c33 : New Ninjutsu
Seeing that Naruto had successfully fused with the First Hokage's cells an experimental method Danzo had previously used on shinobi like Yamato Danzo withdrew a sealed scroll marked with the symbol of the Root division and said, "Naruto, the fusion with Hashirama's cells has stabilized. This scroll contains the basic Wood Release forms compiled from the records left behind by the First Hokage and from Root's own training logs. How far you can develop them will depend entirely on your talent and discipline." Naruto accepted the scroll and immediately felt the tremendous vitality that Hashirama's cells were known for, the same vitality that allowed the First Hokage to recover from fatal wounds and fight battles for days without rest. He now understood that even serious injuries would heal far faster than before.
Although he possessed Hashirama's regenerative ability, Naruto genuinely knew nothing about Wood Release. After unrolling the scroll Danzo provided, he located a quiet training ground outside the hidden entrance of Root headquarters. With no direct instructor unlike Yamato, who had been trained under controlled conditions his early attempts were clumsy. Still, Naruto's perfect fusion rate and excellent chakra control, honed through years of Rasengan practice and shadow clone training, helped him make impressive progress in a single day.
As Naruto continued practicing, Danzo appeared behind him without Naruto noticing just as Danzo often did with his stealthy Root operatives. Watching Naruto produce small yet stable wooden branches, Danzo said, "To achieve this so quickly… even Yamato struggled far more in the beginning. Your compatibility with the cells surpasses my expectations. The fusion is indeed perfect."
"It's just that Wood Release at this level won't help much in a real fight," Naruto replied, frustrated at the lack of power compared to the legendary techniques he had read about, like the Deep Forest Emergence or the giant wooden constructs Hashirama used against Uchiha Madara.
Danzo turned away and headed back toward the base. "Return and rest. I will grant you one week. When your Wood Release has developed enough to be tactically useful, you will carry out the mission. With your level of fusion, a week is sufficient."
During that week, Naruto did not return to Konoha but remained near the Root facilities, practicing Wood Release repeatedly. By the end of the week, his proficiency approached Yamato's usual level he could create wooden pillars, wooden bindings, and various defensive forms but his power still could not compare to the overwhelming techniques of the First Hokage. Just when Naruto felt confident enough to report to Danzo, he suddenly heard a deep voice echo in his mind. Entering his consciousness, he realized the Nine-Tailed Fox was initiating contact on its own, something that had not happened even when Naruto learned the Rasenshuriken or entered the Four-Tails cloak.
Inside his mind, behind the massive iron gate marked "Seal," the voice of the Nine-Tails rumbled: "So, brat… you've learned Wood Release. How unexpected. Among all the Jinchūriki I've seen, you're at least interesting. Enough for me to pay attention."
Naruto said, "We've been together for years. Even if we don't talk much, I'd rather we be partners someday instead of enemies."
The Nine-Tails let out a mocking laugh that echoed like a roar. "Foolish child. You know nothing. This world isn't simple. If not for seeing that cursed Wood Release again the same power that bound me in the past I wouldn't even bother speaking to you." With that, the Nine-Tails fell silent, refusing to respond further, and Naruto exited his consciousness.
Naruto considered the fox's words. The Nine-Tails had ignored him even during far more powerful moments, but Wood Release had immediately provoked a reaction. Remembering the legendary battle between Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama where Hashirama forced the Nine-Tails into submission with Wood Release Naruto suddenly understood. The Wood Release had been the First Hokage's ultimate tool for suppressing tailed beasts. Of course the Nine-Tails would react; it was the power that once bound its body and will. It would make breaking the seal even more difficult for the fox.
With this realization, Naruto headed toward Danzo's base again. Just as they agreed, it was time for him to begin the mission.
Danzo maintained the same cold, unreadable expression as he addressed Naruto: "Jinglei, you will undertake this mission alone. Its difficulty exceeds even an S-rank assignment, so unless you are absolutely certain you can succeed, do not take unnecessary risks. The mission window is three months."
