Chiba casually invested the thirty Merit Points he had just gained into his ocular power.
Attributes: Fire, Lightning, Yin, YangChakra: 650Abilities: Three-Tomoe Sharingan (373/1000)Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique — Mastered (100/100)Fire Release: Dragon Flame Technique — Mastered (100/100)Uchiha Style Kenjutsu — Advanced (88/100)…Merit: 0
At the same time, another notification sounded in his mind.
Ding!
[Congratulations. Total accumulated Merit Points have exceeded 100.][New ability unlocked: Lightning Release ninjutsu.][Current unlock: Lightning Release — False Darkness (Beginner 50/100).]
Chiba's eyes flickered slightly.
"So accumulated Merit can unlock new abilities as well…"
Lightning Release was one of his chakra natures, but he had never trained it before.
False Darkness.
He remembered the technique clearly.
In the records, it was a Lightning Release technique used by Kakuzu of the Akatsuki.
Its power was formidable.
It once forced Kakashi Hatake to counter with dual Lightning Cutter techniques just to neutralize it.
With such a technique in hand, his efficiency in carrying out his duties would rise further.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Chiba's lips.
Just then, two figures rushed toward him along the patrol route.
At the front was the head of the Uchiha clan—
Uchiha Fugaku.
The moment he saw Chiba, his expression changed.
"Chiba, what happened?"
"Hiruzen… did he—"
Chiba stopped and shook his head calmly.
"It's fine."
Behind him, Yamafū quickly explained what had occurred.
After hearing the full account, Fugaku felt a wave of relief—though complicated emotions followed.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi… that old fox."
Aoki nodded vigorously.
"He read the room perfectly. His performance was flawless. In the end, everyone was grateful to him—almost forgetting that it was Captain Chiba who executed the murderer."
Yamafū snorted.
"Cunning old schemer."
Fugaku sighed.
"If he weren't, how could he have held the Hokage's seat for decades?"
"When it comes to manipulating people's hearts, few can match him."
Yamafū hesitated before asking,
"Clan Head… last time Captain Chiba killed civilians, you were furious."
"This time he killed the Sarutobi clan head's son—Hokage-sama's nephew. Yet you seem calm."
Fugaku gave a wry smile.
"Would scolding him change anything?"
"And after thinking about what he said last time… perhaps he wasn't entirely wrong."
"If nothing we do can change the village leadership's distrust of the Uchiha…"
"Then perhaps it's better to act freely."
He looked directly at Chiba.
"You did well."
"It's just unfortunate Hiruzen stole much of the credit."
"I don't care," Chiba replied evenly.
Fugaku shot him a glare.
"Don't talk nonsense."
"You may not care about rewards—but we don't hand our achievements to our enemies."
Aoki and Yamafū nodded vigorously.
Chiba spoke quietly.
"No one can block the sky forever."
"Right and wrong… black and white…"
"One day, they will be clear."
Fugaku stared at him silently for a long moment.
Finally he sighed.
"For someone so extreme… you can be strangely naïve."
"I'm an optimist."
"I believe that if I keep killing, eventually all evil will disappear."
Fugaku inhaled deeply.
"Perhaps…"
…
Inside the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was furious.
Bang!
His fist slammed onto the desk, scattering documents everywhere.
Sarutobi Hiyu trembled.
"Excellent… just excellent."
"You and your son… truly outstanding."
"I entrusted you with leadership of the clan—"
"Is this how you repay me?!"
Hiyu fell to his knees.
"Hokage-sama… I couldn't just watch Jiro die…"
Hiruzen's anger surged.
"Idiot!"
"Do you think I would have let him die?!"
"Did I ever forbid you from saving him?"
"But how did you do it?!"
"In broad daylight, before countless villagers and shinobi—you publicly shielded him!"
"Your pride may mean nothing to you—but what about the Sarutobi clan's reputation?"
"What about my reputation as Hokage?!"
Only then did Hiyu understand.
Hiruzen was not angry that he protected his son—
He was angry that he did it publicly, risking his reputation.
A surge of resentment rose in Hiyu's heart.
Was Hiruzen's reputation worth more than his son's life?
But he dared not say it.
Hiruzen saw the thought in his eyes.
"You're dissatisfied?"
"You think I value my name more than your son's life?"
Silence.
"Fool!"
"Of course the matter needed handling—but the method matters!"
"I trusted you with responsibility, and you couldn't even grasp that?"
"Removing you as clan head was the correct decision."
Hiyu's voice turned hollow.
"It doesn't matter anymore."
"I couldn't even protect my own son."
"What right do I have to lead anyone?"
He left like a walking corpse.
Hiruzen exhaled sharply, his anger lingering.
An ANBU operative spoke cautiously.
"Hokage-sama, he just lost his son. He may not have heard your words."
"And without his position… all that remains is hatred for Uchiha Chiba."
"He might do something reckless."
Hiruzen nodded slowly.
"Have him watched."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
The ANBU disappeared.
At that moment, another figure appeared at the doorway.
"Hm? Shisui."
Hiruzen suppressed his anger and forced his expression calm.
Uchiha Shisui was his most important piece against the Uchiha.
He could not allow instability there.
"What is it? You seem troubled."
Shisui knelt.
"Forgive me, Hokage-sama. You instructed me to reason with Uchiha Chiba, but that man…"
"Wouldn't listen?" Hiruzen smiled faintly.
"That's the kind of person he is."
"I didn't expect much."
Then his eyes suddenly sharpened.
"But Shisui…"
"You don't look convinced."
"You weren't swayed by him, were you?"
In Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze—
A cold glint flashed.
patreon.comPh4nt0mTL