140: The Crimson Eyes' Light Completely Freezes
"In truth, Nohara Rin's intelligence being sold to the Mist ninja and her ultimately being forced to become the Three-Tails jinchuriki—this wasn't entirely caused by Shimura Danzo colluding with the Mist ninja. I judge there's another hand behind this, an organization lurking in the darkness. For unknown purposes, they facilitated this entire affair."
When speaking these words, Ritsu's expression didn't change at all.
It was as though he genuinely didn't know the mastermind behind everything was Uchiha Madara and Black Zetsu. All of this was him standing from an uninformed person's perspective, making bold yet reasonable speculation based on limited intelligence in his possession.
Minato frowned thoughtfully. "Evidence?"
He maintained his composure.
Though what Ritsu said was absurd, reality sometimes truly had no logic to speak of. Moreover, Wood Release bloodline limit couldn't possibly appear from thin air. It had to have a source.
A hidden organization lurking in darkness sounded like a reasonable origin.
"White humanoid creatures possessing Wood Release bloodline limit—that's the evidence."
"Words alone prove nothing!"
"Those two creatures were special. After seizing the Wood Release bloodline limit, not even their corpses remained. But since I could catch two, it indicates this organization likely has quite a few similar creatures. Furthermore, they intervened in our war with the Mist ninja this time. This shows that for their unknown purposes, if necessary, they'll definitely intervene a second time, a third time. After enough occurrences, they'll eventually reveal their traces."
This essentially kicked the can of evidence down the road into an uncertain future.
However, Minato furrowed his brow in thought. He didn't rebuke Ritsu for spouting nonsense. After pondering for a moment, he said in a low voice, "I'll arrange for people to pay attention to this aspect. I also hope that if Hyuga Clan Head makes another discovery next time, you'll report it promptly."
He accepted Ritsu's explanation.
Even though his heart remained half-believing, half-doubting, what meaning was there in questioning whether Ritsu was lying? Doing so would bring no benefits whatsoever, only making the situation troublesome and their relationship deteriorate.
Even if it was a lie, Ritsu had indeed proactively offered an explanation, accounting for the origin of his Wood Release bloodline limit. Moreover, his instincts told him Ritsu had probably concealed something rather than outright lied.
Ritsu also appreciated Minato's magnanimity. He answered, "Rest assured, Hokage-sama! The Hyuga clan and Konoha share a common fate. I hope to see a thriving, prosperous Konoha more than many others. As long as it's an idea that can make the village better, the Hyuga clan will definitely support it with all our might."
Hearing this response, Minato's face couldn't help showing a pleased smile. Though he now held the honored position of Hokage and wielded actual power, whatever he did—whether planning reforms or attempting something else—he could never avoid the village's many great clans. Whether these powerful families supported him often determined if his efforts would be twice the work for half the results, or half the work for twice the results.
The Hyuga clan's support was extremely important to him.
Seeing Minato in good spirits, Ritsu struck while the iron was hot. "So, Hokage-sama, I wonder if I might be permitted to examine the materials the First Hokage left regarding Wood Release?"
Minato seriously considered this before answering earnestly, "Yes, but only a portion. Everything the First Hokage left behind is the village's precious asset, one of the foundations of our Konoha's strength. It can't be casually accessed by anyone. Only by rendering meritorious service can one receive corresponding rewards. Based on the merits Hyuga Clan Head has accumulated, I can grant you materials of equivalent value."
After speaking, he asked again, "Hyuga Clan Head, do you have any questions about what I've said?"
Ritsu immediately shook his head, smiling. "Hokage-sama's words are very reasonable. Rules are rules. There's absolutely no reason to make exceptions because of me. Please grant me materials equivalent in value to the merits I've previously rendered. As for the rest, I'll exchange them for new accomplishments in the future."
Though he couldn't obtain all the materials in one go, getting a portion was acceptable. After all, if that old bastard Third was still in power, even if Ritsu achieved legendary merit, he probably wouldn't be allowed to touch these things until hell froze over.
Minato didn't equivocate or delay. He formed hand seals and released a shadow clone toward the storage room connected to the Hokage's office. Inside were stored the village's Scroll of Seals recording all forbidden techniques, plus other precious documents and materials. Most were good things left behind by the First and Second Hokage.
