[ Ding: Please gain the recognition of a key figure in the storyline—Uchiha Itachi. ]
After a long period of silence, the system finally reacted again when Danzo visited Fugaku's tent for discussions.
To his surprise, the system considered the approval of six-year-old Uchiha Itachi to be valid.
But thinking about Itachi's deeds in the anime, Danzo quickly understood—this was a boy forced to mature early by the harshness of the world.
Despite his young age, he had a firm will of his own.
Around the camp, he was often seen doing whatever tasks he could manage.
With his adorable appearance and impeccable manners, he was well-liked by most people.
What pleased Danzo even more was that Itachi seemed to resonate with Root's ideology and had even formed good relationships with several of its members.
'What kind of reward would I receive if I earned his recognition?'
Though curious, Danzo deliberately avoided too much contact with Itachi to prevent raising his suspicion—or worse, arousing Fugaku's concerns.
After all, the Uchiha clan was not particularly friendly toward him.
Just then, new orders from the village interrupted Danzo's peaceful days of ninjutsu development.
The village had instructed Uchiha Fugaku to accelerate the war efforts against Kirigakure. Hiruzen also sent a letter, requesting Danzo's cooperation.
"I'll have to trouble you with this matter…"
Uchiha Fugaku's excited expression made Danzo wonder—what kind of promise had Hiruzen given him? He looked like he had been injected with adrenaline.
It was likely nothing more than the usual political compromises.
"Mm, leave it to me." Danzo replied calmly, though his mind had already wandered elsewhere.
...
Kumogakure and Iwagakure had secretly formed an alliance and launched an invasion against the Land of Fire.
Tailed Beasts from various villages had also been deployed to the battlefield, significantly increasing Konoha's burden.
Meanwhile, Root had received an intelligence report—Minato's squad had successfully crushed an Iwagakure vanguard unit at Kannabi Bridge. Uchiha Obito had died in the battle.
Minato's reputation soared after this fight.
Single-handedly, he had defeated an elite force from Iwagakure, securing a key strategic advantage for Konoha.
His Flying Thunder God Technique, an S-rank jutsu, was beginning to gain attention across the great villages.
The legend of the Yellow Flash had begun.
However, Danzo felt that time was pressing. He needed to find a way to increase his strength—quickly.
...
The Battlefield
Once again, Uchiha Fugaku led the Konoha forces in a full-scale assault.
This was already the third or fourth offensive in the past few days.
Although Kirigakure had suffered slightly heavier casualties, it wasn't enough to force them into retreat.
At dawn, Konoha's forces gathered once more.
"Danzo, this time, it's up to you. Aim for a single decisive strike."
There was a trace of frustration in the speaker's tone.
It was Uchiha Kade, the Third Elder of the Uchiha clan—five years older than Danzo.
Over the past few days, the two had grown somewhat familiar with each other.
Danzo had yet to take action, spending his time studying Kade's battles against the leader of the Yuki clan, searching for weaknesses to exploit in a swift, lethal strike.
"Rest assured." Danzo replied indifferently.
He could clearly sense the distrust in Kade's eyes.
There was even a faint trace of hostility, though the elder wouldn't act recklessly under the current circumstances.
Despite knowing Kade wouldn't make a move, Danzo still remained wary of him.
The battle erupted again.
The fighting took place in a dense forest spanning thirty kilometers south of the Land of Waves.
The shinobi of both sides engaged in fierce skirmishes, cutting through enemies in their path.
The battlefield was chaotic, with elite warriors seeking out their long-time rivals.
...
"You're too old for this battlefield. If I were your age, I'd retire and spend my time playing with my grandchildren…"
The leader of the Yuki clan spoke with an air of sincerity, making Uchiha Kade's expression darken.
Hiding in the shadows, Danzo smirked inwardly.
Kade had not only been losing in battle over the past few days—he had also been completely defeated in verbal exchanges.
"Shut up… You're not much younger than I am!"
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A wall of ice instantly formed in front of the Yuki clan leader, effortlessly blocking the massive fireball.
"That's true, which is why I focus on inner cultivation. Speaking of which, you probably won't believe me, but I had a daughter just last year. If not for this war—"
Dodging sharp icicles, Kade closed the distance once again.
"Is that so? It seems your daughter will soon lose her father."
"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Release Song Technique!"
Despite his age, the Yuki clan leader remained composed, his long white hair flowing elegantly as he dodged.
Dressed in a pristine white kimono, he bore a striking resemblance to the Hyuga clan in temperament—calm, refined, and exuding an air of nobility.
With his elegant appearance, he looked more like a distinguished middle-aged man than a weary veteran.
Standing in stark contrast to the weathered and battle-worn Kade.
Though his fighting style seemed effortless, it was filled with hidden danger.
Combined with the Yuki clan's Ice Release, his defenses were formidable.
Even with his fully matured Sharingan, Kade struggled to find any openings.
From Danzo's perspective, the man was as solid as a boulder—calm, impenetrable, and nearly impossible to shake.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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