Starting from a single point and expanding outward, he deliberately magnified the benefits of this matter—elevating it from personal gain to something that could serve the entire village—in order to stir Kakashi's sense of responsibility.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't exactly an honorable approach. After all, Natsuhiko had no real intention of promoting this method across the whole village.
The ninja system itself was built upon a ruthlessly competitive process of elimination. If that harsh selection were softened, then the drive for improvement among ninja would inevitably decline.
Besides, Natsuhiko wasn't free of personal desires. Power of that magnitude was best kept shrouded in mystery—the more secretive it remained, the better.
Even if it were ever to be revealed, it would only be granted to a select few—those who had rendered truly extraordinary service to Konoha.
At this point, the matter was essentially settled. What remained was largely focused on establishing a laboratory that would truly belong to the ANBU, as well as conducting a deeper investigation into Orochimaru.
Neither of these required much direct involvement from Natsuhiko. In fact, he had come to realize that as he expanded the Administrative Department and established the Secretariat, his workload had become astonishingly light.
All he needed to do was outline a direction for the ANBU and set firm deadlines. Everything else could proceed without his constant oversight.
The two secretariats would gather the administrative managers and the three division commander of the operations division, coordinating discussions to reach a general consensus.
Once a workable plan emerged, both the administrative and operations branches would return to their respective departments, where they would convene their own teams for further meetings and deliberations.
Within the Administrative Department, each office would determine how to allocate personnel and how to meet objectives without disrupting the growth and internal flow of the ANBU.
Meanwhile, the three division commanders of the operations division would summon their squad leaders, discussing their respective missions and strategies in detail.
This entire structure had been laid out by Natsuhiko. In the terminology of his previous life, it was about maximizing individual initiative.
Having lived more than twenty years standing on the shoulders of giants, arriving in a world that lacked even the most basic political education meant there was an enormous amount he could change—and improve.
How his subordinates chose to plan their work was none of his concern. As long as they didn't violate the ANBU's rules and regulations, he wouldn't interfere.
What he wanted was simple: results.
"So there's really no need for me to personally handle everything—not even to the point of using shadow clones."
Walking slowly through a secluded forest within the Land of Fire, Natsuhiko couldn't help but smile to himself.
Especially when he thought about Hiruzen Sarutobi drowning endlessly in a sea of paperwork, his mood improved even further.
On the surface, Hiruzen appeared to hold tightly centralized authority, carrying out his duties with diligence and responsibility.
But in reality, it was nothing more than overburdening his own body. A single person's energy was limited, and handling so many matters alone made mistakes almost inevitable.
Once such errors occurred, their consequences might not be immediately apparent—but in the long run, they could prove fatal.
Beyond that, the efficiency of one person managing everything was, in Natsuhiko's view, not merely low—it was comparable to the crawl of a turtle.
"At the very least, he could set up a rudimentary cabinet system. The Administrative Department already compiles all kinds of reports and data—why waste their potential?"
By forming a simple cabinet and allowing the Administrative Department to process matters, granting them advisory authority while retaining final decision-making power, everything would function far more smoothly.
To be honest, if it weren't for the sheer complexity of the Administrative Department's responsibilities—handling nearly all directives issued by the Hokage, even taking charge of certain diplomatic affairs—he might have already implemented such a system himself.
If that weren't the case, Natsuhiko was certain that asking someone like Shikaku Nara—whose intelligence easily exceeded two hundred—to spend his days compiling reports and documents would have driven the man to quit long ago.
Shaking his head lightly, Natsuhiko dismissed the thought. No matter how many ideas he had, he had no intention of sharing them with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Even if he did, there was no guarantee Hiruzen would change anything.
Power was a kind of poison—especially for ninja whose strength inevitably declined with age. For them, authority was the key bargaining chip that allowed them to remain at the pinnacle of the shinobi world.
"Not everyone is like Ōnoki," Natsuhiko murmured to himself. "That old man only gets sharper with age."
Ōnoki was practically an anomaly. As time passed, his experience and wisdom only deepened, allowing him to see through countless matters at a glance and understand precisely what needed to be done—and when to stand firm.
