Konoha's Research Institute.
Shikaku and Minato were in discussion with Simu.
The reason they were meeting here and not in the Hokage's office was simple — Simu hadn't stepped foot into the Hokage's office for months.
He had entrusted all general affairs entirely to Shikaku and Minato.
Only matters of significant importance, those that required Hokage approval, would be reported to Simu here at the institute.
"The reputation of the Konoha Police Force is deteriorating by the day," Shikaku said, handing a document over to Simu.
"In addition, according to an investigation by Anbu, we found a base left behind by the Root division. Some members of the Shimura clan have been secretly visiting the stronghold from time to time."
Root had left behind a troubling number of secret bases.
And as members of the Shimura Danzō lineage, it was inevitable that the Shimura clan had been involved.
Shikaku had been gathering evidence for a long time — and now, it was finally conclusive.
Upon hearing this, Simu lazily picked his nose in disgust.
"That's such a trivial matter. You decide."
Shikaku responded, clearly displeased, "This concerns Konoha's internal stability. How can you call it a trivial matter?"
Simu scratched his head in frustration.
"Alright, alright. I'll go with you and deal with the Shimura clan?"
Several black lines formed on Minato's forehead.
"What we mean is — we want you to issue an order. Use this as an opportunity to thoroughly investigate the remaining Root strongholds, and while we're at it, clean up the Police Force too."
Minato's expression turned sharp.
Though Simu's prestige was at its peak in the village, it was still necessary to cut the weeds at the roots — to ensure Root never had a chance to resurface.
"I see…" Simu muttered, then said without hesitation:
"Leave it to Anbu. Investigate all remaining Root facilities, and anyone with known ties to them."
"Yes," Minato nodded.
As the Anbu Commander, this task naturally fell to him.
Minato may have appeared gentle and warm — like the sun itself — but when it came to action, he never hesitated.
Thus, Konoha was plunged into another wave of internal unrest.
All hidden Root bases were swiftly eradicated. Through intelligence gathered from the Shimura clan, several more hidden facilities outside Konoha were also located and dismantled.
Many of the captured shinobi were revealed to be part of the Police Force.
As a result, Anbu began a full-scale investigation of the Police Force.
Among the findings: bribery, abuse of power, and embezzlement — with many of the culprits linked to the Sarutobi clan.
For a while, the Sarutobi-led Police Force became public enemies — hated and condemned by nearly every villager.
As for the Shimura clan?
All but a few uninvolved members were arrested by Anbu.
The situation changed drastically overnight. The Police Force's numbers plummeted.
Meanwhile, the Third Hokage sat solemnly in his home, smoking his pipe, his expression heavy.
The two elders, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, came yet again to criticize Hanyu Simu. But their complaints fell on deaf ears.
The major clans of Konoha, now insecure about their own standing, kept their heads low and avoided drawing attention.
The civilians, on the other hand, cheered loudly. For them, this was long-overdue justice against an arrogant and oppressive Police Force.
After all, the Sarutobi clan — relatives of the previous Hokage — had become far too used to abusing their power. Now that power had been stripped away, their frustration only made them more unhinged.
A slight push from Shikaku was all it took to turn the Sarutobi clan into social outcasts.
As for the former might of the "Sarutobi Fire Style" lineage? It was gone.
Simu, however, paid little attention to the political chaos within the village.
His attention was fully focused on the boy standing in front of him.
The child looked about three or four years younger than Kakashi. He stared ahead blankly, dumbfounded, as he stood before Yamato.
He was one of the experimental subjects rescued during the Root purge.
A successful Wood Style user — a child who had survived the implantation of the First Hokage's cells.
Looking at the dazed child, Yamato sighed.
He gently rubbed the boy's light brown hair and said softly:
"Obito."
"What is it, Sensei?" a voice answered, appearing beside Simu.
Since Kakashi had left Konoha, it was Obito who had taken over as Anbu's leader in charge of protecting the institute.
"I'm leaving this child in your care. From now on, you'll be responsible for his food, clothing, shelter, and training."
Simu had no idea how to handle A's situation.
After all, he wasn't the kind of person who knew how to offer emotional guidance.
And considering A was a Root experiment, his emotions were nearly erased.
It wouldn't be easy — maybe even impossible — to restore them overnight.
"I understand…"
Obito stroked his chin, looking at the boy in front of him who was slightly younger than himself.
