Chapter 31: The Changes in the Book of Demonic Inheritance

"Urgh!"

Following a scream, the Puppet Master, who was manipulating several Kunai with chakra threads, had his throat slit by Asuma and collapsed to the ground.

Having lost their puppets, the Puppet Master was like a tiger without teeth or claws; facing the combined efforts of Asuma and Kurenai, despite a stubborn resistance, they were ultimately finished off.

The Soul count in Uchiha Feiyu's hand increased by one; Asuma and Kurenai finally gained experience in a life-and-death struggle against ninjas, and the Puppet Master's life ultimately provided just these things.

After killing, Asuma's face was flushed and he was panting—not because of excessive physical exertion, but simply because he was too nervous after taking a life.

Killing a fellow human for the first time would cause some shock for most people; due to personal experience, Uchiha Feiyu did not care much about this point, but for Asuma, who was not yet ten years old, the impact was relatively greater.

Fortunately, the ninja training they had undergone since childhood allowed Asuma and Kurenai to recover quickly, though their temperaments had undergone some changes.

After eliminating this small squad of ninjas, the remaining journey was smooth, and Hyuga Hizashi's squad soon delivered the Storage Scroll to the field hospital, completing the mission handover.

After returning to Konoha, Hyuga Hizashi submitted the mission report and, as expected, was summoned to the Hokage Office by the Third Hokage.

"Hizashi, is everything you said in the report true? Is Uchiha Feiyu actually that strong?"

After finishing the report provided by Hyuga Hizashi, the Third Hokage, although knowing that this elite of the Hyuga Clan would not talk nonsense, still asked with some suspicion and uncertainty.

It was just that the strength displayed by that marginalized member of the Uchiha in Hyuga Hizashi's account was too terrifying!

Although Hyuga Hizashi had just turned 20, relying on the Byakugan Bloodline Limit, he could already be called an Elite Jonin; he believed he was absolutely no match for Uchiha Feiyu, so Uchiha Feiyu was at the very least an Elite Jonin.

An Elite Jonin at thirteen or fourteen years old—if it were an ordinary ninja without a Bloodline Limit, it would be almost impossible; only those top-tier Bloodline Limit ninjas could possibly achieve such a thing.

After hearing the Third Hokage's question, Hyuga Hizashi spoke very affirmatively:

"Uchiha Feiyu's strength has definitely surpassed mine, and compared to an ordinary Elite Jonin, I am afraid he is also a cut above."

"The Sand Ninja's ordinary Chunin were basically killed in one move, and that Special Jonin only managed to exchange two moves with Uchiha Feiyu."

"In my judgment, Uchiha Feiyu's strength should have at least reached the level of an Elite Jonin, and it is very likely he possesses Quasi-Shadow strength."

Hearing this, the Third Hokage took two puffs from his pipe, frowned, and then asked:

"Then did you see Uchiha Feiyu's Sharingan? To what level has he developed his Sharingan?"

Hyuga Hizashi was stunned for a moment, then said:

"The Sharingan? Feiyu's Sharingan is currently only at the Two-Tomoe level and has not been developed to the Three-Tomoe level."

"I see... Alright, I understand. Thank you for your hard work, Hizashi, go back and rest."

The Third Hokage breathed a sigh of relief and dismissed Hyuga Hizashi.

Having studied under the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama, Sarutobi Hiruzen was extremely knowledgeable about the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan.

The Uchiha's Mangekyo Sharingan could be maintained at the Three-Tomoe level, but there was no way to disguise it as a Two-Tomoe Sharingan; in other words, the Two-Tomoe Sharingan was Uchiha Feiyu's true level, and there was no possibility of concealment.

As long as he hadn't awakened the Mangekyo, the Third Hokage didn't need to worry too much; although Uchiha Feiyu's talent was indeed quite astonishing, conventional ninjas ultimately had a certain upper limit.

Even if he could become a Quasi-Shadow at thirteen or fourteen, and become Shadow-level in a year or two, that would only mean his strength grew quickly; wanting to break through the boundary of the Shadow-level without relying on a Bloodline Limit was almost impossible.

And Uchiha Feiyu clearly didn't have much talent in developing his Sharingan Bloodline Limit; the Third Hokage even felt that the other party being able to awaken a Two-Tomoe Sharingan was entirely driven by his own excessive ninja talent.

"I don't know how this brat suddenly awakened his Sharingan when he was ten? Forget it... Regardless, it is truly a waste for such a genius to stay in an ordinary Genin squad."

"Fortunately, his relationship with the Uchiha is not very good, so there is no need to worry about the Uchiha Clan's influence on him. Although Danzō didn't stir up the darkness in his heart, he at least created an irreparable rift between him and the Uchiha."

"However, that brat's personality is very difficult to deal with... It is definitely impossible to make him join departments like the Anbu, and letting him join the front line directly... I don't know if he is willing?"

The Third Hokage did not doubt that if his arrangements for Uchiha Feiyu made him dissatisfied, the best outcome would be him just going through the motions, and even a direct defection was something Uchiha Feiyu was absolutely capable of doing.

The other party neither believed in the so-called Will of Fire, nor had deep bonds with Konoha, and didn't even care about his own reputation or the discussions of others. In the Third Hokage's view, Uchiha Feiyu was certainly not a qualified ninja, but precisely because of this, the Third Hokage could not use him as cannon fodder—after all, he really might defect.

If it were just an ordinary Genin or Chunin acting so afraid of death and selfish, the Third Hokage would have plenty of ways to discipline and manipulate them—of course, Genin and Chunin wouldn't even catch the Third Hokage's eye.

But with strength reaching Uchiha Feiyu's level, it undoubtedly allowed the Third Hokage a much higher degree of tolerance; in fact, it was precisely because he showed a disregard for the big picture that the High Command was even more cautious about his arrangements.

After pondering for a moment, the Third Hokage, unable to find a solution, prepared to have a talk with Uchiha Feiyu. Given the talent this youth had displayed, in at most a few years, Konoha would possess another figure like the White Fang.

Even if, because of his personality, this youth would not enter the Konoha High Command, just by virtue of his Shadow-level strength, it would be impossible for anyone to ignore his own opinions.

And just as the Third Hokage was feeling a bit troubled about arranging for Uchiha Feiyu, Uchiha Feiyu himself was looking with some surprise at the black Magic Dao Inheritance Compendium in his mind.

Below the Book of Demonic Inheritance, a small Altar had appeared, with three wisps of tiny Black Qi swirling within it.

One of the wisps of Black Qi looked slightly stronger, while the remaining two were relatively weaker; clearly, these were the offerings sacrificed to the Book of Demonic Inheritance.

As for the origin of the Black Qi, Uchiha Feiyu only had to recall his own actions to understand—these were the three unlucky ninjas he had slaughtered.

The stronger wisp of Black Qi should have come from the Special Jonin, and the remaining two came from those two Chunin.

(End of chapter)