Chapter 146

Around four in the afternoon.

Fujinaka Genma and his group returned to Konoha.

Uchiha Shisui and the other three returned to Root, while Fujinaka Genma went directly to the Hokage’s office.

Only two people were inside: Minato Namikaze and Jiraiya.

Minato Namikaze was processing documents, while Jiraiya…

Fujinaka Genma appeared silently behind him, looked down—and saw an 18+ illustration.

Fujinaka Genma: (((;;)))!!!

One working hard, the other drawing his own reference sketches—this stark contrast slapped Fujinaka Genma right in the face.

Both were too absorbed in their work, and the Anbu secretly guarding them saw Fujinaka Genma but stayed silent, so neither noticed his arrival at first.

Seeing this, Fujinaka Genma’s mind stirred—he transformed into Tsunade.

This time, the two finally snapped out of it.

“Tsun… Tsunade!”

Jiraiya jumped in shock, crashing to the floor with a loud thump.

Even then, he still clutched his drawing tightly, refusing to let it go.

Fujinaka Genma crossed his arms, looking down coldly at Jiraiya’s embarrassed, flushed face.

He said nothing.

The more he stayed silent, the more he looked like he wanted to hit someone—the more he looked like Tsunade.

Minato Namikaze was also awkward, unsure whether to speak up or stay quiet.

At that moment, the office door opened, and Tsunade and Kushina Uzumaki entered together.

And so, they stared at each other.

“Fujinaka… Genma!”

Jiraiya, furious and ashamed, leapt up from the floor to attack.

Fujinaka Genma sidestepped effortlessly, reverted to his true form, then said solemnly: “Did any of Itachi spot any flaws in my transformation just now?”

Jiraiya, having missed his strike and nearly had his drawing exposed by the real Tsunade, sneered: “Your Transformation Technique mimics chakra perfectly—who could spot a flaw?”

Fujinaka Genma shrugged: “On my way back, I encountered someone like that.”

At this, everyone was startled, their expressions turning serious.

Tsunade and Kushina Uzumaki had never seen this transformation technique in action; even Minato Namikaze had not witnessed it firsthand—but Jiraiya had.

Years ago, Fujinaka Genma had used this terrifyingly realistic ability to shatter hundreds of Mist ninja.

“Is this connected to Uchiha Madara?”

Tsunade asked grimly.

Fujinaka Genma did not answer directly, but said: “That man was the one who tried to take Obito. Though he wore a mask, he couldn’t fool me.”

“Also, the assassin who tried to kill me came from the Uchiha clan—Uchiha Shuichi. Obito’s eyes are on him.”

“I originally plucked out one of his eyes, but he had already cast Izanagi on himself.”

Minato Namikaze immediately realized something: “So Uchiha Madara might have escaped death the same way back then?”

Fujinaka Genma nodded. “Also, I’ve confirmed with Hanzo that he never sent anyone else to eliminate the other Akatsuki members.”

“That means, back then in the Hidden Rain Village—and in our own Konoha—another force eliminated the other Akatsuki members. Or at least, prevented them from coming to rescue Minato, Nagato, and Konan.”

“Uchiha Shuichi…”

Kushina Uzumaki recalled: “According to Jiraiya’s account, when Minato died, Uchiha Shuichi was already listed as ‘killed in action.’”

“Obito was also already dead.”

Tsunade’s expression turned icy. “So we can now confirm that Uchiha Madara was the one who led Uchiha Shuichi into darkness. Then—is Uchiha Madara still alive?”

“If we deploy all our reconnaissance forces, could we kill him?”

Fujinaka Genma said nothing, but looked at Jiraiya and Minato Namikaze.

“Uchiha Madara should be dead. He’s already found a proxy.”

Jiraiya said.

Minato Namikaze nodded in agreement: “At this point, he’s far too old. His best option was death—then wait to be revived and return to his peak.”

He’s definitely dead. They’ve pulled the plug already.

Fujinaka Genma thought.

Without the Outer Path’s vessel to sustain him, Uchiha Madara simply aged to death.

Come to think of it—isn’t Nagato keeping the Outer Path’s vessel alive, and the vessel keeping Uchiha Madara alive?

So Nagato is keeping Uchiha Madara alive?

A strange thought flashed through Fujinaka Genma’s mind—until Tsunade interrupted: “Genma, if we find Nagato, could we persuade him to destroy the Rinnegan?”

“What could we possibly use to convince him?”

Fujinaka Genma countered.

Tsunade fell silent.

Evidence?

All of it is speculation or circumstantial proof.

Would Nagato believe what Hanzo says?

Would he believe the word of his enemy?

Konoha is his enemy too!

His parents’ deaths. His comrades’ deaths.

Fujinaka Genma believed Nagato already knew Uchiha Shuichi wasn’t Uchiha Madara—that he was an imposter.

Yet he still cooperated.

Because the first half of the Eye of the Moon Plan aligned with Nagato’s changed beliefs.

Unless Uchiha Shuichi—or Uchiha Madara—revealed the truth.

Uchiha Madara would do the same.

Unless Black Zetsu betrayed him, would he believe Itachi if Itachi told him Black Zetsu deceived him?

Such a powerful man is not easily persuaded!

Better to beat him into submission.

“That bastard Danzo…”

Tsunade gritted her teeth, muttering under her breath.

Jiraiya sighed, his expression sorrowful.

He had once placed great hope in Minato, Nagato, and Konan. Now, one was confirmed dead, and the other two were likely fallen into darkness—soon to become enemies.

“Genma, what do Itachi think Uchiha Madara needs to be revived?”

Kushina Uzumaki asked.

“Even with a Rinnegan, reviving someone isn’t simple. I’ve studied Edo Tensei… uh…”

Fujinaka Genma’s voice cut off abruptly.

Damn—I almost exposed myself.

Looking at the four people staring at him, he gave an awkward smile and shrugged helplessly: “I studied this technique to understand soul-related jutsu—I previously trained the Soul Transformation Technique.”

“I’ve also studied the Dead Demon Consuming Seal… and have a good grasp of the Mangekyo Sharingan… Overall, reviving someone requires vast amounts of chakra.”

Fujinaka Genma made it up on the spot, backing it up with several other jutsu.

Like Chiyo of the Sand Village’s Transmigration Technique, and other hidden arts from other villages.

Everyone present were Konoha’s highest leaders—they all knew some intelligence.

They felt Fujinaka Genma’s explanation wasn’t baseless.

Vast chakra—everyone immediately thought of the Tailed Beasts.

Kushina Uzumaki instinctively placed her hand on her abdomen.

At that moment, the office door knocked again, and Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped in.

He had heard Fujinaka Genma had returned and came immediately.

Though he had stepped down, he remained a high-ranking elder in Konoha, and some Anbu still answered to him.

Most of the current Hokage’s direct Anbu forces were transferred from Root by Fujinaka Genma, or newly recruited.

Like Kakashi’s group of new recruits.

Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi arrive, before he could speak, Fujinaka Genma asked: “Third Hokage, are there any flaws in the Nine-Tails’ seal?”

Hiruzen Sarutobi paused, then looked at Kushina Uzumaki and said gravely: “As a jinchuriki, if Kushina gives birth, the seal’s power weakens—that’s when she’s most vulnerable.”

The previous Nine-Tails jinchuriki had faced this exact situation—he knew well.

At these words, Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze fell silent.

Then, Kushina Uzumaki suddenly gagged, clapping her hand over her mouth and rushing out.

“No way…”

Fujinaka Genma’s eye twitched.

The war ended early, the Fourth Hokage rose early—so Naruto was born early? That makes sense.

After all, wars are usually followed by baby booms.