(T/N: Please consider reviewing this Fanfic, Thanks, and appreciate all who support me)
(T/N: Enjoy!!)
<><><><><><>
"Wood Release... Shuuzawa?"
Everyone stared at the sharp wooden spikes protruding from Shuuzawa's arm and the vines constantly assisting him in battle. Their minds buzzed with confusion.
No one could make sense of the situation, as what they witnessed was beyond belief.
"Yamato, you—" The Third Hokage quickly regained his composure. He glanced at Shuuzawa, then Uchiha Obito, who also seemed to be using Wood Release.
Without hesitation, he turned to Yamato, who appeared just as stunned.
"Lord Hokage, it is indeed Wood Release," Yamato muttered in a hushed voice. "And not just Shuuzawa—Obito, the rogue ninja from Konoha, is using it as well."
"Wood Release..." Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression darkened, his eyes flickering with restrained anger.
Wood Release was Konoha's symbol, a power belonging to the village. Yet now, it seemed as though just anyone could use it.
Yamato's case was understandable. Orochimaru had chosen him as a child, was subjected to experiments, and was the only survivor.
But Shuuzawa? How could he use Wood Release? Had Danzo been conducting secret experiments again?
"Or was this related to his recent visits to the medical corps, where he mentioned irregularities in his chakra?" Hiruzen's sharp instincts picked up on the key detail.
More investigation was needed. Still, Shuuzawa wielding Wood Release was not necessarily bad—he was one of their own. But Obito?
"Lord Hokage, we should assist Shuuzawa," Yamato spoke again.
"His Wood Release seems unrefined, as if he is relying purely on instinct. Yet, his Wood Release appears stronger than mine."
"Instinct... and stronger than yours?" Hiruzen eyed Yamato with curiosity. He could not use Wood Release, so this was beyond his expertise.
"Yes, Shuuzawa's Wood Release surpasses mine." Yamato lowered his voice and quickly explained.
"But his Wood Release has an unusual aura... something unique. It's as if his Wood Release is alive. This sensation is entirely different from mine. Moreover, it doesn't seem like he's controlling it—rather, the power is acting on its own."
"Alive yet uncontrolled?" Hiruzen's eyes gleamed with realization.
"Prepare to move in and support him." He waved his hand, then added, "The Uchiha are not our enemies. The enemy is Uchiha Obito—mark that well!"
He had already noticed Shisui, who appeared to be preparing something. There was no mistaking the situation.
"Yes, Lord Hokage!" The surrounding shinobi responded in unison. However, just then, the battle took another turn.
"Damn it!" Obito's frustration was reaching its peak. He had not expected Shigenari Shuuzawa to be this troublesome.
The Flying Thunder God Technique alone was a major headache, but at least it wasn't entirely unheard of.
His former teacher, Namikaze Minato, had mastered it and even marked him with a seal. That was already a problem, but could this brat use Wood Release, too?
"Is he an experiment? Or perhaps a descendant of the Senju?" Obito couldn't figure it out, but there was no time for contemplation.
He continuously phased between reality and the Kamui dimension, attacking and evading simultaneously while considering retreat.
If the battle dragged on, he would gain nothing. Shuuzawa was like a flea, constantly dodging with the Flying Thunder God.
Worse, since he was already marked, he was vulnerable to sudden attacks.
Even his Wood Release defenses were unreliable—it wasn't his primary technique, and he wasn't highly proficient with it.
"And then there's Shisui... he's up to something as well." Obito hadn't forgotten about him. Just thinking about Shisui filled him with rage.
He had talked and reasoned endlessly, yet Shuuzawa's few words seemed to carry more weight in the end.
"Are you planning to run?" Shuuzawa's voice cut through the battlefield.
"Well, that makes sense. The Third Hokage is here with reinforcements, and you can't do anything to me. So, like any rat, scurrying away is the logical choice."
"Shut up!" Obito's eyes burned with fury. He couldn't stand hearing Shuuzawa speak. Every word from this brat made his anger surge uncontrollably for some reason.
"Admit it. You're nothing more than a sewer rat." Shuuzawa kept pressing forward, his face alight with a smirk.
By now, the ANBU had surrounded the battlefield, sealing any escape routes.
The Third Hokage stepped forward, now clad in his battle armor rather than his ceremonial robes.
