I, Uchiha Hikaru, have joined the chat group.

Chapter 67 Just because it's always been this way, does that mean it's right?

Of course, Hikaru Uchiha doesn't know "Flying Thunder God Technique".

However, from a ninja's perspective, the "travel" function of the chat group is indeed somewhat similar to the Flying Thunder God technique.

Besides...

She had indeed learned another of Minato Namikaze's signature ninjutsu techniques, just recently—

"This ninjutsu shouldn't seem unfamiliar to you, right?"

As he spoke, Uchiha Hikaru raised his right hand again. As his chakra condensed, a small dumpling gradually formed in his palm, emitting a soft buzzing sound.

"Rasengan!?"

"Minato even taught you this technique?!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was taken aback and instinctively turned his head to look at his side.

Jiraiya's expression became even more serious.

—As someone who witnessed the entire development process of the Rasengan and is currently the only person in the ninja world who can use it, he is the most capable of distinguishing the authenticity of the ninjutsu before him.

"It really is a Rasengan..."

"Minato, he really is still..."

Jiraiya stopped halfway through his sentence, realizing he couldn't find a suitable adjective.

What kind of state is it to be inside the belly of Death?

"...Although I don't know how you met Minato, Miss Uchiha Hikaru, his willingness to teach you these two ninjutsu techniques shows he trusts you immensely. In that case, I won't say anything more. I just hope that out of friendship, you can take good care of Naruto and prevent him from going astray."

After a long pause, Jiraiya spoke slowly and solemnly.

"Um?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly turned around and looked at Jiraiya—this was not what they had agreed on beforehand.

Uchiha Hikaru, on the other hand, raised an eyebrow: "Didn't you come here this time to take back Naruto's guardianship? Well, whatever, I'm moving out of here soon anyway."

This decision was not made on a whim.

Previously, Uchiha Hikaru had just arrived in Konoha and had nowhere else to go, so he stayed at Naruto's house temporarily through a deal with the Fourth Hokage.

But now.

She was already quite wealthy, and had acquired many novelties through her travels around the world. Living in such a small apartment, which was closely watched by the secret police, was a bit inconvenient.

"Move out?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced towards the kitchen, then hesitated, "What about Naruto..."

"Naruto is now capable of taking care of himself. Even without my help, he can manage his own life."

Uchiha Hikaru paused slightly, then narrowed his eyes as he looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen in front of him: "However, I suggest that you guys don't force your own values, which you can't even explain yourself, into him, especially things like the 'Will of Fire'."

"..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi hesitated for a moment, but finally couldn't hold back: "Miss Hikari, do you have some prejudice against the Will of Fire?"

"puff--"

Uchiha Hikaru couldn't help but laugh: "Prejudice?"

"Sarutobi brat, I'm asking you this. If I had never appeared in Konoha from the beginning, how did you plan to handle the Uchiha clan's affairs?"

"this……"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was a little confused by the purpose of the question: "The hypothetical situation you mentioned doesn't exist, but if that were to actually happen, the Konoha leadership would naturally prioritize appeasement and strive for a peaceful resolution through negotiation..."

"Oh?"

Uchiha Hikaru's smile widened: "So-called appeasement means arranging for the Anbu to keep a close watch on you, allowing the Root to cause trouble in secret, while you hide in your office and do nothing about it?"

Unable to clear their names of orchestrating the Nine-Tails' attack and dissatisfied with their current treatment and situation, given the Uchiha clan's nature, what actions do you think they will take? And how will you respond then?

In fact, at this point in time, the conflict between the Uchiha clan and Konoha has become quite acute.

If Uchiha Hikaru had not appeared.

In the next few months, the conflict between the two sides will escalate to its peak, forcing Shisui to confess his "Kotoamatsukami" ability to the Konoha leadership, which will arouse Danzo's covetousness, resulting in Shisui having his eyes gouged out and being thrown into the river. This will forcefully interrupt the Uchiha clan's rebellion plan, and two years later, Itachi and Obito, these two traitors, will join forces to exterminate the clan.

Others may not be aware of this.

However, as the Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had been arranging for the Anbu to closely monitor the Uchiha clan's movements for several years, should know this all too well.

"this……"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was already drenched in sweat.

In front of this great-grandmother of the Uchiha clan, he dared not speak too bluntly about many things.

After stammering for a while, Hiruzen Sarutobi finally managed to say, as tactfully as possible, "If the Uchiha clan really does turn against Konoha, then the higher-ups might urge Fugaku to punish the ringleaders of the rebellion, since their actions have indeed jeopardized the village's safety..."

"oh."

"It turns out that a fabricated charge can be used as a reason for the destruction of an entire clan; merely wanting to improve the unfair treatment is considered to endanger the safety of the village."

If the one who instigated the Nine-Tails' rampage had been someone who had received Hashirama Senju's cells, or someone who had received a Byakugan that had been lost to the outside world... then would the Senju clan, the Hyuga clan, and even the Ino-Shika-Cho and Sarutobi clans have also ended up "opposing Konoha"?

Uchiha Hikaru's tone gradually hardened: "Let me be blunt. In your eyes, is 'Konoha' the people who make up this village, or the village itself? Is the so-called 'Will of Fire' 'protecting Konoha' or 'Konoha above all'? Since when did a village built to protect those important to you become one that abandons those important to maintain the village's interests? Can a village without people still be called a village?"

"..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi opened his mouth, bewildered by the series of questions: "But... it's always been like this, and other ninja villages are too..."

"Just because it's always been this way, does that mean it's right?"

Uchiha Hikaru interrupted him bluntly: "If everything is still the same as when the village was founded, like during the Warring States period, then what is the point of Konoha's existence?"

"Whether it's Naruto or anyone else, they are fundamentally human beings first, and only secondly are they villagers of Konoha, ninjas, or anything else. They weren't born into this world as humans to be kindling for a fire!"

"..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi wanted to say that Hikaru Uchiha was being sophistical.

But at that moment, he couldn't find a point to refute.

The "Will of Fire," which he had spoken countless times in front of the ninja academy, the ANBU, the Jonin class, and even the villagers of Konoha, suddenly seemed somewhat empty.

Jiraiya, on the other hand, stared intently at Uchiha Hikaru with an unusually serious expression, as if he were looking at a complete stranger.

(End of this chapter)