Hokage: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 184: Is Hagoromo Gengetsu Among Them?

"Uchiha???"

In the Hokage's office, Tsunade's pupils slightly contracted upon hearing Shikamaru's rapid report. Shikamaru's team, returning from their mission, had keenly noticed Kamizuki Izumo and Hagane Kotetsu under a genjutsu spell. After breaking the spell, they learned shocking news from the two gatekeepers.

Tsunade, staring at the still-recovering Izumo and Kotetsu, asked:

"Are you sure it's the Uchiha?"

Kamizuki Izumo nodded heavily, his voice slightly weak:

"There were more than ten people, each with the Uchiha clan emblem on their cloaks. They all activated their Sharingan, and we were instantly caught in a genjutsu. Looking back now, I recognize it. It was Uchiha Sasuke!"

"Uchiha Sasuke along with more than ten Uchiha ninjas."

With this new intel, Tsunade's expression became extremely serious.

She had already heard from Yamato about the survival of some other Uchiha members after the incident at Lockfront Village. 

She hadn't expected that the number of Uchiha now exceeded ten.

For a small ninja clan, such numbers are already significant.

'How many Uchiha were sent away back then?' Tsunade wondered.

As she thought more about the third Hokage and Danzo, who orchestrated the downfall of the Uchiha, her anger grew. 

Had they still been alive, she would have wanted to punch them right then.

"Look at the mess you left me!"

At this moment, Shikamaru, who had learned from Shizune about the battle at the Naka Shrine where several Konoha squads had been wiped out, quickly analyzed:

"Most likely, Sasuke and his group are now at the Naka Shrine. The chances of internal conflict among the Uchiha are minimal. Initially, there were no Konoha ninjas there. Their enemy must be someone else."

"Given that Sasuke and his group would risk exposing themselves, despite Konoha being right next to them, just to fight at Naka Shrine, there's only one person I can think of."

Shikamaru looked up at Tsunade.

Tsunade picked up the thread and slowly said:

"Uchiha Itachi."

"So, now it's two groups of Uchiha fighting at Naka Shrine. Sasuke and his group are there for revenge. But why did Uchiha Itachi come to Konoha voluntarily?" Shizune pondered aloud.

At this point, a new voice interjected:

"For the Sharingan."

Wearing a headband with the character for "oil" and with waist-length white hair, Jiraiya entered the room with a grave expression.

"Jiraiya-sama."

Shizune, Shikamaru, Izumo, and Kotetsu immediately greeted him.

Jiraiya nodded casually and continued:

"To further evolve the Mangekyōu Sharingan, it must fuse with the eyes of a close relative. I believe Uchiha Itachi spared Sasuke back then because he was his younger brother."

Due to the reappearance of Hagoromo Gengetsu, Jiraiya had spent the last two years gathering and examining information about the Warring States Period to better understand Gengetsu.

During one such opportunity, he found a story in an old book. Although it didn't mention Hagoromo Gengetsu, it revealed a secret about the Uchiha.

The book's author seemed well-versed in Uchiha lore.

He described how Uchiha Madara, in order to further evolve his Sharingan, took the eyes of his younger brother, Uchiha Izuna.

Whether this story was accurate or a deliberate smear against Madara was unclear, but Jiraiya immediately thought of Uchiha Itachi and Sasuke after reading it.

Unaware of the true events of the Uchiha massacre, he thus made his previous statement.

"Whoever said the Uchiha are a cursed clan seems to have been right."

The idea of brothers killing each other for power left Shikamaru in disbelief.

However, this was not the time to delve into this issue.

"We cannot allow Uchiha Itachi to take Sasuke's eyes, or vice versa!"

If an older brother's eyes could evolve, then a younger brother's eyes could too.

Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke were both S-rank rogue ninjas of Konoha.

Shikamaru, unlike Naruto, did not act on emotions. He immediately suggested to Tsunade:

"Hokage-sama, we must quickly dispatch a large force to seal off the Naka Shrine and capture Uchiha Itachi and Sasuke's group."

Tsunade nodded and added:

"And one more thing."

She looked at Izumo and Kotetsu and asked each word clearly:

"Was Hagoromo Gengetsu among the Uchiha?"

The mention of "Hagoromo Gengetsu" brought silence to the Hokage's office.

Unlike other parts of the ninja world where Gengetsu was mostly known by name, Konoha ninjas had witnessed his power firsthand during the Root's destruction.

Izumo and Kotetsu swallowed nervously. After careful recollection, they shook their heads:

"We're not sure. Sasuke moved too quickly, and we were caught in a genjutsu before we saw everyone clearly."

Without definitive intel, Tsunade frowned.

After a brief consideration, she made a decision.

"Asuma, Shizune, quickly gather all available Chunin and Jonin in the village. I will personally lead this mission!" Tsunade commanded.

Although the Uchiha were formidable, Tsunade found it audacious for only a dozen of them to act under Konoha's nose.

Unless they had additional backing.

The only person Tsunade could think of was either the other Mangekyōu Sharingan user who had appeared with Sasuke at the Fire Temple and Mt. Katsuragi or Hagoromo Gengetsu himself.

With so many powerful enemies in the village, as Hokage, Tsunade felt she must lead the mission herself, rather than sit idly in her office like the Third Hokage.

"Yes, Hokage-sama!" Asuma and Shizune immediately set off.

"I'll come too." Jiraiya, recalling his close encounter during a previous surveillance, chose to join the mission with a serious expression.

Tsunade did not object.

Soon, the idle Chunin and Jonin in the village gathered. Without delay, Tsunade and Jiraiya led them swiftly towards the long-abandoned Uchiha district.

Izumo and Kotetsu, still recovering from the genjutsu, were left behind.

The two looked at each other and understood each other's thoughts.

If Hagoromo Gengetsu had indeed been among the Uchiha group, it would mean they had survived an encounter with the legendary figure.

Or rather, they had faced off against a being said to rival the gods and survived.

However, thinking of their comrades now heading to Naka Shrine, Izumo and Kotetsu felt this accomplishment was best left unmentioned.