Start with a Zanpakuto and build the strongest Mist Village.

"I am a leaf that shelters Konoha from the wind and rain. Even though I am no longer the Hokage, I will still protect Konoha..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi muttered to himself, as if he had made up his mind, then suddenly raised his head and looked at Obito: "I can cooperate with you to deal with Minazuki Yoru!"

"Hahaha, this is the Third Hokage I know, the one hailed as a ninja hero!"

Obito laughed heartily, seemingly not at all surprised that Hiruzen Sarutobi would agree to his cooperation.

This old man, known as the "Shin-O," was able to take over the Hokage position again after the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, which shows that he is definitely not someone who would easily accept defeat, nor is he someone who could easily give up power, interests, and fame.

Those who once held power and possessed everything fell to rock bottom in just a few years.

How could such a person willingly accept defeat?

Faced with a guy like this, Obito didn't need to be too persuasive or coercive. He just needed to clearly explain the current situation to him, and give him a little bit of an opportunity, and he would take the bait.

And that's what it is.

"What are you planning to do?" Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Obito Uchiha, who was laughing, and said in a deep voice, "Let me make it clear beforehand that I will not join any random organizations, nor will I do anything that would harm the interests of Konoha."

"Of course."

Obito chuckled softly.

Hiruzen Sarutobi always valued his reputation and honor. Signing a defeat pact with Yoru Minazuki during the Third Shinobi World War was the best he could do. The reason he lived in this prison-like mansion was not because he lost to Fugaku Uchiha in the Hokage battle, but because of the hatred and contempt he received from the entire Hidden Leaf Village and the Sarutobi clan.

Hearing Obito's agreement, Hiruzen Sarutobi breathed a sigh of relief. He was really afraid that Obito would ask him to do things like "betray the village" or "join a rogue ninja organization".

"The power and threat of Minazuki Yoru are undeniable. If you do not have a foolproof plan, you will inevitably suffer even greater retaliation and blows if you make a move against him."

"Of course I know that, which is why I came to you."

Obito calmly said, "However, with your current decaying body, I'm afraid you can't even shake Mizuki Yoru, let alone Danzo, whose strength is probably above yours."

"There's no need to show such an expression. Danzo and Fugaku Uchiha both accepted the cells of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and successfully suppressed and fused them."

"The teacher's... cells..." Upon hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes immediately turned extremely gloomy.

He had long been aware of the research on the first generation of cells, and had even intervened in the organization, and had taken the only living specimen of the first generation of cells, 'A', from Danzo's hands.

Now the situation has reversed, and unexpectedly, Danzo and Fugaku have both fused with the First Hokage's cells!

"What do you want to do?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked in a deep voice, "I have no resources, no rights, and no access to those things anymore... And if I remember correctly, you are also a possessor of the First Teacher's cells, right?"

“That’s right, I do possess the power of Hashirama Senju, but relying solely on this power is far from enough to contend with Yoru Minazuki.”

"To defeat Minazuki Yoru, one must master a higher level of power."

"A higher level of power?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's pupils contracted slightly.

Do you remember a ninja named Hiruko?

Obito took out the scroll of 'Oni-Garra Technique' from his pocket and tossed it to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took it, opened it, and examined it closely, his already pale brows furrowing even more deeply.

After a long silence, Hiruzen Sarutobi put down the scroll: "I already knew about this technique. Hiruko was hunted down by me because he was researching such forbidden ninjutsu. Are you trying to force me to use this forbidden technique as well?"

"As expected of the man hailed as the Ninja Doctor, yes, that's exactly what I think." Obito nodded and said, "After Hiruko defected from Konoha, he conducted in-depth research on this technique, and with my modifications, I finally perfected it to its current state."

"By fusing Hashirama Senju's cells and the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan, the power of the Sage of Six Paths can be restored. Danzo and Fugaku have both mastered these two powers, which is why they are able to fight so well."

"Even they only demonstrated a tiny fraction of its power, because these two powers are extremely violent. For example, Hashirama Senju's cells are impossible for ordinary people to fuse with; they must undergo special modifications or adaptations before they can do so."

“But Hiruzen’s Oni-Garra Technique can deeply fuse these two powers.” Obito gave Hiruzen Sarutobi a deep look: “You should already have Hashirama Senju’s cells, so you just need to find a suitable Uchiha…”

"You want me to go to war with Fugaku?!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi glared angrily at Obito: "Don't even think about it. I will never lay a finger on the power of the Uchiha clan. That's my bottom line!"

Whether it was his former friend Uchiha Kagami or his teacher's teachings, both filled Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart with strange and special emotions regarding the power of the Uchiha clan.

