Chapter 124: Tobirama: Danzo is Officially on My List
"WHOAAAAA!!!"
The roar of the Academy children was deafening, a shockwave of pure excitement
that rattled the stadium rafters.
Under Hiruzen's "managed" propaganda, the Leaf's students didn't think they were
weak, but they were convinced that every other village was populated by
monsters. They lacked even a shred of complacency; they were always hunting for
their own flaws.
When Mei Terumi and Yuki had showcased their Elemental Fusions, a wave of
anxiety had swept through the "Azure Dragon Study Group."
Kekkei Genkai of that type were rare and inherently superior in raw versatility.
Konoha had the Great Clans—the Sharingan, the Byakugan, the Aburame insects—but
they lacked a natural Elemental Fusion (Chakra-Nature Transformation) bloodline.
No one in the Leaf could naturally merge two elements into a third.
In the kids' minds, having the "Eyes of God" and the "Teleportation of the
Second" wasn't enough to handle the "outside world's storms." They felt
incomplete.
But Hiruzen's Ice Style had just plugged that hole in their collective psyche.
Technically, Ice Style didn't add much to Hiruzen's already god-tier combat kit,
but for the children, it was the final piece of the puzzle. It meant Konoha had
everything.
"LORD HOKAGE! LORD HOKAGE!"
The chanting echoed through the arena. Every student stared at Hiruzen with eyes
full of literal stars. It wasn't just that he used Ice Style; it was the scale.
Compared to the massive "Glacial Paradise" Hiruzen had manifested, young Yuki's
ice pillars looked like ice cubes in a glass of water.
"Dad! How did you do that?!" Asuma sprinted over, his face glowing with a pride
that eclipsed his usual rebellion. Having a father who was the Hokage was one
thing, but having a father who could build a crystalline theme park with a wave
of his hand? That was "Face" on a legendary level.
Danzo Shimura flickered to Hiruzen's side. He had a thousand questions, but he
couldn't find the words. He couldn't exactly scream, "Why didn't you tell me you
were secretly mastering S-rank bloodline fusions while I was busy doing your
paperwork?!"
If he did that, he'd look like a jealous subordinate. He had to maintain the
"Assistant's" dignity, even if he wanted to scream.
"Wait, I thought our clan specialized in Fire Style?" Asuma asked, shaking
Hiruzen's arm.
"Lord Hokage..." Yuki, the Mist boy, stammered, stepping forward. "Is your
lineage... are you related to the Yuki Clan of the Land of Water?"
In Yuki's world, blood was law. Even the most powerful master of his clan could
only produce a park that size by pushing their chakra to the breaking point. But
Hiruzen looked like he hadn't even started his engine. He hadn't even gathered
chakra visibly; he had woven a few perfunctory signs and reality had simply bent
to his will.
Yuki suspected Hiruzen could use No-Sign Ice Style. It was a level of mastery
that shouldn't exist in a "Commoner."
"Nonsense! My father is a pure-blooded Sarutobi! My grandfather was the
legendary Sasuke Sarutobi!" Asuma barked, glaring at the Mist boy. "Our line has
been rooted in the Land of Fire for five hundred years! We don't have 'Mist'
blood!"
Yuki bowed 90 degrees in an instant. "My apologies! I meant no offense! I've
just never seen a master learn Ice Style as a secondary discipline. Please,
forgive my ignorance!"
He was terrified. In the Mist, insulting a Kage's lineage was a death sentence.
Even if he was a guest, he knew the Bloody Mist rules: the strong don't need
excuses to kill the weak.
He had seen Nakamaro Kaguya—the clan's strongest brat—get crushed by a one-armed
street guard. If the guards were that strong, what was the Hokage?
I came here for an exchange, Yuki thought, his head spinning. But this feels
more like a survival mission.
"Relax, lad. It was a fair question," Hiruzen said, ruffling Asuma's hair.
"As for you, Asuma—don't go shouting about your grandfather every day. Heritage
is good, but you are a Leaf shinobi first. We are defined by our bonds, not just
our birth."
Asuma preened under the attention. "Don't worry, Dad. I only do it to outsiders!
To my friends, I'm just Asuma. Right, Seisui-nii?"
Tobirama (as Seisui) gave a stiff, awkward nod.
Hiruzen smirked. Asuma is unknowingly acting as my 'Social Envoy.' By having the
Hokage's son and the 'Uchiha Genius' be best friends with everyone, the gap
between the clans and the commoners is evaporating. No one can act arrogant when
the Kage's kid is treating them like equals.
"You four, come here," Hiruzen beckoned to the Mist delegation.
With a wave of his hand, more ice sculptures erupted from the ground—lifelike
animals and lush vegetation that turned the park into a high-fantasy landscape.
Danzo's heart sank. The control... he's not just using the element; he's
'sculpting' it with spiritual energy. He must have been training this for years
in secret. Cunning, treacherous Monkey!
Terumi Mei and the others approached, their posture radiating a new level of
respect. They were from the Bloody Mist; they only understood the language of
power. And Hiruzen was speaking it fluently.
"I know the sudden shift in your mission is jarring," Hiruzen said warmly. "But
while you're here, treat Konoha like your second home. Elder Genji tells me you
have no 'extra' duties. That's fine."
"The Leaf believes in the potential of the youth. You'll spar with our students,
you'll eat our food, and you'll attend our seminars."
