"I can handle it!"
Betty said nothing. She tried smoothing out the wrinkles on Maha's face, but they resurfaced immediately, all in vain... She sighed softly... Her former lover, at last, has grown old....
And she, in her frail body, wanted to help but was powerless... If,
If she could resurrect, if she could revive the thousands of comrades who died alongside Maha...
Perhaps, Maha wouldn't have to struggle alone....
Sadly, this world has no "if"....
The wind blew, causing the willows outside the courtyard to sway...
Meanwhile——
In the same parallel universe, the world of Hokage.
Konoha,
In the Hokage Tower, shaped like an enormous overturned rice cooker nestled amidst Konoha Village....
Hiruzen Sarutobi returned to his office from the ninja academy and immediately commanded the Anbu to summon Uchiha Fugaku for discussions... regarding Roy's school explosion incident.
Unexpectedly, just as his chair hadn't even warmed under him, he was shocked by the intrusion of "Limb Restoration Jutsu" handed over by Uchiha Fugaku!
Hiruzen squinted his old eyes, glanced at Fugaku, then lowered his head to study the scroll closely. His mind surged with waves, instantly recalling a "forbidden jutsu" named——
"Reanimation Jutsu!"
This "S"-rank "interworld summoning technique" developed by the Second Hokage, his teacher, Tobirama Senju, could call back the souls of dead ninjas and revive them as physical entities... It shone brilliantly during the Second Shinobi World War alongside Tobirama, even making Chiyo lament, evaluated as despicable by Second Tsuchikage Mu, yet deeply envied... It genuinely deserved its "S"-rank name, even making him, the "Ninjutsu Doctor," marvel in awe, still....
In the present, within this very office, it could not compare to the shock brought by "Limb Restoration Jutsu" in his hands!
It should be known that ninjas must use two-handed seals to connect with the chakra within themselves to perform "ninjutsu"… Not even the first Hokage, revered as the "God of Shinobi," could avoid this fact, demonstrating——
The significant importance of hands to a ninja!
Especially given that... Konoha currently has a significant number of disabled individuals who've lost limbs due to war, with no chance of pursuing the ninja path for life....
Hiruzen Sarutobi clasped the scroll tightly onto the desk, then looked deeply at Fugaku and said: "Fugaku, you've truly given this old man a tremendous surprise."
"As named, this 'Limb Restoration' jutsu, all of Konoha's disabled owe you a debt from today forward."
"Fortunate acquisition from the battlefield, Hokage-sama." Uchiha Fugaku maintained his stern and cold demeanor, his expressions shrouded in unknown emotions.
But... Obtained from the battlefield? Given the rival ninjas possessing this jutsu, why hasn't anyone utilized it?
Hiruzen Sarutobi, going through reports sent from the frontlines, could not remember any mentions of limb restoration… nor instances of extraordinary self-healing abilities......
He suddenly thought of someone, chuckled softly, and spoke nonchalantly: "Let's talk about that kid, Jin."
"So young, not only exceptional in [Fire Style] but also capable of independently developing such [Limb Restoration Jutsu], Fugaku....."
Hiruzen Sarutobi fixated on Fugaku's face, observing every micro-expression, complimenting: "You genuinely have an excellent son."
Uchiha Fugaku was stunned internally, yet showed anger on the surface, saying: "Apologies for Hokage-sama witnessing this joke, Jin this child doesn't know his limits, destroyed the school's courtyard walls, and by rules must be punished!"
"Once I return, his enrollment will be removed immediately, and he's to be brought to the Police Department for trial, imprisoned!"
Is it really not him? Hiruzen Sarutobi looked doubtfully at Uchiha Fugaku, who seemed overwhelmed with anger, disregarding contemplation, chuckling softly and gesturing with his hand, "Children need not be treated so seriously."
"In my opinion, not only should he not be punished, but he should be encouraged..."
"At his current level, staying in school would merely stifle his talent, allow him to graduate early."
