Revitalizing the Uchiha clan starts with becoming a Kage.

Shisui's biggest mistake was revealing his Mangekyou Sharingan and completely revealing the Kotoamatsukami technique to the Konoha leadership.

In this life, Shoji did not give Shisui the chance to do such a foolish thing again. Now that he has come to Iwagakure, he sternly warns Shisui not to expose this technique. As the saying goes, "A common man is innocent, but he is guilty of possessing a treasure."

Once Shisui's technique is exposed, it will definitely cause panic and doubt among many people. They will constantly doubt whether they are living under the control of Shisui's eye technique. Even the Third Tsuchikage will doubt them. To put it more seriously, the Third Tsuchikage himself will be questioned and wary by other people in the village!

This is something that the General will absolutely not allow to happen.

Putting aside the fact that Onoki genuinely cared for the Uchiha clan, even if he didn't, Shoji wouldn't easily have Shisui do such a thing. Not to mention whether Shisui was willing or not, the success rate of the technique was already a problem.

Shoji never believed that Kotoamatsukami could so easily control a Kage-level powerhouse; the final outcome would depend on the clash of their spiritual powers.

Failure would have devastating consequences.

284. My Next Personal Goals (Third Update)

Both in public and private terms.

These are the most foolish things to do.

Shisui was not a fool. After hearing Jiang Si's advice, he realized the other hidden potential threats to his technique. He solemnly promised that he would never expose the technique and would never use it unless it was absolutely necessary.

Given Shisui's character, his promises are generally trustworthy. Moreover, in Shoji's plan, Shisui's eyes have great potential and value. Others cannot easily attempt to use them, but the four great ninja villages and certain members of the Akatsuki organization can be used as targets. However, that's a matter for the future. For now, it's most important to further improve one's own strength and solidify one's position.

Unlike the average person who might see Shoji as having reached the pinnacle of the ninja world, Shoji is far from satisfied with his current strength. Not to mention the three extraordinary beings behind him—Uchiha Madara, Otsutsuki Kaguya, and the Sage of Six Paths, who has a slight chance of becoming an enemy—Shoji is also reminded that his current strength is not enough!

With his Sharingan and ninjutsu temporarily at a personal bottleneck and unable to improve, taijutsu, or physical strength, is Shoji's top priority and the path to becoming stronger, in his opinion.

Of course, this doesn't refer to something like the Eight Gates Formation. First of all, it's a forbidden technique of Konoha, and it would be very difficult for Shoji to obtain it. Secondly, even if he managed to get the training method for this technique through great difficulty, Shoji might not be able to achieve anything in it.

It's different from regular physical training.

The Eight Gates Formation requires absolute talent and adaptability!

Otherwise, even if the Third Hokage was truly merciful and reluctant, wouldn't Shimura Danzo have seen the terrifying nature of this technique? If the Eight Gates technique didn't require any skill or talent and could be easily learned and mastered...

Given Danzo's character, he could definitely obtain the method for cultivating this technique and then have a part of his Root Clan cultivate the Eight Gates, even if opening the Eight Gates meant certain death. Would Danzo care about that?

One person can bring power that temporarily surpasses the level of a typical movie star.

Danzo would be laughing in his sleep!

Even though the last two gates are the most difficult to open, as long as one can reach the level of six gates, this is at least a way to mass-produce elite Jonin to Kage level powerhouses. Danzo had no reason not to use it. In the original work, only Might Guy, his father Might Dai, and his disciple Rock Lee could use this technique, which is enough to prove that the Eight Gates requires extremely high talent and ability!

Of course, the first two or three gates might not require much skill, since Kakashi seems to have used the Eight Gates technique and opened the first two or three gates. But that was Kakashi, so the earlier ones are uncertain. However, it is 100% certain that the later gates of the Eight Gates, especially the fifth and sixth gates, will definitely require the practitioner to have a very high level of adaptability to match them!

Do I have that talent?

The outcome is uncertain.

Besides, that thing is too dangerous. Seven Gates can only be considered as beyond Shadow, while Eight Gates can instantly reach the level of Six Paths in terms of destructive power, which requires paying the price of life. It is not the kind of technique that Jiang Si needs. Jiang Si's goals and steps have always been very firm and clear!

The Eight Gates Formation technique is not a target in Shoji's plan.

Improving his physical strength as much as possible and enhancing his physical skills is Jiang Si's temporary goal. What Jiang Si really wants to acquire next is the method of cultivating immortal techniques!

