Hiruzen's first thought was Danzo—and it wasn't a baseless suspicion. After all, Danzo had once overseen Wood Release experiments. There was even a survivor: now serving in the Anbu under the codename Tenzo.
If there had been one survivor, there could certainly be another.
Given Danzo's nature, it wasn't far-fetched to imagine he had hidden a second subject, perhaps even using Tenzo as a decoy to throw him off.
Sharingan and Wood Release—two Bloodline Limits fused into a single body. The thought alone made Hiruzen's chest tighten.
'Danzo… just how much have you kept from me?'
In that instant, he wanted nothing more than to storm the Shimura compound, drag Danzo out by the collar, and demand the truth. But with Kitazawa and Kakashi standing before him, he forced the impulse down.
"Tell me everything. In detail," Hiruzen said after reseating himself.
"Yes." Kakashi began, recounting from his and Kitazawa's coordinated strikes up to the moment they severed the masked man's arm and forced him to flee.
"You both did well," Hiruzen finally praised, his eyes falling on Kitazawa. "Especially you—finding his weakness so quickly."
With his arm lost and his body gravely wounded, hunting him down would be far easier. As long as he remained in Konoha, even Danzo would be unable to hide him.
"You've done enough. Don't breathe a word of this to anyone," Hiruzen ordered with a dismissive wave. "I'll have Anbu investigate the masked man immediately."
"Hokage-sama," Kakashi hesitated, then spoke with uncharacteristic gravity. "If there are results… I'd like to be informed. That man felt… familiar, as though I've seen him before."
"You've seen him?" Hiruzen's gaze sharpened. "That's valuable. I'll notify you when I know more."
"Thank you." Kakashi bowed slightly, then departed with Kitazawa.
"Haru," Hiruzen called the moment they were gone.
The door opened, and Haru stepped inside. "Hokage-sama."
"Where is Danzo?"
"Still at the Shimura compound."
"Gather the Anbu. We're going there now." Hiruzen rose, then paused. "Don't bring Itachi."
"Yes, Hokage-sama." Hare vanished.
Minutes later, Hiruzen himself strode into the Shimura compound.
"Hiruzen."
Danzo was already waiting, his face wearing the faintest trace of smugness. No doubt he believed his old comrade had come to reinstate him. After all, he hadn't erred in recent days. Surely this was no more than a friendly visit.
"Stand down," Hiruzen commanded the Shimura guards. "I will speak to Danzo alone."
The men dispersed, leaving the two elders facing each other.
"What is it, Hiruzen?" Danzo asked casually.
"Answer me truthfully," Hiruzen's expression hardened. "Besides Tenzo, are there any other survivors of the Wood Release experiments?"
Danzo blinked. "...?"
Why that question again? Did Tsunade dig something up?
"To my knowledge, Kinoe is the only one," he said firmly.
"Danzo!" Hiruzen's voice boomed. "I'm not in the mood for games. Speak plainly!"
The sudden roar made Danzo flinch. But then realization crept over him. Hiruzen wouldn't demand this unless—
"You've… seen another Wood Release user?" Danzo asked, incredulous.
"Indeed," Hiruzen confirmed coldly.
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Danzo shook his head. "When I reached Orochimaru's lab, only Kinoe was alive!"
"Could Orochimaru have hidden another survivor?" Hiruzen pressed, his face darkening.
Danzo's eyes lit up. "It's possible. The experiments were his work—I merely supplied funds and materials."
Hiruzen frowned deeply. Judging by his reaction, Danzo might actually be telling the truth. If Orochimaru had concealed someone, why send that ninja after Kakashi and Kitazawa? A vendetta?
"That snake… he dared deceive me," Danzo muttered bitterly.
"It's too soon to say," Hiruzen cut in, though his mind raced. "But there are ways to uncover this second Wood Release ninja's identity."
"Hiruzen, do you have a lead? Entrust this to me—I can mobilize my former Root operatives—"
"No." Hiruzen's refusal was immediate. "But I will need your help with something else."
"What is it?" Danzo asked, trying to mask his anticipation. Even crumbs of responsibility could be turned into leverage for Root's return.
"Do you still have Sharingan?" Hiruzen asked slowly.
Danzo froze. "...What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean." Hiruzen's tone was icy. "I won't spell it out—to save you some face."