"Hokage-sama, this... doesn't comply with regulations..."
"Rules are dead, but people are alive, and we must address special cases with special measures when necessary."
Hiruzen Sarutobi made the decision resolutely, allowing no objections… He gestured, warmly said to Fugaku: "You've endured all night, take a day off to rest, once I've settled the mentor selection, I'll inform you and Jin separately."
Fugaku: ".., fine."
He had no choice but to bow slightly and leave.....
"Creek~" The Hokage office door opened and closed.
Footsteps gradually faded away... Once Fugaku left, Hiruzen Sarutobi leaned against the bright window, rested against the desk, sitting alone, in contemplation....
After a while, he opened the drawer, retrieved the scroll detailing Roy's information, spread it open, quietly examined for a while, subconsciously reaching for the crystal ball... halfway through the motion, he silently withdrew his hand.....
"Hokage-sama's fire is merely fire, unable to completely envelop the Uchiha, nor the ninja world."
Just now, that youth, those eyes, those words, that memory of a fireball covering half the schoolyard, lingered vividly, unshakeable.....
Hiruzen Sarutobi softly murmured: "Is it really not you?"
With pen in hand, inscribing next to Roy's name…. "Uchiha Jin" at the rear, adding a note....
"Exceedingly talented genius Uchiha, suspected actual developer of 'Limb Restoration Jutsu'...."
Hiruzen Sarutobi hesitated with the pen, unable to proceed beyond "might be....," the moment felt boundless....
He was clearly aware, the youth understood the will of fire, yet whether this fire's will included the Uchiha... Hiruzen Sarutobi hesitated just as he did when facing Roy at the schoolyard.....
.....
"Come back?"
"Hmm."
From the Hokage office exit, back home, Fugaku arrived at the entrance hallway, asking as he removed his shoes: "Where's Jin?"
"Sleeping."
Uchiha Mikoto received the combat attire her husband took off, helplessly said: "He said noon sunlight is perfect for sleeping, arranged Itachi, told no one to bother him, still as he was as a child, fond of sleep."
Fugaku smiled, intending to wake the child for a chat but eventually decided against it...
"Let him sleep."
"I'll eat first."
"Saved for you." Mikoto sat with Fugaku at the dining table, resting her chin while he ate, recalling school matters, asked: "Hokage-sama said what?"
"Early graduation." Fugaku replied succinctly.
Uchiha Mikoto surprised, said: "This early?"
Precisely because it's early... hence, too conspicuous.....
Fugaku laid down the chopsticks, sighed softly: "Once I hoped he'd be a genius, not disgrace the Uchiha, now... I wish fewer people noticed him."
"What's wrong?"
"Is it not good for our son to excel?"
"Good, naturally good, just afraid of undue speculation." Fugaku recalled the earlier experience in the Hokage office facing Hiruzen Sarutobi's unexpected probing... Fortunately, he reacted swiftly, feigned anger fooled through,
He took a napkin, frowned while wiping his mouth, said: "Jin cannot and absolutely must not encounter trouble, his significance to the Uchiha is unmatched by others."
"At the very least..."
"Presently, I don't want excess attention upon him,"
"This also aligns with my and Hachida Clan Uncle's consensus......"
"And is the reason I claimed 'Limb Restoration Jutsu' as a battlefield acquisition."
Uchiha Mikoto: "Can it be stopped?"
"No stopping." Fugaku wryly smiled: "He blew up the school, graduates early, avoiding fame is implausible, now it depends....."
"Who the Third Hokage appoints as his mentor......"
Mikoto: "........"
Silence ensued.....
The woman never imagined a day would come where she'd worry because her son excelled too much, sighed alongside....
"No matter what, dear (husband), rest first."
Mikoto playfully winked at Fugaku: "While the children all sleep,"
She plopped onto Fugaku's lap, reaching out with both lily-white arms to embrace Fugaku's neck,
Fugaku: "....."
Having finally earned a day off, and you,