novel-bin Chapter 377 Reunion of Old Friends
Chapter 377 Reunion of Old Friends
Chapter 377 Reunion of Old Friends
Fugaku Uchiha acted swiftly, and no one knows what method he used, but he managed to turn the Third Elder, Uchiha Feng Huo, who originally belonged to the hawkish faction, against him.
With the support of Elder Uchiha Amano and Fourth Elder Uchiha Yatsushiro, who already supported him, Fugaku passed the resolution to change the Security Department with an overwhelming advantage.
It's not surprising that the Uchiha clan members all sided with Fugaku, as the new Hokage, Minato Namikaze, had always been quite lenient towards the Uchiha.
This also made many young members of the Uchiha clan willing to get close to the new Hokage.
Behind this Hokage stands a monster like Matsushita Taichi.
Anyone present at the clan meeting who had been to the battlefield knew how formidable Matsushita Taichi was.
They were either saved by him personally, or they witnessed him utterly defeating tailed beasts and killing Jonin like slaughtering pigs and dogs.
This firsthand experience of awe and fear prevented them from mustering the slightest courage to oppose it.
Three days after Taiichi's visit, Uchiha Shisui arrived at the Hokage's office with the Uchiha clan's decision.
Looking at the boy who was only 10 years old today, Minato was filled with emotion.
The Uchiha clan is truly blessed. First there was Uchiha Yohei, a genius who awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan, and now there is another genius who has already reached the Three Tomoe Sharingan at the age of 10 and has even earned the title of "Shisui of the Body Flicker".
This kind of power is exactly what Konoha will need in the future.
To be honest, he felt a lot of pressure on his shoulders. He was fearless in competing with ninjas of his own generation, and he was also very interested in fighting with the older generation of ninjas.
But now there's an extraterrestrial being eyeing him covetously, constantly pushing his limits. He can only do his utmost to better develop Konoha.
"Shisui, did Clan Chief Fugaku send you with a reply?"
Minato wore his signature warm smile, a habit he never changed even after becoming Hokage.
"Lord Hokage, the clan head sent me here to follow your instructions. Furthermore, the clan is ready and awaits your dispatch of representatives to discuss the reorganization of the security department."
Shisui tried to keep his expression calm, but his increasingly bright eyes revealed the turbulent emotions surging within him.
Unlike the Itachi of today, no matter how mature he is, he is still just a 5-year-old child.
Shisui was an outstanding ninja who participated in all three wars and made a name for himself on the battlefield.
In the early stages of the war, as a member of the Uchiha clan, he could clearly feel the exclusion from the village's higher-ups.
These exclusions are not overt, but rather a general feeling that comes from all aspects and all things, big and small, making it impossible for you to find fault with them, yet also making you feel extremely uncomfortable.
Fortunately, this situation mysteriously disappeared by the middle of the war, but he kept the experience in mind.
The radical remarks made by the clan in the past, coupled with his previous situation, filled Shisui with worry.
But what was the use of worrying? At that time, he was insignificant, his Sharingan was not yet at the three-tomoe level, and his strength was not at the Jonin level. He could only watch quietly from the sidelines.
The only thing he can do is work hard to improve himself and strive to gain his own voice as soon as possible.
However, things have now taken a turn for the better. With the Fourth Hokage taking office, the village's policy toward the Uchiha clan has undergone a fundamental change.
Uchiha Shisui was part of this change, and being able to personally participate in this transformation made him incredibly excited.
"I understand the determination of Clan Chief Fugaku to persuade the entire clan to make a decision in such a short time. Rest assured, I will not let him or the Uchiha clan down."
Minato stood up, walked over to Shisui, and patted him on the shoulder affectionately.
"As for you, you were recommended to the Anbu by Taiichi. He said you're a ninja who loves the village and has a good sense of the big picture. I believe him, so I believe in you too. Don't let me down!"
Minato spoke earnestly, clearly explaining the reasons for choosing Shisui to join the Dark Division.
Shisui only realized now that he had received this honor because he was favored by that great man.
"I will give my all for the village."
Shisui bowed solemnly, declaring his resolve.
