Sitting by the window with a freshly brewed pot of tea, gazing out at the peaceful scenery beyond the yard—this had become Asahi's only real pastime in recent days. From time to time, butterflies fluttered in on the breeze, and small birds perched on the garden fence. Watching them move freely, untethered by duty or danger, filled him with a quiet contentment.
It had been a week since his return to Konohagakure, and under his own careful treatment, the injury to his right hand had mostly healed.
'Ninjutsu is truly miraculous.' Asahi thought to himself. 'If this kind of injury had happened in my previous life, even the most advanced medical technology wouldn't have repaired it this fast.'
But in this world, with high-level medical ninjutsu like Mystical Palm Technique at his disposal, recovery could take only a few days—provided one knew how to pace it. Asahi had intentionally limited the number of treatments to avoid over-stimulating cell division. Too much healing, too quickly, would only shorten the lifespan of those cells. If he had pushed harder, his hand might have recovered even faster—but at what cost?
In these quiet days back in Konoha, Asahi had remained hidden at home, dedicating himself fully to researching the Yin Seal—a sealing technique that stores chakra for later use. If he could master it before his next deployment, it would give him a significant edge, especially when facing someone like Orochimaru.
*Thump! Thump! Thump!*
A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts.
"The door's not locked. Come in." he called calmly.
The door opened, and in stepped Yuhi Kurenai and Sarutobi Asuma, each carrying small gifts in their arms. Kurenai gave Asahi a playful glare as she noticed him lounging peacefully by the window.
"Wow, look at you! Not training for once." she teased. "Maybe getting injured isn't such a bad thing. It finally forced you to take a break."
"You're back from your mission?" Asahi asked, shifting slightly to face them.
"Yeah." Asuma replied with a sigh. "Though I still don't know when I'll be allowed to go to the frontlines like you."
"I've asked the old man so many times, but all he ever says is, 'soon, soon'—and still he won't let me go!"
"It's almost time." Asahi said quietly.
The truth was grim. In the battle against Iwagakure, Konoha had suffered staggering losses—over five thousand casualties. Shimura Danzo had seized the opportunity to fan the flames of dissent, spreading insidious rumors throughout the village that blamed the Third Hokage's outdated leadership for the disaster.
It didn't take much for whispers to evolve into convictions. Rumors were a potent tool—silent blades that cut deeper than any kunai. Though most villagers only murmured these doubts in private, word inevitably made its way back to the Hokage's ears.
As Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage had long cultivated an image of warmth and kindness. He was a beacon of peace and leadership. But now, even his unwavering moral standing left him vulnerable—because to respond to the rumors would only give them more weight.
Whether he used the Anbu to counter the gossip or invoked his Hokage authority to silence it, the outcome would be the same: confirmation in the eyes of the masses. And the harsh truth? Konoha really had suffered immense losses. And Danzo, of course, had always opposed the Hokage's battle strategy.
Despite having led Konoha to victory countless times, Hiruzen's mercy during the recent campaign had been seen as weakness. And weakness was unacceptable during wartime.
Everyone with a sharp enough mind could see the plot—an open conspiracy aimed at destabilizing the Third Hokage. But he couldn't retaliate directly, not without compromising everything he stood for. For now, he had to endure.
Thankfully, Hiruzen's long years of leadership had earned him deep-rooted respect. For the moment, the murmurs remained whispers. But the seed of doubt had already been planted in many villagers' hearts: that the Third Hokage was too old, too soft, and no longer fit to lead.
All it would take was one more military failure—and that seed would bloom.
Still, Hiruzen wasn't without options. Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Namikaze Minato had all made their marks on the battlefield. Each of them carried the weight and reputation necessary to become Hokage. No matter how the numbers were crunched, Danzo was never a viable successor.
In fact, Hiruzen's most devastating move against Danzo was subtle: giving him power, but burying him in the shadows. Like the Second Hokage had done with the Uchiha clan by assigning them to the Konoha Military Police Force, Hiruzen ensured Danzo's power came at the cost of public recognition.
As a result, most villagers had no idea who Danzo even was. He wielded power, but no prestige. And in the political world of Konoha, prestige mattered.
Still, it was undeniable—Hiruzen was under immense pressure. And now, with Konoha's forces depleted, even younger shinobi like Asuma would have to be deployed. The elite members of various ninja clans could no longer remain sheltered. They would be expected to bleed for Konoha.
Paradoxically, this shift might actually strengthen Konoha. Civilian shinobi had suffered the brunt of recent losses, but the clan ninjas—many still fresh and unscathed—had yet to truly enter the war. If the full might of the clans was brought to bear, Konoha's military power might even surpass its pre-war levels.
As for the political infighting, Asahi observed it all with a detached eye. Whatever schemes Danzo devised, the future trajectory of the village would not be altered so easily.
For now, his focus remained on a singular objective: acquiring Hashirama cells, hidden within Orochimaru's secret lab.
He had already made his move.
Three nights after returning to Konoha, Asahi had snuck out under the cover of darkness and attempted to infiltrate Orochimaru's lab. He'd memorized the seals required to unlock the entrance, but to his surprise, the lab's protections had changed.
'Orochimaru's on guard.' he realized. 'He's already anticipating a betrayal.'
After a short, polite conversation with Kurenai and Asuma, Asahi made an excuse about training and sent them on their way. Now, with the moon rising high in the sky, he turned back to his two major goals: completing the Yin Seal, and acquiring Hashirama's cells before Orochimaru returned—or defected.
If he waited too long, that chance might slip away forever.
'Should I force my way in?' he wondered, frowning at the thought. But Orochimaru was no fool. Asahi had no idea what sort of traps or seals now protected the laboratory. A blind intrusion could prove fatal.
With a heavy sigh, Asahi turned back to the Yin Seal scroll spread across his bed.
Before he could continue studying, knock knock knock—another unexpected visitor.
'Who could it be at this hour?' he thought, eyes narrowing.
*****
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