Chapter 18: Chapter 18
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Chapter 18 The Clan Land That Has Been Invaded
Hyuga Hanabi exclaimed, "Huh? So my sister cares about me?"
Hyuga Hiashi remained silent, letting out a slight sigh. As the Hyuga patriarch and an elite Jonin, he could clearly see that Hinata was not using her full strength. His displeasure grew; Hinata's temperament was far too gentle for the heir to the Hyuga clan. This was why he had scolded her, hoping she would become more serious. Yet, it seemed to have no effect. It was Uchiha Sasuke from the parallel world, an outsider, who had captured Hinata's heart and inspired a change in her mindset. Hiashi felt like he had failed as a father.
Hyuga Hinata softly said, "Also... I didn't give up much..."
Determined, Hyuga Hanabi announced, "I've decided! I will work harder in the future and strive to protect my sister!"
Hinata just puffed out her cheeks in response. She didn't want Hanabi to feel the need to protect her; it was her role as the older sister to protect Hanabi. "You have to practice hard and become stronger in order to protect the people you care about..." Hinata thought, looking at Sasuke's image on the gold-framed screen with a gentle smile and silently thanking him. She was clear on her path forward.
Terumi Mei remarked with amazement, "It's amazing, if I were that Hyuga Hinata, I wouldn't be able to bear it!"
Samuel agreed, "I agree."
Mabui chimed in, "I think so too."
What girl could resist a handsome guy who addresses your worries with such a soft voice? I bet I'd confess right then and there!
Uzumaki Kushina commented, "It seems that this little girl named Hinata has fallen hard, tsk, little Sasuke is very persuasive."
Uchiha Mikoto beamed, "As expected of my Sasuke!"
Uzumaki Kushina was Naruto's mother, wasn't she? What would she think if she knew that Hinata in this world actually had a crush on Naruto? The thought that her future daughter-in-law from another world might be wooed away by Sasuke was indeed curious.
After this, in the ninja school, another girl also showed interest in Sasuke. However, given Hinata's shy nature, it was unlikely she would initiate contact with Sasuke in public. It was Sasuke who began speaking to Hinata first. This prompted the other students to pay more attention to the usually quiet Hinata.
Gradually, through active efforts by Sakura, Ino, and others, Hinata interacted with more people. Her personality began to evolve from reserved and introverted. She was pleased with the changes she was experiencing and growing increasingly grateful to Sasuke. And this feeling of gratitude was slowly becoming something more.
"If, if..." Hinata thought to herself, suddenly blushing at the direction of her thoughts.
On Sasuke's side, he was balancing picking up girls, reading books, and practicing. These three major activities were progressing side by side.
Time flew by, and Sasuke turned nine years old. One day, in the school library, while looking at a book titled "Large War Layout and Command Art", he read a sentence that caught his eye: "When information is scarce and the situation unclear, consider who benefits from the events that unfold. Often, the beneficiary may be the instigator behind the events."
Like a thunderbolt, Sasuke instantly thought of a lot. White Fang's death, the ascendance of the Fourth Hokage, the Nine-Tails' rebellion, Orochimaru's defection, the Uchiha Genocide. Behind this series of major events, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, always seemed to be present and always held the power of Konoha.
"What role did the Third Hokage play behind these events?" Sasuke couldn't help thinking. This Hokage, who has been in power for more than 30 years, must not be underestimated. But, Sasuke couldn't help hesitating. These were just his conjectures. "How to prove my conjecture?" he wondered.
Orochimaru laughed out loud, "Hahahahaha! I just said this Sasuke is a genius; he really thought of the key!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen replied, "Orochimaru, stop talking nonsense!"
Ohnoki urged, "Hurry up, Sarutobi, hurry up!"
Fourth Raikage commented, "It's over. The Third Hokage's image as a good old man is going to be lost!"
Sarutobi defended himself, "Everyone, don't listen to them! A group of shadows from other villages, and a rebel, are just slandering Konoha. They are trying to provoke us to fight!"
Shimura Danzō supported Sarutobi, "That's right, don't be fooled by their words!"
Danzo also came out to back Sarutobi Hiruzen; this was not the time for him and Sarutobi to vie for power. If Sarutobi's reputation were tarnished, his assistant's status wouldn't be much better.
In the chat room, all the Konoha Shinobi were silent. They were hesitating. Could Uchiha Sasuke's conjecture be accurate? After many years of education and beliefs, they instinctively resisted the idea. If the Third Hokage were behind these incidents, then Konoha was too dark a place! Thinking of this possibility, they couldn't help shaking.
The screen continued to play. After a long time, Sasuke suddenly thought of something: the Uchiha Clan Land. After the Uchiha clan's demise, he had only returned once at the beginning. "How is the Uchiha family land now? Who is occupying it? If I go and have a look, will I get the answer?" he contemplated.
Back in the real world, Sarutobi Hiruzen broke out in a cold sweat. Orochimaru, with a tease, said, "Mr. Sarutobi, you look nervous."
"Shut up!" Sarutobi Hiruzen shot Orochimaru a hard look, his heart quaking as he stared at the screen with a golden frame.
Sasuke moved immediately. After two years, he returned to the Uchiha clan once again. The corpses and pools of blood that had once been everywhere were now gone. Now the land was full of shops and houses. Sasuke walked through the entirety of the former Uchiha tribe with a deadpan expression. In many shops, he saw the same family emblem – he had once seen it in a book; it was the clan emblem of the Sarutobi clan. The Crest of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen's Family.
He walked to the bank of the Nanhe River and sat down at the place where he used to practice the Great Fireball Technique. Looking at the clear river, Sasuke's eyes suddenly showed the three-tomoe Sharingan: "Sarutobi, heh, Sarutobi," he muttered.
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