Chapter 85
The splendor she displayed was enough to make any woman pale in comparison.
"..."
People stared blankly at the scene.
It wasn't until the Priestess passed by that they seemed to awaken from a dream.
Low murmurs rose among the crowd, their faces excited as they discussed matters concerning the Priestess.
Mōryō.
A thousand-year-old demon linked to the Priestess.
Older Konoha residents had experienced more than one Mōryō incident.
As early as about 20 years ago, Mōryō had once plagued the Ninja World.
Tracing back further, about another 20 years, Mōryō had also appeared... Many villagers were witnesses to history, and they knew the tragic and heroic stories of each Priestess sacrificing her life to seal Mōryō.
Seeing this current Priestess in person, they couldn't help but shed tears, their hearts filled with emotion.
Naruto, also standing in the crowd, naturally wouldn't miss such an interesting event.
"So... that's how it is..."
Naruto, familiar with the Hokage plot, had already been pondering when Asuma, Kurenai Yuhi, Itachi, and others left the Village a few days ago.
Now, seeing the Priestess personally come to Konoha, Naruto knew that he might have triggered a series of butterfly effects.
Leading more of this world's plot towards an unknown direction.
The Priestess, who was supposed to be sacrificed, appeared in Konoha.
Does this mean Mōryō hasn't been sealed yet?
The Priestess, with her flowing chestnut hair, was accompanied by a little girl with light yellow hair.
The little girl's features resembled the Priestess somewhat.
Evidently, she was the next Priestess... Shion.
"Priestess-sama... is truly beautiful~."
Naruto stared intently at the woman before him.
Her noble temperament was unmatched by any woman he had ever seen.
The Tailed Beast Partner within him began to awaken.
Naruto soothed it, signaling it not to rush, because sooner or later... Soon, the Priestess and the Hokage met.
The smiling Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Priestess exchanged pleasantries.
After a brief exchange, Hiruzen Sarutobi expressed his hope that the Priestess could settle down in Konoha, preferably to reside there permanently.
Mōryō plaguing the Ninja World had always been a long-standing and troublesome issue.
Konoha had also suffered its harm multiple times.
If Konoha's strength could be gathered to permanently eliminate or seal Mōryō with the Priestess, it would be for the best.
The Priestess nodded slightly, accepting Hokage-sama's invitation.
Since she had traveled thousands of miles to Konoha, she naturally had this consideration in mind.
Among all the Ninja Villages, Konoha had the best reputation.
Choosing this place as a residence and leveraging Konoha's power was naturally not a problem.
In public, the Priestess made a request.
She hoped Konoha could allocate a location to build a grand hall for the Priestess, for rituals and cultivation.
Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately happily stated that it was absolutely no problem.
In fact, there was an ancient temple in the Konohaback mountains.
The Uzumaki Clan's... shrine.
After the Uzumaki Clan's annihilation, it had become empty.
After the First Hokage's wife, Uzumaki Mito, passed away, it became even more dilapidated.
Now, if it were renovated and decorated as a Priestess shrine, it would naturally be no problem.
The site was confirmed, and both host and guest were pleased.
The Priestess and the Hokage congratulated each other, and the specific details could be discussed slowly.
In short, let's first hire artisans from the Land of Waves, and have professionals carry out the renovations... Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi invited the Priestess into the Hokage Building, a voice from the crowd made them stop.
"Hokage-sama, Princess Priestess, please wait!"
The one who appeared was Uchiha Fugaku.
As a well-known Clan in Konoha, who didn't recognize the prominent Uchiha Fugaku?
His sudden outburst caused people to start whispering.
"..."
Naruto watched the spirited Uchiha Fugaku.
He was completely different from his suppressed appearance in the original story.
The Kumogakure conflict had changed some things, making the Uchiha's prestige soar.
Had the Uchiha, who had once again become famous after the war, started to swell with pride?
Naruto had good reason to believe that the young Uchiha Shisui could persuade the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, Yugito, to retreat.
Then... the long-established Uchiha Fugaku would surely be even more capable of persuading the Raikage to retreat.
His challenge also indicated that he had sufficient confidence to do certain things.
"Hokage-sama... Since Princess Priestess is settling in our Konoha, she should receive adequate protection. I heard... the Ninja of the Land of Demons are very cunning..."
As Uchiha Fugaku described, everyone understood his meaning.
