And just like that, a week passed.
Everything was calm, almost unnervingly so.
The Root shinobi were unusually quiet, as if brewing something in the shadows.
Only those on the inside knew the truth.
Every single researcher had been recalled, working through the night in the underground base, studying a particular blood sample.
Aburame Neri was, naturally, among them.
As a core member of the research team, she had direct access to Naruto's cells. Staring at the sample in the test tube, her eyes burned with a familiar craving. This was the research she had dreamed of.
As time went on, their work finally led to a breakthrough.
"I've found it!!! I've found it!!"
A sudden cheer echoed through the lab. Everyone looked up, even Danzo. A researcher was staring at his results, his face flushed with excitement.
"I've discovered the secret of this Kekkei Genkai."
Danzo stepped forward, fixing the researcher with an intense stare, silently commanding him to continue. The man's face turned pale under the weight of Danzo's aura. Danzo's ruthlessness was infamous; if his explanation was unsatisfactory, the consequence was death.
He took a deep breath, organized his thoughts, and began.
"Uzumaki Naruto's cellular activity is extraordinarily high, which is why his regenerative abilities far exceed those of a normal person. At first, I assumed this was due to the Nine-Tails' chakra."
"But after further study, I found a discrepancy between the chakra in his blood cells and the samples of the Nine-Tails' chakra we have on file."
His words sent a ripple of murmurs through the lab.
Several researchers voiced their doubts. "Impossible. As long as the Nine-Tails is inside Uzumaki Naruto, its chakra will inevitably affect his body."
"Theoretically, yes," the researcher replied, unflustered by the skepticism. "Based on the data from all previous Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, the beast is sealed in the abdomen, and its chakra should be perfectly contained. However, because the Nine-Tails is so immensely powerful, a small amount of its chakra always leaks from the seal, influencing the Jinchuriki's body."
"This is also why every Nine-Tails Jinchuriki has a risk of going berserk."
The other researchers nodded in agreement. Someone then asked, "So what does that have to do with our research?"
"It has everything to do with it! Given the Nine-Tails' power, its chakra should absolutely be leaking into Naruto's system. Even in an extracted blood sample, traces of its chakra should remain."
His tone shifted, becoming sharp and focused.
"But what if… what if there was another power inside his body? A power even greater, one strong enough to suppress the Nine-Tails' chakra?"
The lab erupted in an uproar.
Aburame Neri's eyes instantly turned cold. A single kikaichu crawled out from her sleeve, slipping unnoticed into a crack in the wall and disappearing from the Root headquarters. Considering Naruto's power and the network he had built, she had already decided which side to bet on.
"Are you saying that the energy in Naruto's body is perfectly protecting him, forcing the Nine-Tails' chakra to stay confined within its seal? That's impossible! What kind of energy could be that powerful?"
"It's because this energy…" The researcher pushed up his glasses, his expression grave. "Is a power that can rival the Nine-Tails' chakra. It's a power we are actually quite familiar with! It possesses extremely high activity and can be manipulated into various properties. It is… Reiatsu! Naruto has Reiatsu in his body!"
"To put it another way, his Kekkei Genkai is related to Reiatsu! He has a connection to the Hollows!"
His final words left the entire room in stunned silence.
Hearing this theory, Danzo's eyes widened in shock. Every piece of information he had on Naruto flashed through his mind. The water-style genjutsu Kekkei Genkai. The Kido that wasn't ninjutsu but held comparable power.
If the energy system used for Kido was Reiatsu… then everything made sense.
Kido wasn't a derivative of a genjutsu Kekkei Genkai. It was an ability developed through the use of Reiatsu.
Naruto's Kekkei Genkai wasn't a genjutsu-type at all. It was…
Reiatsu!
The researcher's analysis wasn't finished.
"Through our previous research on the Hollow, we've already confirmed that Reiatsu can twist a soul into a Hollow. This means that the one who masters Reiatsu is very likely the one who creates them."
The researchers looked at each other, finally voicing the suspicion that had taken root in their minds.
"The first appearance of a Hollow was during the Konoha Crush… and at that time, Uzumaki Naruto was also in the village."
"Yes, it all fits together!!" Danzo's expression was one of utter shock.
He began muttering to himself, "Uzumaki Naruto was colluding with Orochimaru, researching Reiatsu and Hollows together. It's through Orochimaru's research that his strength grew so rapidly, allowing him to leap from a Chunin to Kage-level at such a young age. He never reported any of this… because he planned to betray Konoha from the very beginning!"
"Everything he did, everything he said, was just what he thought we wanted to see and hear."
Clap. Clap. Clap.
The crisp sound of applause suddenly echoed through the laboratory. An elegant figure then strolled into the room.
"A truly wonderful analysis. It seems I've underestimated Root's research capabilities." The voice was magnetic and gentle.
But the moment they heard it, the color drained from everyone's faces.
"Uzumaki Naruto!!!" Danzo roared.
The figure stepped out of the shadows, revealing a head of brilliant, sun-kissed blond hair and a pair of pure blue eyes.
It was, without a doubt, Uzumaki Naruto.
"Lord Danzo, I must offer you my apologies." Naruto bowed gracefully, the picture of perfect courtesy.
"Both Orochimaru and I had dismissed Root's research abilities as garbage. You have now proven us wrong with your actions."
Naruto's crisp footsteps echoed in the cavernous space.
Everyone watched as he approached with a leisurely, confident stride.
Their minds raced with confusion.
This was the heart of the Root headquarters!
The Kage-level powerhouse, Danzo, was present, and countless elite Jonin were stationed outside.
His behavior looked for all the world like he was about to launch an attack on Root itself.
Did he have a death wish?!
Under Danzo's furiously simmering gaze, Naruto let out a soft chuckle. "To express my sincerest apologies… please, all of you, die."
His words fell, and terror washed over every face in the room.
Danzo bellowed, "Enemy attack!!!"
Aburame Neri, still mixed in with the other researchers, watched with deep, calculating eyes. Her messenger bug had only just left the lab; there was no way it could have alerted Naruto in such a short time.
That meant there was only one truth.
Naruto had been here the entire time, listening to everything.
He didn't trust her.
This was also a test.
What kind of monstrous power did it take to so easily evade the senses of this many shinobi?
A shiver of horror ran down Neri's spine, but it was followed by a wave of relief.
Thank goodness she had chosen to stand with Naruto.
Her eyes met Naruto's for a fleeting moment.
His gaze held a clear look of satisfaction.
It seemed she had made the right choice and had, for now, won his trust. All she had to do now was watch the tigers fight from the sidelines. No matter which side won, she could pledge her loyalty and harvest a bounty of lovely, fresh organs.
Aburame Neri nodded to herself and began to slowly retreat.
At the same time, the laboratory descended into chaos.
Voom.
The power of Kyoka Suigetsu flooded the area. The entire laboratory seemed to submerge in water, the scene rippling and wavering unstably.
In Aburame Neri's vision, both Danzo and the other researchers were standing frozen in place, their faces etched with panic, yet none of them paid any attention to her departure.
What a terrifying ability. This is definitely more than simple visual control! Neri took a deep breath to quell the fear in her heart and ran for the laboratory exit.
Along the way, she saw that every Root ninja in the base was standing with a blank expression, some having already begun to slaughter each other.
The entire Root headquarters was dead silent, save for the wet, sickening sound of kunai sinking into flesh and the thick, coppery smell of blood.
Aburame Neri knew.
Root was finished.