Danzo straightened, feigning righteousness. "Though I dislike the Uchiha, I have never stooped to murdering them for their eyes!"
Of course, he would never hand over his stash. His few treasured Sharingan had taken years to collect. In the massacre yet to come, he would gather even more. But for now, he could not afford to reveal his hand.
"Still refusing?" Hiruzen's voice dropped into warning.
"Hiruzen," Danzo's face twisted, "must you push me so far?"
The Third Hokage held his gaze for a long, heavy moment. Then, with a sigh, he turned. "Take care of yourself."
He left without another word.
The truth was, Hiruzen hadn't sought to kill him—only to confirm his suspicion. If the Wood Release user had also wielded Sharingan, then surely those eyes had been transplanted. Danzo would have been the obvious suspect. But now, with no proof and Danzo stonewalling, the investigation would have to shift elsewhere.
First, he would scour Konoha and its borders for traces of this masked intruder.
Behind him, Danzo trembled with fury.
"Hiruzen… you'll regret this!" he spat, voice shaking. His eyes narrowed, cruel light flashing within.
'So be it. If persuasion won't work… then I'll use Kotoamatsukami.'
He had once considered turning it on Hiruzen, but the risk was too great—the Hokage's will might resist even that ultimate genjutsu.
No. His target would be Tsunade.
Not yet. Not until the moment the Fifth Hokage was decided. Then, under the guise of loyalty, he would strike.
Ninja Academy
"Kitazawa, thanks for today."
Kakashi exhaled slowly, his voice calm but weighted.
"What's there to thank?" Kitazawa replied with indifference. "We're all shinobi of Konoha. Naturally, we fight together against our enemies."
"Not just for standing against that masked man," Kakashi added, his eye drifting to the weapon at his side, "but also for this blade you gave me."
It was no ordinary sword—reforged from the Kiba, imbued with lightning-attracting properties, its value exceeded that of a pure chakra-metal weapon. Accepting it placed Kakashi in Kitazawa's debt.
By all logic, he shouldn't have taken it. But he liked the blade too much.
And so, instead of guilt, he carried only a quiet resolve: when the chance came, he would repay Kitazawa.
"It's nothing," Kitazawa waved dismissively. "I just happened to pick it up for free."
He truly meant it. To him, Kiba had come too easily to hold any special weight. Besides, in the face of true power, ninja tools—no matter how rare—were often little more than trinkets.
Kakashi fell silent. Free, huh? From his perspective, Kitazawa made it sound like Kurosuki Raiga had casually tossed Lightning Fang aside on a whim. The thought left him speechless, hovering on the edge of complaint but never voicing it.
"There's one more thing." Kakashi took a few steps, then paused as though remembering. "I plan to take next Tuesday off."
"An outside mission?" Kitazawa asked, curious.
"No." Kakashi shook his head. "The Memorial Stone."
Kitazawa's heart skipped.
The Memorial Stone—the place where Konoha honored its fallen. Kakashi's destination could only mean one thing: he was going to pay respects to Rin Nohara and Obito.
And under normal circumstances, Obito would have gone as well.
Realization dawned. The Mist delegation's late arrival wasn't negligence—it was Obito's delay, buying himself time to grieve at Rin's resting place. But now, with his body in tatters, he couldn't go at all.
"The Genius Class training has already settled into a rhythm." Kitazawa said evenly. "Your absence won't matter for a day."
"Mm." Kakashi nodded, then added softly, "Thanks."
Kitazawa's tone hardened. "That masked man may be wounded, but when he recovers, he'll come for revenge. Be careful."
"I know," Kakashi said seriously. If Obito returned, his first target would undoubtedly be him—the one who had severed his arm and driven Raikiri nearly through his heart.
"Will he even survive those wounds?" Kakashi murmured.
"Hard to say," Kitazawa answered, voice heavy with meaning. "Sharingan combined with Wood Release… he may have ways to cling to life."
Kakashi gave a curt nod.
The two returned to the training grounds, gathering their students. Kitazawa lingered at a distance, watching Hinata, Ino, and the others push themselves through drills. Their progress varied, but after a month, three stood ready to advance: Hana, Kiba, and Chōji.
Chōji had nearly mastered the Partial Multi-Size Technique. His next steps were straightforward—refining clan techniques like the Human Bullet Tank.
