161-165

Chapter 181: Life Born from Death  

The wall lamps cast a harsh glare, making the glass columns shimmer like fractured rainbows.  

The sea of emerald leaves rippled as Samehada clamped its jagged maw around a thick branch. A wet, slurping noise echoed through the sealed chamber—like a starved man devouring noodles. The viscous green chakra surged into its gullet, thick as porridge.  

CRACK!  

Before Samehada could finish its meal, Hikari yanked it free, leaping down from the tree. Dust billowed as her feet hit the stone floor.  

"What?! What happened?!" Tsubaki, dozing against the glass column, jolted awake.  

"Sorry. Emergency. Go back to sleep." Hikari waved dismissively, already sprinting for the exit, Samehada slung over her shoulder. If not for the barrier seals, she’d have blasted through the walls.  

"How am I supposed to sleep NOW?!" Tsubaki’s shout chased after her, more exasperated than angry.  

Over the past weeks, they’d grown familiar enough that Tsubaki knew—Hikari wouldn’t bolt like this without reason.  

But her nap was ruined.  

WHOOSH—  

The barrier’s intricate patterns dissolved at her approach. Hikari vaulted up the stairs, bursting into the lab. Nurses and researchers scrambled aside, their whispers trailing her:  

"Is it true Lord Danzō’s retiring?" 

"They say she’s taking over Root…"  

Rumors. Convenient rumors.  

Muta had worked fast.  

While Danzō secluded himself to master his new arm, Muta had been quietly reshaping Root’s narrative. Hikari as heir. Not just a lie—a foundation. When Danzō fell, legitimacy would matter.  

She blew past the guards, through twisting corridors, and finally—sunlight.  

Blinking against the glare, Hikari hesitated.  

Too bright.  

Root’s eternal darkness had made her a creature of shadows. Her skin prickled, instincts screaming to retreat underground. But she forced herself forward, orienting by the sun’s position.  

North. To the Forest of Death.  

CRACKLE—  

Lightning cloaked her body. The world blurred as she tore through the forest, trees shattering in her wake.  

Half a year.  

That’s how long she’d been in this world.  

From a hunted Kaguya orphan to the shadow ruler of Konoha’s underbelly. From a dying girl to the architect of her own immortality.  

And now—  

"Finally."  

Her lips curled. The wind howled, but it couldn’t drown the thunder of her pulse.  

The Forest of Death – Core Zone 

The stench hit first.  

Rot. Thick, cloying, wrong.  

Hikari slowed, Byakugan activating. The forest ahead was a graveyard.  

Dozens—no, hundreds—of animal corpses littered the ground. Boars with snake fangs jutting from their jaws. Wolves with antlers piercing their spines. A stag, its eye sockets blooming with needle-leaved vines, petals half-purple, half-crimson.  

Chimera horrors.  

All dead.  

All failed experiments.  

The further she went, the worse it got. The outer forest thrived—prey fleeing inward had overcrowded it. The middle zone was a feast for scavengers—crows fat as chickens, beetles gleaming like oil.  

But the core?  

Silence.  

Brittle grass crunched underfoot. Trees stood skeletal, bark sloughing off in gray sheets. No insects. No birds. Just fungus—pale, spongy growths devouring the deadwood.  

"You made a wasteland."  

Her main body sat atop a boulder, bathed in waterfall mist.  

Silver hair—longer now—streamed like liquid mercury. Skin luminous, veins tracing faint emerald paths beneath. And her eyes—  

Dead gray. Yet brighter than the sun.  

"Needed test subjects." The main body shrugged. "Humans would’ve been better. But animals… sufficed."  

The Reverse Eight Gates demanded life. Extract it. Filter it. Inject it. Repeat. Failures died—either drained dry or twisted by impurities.  

"Results?" the clone pressed.  

A smile. Slow. Hungry.  

"Perfect."  

She flexed her fingers. "The Sharingan’s ocular power simulates Hashirama’s cells—a synthetic Yin-Yang construct. The ‘Gates’ funnel pure life force. Every day, I grow stronger."  

Her voice dropped, giddy.  

"Teeth reforged. Hair regrown. Chakra seeds sprouting like saplings. Even the Byakugan… evolves."  

The clone stiffened. "Evolves? Into what?"  

"Not the Tenseigan." The main body chuckled. "This body’s still far from Ōtsutsuki purity. But…"  

She tapped her temple. "Why do you think our eyes are gray?"  

Chapter 182: Gray Eyes  

The Waterfall’s Secret 

The sky was clear, the breeze gentle. A thunderous waterfall crashed into the pool below, its mist refracting sunlight into a prism of colors.  

Drawn by the cool spray, a glossy black crow circled overhead before diving toward the water—only to freeze mid-flight.  

Buzz.  

The air warped.  

The waterfall, the pool, even the trees—split cleanly in half.  

Splat.  

The crow fell, severed head from body, its beady eyes neatly bisected.  

Hikari (Yang Clone) stepped aside, avoiding the blood. Arms crossed, she watched her true self lift a palm from atop the boulder, her expression unreadable.  