"Yes," Naruto replied shortly, offering only the minimal acknowledgment expected of a Root operative.
In Naruto's mind, however, the necessity of such a mission was questionable. It felt like something that would ultimately benefit Danzo far more than it would benefit Konoha. But Danzo viewed the world differently. To him, the Land of Fire sat at the very center of the Five Great Nations, and even if the Land of Earth had no immediate hostile intention, Danzo believed that weakening neighboring countries even subtly was always advantageous. For Danzo, the security of Konoha justified any method, no matter how ruthless. Since Naruto had agreed to serve him undercover, he had to follow through, but considering the long duration of the mission, Naruto quietly began forming other plans of his own.
Between every large nation existed smaller buffer countries minor nations that prevented the superpowers from clashing directly. In the past ninja wars, these small nations often suffered the most, serving as battlegrounds for conflicts they had no control over. Only in this current era of fragile peace were these countries able to breathe more easily. To reach the Land of Earth, Naruto would inevitably have to pass through several of them.
He could travel through either the Land of Rain or the Land of Grass. Knowing that the hidden village of Amegakure was under the shadow of the Akatsuki who were already acting suspiciously in the manga's timeline Naruto chose the route through the Land of Grass. Fortunately, Kusagakure's relationship with Konoha was not openly hostile, though its internal politics were always murky. As an Anbu operatives of the Root division, Naruto could not reveal his true identity, so he disguised himself as a wandering traveler. In addition to carrying out Danzo's assignment, he also wanted to gather information on Grass Village, which historically used unusual binding jutsu like the Chakra Draining Ivy Technique, though their shinobi were typically weaker compared to Konoha's elites. But as in every nation, civilians made up the vast majority of the population, and these civilians often lived at the lowest rungs of society. While Konoha enforced strict prohibitions on harming ordinary people, such rules were often ignored in smaller, more chaotic countries. Naruto, despite his hidden status in Konoha, knew that his authority meant little outside his homeland. He needed to observe carefully and see whether any exceptional individuals lived among these overlooked civilians.
In this small town, there were few beggars, but the ones present sat along the roadside with hollow eyes, waiting numbly for scraps. Among them, Naruto noticed a young beggar who was different. Instead of despair, there was a burning, unyielding anger in his expression an unwillingness that reminded Naruto of his own childhood resolve.
Naruto approached him, tossed a few coins at his feet, and said, "If I'm not mistaken, you must have lived well before. Something must have happened for you to end up begging on the street. Tell me, if you're so full of resentment, why are you still sitting here doing nothing?"
"Who are you? Mind your own business," the beggar shouted harshly.
Naruto answered calmly, "If I offered you a chance to fulfill a wish you think you can never accomplish, would you come with me?"
The beggar eyed Naruto suspiciously. "You're just a kid. Why should I trust you?"
Naruto glanced around to ensure no one was watching. In an instant, he grabbed the boy's wrist. With a flicker of space-bending chakra one of the markers he had previously placed for emergencies they reappeared deep within a dense forest. The teleportation was so sudden that the boy collapsed backward in shock.
Staring around at the drastically changed scenery, the beggar trembled. "You… you have power like this? You're a ninja, right? How strong are you? Really?"
"Strong," Naruto replied. "Close to what most people would call Kage-level."
Hearing this, the boy immediately bowed until his forehead touched the ground. "I will follow you, sir! Please tell me what you require of me!"
Naruto smiled slightly. "Stand up. First, tell me your story." In truth, Naruto had already formed a plan. Had the boy been stubborn, Naruto was prepared to push him harder, it would have been cleaner that way. But his instincts told him this youth was far from ordinary.
The beggar lifted his head, still trembling. "My name is Lu Sen. My father was a merchant, and I always traveled with him. We lived a wealthy, peaceful life… until the day he obtained a strange treasure map. From that moment on, everything began to fall apart."
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