One missing clone. One reckless night. And one conversation that could shake Konoha's balance.
Late at night, Hoshishita Shu finally stopped training to rest. One by one, his clones ran out of chakra and dispelled.
But then he noticed something.
He was missing a clone.
"…No way."
Shu's eyelid twitched violently.
Don't tell me the missing one went mentally unstable and slipped off instead of training.
And if it did… What was it doing right now?
Don't tell me it ran off to assassinate the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Or worse—went straight for Danzo.
Cold sweat broke out across Shu's back.
He hurriedly formed seals to dispel the clone.
…
Konoha's bustling night market was alive with noise and light. The wide street overflowed with people, lively and crowded.
Shu's clone strolled along with both hands clasped behind his head, wearing an absurdly relaxed expression.
"Training, training—always training… I finally get another life, and I'm not allowed to enjoy it even a little?"
"And this is supposed to be a hot-blooded teenage body?"
"Danzo's washed his brain into mush."
As he complained to himself, the clone's gaze lingered—far too long—on a certain generously endowed passerby.
Now this… this was living.
With great reluctance, he tore his eyes away and walked into a bathhouse.
Half an hour later, he emerged looking refreshed, yet vaguely dissatisfied.
No mixed bathing?
Terrible service.
He swaggered down the street, scanning both sides for a tavern. A drink would be nice—something light.
Even better if there were companions to pour the sake.
He remembered Jiraiya enjoying that sort of hospitality in the Land of Rain.
Surely Konoha had something similar.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, the clone's eyes lit up.
A prize.
No—Tsunade.
And with her were Jiraiya and Orochimaru.
The three of them were drinking inside an izakaya.
What a coincidence.
The clone smiled, thoughts already racing.
"To stand with one foot in darkness and one in light… Tsunade is the perfect stepping stone."
"If I win her over, I'll be the man closest to the Hokage seat."
Without hesitation, he walked into the izakaya.
As for whether he would expose his identity—
That didn't even cross his mind.
Besides, Tsunade's group wouldn't recognize who he used to be.
And right now he appeared as "A."
He wouldn't be exposed anytime soon.
He strode straight up to Tsunade and sat beside her. Across the table sat Jiraiya and Orochimaru.
Tsunade turned, frowning.
Jiraiya looked confused.
Orochimaru's gaze sharpened.
The clone smiled and greeted them lightly.
"Everyone. It's been a long time."
The moment he spoke, Jiraiya's eyes widened in realization.
"It's you!"
The clone nodded.
"It's me. A."
Tsunade studied him.
"I didn't expect you to be this young. 'A' is only a codename."
"If you're not using Root's identity, then using your real name would be basic courtesy, wouldn't it?"
The clone met her eyes with complete seriousness.
"A Root operative's identity doesn't change just because I change my appearance."
"Just like a shinobi of Konoha doesn't stop being Konoha's shinobi—doesn't stop protecting the village—simply because they remove their mask or their forehead protector."
His gaze was too intense.
Tsunade reflexively looked away.
Jiraiya immediately spoke up.
"Hey—outside of missions, using your real name isn't a big deal, is it?"
The clone shook his head.
"Once a shinobi enters Root, they must forget their name."
"We become nameless guardians in the shadows."
"Or to put it another way… our codenames become our new names."
Orochimaru chuckled.
"Indeed. A name is merely a label. A label can be a name."
The clone smiled faintly. His eyes flicked to the sake cups in front of them.
"Mind buying me a drink?"
Tsunade looked him up and down.
"Are you even old enough to drink?"
The clone casually picked up Tsunade's cup and drained it in one swallow.
"I'm sixteen."
He set it down with a matter-of-fact expression.
"More importantly… I'm only a clone."
Tsunade and Jiraiya froze.
Tsunade because he had simply taken her cup.
Jiraiya because she hadn't punched him through the wall for it.
Orochimaru watched him with growing interest.
This Root operative was… amusing.
Tsunade frowned, waved for a server, and had a fresh cup brought over. Then she asked, tone lazy but eyes sharp,
"If you're just a clone, why are you here?"
The clone grinned.
"My original is training very hard."
"I'm here to relax in his place."
Jiraiya stared blankly.
…That was even possible?
Wasn't it usually the opposite—clones doing the work while the original slacked off?
And this man's personality… compared to the one who had shown up earlier wearing a mask, it felt like a completely different person.
Jiraiya glanced at the clone, then at Tsunade, and felt a creeping unease.
This guy hadn't come here for no reason.
The clone poured everyone a fresh round of sake and asked Tsunade,
"Tsunade, you're a medical-nin. You should know the human body better than anyone, right?"
Tsunade leaned on her hand.
"I'm average."
She said "average," but the faint pride in her voice betrayed her.
The clone's gaze lingered on her face as he continued,
"Have you heard of a Takigakure secret technique—Earth Grudge Fear?"
"Earth Grudge Fear?"
Tsunade thought carefully, then shook her head.
"No. Never heard of it."
Jiraiya and Orochimaru both turned more attentive.
The clone asked again,
"Then have you heard of a man named Kakuzu?"
"He once attempted to assassinate the First Hokage."
Assassinate the First Hokage?
All three of them paused.
Orochimaru considered it for a moment.
"I believe I've seen that name in the bingo book. S-rank."
Jiraiya muttered,
"If he tried to assassinate the First… then his age should be…"
"He ought to be retired by now."
The clone spoke evenly.
"He really is from that era. His age is… extreme."
"But after his failed attempt on the First Hokage, his village betrayed him."
"So he stole Takigakure's treasured secret—Earth Grudge Fear."
"That technique allows him to steal other people's hearts."
"To extend his lifespan."
"And to keep himself in his prime."
Tsunade's expression tightened.
"A vile technique… that would explain why he's survived for so long."
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the clone.
"A. Did Root take Kakuzu down?"
The clone didn't answer. He continued, unhurried,
"Using stolen hearts to prolong life is only one aspect."
"Earth Grudge Fear also allows the user to gain the chakra nature transformations of the hearts they possess."
Orochimaru's gaze sharpened.
"Five hearts… meaning Kakuzu has five nature transformations."
The clone gave no reaction.
"Five hearts correspond to five nature transformations."
"And aside from the main body, the other four hearts can separate from him to fight independently—or in coordination."
"They can operate in any terrain."
Tsunade and Jiraiya both grew grim.
Five nature transformations.
A shinobi from the First Hokage's era.
Battle experience beyond measure.
Someone like that would be terrifying.
And in that moment, the same person surfaced in all their minds—
Their teacher.
The current Third Hokage…
Hiruzen Sarutobi.
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