What was more, despite the passing years, his strength had not diminished. If anything, techniques like Dust Release and the Ultra-Lightweight Rock Technique had made him even more formidable.
Of course, he wasn't without weaknesses. Whether due to age or the inherent traits of Iwagakure, his personality had grown exceedingly stubborn. And physically, he had long since lost the ability to engage in close-quarters combat.
Yet these flaws did little to overshadow his merits. His presence alone ensured the steady development of Iwagakure—he was the village's unshakable pillar.
...
Moving unhurriedly through the forest, Natsuhiko let his wandering thoughts gradually settle. By the time he arrived at his "plantation," his mind had already returned to complete focus.
He carefully scanned the sealing arrays around the area. Only after confirming that none of the barriers he had set had been disturbed did he step inside at ease.
It had been over a week since he planted the "power" he had brought back.
The day after the Nine-Tails' last rampage, he had gained tremendous results. But after what happened with Obito's arm, he had grown more cautious.
He would rather wait longer than come here every day only to find nothing.
That feeling—of anticipation turning into emptiness—was something he had experienced once, and once was more than enough.
Besides, at the time he had been busy arranging inspections related to Orochimaru and drafting plans for the laboratory. He hadn't exactly had the luxury of time.
This time, what he had planted included Kimimaro's bones, Ao's Byakugan, half of Black Zetsu's body, and Obito's arm.
In addition, there was the chakra of the Three-Tails, as well as the fragment of Hashirama Senju's corpse he had buried here earlier.
It was safe to say that every tree in this area contained something bizarre and extraordinary.
"The last time I came, Hashirama's remains seemed close to completion. I wonder how things have progressed now… And the Advanced Sage chakra seed inside my own body should be nearly done as well—I just haven't checked it yet."
He paused slightly, a flicker of anticipation rising within him.
"I wonder what kind of harvest I'll get this time."
The thought alone made his heart quicken.
As he approached the trees, the dense fluctuations of chakra in the air grew more intense, confirming that what awaited him would be beyond imagination.
—
Late at night, within the Uchiha clan compound in Konoha, Uchiha Shin and Uchiha Haru stood inside a room. Sharing the space with them were Shisui and Sora.
The atmosphere was unbearably heavy, as if a storm were silently gathering, ready to break at any moment.
After such a long period of planning and preparation, Uchiha Shin had finally put everything in place.
It was time to act.
For him, however, this decision was anything but easy.
Because this time… their target was their own clan.
Among those they would face were not only former comrades-in-arms—but also enemies who still lived and breathed within the same family.
Even if there might not be any real issue when it came to former comrades-in-arms, acting against them in this way was bound to leave a bitter chill in the heart.
As for those who had once been his political enemies, Uchiha Shin had already made up his mind. He would follow the approach and ideas Natsuhiko had given him without hesitation—and send them all to the Pure Land.
They were outstanding members of the clan, exceptional leaders in their own right.
Their very existence symbolized hope. As long as they lived, people who shared their ideals would continue to gather around them, drawn by their presence.
Their prestige alone was enough to make others lay down their weapons—or pick them up again.
That kind of spiritual authority was precisely what Uchiha Shin could not allow to persist. If cooperation had been possible, he would have welcomed it with all his heart.
But he understood all too well that the divide in their beliefs made unity impossible. This was a conflict where only one side could survive.
Either he would eliminate them and bring everything to a halt… or they would destroy him and drag the entire clan into the abyss.
There was no way he would allow the latter.
And so, he could only take on the role of executioner himself—to force them to stop.
"Though I never wished for things to come to this," Uchiha Shin said quietly, his voice carrying a mixture of helplessness, sorrow, pain, and resolve, "we have no choice now. We must take that final step forward."
His gaze shifted toward Shisui and Sora, then he slowly closed his eyes.
"Sora, Shisui… right now, you are not my grandson and granddaughter."
When he opened his eyes again, they were steady and resolute.
"You are representatives of the ANBU. You stand here on behalf of Natsuhiko. So I need to confirm this one last time—what is the ANBU's position?"
Shisui looked slightly puzzled upon hearing this, but Sora immediately understood her grandfather's intent.