Starting from the Third Hokage, these items had been personally guarded by the Hokage. Besides the current Hokage who could freely read the knowledge within, all other ninja in the village needed to exchange merits for knowledge.
While waiting, Ritsu didn't idle. He asked, "Hokage-sama, what's the current situation at the Yu no Kuni front? Do the Cloud ninja show any intent to push south and wage war?"
"Hard to say at the moment. By common sense, with the Mist ninja suffering crushing defeat at our hands, the Cloud ninja shouldn't possibly push south to face our Konoha one-on-one. In a straight fight, they absolutely have no chance of victory. But then again, those barbarians from the mountains sometimes truly don't play by the rules, so... it's still hard to say!"
"Sounds like there aren't many good opportunities to render merit."
"Haha! Going to the Yu no Kuni front now would only earn you hard labor credits. There truly aren't many opportunities."
Ritsu immediately lost interest. Looks like achieving merit would require finding another method. Perhaps it would still fall on Uchiha Madara and Black Zetsu. Speaking of which, what was Uchiha Obito's current situation anyway?
Nohara Rin was still alive and kicking even now. Did Uchiha Obito still have any possibility of falling into darkness?
Would the Nine-Tails incident still occur?
Could it be that Minato this Hokage would serve long and prosperously?
Ritsu fell into contemplation, and seeing this, Minato didn't speak further. He likewise thought about his two students, Nohara Rin and Hatake Kakashi.
A moment later, Minato's shadow clone emerged from the storage room protected by extremely formidable barriers, holding two rather worn scrolls.
As the shadow clone dispersed, memories flooded into the original's mind. The two scrolls likewise appeared in his hands.
Minato spent two seconds digesting the memories fed back by the shadow clone. Looking toward Ritsu, he raised the two scrolls in his hands. "Hyuga Clan Head, these two scrolls are what I'm giving you. The green scroll records a series of Wood Release techniques the First Hokage developed. The blue scroll contains the First Hokage's random notes, recording some of his insights and experiences during training."
He handed both scrolls to Ritsu. "You may look at them here now, memorize them in your mind, then leave. Though I apologize, these are the rules. You can study and learn from them, but absolutely cannot take them from here."
Ritsu accepted the scrolls and prayed, "I hope the First Hokage won't make things too difficult for us later generations!"
Just as Ritsu squatted in the Hokage building beginning to study the materials related to Wood Release bloodline limit left by the First Hokage, at the Yu no Kuni front, Konoha ninja and Cloud ninja erupted in another small-scale conflict.
Though the Cloud ninja showed no signs of pushing south in force, small-scale conflicts had erupted frequently in recent days. The Cloud ninja side seemed to be probing Konoha's actual strength while searching for holes in Konoha's defensive line. From time to time, they'd dispatch squads to infiltrate Konoha ninja defenses, triggering conflicts.
Today, the same thing occurred again.
When Uchiha Torajiro led his squad on patrol, he discovered traces of Cloud ninja infiltration. After sending out a signal, he decisively gave chase. He pursued the Cloud ninja squad through mountain forests. The instant both sides met, they began a life-or-death struggle.
Initially, both sides were evenly matched. More accurately, because double-tomoe Sharingan user Uchiha Torajiro was present, the Konoha side held the advantage.
However, Cloud ninja reinforcements arrived unexpectedly quickly. Though this was clearly the Konoha ninja patrol zone, Cloud ninja reinforcements arrived first. Moreover, the arriving Cloud ninja possessed exceptionally formidable strength—outstanding even among jonin.
Worse still, though they'd already sent out signals requesting support, reinforcements never arrived. They were being driven away from base camp by the Cloud ninja like dogs chasing rabbits.
"Damn it, where are our reinforcements?"
"We can't hold them off. We can't hold them off with just us. The one chasing us is the Thunder Beast!"
"What the hell are those big shots above doing?!"
Under the threat of mortal crisis, subordinates complained without restraint.
Uchiha Torajiro's forehead was covered in cold sweat. As squad leader, he bore the greatest pressure. Hearing his subordinates' complaints, he couldn't help clenching his teeth, thinking involuntarily: Tatsuhata-aniki, if it were you at this moment, what would you do?
