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Chapter 83: The Reveal
🕑 Added 2025-02-26 13:08:33 +0000 UTCChapter 83: The Reveal
"Raikage-sama, what should we do now?"
Inside the Root base, the Fourth Raikage kept his gaze fixed on his unconscious subordinate.
Now that his breathing had stabilized, the Raikage felt slightly relieved.
But his other subordinate’s question made his fists clench again.
What to do?
What else could he do?
That damn Flying Thunder God-user who also had Wood Release had already spelled it out for him—this entire situation was going to be made public.
Now, he would be known as a Raikage who deeply cared for his subordinates.
Sure, it was a good reputation, and it helped him save face, but the problem was—he had no choice in the matter!
"Konoha’s bastards are hypocritical to the extreme…"
The Fourth Raikage’s fists trembled with barely restrained anger.
It felt like someone had punched him in the face and then told him it was for his own good—and now he was expected to thank them for it.
This level of shamelessness reminded him of his fight with that damn kid.
That brat had perfected the art of shameless combat!
"Still… that kid never threw any kunai. So how the hell was he constantly teleporting behind me?"
The Raikage was no fool. During the battle, he had been too preoccupied to think about it, and the aftermath had left him too frustrated to dwell on it.
But now that he had time to reflect, the question gnawed at him.
After mulling it over for a while without an answer, he gave up and refocused on a more pressing matter.
He had suffered a humiliating loss this time, and he needed to find a way to make up for it.
"Wood Release… Flying Thunder God…"
The Fourth Raikage muttered, his expression shifting.
"And that other brat… that green chakra giant… must’ve been Susanoo, right?"
As Raikage, he had access to plenty of intelligence reports, and he wasn’t blind.
The Mangekyō Sharingan was well-documented in Hidden Cloud’s records—it was said to be the only power capable of rivaling the First Hokage.
Konoha now has both of these abilities. That old bastard Ōnoki won’t take this well…
When it came to grudges against Konoha, all the great villages shared the sentiment.
Every single one of them would have gladly plundered Konoha’s resources if given the chance.
After all, Konoha had the most fertile lands, the richest resources, the best geographical position, and an endless supply of talent.
That was why, every time war broke out, Konoha was inevitably dragged into the conflict—whether they wanted to be or not.
The Third Great Ninja War had been a prime example.
The moment the other villages started fighting, they all ended up targeting Konoha.
"Konoha likes publicity, huh?
Fine. Let’s help them spread the word."
The Fourth Raikage’s gaze hardened as he turned to his subordinate.
"But focus the rumors on Wood Release and the Mangekyō Sharingan. And direct them toward Iwagakure. Got it?"
"Iwagakure?"
The Cloud ninja hesitated for a moment but quickly understood.
"Understood, Raikage-sama! I’ll make sure everyone in Iwagakure hears about Konoha’s new prodigies."
"Hmph. This whole situation has been humiliating, but someone will make a move soon enough."
The Fourth Raikage smirked.
Letting Iwagakure and Konoha fight each other would be hilarious.
He couldn’t make a move himself—not yet. At most, he could return to the old status quo and continue making Konoha’s life miserable through black ops missions and subtle sabotage.
But that wasn’t enough.
If he could drag Ōnoki into this, things would get far more interesting.
After all, he still vividly remembered how Ōnoki had led thousands of Iwa-nin to wear his father down and kill him.
"And also… isn’t this Shimura Danzo’s base?"
Suddenly, the Raikage narrowed his eyes.
Lowering his voice, he asked—
His subordinate nodded slightly and replied just as quietly.
"Yes, Raikage-sama. During the discussion between the Third Hokage and Tsunade, I caught some lip movements.
It wasn’t perfectly clear, but I don’t think I’m wrong.
Also… that kid, Haruta—he seems to be one of Danzo’s subordinates."
Shimura Danzo.
The Fourth Raikage had zero respect for him.
All that talk about being "the darkness of the ninja world"—to him, Danzo and his kind were just scheming cockroaches.
Sneaky, underhanded rats who played in the shadows instead of fighting openly.
"No wonder that kid fought so damn dirty.
Turns out he’s Danzo’s dog."
The Raikage snorted.
This humiliation—he would repay it someday.
"Shimura Danzo… I won’t forget this."
---
Meanwhile, Haruta remained completely unaware that his ‘former boss’ had just been thrown under the bus.
This time, he hadn’t even plotted against Danzo.
