At dusk, Yagami hid behind a chimney, watching Sakumo Hatake and his son leave their home and head toward the training ground. Kakashi Hatake was only three years old, looking tiny and small.
The two arrived at the grounds and began basic tool training. Like other commoner-born ninja, Sakumo placed immense value on the fundamentals: taijutsu basics and weapon precision.
Before long, Minato Namikaze arrived and greeted the father and son. This was already their fifth meeting. Lately, they had been sharing this specific training area. Minato trained in taijutsu alone for a while before Sakumo called him over during a break.
Sakumo pointed at Minato's feet, seemingly explaining that his lower body stability was lacking. He patiently coached Minato on how to adhere chakra to his legs and soles to bolster his strength.
Then, he taught him some foundational techniques for the Body Flicker Jutsu, showing him how to use chakra to increase the explosive force of his step.
Minato was deeply inspired. After hearing it once, he didn't even stop to rest before testing it out; his movement speed visibly increased.
As an orphan with no family legacy, Minato relied entirely on being diligent at school to earn the favor of his teachers. Encountering a silver-haired Uncle who taught him with such care made him incredibly excited.
After training ended, the three left the grounds. Sakumo gave a slight nod toward a large tree to his flank. He had spotted the fox mask intentionally revealed by the ANBU operative. For some reason, the ANBU had sent Fox to monitor him.
For several consecutive days, Yagami monitored the training of Sakumo and Minato. He thought to himself: 'The Third Hokage is afraid Sakumo will use Minato to get close to the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, but in reality, Sakumo's target is Minato himself—he couldn't care less about the Jinchuriki.'
The Third's "home base" was being stolen right under his nose, and he didn't even know it.
In the reports from the ANBU and the Ninja Academy, Minato was labeled a genius youth. But every class had four or five geniuses. Only Yagami knew that Minato wasn't just a genius; he was the future of the Leaf.
The greatest achievement of Hiruzen Sarutobi's next twenty years of governance was simply waiting for Minato Namikaze to come of age. Take away Minato, and Hiruzen's next two decades would be, if not a total failure, at least utterly unremarkable.
After over a week of surveillance, the Third summoned Yagami. In the Hokage's office, both Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura were present.
"Fox," Hiruzen said. "Tell us the results of your week-long surveillance."
"Lord Hokage, Lord Danzo, I have monitored Sakumo Hatake daily," Yagami reported. "When he has no missions, he focuses on accompanying his son, Kakashi. Kakashi has shown impressive talent and remarkable taijutsu skills for his age."
"Every afternoon, Sakumo takes Kakashi to the training ground. Sakumo usually arrives first, followed by Minato after school. While instructing Kakashi, Sakumo occasionally guides Minato as well. Minato does not yet know that the man is the 'White Fang,' but he deeply treasures the opportunity for guidance. I checked the academy teachers' evaluations; Minato is described as a brilliant, precocious genius. Sakumo seems to have taken a genuine liking to him and is teaching him meticulously."
"Two days ago, Sakumo brought chakra induction paper for both of them. Kakashi's affinity is Lightning; Minato's is Wind. From chakra nature to flow, and even correcting minor flaws in taijutsu forms, Sakumo's guidance is progressing steadily. It appears he intends to mentor the boy long-term. However, Lord Hokage, Lord Danzo, I cannot determine if Sakumo is using Minato to reach the Jinchuriki. There is no evidence thus far."
Hearing this, Hiruzen was unable to judge Sakumo's true intent. Mentoring a genius brought a unique sense of accomplishment; Hiruzen's own greatest pride was training the Sannin. Unfortunately, as they grew, they became increasingly difficult to manage. Perhaps Sakumo simply admired Minato's talent and had no designs on the Jinchuriki.
Danzo spoke up: "Hiruzen, if you don't control the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, others will. My spies in the Hidden Cloud have obtained new intel. You'll find it quite urgent."
"Oh? What intel?"
Danzo glanced at Fox before continuing: "The Fox Squad obtained battlefield data on the Cloud's Jinchuriki from the Land of Earth. Their Jinchuriki doesn't suffer from 'retrieval issues'; they can release and retract Tailed Beast chakra at will. I had our spies in the Cloud investigate further. After losing six agents, we finally got the key: the Cloud obtained sealing techniques from the Uzumaki clan and is conducting a project called 'Perfect Jinchuriki.'"
"A Perfect Jinchuriki—as the name suggests—is one who perfectly controls the Tailed Beast. We must prioritize the development of our own Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. The Senju claim the seal is stable, but we know nothing of its mechanics. War can break out at any time. If the Cloud deploys a Perfect Jinchuriki in the next conflict, what will the Leaf use to stop them? We must verify the security of the Nine-Tails seal now."
Hiruzen pondered. Sakumo and Tsunade being in cahoots was a nuisance. They were allied in the Council and seemingly linked via the Jinchuriki as well.
"Fine. I agree to your plan. Root will verify the Jinchuriki's seal. However, an ANBU squad must follow to ensure safety. Send the Fox Squad."
Yagami received the mission, but Danzo didn't specify *how* Root intended to treat Kushina Uzumaki. He had to have his subordinates follow her in two shifts.
Soon after, a wave of bullying emerged in the Academy. Kushina's status as a transfer student and her unique red hair made her an easy target. Four boys cornered her in the shadow behind the school building, in a narrow three-meter-wide alley against the perimeter wall.
"Tomato! You really think you can become the first female Hokage?"
"The village will never let an outsider become Hokage!"
"Who knows if you'll try to use the Leaf to get revenge for the destroyed Uzumaki clan?"
Kushina's dream, much like Naruto's in the original timeline, was met with mockery. Yagami stood by a second-story window, listening to them call her "Tomato." He asked a teacher who suddenly appeared beside him, "You aren't going to stop the bullying?"
"Hmm? Isn't this what you requested?" the teacher replied. "An ANBU operative gave us a heads-up earlier not to interfere."
"That was Root, not ANBU," Yagami corrected.
Under normal circumstances, such bullying wouldn't happen without the teachers' tacit permission. But Kushina was no delicate girl; she beat all four of them to the ground and sat on one, her fists raining down on his head.
Just then, two more figures leaped from a classroom window. They were small in stature, but their eyes lacked the stupid clarity of students. One of them grabbed Kushina's red hair and yanked her backward with force.
Yagami thought to himself: The Root's work is truly crude.
***
Read 30 Chapters early on P-atreon.com/Redestro666