Among them, Uzumaki Naruto was the top priority.
As most of the Nine-Tailed and Ashura's essence within him had been plundered by me, only a tiny bit was left to be put back to disguise his identity.
Uzumaki Naruto himself, in terms of his use to me, basically had no benefits to offer.
He was like a chicken rib—flavorless to eat, yet a pity to discard.
Of course, while Uzumaki Naruto was useless to me, it didn't mean that his various identities couldn't be utilized.
And now, it was time for him to play his biggest role.
Uchiha Tenxiu's lips curved upwards, a faint smile on his face, as the astonishing wisdom in his mind continuously operated.
As a visitor from another world, the son of Minato Namikaze and Uzumaki Kushina, he would undoubtedly be regarded by Minato Namikaze and Uzumaki Kushina as their future son, protected by them as their own flesh and blood.
He would also receive care from Jiraiya and a series of other Hokage faction members, not to mention that the Nine-Tailed power within him would allow Konoha to have another Nine-Tailed.
This was something Konoha could not miss under any circumstances.
Keeping him in my hands would only waste my time.
But conversely, if Uzumaki Naruto and the Nine-Tailed power within him, as the greatest bait, were not in my hands but appeared in Konoha Village instead, then with the strength I had displayed, Konoha would likely have no intention of fighting to the death.
They would only use my Uchiha identity to force the Uchiha Clan to handle me internally, which would buy me a lot of time.
Of course!
Even if Uzumaki Naruto was sent back to Konoha Ninja Village, how to send him, when to send him, and to whom to send him were also extremely crucial.
Directly sending him to the Hokage faction would only increase Konoha's power, even giving Konoha the initiative in the upcoming Third Ninja World War, which was not what I needed.
Moreover, delivering him too simply into Konoha's hands would allow the Konoha people to see through some of the calculations involved, arousing their vigilance.
On the contrary, sending him through the hands of Sai, a Root Ninja, would be the most suitable option.
The loyalty of Root Ninjas, once cultivated, was quite reliable.
With the appearance of Sai, a Root Ninja from a parallel dimension, not only could Konoha Ninja Village be easily convinced without any suspicion, but I could also intentionally have Sai hand Uzumaki Naruto over to Danzo Shimura for handling.
In this way, Danzo Shimura would undoubtedly immediately take control of Uzumaki Naruto.
Danzo Shimura would not hesitate for a moment to seize a Tailed Beast that was delivered right to his doorstep; once he gained control of the Tailed Beast’s power, he would immediately have the right to defy Hiruzen Sarutobi, and at the same time, he could directly split the forces within Konoha Ninja Village into two.
And given Hiruzen Sarutobi’s indecisiveness, once he learned that Danzo Shimura had controlled the Nine-Tailed, he would not only fail to decisively hold him accountable, but he would likely only compromise, negotiating through various means to allow Danzo Shimura to show leniency.
This way, “Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura within Konoha, as well as the Uchiha Clan, will be in constant conflict internally,” Uchiha Tenxiu thought to himself, not doubting that under such conflicting interests, they would never send their main forces out of Konoha Village to confront a major enemy like himself.
Because once their main forces left Konoha, they would have to consider whether the opposing forces would take advantage of their absence to launch a coup.
And even if the probability of this was small, given the mindset of those old folks in Konoha, they wouldn't take the slightest risk.
“Thus, with Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, and their direct subordinates being restrained, it’s basically impossible for them to make any moves to find me!” Uchiha Tenxiu thought confidently, but then he added, “On the contrary, the Uchiha Clan at this time might make a series of arrangements due to the pressure from the two!”
Thinking of this, Uchiha Tenxiu couldn't help but recall the head of the Uchiha Clan at this time, Uchiha Fugaku, a character in the original plot who could be called a 'legendary' exemplary figure.
Known as 'Fierce Eyes' Uchiha Fugaku, he was actually 'Cowardly Eyes'.