A showed no reaction to Simu's arrangement.
In other words, as a former Root member, following orders seemed to be engraved into his very bones.
After the two left, Hanyu Simu refocused on his own research.
He entered a secret chamber.
Inside, two corpses were quietly suspended in a pair of petri tanks.
One was the famed Salamander Hanzō, known as a demigod.
The other was the legendary ninja—Uchiha Madara.
Of the two, the most valuable was naturally Uchiha Madara's body.
After all, he was the first to awaken the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and combine it with the Sage Body to unlock the Rinnegan.
If Simu could unravel the secrets hidden within Madara's body, he might be able to artificially create a Rinnegan himself!
The research behind the two ninja tool series—[Armist] and [Spellcaster]—also originated from the Hashirama cells found in Madara's body.
In addition, Simu had discovered something particularly interesting about Obito.
After awakening Wood Style, Obito's affinity for natural energy had increased several times over.
Through research on the boy's cells, Simu was nearly certain:
Wood Style played a key role in enhancing the body's absorption of natural energy.
"Congratulations to Host. The imitation progress of Vegapunk has reached 10%. Drawing reward..."
Before he realized it, the system's voice rang in Simu's mind again.
"Item successfully drawn!"
"Congratulations, you've obtained the research file: [Bloodline Factor Theory]!"
Simu raised an eyebrow.
As expected, different targets yield different benefits when imitated.
Kizaru and Kaido were combat types, so Simu obtained their physical and fighting abilities...
But Vegapunk was a researcher—so what Simu gained was his scientific knowledge and data.
Exactly what he needed.
Countless pieces of information suddenly poured into his mind.
Even with his enhanced brain capacity—thanks to the Brain-Berry Fruit—it was nearly overwhelming.
Ten minutes later…
Simu finally recovered from the massive data influx.
He sat at his computer and began furiously recording and calculating the new research data that had appeared in his mind.
He had to compare the human physiology data of this world with the data he had just obtained.
Only then could he synchronize the two worlds' biological models.
After all, people in the One Piece world had physical strength that far exceeded this world's average—by dozens of times.
If experiments were conducted using only the values in his head, the result would be simple: one test, one death.
While Simu was still combing through the data in his mind...
Obito had brought A to Simu's home for a meal.
Although Kushina still had about a month before her due date, she was full of energy.
When she saw Obito enter, she squinted and said with mock annoyance:
"Let me guess—your good teacher plans to skip dinner again, doesn't he?"
The sudden wave of killing intent startled A, who was standing behind Obito.
He instinctively shrank his neck.
Only then did Kushina notice the boy behind Obito.
"Hm? Who's this?"
She asked suspiciously. She didn't seem to have seen this child before.
Obito scratched his head awkwardly and tried to change the subject:
"Uh... the teacher asked me to take care of him these days. His name is…"
Obito paused—he didn't even know what name to use.
Just as the moment was getting awkward, A said flatly:
"My code name is A. I used to be a Root member."
Kushina's expression changed slightly at the mention of Danzo's Root.
She remembered clearly how many times that old bastard had tried to capture the fox sealed inside her.
But now, she didn't focus on Root.
Instead, she looked at the indifferent little boy in front of her and asked:
"Your code name is A? What about your real name?"
"My name?"
A trace of confusion finally surfaced on A's otherwise blank face.
Name...?
He was silent for a few seconds, then muttered:
"People in Root don't need names. Only code names."
Kushina sighed and said firmly:
"Listen to me—you're no longer part of Root. And you won't be called 'A' anymore."
"Your name will be…"
Kushina thought for a moment, then smiled.
"Your name will be Yamato. Isn't that a nice name?"
"Yamato…?"
The boy hesitated.
But Kushina didn't give him time to dwell on it—she simply grabbed his hand and pulled him to the dining table.
"Come, let's eat, Yamato."
"Oh, do we have a new guest today?"
Mikoto greeted him with a warm smile as she brought the freshly cooked dishes to the table.
"Well then, I'm digging in!"
Obito rubbed his hands together and began to feast.
Yamato stood frozen for a moment—until Kushina brusquely placed a fish into his bowl.
"Eat. Now."
Her commanding tone made Yamato instinctively lower his head and start eating silently.
"Miss Kushina, that was my favorite fish!" Obito cried, pouting.
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