His caution ran deep—this was both a final confirmation of the ANBU's stance and a way to protect them, to completely separate them from the burden of this operation.
Perhaps he didn't want them to carry the weight of turning their hands against their own kin.
"The ANBU will fully support Elder Shin's actions."
Sora gave a small nod, her tone shifting into the formal, disciplined cadence of the ANBU.
"Four provisional squads from the Second Company of the Third Division have already been deployed. They will coordinate with the Police Force's operations. Please rest assured, Elder."
If Uchiha Shin was going to act, then naturally he would rely on those he trusted most—and those people were primarily drawn from the Police Force units under his command.
Unfortunately, not everyone in those units could be trusted.
Ever since his falling-out with Fugaku Uchiha, many within his ranks had grown uncertain in their loyalties.
On top of that, the reforms he had pushed through in the Police Force had forced a number of Uchiha clan members to leave their posts, breeding dissatisfaction among others.
As a result, the number of people he could truly rely on was limited—and even fewer could be mobilized for an operation like this.
Without the support of the ANBU, Uchiha Shin might not have dared to make a move at all.
And yet, even with that support, unease still lingered in his heart. The enemy they faced this time was far from simple.
The Grand Elder, Uchiha Jin, had once been a hero of the clan, distinguishing himself in both the First and Second Great Ninja Wars.
Though age had long since robbed him of his former strength, his position ensured that he remained heavily protected.
For instance, there was a formidable guard constantly at his side—someone whose identity remained a complete mystery.
Yet that person was like a divine protector, shielding Uchiha Jin from countless dangers and disasters.
At the same time, he was like a lurking demon, silently eliminating who knew how many enemies in the shadows.
With such a figure present, targeting Uchiha Jin would be anything but easy.
And yet… he was someone who had to die.
"Thank you for your department's full support," Uchiha Shin said at last, his voice steady once more. "However, I still have a few questions."
Uchiha Shin pondered for a long while before finally lifting his gaze to Sora. His expression was complicated, as if weighed down by hesitation and something harder to name.
"Other than those few squads… will the ANBU be providing any additional support?"
"Additional support?"
Shisui had recovered by now, and he more or less understood what the earlier exchange between Uchiha Shin and Sora had truly meant.
This was protection—and reassurance. A deliberate effort to separate them from everything that would happen tonight, to keep their hands clean of it.
Yet deep down, he wished with all his heart that none of this were necessary.
Still, as a member of the ANBU, whether he understood or not, he had no choice but to obey.
Especially when the matter involved the Third Elder, the man who had raised him—someone Shisui had long regarded as a grandfather.
There was too much confusion and unease churning inside him, but duty demanded that he suppress it all.
He made a quiet decision: once everything was over, he would find out the truth behind it all.
For now, though, the priority was clear—deal with the problem at hand.
"Elder Shin," Shisui said after taking a slow breath, adopting the measured tone of the ANBU, "does this mean… there's a particularly troublesome enemy involved?"
"Yes."
Uchiha Shin gave him a faint, approving look before letting out a quiet sigh.
"By the Grand Elder's side, there is someone—a being like an Asura. With him there, it will be difficult for us to achieve what we intend."
He paused briefly before continuing, his voice growing heavier.
"And even if we do succeed… there's no guarantee it can be done quietly."
To complete the operation in silence—eliminating political enemies while shifting all responsibility onto Orochimaru—this was the very reason the ANBU had agreed to assist.
In truth, the crucial point lay in placing the blame on Orochimaru. The ANBU themselves would not directly involve themselves in the killings or arrests carried out by Uchiha Shin.
If not for the fear of triggering a chain reaction, he would have preferred to proceed step by step.
But he knew all too well that making the first move against either side would immediately put everyone on high alert.
"Rest assured, Elder Shin," Sora said calmly, her eyes steady. "The Commander has already prepared contingency plans. If necessary, one of the division commanders will personally step in to assist."
"Is that so?"
Uchiha Shin nodded thoughtfully, as if finally putting a lingering concern to rest.
