Konoha Village, Hokage's Office
Boom. Boom. Boom.
"Come in."
The door opened, and Orochimaru walked inside.
"Teacher, you called for me?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded. "Yes, Orochimaru. I want to ask you something. You've studied Wood Release for a long time. Under what circumstances do you think the Wood Dragon Technique could completely absorb White Zetsu?"
Orochimaru froze for a moment, then narrowed his eyes. "White Zetsu? You mean that strange, inhuman creature we captured five years ago?"
Sarutobi nodded. "Yes. That same creature attacked Ryoma today."
Orochimaru's eyes suddenly gleamed with excitement. "Are you saying that Ryoma's Wood Dragon Technique absorbed White Zetsu completely?"
"Yes. That's what the Intelligence Division reported. They even brought back some photographs."
Sarutobi pushed the photos across the desk.
In them, White Zetsu's body could be seen gradually shrinking.
"Absorbed…? Then, could it be—White Zetsu's body is made from the First Hokage's cells?!"
Orochimaru's voice trembled with suppressed excitement. "If so, it would explain why that thing can hide within the earth and trees so effortlessly."
"What a pity. It's gone now?" He licked his lips, clearly regretting the lost opportunity.
"There may be more."
Sarutobi handed him the first set of photographs. Though blurry, it clearly showed not one, but three White Zetsu.
"This… are they a species?" Orochimaru muttered, stunned.
Sarutobi then gestured to a transparent beaker on the desk, filled with cloudy liquid. "This is the last trace left behind by White Zetsu."
Orochimaru's eyes blazed. He immediately reached out—
Smack!
Sarutobi slapped his hand away, smiling faintly. "Orochimaru, finish a task for me first. Then, this will be yours."
"What task?"
"Go to Kumogakure and bring Danzo back."
Orochimaru narrowed his golden eyes. "Teacher… has something happened?"
Sarutobi chuckled. "If I'm right, Danzo should have obtained a little trophy. Perhaps… the Two-Tails."
Orochimaru's pupils shrank. "The Two-Tails?! Then won't the Raikage come hunting us down again?"
He still remembered vividly being beaten down by the Raikage not long ago. He had no desire to repeat the experience.
Sarutobi waved off his concerns. "You don't need to worry too much. Your job is simply to back Danzo up. If the Raikage comes, I will deal with him. It has been years since this old man has stretched his muscles."
Orochimaru's expression twisted, torn between awe and disbelief. "Teacher, isn't this… the same as deceiving Kumogakure?"
"Deceiving?" Sarutobi gave a cold chuckle. "This is the price they must pay. They dared to sneak into our Konoha in an attempt to kidnap the future Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. Do they think they can come and go as they please?"
"Then… do you want me to leave now?"
"No rush. Three days from now—no later than a week. Until then, you will remain by my side."
Orochimaru understood instantly. Now that he knew this secret, Sarutobi would not allow him out of sight. That was the rule.
He couldn't help but ask again, his voice almost pleading. "Teacher… can I at least study the remains of White Zetsu?"
Sarutobi shook his head. "No. Once you begin your research, you'll lose yourself in it day and night. By then, you'll miss the real battle."
Orochimaru's lips curled downward. He was deeply dissatisfied, but he knew better than to press further.
...
Land of Water
The damp sea breeze blew against their faces as they stepped into the misty land.
"Teacher!" Obito's voice rang with excitement. "What's next? Are we going to storm Kirigakure itself?"
Ryoma gave him a sideways glance. "Tell me, Obito… can you kill chickens? Or ducks?"
"Huh?" Obito blinked in confusion.
"Then don't talk about storming Kirigakure. Wait until you can kill something with your own hands first."
Obito clenched his fists, refusing to back down. "Teacher! I'm a genius of the Uchiha clan—I've already awakened my Sharingan!"
Ryoma glanced toward the woods ahead and spoke calmly, "Alright then, genius of the Uchiha clan. Go on—you take the lead. Someone's approaching."
"Huh? We've already been discovered?"
A massive blade suddenly cleaved through the undergrowth, scattering grass and branches. From within emerged a man with a grotesque, shark-like face—pale skin, gills along his cheeks, and jagged teeth gleaming under the light.
A Mist-nin pointed at Ryoma and his team, shouting,
"Lord Kisame, that's them! One of those brats carries the Uchiha clan's Sharingan!"
Ryoma's eyes narrowed slightly. "Kisame Hoshigaki…"
His gaze drifted to the weapon in Kisame's hands. It was only a crude greatsword—not the bandaged Samehada he would one day wield. And Kisame himself looked much younger. Clearly, this was before he became one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
Kisame's sharp gaze locked onto Ryoma. "Konoha shinobi… You know me?"
Of course Ryoma knew him. The infamous Monster of the Hidden Mist, feared shark-man of the Bloody Mist.
Obito looked from Ryoma to Kisame, his legs trembling uncontrollably. His face had gone pale.
Ryoma ruffled Obito's hair with a smirk.
"Go on, genius of the Uchiha clan. Show us your strength."
Obito's knees knocked together, his voice nearly breaking. "M-Move forward?!"
Through his newly awakened Sharingan, he could clearly see the monstrous chakra coiling within Kisame. Compared to the weak Mist-nin they'd faced earlier, this man's chakra was like a roaring ocean—ten times greater, maybe more!
If I go up against him… won't I just be cut down in one swing?!
Kakashi, already tense, stepped forward with kunai in hand, his eyes never leaving Kisame. The air grew heavier, the atmosphere sharp as a drawn blade.
Ryoma remained calm, his tone deceptively casual.
"This is exactly why you need to learn restraint. Don't flaunt your power at every turn. Look at Obito—recognized instantly, just because of his Sharingan. If word spreads, enemy shinobi will target you, hunt you down, and tear your eyes from their sockets."
Rin let out a helpless sigh. Their teacher was remarkable in every way… except when he teased Obito to the point of cruelty.
...
TN:
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