I, Naruto Uzumaki, don't need your approval.

However, it is impossible to manage the entire village by relying solely on individual force.

Even someone as powerful as the First Hokage delegated the management of the ninja village's affairs to Tobirama-sensei.

Thinking of this, the Third Hokage stood up from his seat and patted Itachi on the shoulder: "You've had a tough time. You're caught between your clan and the village. It must have been very difficult for you."

Itachi shook his head and said, "It's not hard work. Father's current actions and thoughts will only harm the clan and the village, and allow other ninja villages to benefit. They haven't thought about these consequences at all. Their vision is forever limited to their own clan."

The Third Hokage gave a weary smile and said with some emotion:

"You always put the greater good first. If you were thirty-five years old now, I would want to hand over the Hokage position to you. If it were you, you would definitely be able to handle the conflict between the village and the Uchiha clan."

"Lord Hokage, you flatter me. I am far inferior to you."

Itachi did not accept the Third Hokage's praise. After briefly reporting the news, he left the Hokage Building.

After taking a long look at Itachi's departing figure, the Third Hokage felt a pang of nostalgia for Shisui. Shisui was not cunning and was an extremely devout believer in the Will of Fire.

However, Itachi Uchiha gave him the feeling of facing Danzo, someone who was difficult to control.

But apart from Itachi Uchiha, he couldn't find any other Uchiha he could communicate with.

What exactly caused Shisui's death? Was it really just suicide?

Chapter 50 The Involution Trend

Ninja Academy.

During his lunch break, Iruka called Naruto to his office.

Then, he took out his application for early graduation from the drawer and said apologetically, "Naruto, your application for early graduation has been rejected by the Hokage because he cannot arrange a Jonin to lead the team. You should apply again next year."

"Understood, Iruka-sensei."

Naruto glanced at the returned application and nodded mechanically.

Even before he submitted his application, he knew it would be rejected. The Third Hokage would never approve it, partly because he wanted him to build bonds at the Ninja Academy, and partly because he feared that the Third Hokage would become a ninja and break free of his control.

After all, compared to ninja academy students, genin in peacetime have the freedom to choose their missions.

However, improving his graduation application wasn't entirely useless. The Third Hokage, who came to visit him yesterday, brought him a new gift: the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, one of Konoha's forbidden techniques, as well as some ninjutsu insights.

It can be considered a form of compensation for having my graduation application rejected.

Iruka glanced at the dazed Naruto and sighed softly in his heart.

Although Naruto doesn't pay attention in class, his efforts are still noticed. Despite being known as the Demon Fox incarnate, he still manages to rank first in his class and even master courses for higher grades.

His only drawbacks are probably his reclusive nature and his status as a Jinchūriki.

But these are not Naruto's faults. If Naruto were not a Jinchuriki and had parents, he wouldn't be so withdrawn and eccentric. Besides, Naruto is already excellent enough.

Clearing his mind of distractions, Iruka said, "Go back to class first. Actually, life at the Ninja Academy isn't that bad. There's no need to put too much pressure on yourself. You need to learn to manage your stress appropriately."

Naruto nodded slightly and then walked out of the teachers' office.

After Naruto left the office, the teachers' office became lively again.

The teacher next to him said jokingly, "Iruka-sensei, you really care about Naruto, huh? But with his personality, showing concern won't do much good."

Iruka glanced at his friend Mizuki and frowned: "How can a teacher expect something in return?"

Mizuki said dismissively, "So you're willing to stay a Chunin teacher forever? There are so many powerful clan members in your class, haven't you ever thought about advancing further in the academy? Like becoming a headmaster or principal?"

Iruka shook his head: "I don't have such great ambitions; being a teacher is enough for me."

Shui Mu said with some regret, "You wasted the opportunity to teach the elite class. If it were me, I wouldn't let go of any opportunity to move up. I would do everything I could to climb up."

……

After lunch break, Naruto returned to the back of the classroom and sat down, pondering how to use the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.