Even the Uchiha had arrived. Their compound was nearby, so they had surely sensed the commotion long ago.
"Or rather, you're just a pathetic fool who fell into darkness because of Kakashi and Nohara Rin, forever running from reality."
"I said shut up!" Obito roared. His attacks became more ferocious, yet his sharp gaze reflected his surroundings.
He had already spotted Kakashi in the crowd—and what he saw made his heart stop.
"His Mangekyo...?" Obito's pupils contracted as he realized space was distorted. His expression changed drastically.
"Damn it! That eye—"
"Now, Shisui!" Shuuzawa sensed the spatial disturbance as well. The markings of the Flying Thunder God became clearer, signaling the perfect moment.
He teleported to Yuugao's side. "Senpai, lend me your blade."
He unsheathed Yuugao's short sword and immediately reappeared in front of Obito.
He dared not get too close—if he got sucked into Kamui, he would have to rely on Kakashi to save him, and he had no intention of letting that happen.
"Kotoamatsukami: Destruction!"
Shisui had been preparing for this moment all along. In an instant, his eyes brimmed with an eerie power. An invisible force surged toward Obito, pulling him into an illusion.
A massive sun bore Shisui's Mangekyo pattern within his mind, radiating an overwhelming, scorching light. It felt as though his very existence was about to be incinerated.
"Ahh!" Obito let out a pained groan. At that moment, Shuuzawa's short sword flashed. Obito's mask was cleaved in two with a single slash, revealing his face to every ninja present.
"Well, hello there, Uchiha Obito. Also, you're really ugly."
.....
-Late at night, inside the Hokage's office-
"Don't be so reckless next time. The village is full of your comrades."
"I understand, Lord Hokage."
"And you, Shisui, when encountering criminals like this, it's best to send a signal flare immediately rather than handling it alone."
"My apologies, Lord Hokage."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the two before him and shook his head helplessly, yet within that helplessness. There was a trace of a smile.
As for what exactly that mixture of emotions meant, perhaps only he knew. "But it's a shame. That criminal still managed to escape."
"Lord Hokage, he most likely used the Uchiha's secret technique, Izanagi. That would explain how he avoided a fatal blow and managed to flee."
Upon hearing this, Shisui spoke without hesitation, offering an immediate explanation. Shuuzawa, standing beside him, twitched his lips together.
This guy dares to say anything. No wonder he was bold enough to reveal his own Kotoamatsukami.
Konoha was already aware of Izanagi and even had records of it. That was the only reason no one had reacted too strongly.
But if Shisui had openly revealed the ability of his Mangekyō Sharingan, Danzo would have been the first to come knocking!
The battle had ended, and Uchiha Obito had escaped.
As for that, Shuuzawa truly had no way to stop him. Shisui's move was likely a finishing technique from Kotoamatsukami, meant to erase Obito's consciousness.
Unfortunately, if there was one thing Obito excelled at, it was survival and escape.
With Black Zetsu assisting him in the shadows, stopping him was nearly impossible.
Just as Obito fell into a daze and Shuuzawa's attack shattered his mask, a massive tree suddenly erupted, forcing Shuuzawa to dodge immediately.
At that moment, he distinctly sensed a surge of chakra. Simultaneously, the Flying Thunder God marking the scene shifted to another location.
Shuuzawa instantly understood—Obito had most likely activated Izanagi and escaped into Kamui.
"Was that something he set up in advance, or did Black Zetsu do it for him?"
Shuuzawa recalled that during the chaotic battle of the Four Mangekyō Sharingan users in the manga and anime, one of them used Izanagi to resurrect himself and his subordinates, making it one of the most broken abilities ever.
Of course, it was also possible that Obito, ever cautious, had prepared Izanagi beforehand, allowing it to activate automatically when his consciousness faltered.
With the battle over, a report was necessary. Shuuzawa noticed that Shisui seemed troubled, as if he was reluctant to reveal what Obito had said.
After all, this involved Danzo and Konoha's higher-ups. Shisui glanced at Shuuzawa several times, hesitating as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.
Seeing this, Shuuzawa decided to smooth things over. During his report, he stated that he had sensed a faint Flying Thunder God mark following Shisui from the beginning, so he had tailed him.
