Naruto: I am Uchiha Shirou-Chapter 276: Naruto: I am Uchiha Shirou []

As Shirou slowly opened his eyes and descended from the ceiling to sit in the Hokage's chair, the mysterious aura of his Sage Mode gradually faded away.

"The perfect Sage Body becomes even stronger when it absorbs an excessive amount of natural energy. It's also a unique training method."

As he spoke, Shirou smiled faintly, showing no intention of hiding anything.

"Since normal chakra can be cultivated and strengthened, why wouldn't Sage Chakra be the same?"

Hearing this explanation, Jiraiya was further astounded. While they were still struggling to master Sage Mode, Shirou had already moved past that stage and was actively training to enhance it further.

It was like someone who hadn't fully mastered chakra yet watching someone who had not only mastered it but was relentlessly pursuing ways to refine and strengthen it.

"Hokage-sama, here is the mission report. The leader of the group we encountered made a few demands..."

As Minato respectfully began to speak, Shirou glanced at the report in his hands. After reading it, his face displayed nothing but disdain.

"Minato, you don't need to entertain people like this in the future. It's not Uzushio that needs them—it's they who need Uzushio under Konoha's protection."

After reading the first condition, Shirou tossed the scroll into the trash can without hesitation.

"People with no sense of self-awareness are nothing but trouble, even if they join us. They're better ignored."

Witnessing Shirou's decisive and commanding attitude, Minato couldn't help but smile respectfully. It was moments like this that made him proud to be a ninja of Konoha.

"Um... Hokage..."

Noticing Jiraiya's awkward expression, Shirou immediately handed him a mission scroll without hesitation.

"Although the ninja world war is over, there are still countless conflicts in the shadows. Especially after Konoha helped Uzushio rebuild its nation, many spies from other villages have begun infiltrating Uzushio."

"Some come to blend in and gather intelligence, while others have more malicious intentions to cause disruption..."

As Shirou explained, Jiraiya examined the intelligence and couldn't help but feel alarmed.

This wasn't just rebuilding a nation—it was effectively establishing a new ninja village in Uzushio, which would serve as a military base for Konoha. It wasn't a typical village at all.

Ninjas who joined Uzushio were often wanderers or belonged to small, nomadic clans, like the Fūma Clan. Elderly family members and children were sent to Konoha under the guise of safety, while only capable fighters were stationed on the front lines to build trust with Konoha's ninjas.

Outwardly, Konoha claimed this was because Uzushio was still new and unsafe for families. They also justified the arrangement as a way to cultivate the next generation of ninjas. But everyone understood the truth—this was a way to absorb these clans into Konoha.

The nomadic clans, like the Fūma, were ecstatic at the opportunity. To them, joining Konoha's affiliated Uzushio was as good as joining the most powerful ninja village in the world.

"At present, 36 individuals from the Uzumaki Clan have secretly been brought to Konoha by our ninjas. The Uzumaki Clan has officially taken root in Konoha."

For the Uzumaki Clan, which had suffered the destruction of their homeland and years of exile, the chance to rebuild was irresistible.

As Shirou continued to speak, Jiraiya couldn't help but sigh.

"Who would've thought the Uzumaki Clan would once again appear in the ninja world?"

Even Jiraiya had to marvel at the situation. The Uzumaki Clan's reappearance was a testament to Konoha's strength. To the outside world, it showed that Konoha could revive even a destroyed clan. Internally, it meant that the Uzumaki Clan's natural talents would become a powerful asset to Konoha in the decades to come.

"Of course, not everyone is happy about Uzushio's revival. Many factions, especially Kirigakure, won't want this to succeed. While no one will admit it openly, they'll resort to covert assassinations and sabotage. Jiraiya, your mission is to station yourself in Uzushio."

Hearing his assignment, Jiraiya's face grew serious. He had always felt guilty for not intervening when Uzushio was destroyed, and now he had no reason to hesitate.