"Then one last question… the members of those provisional squads—"
"They are all elite ANBU," Sora replied without hesitation, "and at the same time, members of the Uchiha clan."
"I see. Then I understand what must be done."
He remembered clearly what Natsuhiko had told him—that this was something he had to carry out with his own hands.
Back when he first learned that Natsuhiko would be sending ANBU to assist, he had been deeply puzzled.
But when he heard the term "provisional squads," he had begun to suspect the truth. Now, with Sora's confirmation, everything became clear.
This was, in the end, purely an internal matter of the Uchiha clan.
It had nothing to do with the ANBU.
If the operation succeeded, it would serve as a test—for both him and the Uchiha—and they would earn greater trust from Natsuhiko.
If it failed, then those involved were Uchiha, not ANBU. The failure would belong solely to them—and it would determine the clan's future.
"No wonder he kept reminding me that this was my own affair… and yet still sent people to assist."
A bitter smile tugged at Uchiha Shin's lips as a chill crept up his spine.
As expected of you, Natsuhiko…
He had always known Natsuhiko was ruthless.
But ruthlessness taken to this level—this depth of calculation—was enough to make even him feel a trace of fear.
Even so, he knew he had no choice but to carry this through—and to do it well. Otherwise, whether it was the ANBU stepping in or the hawkish faction running rampant, the clan's fate would end the same way regardless.
—
Natsuhiko, of course, had no idea that he had somehow once again been labeled as ruthless and cold-blooded. In truth, his intention in sending those Uchiha over was simply to provide assistance.
Nothing more.
Beyond that, to ensure everything proceeded safely, he had even arranged for Kakashi to remain on standby.
Kakashi's progress had been obvious to anyone paying attention. Even though his chronic lack of chakra was still dragging him down a steep, uncontrollable slope, his growth over more than a year in the ANBU had been astonishing. His mastery of the Sharingan, in particular, had reached an impressive level.
Although Natsuhiko and Kakashi were both busy and rarely had the chance to spar, Natsuhiko had still offered him plenty of guidance.
Ever since Natsuhiko had broken through the walls around Kakashi's heart, the latter's trust in him had remained exceptionally high, and he followed his advice with remarkable diligence.
Now, Kakashi was no longer walking the same path as in the original story—where he practically fought like a Uchiha, probing with taijutsu, layering ninjutsu, and finishing with Chidori.
That "balanced 50-50" approach might have looked effective, but Kakashi's chakra reserves simply couldn't sustain it.
Instead, Natsuhiko had advised him to combine the use of a ninja blade with the Sharingan, suppressing his opponent from the very beginning and aiming to break them in the shortest time possible.
Only afterward, depending on the situation, would he decide whether to finish the enemy with Chidori or capture them alive.
It could be said that although Kakashi had taken a different path, his strength was rising at an extraordinary pace.
"Too bad I'm not an Uchiha," Natsuhiko mused to himself. "Otherwise, I could teach him even more about the Sharingan… and maybe he could truly reclaim the glory of the 'White Fang.'"
Seated beneath a tree deep within the forest, Natsuhiko kept his eyes tightly shut, quietly adapting to the changes within him.
He had no idea how long he had been there, but judging by his own sense of time, it was probably already late into the night.
From the moment he arrived in the morning and sensed the chakra emanating from the trees, he had made up his mind to stay until he fully harvested everything.
He could feel it clearly—the power he had "planted" within the trees had reached its limit, and the results could manifest at any moment.
Faced with such a situation, there was no reason for him to leave.
And things had unfolded just as he expected.
The first to yield results was the tree that held Hashirama Senju's flesh.
When the violent, attention-grabbing chakra fluctuations surrounding that tree began to settle, Natsuhiko knew immediately—something had been produced.
"Detecting special attribute plant. Analyzing."
"Analysis data: Intermediate Wood Release Chakra Seed."
The moment his hand touched the tree, the familiar mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
Natsuhiko was already thoroughly accustomed to that voice, yet every time he heard it, he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe.
Without this system, he might never have reached where he was today.
But once that brief moment of reflection passed, he couldn't stop himself from grumbling inwardly.
