning beast called "Ultimate" through modification and innovation.

However, things didn't go as planned. The summoning beast "Ultimate" went berserk! It devoured all the researchers, including a descendant of the Uzumaki clan named Hinoka Uzumaki. In the end, thanks to Naruto's protagonist aura and the chakra left behind by Hinoka Uzumaki, they were dragged into the magma and sealed away, killing them.

During this time, Toshiro has been reading several volumes of "Anecdotes and Ghost Stories" whenever he has free time. In addition, he also searches for clues about the Island of Spirits while passing the time.

He believes in the principle that everything that goes by leaves a trace.

Even if the forces that discovered the island try their best to keep it a secret, some clues will always inadvertently be revealed.

Furthermore, during the training of Sage Mode, how do you expel uncontrolled Sage Chakra from your body? Should you try searching for your family's Flame Fan?

In his conjecture, the Flame Fan passed down through generations of the Uchiha clan was likely made from a branch of the Divine Tree. Since the Divine Tree possesses the ability to absorb natural energy, it's plausible that it could be used to unleash uncontrolled Sage Chakra.

If his conjecture comes true, then the ancestors of the Uchiha clan truly were guarding a treasure without knowing how to use it.

[If that's the case, then we'll have to plan this carefully. We can only wait until Rin Nohara dies during the Third Shinobi World War, then follow Obito in and infiltrate Madara's base...]

[That's too risky! What if the timing isn't right, and Madara isn't completely flat on his back? Then he'd have to go up and fight Madara head-on? That's incredibly difficult! The only option is to try unplugging his oxygen tube!]

Damn it! The ninja world is really tough! You can't even just give up! This is so hard...

Muttering a string of curses under his breath, the god of time travel was nowhere to be found. His mood brightened, Toshiro hummed a little tune and slowly disappeared into this beautiful, rarely visited place.

"Toshiro, wait a minute! Come over for dinner tonight! Your Mika-nee is going to cook a really good meal for us!"

Just as he entered the compound and stepped over the red torii gate, a cheerful voice rang out in front of Toshiro.

Looking up at the sound, bathed in the morning sunlight, a figure slowly walked towards the Uchiha clan.

"Brother Minghong, are you going to the garrison for duty? I didn't see Sister Meixiang with you when you left."

The newcomer was named Uchiha Akihiro, an ordinary member of the Konoha Police Force. He inherited the Uchiha clan's characteristic handsome features. Tall and slender, with black hair and black eyes, he exuded a sunny and approachable aura.

Unfortunately, he hasn't awakened the Sharingan, and his strength is only that of an average Chunin. Aside from his family's inherited Fire Release ninjutsu, which is passable, his other abilities are unremarkable. However, his personality is quite pleasant, and being around him gives one a perfectly comfortable feeling.

Although I feel I'm not good enough for Mika-nee.

However, after several encounters with him, Toshiro also accepted his "uncle-in-law." Compatibility between two people is more important; the difference in strength doesn't have a significant impact on marriage, after all, everyone has their own preferences.

"Ah! The R&D lab just purchased a new batch of research equipment that needs to be reinstalled, so you'll have to take two days off, Meixiang!"

At Mika Uchiha's insistence, Toshiro addressed Akihiro Uchiha as "Big Brother." Fortunately, this "Big Brother" was also a war orphan with few direct elders in his family, so he didn't care much about the form of address.

As for Toshiro's other "uncle".

They rarely appear in his life.

This "uncle" and "aunt" were a match made in heaven, always inseparable and never getting tired of each other. Even the worldly-wise Toshiro from later generations, after spending a few times with them, exclaimed that he couldn't stand it anymore and decided it was best not to mention it!

(End of this chapter)