However, considering that even Naruto hadn't been born yet, Deidara's abilities were still an unknown factor. Ryujin Kenichi temporarily dismissed the idea of seeking him out to recruit talent.
Speaking of talent…
Kenichi recalled a child he had once glimpsed—one who bore a striking resemblance to Kabuto Yakushi and seemed to be working under Danzo.
Kenichi shook his head. If that child was indeed Kabuto, then Danzo had already taken notice of him. Extracting Kabuto from Danzo's grasp wouldn't be feasible in the short term. For now, he could only wait for the right opportunity.
"Orochimaru-sama, here are the latest experimental records," Kenichi said as a smooth, yet slightly chilling voice interrupted his thoughts.
Orochimaru took the record book from him, flipping through its contents. After a brief silence, he gave a satisfied nod. Kenichi exhaled in relief and followed his master out of the underground laboratory.
At present, Konohagakure was relatively peaceful. The strength of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, had already been proven in the Third Shinobi World War. Alongside him was Hiruzen Sarutobi, who, though aging, had not yet become frail.
It could be said that Konoha remained a formidable force. Even the Raikage of Kumogakure had shown no inclination toward conflict with the village.
"But being targeted by Obito is an entirely different problem," Kenichi murmured, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Obito Uchiha—one of the most troublesome figures of this era. His recklessness and blind hatred were bound to lead to disaster. If only he were willing to communicate and seek understanding, the entire timeline of this world might unfold differently.
Kenichi couldn't help but think about Kamui, Obito's signature Mangekyō Sharingan ability. He felt a twinge of envy. Kamui was a space-time ninjutsu—one of the most powerful eye techniques in existence.
With Kamui, he could create an entirely independent, secure laboratory in another dimension. No more worrying about external threats. No more interference.
Unfortunately, the evolution of the Sharingan was tied to deep emotional trauma, and the manifestation of a Mangekyō Sharingan depended on an Uchiha's strongest inner desire.
Kenichi sighed. He wasn't even sure if he could awaken a Mangekyō, let alone one with an ability as overpowered as Kamui.
"Obito's Mangekyō has Kamui, and Kakashi's Sharingan, taken from the same pair, grants access to the same ability. Theoretically, their eyes should function in the same way," Kenichi mused, absentmindedly purchasing two skewers of tri-color dango.
He took a bite.
Not bad.
As he reached for the second skewer, Kenichi suddenly felt a sharp gaze on him. Years of shinobi training had honed his senses—someone was watching him.
Turning his head slightly, he spotted a young boy staring longingly at the dango in his hand.
A child from the Uchiha clan.
Kenichi recognized the clan's distinctive crest on the boy's clothing.
"...Want some?" Kenichi asked casually, raising an eyebrow.
The boy hesitated, nodding subconsciously before quickly shaking his head. Kenichi chuckled. So, did he want it or not?
Despite the mixed signals, Kenichi extended the skewer toward him. The boy hesitated for a moment before taking it, then murmured a soft, polite, "Thank you."
"Itachi! There you are!"
A voice filled with urgency cut through the moment.
A young Uchiha ninja appeared beside the boy, casting a wary glance at Kenichi while gently pulling the child closer.
Kenichi smirked slightly, though inwardly, he was surprised.
This child… was Uchiha Itachi.
The same Itachi who would one day annihilate his entire clan and become the person Sasuke would despise for years.
But right now, he was just a polite, well-mannered kid.
What drew Kenichi's attention even more than Itachi was the Uchiha who had just arrived.
Uchiha Shisui.
A true prodigy of the Uchiha clan. However, what truly made Shisui dangerous wasn't just his combat ability—it was his Mangekyō Sharingan.
Kotoamatsukami.
The most broken genjutsu in existence.
Kenichi suppressed a sigh. The more he thought about it, the more he wished he could get his hands on those eyes.
If the cooldown time of Kotoamatsukami was significantly shorter, Uchiha Shisui might have truly been able to achieve peace in the ninja world.
"I saw him staring at the tri-color dango in my hand, so I gave him one," Ryujin Kenichi explained with a smile. Although he was well aware that the man in front of him was Uchiha Shisui, Kenichi wasn't particularly worried.
Even if Shisui suddenly had a moment of madness, he couldn't use Kotoamatsukami on him—not with its long cooldown period. Besides, Shisui still seemed young. Whether or not he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan was still uncertain.
"Thank you," Shisui said politely, but he didn't let down his guard. After taking Itachi away, he discreetly checked the dango using his own methods. Only after confirming there was no poison did he relax slightly.
Ryujin Kenichi didn't dwell on his brief encounter with Shisui and Itachi. After all, Konoha was relatively peaceful these days. Since the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, had taken office, the Uchiha clan's situation had somewhat improved.
While Minato remained wary of the Uchiha, it hadn't escalated to the level of outright hostility that Danzo harbored. Unlike Danzo, Minato didn't see the Uchiha as an immediate threat that needed to be eliminated.
Still, it was a shame about Shisui. Kotoamatsukami was a genjutsu of unimaginable power. If only it had been used on Danzo. Shisui wouldn't even need to make Danzo swear loyalty to the Uchiha—just altering his perception enough to foster a more cooperative attitude could have changed everything.
Had Shisui succeeded, the Uchiha clan might not have been forced into rebellion. They wouldn't have been isolated, driven into a corner, and ultimately annihilated.
"Kotoamatsukami... Tsk, I really want that," Ryujin Kenichi muttered, licking his lips. A genjutsu of that caliber was a strategic weapon. If used properly, it could reshape the entire world.
Shaking his head, Kenichi dismissed the thought. For now, such ideas were still too ambitious. His immediate goal was to develop his power step by step, dominate the ninja world, and eventually deal with the Ōtsutsuki clan.
The technology behind their space-faring abilities intrigued him. If properly researched, it could usher in a new era for the ninja world. No longer would shinobi rely solely on chakra and outdated traditions—technological advancements could completely revolutionize everything.
If all went according to plan, Naruto's son wouldn't have to suffer, struggling against the Ōtsutsuki's overwhelming power. Instead, Kenichi himself would turn the Ōtsutsuki into nothing more than fuel for the future of the ninja world.
Of course, everything had to be taken one step at a time.
After finishing dinner, Kenichi made a brief stop at the bookstore to check if Icha Icha Paradise had been released. Then, he set out to find his teacher.
He had something important to test.
If he could successfully use Impure World Reincarnation to summon the First Hokage—and, more importantly, if he could dispel the technique at will—it would be a major breakthrough. With his teacher's guidance, he could confirm the limits of the technique and move forward with his plan.
This time, nothing would stand in his way.