It's not the immortal cultivation method from the three holy lands, but a method of immortal cultivation that I figured out myself!

To put it proudly, Shoji believed that what the First Hokage could do, he could definitely do as well. Moreover, this was the most suitable training method for him: sensing and absorbing natural energy, and then fusing his own spiritual and physical energy in a 1:1:1 ratio to achieve a certain balance. Only in this way could he refine Sage Chakra!

Thus, one enters the Sage Mode.

Shoji believed that the Sage Mode he had figured out was the most suitable for him. In addition, Shoji had a certain degree of vigilance towards the three holy lands. The slug sage in Shikkotsu Forest might be a little better, but the white snake sage in Ryuchi Cave and the old toad in Mount Myōboku were really dangerous to Shoji. Not to mention, just take the matter of Hagoromo and Kaguya Otsutsuki as an example. Even if the subjective will of the two of them was the main factor, did that old toad really have no responsibility at all?

In Jiang Si's view, there must be a connection.

Right now, we simply don't have the time, energy, or ability.

Once that time comes, if Jiang Si has the ability and time, he will not only clean up the visible filth in the ninja world, but also the three holy lands. And as I said before, Jiang Si never claims to be righteous, nor does he think he can represent the righteous side.

He only does things that benefit himself, nothing more.

Therefore, in the three months since entering Konoha 51 years ago, Shoji has been trying to see if he can sense natural energy. The only specific training template given in the original work is Naruto, but Naruto only managed to sense natural energy with the help of toad oil from Mount Myōboku.

If it were a general in the present, he would be completely clueless. The only certainty would be that he should focus his mind and body and calm his mind, as this is the easiest way to sense natural energy.

Without any other cultivation methods or guidance from anyone.

Even though he knew very well that this was a clumsy method that would require a lot of time to accumulate and that he might not even be able to successfully sense natural energy, Jiang Si still had no choice but to bite the bullet and go for it. It was better than not knowing anything at all!

Get to know nature little by little, and feel nature.

This is the only channel through which Shoji cultivates Sage Mode chakra.

However, over the past few months, it cannot be said that there have been no gains, but rather that the results have been minimal.

The only gain that could be considered was the ability to perceive a peculiar energy surrounding one's surroundings.

But this perception was extremely weak.

It's so faint that it can only be sensed occasionally, perhaps two or three times when you're extremely lucky, or when you're completely calm and focused.

And it only lasts for a fleeting moment.

This made Jiang Si somewhat discouraged.

After returning from this mission, he took care of his younger brother and sister's entrance ceremony and some specific matters in the Jonin class.

Jiang Si also devoted his spare time to his cultivation.

Unfortunately, this time there was still no further progress.

'Phew, it seems either my meditation wasn't thorough enough, or I haven't discovered some tricks yet. But at least it wasn't a complete loss; this is a consolation prize.'

Jiang Si slowly opened his eyes.

Looking out the window, the night had already darkened.

After letting out a soft breath, he shook his head with a wry smile, silently thinking to himself.

285. The First Rank B Mission

That's what they say.

In fact, Jiang Si was not in a hurry.

Although Naruto seems to have learned Sage Mode in such a short time in the original work, making it seem like it was very easy, firstly, he was the reincarnation of Ashura's chakra, the so-called chosen one; secondly, he had the orthodox Sage Mode training method from the beginning, so he didn't need to figure it out on his own; and thirdly, he had the assistance of the toads of Mount Myōboku. Mastering Sage Mode in a short time is not an exaggeration. Compared to him, it took me more than three months to be able to vaguely sense the fluctuations of natural energy. It is indeed a world of difference.

But this is the reality that Shoji himself must learn to accept. He will not feel discouraged or distressed because of this. He will take it one step at a time. There is no crisis of extermination now. It will still be eleven or twelve years before Akatsuki launches its attack and Madara returns in the original work. Even if the plot changes drastically because of his arrival, it would be acceptable to halve the time frame, right?

That would take at least five or six years.

If he only needs to master Sage Mode and find a solution to his eye problem within this timeframe, everything will go relatively smoothly. Besides, Shoji really doesn't believe that the eye problem is difficult to solve, let alone Sage Mode, which he can't find the right path to master within two or three years.

If that's the case, then I can only say that I don't have the talent in that area. However, given the current progress, I still have a good chance. If I maintain this pace and rhythm, and give it a year, I should at least be able to establish the basics of immortal arts.

There's still plenty of time, so we need to pay more attention to other aspects as well!

A faint light shone in Jiang Si's pupils as many figures flashed through his mind, and he pondered silently deep within his heart.

