"These notes are incredibly complete."
'Although it's not the most profound research, it's enough to prove that my trust level with Danzō has risen.'
'It wasn't a wasted performance.'
Inside the base, Masahiko had already secured the notes Danzō had promised him. It was a research log concerning "Soft Body Modification." It wasn't the entire compilation, but it likely represented every scrap of relevant data left within the Root organization.
Masahiko bade a solemn farewell to the Root leader. Upon returning home, he secured the notes and immediately entered the Ninjutsu Training Space.
In the blank white void of the training world, a familiar figure appeared before him.
It was the Smart Projection: Kakashi.
"I need to research a method to crack a cursed seal," Masahiko stated calmly. "Observe the state of the seal on my tongue and assist me."
The projection pondered for a moment before nodding slightly.
In the next instant, Masahiko began to knead chakra, mobilizing the power of the Shikotsumyaku to reinforce his skull and hyoid bone.
It was difficult.
Although he had attempted to strengthen his bones before, this time, the specific chakra of the cursed seal seemed to interfere with his technique, preventing him from condensing the calcium as easily as usual. Moments later, Masahiko felt a wave of paralysis washing over him, but...
He quickly realized something.
This paralysis did not completely seize control of his body. The backlash from the sealing jutsu was far weaker than he had anticipated.
'Just as I thought!'
'According to Orochimaru's schematic, as long as I sever the chakra flow to this specific area, I can suppress the seal's effects. Ordinary humans can't alter their physiological structure, but I can...'
'The only other options would be surgery or forcefully breaking the seal, but those carry extreme risks.'
If he didn't have the training space to test this, Masahiko never would have let Danzō plant the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal on him so easily.
Again and again, he repeated the process.
Finally, he found the perfect equilibrium point. Just as he had hypothesized—by momentarily enlarging the hyoid and throat bones to compress the tongue and its nerves, thereby cutting off the local chakra circulation, and simultaneously treating the area with the Medical Water Style: Water Jellyfish, he could neutralize the seal.
For a short window of time, he was immune to the effects of the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal.
As long as he could achieve this temporary immunity, he could utilize the principles provided by Orochimaru to reverse-engineer and break the seal at any time, freeing him from Danzō's control.
Of course, without Orochimaru's intelligence, Masahiko would have needed to research and learn a vast amount of forbidden knowledge and attempt countless dangerous solutions to reach this point. He never would have taken the risk of letting Danzō mark him. But with that intel in hand, he had the confidence to attempt a precise, rapid solution.
It wasn't a perfect fix yet, but it was enough.
He still needed to keep the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal intact to maintain Danzō's trust. He couldn't actually remove it—not yet.
When he woke again, it was already the next morning.
Masahiko hadn't even fully risen from bed when a knock sounded at his door. Someone had arrived early.
Still shaking off sleep, Masahiko opened the door and paused, slightly stunned by the visitor.
It was an Anbu operative. However, based on subtle differences in the uniform and mask, Masahiko judged that this was not one of Danzō's men, but an Anbu reporting directly to the Hokage.
"Lord Hokage requires your presence," the Anbu stated in a muffled voice.
Masahiko nodded gently. "Understood. Let me wash up first."
One minute later, he followed the Anbu to the outside of the Hokage's office. The operative nodded once, then vanished via Body Flicker.
Masahiko pushed the door open and entered.
What greeted him was not the usual smiling face of Sarutobi Hiruzen. Instead, the Third Hokage wore an expression of icy disappointment. He sat behind his desk, smoking his pipe, the air around him heavy and sullen.
Masahiko stepped inside and prepared to bow, but Hiruzen waved his hand dismissively. "Close the door. Find a chair and sit."
"Yes, sir."
He did as told. Sitting in the chair, Masahiko rapidly calculated how he should respond to the coming interrogation.
However, Hiruzen did not immediately scold him. instead, the old man sighed softly.
"As a ninja of civilian origin... it is difficult, isn't it?"
Masahiko remained silent.
Hiruzen didn't press him further, merely continuing to puff on his pipe.
In the heavy silence, the rims of Masahiko's eyes gradually turned red. He tilted his head up slightly, his voice trembling with suppressed emotion.
"Hokage-sama, it took me six full years from graduating the Academy to becoming a Chūnin. Yet, it took less than half a year to go from Chūnin to Tokubetsu Jōnin."
"I do not believe I am inferior to anyone else, yet the path laid out before me was nothing but a narrow, winding sheep trail."
"Just as I became Naruto's teacher, attempting to guide him to be better, to be stronger... an opportunity suddenly appeared before my eyes."
"In your eyes, Lord Hokage, these things may seem trivial and commonplace. But to me... they are precious beyond measure."
A strange light flickered in his eyes.
Hiruzen froze, momentarily forgetting to draw on his pipe.
Masahiko continued, his voice steadying into a passionate resolve.
"My parents died on that night."
"I have thought about it for a long time. Why must there be war? Why must there be death?"
"I want to understand the mysteries of all Ninjutsu. I want to ensure that everyone can utilize stronger techniques, so that fewer people in the village have to die."
"Perhaps... if I do that, peace will finally arrive."
Masahiko spoke of his grand vision.
Hiruzen looked at him in a trance. In the Third Hokage's vision, the young man before him seemed to overlap with a child from years ago—a pale, gifted child who had once spoken to him of ambition and the fragility of life with the same quiet, hidden passion.
How similar are they?
Even their fates...
Hiruzen took a drag from his pipe and looked up. "Stick out your tongue. Let me see."
"Yes!"
Masahiko extended his tongue, revealing the intricate seal marked upon it. The Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal was plainly visible to the Hokage.
Hiruzen sighed lightly. "Do you regret it?"
"I do not. To gain something, one must first be willing to pay the price."
Masahiko's emotions seemed to settle into a calm determination. He reached into his flak jacket and produced a scroll. "This is the research I have completed recently, along with the relevant notes. Please, take a look."
Hiruzen accepted the scroll.
The title read: [Medical Water Style].
He unrolled it further. The notes contained detailed research on a technique called Water Jellyfish, including concepts for its application in combat and field medicine. It was an incredibly complete piece of ninjutsu research.
The Hokage read through it quietly.
After a long silence, Hiruzen looked up, his expression even more serious than before.
"How do you view Root?"
"The Ninja World is not yet at peace. Root has a necessity for its existence," Masahiko answered pragmatically. "However, as the situation changes, Root's methods and means must also evolve with the times."
"When true peace arrives... perhaps by then, we won't need such dense roots deep underground."
"Peace in the Ninja World..." Hiruzen exhaled a plume of smoke. "Those words are easy to say, but do you know how terribly difficult they are to achieve?"
Hiruzen was not a child. He was not that naive anymore.
"It must be done, no matter the difficulty. If we do not try, peace will never come." Masahiko's attitude was resolute.
"You are right. An old man like me is full of twilight; I lost that drive long ago." Hiruzen chuckled, a tired but genuine sound. "The future belongs to you. How the Will of Fire is defined, and how Root is defined... in the end, it will be up to you to decide."
The way Hiruzen looked at Masahiko now held a trace of appreciation. His expression softened, becoming kind and grandfatherly once more.
Hiruzen set his pipe down.
"Hold firm to your beliefs. I will help you."
"Yes!"
Masahiko feigned a look of overwhelming surprise and gratitude. He stood, bowed deeply and respectfully, and then took his leave.
Left alone in the office, Hiruzen fell silent.
He had once said similar words to Uchiha Shisui. In the end, he had failed to protect him.
"I hope you... can change Root."