A/N:
OMG I missed you all soooooo much
One month away was a long time, but I definitely needed the break. Now we're back to taking as* and kicking names. Wait. No. That sounds wrong…
Anyway, enjoy the new arc. I can't wait for you to dive into all the awesome stuff coming up next!
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Fugaku and Itachi were observing Shisui. Itachi especially was distressed, scanning Shisui for any injuries. Hirotaka was angry but hid it well as his gaze stayed focused on Homura and Koharu, while Hiashi was observing Shisui with his Byakugan active. He smiled, then deactivated it and nodded to Hiruzen.
Shisui took a deep breath, then started. "Lord Hokage, as per the mission requirement, we went to the area marked on the map to collect the classified mission details. Once we reached there, we discovered that it was a chakra distortion zone."
Everyone tensed at the mention of that area. Although it was usually used to mask movement from enemy sensors, it was still suspicious. However, Shisui decided to continue. "When I opened the mission scroll that was hidden there, Noa noticed a seal transferring from that scroll to me."
Fugaku could not hold back and said with anger, "What? A mission scroll from the village imprinted you with a seal?" His chakra started to rise as he looked at Hiruzen. "Lord Hokage, what is the meaning of this?"
Hiruzen raised his hands. "We are still investigating that aspect."
Fugaku shot a look at Shisui and asked, "Was it sealed for security with the village's method?"
Shisui nodded, which caused Fugaku, Itachi, and the two elders to look at Hiruzen, who kept his gaze focused on Shisui, nodding to him to continue. And so Shisui did.
"At first we could not feel that seal well, and if it was not for Noa's observation, I would not have known that this seal existed and might have ended up dead before I figured it out."
Everyone went into their own thoughts as Hiashi said, "If he can sense a seal within a chakra distortion area, then he must be very gifted with fuinjutsu."
Shisui looked at Hiruzen, who nodded. Shisui sighed and said, "His skill borders on advanced fuinjutsu theory. For someone his age, this is unheard of."
Shock was visible on everyone's faces except for Hirotaka, Hiruzen, and Shisui. Everyone was deep in thought. If a ten year old kid reached that level while still being an active fighting shinobi, it meant he was extremely gifted.
Homura nodded. "It looks like we have another gifted young shinobi."
Koharu agreed. "First you, Shisui, then Kakashi, then Itachi, and now him, Noa. We are truly blessed."
Shisui smiled, excited to see their reactions to what came next, as he continued. "Before I went on the mission, I took Lord Third's permission to reactivate the ANBU seal, to use its functions in case of emergency, especially with such a complicated and dangerous mission. Once that seal transferred to me, two high level jonin attacked us. I had to resort to using my ocular abilities to protect the entire team. They let me utilize my abilities at first, but then activated the seal, which almost completely sealed my chakra, forcing my eyes to go back to normal in the middle of a battle."
Fugaku took a deep breath, worried, while looking at Shisui, who smiled. "Noa took Sena and Kaen away from danger, giving me a chance to fight the two high level jonin."
Hiashi asked, "How can he run away from two high level jonin while your chakra was sealed?"
Shisui looked at Hiruzen, who looked back before nodding yet again. "He has an ability that allows him to punch above his level. Something unique. Something very powerful related to his affinity."
Everyone's eyes widened as Koharu asked, "Does he have a kekkei genkai?"
Shisui did not confirm or deny and stayed silent, happy to mislead everyone, and they took the bait as they went into deep thought.
Fugaku finally spoke. "That explains his ridiculous affinity to lightning and his incredible level at mastering ninjutsu, even if he is an orphan who was never trained by a clan."
Hiashi nodded. "It all makes sense now."
Hirotaka was very silent, while Homura and Koharu nodded, even more pleased with the new revelation, since Hiruzen had always kept information about Noa a secret.
Hirotaka remained quiet, watching everything with a merchant's calculating mind.
And Hiruzen simply listened, allowing the assumptions to settle exactly where he wanted them.
Shisui did not want to allow them more time to think this through, so he continued. "Noa, Kaen, and Sena were intercepted by three chunin who were sent to kill them. One of them was from the Aburame clan, though he claimed he was a missing nin."