It was another afternoon, the bright sun hung high in the sky, and the air was filled with a sweltering heat.
The echoes of the ninja school's dismissal bell still lingered as children poured out of the school gates like birds released from their cages.
As Matsushita Taichi walked out of the teaching building with his lesson plan in hand, he bumped into two long-unseen figures under the big tree at the school gate.
"Taiichi!"
"team leader!"
A familiar voice rang out, tinged with excitement. Taichi paused, turning to look in the direction of the voice, his face instantly lighting up with a delighted smile: "Yohei! Saori!"
Standing under the tree were Uchiha Yohei and Furukawa Saori, whom they hadn't seen for a long time. Both were wearing standard dark green combat uniforms, covered in dust and weariness from their long journey, but their eyes were as bright as ever, sparkling with the joy of reunion.
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Yangping's signature spiky short hair seemed a bit more rugged, while Saori appeared more dashing and capable.
"When did you get back?" Taiichi strode forward, patted Yohei's shoulder forcefully, then looked at Saori, his tone full of genuine concern, "Is the Northern Front—all over?"
"Just got back, haven't even stepped inside yet!" Yangping grinned, his smile bright and cheerful, a rare sight for the Uchiha clan.
"The war ended months ago, and we were stuck on the border as a deterrent. I only received my official transfer order today. I was passing by the school and thought I'd try my luck and see if you were there, and I actually bumped into you!"
Saori smiled and nodded, her eyes seeming even more profound than she remembered: "I've seen a lot of changes in the village, especially at the Ninja Academy. I heard the curriculum has been reformed? Captain, you deserve a lot of credit for that."
Her gaze fell on the lesson plan in Taiyi's hand.
"It's all for the village." Taichi smiled, then noticed the stares around him. "This isn't the place to talk. Let's find a quiet place to chat. How about that open space behind the Hokage Rock?"
"Just what I wanted!" Yang Ping responded immediately, a glint of eager anticipation in his eyes. "It's been a while since I've stretched my muscles. Let's see if you, the White Reaper, have slacked off!"
Saori nodded, "Okay."
The three walked side by side toward the back of the village.
Along the way, Taiyi's steps suddenly paused almost imperceptibly. Then, not far from them, a "Taiyi" who had just finished his work vanished like smoke with a "bang".
This scene was clearly witnessed by Yohei and Saori.
Yangping's smile froze for a moment, then turned into a sigh filled with complex emotions: "Hey, Taiichi, how many clones of you are running around outside? You even run into shadow clones that need to be dispelled halfway through the journey? This workload is outrageous!"
Saori's eyes flickered slightly, her cool voice tinged with heartache: "Captain, you're pushing yourself too hard. If you keep going like this, your body will break down."
She recalled the astonishing feats of Taiyi that she had heard about in the north; such strength was not without reason.
Taiyi rubbed his temples, feeling the slight fatigue and increased information flow brought about by the return of his clone, and smiled helplessly.
"There's no way around it, Tsunade-sensei has completely shirked her responsibilities. Hospitals, schools, and a bunch of other miscellaneous proposals—the capable should do more, right? Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
He spoke casually, but in his heart he was already brewing all sorts of little schemes to shift the blame. His two teammates, who had once shared life and death, naturally knew Taiyi very well, and upon hearing this, they could only secretly chuckle.
Behind the Hokage Rock lies a wide-open space. In the distance, mountains are ablaze with autumn colors, while nearby, the entire Hidden Leaf Village can be seen below, peaceful and serene.
"This is it." Taiyi stopped, turned to face his two old friends, the gentleness in his eyes faded, replaced by the sharpness of a strongman and a hint of excitement, "It's been a long time since I fought alongside you — but this time, it's a battle."
"6
"Haha, I couldn't be happier!" Yang Ping laughed loudly, the crimson three-tomoe jade beads instantly appearing and spinning in his eyes, a powerful surge of chakra rising from his body. "Let me see how long we can last against you now!"
Saori didn't speak, but silently assumed a fighting stance, and fine blue arcs of electricity began to jump around her body, emitting a soft "crackling" sound.
Without any unnecessary words, the battle suddenly broke out in the next moment!