Embedded in that palm—a three-tomoe Sharingan, spinning like a crimson top.  

The crow’s twitching corpse convulsed, its life force wrung out like a rag. A translucent membrane of ocular chakra formed, mimicking a Hashirama cell, squeezing pure green vitality from the tainted remains.  

"This ‘impurity’…" The true Hikari clenched her fist, dispersing the black sludge left behind. "It’s a biological failsafe. A barrier against cross-species corruption."  

Her "Key" seal rotated.  

One of three metaphysical gates cracked open, absorbing the purified energy.  

"Hah…" She exhaled, savoring the replenishment.  

"So our Byakugan… is flawed?" The Yang Clone eyed her, suspicious. "Or are you just high on life?"  

"Not flawed." Hikari’s gray-white eyes gleamed. "Different."  

The Truth of the Ōtsutsuki 

"It’s not a Byakugan. Not a Tenseigan either."  

She tapped her temple. "Remember what Kurama said?"  

The Yang Clone recited: "‘The Byakugan is the origin of all intangible power. The Shikotsumyaku is the end of all tangible form. Hagoromo and Hamura’s natures were opposites—’"  

"Exactly." Hikari flexed her Sharingan-embedded palm. *"All Ōtsutsuki start with pure Byakugan. Only by consuming Chakra Fruit do they evolve Rinnegan—each with unique abilities."*  

Her voice dropped. "The Byakugan isn’t just an eye. It’s a seed. The Ōtsutsuki keep it because it’s the catalyst for infinite evolutions."  

The Yang Clone’s breath hitched.  

Kaguya’s Rinne-Sharingan. 

Isshiki’s Dōjutsu. 

Momoshiki’s Golden Byakugan.  

All grown from the same root.  

"Our ‘gray eyes’…" Hikari’s face split—two new sockets tearing open beneath her originals. Red eyes wriggled up her arms, nestling into the gaps.  

Four pupils stared.  

"‘Flesh Manipulation’… was never the Shikotsumyaku’s power."  

The Yang Clone gasped. "It’s the dōjutsu?!"  

Their signature ability—born from the eyes, not the bones.  

"A prototype," Hikari corrected. "The true power is still… gestating."  

"How long?"  

"Three to five years."  

"Ugh! I’ll be gone by then!" The Yang Clone groaned.  

The Third Hokage Arrives 

"Shh."  

Leaves rustled.  

Hikari’s gray irises flared, piercing the forest.  

A monolithic chakra source approached—a shadow moving faster than the wind.  

Black bodysuit. 

Flak jacket. 

The monkey-like agility of a man past his prime but still deadly.  

Sarutobi Hiruzen.  

The Yang Clone tensed. *"I’m in Root gear—!"*  

"Too late."  

The God of Shinobi landed on a branch, his gaze heavy.  

"Sensei." Hikari smiled. "Long time no see."  

Chapter 183: Master and Student Reunite  

Boom—!  

On the eastern edge of the Forest of Death, near an unremarkable cliff, a silver-white waterfall cascaded down the rugged rocks, its waters churning violently in the pool below. Fish with pale bellies thrashed helplessly in the turbulent currents.  

Within a half-mile radius of the pool—  

Withered grass and dead trees lay in decay. Fat crows, their heads severed from their bodies, littered the ground, black blood staining the earth.  

A faint breeze stirred the bent weeds, causing them to sway weakly. Thin metallic threads—silver and fluid-like—drifted in the wind, rippling like liquid mercury.  

A stunning silver-haired girl with gray eyes stepped down from a massive boulder, her white robes billowing. Beside her stood a shadowy figure clad in Root’s black cloak, a massive broadsword strapped to his back—her Yang Release clone. Together, they gazed at the distant figure perched on a tree branch: Sarutobi Hiruzen.  

"It’s been a while, Master Hiruzen!"  

When the girl with starlit eyes uttered the word "Master," for a brief moment, it felt foreign to Hiruzen.  

"Hikari!"  

His aged voice, weathered by time, barely suppressed his fury as he leaped down from the branch and slowly approached the pair.  

One in white, the other in black. 

One tall, the other short. 

One blindfolded, exuding murderous intent. 

The other, with piercing gray eyes, radiant as a deity.  

Staring at the two identical yet vastly different versions of Hikari, Hiruzen’s anger and shock were eclipsed by sheer confusion. Which one was truly his student? And—  

"What in the world are you doing?!"  

The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepened as he took in the grotesque corpses and withered vegetation around them. Had he not gone to deliver orphan support funds to Naruto this morning, he wouldn’t have known about the horrors unfolding in the Forest of Death.  

"Why did you come personally?" Hikari sidestepped his question, genuinely curious.  

This place was deep within the Forest of Death, far from prying eyes. Logically, the chances of exposure were slim—and even if discovered, with no casualties, it shouldn’t have warranted the Hokage’s direct intervention.  

Hiruzen scoffed.  

He hadn’t known about the anomalies until this morning. When he arrived at Naruto’s home, he found the Inuzuka, Nara, Akimichi, and Aburame kids already waiting outside—even Uchiha Sasuke was among them.  

