Chapter 17: The Sealed History
The Day After the S-Rank Mission
Uchiha Kazuki walked out of the ANBU headquarters with dark circles under his eyes, rubbing them wearily as he yawned. The powerful chakra eruption and obvious signs of combat that had suddenly appeared within the Uchiha compound last night couldn't possibly have escaped ANBU's notice—especially during this sensitive period when the Hokage and Danzo's attention was almost entirely focused on the Uchiha clan.
Sure enough, he'd been summoned to ANBU headquarters overnight to write a detailed incident report.
He'd spent the entire night writing that damn report!
Writing reports before I transmigrated, writing reports after I transmigrated...
Damn it all!
Kazuki, his face full of resentment, was just about to head home for some much-needed sleep when someone blocked his path.
"Owl, the Hokage wants to see you in his office."
The person who stopped him was none other than one of the Hokage's personal guards—ANBU operative code-named 'Elephant.' His tone was cold and professional as always.
"Understood. I'll head there immediately."
Kazuki replied expressionlessly, looking every bit like an overworked salaryman dragging himself to the office on a Monday morning.
His inner resentment practically soared through the roof.
The ANBU member across from him shivered inexplicably, giving Kazuki a strange look before apparently deciding it wasn't worth pursuing. "Whatever. Just remember to bring this with you."
He handed over a mask.
The white porcelain mask bore the image of an owl painted in black ink.
So this mask means I'm being officially assigned missions as an ANBU operative now?
Kazuki accepted the mask, secured it to his face, and departed in silence.
Hokage's Office
Knock knock knock!
After a brief series of knocks, Kazuki entered. "Lord Hokage, Owl reporting as ordered."
"Ah, excellent timing, Owl."
The Third Hokage sat behind his desk, pipe in hand, with a thick stack of documents piled beside him. Seeing Kazuki enter, he rubbed his temples wearily. "I've already heard Fugaku's account of last night's events. Can you tell me how exactly you detected that intruder?"
So this is about Black Zetsu.
Kazuki understood immediately. He replied carefully, "Reporting to Lord Hokage—it was the Sharingan. Perhaps because I specialize in genjutsu, I'm particularly sensitive to unusual chakra signatures."
"The Sharingan, I see..."
The Third Hokage fell into contemplative silence, his fingers drumming lightly against the desk.
This entire affair was deeply suspicious, making him wonder who might be orchestrating events behind the scenes. Especially at such a sensitive and crucial time—the Hokage election was drawing in more players by the day, and even Danzo was growing impatient.
"Of all times, it had to happen now."
The Third Hokage groaned, pressing his throbbing temples. He casually retrieved two reports from his desk drawer. "These are the mission reports Jiraiya and Orochimaru submitted this morning. Read them, then tell me your thoughts."
Kazuki didn't actually need to read the reports—he already knew the outcome perfectly well.
Although Orochimaru hadn't managed to capture Black Zetsu, he had used a sealing technique to steal approximately half of Black Zetsu's cellular matter, intending to conduct secret research on it later.
Frankly, this result didn't surprise him at all.
After all, that was Black Zetsu—born directly from Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's own body. He certainly possessed considerable survival abilities.
However, in front of the Third Hokage, Kazuki needed to maintain his performance.
The reports were essentially identical, with one crucial difference: Orochimaru had deliberately concealed the fact that he'd stolen Black Zetsu's cells, as well as any information regarding Black Zetsu's true identity and ancient origins.
Closing the report, Kazuki pretended to consider carefully before speaking. "Lord Hokage, I believe this may be a spy sent from another village with multiple objectives—seizing the Uchiha clan's Sharingan bloodline limit, stirring up internal conflicts within Konoha, and then launching a full-scale war while we're at our weakest."
His speculation was deliberately crafted based on future plot developments, combined with the current chaotic political situation within the village.
As for exposing Black Zetsu's true identity?
Only an idiot would do that. Prematurely revealing that creature's real nature would completely destroy his advantage of knowing future events.
Even worse, to preserve the timeline, who knows if the Sage of Six Paths—currently hiding in the Pure Land—might decide to intervene directly?
As a knowledgeable observer from another world, one could appropriately guide events, but never tear up the script entirely.
"Hmm... you make an excellent point."
After considering this theory, the Third Hokage gave him an approving look, then flicked ash from his pipe and exhaled a cloud of smoke. "However, I'm concerned about something else entirely."
"Something else?" Kazuki was genuinely surprised.
"Precisely. That's why I summoned you here specifically."
The Third Hokage reached into his drawer and withdrew an ancient scroll, handing it across the desk.
The scroll was clearly very old—covered in dust and showing obvious signs of age and deterioration, indicating it hadn't been well-preserved over the years.
"'The Warring States Period: Sealed History Records'?"
Kazuki stared at the faded characters on the scroll's surface, his confusion deepening. "Lord Hokage, what exactly is this?"
"This scroll contains records of dangerous individuals who were sealed away by the founding clans of Konoha during the Warring States era."
The Third Hokage set his pipe aside and crossed his arms, his brow furrowed deeply with concern. "Originally, I had almost forgotten this scroll even existed. But the creature that appeared last night suddenly reminded me of it."
"You're suggesting that intruder might be one of these dangerous individuals sealed away during the Warring States Period?" Kazuki feigned appropriate surprise.
He genuinely hadn't expected that his improvised manipulation of Black Zetsu would lead to this unexpected discovery.
The Warring States Period: Sealed History Records—this artifact never appeared in the original story, nor was there any mention of dangerous individuals being sealed away during that era.
"Based on Jiraiya and Orochimaru's mission reports, it's highly probable," the Third Hokage said gravely. "Individuals skilled in advanced Yin Release techniques are extraordinarily rare in the modern shinobi world. While it's certainly possible they're a spy from another village, I suspect they might also be a dangerous entity sealed away by our ancestors generations ago."
"I understand your concern."
Kazuki had already roughly guessed what mission the Third Hokage intended to assign him. "You want me to verify whether these ancient seals still exist, according to the locations recorded on this scroll?"
"Precisely. Only you possess the skills necessary to complete this mission successfully."
The Third Hokage gave him another approving look. "Although the Warring States Period was long ago and those sealed individuals may well be dead by now, we still need to verify the seals' integrity to be absolutely certain."
"Understood, Lord Hokage."
Kazuki readily accepted the assignment. "I will personally inspect each seal according to the locations marked on this scroll."
"This is classified as an S-rank mission."
The Third Hokage picked up his pipe again and took a long drag, smoke billowing around him like morning mist. "Therefore, I've arranged for someone to accompany you as backup. They're waiting for you at the village gates."
"Yes, Lord Hokage. I'll prepare for immediate departure and meet with them."
Kazuki carefully secured the scroll containing the seal locations, a hint of mockery flickering in his eyes behind the ANBU mask.
He talks about 'backup,' but really, isn't this just surveillance?
Then again, thinking about it rationally, this was completely predictable. Given Hiruzen Sarutobi's personality, how could he possibly send a single Uchiha operative alone on such an important and sensitive mission?
Politics is an art form... but unfortunately, Hiruzen Sarutobi only ever learned the basics.
Kazuki departed from the Hokage's office, clutching the ancient scroll in his hand. A slight, predatory smile played across his lips beneath the owl mask.
"The sealed history of the Warring States Period, hmm?"
His eyes gleamed with calculation and dark amusement.
"How very interesting. Now let me think... how exactly should I use this to my advantage?"
[End of Chapter 17]
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