"Body Instantaneous Movement Technique!"
Saori's figure seemed to merge into a real lightning bolt! The ground beneath her feet exploded under the stimulation of Lightning Release chakra, and she transformed into a blue-white streak of light that was almost invisible to the naked eye, closing in instantly at a speed far exceeding Taiichi's expectations!
It was so fast that even the air seemed to be being torn apart!
"Physical activation? This instantaneous movement is incredibly fast!"
Taiichi's pupils contracted slightly, secretly praising Saori's progress. Almost relying on his fighting instincts, he unleashed chakra from his feet, retreating rapidly while simultaneously forming hand seals with his hands.
Earth Escape·Earth Flow Wall.
Boom! A thick earthen wall rose from the ground, barely blocking Saori's thrust that was wrapped in violent lightning!
The area where the earthen wall was hit was instantly charred and cracked!
However, Saori's attack was just a feint! The moment Taiichi's attention was drawn to it, a terrifying pressure that made one's heart tremble rose up from his side and rear!
"Susanoo!"
A burst of deep purple chakra, like a tangible flame, erupted and instantly formed a gigantic half-giant clad in heavy, ancient armor! It was Susanoo's third form, the Karasu Tengu Armor Form!
Without any pre-cast animation, it goes straight to the third form, Susanoo. This is an improvement for Yohei.
"Take this, Taiichi!" Yangping shouted, and the Susanoo's huge chakra sword, with the force to split mountains and cleave peaks, tore through the air and slashed fiercely down at Taiichi, who had just dodged Saori's attack!
Before the sword even arrived, the terrifying wind pressure had already caused the surrounding trees to sway wildly!
"Well done!" Tai's eyes ignited with fighting spirit. Without dodging or avoiding, he rapidly gathered chakra in his hands, instantly forming a giant chakra sword. At the last moment, he drew his sword and slashed upwards.
boom!
The two swords clashed.
In an instant, the earth shook violently! A blinding light burst forth like a miniature sun, illuminating the entire back mountain in a ghastly white light!
The violent shockwave spread out in a ring, instantly uprooting trees within a radius of 100 meters and pulverizing fallen leaves into dust! The enormous roar was like a thunderclap.
What followed was a series of collisions, and flashes of lightning from time to time—
At Konoha Hospital, Tsunade, who was frowning and trying to sneak off to an izakaya while facing a mountain of documents, suddenly stopped and looked in surprise towards the Hokage Rock: "That chakra fluctuation—is that Taiichi? What's he up to?"
In the Hokage Building, Minato Namikaze, who was discussing the details of the police department reform with Hiruzen Sarutobi, also stopped writing. Sensing the familiar, intense clash of the massive chakra belonging to Taichi and Yohei, a helpless yet gratified smile appeared on his face: "These two guys—it seems they've been apart for a long time and are itching to get their hands dirty."
In the Uchiha clan compound, Fugaku, who was still explaining the Anbu matters to Shisui, felt the unique Susanoo fluctuations and the terrifying collision that followed. A rare smile of relaxation appeared on his serious face.
"That kid Yangping—it seems he hasn't neglected his cultivation in the north. It's a good thing he's sparring with Taiyi."
The open space behind the mountain was filled with smoke and dust.
As the light and smoke slowly dissipated, the scene at the center of the battlefield was revealed.
Taiyi stood on the edge of a huge circular pit, his clothes were somewhat torn, but his breathing remained steady and long.
Opposite, Yangping's Susanoo still stood, but the huge chakra sword had disappeared, and the armor was covered with spiderweb-like cracks, its light much dimmer.
Yangping stood inside Susanoo, breathing slightly heavily. The speed at which his Mangekyou Sharingan was spinning was slowly decreasing, and a carefree smile graced his face.
Saori was not far away, leaning on her knees and breathing slightly. The lightning on her body had subsided, but the fighting spirit and excitement in her eyes had not diminished.
Although she wasn't directly involved in the core of that earth-shattering battle, the aftershocks alone put her under immense pressure, while also making her blood boil.
"That was satisfying! Taiichi, you're still as strong as a monster!"
Yangping released Susanoo and punched Taiyi hard, his tone full of admiration, without a trace of frustration.
