Naruto: Eating Kaido's Azure Dragon Devil Fruit-Chapter 320: The Ninja World Landscape

Ryuchi Cave.

The White Snake Sage coiled on her stone throne, a trace of restlessness in her golden serpentine eyes.

She scanned over Kōjinja and Ichikishimahime standing respectfully below.

"Tagitsuhime... still no news has come back?"

"In reply, White Snake Sage-sama, none."

Kōjinja answered respectfully: "Since the last message came back, saying she was confident she could guide Sora to Ryuchi Cave, there has been no further word."

Ichikishimahime also added: "Following your orders, I have been monitoring the outskirts of Myobokuzan, but have not discovered Tagitsuhime’s traces, nor sensed Sora’s aura approaching Myobokuzan."

The White Snake Sage frowned deeply.

Not long ago, she clearly sensed an unimaginable, pure and vast draconic aura erupting near Konohagakure in the Land of Fire!

That aura was so powerful it made her, who had existed for countless years and considered herself close to a "flood dragon", feel waves of trepidation and a tremor from deep within her bloodline.

That was definitely Sora!

He must have used his true power!

But why hasn’t Tagitsuhime, who has been following him and is responsible for contacting him, sent back any news at all?

This was very abnormal.

According to Tagitsuhime’s usual behavior, she would report every half month without fail. For such a significant situation, she absolutely would not conceal it.

Unless... something happened to her, or... she has changed allegiance?

Thinking of the second possibility, the White Snake Sage’s eyes instantly turned icy.

The snakes of Ryuchi Cave would stop at nothing for evolution, betrayal was not uncommon in Ryuchi Cave.

"We cannot wait any longer."

The White Snake Sage slowly spoke:

"Relay my command, all snakes of Ryuchi Cave capable of entering the ninja world, mobilize! You two will personally lead the teams!"

Her sharp gaze swept over Kōjinja and Ichikishimahime:

"A deadline of half a month! Find out Tagitsuhime’s whereabouts for me, as well as Sora’s precise location and movements!"

"If she is alive I want to see the snake, if dead I want to see the corpse! You must find them!"

"Yes! White Snake Sage-sama!"

The two Snake Princesses felt a chill, replied in unison, and then their figures turned into streaks of light, disappearing from the cavern.

The White Snake Sage picked up her pipe again, her eyes flickering with uncertainty.

A true dragon has appeared in the world, the opportunity is right before her eyes, she absolutely will not allow any accident to ruin the path to dragon transformation she has pursued for a thousand years!

...

Myobokuzan.

The Great Toad Sage, seated on the giant throne, awoke from slumber once again.

Its gaze swept over Great Sage Fukasaku and Great Sage Shima standing in attendance, as well as Jiraiya who had just arrived from the ninja world.

"Great Lord Elder, you are awake?"

Great Sage Fukasaku hurriedly stepped forward.

The Great Toad Sage slowly spoke, its voice carrying a trace of ethereality and uncertainty:

"Mmm... dreamed again... the path of the future, has become even more blurred..."

It paused, as if organizing its words:

"The Child of Prophecy... the originally clear image, has vanished... replaced by a... gigantic... azure dragon..."

"It coils in the sky... its cast shadow... envelops the land... in its mouth... it holds destruction... or perhaps... is the light... of rebirth..."

The Great Toad Sage struggled to describe the scene from its dream, finally shaking its head:

"Cannot see clearly... whether it faces the ground... or the sky... do not know... is it friend... or foe..."

These words made Jiraiya below frown deeply.

Azure Dragon?

A gigantic Azure Dragon?

He instantly thought of the Anbu boy from Konoha with the title "Azure Dragon", who possesses a special Kekkei Genkai - Sora.

Connecting this to the previous message relayed by the two Toad Sages about the "azure shadow interfering with the prophecy" in the Great Toad Sage’s dreams, plus Sora’s astonishing performance on the battlefield before...

A strong sense of unease welled up in Jiraiya’s heart.

"Two Sages, I must return to Konoha immediately!"

Jiraiya said gravely:

"This ’Azure Dragon’ is very likely our Konoha’s Sora! The Great Toad Elder’s prophecy seems to point to him, I must go back and find out exactly what is happening!"

Great Sage Fukasaku and Great Sage Shima exchanged a look, seeing the gravity in each other’s eyes.

"Father, what Little Jiraiya says makes sense." Great Sage Shima spoke up.