All of them were clad in tight-fitting gear, their pouches bulging with tools. Sasuke even carried a giant shuriken and a coil of steel wire on his back—fully armed for battle.  

Realizing something was amiss, Hiruzen pressed them for answers. Reluctantly, they confessed.  

After the recent Kumogakure ambush, the Nara boy and his friends had become painfully aware of their own weakness—and the vast gap between them and Hikari. Now that she had left the academy to develop new jutsu, they feared being left behind. Driven by sheer anxiety, they began training in the Forest of Death every weekend, honing their skills against the wild beasts.  

But lately, the number of animals had drastically dwindled. Yesterday, they ventured deeper and stumbled upon grotesque, rotting carcasses—beasts that looked as if they had been surgically altered, their bodies twisted in unnatural ways.  

With nightfall approaching, Nara Shikamaru, ever cautious, decided against rash action. They agreed to regroup at dawn for a proper investigation.  

This morning, when Naruto failed to show up at the meeting point, they went to his house—only to find him still asleep, having stayed up too late in excitement.  

As they waited outside, Hiruzen arrived.  

Listening to their frantic descriptions of the forest’s horrors, he felt both pride (these kids were pushing themselves, inspired by Hikari’s relentless drive) and dread.  

The Forest of Death was no playground. Even seasoned genin struggled to survive its dangers. If these promising young shinobi had perished inside, the village would have been thrown into chaos.  

After sternly reprimanding them, Hiruzen considered sending ANBU to investigate—but the more he thought about it, the more uneasy he grew.  

Shikamaru’s descriptions didn’t match natural decay. Someone was clearly experimenting in the forest—possibly with forbidden Yin-Yang techniques.  

And then there was Hikari.  

She had recently borrowed medical and cursed seal texts under his authority, then vanished for nearly two months, claiming she was developing a new jutsu.  

The pieces fell into place.  

Unable to wait any longer, Hiruzen ventured into the forest alone—only to find his worst fears confirmed when he saw the familiar figure standing amidst the wasteland.  

Why?  

Why chase after forbidden secrets? Just like Danzō. Just like Orochimaru. And now—Hikari.  

Disappointment curdled into fury. His voice turned icy, the lines on his face hardening.  

"Answer me. What are you doing? Why are your eyes normal? Why are there two of you? Why is she wearing Root’s uniform? And why—" His voice rose to a roar, "—are you dabbling in forbidden jutsu?!"  

He couldn’t understand. With her talent, she could have become one of Konoha’s greatest shinobi through conventional means. Why align with Root? Why tread the same dark path as Orochimaru?  

She looked like his mirror image.  

"Master… I’m dying."  

Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, Hikari delivered the bombshell with eerie calm.  

Boom—!  

The waterfall’s roar drowned the sudden silence. Hiruzen’s anger faltered, his eyes widening.  

"You—"  

He scrutinized her. Her skin was flawless, her eyes bright, her vitality overwhelming. She looked anything but dying. If anything, he was the one closer to death’s door.  

The red haze of fury in his chakra dimmed, shifting into startled gray-blue doubt. Hikari knew she had successfully disrupted his emotional momentum.  

Break the chain of anger first. Then reason can follow.  

It was a principle of war—and of human nature. Rage blinded logic. But once the fire died, even the most infuriating truths became manageable.  

Now that she had his attention, Hikari continued smoothly.  

"Have you heard of Kekkei Genkai disease?"  

As the words left her lips, the storm in Hiruzen’s emotions eased further. If she had tried explaining while he was still furious, it would have only fueled his wrath. But now—  

"You… have Kekkei Genkai sickness?"  

Unaware that his emotions were laid bare before her, Hiruzen’s voice lost its edge.  

He knew what it was—a rare, incurable affliction that only struck elite shinobi with highly advanced bloodlines.  

And if anyone fit that description, it was Hikari.  

The shinobi world was mercilessly fair. Those who wielded great power young paid a steep price.  

Remembering how the First Hokage’s body had rotted from within due to his own Kekkei Genkai, Hiruzen found himself believing her.  

"The Kaguya clan’s Shikotsumyaku carries an inherent defect," Hikari explained, her posture relaxing slightly now that his anger had cooled. "First-stage awakening is stable. But by the second stage, the user won’t live past twenty. The stronger the bloodline, the faster death comes."  

"And your stage—?"  

"I’ve reached the third. Not even the Sage of Six Paths could save me now. I have half a year left at most."  

Hiruzen’s fury evaporated entirely as he watched her calmly announce her own death sentence. But suspicion lingered.  

"These are just your words. Why not get examined at the hospital?"  

"It’s pointless."  

Knowing words alone wouldn’t convince him, Hikari closed the Sharingan embedded in her palm, letting the flesh knit itself back together until no trace remained. Then, she willed a single gray finger bone to protrude from her fingertip.  

Thud.  

The bone dropped to the ground with a heavy, metallic sound.  

Fine gray tendrils spread from it like veins, creeping across the earth. Then—  

Crack.  