In the original plot of the Hokage world, facing the Uchiha Clan being suppressed by Konoha Ninja Village in various ways, he chose to act as if it didn't concern him, staying aloof.
He would only go with the flow and follow the crowd; when most people in the clan chose a peaceful attitude, he would also coexist peacefully with Konoha; when more people in the clan chose to fight Konoha, he would also choose to fight Konoha.
Seemingly acting like a fence-sitter, in reality, Uchiha Tenxiu deduced from the original plot development and outcome that he didn’t support either side.
Because no matter which side he stood on, he never took any action, only making verbal statements.
From this point, Uchiha Tenxiu could tell that this person actually didn't care about the so-called future of the clan; he only cared about the status and future of his own family, only keeping his immediate family in mind, with others having no standing compared to them.
Anyway, Konoha suppressing the Uchiha Clan didn't affect him, Uchiha Fugaku, as the clan head; he was the head of the Uchiha Clan, holding a high position of power, commanding the Uchiha Police Force, and his sons Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke were Uchiha geniuses, so they wouldn't feel any pressure.
For cultivation, they had all the resources of the clan.
For growth, they had millennia-old secret techniques to learn.
They befriended the geniuses of the strongest clans, the young masters and ladies of various prominent families, and various high-ranking officials and noble families.
Normally, they also received special attention from Konoha's Hokage.
It could be said they lived a life of ease, full of contentment.
While other ordinary Uchiha members faced life-and-death separations due to mission accidents, suffered from lack of food and clothing due to living conditions, and felt inner suppression due to Village discrimination, his family simply could not experience such negative influences.
Therefore, facing these clan conflicts and Konoha's suppression, he seemingly understood the clan members and supported the clan's ways, but in reality, his actions showed an extremely arrogant attitude, believing the clan also had problems.
Facing Danzo Shimura’s various attacks and killings of other clan members, he chose to remain indifferent and did not react at all.
Because Danzo Shimura did not kill his family.
Facing the spy within the clan reporting intelligence to Konoha's higher-ups, he still chose to remain indifferent and did not react at all.
Because the spy was his son.
Facing his son destroying the entire clan and massacring everyone on the night of the Uchiha Downfall, he still remained indifferent and did not react at all.
Because his son could survive.
Instead, when other Uchiha members came to question his son and suppress his son, he immediately chose to act.
Without a shred of hesitation.
From this, one could see what kind of a donkey-dog thing Uchiha Fugaku truly was!
“I hope this thing doesn’t appear before me!” Uchiha Tenxiu thought to himself, a hint of ruthlessness appearing in his eyes, as he had already decided on his punishment for him.
Uchiha Tenxiu had disliked this donkey-dog thing immensely since his previous life, harboring an extreme aversion towards him.
And now, having the good fortune to encounter him in this dimension, how could he not properly deal with him!
“Next, Sai, your identity is that of a Root Ninja from another world, who, in order to return to Root and continue pledging loyalty to Danzo Shimura, specifically brought Uzumaki Naruto, the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki, back, solely for Lord Danzo’s Hokage seat!”
“This way, with the merit of bringing Uzumaki Naruto back, and the intelligence reporting Yamato’s Wood Release Ninja identity, it’s enough for Danzo Shimura to consider you a confidant.
Moreover, your counterpart in this world will also be under Root’s collection, which is sufficient to prove your Root Ninja identity, and you can also tell Danzo Shimura all those Root intelligence about the future!”
Uchiha Tenxiu specifically instructed him, ignoring Sakura’s glaring eyes from the side, giving him various commands.
For example, how to gain Danzo’s trust, how to ignite Danzo’s ambition, and how to coordinate Uzumaki Naruto’s exposure.
Since Uchiha Tenxiu planned to send Uzumaki Naruto back to Konoha to stir up conflict, he couldn’t let him return so silently.
He had to make sure that Hiruzen Sarutobi’s side also knew that Danzo Shimura had a new Nine-Tailed in his possession.
Of course, the process couldn’t be too crude; it had to involve sufficient calculation to make everything appear less obvious.