This mission to escort the Priestess resulted in some casualties for Konoha, and many were injured.
They left full of vigor and returned as a defeated army.
"I believe that the Ninja of the Land of Demons will certainly not give up easily and will definitely attack Princess Priestess!"
Uchiha Fugaku spoke very reasonably, and Hiruzen Sarutobi had to nod in agreement.
"Therefore... for the safety of the Ninja World, for Konoha, the Uchiha Clan is duty-bound!"
Uchiha Fugaku immediately invoked the greater good, hoping the Sandaime would entrust the responsibility of protecting the Priestess to the Uchiha Clan.
With the track record of the Kumogakure conflict, Uchiha Fugaku's request at this time was extremely reasonable!
However, his attitude could also be interpreted as... somewhat aggressive.
It was clearly a test of the Konoha higher-ups, and even had a sense of pushing his luck.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, not realizing the Uchiha's ambition, only thought the Uchiha Clan wanted to make a good impression.
So, Hiruzen Sarutobi praised Itachi in front of Uchiha Fugaku.
And stated that Itachi, at 7 years old, could think with the mind of a Hokage.
This statement, heard by Uchiha Fugaku, was no less than a compromise or a hint.
"Does the Sandaime mean... that with Itachi's talent, he can become Hokage sooner or later?"
This hint completely "enlightened" Uchiha Fugaku.
Uchiha Fugaku's plan for a "physical revolution" in his heart was thrown into the sea, never to be seen again.
"Peaceful evolution of Konoha" became his primary thought.
"Yes, with Itachi's talent, isn't becoming Hokagejust a matter of time?"
Uchiha Fugaku immediately decided.
The Clan should adopt a more stable approach, gradually seizing power, step by step... eroding Konoha.
Itachi joins the Anbu, and will sooner or later become Hokage.
Sako is betrothed to Naruto, and will sooner or later win over the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
The Clan strives for more rights, and sooner or later, the higher-ups will all be Uchiha.
With these three approaches, eventually... the entire Konoha will belong to the Uchiha.
Chapter 26. Yūgao: Hayate, this is just Naruto's order.
So that's it... Naruto stroked his chin and thought for a while, quickly understanding Uchiha Fugaku's purpose in making a public challenge.
"Sako's father wants to gradually infiltrate Konoha, pressure the Konoha higher-ups, and thereby control this Village..."
If the Uchiha, who were at the height of their fame due to the Kumogakure border war, could protect the Priestess and assist in eliminating Mōryō, it would be equivalent to gaining the title of "Savior of the Ninja World."
By then, the Uchiha's prestige would be even more unstoppable.
Once Mōryō was dead, the Ninja World would be at peace. If the Uchiha then logically demanded something, the Konoha higher-ups would surely be unable to refuse.
When it came to underhanded tactics, the Uchihacouldn't outmaneuver the Konoha higher-ups. But when it came to being open and direct, head-on confrontations, the Uchiha Clan had never backed down from anyone.
This was a blatant open conspiracy.
"Thank you very much."
The spirited Uchiha Fugaku thanked the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Subsequently, the Uchiha Ninja gathered, and with their professional qualities, they cleared a path for the Priestess and gradually took over the escort duties from other Konoha Ninja.
Their orderly conduct clearly showed their excellent training.
It was like regular troops taking over an area from city guards.
How to put it, they were indeed an elite Clan.
So, would Uchiha Fugaku's scheme be able to prevent the Uchiha Clan from being annihilated?
Danzo should have already had Itachi join the Anbu.
The Uchiha disrupting his original plan would only make Danzo more extreme, executing darker schemes.
It could also be said that the Uchiha Clan was still actively seeking death.
"Well, then, we'll wait and see what happens next."
Naruto thought to himself.
However... since the plot had already begun to deviate and might not follow the original entirely, he also needed his own informants.
In terms of perception, no Clan would be stronger than the Hyuga.
Hyuga Natsu's other use was arranged... Narutogazed at the departing figure of the Priestess, imprinting her noble form in his eyes, then turned and left... Konoha Hospital.
The daylight sun streamed in, and Gekkō Hayatetidied his appearance before leaving the ward.
Today was his discharge day.
After resting for a full week, his body was restless.
On this beautiful, sunny morning, breathing the outside air, he couldn't help but sigh.
He not only marveled at the beauty of the outside world but also thought... Yūgao probably wouldn't come to greet him.