Hana and Kiba were different. Kitazawa had modified their paths. Hana was working on Quadruple Fang Over Fang, while Kiba attempted the Three-Headed Hellhound.
Hana had the advantage of her own ninken, making her progression smooth. Kiba, though, was trickier.
Another head for the Hellhound? No. Adding heads didn't always add strength.
Kitazawa rubbed his chin. As things stood, Kiba lacked offensive options. His three-headed form was powerful but crude.
He remembered Kiba's chakra nature: Earth. Perhaps Earth Release could fill the gap? But most of his Earth jutsu required hand seals, useless in Hellhound form.
"Earth Release without hand seals…" Kitazawa muttered, mind racing.
Then he recalled Pain's summon. With a beast as massive as the Three-Headed Hellhound, a single stomp could fracture the ground, sending debris flying. A crude but devastating attack.
The problem? Kiba was still too young. The Hellhound's body wasn't built for the monstrous strength that technique demanded.
Unless… he simplified it. Strip away the refined elements, leave only raw chakra output. A downgraded, easier version—less elegant, but still effective.
"I really am following in Tobirama's footsteps," Kitazawa chuckled wryly. But it wasn't a bad path. Each new jutsu not only expanded his arsenal, but could be traded with Hiruzen for others of equal value. And then there were the system's missions… the returns were always worthwhile.
For now, though, he'd wait. The monthly exam loomed, and there was no need to rush Hana, Kiba, and Chōji into advanced training. He would refine his Hellhound Sky Kick first.
After a time, Kitazawa left two shadow clones to supervise while he slipped into a quiet corner.
Mission complete: Drive away Uchiha Obito.
Reward: Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
Alone, he activated his new eyes.
A surge of power coursed through him as the tomoe spun to life. His chakra sharpened, and his vision became razor-clear.
The Three-Tomoe Sharingan's observational prowess was astounding. He could track every movement, predict attacks, and even copy jutsu at a glance. And beyond that—its genjutsu.
No hand seals, no preparation. Just a look, and his target would be ensnared in illusion. Terrifying in its simplicity. With this, Kitazawa stood at the peak of ordinary genjutsu users.
Satisfied, he headed to the academy's artificial lake. Obito wouldn't return soon, but the pressure lingered. His strength was still lacking.
With Senju Chakra Mode, he could suppress Obito temporarily. But Kamui's intangibility lasted five minutes, while his chakra mode burned out in three. Unless he extended it. More chakra, more time—that was the key.
In short, he needed more jutsu. More missions. More growth.
Today's task: Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu. Diving underground to ambush or evade—simple, practical, effective.
Elsewhere, deep in a cave in the Land of Fire…
"Kakashi!"
Obito's eyes snapped open as he let out a hoarse roar, filled with rage. The sound was quickly swallowed by pain, his body wracked with agony.
"Your injuries this time rival those from Kannabi Bridge."
The voice came from the shadows. Obito turned his head, teeth clenched, and saw Zetsu—the half-black, half-white figure with its grotesque pitcher-plant form.
The words had come from Black Zetsu—the hidden mastermind of shinobi history.
"If not for the Hashirama cells, you'd already be dead," Black Zetsu said coldly. "Until the Moon's Eye Plan begins, stay away from Konoha. Focus on healing."
Obito scowled. He had gone twice to Konoha—and twice returned broken. Even Zetsu was growing wary. It wanted only to move forward, to free its mother, Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.
"I won't die," Obito growled. Hashirama cells gave him regeneration, and Izanagi lurked as a last resort.
"Don't forget," Black Zetsu pressed, "Madara saved you for a reason. Once the Moon's Eye Plan succeeds, destroying Konoha will be as easy as snapping a twig."
Obito's face twisted with unwillingness. With Mangekyō Sharingan, Hashirama cells, and Wood Release, he had believed Kakashi would fall easily. Instead, he had his heart nearly pierced—the same way Rin had died.
"Once you recover, join the Akatsuki. Begin the plan without delay," Black Zetsu ordered.
Obito's expression shifted. His rage deepened into something darker. "You're right… and before that, I'll make the Mist deliver a grand 'gift' to Konoha."
He no longer needed to control the Hidden Mist. But before discarding it, he would use it—use it to stoke his hatred until it consumed everything.
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