"This..."
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura hesitated for a moment after hearing the news. They exchanged troubled glances, as it seemed increasingly inappropriate to continue on this path. Deep down, they knew that later on, Lady Mito would have no trouble settling accounts with him.
"Why not?" Danzo sneered stubbornly. "From the perspective of the village's interests, what's wrong with making such a choice?"
He continued, his tone growing harsh, "Didn't we remind the Uzumaki clan to relocate their entire group to join Konoha?"
One voice answered, "It was Uzumaki Aminari who disagreed."
Danzo's eyes flashed with contempt. "After all, even if they were destroyed, how could we possibly be blamed?" he argued. "Besides, we can never be sure when the other ninja villages will take action. Even if they do, they can only send a small contingent of elite troops to raid. By then, it will be like a thunderbolt striking—too late for us to muster a large force to rescue them!"
He leaned forward, his voice dripping with disdain. "Or should we consider sending a large force to station near the Whirlpool Country in advance and be constantly on guard? Do those fools really think they have such a big face?"
Danzo's frustration was palpable as he sneered at the Uzumaki clan's perceived ignorance. "They deserve to be exterminated if they can't see the situation clearly," he spat. "And these sealing techniques must not fall into the hands of other villages! Otherwise, the Jinchūriki of those villages will finally be formed."
Mitokado Homura, weighing Danzo's words, finally admitted, "Indeed, if the Uzumaki clan commits self-destruction, what can they possibly do? They've done all they can."
A thoughtful pause followed before one of the Third Generation members offered, "How about sending a small group of elite troops to support them?"
At that moment, another member of the Third Generation spoke up in a clear, measured tone: "In the near future, we can have some elite troops—Anbu and Root specialists included—stand ready to support at a moment's notice."
He added, "I believe that when the time comes, Lord Mito will surely dispatch the remaining elite of the Senju clan to back them up. We can coordinate our efforts. During the rescue, the extent of our effort is our own responsibility. That way, even if we ultimately fail to save the Uzumaki clan, Lady Mito won't hold us accountable!"
He looked around at the assembled group. "What do you all think?"
Recent intelligence had made it clear that the four major ninja villages were about to take action. No matter what, the heritage of the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques must be reclaimed. They could never allow such secrets to fall into the hands of rival villages.
Utatane Koharu voiced his agreement, "Okay!"
Mitokado Homura nodded firmly, "Agreed!"
Danzo listened intently. When he heard that Lady Mito might send the remaining elite of the Senju clan, his eyes flashed with a mix of anger and calculation. New ideas swirled in his mind, though his face remained tightly controlled. Still, he grumbled reluctantly, "Then let's do it."
"Okay! Then this is settled!" someone declared confidently.
....
Meanwhile, on Ethan's side, after returning home, Uchiha Sarah waved cheerfully as she unrolled a set of scrolls. With a proud smile, she announced to Ethan and Uchiha Mikoto, "All the ninjutsu and sealing techniques acquired in this transaction are here. You can choose whichever ones you'd like to learn!"
"Yes!" Ethan responded eagerly, his eyes lighting up with anticipation.
Ethan stepped forward and carefully picked up the scroll detailing the Flying Thunder God Technique. He scanned its contents and then frowned slightly. "Sure enough, mastering this technique demands a solid foundation in sealing methods," he remarked, a note of determination in his voice. "It seems I must set it aside for now and focus on learning the essential sealing techniques first."
He then moved on to study the Water Style ninjutsu scrolls. Ethan read them over and over, committing the forms and sequences to memory, before unrolling the super-large scroll dedicated to advanced sealing techniques. "I plan to memorize all of these first," he mused quietly, "and then practice them gradually."
Just then, a surprised voice piped up. "Eh? Auntie, can I do it too?" Uchiha Mikoto asked, her tone filled with both wonder and eagerness as she pointed to herself.
"Of course!" Uchiha Sarah replied warmly, her smile radiating genuine encouragement. "You called me auntie, and you have signed a contract with Ethan, so of course you can't be left out!"
Uchiha Sarah continued, "I also hope you grow up quickly, so you can support Ethan on his journey. Study hard and absorb as much as you can!"
She then advised gently, "However, don't be too greedy at the start. Choose a few techniques to focus on, and once you master them, then you can learn more. Don't bite off more than you can chew—that would only slow your progress."
"Yes! Thank you, auntie!" Uchiha Mikoto replied with heartfelt gratitude. She then took up the scroll for the Flying Thunder God Technique. After a moment of intense study, her face fell into a frown. "This is too difficult for me right now," she admitted. "It's not suitable for my current level. I'd better focus on the sealing techniques for now."
When it came to the Water Style, she hesitated. "I don't have a water attribute," she noted thoughtfully, "so perhaps it isn't necessary for me to learn it just yet."
"Just follow your instincts!" Uchiha Sarah reassured her. "For now, focus on mastering Fire Style, Lightning Style, and your sealing techniques, along with Taijutsu, Haki, and Health-preserving Exercises. Your time is precious—don't overburden yourself."
She added with a knowing smile, "Wait until you can master a form change of the escape technique and Nature Transformation. That way, your strength will grow even more rapidly."
"Yes!" Uchiha Mikoto agreed, nodding emphatically.
Uchiha Sarah then turned her attention back to Ethan. "Ethan, what are your plans next?" she inquired, eyes glancing at the Water Style ninjutsu scroll.
Ethan looked up from his studies and, after a thoughtful pause, replied, "Let's set off for Gunkanjima first. We need to gather dragon bones to make longevity medicine. After that, we'll head to Cocosia Island and Windmill Village to scout for talented children with potential. Finally, we'll travel to Shimotsuki Village to study the pirate world's swordsmanship."
He continued, outlining his ambitious itinerary, "At that time, you may even have to open the map or accompany me. My plan covers chakra control, ninjutsu, taijutsu, body conditioning, and swordsmanship training. Of course, we can't neglect Health-preserving Exercises—adding them after meals will aid digestion, boost vitality, and extend our lifespan. It's like killing two birds with one stone."
"Is that so? Sure!" Ethan confirmed with a smile.
Uchiha Sarah nodded in understanding and added, "Just right. Your mom even lit up the map of Logue Town yesterday—I almost forgot to mention it!"
Ethan's eyes widened with excitement. "Then we can set off directly from Logue Town! I remember you said Gunkanjima isn't far from there, right?"
"Yeah!" his mother affirmed with confidence.
Ethan grinned broadly. "It's not far at all—it should be within a day's voyage!"
A playful remark followed from Ethan, "Speaking of which, it's really inconvenient to navigate without a flying mount. Mom, haven't you found a suitable flying mount yet?"
The conversation buzzed with anticipation as plans took shape. With maps, scrolls, and newfound resolve, their journey was set to begin—promising adventures that would challenge their skills, strengthen their bonds, and pave the way for a future where knowledge and power intertwined in the most unexpected ways.
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