"Naruto-kun… aren't you going to go take a look?"
Hinata's gentle voice pulled Naruto out of the silence he was quietly enjoying.
"The explosion happened before class started. If anything important turns up, we'll hear about it soon enough."
Naruto turned and saw the anxiety written across Hinata's face. He gave her a faint smile and gently pulled her to sit down beside him.
Now, the classroom was empty—only the two of them remained.
"Hinata, did you notice anything suspicious with your Byakugan?"
Startled by Naruto's gaze, Hinata quickly shook her head.
"Ah… no. When we're training at the clan compound, Father has warned us not to activate the Byakugan lightly in the village. After that incident between Neji-nii-san and you at school, the Elders reprimanded him when he got home."
"Oh? That happened?"
Naruto's eyes glinted with curiosity. He thought over the implications, then smiled.
"So, can you use the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms now?"
"Eh?!"
Hinata blinked, surprised by the sudden change in topic. Meeting Naruto's deep blue eyes, her cheeks flushed, and she lowered her head.
"I-I can do up to sixty-four palms now… Father has been guiding me in other clan techniques lately too…"
"Has your little sister Hanabi awakened her Byakugan yet?"
Not long ago, Hiashi Hyuga had made an agreement with the Third Hokage that Hinata would be allowed to graduate and join a regular genin squad like the other students—as long as her safety could be absolutely guaranteed.
But Hinata was no pushover anymore. She was still kind and gentle, but not nearly as timid as she used to be. The bullies who used to pick on her now made a point to steer clear.
Naruto couldn't quite understand what Hiashi was planning.
"Not yet," Hinata replied, "but she's really talented. I train with her at home every day. I think she'll awaken it soon."
Her face lit up with a gentle smile as she spoke about Hanabi.
"Is that so?"
Naruto grinned.
"Just make sure you don't go easy on her during training. That won't help her grow—in fact, it might hold her back."
"Mm!"
Hinata's expression turned resolute.
"I remember what you said, Naruto-kun. The best way to protect my sister is to help her become the strongest in the Hyuga clan. And before she can do that… I'll become the peak she has to surpass!"
Click.
Someone entered the classroom.
Hinata immediately jumped to her feet, flustered and poking her fingers together, ears turning bright red.
Naruto's eyes narrowed slightly—it was Sasuke who had walked in. For some reason, his expression looked a bit… gloomy.
Root Headquarters – A dim, candle-lit chamber.
"Elder Danzo… care to explain why the first suspect listed in the autopsy report is Jōnin Kakashi?"
SLAM!
The Third Hokage slapped two reports onto the desk.
"Sarutobi," Danzo replied calmly, "if you recall, the survivor from the Intel Division already told you—Kosuke was assassinated with a Lightning Release technique to the chest, completely off guard. You examined the wound yourself. Surely you've also considered that it resembles Kakashi's signature jutsu—Chidori."
"Besides, Kakashi interacted with Kosuke several times during ANBU missions. If Kosuke recognized him during his return from the Land of Waves, it would explain why he let his guard down. That makes Kakashi the most logical prime suspect."
Danzo sipped his tea with a composed expression.
"And what about the Binding Curse Seal and the Inner Four Symbols Seal?" Sarutobi pressed.
"By your reasoning, shouldn't I list your entire Root division as suspects too?"
Danzo's eyes opened slightly.
"Yes, Root does possess those sealing techniques from the Uzumaki clan. But don't forget—Kakashi's teacher was the Fourth Hokage, and his teacher's wife was Kushina Uzumaki. He had full access to mainstream Uzumaki sealing arts. He could have easily learned them."
"Taking that into account, Kakashi remains the most likely culprit. If you hadn't forbidden me from investigating, we might already have uncovered the truth."
Sarutobi's face darkened. He stood abruptly and walked to the door.
"Enough. Stay in Root and reflect on your actions. Leave this matter alone."
Danzo closed his eyes. His tone was cool.
"Sarutobi… ever since you became Hokage, you've grown more and more hypocritical. When I failed to eliminate Itachi Uchiha, you punished me with confinement for leaving a loose end. And now, just because I suspect one of your loyal subordinates, you're doing it again."
Clack.
The door opened.
Sarutobi stepped outside.
"Is there something you want to say?"
Danzo stirred the matcha in his teacup with a bamboo whisk.
"I've read your poetry. You once compared the Leaf to a great tree, and yourself to a leaf basking in the sun. Even now, standing in Root—buried dozens of meters beneath the ground—you still act like you're high above us."
"'Where the leaves dance, the fire will burn.' Beautiful words."
"But surely you understand—when the branches and leaves stretch toward the light, the roots must dig deeper. Into the soil, the darkness, and even evil… to gather the nutrients that let the tree grow strong."
Bang!
The door slammed shut.
Moments later, a figure approached quietly outside.
"Lord Danzo. What are your orders?"
Danzo slowly placed the whisk aside.
"Cease all operations. Let the Third handle things for now."
"His surface-level morals won't get anything done. Sarutobi knows full well—without Root supporting it from the shadows, Konoha's great tree won't stay standing."
A Few Days Later
"Why are you able to master every jutsu so easily?"
At the seaside in the Land of Waves, Sasuke tossed a freshly revived fish back into the ocean and casually asked Naruto.
"You're one to talk. Don't you learn jutsu easily with your Sharingan? What, your eyes blind now?"
Naruto smirked, teasing.
"Hmph. Learning and mastering are two different things."
Sasuke's expression cooled.
"I've been observing you for years. Even if Shadow Clones can speed up training, it's impossible to fully master every jutsu using just clones."
Naruto shrugged with a lazy grin.
"Can't help it. I've got too many Shadow Clones."
Then he added with a chuckle,
"By the way, weren't you trying to develop Water Release chakra? How'd you end up with Yang Release instead?"
Sasuke's face twitched.
"…I have no idea."
He'd been brooding over that exact problem for days.
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