A five-day rest period.

It passed quickly.

For ninjas, unless they are injured, at least three-quarters of the year is spent on missions, on their way to missions, or on their way back to the village. This is the first price they have to pay for this profession.

Ordinary civilian ninjas need to constantly take on missions to earn rewards, solve their livelihood problems, and provide funds to become stronger. "The poor study literature, the rich study martial arts" is not a joke. Although a ninja's daily expenses are not astronomical, they are definitely a considerable expense.

Therefore, even for this reason, they need to constantly take on missions. For teams like Itachi's, Deidara's, and Kurotsuchi's, money is just an external thing, and it doesn't matter whether they have it or not. Itachi's father, Fugaku Uchiha, is the head of a clan, Deidara is the last disciple of the Tsuchikage, and Kurotsuchi is the Tsuchikage's granddaughter. They would never lack money.

Taking on tasks is simply the best way for them to continuously hone their skills.

Therefore, the level and number of missions they receive depend on their individual growth. The fact that they received C-rank missions within just a few days of starting out is sufficient proof that their team is different from not only the teams of rookie genin in Iwagakure, but also the teams of the vast majority of rookie genin in the entire ninja world. Teams like Itachi's exist in every major ninja village, with one or two such teams every year.

This is the process of a genius's growth, and it's the treatment they deserve.

Shoji also used this model to guide and educate the three. After the sixth C-rank mission was successfully and perfectly completed, Shoji planned to increase the difficulty for the three. It was also after returning from this mission that he learned some very interesting mission information from a colleague.

After learning about the situation briefly, Jiang Si immediately exercised his authority as the team leader and accepted the B-level mission on behalf of the First Squad.

This is a mission that is very suitable for Itachi, Deidara, and Kurotsuchi.

Another point is that there is a certain item involved in this mission that Jiang Si is quite interested in. It is only right that he makes this trip, otherwise there would be no need for Jiang Si to choose this one among so many B-rank missions.

And it was at the very moment the mission was selected.

The commander then separately notified the three of the order to regroup.

On the morning of the sixth day after returning to the village.

At 8:00 AM, Itachi, Deidara, and Kurotsuchi were already waiting at the main gate of Iwagakure, having packed their personal belongings. Although Shoji had not told them the details of the mission beforehand, they had learned about the specific itinerary and final destination from him.

This mission also involves three people. Apart from Itachi, it's the first time they'll be leaving the Land of Earth and setting foot on another country's soil. Their previous C-rank mission escorting a caravan only started from Iwagakure and headed to the northwestern region of the Land of Earth, without leaving the country's borders. Not to mention, this is the three-person team's first B-rank mission. Therefore, Deidara and Kurotsuchi both showed varying degrees of eager excitement on their faces, while Itachi remained calm. However, his pupils, which were somewhat brighter than before, testified to the excitement in this Uchiha genius's heart.

The interval was less than five minutes.

After the three little ones arrived.

Shoji also appeared precisely at the main gate of Iwagakure. Looking at the expressions of the three, Shoji could sense a hint of excitement, which caused a faint smile to appear on his lips.

"out!"

That arm that swung suddenly.

"Yes!"

Then.

The three of them then leaped into the air, following behind Shoji, and once again left Iwagakure, speeding towards the southwest of the Land of Earth.

During their journey, Jiang Si explained the core details of the mission and some important points to note to the three of them.

Although they learned from Shoji that this B-rank mission was not an ordinary B-rank mission, the three children still showed varying degrees of surprise when they heard the details, because they did not expect that this mission would involve ninjas from two other ninja villages besides themselves.

Even though neither of these two ninja villages is one of the other four great ninja villages, in a sense, both of them have a certain degree of fame in the ninja world. One of them is Kusagakure, which is sandwiched between Iwagakure and Konohagakure.

The other one is Hoshigakure, located within the Land of Bears!

This time, the mission was issued by Hoshigakure (Hidden Star Village).

"So, the target is that star stone that's rumored to possess mysterious power, right? Jiang Sisang? And the ones plundering it are ninjas from Kusagakure?"

As Heitu moved forward, he asked with a hint of doubt in his eyes.

"Well, although the mission details didn't specify it clearly, the only thing Hoshigakure that's worth coveting is that Star Stone. As for the enemy, we can only say that they are suspected to be ninjas from Kusagakure. Whether that's accurate or not remains to be seen. After all, Hoshigakure only provided two headbands from Kusagakure ninjas. These things don't really prove anything!"