The only difference between Shadow Clone Technique and Multiple Shadow Clone Technique lies in the number of clones. The former has a limit of five clones, while the latter can have hundreds or thousands of clones, making it a special ninjutsu designed for specific groups of people.

In the ninja world, besides the Five Kage, only Jinchuriki can use the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique without restraint.

However, this ninjutsu is still useless for Naruto. He is not the naive guy in the original work who only knows how to use numbers to suppress the enemy. Instead, he focuses more on the role of shadow clones in confusion and intelligence gathering, while the number is secondary.

Sasuke returned to his seat and leaned over to ask, "Naruto, did your graduation application get approved?"

Naruto glanced at Sasuke and shook his head: "Grandpa Hokage rejected it. He said he couldn't find a suitable Jonin to lead the team and told me to wait until next year."

Sasuke breathed a sigh of relief, but Naruto noticed this change and frowned.

Sasuke quickly explained, "I also applied for early graduation, but it was rejected. It seems it's not because I'm too weak."

Why did you apply to graduate early?

Naruto wasn't questioning Sasuke's strength; under his tutelage, Sasuke was stronger than most genin and more than capable of passing the graduation exam. He was simply suspicious of Sasuke's motives.

Sasuke snorted and said, "Your application to graduate early caused such a stir, the whole class was in an uproar. As the second in the class, of course I should also apply to graduate early. The important thing is to show my attitude."

Naruto rubbed his forehead. He hadn't noticed the commotion until he glanced at his classmates around him and then belatedly realized what was happening.

At this moment, Choji, who was sitting in front, turned around and said, "Yeah, I also want to take the graduation exam. Once I become a genin and have money, I can eat delicious food every day."

Shikamaru still maintained his lazy demeanor.

"I'm too lazy to apply. It's a peaceful era now, and there's no need for us ninja academy students to become ninjas. Besides, being a ninja and carrying out missions is too troublesome. It's better to rest at school."

Hearing the boys' discussion, Hinata glanced over discreetly, seemingly hesitant about whether to join the conversation.

But Naruto, who had become the center of attention, was too dazzling, and she didn't dare to go over. She felt that she was not good enough for Naruto now, and that she did not have the strength to graduate early.

Unless he can defeat his older cousin Neji, who is in a higher grade, head-on.

Thus, Naruto's request to graduate early unknowingly sparked a wave of intense competition in the class, with many students considering graduating early as well.

……

Several months passed in this way.

One weekend afternoon, Naruto used Shadow Clones to trick Kakashi, and his real body arrived in the Forest of Death.

Thanks to Naruto's meticulous modifications, the originally dark and damp underground base has become much brighter, and the surrounding soil is now filled with explosive tags, ready to be detonated at any time.

Upon hearing footsteps, Shisui, the prisoner, raised his head and looked at Naruto with a hint of anticipation.

After spending several months together, Shisui and Naruto had a fairly good relationship. Apart from losing his freedom and having his chakra sealed, Shisui was still able to move freely in the cage.

Naruto even thoughtfully replaced Shizuku's eyes with a new pair.

The new eye wasn't the Sharingan, but rather the work of some unknown, unlucky spy who infiltrated the villagers to try and harm him. He ended up being hit by a Rasengan and dying outside the village, providing plenty of material for his story.

After Shisui got his new eyes, it became much easier for Naruto to ask him for advice on training.

An elite Jonin's understanding of chakra attributes is far superior to that of a Chunin teacher in an academy.

Shisui understood that having eyes actually made it easier to be controlled by genjutsu, so he didn't hide anything and told Naruto about many training-related issues.

What Shisui found a bit odd was why a Jonin who could defeat him would lack basic common sense.

Do the Jonin in the village no longer need to undergo relevant training these days?

After being taught some advanced chakra techniques, Shisui ate the lunchbox that Naruto brought him. The taste of the lunchbox was familiar to Shisui; it tasted like the food from a shop in the village.

After hesitating for a moment, Shisui took a deep breath and asked, "How is the Uchiha clan now?"

Chapter 51 The Prisoner's Self-Cultivation

The shadow clone guarding Shisui was stunned for a moment, then summoned Naruto, who was training outside.

