Naruto: Konoha Spring of the Uchiha Prodigies

“That’s right, they will definitely help you.” Kakashi said, a special glint in his eyes. “Let’s go, let’s go eat ramen.”

Upon hearing about his favorite ramen, Naruto instantly perked up, forgetting all the unpleasantness from before, and followed Kakashi with a big laugh.

……

Inside the Hokage's office, after listening to the ANBU ninja's report on what had just happened on the shopping street, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh.

Just then, the door to the Hokage's office was suddenly pushed open, and Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado stormed in angrily.

Upon seeing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi waved for the ANBU ninja who had come to report to to leave.

After the ANBU ninja left, Mitokado Homura couldn't wait to question him: "Hiruzen, what are you thinking? How could you let someone approach a Jinchuriki so easily?"

“You’re overthinking it. Kakashi is Minato’s student, so he’s entitled to take care of his teacher’s son,” Hiruzen Sarutobi said patiently.

“Hiruzen, this concerns a Jinchūriki, you can’t be too merciful,” Koharu Utatane said.

"So what? What are you planning to do? Like Danzo suggested before, lock Naruto up and brainwash him into a weapon of war?" Hiruzen Sarutobi said angrily. "Don't forget, Naruto isn't just a Jinchuriki, he's also Minato's son! The Fourth Hokage's son! Minato has already given his life for the village!"

“Hiruzen, that’s not what we meant,” Mitokado Homura said. “It’s just that Kakashi has the Sharingan after all. Don’t forget what happened six years ago!”

"Shut up! There's no need to discuss this anymore!" Hiruzen Sarutobi said.

"Hiruzen, Danzo is right, you're really too indecisive." Koharu Utatane couldn't help but say, seeing that Hiruzen was determined not to listen to their opinions, "You'll regret this one day!"

"I am the Hokage!" Hiruzen Sarutobi roared, slamming his fist on the table.

Seeing this, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu didn't want to make a fool of themselves any further. They snorted coldly, turned around, and left, slamming the door shut with a bang as they went.

After the two advisors left, Hiruzen Sarutobi lit his pipe, took a deep drag, and looked out the window, his eyes flashing with an ambiguous light.

Chapter 49 Conspiracy and Preparation

The two advisors, who had been rebuffed by Hiruzen Sarutobi, did not go their separate ways after leaving the Hokage's office. Instead, they went together to a secret room in the Mitokado family's residence to discuss the matter.

"Yan, Hiruzen is still too indecisive. Even if he wants to train a Jinchuriki normally, he shouldn't let people with ulterior motives get close to him," Koharu Utatane couldn't help but say.

“Yes, it’s not hard to see from the last mission that Kakashi has already made contact with that inherently evil Uchiha brat, and he’s no longer trustworthy.” Mitokado Homura said seriously, “If Kakashi takes the Jinchuriki and joins the Uchiha side, then all of Master’s plans over the years will be ruined.”

“That’s right. Jinchuriki can only be controlled by our side.” Koharu Utatane nodded. “Let’s do it the same way we did back then. Although Danzo was the one who did it, it’s not difficult for us to replicate those methods.”

"Using the same methods we used against White Fang back then? Isn't that a bit too much?" Mitokado Homura frowned.

"Hmph, who told Kakashi to be like his father, coveting things they shouldn't have touched?" Koharu Utatane said coldly. "What, are you becoming indecisive like Hiruzen as you get older?"

"Would doing this affect the peace of the village..." Mitomon En pondered.

"We're doing this for the sake of the village's peace! Only by completely crushing the Uchiha's ambitions can the village truly have peace!" Koharu Utatane said.

“I understand,” Mitokado Yan nodded. “Then let’s do as you say. I will inform the family to follow your orders.”

……

While the two advisors were plotting, Uchiha Touhuan, who had already finished work, was practicing Sage Mode in his courtyard at home.

Having memorized the perfect Sage Chakra ratio, Uchiha Touhuan meditated for a while under the cover of night. Once the Sage Chakra had filled his entire body, Uchiha Touhuan suddenly opened his eyes, vertical pupils appearing in his eyes, and purple eyeshadow appearing at the corners of his eyes.