Hiruzen’s pupils shrank as the infected ground crumbled into dust without warning. A breeze scattered the powder, leaving only the finger bone behind—still sinking, as if it would bore through the planet if left unchecked.  

"Every bone in my body is like this now. Even Lady Tsunade couldn’t fix me. If this power grows unchecked, I’ll turn to ash."  

As she spoke, the wound on her finger healed, new flesh weaving itself into sealing patterns to suppress the deadly bone.  

Actions spoke louder than words. The disease was real.  

(Even if she had already cured it via the Eight Gates’ reversal, this was the reason she had rushed her research in the first place.)  

Silence.  

Hiruzen stared at the bone, his mind reeling. If her entire skeleton was like that, how was she even alive? What kind of agony was she enduring?  

"So… you’re researching Yin-Yang release to save yourself. Not for power." His voice was hoarse now, all anger gone.  

Seeking a cure was understandable. Noble, even.  

And she hadn’t used human test subjects—just animals and plants. Compared to Orochimaru’s atrocities, this was nothing.  

The comparison was inevitable.  

One disciple had betrayed Konoha for immortality. The other, even facing death, refused to cross that line.  

Hiruzen sighed heavily.  

"Your eyes?"  

Hikari’s lips curled. His softened tone told her everything—she had won.  

(The disease was under control now. The flesh seals kept the Shikotsumyaku’s corruption at bay. Once her Sage Body fully matured, its boundless vitality would neutralize the threat entirely.)  

But the "terminal illness" act had served its purpose—giving her an excuse to reveal secrets without rousing suspicion.  

"My mother was a Hyūga of the main family—Hyūga Amekki."  

She omitted her "body manipulation" ability, focusing only on the Byakugan. She had hidden it out of necessity—to avoid the Caged Bird Seal—not for any sinister agenda.  

When Hiruzen learned she was part Hyūga, his shock was palpable. He had dismissed her sensory prowess as a minor trait, never imagining it was the Byakugan!  

(Not that he could be blamed. With the Hyūga’s strict control over their bloodline, no one would suspect an outsider of having it.)  

No wonder her chakra control and perception were monstrous.  

As she spun the tale of her mother’s escape to Kirigakure and rescue by the Kaguya clan, Hiruzen’s frown eased.  

He did remember the incident.  

The Hyūga main family had been in an uproar when one of their own went missing on the battlefield, risking the Byakugan’s theft. They had demanded a retrieval squad, but with the war at its peak, Hiruzen had overruled them, issuing an S-rank mission instead.  

The girl’s name had been Hyūga Amekki.  

Watching the veins bulge around Hikari’s eyes as she spoke, Hiruzen reflected on his initial hesitation to take her as a student—due to her Kirigakure origins.  

But if she was Hyūga-blooded…  

She really is a true Konoha shinobi.  

Perhaps he had chosen well after all.  

--- (◕‿◕) 

Chapter 184: The Weakness of the Third Hokage  

"Don’t tell me joining Root in secret was also ‘out of necessity.’"  

Hiruzen Sarutobi tilted his head slightly, his gaze shifting to the silent Yang Release clone standing to Hikari’s right.  

The clone’s expression was somber, a massive bandage-wrapped sword strapped to its back. Dressed in full Root attire—black cloak and all—it lacked the same strange forehead marking as the original. Despite sharing the same face, the two looked nothing alike.  

Compared to Hikari, whose star-like grey eyes shimmered with brilliance, the clone’s delicate features seemed utterly plain.  

"It was out of necessity," the Yang Release clone replied, glancing at its original. The link between their chakra cores—real and artificial—remained unbroken.  

The gap between them had grown so vast that the clone couldn’t even be sure if their thoughts still aligned. Only after seeing Hikari nod did it finally stop the encrypted mental communication and remove the black cloth covering its eyes.  

Hiruzen’s gaze sharpened.  

He had no idea what game these two were playing. Silently, he watched as the Root-clad Hikari moved, his expression cold and unreadable.  

Then—  

The Yang Release clone locked eyes with him and opened its own.  

A four-pronged crimson pinwheel spun within them.  

"Mangekyō?!"  

Hiruzen’s breath hitched. Instinctively, he averted his gaze slightly, unable to fully meet those sinister black-and-red eyes.  

He knew the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan all too well.  

Madara Uchiha. The masked man behind the Nine-Tails’ attack. Shisui Uchiha. Itachi Uchiha.  

Each wielded a completely different—and terrifyingly potent—ability.  

While he didn’t know the specifics of the others, Shisui’s Kotoamatsukami had been described to him firsthand: a genjutsu capable of rewriting a person’s will without them ever realizing it. Hailed as the strongest illusion in the shinobi world.  

"How do you have Mangekyō?"  

Still refusing to meet its gaze, Hiruzen’s voice was tense. Just moments ago, she’d claimed to be of Hyūga and Kaguya descent. Now, she was flaunting a perfect Mangekyō?  

If her mother was a Hyūga and her father a Kaguya, does that mean her grandfather was an Uchiha? At this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if she pulls out Hashirama’s Wood Release next.  