Well—aside from casually making Danzo’s life harder by throwing Tsunade at him.
But against the Fourth Raikage?
Haruta had actually been restrained.
After all, the Raikage was about to meet with Hiruzen and possibly Danzo—if Haruta messed around too much, he might get reported.
And sure enough, Danzo did show up.
So in hindsight, playing it safe had been the right call.
If he was going to cause trouble, he had to do it so perfectly that the victim didn’t even have an excuse to complain.
Of course, he never could’ve predicted…
That Danzo’s "villain reputation" was so strong that he’d still take the blame anyway.
But Haruta didn’t have time to think about all that right now—he was exhausted.
"You finished cleaning up?"
Tsunade walked in from outside, still wearing her green haori with the kanji for "Gamble" on the back.
Her white top accentuated her impressive figure, and though her pants covered her legs, the red-painted toenails on her bare feet caught Haruta’s eye for a moment.
"Hmm."
Haruta quickly averted his gaze and nodded.
"All done, Lady Tsunade."
He had to admit—Tsunade really knew how to put people to work.
And her status was undeniable.
After Hiruzen’s death, when Konoha needed a new Hokage, the first choice had been Jiraiya, and the second was Tsunade.
Haruta sometimes wondered if they were chosen precisely because they didn’t care about politics.
Still, despite her laziness and reluctance to deal with paperwork, Tsunade had done a good job leading Konoha.
Under her rule, the Konoha 12 had grown stronger and more mature.
"As long as it’s done. You’ve picked a room, right?"
Tsunade nodded in satisfaction, then casually plopped down into a chair.
She pulled out two scrolls and tossed them to Haruta.
"You’re staying here from now on. No need to go back to your old place, and you don’t have to return to ANBU either.
Honestly, that old man knew about your situation and still kept you away? His vision must be failing."
That’s probably why no one stepped in when his ‘favourite student’ beat him to death.
Haruta forced a chuckle but quickly caught the scrolls.
"These contain the history of the Senju Clan and various jutsu."
Tsunade didn’t hold back, explaining directly.
"Chances are, you have Senju blood in you.
Verifying it would be difficult, but there’s one thing that can’t be denied—
Other than my grandfather, almost no one has ever naturally awakened Wood Release.
Even those who gained it through research or transplantation were missing something crucial.
But you have that special quality.
So whether you accept it or not, no one will doubt that you’re a Senju—not even me."
Haruta blinked.
He noticed that Tsunade was careful with her words.
She didn’t force the Senju identity on him just because of his Wood Release.
Maybe she was being considerate—after all, Haruta had grown up in an orphanage.
Going from having no family to suddenly being told, "You’re one of us," wasn’t always easy to accept.
So Haruta didn’t argue…
But he also didn’t confirm anything.
For now, he needed to carry the Senju name to help him get what he wanted.
"So, study hard and make the most of it."
Tsunade stretched and continued—
"If you have any questions, ask Shizune. She’s been with me for years and knows a lot.
You can also ask me.
As for Wood Release—I can’t help you with that. I don’t even have it myself.
But the information in those scrolls should be enough for you to learn from."
"I understand."
Haruta nodded, then glanced around the room curiously.
"Oh, right, Lady Tsunade—"
"Drop the ‘Lady.’"
Before he could finish, Tsunade cut him off.
"You’re living here and learning from me. That makes you my student.
Just call me ‘Sensei.’"
Haruta paused for a moment.
Then, without hesitation—
"Understood, Tsunade-sensei."
Having another teacher wasn’t a bad thing. Besides, for most of the people Haruta had met in this world, they all had the mindset of a prime minister raising an orphaned hero.
"Alright, Tsunade-sensei. Where are Shisui and Yugao? I don’t see them."
"Your little girlfriend went shopping for food with Shizune. I figured I’d have her stay for dinner."
Tsunade smirked teasingly, but then she remembered something.
"As for that Uchiha brat, he wanted to visit home, so I didn’t stop him."
"I see."
Haruta nodded, unfazed by Tsunade’s comment.
After all, Hayate Gekkō wasn’t in the same ANBU unit as him, and he was still young—nothing had happened yet. Haruta wasn’t going to let that chance slip by!
Hayate and Yugao had joined ANBU together, but they were assigned to different squads. There was a chance their assignments could change later, and since both practiced swordsmanship, they would naturally be drawn to each other.
As for when that attraction turned into romance? Haruta didn’t know, and Kishimoto never specified either.