Homura asked, "Did we get to know his identity?"
Shisui shook his head. "Luckily Noa took him down with a surprise attack. Otherwise his bugs would have caused too much trouble. They also used poison, so that was a turning point."
Itachi looked impressed with Noa's abilities as Shisui continued. "He then left Kaen and Sena, who said that the other two chunin used a seal that was on the Aburame shinobi and caused it to explode, killing him and hiding the evidence. Sena and Kaen fought the remaining two chunin and were able to kill them."
Hirotaka looked proud. Fugaku nodded, pleased. "That Kaen kid has great potential."
Shisui looked at Itachi and smiled as he said, "They then retreated since they were injured and poisoned and had very limited time to act. The two chunin bodies were detonated as well to hide the evidence."
Everyone began to grow suspicious. They all knew someone gifted with fuinjutsu, someone careful, precise, and secretive. But no one voiced the thought yet.
Shisui continued, diving deeper into the story. "I was not able to move much, since the trap was perfect. A seal to limit my chakra and a distortion zone that made it even harder to act on the little chakra I had. Given my limited options, since for some reason the ANBU seal was not activated by the foreign seal, I took some chakra from it and injected it directly into the ANBU seal, causing both seals to collide and giving me control over my chakra for a few moments."
Itachi almost shouted. "That is too dangerous."
A regretful look appeared on Shisui as Hiashi said, "That explains the condition of your chakra network."
Shisui nodded. "It caused a lot of damage to me, but I was able to use genjutsu and got rid of the two jonin."
Hirotaka looked puzzled. "What kind of genjutsu works on powerful jonin of that level and works in the limited time you had?"
Shisui did not answer. He did not need to.
Fugaku's chakra was leaking with bloodlust, so thick it became hard to breathe.
Hiruzen sighed. "Fugaku dono, please control yourself."
Fugaku took a deep breath, and Hiruzen understood why he was angry. Hiashi, Homura, and Koharu had a vague idea as well.
Shisui now treaded carefully as he described what happened next. "Then, when I tried to stop the ANBU seal from activating and killing me, the foreign seal started to devour the ANBU seal and strengthen itself using the remnants of the ANBU seal."
That information hit the room like a bomb.
Hiashi shouted, "What? What do you mean devoured?"
Shisui answered, "Whoever designed that seal knew the mechanism of the ANBU seal and how it works. There is no way around that."
Everyone looked at Homura and Koharu.
Koharu straightened, her tone firm. "We understand the ANBU seal's purpose and general structure, but we are not fuinjutsu masters. We do not know the fine mechanisms or the weaknesses someone could exploit."
Hiruzen nodded, though his thoughts were becoming darker.
Fugaku finally said it. "Elder Danzo. He is a seal grand master and he knows the ANBU seal. Where is he."
Hiruzen looked hesitant before answering. "He has been on a delicate mission for some time. He is in a critical level of that mission and cannot leave."
Everyone's eyes narrowed in suspicion.
Shisui hammered another nail. "That is when an old man with a hawk mask, wearing the Komogakure ANBU clothes like the others, approached me. He then tried to steal my eye."
Fugaku asked with horror, "What? He knew of your eyes?"
Shisui nodded. "And its ability as well."
Fugaku's voice cut through the air, low but blazing with fury. "Lord Hokage. A seal crafted with ANBU knowledge, made by a grandmaster, used by someone who understands Shisui's Sharingan. There is only one individual in Konoha with that combination of access and expertise. Are we to conclude that Elder Danzo attempted to steal Shisui's eyes?"
Hiruzen pinched the edge of his nose as Hiashi also spoke, clearly worried. "Lord Hokage, that is a very worrying situation to consider and completely unacceptable."
Hiruzen shot back, "Circumstantial accusations will not do. Do you have evidence that clearly implicates Danzo?"
Everyone recoiled as Hiruzen's chakra surged, almost pressing down on the entire room.
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A/N: I can't wait to see your comments. I'm sure all of you will have plenty of kind words for Lord Third hahaha. Let me know what you thought of the chapter, and share your predictions on how you think this meeting will end and what decisions will be made!