Chapter 50: If Tomorrow Were the End of the World

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"Hokage-sama!"

Izumi Uchiha had come to the Hokage Tower, and the ANBU assigned to monitor her naturally came along as well.

After Izumi left, the ANBU appeared inside the Hokage’s Office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen asked,

"Is it true?"

"It’s true!"

The ANBU nodded.

Hiruzen’s gaze sharpened.

"Good. Continue your mission."

"Yes!"

The ANBU acknowledged the order before disappearing.

Danzō’s eyes flickered.

Without the Mangekyō, why would the Uchiha clan want the method to release the seal? And how could they possibly control the Tailed Beast?

Shisui really isn’t dead!

Danzō was now certain that Uchiha Shisui was still alive.

Everything was simply a cover-up by the Uchiha clan!

As expected, the Uchiha clan cannot be trusted!

The Uchiha clan cannot be allowed to remain!

Danzō immediately pressed the matter.

"Hiruzen! The Uchiha clan actually wants to release the Tailed Beast. As expected, they harbor treacherous ambitions!

"Shisui, the one who could change the Uchiha clan’s will, is dead!

"Do you still believe Uchiha Itachi can ease the conflict between the village and the Uchiha?

"Don’t forget, he’s the heir of the Uchiha clan!

"When the conflict between Konoha and the Uchiha can no longer be reconciled, will he still have Konoha in his heart?"

Danzō didn’t reveal the suspicions in his heart.

Hiruzen trusted Uchiha Shisui deeply.

Given Hiruzen’s indecisive personality, revealing his suspicions would only make him overthink things.

And the more he thought about it, the harder it would be for him to make a decision.

He might even secretly investigate whether Shisui was truly dead.

There was no need to complicate things.

Danzō couldn’t wait any longer!

All he needed to do now was pressure Hiruzen into making up his mind to act against the Uchiha.

Once that happened, whether Shisui was actually dead or whether the Uchiha had some other trump card would become clear.

"I’ll think about it. I’ll consider it carefully."

Hiruzen understood what Danzō meant.

The Uchiha clan was one of Konoha’s greatest sources of military strength.

Eliminating the Uchiha would be equivalent to weakening Konoha’s strength.

After such an internal conflict, Konoha would inevitably suffer severe losses.

Once that happened, the other nations would probably begin making their moves.

Moreover, the Uchiha clan was one of the founding clans of the village.

Without a suitable reason...

"What are you still thinking about? What are you hesitating over?

"Do you really intend to wait until the Uchiha release the Tailed Beast before you can make up your mind?"

Danzō knew how difficult it was to force Hiruzen into making such a decision, so he continued applying pressure.

Hiruzen secretly sighed.

"The Uchiha are founding elders of the village. Without a reasonable justification..."

Hearing this, Danzō became furious at Hiruzen’s indecisiveness.

"At a time like this, you’re still worried about being condemned by the village and the shinobi world afterward?

"Hiruzen, you’re far too indecisive!

"Konoha will only decline under your leadership!

"If you can’t make the decision, then give the position of Hokage to me!

"I’ll give the order regarding the Uchiha clan myself, and I’ll bear the infamy afterward!"

"No. Your methods are unsuitable for governing Konoha. The matter of the Uchiha clan still needs further discussion."

"ANBU!"

Hiruzen decisively rejected him and immediately shouted for the ANBU.

"Hokage-sama."

An ANBU quickly appeared.

"Bring Uchiha Itachi here."

"Yes!"

The ANBU acknowledged the order before Body Flickering away.

Beside him, Danzō couldn’t help clenching his fists tightly.

Unsuitable.

Unsuitable!

Just because of a single sentence, Hiruzen was going to dismiss him!

...

Meanwhile.

Ninja Academy.

"If tomorrow were the end of the world, who would you want to spend it with?"

Iruka, who believed in balancing work and relaxation, posed this question to the class.

Hearing this, Chōji Akimichi glanced at the bag of chips in his desk.

Shikamaru Nara continued looking as unmotivated as ever.

Shino Aburame pushed up his glasses with two fingers.

Sakura blushed and glanced at Sasuke.

Ino and Hinata simultaneously looked toward Naruto.

Kiba Inuzuka, meanwhile, interlocked his fingers behind his head and said dismissively,

"There can’t possibly be an end of the world!"

Iruka smiled.

"Of course. The shinobi world is peaceful right now, so there obviously won’t be an apocalypse.

"This is only a hypothetical question. It’s meant to help everyone recognize who is truly the most important person in their hearts.

"Now, write down on the paper the person you would most want to spend the end of the world with.

"You don’t need to write your own name, so there’s no need to worry about the teacher finding out."

As he spoke, he distributed sheets of paper to each student’s desk.

That last sentence was somewhat questionable when it came to deceiving children.

The students didn’t realize it, however, and immediately began whispering among themselves.

Naruto didn’t pick up his pen.

He hadn’t even heard what Iruka was saying.

His mind wasn’t focused on the lesson at all.

He was currently listening to Minato explain what was happening inside the Hokage’s Office.

Alright, I understand.

After listening, Naruto acknowledged him mentally.

At that moment, Ino leaned over and glanced at the blank sheet on Naruto’s desk.

"Naruto, why aren’t you writing?"

The Ninja Academy arranged students three to a desk, conveniently matching the standard three-man squad formation.

Originally, Naruto and Hinata had shared a desk, with Naruto sitting by the window.

Later, Ino joined them, and Naruto moved to the middle.

"What am I supposed to write?"

Naruto blinked.

Ino had long since grown accustomed to Naruto spacing out during class.

She tapped the blank sheet on his desk.

"Teacher Iruka said to write down the person you’d most want to spend the end of the world with."

Naruto suddenly understood.

He instinctively glanced toward Ino’s desk.

Ino immediately covered the paper she had already written on.

"Don’t look!"

Naruto then glanced toward the other side.

Hinata was doing the same thing, covering her paper with both hands while looking out the window.

Ino immediately exclaimed,

"Eh~! Hinata, aren’t you curious about what Naruto wrote?"

Hinata continued staring out the window.

Her hands covering the paper fidgeted against each other as she gave a tiny shake of her head.

Naruto’s mouth twitched as he vaguely noticed the veins bulging around Hinata’s eyes.

She’s already activated her Byakugan, and she says she isn’t curious?

Suddenly, Naruto’s heart stirred.

He discreetly glanced toward the center of the classroom, at Sasuke Uchiha’s desk.

With his enhanced vision, he vaguely saw the name Uchiha Itachi written on the paper.

What a poor kid.

Naruto shook his head.

Under the expectant gazes of Ino and Hinata, he quickly wrote Uchiha Izumi on his paper.

Ino’s face immediately darkened.

Hinata’s body trembled slightly while she continued looking at the scenery outside.

Naruto smiled.

Then, with another series of quick strokes, he wrote the names of the other two girls as well.

"Hmph!"

Ino’s expression softened slightly, but she still pouted.

She silently cursed Naruto for being such a womanizer.

Hinata, on the other hand, wasn’t dissatisfied at all.

She breathed a sigh of relief, satisfied, and finally deactivated her Byakugan.

She slowly turned her head back, her entire face bright red.

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