"She’s just a shadow clone. How could she have Mangekyō? Don’t panic, sensei—she’s just under the effects of Kotoamatsukami."  

Just under Kotoamatsukami?!  

Hiruzen studied the four-pronged pattern. It was Shisui’s design. At this point, he was beyond words. This disciple of his had thrown so many shocks his way that he was starting to grow numb.  

"I’m an old man. My heart can’t take this kind of surprise."  

"My apologies. I’m still young and didn’t think it through." Hikari cracked a small, dry joke before sobering. "I joined Root because I was forced—by Konoha’s Hokage Advisor, Danzō Shimura."  

"...Hn."  

Hiruzen nodded, unsurprised. After decades of working with Danzō, he knew better than anyone how ruthless the man could be.  

He believed her instantly.  

In fact, he could guess Danzō’s methods.  

First, an "invitation" to join Root. If refused, threats and bribes would follow. If that failed, he’d find your weakness, abduct you, and subject you to brutal conditioning until your will broke—just another faceless Root operative.  

That was how it always went.  

The only exception in recent years was that ANBU member—Rin, was it?—who’d volunteered, claiming to admire Danzō’s ideals. Freaks like that were so rare, the incident had stuck in his memory.  

Seeing Hiruzen accept her words without question, Hikari licked her lips and swallowed the evidence she’d prepared. Danzō’s reputation was so rotten that accusations didn’t even need proof. It saved her a lot of breath.  

But this also revealed something else: Hiruzen wasn’t ignorant of Root’s activities. In fact, he likely knew more than she did.  

If Danzō could run rampant in Konoha, her so-called "teacher" was far from innocent.  

"To cure my kekkei genkai illness, I went to Konoha Hospital to study medical ninjutsu. But Danzō conspired with the head physician, Senka Tō, to lure me into a secluded forest… where he used Kotoamatsukami on me."  

The Yang Release clone pointed at its crimson eyes, recounting the events in full.  

When Hiruzen heard that Danzō’s right eye was the source of Kotoamatsukami—and that Hikari had escaped by exploiting the fact that shadow clones were mere chakra constructs—his face darkened.  

Shisui Uchiha’s death had always been a mystery.  

He’d suspected the Uchiha hardliners, but now it was clear: Danzō had murdered him for those eyes.  

If Shisui had lived, Kotoamatsukami could’ve controlled Fugaku Uchiha, easing tensions and preventing the clan’s massacre.  

In short—this was all Danzō’s fault.  

But if they dug deeper…  

"I see." Hiruzen nodded wearily, his expression heavier than ever. Yet he still didn’t react.  

"That’s it? Just… ‘I see’?" Hikari couldn’t believe it.  

She’d even told him about Danzō’s orders to assassinate him. How could he still be so passive?  

If this were Kirigakure, the entire Shimura clan would’ve been exterminated by now!  

Staring at Hiruzen’s spineless demeanor, Hikari finally understood why Danzō acted with such impunity.  

Using Kotoamatsukami on the Hokage’s personal disciple? At best, it was endangering a Konoha shinobi. At worst, it was an attempt to overthrow the government—treason.  

Yet even this wasn’t enough to provoke him. No wonder Danzō thought Hiruzen unfit to be Hokage.  

How could someone so weak lead the strongest village in the shinobi world?  

The First, the Second—even Danzō—all of them had been firmer. After the Kumogakure student abduction incident, it was Danzō who’d led the covert retaliation. She’d never heard of Hiruzen taking actual action against Cloud.  

Faced with her disappointed stare, Hiruzen hesitated—but still refused to speak of punishing Danzō.  

"I’ll… warn him."  

"Don’t bother." Hikari turned away, no longer willing to look at his pathetic face.  

She’d worked hard to earn Danzō’s trust. If Hiruzen confronted him now, it’d only backfire on her. Root was already halfway in her grasp—she wouldn’t let his weakness ruin it.  

Better to rely on herself.  

Their master-disciple bond was barely days old. It couldn’t compare to Hiruzen and Danzō’s decades of friendship.  

"If I kill Danzō one day—" Hikari locked eyes with him, her voice sharp. "Will you come for me?"  

"......"  

Silence was answer enough. Hiruzen’s face was a portrait of sorrow and conflict. He could feel the hope in her gaze withering into cold disdain.  

Only now did he truly understand the pressure she’d faced when he’d first confronted her.  

"Don’t provoke Danzō. Focus on developing ninjutsu to cure your illness." His words were hollow—even he knew how feeble they sounded.  

He couldn’t meet her eyes, his hunched back making him seem even smaller.  

"Tell me… why do you protect him?"  

Her voice echoed behind him, sharp as a blade.  

It felt like déjà vu—as if countless voices from the past were overlapping:  

Orochimaru. Tsunade. Kakashi.  

So many had asked him the exact same question. And each time, it dragged him back to that memory—one he could never forget.  

Suddenly, he looked up at the sky. The golden sunlight bathed his aged face, and for a moment, he was no longer the Third Hokage.  

He was young again—back in those turbulent early days of his reign.  

Konoha Year 37 

ANBU Underground Base  

Three masked operatives sat around a table, chatting idly.  