"Your Susanoo's third form is already quite stable, and its power is astonishing."
Taiichi praised sincerely, then looked at Saori, "Saori, your lightning release and taijutsu really surprised me. I almost fell for it."
Saori calmed her breathing and smiled, "In the north, facing those guys from Kumogakure, you can't afford not to desperately improve your taijutsu. Taichi, your reaction is still as quick as ever."
The three exchanged a smile. The awkwardness of their long-awaited reunion had completely dissipated in the exhilarating battle they had just fought, leaving only the deep camaraderie and mutual recognition between comrades.
They walked to the edge of the clearing and sat down on a relatively clean large rock, looking down at Konoha Village bathed in the golden sunset.
"Tell me, why were you suddenly transferred back? Did the front lines finally let you go?" Taiyi asked Yangping with a smile.
Yangping scratched his spiky short hair and chuckled: "Hey, isn't it all thanks to you and the Fourth Hokage's brilliant decision! The police department reform, the Fugaku clan chief himself was seconded."
"He said that a cheerful, helpful, and communicative Uchiha like me (he mimicked Fugaku's serious tone) is exactly the kind of living advertisement the new police department needs. He told me to hurry back and shine, and not waste my talent in the north."
He spoke in a relaxed tone, clearly pleased with the appointment.
Saori added, "Yohei is very popular on the northern border. Both our Konoha comrades and the occasional merchant caravans we encounter speak highly of him. Chief Fugaku must have seen his role in improving the Uchiha's image."
I nodded slightly; this certainly aligns with the direction of police reform.
"That's a good thing. The police department needs to integrate into the village, and someone with your personality and abilities, Yohei, is perfect for that. And you, Saori? What are your plans?"
Saori shook her head: "There are no specific tasks yet. I just came back from the north, so there might be a period of rest."
Taiichi's eyes lit up, and he immediately said, "That's great! Saori, come help me!"
"Hmm?" Saori and Yohei both looked at him.
Taiyi wore a bitter and resentful expression and began to "accuse": "You have no idea how outrageous Tsunade-sensei is!"
She herself was unwilling to do it, but dumped all those tasks on me, calling it "training"!
And she, she spends all her time either in izakayas or gambling! I can't keep up even if I'm in multiple places at once!
Saori, you're meticulous and attentive, perfect for helping me with some of the administrative work!
Seeing Taiichi's rare "pitiful" expression, Saori couldn't help but burst out laughing, and even Yohei laughed heartily.
"To make our 'White Reaper' show such an expression, Lady Tsunade is truly—amazing."
Saori couldn't help but chuckle, then readily nodded. "Alright, I wouldn't dare disobey the captain's orders. I also need to rest for a while, and I'm free anyway, so I'd be happy to help you."
"Great! We're saved!" Taiichi breathed a sigh of relief exaggeratedly, which made the two of them laugh again.
The afterglow of the setting sun cast long shadows of the three people.
They sat on the rocks, chatting about their experiences since they parted ways, about the snow and interesting things that happened on the northern front, about the changes in the village, and about their hopes for the future.
Time slipped away quietly in the relaxed and pleasant conversation. The sunset on the horizon gradually changed from golden red to deep purple. Night slowly fell, and the lights of Konoha Village lit up one after another, like stars scattered across the earth.
It wasn't until the moon climbed to the treetops and its cool light bathed the hillside that the three of them reluctantly got up.
"It's time to go back." Saori tidied her hair, which had been ruffled by the wind.
"Yeah, if we don't go back soon, our families will worry." Yang Ping stretched out a big yawn, his bones cracking softly.
"Today is wonderful." Taiichi looked at his two close friends, his eyes filled with warm smiles. "Welcome back, Yohei, Saori."
"Yes, we're back!" Yohei and Saori said in unison, their faces beaming with the same warmth.
The three said their goodbyes and walked in different directions under the moonlight, disappearing into the warm glow of countless lights in Konoha Village.
The Hokage Rock stands silently, as if guarding the bond that has grown stronger through the trials of war, and also protecting the village that is quietly accumulating strength amidst change and preparing to meet unknown challenges.