"Kazuki, what are you saying?!"
Kushina looked genuinely anxious.
Mito Uzumaki and Hiruzen Sarutobi both frowned.
Orochimaru silently cursed.
This was bad.
Originally, once Kazuki accepted the chūnin promotion, even if he didn't get sent to Kumogakure, he would at least start taking B-rank missions.
And accidents… could happen on missions.
But as a genin?
Genin only took D- and C-rank missions.
If Orochimaru acted too forcefully on a D-rank escort mission, his identity would be exposed instantly.
Even a C-rank setup would require months of subtle planning.
Orochimaru looked at Kazuki carefully.
Was this intentional?
Was the boy thinking several steps ahead?
Or was it pure coincidence?
Mito spoke sharply.
"Kazuki, what nonsense are you talking about? Do you intend to remain a genin your entire life?"
Kazuki answered calmly.
"What's wrong with being a genin?"
"Are you willing to remain 'inferior' forever?" she pressed.
Kazuki shook his head.
"Genin aren't inferior."
"In fact, they're the foundation of Konoha."
"They make up the overwhelming majority of our forces."
"They fought and died in the First and Second Shinobi Wars."
"Without the countless unnamed shinobi, there would be no Konoha today."
"The First and Second Hokage were great. But so were the thousands who followed them."
"As a genin, I feel proud."
"I don't need promotion to validate that."
Hiruzen fell silent.
The words hit him harder than he expected.
Had he… distanced himself from the ordinary shinobi over the years?
Had he begun to view them merely as numbers?
Mito also seemed thoughtful.
Kushina blinked in confusion.
Was being a genin… honorable?
Kazuki, meanwhile, had a completely different thought process.
Twenty times fusion speed.
That was the real glory.
At this rate, one hour now equaled twenty hours before.
He could feel Hashirama's chakra harmonizing faster already.
Hiruzen suddenly narrowed his eyes slightly.
Wait.
Promotion had nothing to do with respecting genin.
This boy simply didn't want responsibility.
Hiruzen looked at Kazuki carefully.
"You truly have no intention of becoming a chūnin?"
Kazuki nodded calmly.
"Thank you for the offer, Hokage-sama."
"But I prefer to remain an ordinary genin."
Hiruzen's eye twitched.
Ordinary?
You awakened Wood Release and casually fight Sannin.
Ordinary?
Mito sighed softly.
"I'll speak with him later."
Hiruzen waved a tired hand.
"…Very well. We'll leave it for now."
He turned and left.
He had no time to debate philosophy with a stubborn teenager.
Kumogakure was mobilizing.
The Raikage and Eight-Tails jinchūriki had already crossed borders once.
And intelligence suggested Kumogakure had captured the Two-Tails years ago.
Kushina was clearly meant to be a jinchūriki candidate.
This wasn't over.
And now Iwagakure was also increasing recruitment.
Was peace about to shatter again?
Hiruzen sighed heavily.
Orochimaru gave Kazuki one last long look before departing.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Uzumaki Residence
Kazuki followed Mito and Kushina back to the Uzumaki compound.
The courtyard was peaceful.
Green trees.
Flowing water.
Birdsong.
Its location in the center of the village spoke volumes about the Uzumaki clan's status.
Mito smiled warmly.
"Kazuki… welcome back."
"In the past, perhaps we neglected you."
Kazuki shook his head.
"I liked being alone."
"But this place isn't bad either."
"Good," Mito said gently.
"Kushina, take him to his room."
Kushina's face heated instantly.
"Yes, Grandma…"
They walked together quietly.
His room was clean.
Simple.
Comfortable.
"Come in and sit?" Kazuki teased.
Kushina's face turned red instantly.
"N-No! My room is next door!"
She hurried away.
Kazuki blinked.
…Was that an invitation?
Root Headquarters
Deep underground.
Danzo Shimura reviewed Kazuki's file in silence.
A war orphan.
Found during Kushina's escort to Konoha.
Awakened Wood Release at a life-or-death moment.
Too many coincidences.
Danzo did not believe in coincidences.
"Rejected promotion?" Danzo asked coldly.
"Yes, Danzo-sama," a masked Root shinobi replied. "He insisted genin are the backbone of Konoha."
Danzo scoffed.
"Foolish rhetoric."
"Elite jōnin and Kage-level powerhouses determine a village's strength."
Genin were expendable.
Always had been.
Danzo's eye darkened.
"This last Senju bloodline… is unstable."
"And those cells…"
He clenched his hand slowly.
"Valuable."
"If he refuses to stand under my control—"
"He will be removed."
The masked shinobi bowed deeply.
"Danzo-sama, shall we proceed?"
Danzo nodded.
"Ten Root operatives."
"Move fast."
"Move quietly."
"And not in the Uzumaki compound."
"Wait until he leaves."
"Yes, Danzo-sama."
The masked figures vanished.
Danzo closed his eye slowly.
If Kazuki could not be controlled—
He would be harvested.