A flash of insight struck Kazuki's mind. He suddenly realized a potential loophole in the system's previous task!
Since Naruto's chakra had already fused with the Nine-Tails' chakra, Would that mean that if Naruto extracted chakra, the system could absorb his chakra and, by extension, a portion of the Nine-Tails' chakra at the same time?
If this worked, he wouldn't have to wait until Naruto's mission in the Land of Waves!
Thinking of this, Kazuki's heart swelled with excitement. This plan was feasible! Although extracting and refining the Nine-Tails' chakra from Naruto wouldn't be quick, it would still be far faster than waiting for six years!
Then, another thought crossed his mind—a blueprint for a Multi-Shadow Clone Shuriken! A ninja tool powerful enough to rival A-rank ninjutsu!
"Naruto, take this!" Kazuki pulled out a ninjutsu scroll and handed it to Naruto. "This contains the method for chakra refinement. Study it when you get home."
"The entrance exam for the Ninja Academy is just around the corner. You might not master chakra control in time, but maybe the examiners will recognize your potential and let you pass."
"Wow, Kazuki, you're the best!" Naruto's eyes sparkled as he clutched the scroll. He leaped up, brimming with enthusiasm. "Kazuki, I'm heading back to train right now!"
"I'm going to be Hokage one day! There's no way I'll fail the entrance exam! Don't worry—I'll definitely become a student at the Academy, just like you!"
Kazuki chuckled and nodded. "Then give it your all!"
At that moment, neither Kazuki nor Naruto realized that someone was watching them from afar.
Inside the Hokage's office beneath the Hokage Rock, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, observed their interaction through his crystal ball. As the scene ended, he waved his hand, shutting off the surveillance.
He took a slow drag from his pipe, exhaling thoughtfully as he glanced at a report on the desk—a detailed dossier on Kazuki.
"A hardworking boy. Even Might Guy speaks highly of him."
"A talent for forging—capable of crafting advanced ninja tools."
"Kind-hearted and befriended Naruto."
A small smile formed on Hiruzen's lips.
"Perhaps… he could prove to be a valuable asset."
He neatly stacked the report and whispered to himself. Then, his gaze shifted to the shadows of the room.
"But first, we must resolve the matter of the Uchiha Clan."
His voice carried across the dimly lit office. "Wouldn't you agree, Danzo?"
A low chuckle echoed from the shadows.
"Oh? You noticed me?"
From the corner of the room, a man stepped forward. A bandage covered one of his eyes, and a cane tapped lightly against the floor as he walked.
Shimura Danzo.
"Hiruzen, the time has come to settle the Uchiha matter."
"I warned you long ago that the Uchiha Clan was a growing threat. Your hesitation has only made them stronger."
Hiruzen sighed, conflicted. "Is there truly no other way?"
Danzo scoffed. "Hmph. Abandon such naive thoughts."
"Itachi Uchiha has already agreed to the plan. When the time comes, my Root operatives will eliminate the entire clan to protect the village."
Hiruzen frowned. "Itachi has made one request."
Danzo's eyes narrowed. "What request?"
"He wants his younger brother, Sasuke Uchiha, to be spared. I have agreed to this."
Danzo's expression darkened. "You're letting sentiment cloud your judgment again."
"He will handle the mission alone," Hiruzen continued. "He claims he will use 'outside forces' to complete the task."
Danzo's lips curled into a sneer. "Hmph. Those 'outside forces' cannot be trusted. Have you forgotten? Your prized student, Orochimaru, is among them."
"Enough, Danzo!"
Hiruzen's tone sharpened, his patience wearing thin.
"For now, they are not our enemies."
"Konoha has already expended too much to maintain internal stability. We cannot afford to provoke them."
"We are in no position to meddle in external affairs right now."
"Hmph, Sarutobi, you always insist on looking ahead like this!"
Shimura Danzo shot him a cold look, his tone filled with discontent.
"If it weren't for that failure, Hanzo of the Salamander, who couldn't completely wipe out the Akatsuki, we wouldn't be dealing with this problem now!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression grew complicated as he recalled the intelligence Uchiha Itachi had provided him. In addition to his former student, Orochimaru, the names of the remaining Akatsuki members caused him to fall into deep thought.
They weren't just any rogue ninjas—they were S-rank criminals feared by the Five Kage. Even with only a fraction of their true strength revealed, Hiruzen could already see how terrifyingly powerful this organization was.
A group of formidable shinobi gathered under one banner—what was their true objective? Did they intend to challenge the authority of the Five Great Nations?
A quiet dread settled in his heart, but he knew that Konoha was in no position to act against them.
Before resolving the ongoing tensions with the Uchiha clan and stabilizing Konoha's internal affairs, engaging in conflict with the Akatsuki would only bring ruin. The village had yet to recover from the devastating blow suffered six years ago during the Nine-Tails' attack. The loss of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, along with dozens of elite jonin, had left Konoha in a weakened state.
The truth was undeniable—Konoha's military strength had plummeted. Aside from himself, there was no one left in the village who could match the power of a Kage. Orochimaru had defected, Jiraiya wandered the world, and Tsunade, suffering from hemophobia, had vanished entirely.
The priority now was to maintain peace and stability within Konoha while waiting for a new generation of shinobi to rise to prominence. Only then could Hiruzen retire, leaving the village in capable hands.
After a long silence, Hiruzen finally spoke.
"Danzo, please understand my position."
"Konoha needs time to recover. We must allow the next generation to mature."
"As for the Akatsuki, our intelligence on them is too limited. We should let Uchiha Itachi continue infiltrating the organization as our spy and gather more information before we make any rash decisions."
For once, Danzo did not immediately refute him. Instead, he nodded slightly, acknowledging Hiruzen's plan.
After a brief pause, Danzo changed the subject.
"I've heard rumors of a boy in Konoha with a remarkable talent for ninja tools. Why don't you assign him to me? If he joins Root, his skills could be put to good use, strengthening my forces."
Hiruzen's expression darkened, his brows furrowing.
"No! Give up that idea, Danzo."
"Kazuki is not some orphan from the battlefield that you can mold as you please. His father, Tianxiong, is a renowned merchant in the Land of Fire. Konoha relies on his supply of ninja tools and strategic materials. Given the current state of affairs, I will not risk unnecessary trouble."
Danzo let out a dry chuckle, his lips curling into a sly grin.
"Haha. Very well, I was merely making a suggestion."
Despite his words, Danzo had already made up his mind. He had heard of the unique properties of Kazuki's ninja tools and was determined to investigate further. Soon, he began gathering intelligence on the boy, though the reports he received mirrored what Hiruzen already knew.
After reviewing the information, Danzo scoffed in disappointment. The idea of mass-producing stronger shinobi through enhanced ninja tools was nothing more than a pipe dream. The boy was of no significant value to his plans.
For now, his focus remained on dealing with the Uchiha clan.
If things proceeded as expected, the eradication of the Uchiha clan would leave him in possession of countless Sharingan. Combined with Orochimaru's previous research and the genetic power of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama...
Perhaps—
The Mangekyō Sharingan, or even the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, would soon be within his grasp.
Danzo, who had witnessed the might of Uchiha Madara during the Warring States Period, understood all too well the immense power of those eyes.
If he could claim that power for himself, defeating the Akatsuki and ascending to the position of Hokage would no longer be a dream—it would be inevitable.
After a brief pause, Danzo spoke again.
"Very well. We'll put this discussion aside for now. I'll take my leave."
With that, he turned to exit the room.
As he departed, he muttered under his breath,
"My Root will ensure that everything is taken care of that night."
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