Last time, when he planted a fragment of Hashirama's corpse, he had at least obtained something like a "fragment of Asura's power." This time, however, the reward had dropped significantly in quality.
Wood Release was something he already possessed. Even if he couldn't wield it at Hashirama's level, that difference had to take into account that Hashirama himself carried Asura's power.
Truthfully, what Natsuhiko wanted far more was another fragment of Asura's power.
After all, that single gain had caused his strength to surge dramatically.
Even now, Natsuhiko still vividly remembered the first time he obtained that power. In a single leap, his strength had surged to the point where he could stand alone against hundreds of Sunagakure ninja—
—and among them had been a considerable number of elite ANBU operatives.
That kind of explosive growth was something he couldn't help but miss. Especially now, as he carefully read through the description of this newly obtained Wood Release, he felt as though years of pent-up frustration had finally been cured in an instant.
"Intermediate Wood Release Chakra Seed. Requires Basic Wood Release and Intermediate Yang Release Secret Technique to plant."
Intermediate Yang Release Secret Technique?
The moment he saw that requirement, Natsuhiko felt a faint dizziness creep into his head.
It wasn't that he didn't want to improve his mastery over Yang Release—on the contrary, he wanted it desperately.
Even at its current, basic level, his Yang Release techniques already allowed him to manipulate the vitality of plant life, pushing his own regenerative abilities to an almost absurd degree.
Back during the Nine-Tails incident, it had been precisely this power that allowed him to reignite Minato Namikaze's fading life force and drag him back from the brink of death.
But the problem was obvious: where was he supposed to find this so-called Yang Release Secret Technique Seed?
Or rather, how exactly was he supposed to further develop his bloodline, which had only reached the Intermediate stage?
"There's something strange here," Natsuhiko muttered inwardly, his thoughts sharpening. "My bloodline development is already at the intermediate stage, yet my Yang Release techniques are only at the basic level. If I push my bloodline to the advanced stage, then logically my Yang Release would only reach intermediate at best… and by extension, Wood Release would also cap out at intermediate."
He paused, a realization slowly forming.
"In that case… could it be that even Hashirama Senju himself never reached a true 'advanced' level in either Wood Release or Yang Release?"
The thought took root in his mind and refused to leave.
Even though it seemed highly unlikely—after all, as someone who had crossed over into this world, Natsuhiko knew all too well just how overwhelmingly powerful Hashirama had been—there was only one explanation that made sense.
"It seems the system isn't evaluating my bloodline based on something like the Ōtsutsuki lineage… but rather on the most fundamental Senju bloodline itself."
He mulled it over carefully, and the more he thought about Hashirama's displayed abilities, the more this explanation seemed to fit.
Still, the realization left him feeling somewhat deflated.
All this time, he had assumed that the system's evaluation of his bloodline was based on the origin of the Senju clan—the Ōtsutsuki.
But now it seemed he had been overthinking things. The system wasn't using the Ōtsutsuki as a benchmark at all.
It wasn't even using Asura's lineage as a reference.
Instead… it was using Hashirama Senju.
And that raised an even more uncomfortable question—was the system's reference point the version of Hashirama who had already awakened Asura's power, or the one who hadn't?
Natsuhiko found himself unwilling to pursue that line of thought any further.
With a quiet sigh, he forced himself to let it go, quickly regaining his composure.
No matter how frustrating this revelation was, it didn't shake his confidence.
After all, he possessed something that allowed him to transcend the natural limits of bloodlines.
That alone was enough.
Still, he needed to seriously consider how to further enhance both his Yang Release and Yin Release.
"A Kekkei Mōra requires the fusion of Yin and Yang Release. Right now, my Yang Release is only at the basic level, and my Yin Release hasn't even been developed yet. I might have a rough idea of where to obtain the necessary 'seeds,' but it won't be easy…"
His gaze shifted slightly, settling back on the forest around him.
"…though by today, I should finally see the results."
With a helpless sigh, Natsuhiko stored away the Wood Release he couldn't yet cultivate. He had originally imagined how powerful it would be to combine Advanced Sage Chakra with Intermediate Wood Release—but now that hope had been thoroughly dampened.