In fact, Danzo had known all along that he had interfered with the power of the Uchiha and Senju clans. Don't doubt the Hokage's control over the villagers, especially since that person was his own best friend.

He could sense Danzo's changes and the power that those two bloodlines could bring, but even so, he still resisted these things because the Senju and Uchiha held different places in his heart.

"What, you're unwilling to offend the bloodline of your ancestors?" Obito Uchiha saw the complex emotions in Hiruzen Sarutobi's dim eyes, chuckled, but didn't say anything more. Instead, he said, "In that case, why not try another recipe?"

"Another formula?"

"Ah, a formula that can also help one reach the Six Paths Realm."

"Uzumaki, Hyuga, Shikotsumyaku..."

Obito's figure was slowly swallowed by the spatial vortex, leaving only a scroll lying quietly on the table.

Hiruzen Sarutobi squinted, feeling the gentle evening breeze, and tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

Konoha is never short of forbidden techniques. During his more than 30 years in office, he was also known as the "Professor of Ninjutsu" and had studied eight or nine out of ten ninjutsu in Konoha, which naturally included countless forbidden techniques.

He had also studied Hiruko's Oni-Garra Technique, and now, looking at this technique, which Obito called an 'upgraded version of Oni-Garra Technique,' he had a different understanding of it.

As a ninja expert, with Hiruzen Sarutobi's ruthless insight, even without trying it, he could see the characteristics of this technique and understand the risks and hidden dangers it contained.

Even so, he could still see the enormous potential of this technique.

Just as Obito said, this technique is indeed one that can help people break through bottlenecks, overcome limitations, and achieve self-transcendence.

Bloodline fusion and bloodline reversion contain power that is enough to transform a person into an extraordinary being!

With his narrowed gaze fixed on the Oni-Grow scroll for a long time, Hiruzen Sarutobi fell into deep thought.

While the Ghost Sprout Technique can indeed bring power, its side effects and costs cannot be ignored. Bloodline fusion is inherently a practice that destroys one's own origin. If it fails or an accident occurs, it will cause irreversible and enormous damage to the human body.

This is unacceptable to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who wants to return to the sunlight in the future and continue to protect Konoha.

But what if it's someone who's already shrouded in darkness...

"Someone is coming."

Hiruzen Sarutobi formed a hand seal, then shouted, and a figure appeared behind him.

"Sarutobi-sama."

"Summon Danzo over here."

"Yes!"

……

Obito didn't actually take Hiruzen Sarutobi's move too seriously.

If this old guy can really unleash something different and cause some trouble for Mizuki Yoru, that would be the best outcome.

If it doesn't work out, he doesn't care, since he's already gotten his hands on the Zero-Tail Technique.

In a dense forest within Konoha Village.

"Sharingan manipulating windmills!"

"Fire Release: The Art of Fire Dragon!"

The fire dragon roared out along the steel wire, dancing in the clearing among the trees.

After unleashing his ninjutsu, Itachi Uchiha knelt on the ground, panting heavily. However, he quickly stood up again and began throwing shuriken at the distant target once more.

On a giant tree on one side.

Staring at Itachi Uchiha, who was training frantically, Obito, standing on the giant tree, narrowed his eyes and said, "He is indeed a genius."

On the tree trunk, Zetsu, who was leaning out with half his body, nodded: "Uchiha One Against Seven, Uchiha Fugaku's son, awakened the Sharingan at a young age, and is hailed as a genius who surpasses Shisui, currently the most outstanding prodigy of the Uchiha clan!"

"Furthermore, his personality is quite unique. If guided properly, there's a high probability he could awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan."

As an scout for the Akatsuki organization, Zetsu's sensory abilities were outstanding throughout the entire ninja world. In addition, with Black Zetsu also present, all members of the Uchiha clan were under his watchful eye from the very beginning.

Uchiha Itachi, this little guy who showed talent, has been his main focus since birth!

"A genius?"

Seemingly triggered by some memory, Obito's exposed Sharingan revealed an unusual emotion, but his tone remained indifferent: "To awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan, talent alone is far from enough; you also need enough hatred!"

Only strong emotions can stimulate the Kaleidoscope, a fact Obito was well aware of, and hatred was one of the easiest and most extreme of these emotions to acquire.

Everything he experienced and saw that day had long become the most unforgettable nightmare in his heart, and it was precisely because of that emotion that he was able to awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan.

The deeper the love, the stronger the power that will be unleashed. This is the curse hidden deep within the bloodline of the Uchiha clan!

"Does he like anything, or has anything he loves?"