When Shisui encountered Uchiha Obito, he immediately engaged in battle, and Shuuzawa stepped in to assist.
Sarutobi Hiruzen listened but did not press further, demonstrating his trust in his subordinates. Besides, a more pressing question had been troubling him.
"That man… Why was he able to use Wood Release? And Shuuzawa, you—"
"Lord Hokage, I don't know why I can use Wood Release either." Shuuzawa shook his head firmly and looked confused.
"During our fight, I suddenly felt a surge of chakra from within him, and his chakra seemed to resonate with mine and the moment he used Wood Release, I somehow felt like… I could do it too."
As he spoke, Shuuzawa stretched out his hand. With a slight movement of his chakra, a sharp wooden spike sprouted from his palm instantly!
The spike carried a unique chakra signature. Before, it might have been unnoticeable, but at this moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen could sense it.
"This feeling… Is this what Yamato described, the aura of life?" Sarutobi Hiruzen muttered to himself. This Wood Release was distinctly different from Yamato's.
A thought solidified in his mind. "This boy… Could he be from the Senju Clan?"
It was a known fact that the Senju Clan could naturally awaken Wood Release.
However, the Senju had long since scattered throughout Konoha, and their family names had been deliberately erased to eliminate divisions between shinobi clans and civilians.
Thus, the possibility of Shuuzawa being a Senju descendant was extremely high!
"A naturally awakened Wood Release…" Sarutobi Hiruzen felt overwhelming joy.
This boy was full of surprises! At first, he thought he had found an outstanding ANBU operative. Then, he believed he had discovered the next Namikaze Minato.
But now… It seemed this boy had skipped over his sensei entirely and was heading straight toward the First Hokage's level?!
"Danzo… Thank you!"
He forced himself to remain calm, knowing there would be complications ahead. Danzo would undoubtedly be relentless, and Hiruzen needed to investigate Shuuzawa further.
He had already reviewed Shuuzawa's file, but now, he felt he needed to examine it in greater detail—perhaps even look into his ancestry!
Of course, if nothing could be found, that was fine. War orphans often had little recorded history. But as long as Shuuzawa belonged to Konoha, that was all that mattered!
"I understand." Suppressing his excitement, Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded seriously.
"I will provide you with all the materials on Wood Release. For now, train with Kakashi and refrain from taking missions."
"Wait, this—" Shuuzawa looked a bit embarrassed. This wasn't what he had in mind.
"Also, I will summon Tsunade back to the village." Before Shuuzawa could refuse, Sarutobi Hiruzen continued.
"Since Uchiha Obito possesses Wood Release, this is a serious matter. Tsunade's expertise is needed to investigate.
Moreover, there may be a connection between you and her, making things easier in the future."
Shuuzawa scoffed internally. What connection? He highly doubted that. Still, having Tsunade return was a good thing.
Those… assets of hers, he had long been curious to admire them up close.
"And Shisui, you must also be careful with your eyes." After finishing with Shuuzawa, Sarutobi Hiruzen turned his gaze to Shisui.
"You are a genius, and you have brought me countless surprises. But I want your talents to last. Serve Konoha well. To protect your eyes. If you're willing, I want you to remain in the village like Shuuzawa."
"Of course, if—"
"Lord Hokage, I am willing to stay with Shuuzawa." Shisui answered without hesitation.
He understood the immense trouble his eyes could bring. Many sought his power within the Uchiha clan, from Danzo to the village's upper echelons.
That was why he had kept his abilities hidden. But now, things were different. Staying close to the Third Hokage might help him understand Danzo better.
Of course, Shuuzawa had no time for such deep thoughts. His attention was fixed entirely on his system panel.
[Mission Completed: Repel Konoha's Invader]
[Mission Rating: S]
[Reward: 4 Free Points]
[Hidden Mission Completed: Expose Uchiha Obito (3)]
[Mission Rating: A]
[Reward: 5 Free Points]
[Due to completing a Hidden Mission with an A rating, a special reward has been granted]
[Yin-Yang Release Training Insight]
If you want to support me, join my patr**on. Have 20 advanced Chapters for you guys.
patr**n.com/saitamablast > NTS NOVEL TIER (PLEASE DONT SUBS THROUGH IOS PLATFORM)