Mikoto’s Request

"How could this be?"

Uzumaki Kushina covered her mouth and asked in disbelief.

"Itachi’s mistake was far too grave. Fugaku always felt he had let the clansmen down."

Uchiha Mikoto spoke calmly, but she seemed to be doing her best to suppress her emotions. After all, because of Uchiha Itachi’s foolishness, he had personally slaughtered more than a hundred ordinary clan members, including both the elderly and children, as well as Military Police Force members such as Uchiha Yashiro.

Such hatred could not be erased in just a few days. Moreover, Uchiha Itachi had clearly known how suspicious and dangerous the Masked Man was, yet he had still chosen to hide it from the Uchiha Clan. He had even joined forces with the Masked Man to attack the Uchiha, nearly getting the entire Military Police Force killed.

If not for Uchiha Tekka and Uchiha Fugaku’s two Mangekyō Sharingan, the Military Police Force would truly have been wiped out by the Masked Man.

All told, the Uchiha had suffered hundreds of casualties, all because of Uchiha Itachi. Yet in the end, Uchiha Fugaku had even intended to let the Masked Man’s accomplices rescue Uchiha Itachi.

That night, Uchiha Fugaku had fallen from being the lofty, respected clan head to becoming a sinner of the clan.

Although Uchiha Tekka had not imposed any punishment on Uchiha Fugaku, the clansmen’s disgust was the fundamental reason Uchiha Fugaku had taken his own life.

After hearing this, Uzumaki Naruto wore a conflicted expression. "Then… can I still go see Sasuke?"

"Next time, Naruto," Uzumaki Kushina said seriously. This time, they had not known about Uchiha Fugaku’s situation. And from Mikoto’s words, she could tell that Sasuke was not in a very good mood. Kushina worried that Naruto’s temperament might lead to an unpleasant clash between the two once they met.

Uchiha Mikoto smiled at Naruto. "It’s all right. Sasuke needs friends to help him through this right now. Maybe he’s only too embarrassed to come downstairs after hearing Naruto’s voice."

Upon hearing that, Uzumaki Naruto immediately scratched his head and chuckled. Then he said to Uchiha Mikoto, "Aunt Mikoto, then I’ll go upstairs to find Sasuke."

With that, he got up and jumped straight to the second floor. Seeing this, Kushina, who was sitting downstairs, angrily shouted, "Idiot Naruto, use the stairs properly!"

Watching Naruto leave, Uzumaki Ayaka grinned and said to Kushina, "Princess Kushina, Naruto really is just like you."

"Ayaka, you idiot, shut up!"

"You two, this is someone else’s home." Hyuga Mirai tapped the table, making the two women quiet down for the moment.

Then Hyuga Mirai looked at Uchiha Mikoto and asked knowingly, "Madam Mikoto, did you send Naruto away because you have something to discuss with us?"

"Yes, Hyuga. There is indeed something I would like to ask of you."

Uchiha Mikoto was surprised for a moment, but she honestly admitted it. She had indeed intended to do so, but she had not expected Hyuga Mirai’s insight to be so sharp. Before she could even speak, he had already seen through her.

Uchiha Mikoto then invited them into the room and took a Mangekyō Sharingan out of a Sealing Scroll.

"Is this Fugaku’s Mangekyō Sharingan? You want me to transplant it into you?"

The moment Hyuga Mirai saw the eyes, he guessed Uchiha Mikoto’s intention.

"Yes. Before Fugaku died, he hoped I would use the power of these eyes to protect Sasuke and atone for the Uchiha Clan. There are no Medical-nin in the clan, and I don’t quite trust the hospitals of the Saudi Federation, so I wanted to ask Hyuga to help me complete the operation."

After making her request, Uchiha Mikoto gave a perfectly formal dogeza.

However, Hyuga Mirai guessed that she had probably hidden Uchiha Fugaku’s suicide even from the other Uchiha clansmen. She was likely afraid the Mangekyō would be confiscated, considering Uchiha Itachi’s Mangekyō was still with Uchiha Tekka.

"If it’s only an eye transplant, that’s no great difficulty. The surgery will only take a few minutes. But the Uchiha’s Sharingan isn’t that simple. If you want a perfect transplant, I need to study Fugaku’s body. Kushina, don’t look at me like that. The fundamental change in a Sharingan Kekkei Genkai lies in the Chakra within the brain. The eyes are merely a manifestation of that Chakra."

Hyuga Mirai gave a simple explanation, then continued to Uchiha Mikoto, "Madam Mikoto, you should trust me on this matter. In the Ninja World, aside from Tsunade and Orochimaru, no one understands human body research better than I do."

"I believe you, Hyuga. With your strength, there is no need for you to deceive me."

After saying that, Uchiha Mikoto turned and took another Sealing Scroll from a cabinet. Inside was Uchiha Fugaku’s body.

"Then come see me in three days, Madam Mikoto. The address is the Guest House."

After accepting Uchiha Fugaku’s body and Mangekyō Sharingan, Hyuga Mirai spoke to Uchiha Mikoto. He had not expected this trip to bring such an unexpected gain. With Uchiha Fugaku’s body, his research on the Mangekyō Sharingan could advance even further.

Next, Uchiha Mikoto and Uzumaki Kushina prepared to talk privately, while Hyuga Mirai and Uzumaki Ayaka excused themselves. Neither of them was familiar with Uchiha Mikoto, so they did not involve themselves in the women’s private conversation.