An elderly man with wild, greying hair slumped in his chair, slamming a kunai into the wooden table. The blade quivered, its metal ring humming.  

"What the hell does Hiruzen Sarutobi have that makes him Hokage material? When I was fighting alongside the First and Second, that brat was still playing in the mud! And let’s not forget—Konoha’s full of elite clans: the Senju, Hyūga, Uchiha… Since when does a Sarutobi get to call the shots?"  

His voice boomed in the hollow chamber. Anyone could tell—this was a Senju elder, a veteran of the Warring States era.  

"Word is, the Second appointed him on his deathbed. You doubting Lord Tobirama’s judgment?"  

Another ANBU removed his mask, revealing sharp features. His tone made it clear—he didn’t respect Hiruzen either, but he’d tolerate it for Tobirama’s sake.  

"Bullshit! Who heard Tobirama-sama name Hiruzen? Only those damn bodyguards of his. They were supposed to protect him, but what happened? They came back unscathed while he stayed behind to die! I oughta skin those bastards alive!"  

The elder’s rage only grew. As a Senju who’d fought under Tobirama for years, his loyalty ran deep—and so did his fury.  

"Keep your voice down!"  

Another operative grabbed his arm, eyes darting to the door.  

There, clad in the Hokage’s haori, stood Hiruzen—and Danzō.  

"You got something to say?!" Danzō’s neck flushed red as he stepped forward, only for Hiruzen to yank him back.  

"Tch. Some Hokage." The room erupted into mocking laughter.  

"Hiruzen, those bastards—" Danzō seethed as his friend dragged him away.  

As Tobirama’s students, they’d always been treated with respect. This kind of humiliation was new.  

"We can’t act recklessly."  

Young Hiruzen shook his head. Only after becoming Hokage did he realize the true weight of the title.  

Konoha was the strongest village, home to countless elite clans and powerful shinobi.  

But that wasn’t a blessing—it was a powder keg.  

These clans had feuded for generations. Though Hashirama had forced a ceasefire, old grudges still simmered. Now, with the Senju’s decline, tensions were rising again.  

And externally?  

Konoha’s fertile lands made it a target. The other four great villages watched like vultures.  

On the surface, Konoha seemed strong. But in truth, between internal strife and external threats, the village was on the brink of collapse.  

"Konoha is fragile. We can’t afford to lose our tempers. These elders are war heroes. Picking fights with them gains us nothing."  

"Then what do we do?"  

Danzō clenched his fists. These old-timers were untouchable—both in status and strength.  

Aside from the Sarutobi and Shimura clans, they had no allies.  

The major clans ruled their districts like independent fiefdoms. As Hokage and advisor, they were little more than figureheads—powerless.  

Hiruzen’s eyes gleamed with quiet resolve.  

"Sensei once said: ‘Politics is about unity. Gather allies, isolate enemies, and crush opposition without mercy.’"  

Danzō frowned, only half-understanding. "Who’s the enemy? Who’s the ally?"  

"Simple."  

Hiruzen dipped his finger in moisture, sketching on the damp stone wall.  

**"As Hokage, anyone who could challenge my authority is the enemy. Conversely, those who can’t… are potential allies."**  

"You mean—"  

"The Nara, Akimichi, Yamanaka, Aburame, Inuzuka—mid-sized clans. The Hatake, Kurama, Yūhi, Gekkō—smaller clans. And Konoha’s civilian-born talents."  

His finger moved swiftly, lines connecting like a web.  

These factions lacked the influence to vie for Hokage. By offering them benefits, he could forge a coalition—one strong enough to counterbalance the Hyūga, Uchiha, and other major clans.  

"A village’s strength lies in its numbers. We may not be as powerful as sensei, but if we unite Konoha’s smaller clans and civilians, we can suppress the great clans. This is the tide of history—unstoppable."  

"I see!"  

Danzō’s eyes lit up. The tangled mess of Konoha’s politics suddenly made sense.  

"Hiruzen, I’ll help you."  

"Then here’s what I need."  

Hiruzen met his friend’s eager gaze—and hesitated.  

He knew Danzō would agree to anything. But the cost…  

Danzō’s excitement faded.  

He didn’t need words. Their bond ran deep enough.  

"You’ll handle the mid and small clans—they’ll only trust the Hokage’s sincerity. As for the great clans… leave them to me."  

He smiled, as if suppressing the Senju and Uchiha was trivial.  

But both knew the truth.  

Those clans had roots too deep to easily rip out. By taking this role, Danzō would make enemies of Konoha’s most powerful. His own clan would suffer for it.  

Yet he accepted without hesitation.  

Chapter 185: Light and Darkness  

The autumn wind carried wisps of clouds over the Forest of Death, casting shadows over the once-golden waters, turning them into a pool of darkness.  

"So, the Root was founded by you and Danzō together—to suppress clans like the Senju and Uchiha who refused to submit to control."  

Listening to Hiruzen Sarutobi recount his past with Danzō, Hikari finally understood why Danzō held such immense influence in Konoha.  

