Chapter 97: Water Gate

"Even if I bought the Byakugan and could switch between it and the Sharingan, it still wouldn't work for me."

"The Sharingan can be hidden with colored contacts, but the Byakugan’s bulging veins give it away immediately."

After thinking it over, Fujinaka Genma ultimately abandoned the idea of purchasing the Byakugan.

He also possessed a perception ninjutsu: the Kagura Mind’s Eye, which was no worse than the Byakugan.

Fujinaka Genma switched to his character interface and opened his standard skill list.

Kagura Mind’s Eye, Level 4.

It was already inadequate for his Level 10 Flying Thunder God.

"I still have eight skill points—more than enough."

Fujinaka Genma muttered to himself, then began upgrading.

He upgraded level by level, carefully sensing each increment.

The perception range of the Kagura Mind’s Eye was related to chakra quantity, but not decisively so—the key was mastery of the technique.

As each level increased, Fujinaka Genma’s perception range expanded, though the chakra cost rose accordingly.

But with his chakra reserves, he could easily handle it.

When the Kagura Mind’s Eye reached Level 8, Fujinaka Genma unleashed his full power—the range extended to eight hundred li.

This reminded him of Tobirama Senju, the King of Forbidden Techniques, and Hashirama Senju.

Both possessed monstrous perception abilities, yet in Konoha, they could still sense chakra on the Fourth War battlefield.

Even though Madara Uchiha’s chakra was terrifying at the time.

"Water Gate’s perception ninjutsu clearly follows the same lineage as the Second Hokage’s."

"Hm?"

As he thought, Fujinaka Genma suddenly raised an eyebrow.

Because he sensed a massive surge of chakra fluctuations.

"That distance... the border of the Land of Grass, Shinobu Bridge."

Fujinaka Genma opened his eyes. "The Iwa ninja moved so fast—they’ve reinforced their troops."

"It seems my departure intelligence was already leaked."

Though he had anticipated this, Fujinaka Genma couldn’t suppress a surge of murderous intent.

That old bastard Danzo was trying to get him killed!

"Then don’t blame me..."

Fujinaka Genma muttered, his eyes brimming with killing intent.

If Danzo hadn’t provoked him, he wouldn’t have acted on past memories—but once Danzo made moves, even if he were a saint, Fujinaka Genma would find a way to kill him.

"Coincidentally, Water Gate has risen to power—there’s no longer any need for the Root."

As he thought, Fujinaka Genma began searching for Water Gate’s whereabouts.

Soon, Water Gate’s chakra appeared within his perception.

"They’re almost at Shinobu Bridge..."

"I need to speed up."

Fujinaka Genma immediately gathered his focus and upgraded the Kagura Mind’s Eye to Level 9.

This time, the perception range barely increased.

But perception precision improved, and the speed of detection surged dramatically.

Moreover, what he perceived was no longer just chakra—he could now use the sensed chakra to perceive human forms.

Level 10.

After absorbing the change, Fujinaka Genma added another point to upgrade.

Kagura Mind’s Eye, Level 10.

Fujinaka Genma’s mind trembled—he suddenly felt his consciousness rising, soaring toward the sky.

Then, his awareness seemed to become an eye—an eye with 360-degree, no-blind-spot vision, observing chakra across a thousand li from above.

At this moment,

Fujinaka Genma suddenly had a feeling.

Thousand-Li Eye!

Not a real eye—but a Mind’s Eye!

Unconsciously,

Fujinaka Genma “looked” toward Water Gate, and his Mind’s Eye vision rapidly zoomed in, like a camera lens pulling closer.

Then he “saw” Water Gate, saw Kakashi, saw Obito Uchiha, and saw Rin.

He truly saw them.

The Mind’s Eye.

Chakra had color, revealing outlines, faces, and hues different from what the naked eye saw—but he could now clearly identify their features.

"It lived up to my expectations!"

Fujinaka Genma rejoiced.

He shut off the Kagura Mind’s Eye and stood up.