After sitting down in the reception room, Hyuga Mirai began thinking about the Mangekyō Sharingan. However, he also spared part of his attention for Uzumaki Naruto and Second Pillar. Those two possessed the keys to awakening the Rinnegan.

Uzumaki Ayaka replaced Hyuga Mirai’s tea with a hot cup, then quietly sat beside him. As she gazed at Hyuga Mirai’s face, a bold thought arose in her mind. Yet it lasted no longer than a deflated balloon before vanishing entirely.

Only Uzumaki Kushina could beat her in an argument over something like that!

Ding ding!

The terminal on Hyuga Mirai’s body suddenly rang. After bringing up the Nano Display Screen, he saw Android 18 on the other end.

"Sir, Mount Myoboku’s location has been identified. Through scouting robots, we have also roughly determined the number of toads inside: a total of two hundred and thirteen intelligent toads, and more than seven hundred and thirty ordinary toads. Their exact strength remains unknown for now."

"There’s no need to investigate their exact strength so thoroughly. Later, I’ll first ask the Snake Princess and the others whether they want to eat toads. If they don’t, we’ll directly use the Orbital Weapon to destroy Mount Myoboku."

Hyuga Mirai had originally intended to wipe out Mount Myoboku directly, but then he remembered that he had once promised Ichikishimahime he would bring them to eat toads, so he said this to Android 18.

The toads of Mount Myoboku truly disgusted Hyuga Mirai to the extreme. Whenever they had nothing better to do, they wanted to act superior and dictate the fate of humanity. If Uzumaki Kushina had not still been alive and contracted with Shikkotsu Forest, Uzumaki Naruto might have been abducted by Mount Myoboku.

Even so, Mount Myoboku had yet to give up on dealing with Hyuga Mirai. They seemed to have created a new Summoning Scroll and were preparing to select a new contractor outside.

"Understood, sir. Then I’ll go prepare the weapons in advance."

After Android 18 spoke, seeing that Hyuga Mirai had no further orders, she ended the communication.

Uzumaki Ayaka then leaned closer and asked with a smile, "Lord Mirai, should I summon Ichikishimahime and ask her?"

"There’s no rush. We’ll talk about it after returning to the Guest House," Hyuga Mirai said, shaking his head. They were still in Uchiha Mikoto’s home, so it was not suitable to use the Summoning Technique.

Rain Country battlefield. After Nara Shikaku brought the injured Iwa-nin to the Konoha camp, it immediately stirred shock and confusion among many people.

However, Sarutobi Hiruzen stepped forward to make arrangements. After learning from Nara Shikaku why he had brought back the Iwa-nin and Ōnoki, he immediately felt that Nara Shikaku had done the right thing.

The Rinnegan’s abilities were somewhat too powerful. Even more than a thousand Stone Ninja forces had nearly been annihilated. Konoha was likely in even greater danger.

Furthermore, even Ōnoki’s Dust Release Kekkei Tōta was a technique that Sarutobi Hiruzen found troublesome, yet it posed no threat whatsoever to the Rinnegan.

Having made up his mind, Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately arranged tents and Medical-nin for the Iwa-nin. If this group could be healed, they could also be put to use when dealing with Amegakure.

In this regard, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Nara Shikaku shared the same thoughts.

Fortunately, Konoha always kept spare tents and other Supplies. With some squads squeezing together a little, they could free up enough space for the Iwa-nin to recover.

"I’ll be in your care from now on, Kiyomi."

Using the excuse that squad members could stay together, Yuhi Kurenai carried her belongings and voluntarily came to Hyuga Kiyomi’s tent, smiling at her.

Hyuga Kiyomi snorted, but she had no way to deal with Yuhi Kurenai’s behavior. Two of the Hyuga Clan’s tents had also been requisitioned. Since Yuhi Kurenai did not want to stay with others, she could only come find her.

After settling her things, Yuhi Kurenai asked, "By the way, Kiyomi, I heard your clansmen returned from the Iwa-nin. Do you know why the Iwa-nin suffered such severe losses?"

"That’s classified intelligence. The Third Hokage has ordered that it not be leaked," Hyuga Kiyomi said irritably. Of course, her tone was not directed at Yuhi Kurenai, but at Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"But it’s fine to tell you, as long as you don’t spread it outside."

Hyuga Kiyomi felt Sarutobi Hiruzen’s actions were foolish. Why conceal the enemy’s intelligence so tightly? Was he worried Konoha Ninja would become frightened and refuse to fight? How laughable.

"Amegakure’s leader possesses the Rinnegan, one of the three legendary Great Eye Techniques. The Stone Ninja forces were destroyed by that person alone."

"One person?" Yuhi Kurenai looked shocked upon hearing that, unable to believe it. The Iwa-nin had at least a thousand people, and even the Third Tsuchikage had been there. They had been reduced to this by one person?

"That’s right, one person. According to Nara Shikaku’s analysis, Amegakure’s leader’s Rinnegan should be capable of splitting into several bodies."

After activating her Byakugan and confirming that no one was nearby, Hyuga Kiyomi began telling Yuhi Kurenai some intelligence about the Rinnegan’s abilities.

"That’s incredibly powerful," Yuhi Kurenai said, her red lips parting slightly.

"It does sound powerful. But once you return to the village, you may hear news that shocks you even more."

Hyuga Kiyomi’s pure white pupils glanced at Yuhi Kurenai as she spoke. If she compared the Rinnegan to Hyuga Mirai’s azure-blue eyes, Hyuga Kiyomi felt the latter were even more powerful.