“…Hiruzen Sarutobi’s Will of Fire?” White Zetsu suddenly made a lame joke, but after sensing Obito’s dangerous gaze, he immediately added, “Besides his parents, Fugaku Uchiha and Mikoto Uchiha, it should be his younger brother.”

"Oh, right, he also has a childhood sweetheart with whom he's very close."

"oh?!"

Upon hearing this, Obito's eyes immediately lit up with interest.

Childhood sweethearts, that sounds great!

Chapter 218 Oi Obito, you're really getting me all fired up!

Upon hearing Zetsu's information, countless stimulating methods for sacrificing one's childhood friend to the heavens immediately flashed through Obito's mind.

Yes! No one understands childhood friends better than me, Obito Uchiha!

Only by getting soaked in the rain can one know how to better tear their umbrellas apart. However, after Obito thoroughly investigated Itachi's information, he suddenly lost much of his confidence.

"Uchiha Itachi, a genius boy of the Uchiha clan, is the son of the Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Fugaku."

"At the age of four, my father took me to the Third Shinobi World War, where I witnessed the war firsthand and personally killed a Genin from Iwagakure."

"At the age of six, he awakened his Sharingan upon learning that Konoha was going to cooperate with Kirigakure. Several years later, when his father successfully ran for Hokage, he awakened the two-tomoe Sharingan due to his excitement. Furthermore, this year, when Hiruzen Sarutobi was captured and publicly tried by Fugaku Uchiha, he experienced a violent emotional fluctuation, thus awakening the three-tomoe Sharingan."

Obito carefully studied Itachi's information, and the more he studied, the more his brows furrowed.

A nine-year-old with three tomoe is an extremely rare occurrence, even in the entire history of the Uchiha clan.

But why this eye-opening process...?

He loved his village and, knowing that the village was forced to cooperate with Kirigakure, which had slaughtered its ninja and caused great damage to Konoha, he was overcome with emotion and awakened his Sharingan.

When his father took office as Hokage, he broke history and made the Uchiha clan truly stand at the pinnacle of Konoha, achieving what even Madara Uchiha couldn't do. He then activated his two-tomoe jade pendant.

After the highly regarded and beloved Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, stepped down, he was subjected to a public trial, his reputation was ruined, his so-called Will of Fire was destroyed, and he awakened the Three Tomoe.

Dude, why is your reason for opening your eyes all because of the village? There's not a single thing about your clan or yourself!

Are you really an Uchiha?

Obito's lips twitched slightly, as if he had discovered some incredible freak.

The Uchiha clan is an abnormal clan filled with great love. The love in their hearts is so intense and powerful that once it erupts, the power it unleashes is unimaginable.

Looking back at the history of the Uchiha clan over the past century, some Uchiha loved their brothers and dreams; some loved their families and ambitions; and some loved romantic love and friendship. But Uchiha Itachi, who placed the village at such a high position in his heart, is truly the first example of an Uchiha clan!

"According to the intelligence, simply targeting his childhood friend might not be enough to stir his emotions," Black Zetsu warned. "We might need a much stronger stimulus to trigger an explosive surge in his emotions."

“With Konoha currently under Mizuki Yoru’s control, and Fugaku Uchiha possessing both Mangekyou Sharingan, it’s difficult for us to attack Konoha.” Obito shook his head: “Forget it, let’s deal with the Shikotsumyaku first.”

Whether it's Hiruzen Sarutobi or Itachi Uchiha, everything ultimately serves his plan.

If we can directly seize the Corpse Bone Vein, all these plans will become insignificant.

"Let's go, it's time to put the plan into action!"

"Yes."

……

"An invitation from Sunagakure for the Chunin Exams."

Inside Iwagakure, Onoki, sitting in his office, frowned deeply.

Under normal circumstances, the Chunin Exams can be conducted without the participation of other villages without any problems. However, once other villages participate, the original purpose of the exam is no longer to select Chunin, but to demonstrate the strength of the village and to observe the current overall strength of other villages.

In short, it's about flexing muscles!

The Chunin Exams, which Narutosas organized in the original work, were like this: firstly, to demonstrate the status of his village as the number one ninja village in the ninja world, and secondly, to see the situation of other ninja villages in the ninja world.

Unexpectedly, apart from my little brother Sunagakure, no one from the other major countries came.

(In the original story, Kirigakure was still developing due to the Blood Mist policy, while Kumogakure and Iwagakure were basically too lazy to bother with Konoha, not giving Konoha a chance to show off.)

It's quite intriguing that the Sand Village, a defeated nation, is now planning to hold the Chunin Exams, only a few years after the war ended.