For the time being, Intermediate Wood Release was out of reach. The only thing nearing completion was the Advanced Sage Chakra seed.
Even if that meant losing out on half the potential gain, it was still far better than nothing at all.
Besides, tonight's harvest wasn't limited to just this. There was no reason for him to dwell on disappointment.
"The Byakugan, the Shikotsumyaku… and the Three-Tails' chakra."
Murmuring to himself, Natsuhiko found another spot and sat down once more. What truly intrigued him now was what kind of results those two would yield.
There was also another question lingering in his mind—would the little Nine-Tails come to understand, through all of this, the real reason it had been "incubated" in the first place?
At that thought, Natsuhiko extended his senses toward the small Nine-Tails within him. The result left him both amused and speechless.
The little creature was sleeping soundly.
"Maybe that's the system's doing… in that case, there's no need to overthink it."
Stretching lazily, he had barely finished the motion when a sudden wave of power erupted into the air.
It was a force so overwhelming it made his heart tremble.
It carried a suffocating sense of destruction—yet at the same time, an eerie, all-encompassing inclusiveness.
The contradiction alone sent a shiver down his spine. Natsuhiko had no idea what was happening.
As the power spread, even breathing became difficult.
Fortunately, it vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
When everything finally settled, Natsuhiko realized that his back was already drenched in cold sweat.
"What… was that?"
He stared blankly at the tree before him, which had already returned to an ordinary, unremarkable state. Yet the lingering fear refused to fade—the suffocating pressure from moments ago was something he knew he would never forget.
And if he remembered correctly… that tree was the one where he had planted Ao's Byakugan.
"Could it be…?"
A realization struck him, and in the next instant, his heart began to race uncontrollably.
The Byakugan was known as the foundation of all eyes.
What kind of power could it evolve into?
The very thought filled him with anticipation.
Of course, he had no intention of obtaining a basic Byakugan—after all, that kind of eye couldn't even be turned off.
But if it was something he could control, then it was a power he absolutely didn't want to miss.
With that in mind, he quickly walked forward. The moment his hand touched the tree, the system's voice echoed once more in his mind.
"Detecting special attribute plant. Analyzing."
"Analysis data: Primordial Byakugan power (Mutated)."
"Primordial Byakugan power?"
The moment he heard those words, Natsuhiko's expression lit up with unmistakable excitement.
Since obtaining the system, he had only encountered two types of results: "seeds" and "powers."
If it was a seed, he would need to nurture it with his own chakra before eventually harvesting its benefits.
But if it was a "power," it could be absorbed directly—just like the "fragment of Asura's power" he had gained before.
"So it's a power…"
he muttered, barely able to suppress his excitement.
"That's perfect."
"Though it's mutated… which probably means it won't be the uncontrollable Byakugan. Still, what exactly will it become?"
There were countless possible evolutions of the Byakugan. But no matter how many variations existed, its theoretical ceiling seemed to lead toward either the Rinnegan—or that azure, transcendent Tenseigan.
What Natsuhiko didn't fully realize was that the Rinnegan itself only emerged after obtaining the power of the Ten-Tails. Without such a mutation, the Byakugan's evolution would more likely resemble something like Ōtsutsuki Isshiki's peculiar eye—or Ōtsutsuki Hamura's Tenseigan.
But regardless of the path, any such power was something most could only dream of.
Unable to contain himself any longer, Natsuhiko directly absorbed the power into his body.
And in the very next moment—
Agony.
An indescribable, overwhelming pain surged through him.
He had experienced something similar before when absorbing the fragment of Asura's power, but this time it was completely different.
This pain came from his eyes.
Sitting there in silence, Natsuhiko lost all sense of time. It felt as though his eyes were melting away, dissolving into nothing.
And then… within that dissolution, something new began to form.
A new pair of eyes.
Slowly, steadily, they took shape—until at last, the transformation was complete.
"…Is it finally over?"
The searing pain in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a strange, almost ethereal sensation spreading through them.
It felt like a new kind of power—subtle, yet profound.
Taking a slow breath, Natsuhiko was certain now.
The suffering had ended.
And so, he slowly opened his eyes.
...
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