The next day.
Uchiha Sogetsu shuffled out of the ANBU building with two dark circles under his eyes, rubbing at them and yawning.
Last night's eruption of massive chakra from the Uchiha compound—plus the very obvious collateral damage—was never going to slip past ANBU's radar.
Especially not in such a sensitive period, when both the Hokage and Danzo had their eyes glued to the Uchiha.
So of course, he'd been summoned to ANBU HQ and made to write out a full report—every detail of what had happened.
He'd spent the entire night writing that report.
Great. In my past life I wrote "documents." In this life I write "mission reports."
Truly, I can't escape paperwork…
Face full of resentment, Sogetsu was just about to head home for a nap when someone stepped into his path.
"Owl, the Hokage wants you in his office," said the ANBU who blocked him—code-name "Elephant," the Third's personal guard. His tone was as frosty as ever.
"Yes, I'll go right away."
Sogetsu's voice was flat, his posture that of a salaryman on his way to an 8 a.m. meeting.
His resentment shot another few meters into the sky.
On the other side, Elephant suddenly shivered for no apparent reason, then gave him a strange look. "And take this."
He held something out.
A white mask, painted with the stylized face of an owl.
So… an ANBU mission.
Sogetsu took the mask, slipped it on, and walked off without another word.
—
In the Hokage's office.
Knock, knock, knock.
After a brief knock, Sogetsu opened the door and stepped inside. "Lord Hokage, Owl reporting."
"Good. You're just in time, Owl."
The Third Hokage sat behind his desk, smoke curling up from his pipe. A stack of documents teetered at his elbow. He rubbed his temples as he looked up.
"I've already heard the general outline from Fugaku," Hiruzen said. "Tell me—how did you detect that intruder?"
So this is about Black Zetsu.
Sogetsu understood at once.
"Reporting, Lord Hokage: it was my Sharingan," he said evenly. "I specialize in genjutsu, so I'm highly sensitive to chakra fluctuations."
"The Sharingan, hmm…"
The Third fell silent, tapping his fingers lightly against the tabletop.
This whole matter stank of something. He couldn't help suspecting that someone was pulling strings behind the scenes.
And in such an exquisitely delicate moment, too.
The competition for the Hokage's seat had flushed all kinds of people out of the shadows. Even Danzo had grown restless.
"Of all times, it had to be now…"
Hiruzen's headache spiked. He pressed against his throbbing temples, then pulled two reports from his drawer and slid them across the desk.
"These were submitted this morning by Jiraiya and Orochimaru. Read them, then tell me what you think."
Sogetsu already had a good guess.
Orochimaru hadn't managed to capture Black Zetsu, but he had sealed away half of Zetsu's "body" to study in secret.
The result didn't surprise him at all.
After all, this was Black Zetsu—the dutiful "son" of Kaguya. For all his many flaws, the man had a decent survival kit.
Still, in front of the Hokage he had to put on a proper show.
The reports were mostly identical, with one difference: Orochimaru had concealed the part where he stole Black Zetsu's cells, along with any speculation about Zetsu's identity or origins.
Sogetsu closed the files, frowning thoughtfully. Then he spoke:
"Lord Hokage, my guess is that he's a spy from another hidden village. His objective would be to steal the Uchiha's bloodline limit and fan the flames of internal conflict in the Leaf. Once we're at our weakest, they'd start a war."
His analysis came from knowing the "future plot," layered atop the current political chaos in Konoha.
As for exposing Black Zetsu's true identity?
Only an idiot would do that. If he outed Zetsu now, he'd lose a valuable piece on the board.
Worse, if he derailed the "script" too hard, who knew whether that old man watching from the Pure Land—the Sage of Six Paths himself—might intervene to force it back on track?
A competent spectator could gently guide events.
But you never tore up the script.
"You make a good point."
Hiruzen nodded, a rare spark of approval in his eyes. He flicked the ash from his pipe, blowing out a smoke ring.
"But that's not what worries me most."
"Something else?" Sogetsu blinked.
"Yes. That's why I called you here."
The Hokage reached into his drawer again and produced an ancient-looking scroll, which he handed over.
The parchment was yellowed with age, its surface smudged with dust and dotted with small tears. It clearly hadn't been pampered.
"'Warring States Sealing Log'…?"
Sogetsu read the title and grew even more confused. "What is this, Lord Hokage?"
"This scroll records dangerous individuals who were sealed away by the various clans during the Warring States Period," Hiruzen said, setting his pipe aside and folding his hands. Deep lines furrowed his brow.
"I'd nearly forgotten it even existed. But when that thing appeared last night, it came back to me all at once."
"You're saying… that intruder might be one of those sealed people from the Warring States?" Sogetsu let appropriate shock show on his face.
He hadn't expected that in hammering Black Zetsu, he'd accidentally knock loose a bonus plotline.
The Warring States Sealing Log, huh… this definitely wasn't in the original.
"No guarantees, but it's possible." Hiruzen's tone was grave. "A shinobi specializing in pure Yin Release is rare in the modern era. It's possible he's a foreign spy, yes—but I also suspect he could be one of the dangerous people sealed away by our predecessors."
"And your intention is…?"
Sogetsu already had a guess about what was coming.
"You want me to follow the locations marked in the scroll and check each seal, one by one, don't you?"
"Exactly. Only you can carry out this mission."
Hiruzen's approving look returned.
"Though the Warring States Period was long ago, and most of those sealed people are probably dead by now, we won't know for sure until we confirm the seals are still intact."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Sogetsu accepted without hesitation. "I'll visit every location marked in the scroll and investigate the seals."
"This mission is classified as S-rank."
The Third picked his pipe up again and took a long draw, smoke coiling around his face.
"So I've assigned someone to assist you. He's waiting at the village gate."
"All right, Lord Hokage. I'll prepare and depart at once to rendezvous with him."
Sogetsu tucked the scroll away, a faint sneer flickering in his eyes behind the mask.
Assist, huh. Sounds nice. You mean "monitor," right?
Given Sarutobi Hiruzen's personality, it would have been stranger if he'd sent only an Uchiha on such an important mission.
Politics was an art form.
Unfortunately… Hiruzen had only learned the basics.
Leaving the office, Sogetsu weighed the scroll in his hand, the corner of his mouth curling upward.
Warring States Sealing Log, hm…
Interesting. Now then—how should I make the most of you?
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