At least for now, Yugao only saw Hayate as a senior.
The opportunity was right in front of him—why would he just hand it over?
As for Shisui, it made sense for him to go home.
Even though they had been in ANBU recently, Haruta knew the Uchiha clan wouldn’t sit still.
A brand new pair of Mangekyō Sharingan had appeared—if the clan didn’t act on it, that would be absurd.
What Shisui intended to do, Haruta wasn’t sure.
But as a teammate, he should at least see him off.
"I’ll go walk Shisui back. It’s not good for him to go alone."
"Suit yourself. He shouldn’t have gone far yet."
Tsunade didn’t object.
Although the thought of Shisui having the Mangekyō left her feeling uneasy, she chose to trust the old man’s judgment for now.
More importantly, while her view of the Uchiha wasn’t as optimistic as her grandfather’s, it wasn’t as extreme as her granduncle’s either.
Even her granduncle, in the end, had begrudgingly acknowledged her grandfather’s ideals and tried to tame the Uchiha rather than destroy them.
"I’m heading out, then."
Haruta took one last glance at those curves before standing up and heading outside.
It didn’t take long before he spotted Shisui, who was just about to leave.
"Oh? Haruta-kun, what are you doing here?"
Shisui smiled casually when he saw him.
"You’re not planning to drag me back for dinner, are you?"
"We didn’t prepare an extra pair of chopsticks. You should hurry home."
Haruta shrugged dismissively, making Shisui nearly roll his eyes.
"Alright, alright. I’ll leave you and Yugao alone. Seriously, you…"
"Glad you understand. I’ll walk you part of the way, then, Shisui-senpai."
"Don’t call me senpai. We’re the same age, and technically, you’ve been in ANBU longer than I have."
The two chatted and joked as they walked out of the Senju Clan’s estate.
By now, the sun was setting.
The golden-red glow of the evening sun bathed everything in its warm hues, casting long shadows across the village.
A gentle breeze swept through, rustling fallen leaves and stirring Shisui’s thoughts.
As he gazed at the scene before him, a heavy silence settled over him.
Because suddenly, his mind drifted back to his clan.
Ever since Haruta had told him that story last time, he couldn’t shake the feeling that things with the Uchiha were… worse than he thought.
Like this very sunset—beautiful but tinged with an inescapable sense of looming twilight.
No one knew when the darkness would finally fall.
It wasn’t what he wanted.
It wasn’t the path he wished to see unfold.
And yet… a question had been growing in his mind.
Now, he finally voiced it.
"Thank you, Haruta."
"Hmm?"
Haruta looked at him, puzzled.
He had no idea why Shisui was suddenly thanking him.
"That story you told me—it really gave me a lot to think about."
Shisui smiled faintly.
"And I appreciate your insights. They made me realize many things.
But… there are still decisions I can’t make on my own.
So tell me—what do you think?"
"What do I think?"
Haruta blinked.
He wasn’t entirely sure what Shisui was getting at, but it felt like he was trying to pull him into something.
Even though Haruta wasn’t particularly against that…
The problem was—he didn’t fully understand Shisui’s perspective yet.
So, he played it safe and just smiled.
"Well, I don’t know. After all, I only heard the story.
Who’s to say what’s really true?"
"Is that so?"
Shisui took a deep breath.
Then—his Sharingan activated.
His sharp gaze scanned the surroundings—checking for any hidden figures, chakra signatures, or even insects carrying traces of chakra.
Only when he was absolutely certain they were alone did he lower his voice.
"Haruta-kun… what if the child from that story…
What if someone could find a way to change his mind?
What if he was guided onto the right path, so he wouldn’t follow in his father’s footsteps?
What do you think would happen then?"
Changing his mind…
Haruta sighed.
Shisui really is Shisui.
He was still clinging to the idea of resolving things peacefully.
No doubt he was considering using Kotoamatsukami to alter Uchiha Fugaku’s will—or perhaps even more than just Fugaku.
But would that really work?
"What method are you using? A technique… or persuasion?"
Haruta turned to him, exhaling in resignation before choosing his words carefully.
"If it’s persuasion, then I’ll tell you right now—it’s pointless.
The anger has already been ignited.
The ones being 'guided' have already fallen into a trap without even realizing it.
Even if they do change… there will always be people who say:
‘It’s just a façade.’"
"That…"
Shisui hesitated, then cautiously asked—
"Then… what if I use a technique?"
