One glance was enough to invite trouble—and in Konoha, trouble always came with a price.
When Sarutobi Atsushi and the others arrived and saw Hayami Mari already restrained, they all let out a breath of relief.
Still, they couldn't help feeling the mission had been a little too easy.
Three missions in a row, and it felt like they hadn't played any meaningful role at all.
And when they saw the wooden spikes piercing Hayami Mari's limbs, none of them suspected anything.
There were splinters and shattered wood everywhere from the blown-apart treehouse—no one would immediately connect it to Wood Release.
Even Hayami Mari herself hadn't realized Shu had used Wood Release in that brief exchange.
Since Hashirama Senju, Wood Release had become a legend.
Very few people alive had ever seen it with their own eyes.
Shu pulled the wooden spikes free and gave orders without emotion.
"Bandage her. Don't let her die."
"Flying Insect—use your bugs to make sure she doesn't try anything on the way."
"Yes, Captain."
The three moved at once.
Before long, Hayami Mari was treated—wounds wrapped, movement controlled, and her condition stabilized enough for transport.
Shu didn't waste words.
He lifted a hand and moved out.
They hadn't gone far before Shu stopped.
His three subordinates halted instantly as well, each drawing tools and bracing for combat.
A figure emerged ahead.
"Senior Jiraiya…"
Sarutobi Atsushi recognized him immediately.
Behind his mask, Shu was briefly surprised—then understood.
The signal flare had drawn him in.
Jiraiya stopped, looking them over.
"ANBU…"
"Looks like you don't need my help."
At this point, Root and the Hokage's direct ANBU were still difficult to distinguish at a glance.
Even Jiraiya couldn't tell the difference immediately.
Shu replied flatly, "We don't."
Jiraiya nodded and stepped aside.
Shu gave a brief acknowledgment and leapt forward, Atsushi and the others following.
Jiraiya's gaze drifted over Hayami Mari's curving figure.
He muttered under his breath, half regretful, half amused.
"Such a beautiful woman… what a waste."
"So cruel."
But despite what he said, he showed no intention of interfering.
After watching Shu's group disappear into the forest, Jiraiya scratched his head.
"I should go meet up with Tsunade and the others…"
"Or I'll get punched again."
Just imagining Tsunade's fist made him shiver.
He was returning from a mission when he heard about the scenery here and slipped away from the team to "appreciate" it.
And honestly—
He wasn't disappointed.
…
An hour later, Shu's group stopped at a riverbank to rest and replenish water.
They'd barely been there ten minutes when three figures appeared nearby.
"Captain—Senior Jiraiya, Tsunade-sama, and Senior Orochimaru!"
Sarutobi Atsushi spotted them first and warned quietly.
Shu opened his eyes and looked over.
Three silhouettes came into view.
And in the next instant, his gaze locked onto the most striking one.
Tsunade.
Young.
Bright.
Radiant in a way that didn't need effort.
Jiraiya lowered his voice to the others.
"ANBU types. I ran into them earlier."
Orochimaru's expression remained calm.
Tsunade gave a faint nod, but her brows tightened slightly.
She could feel Shu's attention on her.
It was too direct.
Too intrusive.
Shu withdrew his gaze and didn't approach to greet them.
Tsunade's trio didn't come over either. They settled by the river a short distance away to rest.
But unlike Shu's team—who chewed soldier pills in silence—Jiraiya and the others jumped into the river, caught fish, and built a fire.
They grilled fish and simmered soup.
Soon, the aroma drifted through the air.
Sarutobi Atsushi and the others couldn't help swallowing.
They wanted some.
Shu didn't react.
He was a Root shinobi trained by Danzo.
That kind of temptation meant nothing.
Twenty minutes later, Shu stood and led his team onward.
Watching them leave, Jiraiya couldn't resist whispering, "Hey… what do you think that woman was?"
Orochimaru answered blandly, "That has nothing to do with us."
Jiraiya scowled. "Orochimaru, you're no fun."
Orochimaru glanced sideways. "You saw them twice. What do you think?"
Jiraiya rubbed his chin.
"Probably a spy, right?"
"So pretty… maybe she seduced one of our guys?"
Tsunade clicked her tongue.
"Only men fall for garbage like that."
Jiraiya bristled. "Tsunade, that's too much!"
"I, Jiraiya, am an extremely serious and upright shinobi. How could I be fooled by that kind of trick?"
Tsunade looked like she was about to roll her eyes.
Serious—maybe.
Upright?
Right.
Jiraiya realized his argument wasn't convincing and immediately changed the subject.
"The one leading them isn't simple."
"I checked the scene they left behind. One-on-one, the fight ended fast."
Tsunade wasn't impressed. "ANBU are all elites."
"But that guy's eyes…"
"I don't like them."
Orochimaru's gaze sharpened slightly.
"That was a pair of eyes full of ambition."
Tsunade stretched lazily.
"I don't care if he's ambitious."
"Let's hurry back to the village."
"I can't wait to soak in a bath."
Jiraiya perked up. "We can do it here too!"
"Relax—I'll keep an eye on Orochimaru for you."
Orochimaru stared at him without expression.
Tsunade snorted.
"The only one I don't trust is you, you pervert."
She stood. "Move out."
…
On the way back, Shu's group encountered no further trouble.
They returned smoothly to Konoha and delivered Hayami Mari directly to the interrogation division.
Only then did they head back to the Root base to report.
"Very good."
Danzo was clearly satisfied.
Several missions in a row—fast, clean, flawless.
Hashirama's cells hadn't been wasted.
"Go rest."
Then his tone hardened, emphasizing each word.
"Your Wood Release training must be accelerated."
Wood Release—especially an imperfect version—wasn't most valuable for raw combat.
Its true value was suppression.
Control.
Restraint.
Against the Nine-Tails.
"I understand, Lord Danzo."
Shu bowed and answered without hesitation.
…
Back in his quarters, Shu replayed Danzo's emphasis in his mind.
"So that's it…"
"Wood Release—especially incomplete Wood Release—isn't primarily about killing."
"It's about suppressing the Nine-Tails."
"I should've realized sooner."
"Danzo has already set his sights on the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki."
But for now, Uzumaki Mito was still alive.
Not for much longer—but not yet.
As Shu thought, a plan surfaced—one that could let him step across both darkness and light.
"Not yet."
Shu forced himself to stay calm.
"I can't let Danzo sense what I'm hiding."
He needed Danzo to believe, completely, that everything Shu did was for Root.
For Danzo.
Wash.
Sleep.
Shu fell asleep quickly and didn't wake until evening.
After washing up, he felt fully refreshed and stepped out to train—
Only to have Shimura Daichi appear at his door.
Another mission.
Shu responded obediently out loud.
But inside, a cold spark flickered.
"So that's how it is…"
"Execute missions nonstop."
"Master Wood Release as fast as possible."
"Of course."
"No matter where you go…"
"Bosses are all the same."
And as Shu followed Daichi into the darkness of the corridors, he realized—
This mission wouldn't be as simple as the last one.
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