Great Sage Fukasaku nodded:

"Go, Little Jiraiya, be sure to be careful. If the Great Lord’s prophecy truly comes to pass with that youth, then his existence may completely change the future of the ninja world!"

Jiraiya nodded emphatically, his figure disappearing from Myobokuzan.

He had to return to Konoha as quickly as possible, to understand Sora’s current situation, and...

the truth of the incident at the Valley of the End that was classified as top secret!

...

Konohagakure, Uchiha Clan District.

Inside a hidden secret room, the atmosphere was grave.

Uchiha Fugaku sat in the main seat, expressionless.

Below sat several clan elders, among them were members of the radical hawk faction.

"Fugaku, the Konoha higher-ups’ suspicion towards our Uchiha is now completely undisguised!"

A hawk faction elder said agitatedly:

"The Third Great Ninja War is clearly over, Kirigakure long ago lost the ability to launch large-scale attacks! Why must the vast majority of our clan’s elite combat force still be stationed at that remote frontline camp?"

"This is clearly using it as an excuse to move us away from the center of power, to prevent us from ’getting in the way’ during the critical moment of the Fourth Hokage election!"

"They even withdrew the standard Hyuga clan reconnaissance unit, what level of precaution and humiliation is this!"

Another elder also chimed in:

"Exactly! Now Danzo is dead, the Azure Dragon has left, plus the Sannin are also dead or gone, Konoha’s interior is unprecedentedly empty, this is the perfect opportunity for us to act!"

"Why not secretly withdraw our clansmen from the frontlines, combine with the forces within the clan district, and while Namikaze Minato’s foundation is still unstable, launch a coup to reclaim the status and power our Uchiha deserve!"

His words were full of incitement, making the eyes of several younger elders flicker, seemingly somewhat tempted.

Uchiha Fugaku listened silently until the voices of discussion subsided slightly, then he slowly spoke:

"I understand the feelings of all elders, however, a coup... is the last resort, a desperate move that gambles the fate of the entire clan."

His gaze swept over everyone:

"Firstly, Namikaze Minato has already been officially confirmed as the Fourth Hokage."

"His attitude towards our Uchiha clan is far more moderate than Danzo and the Third Hokage’s. Our Uchiha clan also spared no effort in supporting him during this election. As long as he takes the position, our situation will very likely improve."

"Secondly, Danzo, the main culprit who was most suspicious and repeatedly suppressed the Uchiha, is dead. The biggest obstacle has disappeared. Why can’t we have a little more patience, wait for the changes Minato’s governance will bring?"

Uchiha Fugaku’s analysis was reasonable and well-founded, making several radical elders fall into thought as well. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Indeed, Danzo is dead, Namikaze Minato who supports the Uchiha is coming to power, the situation seems to be developing in a positive direction.

To launch an all-or-nothing coup now carries too much risk.

Seeing the elders’ attitudes soften, Uchiha Fugaku felt slightly relieved in his heart.

Actually, he had the most important point that he did not explicitly state.

That was the clan’s currently known highest combat power - Uchiha Takumi who had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan.

Uchiha Takumi’s feelings for the clan were not deep, mostly tied to his younger brother Uchiha Ryota.

Last time he took Takumi to see the clan stone tablet beneath the Naka Shrine, trying to use its contents to ignite Takumi’s sense of responsibility towards the clan, but it was too late.

Moreover, with Takumi’s obsessive personality, whether he would fight with all his strength for the clan’s "great cause" was still unknown.

Uchiha Fugaku’s gaze inadvertently swept over those few elders who shouted most fiercely for a coup, a flash of red light in his eyes.

Furthermore...

How could a true trump card be easily revealed?

Finally, after some deliberation, the elders in the secret room reached a consensus.

"Alright, Fugaku, you are right."

The hawk faction elder who spoke first sighed:

"We will give the Konoha higher-ups, give the Fourth Hokage one more chance, we hope they will not disappoint us..."

Uchiha Fugaku nodded:

"Rest assured, everyone, for the Uchiha’s future, I will proceed with caution."

The meeting ended, the elders left one after another.

Uchiha Fugaku sat alone in the secret room, lightly tapping his fingers on the table, his gaze profound.

Sora’s defection, the terrifying power he displayed, and the deaths of Orochimaru and Danzo...

The landscape of the ninja world is changing at an astonishing speed.

Where should the Uchiha clan position themselves within this shifting landscape?

He needed to think carefully.

---

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