"Then it’ll be even worse."
Haruta’s own sensory abilities expanded as he checked their surroundings, lowering his voice as he spoke.
"Convincing others requires proof.
For this to work, you’d need to prove that you have this ability.
Otherwise, it would be no different from what I just described.
But the moment you do reveal it…
It will only make things worse.
A technique like that is terrifying.
Everyone would start wondering—‘Am I being manipulated?’
The second group—the ones who chose to believe—would distance themselves.
Distrust would take root.
And the first group—the ones who resisted—would desperately try to obtain that power for themselves, convinced that it proved their suspicions were correct.
In the end—nothing would change."
"How… how could it turn out like that…?"
Shisui’s face paled.
He had never expected things to be this serious.
He had considered using Kotoamatsukami to prevent disaster, but now…
Now, he realized that doing so might push the Uchiha even closer to destruction.
But he still wasn’t ready to give up.
"What if… the person with this ability swore never to use it carelessly?"
"Shisui… you still don’t get it.
This isn’t about trust.
This is about human nature."
Haruta sighed, his gaze steady.
"If such a technique exists, then no matter who possesses it—
People will fear it.
It doesn’t matter if you’re loyal.
It doesn’t matter if you’re kind.
It doesn’t matter what oaths you swear.
Because no one wants their mind to be altered.
No one wants to become a puppet.
I hope you can understand that."
Shisui bit his lip.
This time, he understood.
And with that understanding came despair.
Was everything truly doomed?
"Is it really… unavoidable?"
Shisui clenched his fists.
This wasn’t the future he wanted.
But now, he felt powerless to stop it.
"Is there really no way…?"
"Not necessarily."
Just then, Haruta suddenly shook his head.
"Remember the plan I proposed back in land of Hot water?"
"Hmm?"
Shisui looked up in confusion.
Of course, he remembered—because it was far too extreme.
"I spent a long time under Lord Danzo.
Some of his methods… while extreme, are undeniably effective."
Haruta smirked, clapping Shisui on the shoulder.
"If I were in that child’s position, I would do two things.
First—eliminate the first group entirely."
"…!"
Shisui’s pupils dilated in shock.
"What kind of solution is that?!"
"Of course, to avoid suspicion, I wouldn’t leave behind any traces.
I’d quietly eliminate the ones who spread those ideas—the ones who lured me into a trap."
Haruta spoke casually, as if discussing the weather.
"As shinobi, we all know—when facing an enemy squad, the first priority is to kill the leader.
Destroy their command structure, and their morale collapses.
Beyond that, I’d work on fixing my own weaknesses—removing flaws, eliminating vulnerabilities, and ensuring that I control my own fate.
Because, like I said before—adults should have their own convictions.
If you can’t even control your own will, then you might as well be a puppet."
Shisui fell into a deep silence.
He didn’t know what to say—because Haruta’s words were too extreme.
But… if he thought about it carefully…
It was indeed a way out.
A dangerous way out.
A ruthless way out.
But a way out nonetheless.
Yet, he still hesitated.
"Wouldn’t that… cause more harm?
Even if the first group harbors hostility, to actually kill them—"
"You really need to spend some time in Root.
You’re too naive."
Haruta gave him a look of pure disdain.
"Remember Sunagakure?
For the sake of their village, they discarded their own hero.
Now, think of the child in the story.
He’s already standing at the edge of the cliff.
Either he lets the first group push him off, or he fights to survive.
Some changes require bloodshed.
That’s the reality of the world.
When the First Hokage built Konoha… how many people do you think he had to kill?"
At that, Haruta paused.
The wind rustled the fallen leaves around them.
He sighed.
"Remember what I told the Fourth Raikage?
That advice applies to you too."
"The more one clings to perfection…
The more they dirty their own hands.
In the end, they lose sight of everything."
"Listen."
Haruta’s voice was soft.
"In this wind…
Don’t you hear it?
The same sound the Fourth Raikage heard—
The sound of desires that will never be fulfilled."
He patted Shisui’s shoulder again, then turned away.
"Alright. That’s as far as I’ll walk you.
And the story is finished.
I don’t think there’s anything left for us to discuss, is there?"
Without waiting for an answer, Haruta walked off.
Shisui remained standing in place, motionless.
For a long time, he stared at the distant sunset.
Deep in thought.
Until finally—
His gaze changed.
"Shimura Danzo, huh…?"
"I understand now."