"I understand."

Seeing Jiraiya's resolute expression, Shirou smiled faintly.

"Don't worry. Plenty of our Konoha ninjas are stationed in Uzushio as well. What we need is someone strong enough to deter threats. After all, the strongest fortress is always vulnerable to internal collapse."

"With you there, I'll feel more at ease. Orochimaru will also occasionally visit to collect materials. I trust the two of you will work well together."

At the mention of Orochimaru, Jiraiya broke into a hearty laugh.

"If I, the great Jiraiya, am there, there's no need for Orochimaru!"

Although he spoke confidently, his eyes betrayed a genuine sense of camaraderie and longing for his old teammate.

The so-called mission to rebuild Uzushio had already begun. It was a critical part of Konoha's future strategy, and the village was reaping tangible benefits from it. Morale among the Konoha ninjas was soaring.

...

In the prison.

Under the bright sunlight, two figures lay lazily, basking in its warmth. Ever since they had been betrayed by their village and imprisoned in Konoha, they had contemplated death and suffered through various attempts to pry secrets from them.

But to their surprise, six months had passed, and apart from routine checks to ensure their seals were intact and regular meals, no one had interrogated them.

"Pakura, three months ago, you said Konoha might want to recruit us. Yet here we are, and nothing's happened."

With her reddish-brown hair and a lazy yawn, Mei Terumi spoke casually. However, her jade-green eyes glimmered with sharp intelligence, hinting that she had her thoughts.

Pakura, sitting beside her, coldly glanced at the Hokage Monument in the distance and said frostily:

"You've figured it out too, haven't you? Ever since this Uchiha Hokage took office, the so-called Uzushio revival plan has been nothing but a pretext for expansion!"

"Just like when the Hidden Villages were first established, Konoha is absorbing wandering clans and rogue ninjas to bolster its forces. Now that they have both the Mangekyō Sharingan and Wood Release, they're an even greater threat."

Although they understood Konoha's intentions, the mysterious power of Wood Release and the Mangekyō Sharingan remained an intimidating force. What infuriated them even more was how transparent Konoha was about its plans. They even openly shared information, including the fact that their villages had labeled them as rogue ninjas.

"Tch. That Hokage sure is ambitious."

Mei scoffed, flipping through a book she had read countless times. Despite her mocking tone, there was a trace of admiration in her voice.

Pakura, on the other hand, remained silent, her gaze fixed firmly on the village in the distance.

"Dreaming of uniting all bloodline clans to reshape the ninja world? Ridiculous..."

Pakura, despite her earlier words, still reached out her hand toward Mei Terumi, asking for the book.

This brought a smile to Mei Terumi's face. "Since you're saying it's unrealistic, why do you still like this book so much?"

During this dull time in prison, this book was their only way to pass the time. After borrowing it from Pakura, even Mei Terumi found herself unusually interested in this kind of miscellaneous book.

"Still, this book could be considered a fairy tale for us ninjas. It holds a beautiful fantasy of ultimate peace, where powerful ninjas protect harmony..."

Only as a ninja could one truly understand the longing expressed in this book. And only bloodline-limit ninjas could fully grasp the fairy tale world described within its pages.

Especially for bloodline-limit ninjas who had suffered exclusion and rejection, it was like the last pure land of their hearts. Perhaps they knew it wasn't real, yet many ninjas still dreamed of it.

They hoped that after death, they could be reborn into such a pure, fairy tale-like world.

Just then, the crisp sound of footsteps echoed through the prison, and Konan's figure appeared.

"Kisame Hoshigaki!"

With clear and steady steps, Konan and the figure behind her ignored Pakura and Mei Terumi entirely, walking directly to the innermost cell where Kisame Hoshigaki was imprisoned.

"Lord Shirou, this is the rogue ninja from Kirigakure—Kisame Hoshigaki!"

With Konan stepping aside and respectfully reporting, Shirou saw Kisame sitting cross-legged inside the cell, expressionless.