During the reigns of the First and Second Hokage, the Senju clan controlled medical and educational affairs, the Hyūga managed sensory and reconnaissance divisions, and the Uchiha commanded the Military Police Force.  

Beyond that, nearly every aspect of the village—its power and governance—was divided among the minor and mid-sized clans. Even the ANBU, who ostensibly obeyed the Hokage’s orders, were secretly dominated by the major clans. The Third Hokage had been effectively sidelined.  

The creation of Root had been Hiruzen’s idea.  

Unable to purge key figures from the ANBU, he simply built a new shadow force loyal only to him. Under the pretext of training new ANBU recruits, he established a parallel organization—Root.  

Root’s structure mirrored the ANBU’s exactly: seventy official members at chūnin level or higher, with over a hundred support personnel.  

Secret techniques, weapons, resources—everything was lavishly provided. Even forbidden jutsu were freely accessible, all to attract civilian prodigies and minor clan shinobi.  

Later, Hiruzen allied with clans like the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi.  

He sold prime land in Konoha’s central district to these families at low prices and entrusted them with key departments like intelligence and command.  

The Nara herbal shop, Yamanaka flower shop, and Akimichi barbecue restaurant now occupying the village center? Those were all acquired through such deals. In exchange, these clans had to supply Root with talented shinobi.  

Shin like Yamanaka Fū and Aburame Torune were victims of this political maneuvering.  

Everyone knew Root was a death trap—serving under Danzō meant a life of constant peril.  

But there was no such thing as a free meal. This was the price their clans paid for the benefits Hiruzen had granted them.  

These civilian geniuses and secret technique users nominally answered only to Danzō, but in truth, they were Hiruzen’s tools for eliminating dissent.  

Danzō was his black glove.  

He took on the dirty work, while Hiruzen played the benevolent leader—showing sympathy to the minor clans and offering "humanitarian concern" to the major ones oppressed by Root.  

If Danzō went too far, Hiruzen would feign anger, making a show of reprimanding him before quietly letting it go.  

One played the hero, the other the villain.  

Together, they tamed Konoha’s clans, preventing the village from collapsing into civil war.  

The Uchiha massacre? Setting aside Danzō’s scheming, it was simply Root doing what it had always done—its core function.  

Now, at last, power rested firmly in their hands. The once-arrogant clans could only survive by their mercy.  

"He sacrificed everything for Konoha—for me—buried in darkness, abandoned even by his own clan, fearing association with him would bring disaster." Hiruzen gazed at the sky. This was the first time he had spoken of his bond with Danzō.  

Many had asked why he favored Danzō so much. He had never answered.  

But now, with the Senju and Uchiha gone, the Hyūga obedient, and his disciple having joined Root, he could finally reveal some truths.  

"I made him a promise. No matter how many enemies he had in Konoha, no matter how many cursed his name—as long as he never betrayed the village, I would always stand by him."  

"Even if he tries to kill you?" Hikari couldn’t fathom Hiruzen’s reasoning. Wasn’t the whole point of a black glove to discard it when it became useless?  

Why treat it like some irreplaceable treasure?  

"You don’t understand. He’s only pushing me. And Root can never be destroyed. Even if Danzō dies, Root will remain."  

Hikari frowned.  

"Why?"  

"Because the current ANBU is the old Root."  

What?  

Her pupils contracted as if struck by lightning, all the pieces suddenly falling into place.  

"The ANBU training division—that wasn’t just empty words." Hiruzen, sensing her shock, turned to face her calmly.  

"Old ANBU members have either died or retired. Most of the current veterans are former Root operatives under Danzō.  

"On the surface, ANBU and Root are separate. But in reality, they’ve merged. You can’t untangle them now.  

"Only Danzō can keep Root unified.  

"I need him to manage both and maintain stability. Konoha needs him to handle the unsavory tasks. And you need him too, don’t you?"  

Hikari’s eyes flickered, silent.  

Without Danzō’s supply of Hashirama’s cells, Sharingan, and Yin-Yang Release research, her Reverse Eight Gates technique would still be just a theory. In some ways, Danzō had helped her more than Hiruzen.  

As for how he obtained those things? Everyone knew.  

Raiding clans, assassinations, abducting foreign shinobi and civilians for experiments—countless atrocities.  

She didn’t want to dirty her own hands, so she stole the fruits of Danzō’s labor. In essence, she was no different from Hiruzen, who reaped the benefits.  

If Danzō died, someone would have to take over Konoha’s dark affairs. Hiruzen had no replacement, and with decades of friendship binding them, he turned a blind eye.  

Root was a legacy of the past. The more clans they crushed, the greater the debt they now owed.  

"I have a way to solve the Root problem."  

Her Yang Shadow, after a long silence, hesitantly raised a hand—like a diligent student unsure of her answer but determined to try.  

"You do?"  

Even Hiruzen was intrigued. Hikari, too, was surprised. She had been absorbed in jutsu development, neglecting her shadow’s memories. She’d assumed the clone was just absorbing chakra and researching the Mangekyō.  

"What is it?"  