Uchiha Touhuan clenched his fist, feeling the abundant power within his body, and thought to himself, "The power in this state is indeed much stronger than before. However, I still need to practice the speed at which I refine Sage Chakra, otherwise, I'm afraid it will be difficult to use in battle."

Uchiha Tohkan closed his eyes again, relaxed his mind, felt the rhythm of the natural energy between heaven and earth, and began to circulate the secret technique of Ryuchi Cave.

On his first attempt, Uchiha Touhuan's perception range was already able to cover the entire Uchiha clan territory. Before long, he discovered that fluctuations of lightning release were coming from the backyard of the Uchiha Fugaku clan, which was not far from his house. Upon closer inspection, a smile appeared on Uchiha Touhuan's lips.

Sasuke is practicing the technique that Uchiha Touhuan taught him the other day. It has to be said that Sasuke's talent in Lightning Release is truly amazing. It's only been about a week since he was taught this technique, and Sasuke is already able to compress the lightning balls he creates to a certain extent and make them rotate around his body twice.

However, this kid still needs to improve the stability of his ninjutsu. In just a few minutes, he was already covered in dust twice by the lightning balls he created.

After watching for a while, Uchiha Touhuan also decided to narrow down his sensory range, since it was late at night and it would be impolite to see something.

However, before he could close his sensory range, Uchiha Touhuan suddenly noticed a figure moving at high speed within the clan's territory, heading towards his home.

"This chakra fluctuation? Kakashi?" Uchiha Touhuan raised an eyebrow. Kakashi came to see him at this time?

Before long, Kakashi appeared in Uchiha Touhuan's courtyard. The first thing Kakashi saw upon entering the courtyard was Uchiha Touhuan meditating under the eaves.

At this moment, Kakashi was secretly alarmed by the aura that Uchiha Touhuan exuded. If the Uchiha Touhuan he had seen in battle before was like a burst of thunder, then at this moment he was like a dark cloud before a storm, seemingly calm, but containing the might of heaven.

"What's this?" Kakashi asked.

“Sage Mode.” Uchiha Touhuan smiled slightly at Kakashi, who had already removed his mask, and said frankly without any intention of avoiding him, “Consider it a trophy from killing Orochimaru last time.”

"Sage Mode?" Kakashi thought to himself. As a disciple of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, he was not unfamiliar with this form. The Fourth Hokage was able to enter this mode before his death, but due to a lack of practice time, he could not activate it at any time during battle.

"If Teacher had been able to use this form that night, the outcome would probably have been different," Kakashi thought to himself, sensing Uchiha Touhuan's power at that moment.

"What do you need me for so late?" Uchiha Touhuan asked.

"There is indeed something I need to ask you," Kakashi said after regaining his composure.

"Want a pot of wine? Let's talk while we play?" Uchiha Touhuan said with a smile, looking at the target fifty paces away.

"Okay." Kakashi nodded.

At Uchiha Tohkan's command, the butler quickly brought the two men two longbows and two quivers of arrows.

Uchiha Touhuan pulled back the bowstring to warm up, picked up an arrow, and nocked it.

After the sound of wind breaking, the arrow hit the bullseye fifty paces away.

After firing the arrow, Uchiha Touhuan turned to Kakashi and asked, "You must have practiced since that day, right?"

Kakashi nodded without saying anything more. He drew his bow, nocked an arrow, and shot it. After a muffled thud, the arrow landed steadily next to the arrow that Uchiha Touhuan had just shot.

"Hehe, it seems you've practiced diligently." Uchiha Touhuan laughed. "Did you come to see me because of Naruto? Zaidou has already told me about what happened today."

“That’s right.” Kakashi nodded. “I want to ask you to have the Security Department look after Naruto, at least a little.”

"That's no problem. The Uchiha also have great respect for the Fourth Hokage. However, as you know, that child's identity is a bit sensitive. If the Security Department makes contact rashly, some people will get restless."

After hearing what Uchiha Touhuan said, Kakashi also fell silent.

The two men shot arrow after arrow, and before long, the centers of several targets in the courtyard were filled with arrows.

Finally, Uchiha Touhuan fired his last arrow, then put down his longbow and said, "I will give the instructions on what you mentioned after I go to work tomorrow. The village may not be very peaceful in the near future."

After saying that, Uchiha Touhuan looked at Kakashi, who had already removed his mask, and smiled: "However, it seems that you are already prepared."