"Once a month, one of our High Commissioners—our elite Jonin—gives a guest
lecture. I suggest you attend. If you feel like sharing your own insights into
the Mist's styles, we'd welcome it. We're all students of the shinobi way, after
all."
Mei was stunned. Food? Guest lectures from S-rank masters? Free access to
facilities? Is this a village or a paradise?
"Lord Hokage, you don't need to give us special treatment," Kisame Hoshigaki
spoke up, his voice a low, raspy rumble. "We are Mist shinobi. We are built for
hardship. We aren't here for a vacation."
Hiruzen looked at the shark-like boy and tilted his head. "Hardship is a tool
for growth, Kisame. But a tool that is never polished eventually rusts."
"In Konoha, we provide the resources so our people can focus on the training,
not the survival. Tell me... is it different where you come from?"
Kisame went silent.
In the Mist, if you wanted a high-level scroll or a meal that wasn't gray, you
had to kill for it or join a faction. The idea of a village providing
"standardized excellence" to everyone was a logic that his "Zero-Sum" brain
couldn't process.
He's lying, Kisame decided. Konoha must be exploiting their veterans to pay for
these kids. No system can be this 'kind' without a victim.
"You two, any problems?" Hiruzen asked, looking at Nakamaro Kaguya, who was
staring at Asuma with a dazed expression.
Nakamaro turned pale. He remembered the "One-Armed Demon" (En Uchiha) and the
Genjutsu that felt like a thousand years of torture. "N-no, sir! No problems! We
are honored to be here!"
Asuma offered a hand to Nakamaro. "We're teammates for the year, right? Let's
make it a good one."
Nakamaro looked at the hand, then at Hiruzen. He took it. The "Kaguya Madness"
was currently being suppressed by the overwhelming "Will of Fire" pressure.
Later, after the guests had departed.
"Hiruzen, enough with the games," Danzo snapped. "How did you master Ice Style?
And why did you hide it from me?"
The "Azure Dragon Study Group" kids, including Seisui, had crept closer to
listen.
Tobirama (Seisui) was particularly interested. He had tried to master elemental
fusion for decades and failed. I have seven natures, yet I couldn't bridge the
gap. How did Saru do it?
"It's actually quite simple, Danzo," Hiruzen said, lighting his pipe. "I just
merged Water and Wind chakra."
"I was 'casually' practicing nature transformation, and I had a bit of luck."
Danzo's face turned purple. "Luck? YOU'RE TROLLING ME!"
Hiruzen laughed, patting Danzo's shoulder. "But honestly, that's the reality.
You have to have a deep sensitivity to the 'First Principles' of the elements."
Hiruzen held up five fingers, each tip glowing with a different elemental
chakra.
"Nature is both a lock and a key. If you don't have the bloodline, you have to
'Simulate' the environment through sheer micro-control. I saw young Yuki use his
Ice Style, I felt the 'Lattice Structure' of his chakra, and I caught the
'Spark' I was missing."
"I've been studying Lord Tobirama's notes on the subject. He proposed that with
enough repetition and a 'Reference Material,' a human brain could eventually
rewire itself to accept the fusion."
Tobirama (as Seisui) nodded instinctively.
Good lad! Tobirama thought. You're finally giving me some credit!
But then Tobirama's eyes narrowed. He got a weird feeling.
Wait... is he using 'My Notes' as an excuse for his own freakish growth? Or is
he mocking the fact that I spent my life researching this and never pulled it
off?
He remembered the look Hiruzen gave him in the vault.
He's definitely mocking me, Tobirama realized. He's 'Humble-Bragging' about his
talent by using my failed theories as a springboard. Cunning Monkey!
"Master Tobirama's wisdom is like a mountain spring," Hiruzen mused aloud,
looking directly at Seisui. "The more you drink, the more refreshed you feel. I
often feel my own talent is lacking when compared to his 'Nuclear-Powered'
mind."
Tobirama kept his face blank, but his heart felt a rare bit of satisfaction. At
least he knows who the real boss is.
"I've learned a lot from his spirit," Hiruzen added. "It's his resolve that
keeps me grinding at 4:00 AM."
Danzo scowled. "Master Tobirama was a man of iron and shadow! He wouldn't
approve of you turning the village into a park! He would have approved of my
Root!"
Tobirama's gaze shifted to Danzo.
Root? You mean the 'Kidnapping and Extortion' club you were running?
And you claim that was 'My Will'?
Tobirama mentally "Marked" Danzo.
Hiruzen might be a silver-tongued troll, but he's actually building a village,
Tobirama thought. Danzo, you're just a low-tier mimic who misinterpreted my
pragmatism for sociopathy.
I'm going to have to 'Correct' you very thoroughly during our upcoming
'Discipleship,' Danzo. You wanted a student? You're getting a nightmare.
"Anyway," Hiruzen said, breaking the tension. "Danzo, stop complaining. We have
the Konoha Orphanage to build, and the Uchiha just donated a fortune to the
cause."
"Seisui, go play with your brothers. I'll see you at the Grand Meeting tonight."
Hiruzen waved them off, leaning back in his chair as the sun set over the
crystalline park.
Stat check, Arata thought. [Education] is Maxed. [Prestige] is Overflowing. Time
to see what the 'Master' does with the Uchiha's soul.
☆☆☆
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