The remaining two skill points would be kept for now.

Immediately,

Fujinaka Genma rose and found the busy Mura Yajuro to take his leave.

"Be careful!"

"Don’t let your guard down!"

Mura Yajuro repeatedly warned him.

"Master, don’t worry—I won’t be careless."

"I’m not even fifteen yet—I’m very afraid of dying."

Fujinaka Genma smiled.

Mura Yajuro couldn’t help but chuckle, patting Fujinaka Genma’s shoulder. "Go. I’ll be waiting for your return!"

Fujinaka Genma nodded, said no more, and vanished from his spot.

Meanwhile, as he spoke with Mura Yajuro,

On the other side, Water Gate decided to split up from Kakashi and the others.

In truth, they were already close to Shinobu Bridge, and the number of Iwa ninja encountered kept increasing.

Precisely because of this, Water Gate sensed far more Iwa defenders at Shinobu Bridge than his intelligence had indicated.

Kakashi had now been promoted to Jonin, and Obito Uchiha had become a Chunin.

But with that scale of enemy numbers, bringing all three would make it impossible for him to protect them all.

So he decided to divide into two teams.

He would go directly to Shinobu Bridge, while Kakashi’s team would distract and hold back the Iwa ninja blocking their path.

Therefore,

When Fujinaka Genma instantly teleported beside Water Gate, he realized Kakashi and the others were gone.

After Water Gate explained, Fujinaka Genma couldn’t help but reflect—despite changing so much, some things seemed unchangeable.

"Does this mean I can’t alter the outcome of the Nine-Tails’ attack?"

Fujinaka Genma couldn’t help wondering.

But he immediately dismissed it: "With Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan and Level 10 Jin Gang Sealing, even if Madara Uchiha himself came, I could take him on!"

Seeing Fujinaka Genma frozen, Water Gate assumed he was worried about Kakashi’s team and reassured him: "Don’t worry, Fujinaka. Kakashi may not be as strong as Itachi, but with his high-frequency Lightning Blade, he’s formidable."

Fujinaka Genma snapped back to reality and nodded. "Itachi’re right, Master Water Gate. Our troubles are far greater than Kakashi’s."

"The Iwa reinforcements arrived shockingly fast!"

Water Gate, being intelligent, immediately caught the implication. His expression turned grim. "The intelligence was leaked."

Fujinaka Genma didn’t hide his judgment: "It was Danzo."

Among the Konoha ninja, Water Gate and Kushina Uzumaki were the only ones he fully trusted, so he spoke plainly.

"Danzo!"

Water Gate frowned, then declared firmly: "When we return to Konoha, I will report this directly to the Third Hokage."

Fujinaka Genma shook his head. "Master Water Gate, Itachi understand better than I do the bond between the Third Hokage and Danzo—and Konoha’s current situation."

"The Third Hokage might strip Danzo of control over the Root—but in reality, Danzo will still hold it."

Water Gate pondered deeply and had to admit Fujinaka Genma was right.

Looking at his exceptional student, Water Gate instantly understood his intent.

Kill Danzo!

He knew Fujinaka Genma could do it—and that he would do it.

Though Fujinaka Genma always appeared mild-mannered and courteous in Konoha, treating everyone with respect,

Could a man who had single-handedly crushed the Mist ninja, leaving heads rolling, be soft-hearted or indecisive?

"Master Water Gate, I don’t like fighting on the frontlines while someone stabs me in the back."

Fujinaka Genma said calmly: "I’m not afraid of Danzo’s petty schemes—but my mother, Mio, and Teacher Kushina may not be so safe."

"If a problem can’t be solved, eliminate the one who created it."

Minato nodded and patted Fujinaka Genma on the shoulder. “Itachi’re right.”

“But don’t act yet.”

“We need to inform Master Jiraiya, and Itachi should also let Tsunade know.”

Fujinaka Genma felt a warmth in his heart; though he was confident Minato would support him, actually hearing it moved him deeply.

“Understood!”

Fujinaka Genma smiled.