Chapter 50 Rumors Arise

The next day, after arriving at work, Uchiha Touhuan summoned the captains of the security force to his office one by one and instructed them to take better care of Naruto in the future.

After receiving their orders, the captains of the Jonin battalions, including Inuzuka Kaze who had just joined and Aburame Shihai, a Jonin sent by the Aburame clan, also privately gave instructions to each of them in turn.

So, in the following days, when the members of the security department encountered Naruto during their patrols, they would intentionally or unintentionally take care of him a little. A few villagers, however, were caught in the crossfire when they verbally abused Naruto, and were immediately arrested by the patrol members on a whim and taken back to the security department.

So, in the past few days, Naruto has clearly felt that there is less malice around him, and his already optimistic personality has become even more cheerful.

However, during this period, some discordant voices emerged in the village.

……

"Have you heard? That little fox demon has found a powerful backer recently."

"Really? I was wondering why that little fox demon seemed to have gotten so arrogant lately. Turns out he found a ninja to back him up."

"By the way, do you guys know who this guy is?"

"I think his name is Hatake Kakashi. I heard he used to be in the Anbu."

"Hmph, what kind of good person can be hanging out with that fox demon brat?"

"Yes, I heard that guy was expelled from the Anbu by the Hokage."

"Furthermore, I've also heard that this guy is a serial killer who even killed his own teammates during the Third Shinobi World War."

"Is that so? Doesn't the Hokage care? Why doesn't the Hokage expel him and that fox demon brat from the village?"

"I heard that guy has connections with the security forces."

"That was terrifying. It seems I really shouldn't mess with that damned fox demon brat anymore."

"Hmph! What's there to be afraid of! Do you think he can make a move in the village? We have the Hokage backing us up. If he dares to make a move, we'll all go to the Hokage Building to petition!"

"Yes, that's right! As long as we petition together, the Hokage will definitely help us drive them out of the village!"

Soon, their conversation caught the attention of a man with a melon-shaped haircut and a green bodysuit who was standing upside down nearby. After listening for a while, the man with the melon-shaped haircut immediately stood up indignantly: "How can you say that! Kakashi is the village hero!"

Upon seeing the ninjas approaching, the villagers who had just gathered together to petition immediately scattered like birds and beasts.

"Hey! Don't go! Explain yourself!" Might Guy said, displeased.

"Never mind, Guy." At that moment, Kakashi appeared behind Might Guy and patted his old friend on the shoulder.

"Kakashi?" Guy, who had been on a mission, turned around and saw Kakashi's face without his mask. Suddenly, he felt a surge of anger. "You..."

Kakashi knew what Guy was referring to, nodded, and said, "Let's consider it a farewell to the past."

Upon hearing this, Kai's eyes immediately welled up with tears: "Although I don't know what you're talking about, this must be the feeling of youth! Kakashi, let's begin our youthful showdown!"

"Sorry, I really haven't been free these past few days." Kakashi declined Guy's challenge.

Upon hearing this, Kai was taken aback at first, then remembered what had just happened, and said, "Is it because of what those people said? Come on, let's go find them and reason with them. How could they say such things about you!"

"Forget it." Kakashi shook his head. "Even if we catch up with them, what can we do? Ninjas can't attack civilians."

……

Similar conversations have been frequently occurring in various corners of the village these past few days. In just a few days, Kakashi's name has become something that everyone in the village hates.

Uchiha Touhuan, who was in the Security Department, naturally heard about this news as well.

However, the investigation revealed that the source of these rumors was ordinary merchants from the businesses of the Tsutomu and Mitomon families in the village.

"After all these years, I thought they would come up with something new, but I didn't expect them to still be playing the same old tricks."

Inside the office, Uchiha Touhuan, having put down the investigation report that Inahisa and the others had brought him, leaned back in his office chair and couldn't help but sneer.

At that moment, there was a knock on the door of Uchiha Tohsen's office.

"Come in." Uchiha Touhuan called out, and the door was pushed open, with Uchiha Shisui walking in.

"Vice Captain, what can I do for you?" Shisui asked as he entered.

"Brother Shisui, it's just the two of us here, there's no need to be so formal, please sit down." Uchiha Touhuan.