Naruto looked at Shisui suspiciously, then said, "So what if you know the current state of the Uchiha clan? Are you going to try to escape from here? You've already broken free from Kotoamatsukami's control; it's time to think about yourself."

"For example, like me, enjoying the pleasure of being an observer."

Shisui was aware of his status as a prisoner and also acknowledged that Naruto's words made a lot of sense.

During the months he was imprisoned, he lived quite comfortably. Although he had lost his freedom, he didn't have to worry about the village or his family. He could live a carefree life as a blind, useless person, only needing to think about what new dishes to prepare for tomorrow.

But in the quiet of the night, he couldn't help but think of his family and his close friends who had dealt with the village and the family.

Thinking of this, Shisui sighed softly and said, "Running away won't solve the problem. I still want to know about the family. Besides, wouldn't it be interesting for you to know this?"

Naruto was somewhat surprised by Shisui's change and said with a smile, "It's okay to tell you. Since you went missing, the relationship between the Security Force and Konoha has not improved. On the contrary, the conflict has intensified and has become common knowledge."

"With a new ninja in the village, everyone is speculating that a conflict will break out between the security forces and the higher-ups."

"In other words, your 'death' only delayed the countdown to the Uchiha coup, and it won't change anything. Why don't you wait with me for the day the Uchiha are destroyed?"

Shisui looked at Naruto and frowned: "Are you so sure that the Uchiha clan will perish? Captain Fugaku's coup still has a chance of success. Maybe he can really take over the Hokage Building and become the Fifth Hokage."

Naruto remained silent, but responded to Shisui with a meaningful smile that made the latter feel uneasy.

"If you really believed in these things, would you still choose to 'commit suicide'? You might as well think about how to save your own life. As long as you are alive, the Uchiha bloodline will not be cut off."

Shisui fell silent; he truly did not believe that his family could succeed in a coup.

Even if the coup succeeds, it will bring huge losses to the village and the clan, a lose-lose situation. Unable to find a way out, he chose to use Kotoamatsukami to control the clan leader to buy time, but was ultimately ambushed and killed by Danzo.

Looking at Naruto, who was speaking eloquently, Shisui asked hopefully, "Do you have any way to avoid conflict between the security forces and the village, and to let them live in peace?"

Seeing Shisui's desperate attempt to find a cure, Naruto smiled and said, "You're asking me? I'm the one who ambushed you and stole your eyes. You've asked the wrong person. You should ask the Hokage."

Shisui also found it somewhat amusing that a prisoner would ask a jailer how to save the Uchiha clan.

But like a drowning person grasping at a straw, he had no other choice but to seize the only opportunity.

At this moment, Naruto looked at Shisui and changed the subject: "It's not like there's no way out. The higher-ups have always treated the Uchiha differently, and the Uchiha are also dissatisfied with their situation in the village. They might as well leave."

"Let's start over in a different ninja village, so that neither side has to see the other and is less bothered by it."

Upon hearing this, Shisui frowned: "Isn't this a defection? It's a mass defection, which is not much different from launching a coup."

"The difference is huge. Leaving has a much higher success rate than a coup. Besides, the Uchiha are one of the two founding clans of the village. Now that the village can't even tolerate the Uchiha, isn't it perfectly normal for them to choose to leave?"

"Do we really have to stay in the village forever, even if it means dying and having our entire clan wiped out, rather than leave?"

Naruto's words seemed to possess a magical power, constantly echoing in Shisui's mind, making him repeatedly consider the feasibility of his entire clan's defection.

Ultimately, he concluded that the success rate of his defection wasn't too low, and his gaze towards Naruto became increasingly complex.

Prior to this, he had always believed that the Uchiha clan and the village were a single entity, ignoring the option of the Uchiha clan's defection, because the Uchiha clan's defection would significantly weaken the village's strength and attract the covetousness of other ninja villages.

But after experiencing Danzo's attack and losing the influence of Kotoamatsukami, he began to doubt this idea.