This question quickly found an answer.
His biological older brother had sacrificed himself on the battlefield covering his comrades' retreat. In the end, they hadn't even recovered his corpse. It was precisely this devastating news that stimulated his Sharingan to evolve to the two-tomoe level.
But if possible, he'd rather continue being the clan's dead-last with single-tomoe Sharingan in exchange for Tatsuhata-aniki's survival.
Unfortunately, many things in this world had no "ifs." What existed was cruel reality that could never be changed.
Uchiha Torajiro suddenly spoke. "You all scatter and flee. Try to move toward our defensive zone. I'll stay behind and stall our pursuers!"
These words left his subordinates—nearly swallowed by the approaching despair of death—momentarily stunned. One of them said instinctively, "Captain, you'll die!"
Uchiha Torajiro suppressed his urge to curse. Without courtesy, he said, "Stop with the damn jinxes! My life is tough as nails! Don't underestimate the potential our Uchiha clan can unleash in desperate situations!"
"But..."
"No buts. Move faster. Keep dragging this out and none of us will escape. If you leave now, with good luck you might bring reinforcements back in time to save me."
"We..."
Uchiha Torajiro immediately shouted, "That's an order!"
The subordinates fell silent. They looked at each other. Finally, clenching their teeth, the three scattered in different directions. Uchiha Torajiro stopped on a bowl-thick tree branch, turned around, extracted a coil of steel wire coated with anti-glare paint from his tool pouch, and set a lethal trap between two large trees.
Then he drew his short blade. Both eyes glowed crimson as he assumed a combat-ready stance.
Approximately six seconds later, a lightning flash charged over. But to Uchiha Torajiro's disappointment, this lightning flash didn't charge straight at him recklessly. Instead, it stopped seven or eight meters away.
The lightning faded, revealing a man with short golden hair, cold white skin, and exceptionally muscular build. His exposed right bicep bore the characters "Noisy" tattooed on it.
This man's name was Sawai, nicknamed Thunder Beast. He was one of Hidden Cloud Village's outstanding jonin. The Cloud Village's unique Lightning Release taijutsu style he'd mastered could be called consummate. Dozens of Konoha ninja lives reportedly lay beneath his hands.
Sawai looked at Uchiha Torajiro, his face showing a bloodthirsty smile. "Uchiha brat, not running anymore?"
Uchiha Torajiro struggled to maintain composure, wracking his brain for methods to delay time. His mouth didn't forget to bluff. "Of course there's no need to run anymore. Our Konoha reinforcements will arrive momentarily. My mission is to stay and stall you. Speaking of which, Cloud ninja Thunder Beast—charging so deep into our Konoha's position, aren't you worried about not making it back?"
Unexpectedly, Sawai burst into loud laughter. "Stupid Uchiha brat, you won't have any reinforcements. You think I charged here in a moment of hot-bloodedness?"
Uchiha Torajiro's heart sank. "What do you mean by that?"
Sawai's face showed a smile mixing mockery and pity. "Uchiha brat, I dare appear here not because I'm bold, but because someone from your Konoha helped me conceal my tracks and blocked your distress signals. That's why I dared chase you here!"
"You're spouting nonsense! Don't try to deceive me!"
Uchiha Torajiro shouted his rebuttal.
But—
The next instant, lightning flashed. Sawai launched a charge as swift as rushing thunder. Like he had eyes, he avoided the steel wire Uchiha Torajiro had set and burst before this Uchiha youth.
Then his lightning-wreathed hand blade knocked away Uchiha Torajiro's short sword and cleanly sliced open Uchiha Torajiro's throat. Blood sprayed out like a fountain.
Uchiha Torajiro looked at this burly man's figure. His drifting consciousness held little resentment. He only couldn't help wondering what Tatsuhata-aniki had been thinking when his life hung by a thread.
Wait?
Why did it feel like he saw Tatsuhata-aniki?
Was this... an illusion? Or had Tatsuhata-aniki come from the underworld to receive him?
His final consciousness drowned in darkness. The light in those crimson eyes completely froze.
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guys seems like obito's "replacement's" name is Tatsuhata, not Ryu. That was a miss translation
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