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At the same time, Kisame, with his shark-like face, raised his head and also noticed the figure outside the cell.

"Heh, you've finally come!"

Despite having his patience worn down for over half a year, Kisame remained calm and showed no signs of despair. This quiet life had allowed him to feel peace and relaxation for the first time.

During this time, he had not killed a single villager from his village.

"It seems this period has brought you a lot of ease."

Looking at Kisame, a ninja often deemed the purest and most genuine, Shirou couldn't help but smile. Kisame's strength was certainly formidable.

Especially when paired with Samehada, his combat power in the later stages was strong even among Kage-level ninjas. In a place like the Land of Whirlpools, surrounded by seawater on all sides, someone like Kisame was a valuable asset.

"You, born from the Bloody Mist, were raised to be a qualified ninja from a young age. You endured the harshest training, and after becoming a ninja, you were accompanied by endless killing...

Even your comrades, with whom you risked your life, could be killed on the village's orders. Experiencing firsthand how your life was filled with lies, I can now free you from the pain of those lies."

"I've come to give you a purpose!"

Uchiha Shirou's voice, charged with a piercing sincerity, echoed through the cell, causing Kisame's already small pupils to contract further.

This man had an extraordinarily detailed understanding of both his life's experiences and his inner turmoil.

Under Shirou's calm smile, one couldn't help but note that in an environment like Kirigakure, one was either insane, twisted or, like Kisame, a ninja lost in confusion.

"You seem to trust me?"

"Trust?"

Looking at Kisame, Shirou smiled directly and shook his head.

"You've already been betrayed by your village. Trust or distrust doesn't matter anymore. What matters is—don't you want to change Kirigakure? Don't you want to change this world?"

"Perhaps, when your power grows strong enough, I can even tell you the hidden truth behind the Bloody Mist. Maybe it's all part of a conspiracy."

Shirou's voice, filled with allure and mystery, resonated, revealing a wealth of information.

Could there be an unknown story behind the Bloody Mist? Was it all part of a conspiracy?

The ability of ninjas to analyze information was not to be underestimated. Not only Kisame but even Mei Terumi in her cell began to process this information rapidly.

A conspiracy? A hidden plot?

No one could easily abandon the land where they were born and raised, not even if they had been betrayed by their village. Such betrayal would only become the deepest wound buried in their hearts.

However, upon suddenly hearing these secrets, the idea that the Bloody Mist of their Kirigakure might be part of a conspiracy caused their expressions to shift dramatically.

"A conspiracy! What kind of conspiracy is behind the Bloody Mist!?"

As a prisoner, Mei Terumi couldn't help but ask, looking at the silent Kisame in the distance.

Yet Shirou didn't even glance at her, as if in his eyes Kisame was far more important than the two of them. This left Mei Terumi feeling aggrieved.

"I, Mei Terumi, am a bloodline-limit ninja! Do I not have the qualifications to know now?"

To uncover this secret, Mei Terumi even revealed her identity as a bloodline-limit ninja. However, Uchiha Shirou merely glanced indifferently at Mei Terumi and Pakura in their cells.

Then, he shook his head, an act that nearly caused the usually prideful Pakura and Mei Terumi to lose their tempers.

What the heck!

The two of them, even individually, were far more valuable than this shark-faced guy, let alone together.

In terms of both strength and potential, they far surpassed Kisame!

"There are too many secrets in this world—the hatred between the Senju and Uchiha clans, the conflict between the First Hokage and Madara Uchiha, and even the Bloody Mist of your Kirigakure... It's as if an unseen hand is manipulating everything in the shadows."

Shirou's voice, filled with mystique and temptation, caused Kisame's eyes to gleam brighter and brighter. Then, Shirou extended an olive branch.

"The darkness behind the ninja world has already revealed some clues. I'm sure you want to uncover the truth behind the lies that shroud Kirigakure's Bloody Mist, don't you?"