Naruto: The Hyuga Mastermind

Chapter 148: Chōmei—Are You Sure You Won't Face Backlash?

Fortunately, Hyuga Fuji seemed uninterested in controlling people on a large scale with his green Spirit Spheres. Only a handful of black market merchants, nobles, and a few dozen shinobi had fallen victim to his technique.

If Fuji had broader ambitions, Chōmei couldn't imagine what this world would become.

With that thought in mind, Chōmei continued to observe the interaction between Nagano Shinya, Kakashi, and Yakumaru.

When Nagano mentioned the Four Historical Stone Tablets, Chōmei's voice wavered with surprise. "Historical Stone Tablets? What are those supposed to be?"

The earlier parts of the conversation made sense, but the idea of tablets recording the secrets of Hyuga Fuji, Hashirama Senju, and Uchiha Madara's power? And claiming the Kaguya, Senju, Uchiha, and Hyuga clans each possessed one? It all sounded far too bizarre.

"As the name suggests, they're stone tablets inscribed with ancient history," Fuji replied with a sly smile. "For instance, the Uchiha clan's stone tablet resides in their ancestral grounds. It contains the secrets of the Sharingan's evolution."

Chōmei: "..."

So these things really exist?

Hashirama and his younger brother were that generous to their descendants?

Then why, after all these years in the ninja world, had Chōmei never even heard whispers of them?

It paused, suddenly realizing that perhaps its ignorance was normal.

After all, before being captured and sold to the Hidden Waterfall Village by Hashirama, it rarely paid attention to human chatter. And clan secrets like these wouldn't be shared with outsiders anyway.

Gradually, Chōmei started to believe in the tablets' existence.

Remembering the man who had once captured and sold it, Chōmei curiously asked, "Then where's the Senju clan's stone tablet?"

Fuji smirked. "Still undecided on a storage location."

"…"

Chōmei fell silent.

So you're making this all up, aren't you?

Throwing an exasperated glance Fuji's way, Chōmei continued, "Let me guess—besides the Uchiha clan's actual stone tablet, the others don't exist, do they? Do you really think shinobi would fall for this?"

Fuji's smile widened. "Didn't you just believe it a moment ago?"

"…I did."

"Why?"

"Because your, Hashirama's, and Madara's power defies logic…"

Chōmei trailed off, as if suddenly understanding something.

Seeing this, Fuji conjured a chair from the ocean of consciousness and sat down.

"Just like you, those shinobi find it easier to believe that the power of me, Madara, and Hashirama stems from some secret that can be replicated. I merely provided them with a plausible path to that power."

Chōmei offered no response.

He was right.

Having witnessed Hashirama's strength firsthand, Chōmei knew it wasn't something natural for their era. Hashirama's power echoed the might of the Sage's children.

Madara, too, wasn't normal.

In a thousand years of ninja history, only one Hashirama and one Madara had emerged. The notion that their strength had some hidden origin made more sense than it being purely innate.

As Chōmei pondered, Fuji continued, "Moreover, I plan to inscribe genuinely practical methods for gaining power onto these tablets. I'll even include some of my own research and theories, spreading them across the ninja world to foster progress."

"And what's the point of that?" Chōmei snapped out of its thoughts, unable to resist asking. "Their strength doesn't benefit you."

"Of course, it does." Fuji chuckled. "While they study my techniques to grow stronger, I can in turn absorb the fruits of their research. It's a fair exchange."

Looking at Fuji's serene smile, Chōmei felt as though it were staring at a monster—one that fed on the knowledge of entire civilizations to evolve further. It couldn't help but voice its concern:

"If you do this, are you sure you can keep the entire ninja world under control and avoid backlash?"

Indeed, spreading knowledge this way felt natural and would undoubtedly gain traction as Fuji continued showcasing his strength. But as the ninja world grew more powerful, would Fuji still be able to maintain his dominance?

Fuji's calm expression betrayed no emotion, nor did he answer.

Seeing this, Chōmei hesitated for a moment before recalling the time it had spent with Fuji. It relaxed slightly and added in a lighter tone, "Sorry. That was a foolish question."

---

"Historical Stone Tablets?"

In the Hokage's Office, Tsunade murmured the words to herself and shook her head. "I don't recall the Senju clan having anything like that."

"Are you certain?" Yakumaru, who had come to deliver his report, pressed on. "The Senju and Uchiha clans were bitter rivals during the Warring States period. When Uchiha Madara, the Eternal Mangekyo wielder, emerged, the Senju clan simultaneously produced Hashirama Senju, a figure of unparalleled strength. It's highly unusual."

Before Madara, no Uchiha had ever awakened the Eternal Mangekyo. His discovery of the method—implanting a blood relative's Mangekyo—came directly from the Uchiha clan's stone tablet.

But what about Hashirama? How did he acquire strength surpassing even Madara's?

Tsunade frowned at the implication.

Now that Yakumaru mentioned it, it did seem peculiar. Her grandfather's strength felt almost predestined, as though he existed solely to counterbalance Madara.

The Uchiha and Senju had fought for generations, yet in one era, both clans produced world-shaking figures. It was almost as if fate itself had intervened.

Even so, Tsunade shook her head again. "I've never heard of anything resembling historical stone tablets. Besides, my grandfather's strength primarily stemmed from his Wood Release. It was likely just a coincidence…"

"It's not just the Wood Release."

From the shadows of the Hokage's Office, a low voice interrupted.

"Hashirama's power cannot be explained by Wood Release alone," came the grim tone. "Orochimaru and I have conducted extensive research. No Wood Release user has ever come close to Hashirama's level."

Yakumaru instinctively reached for a kunai, positioning himself protectively in front of Tsunade. His sharp gaze locked onto the intruder. "How did you get out, Danzo?"

Danzo snorted disdainfully at Yakumaru's hostility. "Why don't you ask Tsunade?"

Tsunade waved Yakumaru off, signaling for him to lower his guard. "There's no need to worry. Danzo is bound by layers of sealing jutsu, and his chakra is completely suppressed. He's here solely as an intelligence consultant for Konoha. Once his task is complete, he'll return to his cell."

Despite her explanation, Yakumaru didn't lower his weapon.

Danzo, though irritated by the situation, chose to ignore it and returned to the matter at hand.

"Hashirama undoubtedly had secrets behind his strength," he growled. "But rather than fixating on the Senju, I believe investigating the Hyuga clan would yield more answers."

Tsunade frowned. "You really think the Hyuga clan has their own historical stone tablet?"

Danzo smirked. "Considering how Hyuga Fuji wields a chakra reserve that defies all reason, it would make sense. And, as luck would have it, I happen to have a critical piece of intelligence regarding the matter."

Thinking of a certain Hyuga subordinate he had once manipulated, Danzo allowed himself a sly smile.

(Chapter End)

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