Hikari studied the shadow, its Mangekyō now hidden behind a black blindfold—too unsettling for direct eye contact. It might even work as a flash grenade in a pinch.  

"I know the perfect candidate. Someone who can manage Root, control Danzō’s remnants, and handle Konoha’s dirty work."  

"Who?"  

Hiruzen’s interest deepened. He had long sought to curb Root’s influence but couldn’t afford to lose its functions. A trustworthy, capable successor—one slightly less ruthless than Danzō—would be ideal.  

"Have you heard of a Root operative named… Aburame Ryōma?"  

Hiruzen’s eyes narrowed in thought before recalling the cold-faced man always at Danzō’s side, his glasses hiding his gaze.  

"The Aburame with purple markings?"  

"Yes!"  

The shadow nodded eagerly. "He’s Danzō’s right hand. Root members call him ‘Captain’—his rank matches the ANBU captain’s.  

"When Danzō’s absent, Ryōma runs Root. If he took over, the transition would be seamless."  

"I know of him. Danzō once mentioned him—efficient, taciturn, elite jōnin-level. If I recall, he’s one of Danzō’s most loyal."  

As Root’s primary beneficiary, Hiruzen had studied its key figures. Ryōma, its second-in-command, had long been on his radar.  

Loyal? More like dreaming of Danzō’s death.  

The shadow suppressed a smirk. "He answers to me now. Once Danzō is gone, Ryōma can take over. We can reform Root, restore its original purpose."  

Boom!  

The waterfall crashed against the rocks below, white foam churning. Hiruzen’s aged hands clenched, his expression unreadable.  

Hikari’s face darkened.  

So even now, he hesitates to kill Danzō.  

The older he grew, the more sentimental he became. Just like when he let Orochimaru escape.  

But sentiment had its uses. If he were as ruthless as Danzō, he’d be far harder to deal with.  

"Danzō must be dealt with. If he ever orders me to assassinate you, we will clash. It’s only a matter of time.  

"If you can’t do it, I will. Just don’t interfere when the time comes."  

She laid it bare.  

Danzō had to die.  

That Mangekyō’s mind-altering power was a threat. Just as Shisui’s Kotoamatsukami got him killed, she couldn’t allow such a technique to exist.  

Root still held dozens of three-tomoe Sharingan—potential Izanagi lives. The Hashirama tree’s vitality was perfect for her Reverse Eight Gates. And now, Ryōma’s deal with her shadow…  

A confrontation was inevitable.  

Hiruzen, torn between student and old friend, exhaled heavily.  

He had lost Orochimaru, driven Jiraiya and Tsunade away. Now, his last disciple stood on the brink of conflict with him.  

Four times in the same place?  

He couldn’t—wouldn’t—let it happen.  

Memories of Danzō’s younger, kinder self surfaced. His throat tightened.  

Danzō had become this way because of him. Of all people, he had no right to condemn him.  

With a weary sigh, Hiruzen’s shoulders slumped. He turned away, leaving Hikari with only his hunched silhouette.  

"Do not endanger Konoha. No experiments on its shinobi. No harm to civilians or comrades. Avoid large-scale clashes between Root and ANBU.  

"From now on, I won’t involve myself in your conflict. Whoever wins, as long as these lines aren’t crossed… I won’t interfere."  

His voice was heavy, his aged frame seeming to shrink.  

But Hikari’s eyes gleamed. Exchanging a glance with her shadow, she watched him disappear into the light.  

Now, nothing stood between her and Danzō’s end.  

This was enough.  

She hadn’t expected Hiruzen to kill Danzō himself. Decades of friendship couldn’t be severed so easily—like asking Naruto to kill Sasuke.  

"Hikari!"  

She looked up, startled, as Hiruzen paused in the distance, half-lit by the sun, his face unreadable.  

"From today, the Forest of Death is forbidden to all but you. Focus on curing your kekkei genkai. If you encounter problems in your research, come to me.  

"And… if you inherit Root and sink into darkness like Danzō… as long as you don’t cross the line, I won’t stop you.  

"But I hope you’ll keep your heart. Don’t end up like him."  

His voice was low, his gaze complex yet clear. Hikari sensed genuine care beneath his words.  

"Thank you, Hiruzen-sensei."  

She clasped her hands and bowed sincerely.  

Their relationship had begun as mutual benefit—Hiruzen valuing her talent, her desiring Konoha’s secrets. But now, something deeper had taken root.  

Hiruzen shook his head, sighing. "Thank your senpai. I’ve learned my lessons."  

With that, he vanished into the trees.  

The withered leaves rustled, the dead grass clinging to the earth like moss.  

Once more, only Hikari and her shadow remained.  

"So, in a way, Hiruzen and Danzō did save Konoha from collapse," the shadow mused, adjusting its blindfold.  

"Half credit, half blame. Without them, the village would’ve shattered. But with them, it never reached its former glory."  

Hikari waved it off. "Enough about them. Where is it?"  

"Here."  

The shadow produced a smooth, white orb—neither metal nor jade—glowing faintly in the light.  

The treasure stolen from Uchiha Obito.  

The Kaguya Clan’s Artifact.