Chapter 39 : Prelude to Chunin Exams
"The Uchiha clan's Sharingan," the Third continued slowly, "enhances their ability to manipulate Yin Release. Almost any Uchiha who awakens the three-tomoe Sharingan has the potential to use the Flying Thunder God Technique. Even those with just a single tomoe, if talented enough, can learn it. And the Sharingan's dynamic visual perception can naturally compensate for the stiffness that occurs after teleportation."
He paused, eyes dim with memory.
"My teacher—the Second Hokage—always claimed he disliked the Uchiha for their ambitions, and that's why he worked to suppress them. But I understand now... what drove him wasn't hate—it was fear. The truth is, many of the techniques he developed were practically tailor-made for the Uchiha. He saw their potential, the terrifying possibility of what the clan could become if left unchecked. He wasn't afraid of what they were—but what they could be."
Jiraiya frowned. "So the Second left behind countermeasures in case they grew too powerful?"
The Third Hokage nodded solemnly. "Yes. The Uchiha were already incredibly strong, but what alarmed Tobirama wasn't just their current strength—it was their rapid growth and endless potential. Even with the village's power structure in place, the Second feared a future where the Uchiha might rise to dominate or destroy Konoha from within."
He sighed, the weight of history heavy in his voice.
"That's why, when the time came... their fate was already written. The genocide wasn't just Danzo's doing—it was the culmination of a fear buried deep in the foundation of the village."
Jiraiya clenched his fist. "Now I understand... why the Flying Thunder God Technique was so tightly restricted. Why every user had to be marked with a binding curse. To prevent the Uchiha—or anyone with that level of potential—from turning it against the village."
He looked up with resolve. "Still, I believe Haruto is different. He may have inherited the Sharingan, but I won't let him fall into darkness. If I truly am his teacher, as the prophecy suggests, then I'll guide him with everything I have."
The Third smiled slightly. "Good. I'm counting on you, Jiraiya. Of course, it's not all on your shoulders. I don't believe Haruto is the type to be consumed by his power. He's... calm, even when facing great pressure. That's rare."
Then, with a shift in tone, he asked, "What of the current investigation?"