UTBW: Ch. 86

"But how can I trust you?" Junichi looked at Shikamaru in front of him and asked, "I forced your father to die, forced the elders of your clans to die, and even forced you to betray and kill members of the Sarutobi clan. If you say there's no hatred in your heart, I absolutely won't believe it."

"Besides, why should I trust the Ino-Shika-Chō trio who have already betrayed once?"

With each sentence he spoke, Ino and Chōji trembled more, their faces growing increasingly pale.

Only Shikamaru let out a breath of relief. Because, if this Fifth Hokage in front of them really wanted to kill, he wouldn't waste time talking so much.

"Hokage-sama, I promise to be loyal, to manage Root and handle the dirty work that's inconvenient for you," he pressed his forehead firmly to the ground and answered solemnly.

Junichi smiled again. As expected of a clever person, he knew how to show his value.

Oh well, he wasn't a bloodthirsty butcher; whether he killed or not depended entirely on whether there was a need.

Shikaku had jumped out himself, of course he had to kill one as a warning to others. If he had just stayed quiet like Kakashi, Junichi might not have even remembered his name.

"Since you've betrayed once, why not do it a second time?" he said lightly.

Shikamaru's heart jolted, he didn't immediately understand the meaning. He looked up at Junichi in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I know your clans have your own communication methods, so…" Junichi flicked his fingers and said, "Tell your father, Inoichi, and Chōza, help me capture Tsunade and Jiraiya alive, and I will permit your clans to survive."

Shikamaru instantly broke out in a cold sweat.

To go after Lady Tsunade and Jiraiya-sama?

No!

Knowing this man's nature, such an approach was inevitable. The moment the two Sannin left the village, the fallout was already unavoidable.

His thoughts raced.

The real issue now was: would the Ino-Shika-Chō trio take part in this? If they helped, they'd completely sever ties with the Senju faction, with the other ninja clans and the civilians, they would become nothing more than a tool in this Fifth Hokage's hand.

As this thought surfaced, his heart wouldn't stop trembling. He finally understood the pressure his father felt when facing Junichi.

No wonder people used the word "terrifying" to describe him, he was truly unfathomable.

Just a few words, and he had already seized control of their fates. You had no choice but to obey.

He let out a bitter smile and said, "We shall obey your command."

Next to him, Ino and Chōji were already terrified out of their minds.

They never imagined Junichi would force their fathers to go after Tsunade and Jiraiya, figures they'd revered since childhood!

"No. It's not an order from me. It's you choosing to come back voluntarily. Understand?" Junichi said with a smile.

"Yes, we will make the right choice," Shikamaru bowed again and answered respectfully.

"Good. You're smart." Junichi finally nodded in satisfaction and smiled. "Then I permit the Ino-Shika-Chō to survive, not your generation, though, but the generation after the next, or the one after that."

"Yes, I understand," Shikamaru answered with difficulty.

His generation, the next, and even the one after that, during all that time, the Fifth Hokage would still be in power, with firm control over Konoha. The Ino-Shika-Chō would be used until their very last breath.

Only by the generation after that might they regain some status, but by then, they might be reduced to a minor clan like the Gekkō clan.

But what choice did they have? Better than having all three clans wiped out.

"That's settled then." Junichi picked up his teacup, signaling they could leave.

Though they were once part of the "Konoha 12", that story no longer existed.

He had already begun, to some extent, rewriting fate.

"Hokage-sama!"

Shikamaru still had one more matter to report and said urgently, "The Yamanaka clan knows they've failed in virtue and in raising their children properly. We wish to offer Ino to enter your residence. If she could receive your teachings, the Yamanaka clan would be forever grateful!"

"Oh?" Junichi looked at Ino.

Under his gaze, she trembled like a leaf, her face pale as death. Her hair was light yellow, her eyes light blue, and in them was nothing but fear and anxiety as she looked nervously at him

Junichi remained silent, knowing full well the nature of clans. When it came to clan survival, it didn't matter if you were the daughter of the clan leader, or the clan leader himself.

You would be sacrificed all the same.

"Well then, let her enter my residence."

"Y-yes!" Terrified, Ino trembled violently and quickly bowed her head to the ground before Junichi. Her father had already instructed her before she came. And she knew very well, she had no choice.

"Thank you for taking me in," she said in a timid voice.

"Mm." Junichi nodded casually, showing little interest. An 8-year-old girl held no appeal to him, but he would play along and see what their plan was.

He turned his gaze toward the chubby boy standing nearby and asked, "And what about you? What plans does your family have?"

"W-we… we're strong. We hope to support the Police Division and help maintain order in the village," Chōji replied meekly.

"Oh, I see." Junichi nodded. Volunteering to be a brute, an enforcer, that was what this was.

"Not bad." He chuckled and accepted the Akimichi clan's gesture of loyalty as well.

Hearing that, Shikamaru visibly relaxed. At last, they had passed this test.

"Then we're done here." Junichi lifted his teacup and took a sip.

"We take our leave," Shikamaru said.

He and Chōji left without hesitation. The two of them cast one last glance at Ino, their eyes filled with sorrow, this might be the last time they ever saw her.

Because once she had been handed over to Junichi, her life no longer belonged to her, but to him.

"You go too. Learn how to serve people from the head maid," Junichi said with a wave of his hand, dismissing Ino.

Naturally, there were maids in his household, trained specifically to serve.

"Yes." Ino respectfully withdrew.

Junichi leisurely finished his tea, then clasped his hands behind his back and walked into the courtyard.

---

In the rear courtyard, rows of bamboo had been planted, forming a dense forest. When the wind blew through, the sound of rustling leaves was soothing.

Junichi stood among them and took out a glass tube to examine.

Whoosh!

A flash of white light appeared in his eyes. A sharp, blade-like aura burst forth, filling the courtyard instantly, even the wind fell silent.

The koi in the pond, the birds in the bamboo, the insects in the soil... every living thing fell still, trembling in fear.

Inside the glass tube he held was a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan, glowing faintly with a blood-red light. Resentment, despair, pain, and regret... all sorts of negative emotions slowly leaked out.

A mental will began to separate from the eye's chakra.

His eyes glowed with sharp white light, cutting into the will like blades. Gradually, like mist or smoke, the will dissipated and scattered into nothingness.

Puff!

At a certain moment, the glow of the Mangekyō dimmed. That residual will was completely annihilated, nothing remained.

"At last, it's been thoroughly cleansed…" He smiled as he gazed at the eyes.