Danzō, This Child Should Be Handed Over to Hiruzen

The mesh gate of the Forest of Death slowly opened.

A group of genin rushed in from their respective entrances.

There were quite a few competitors in this exam, and entering earlier meant gaining an advantage, whether it was to familiarize themselves with the environment or to set up traps within the forest.

Even Uchiha Itachi was no exception.

Only Akihara Kagura strolled into the examination area, weighing the Earth scroll in his hand, calmly gazing into the depths of the dark Forest of Death.

"Hey, kid!"

A female ninja was responsible for opening the mesh gate for this exam. Seemingly impatient with Akihara Kagura's slow pace, she yelled, "Hurry up and get in! If you go any slower, you'll probably be killed tonight!"

"..."

Akihara Kagura looked back at her.

The female ninja wore a yellowish-brown trench coat over a mesh suit, and her exposed legs were clad in fishnet stockings. Her light purple hair was messily tied up into a messy bun, and she didn't seem too old.

"Hurry up!"

The female ninja's expression was impatient. As soon as Akihara Kagura stepped into the exam area, she forcefully closed the gate with her palm and clapped her hands.

"Big sister, what's your name?"

Akihara Kagura stood inside, smiling at the female ninja.

"Huh?"

The female ninja was surprised by the kid's audacity. A playful smile suddenly appeared on her face. "Kid, you're so bold even though you're taking such a dangerous exam... My name is Anko Mitarai. If you make it out alive, treat me to some dango!"

"I'll remember you."

Akihara Kagura didn't mention treating her to a meal at all.

He hadn't mistaken her. This female ninja's name was Anko Mitarai, and she was once Orochimaru's disciple, carrying a scent of Orochimaru's chakra.

In a sense, this person named Anko Mitarai was his former colleague and also his current colleague. He should introduce her to their old leader sometime.

"What a spirited child..."

Anko Mitarai tilted her head, her eyes narrowing into a smile. "Then good luck, and try not to die too early in the Forest of Death!"

"Yes, I'll remember you."

Akihara Kagura nodded, repeating his words.

Just as Anko Mitarai was about to say something else, she saw Akihara Kagura suddenly raise his fingers and form the Snake hand seal!

"Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence!"

Thick vines and roots erupted from the ground!

Tall, towering trees shot up from the ground along with the spreading vines and roots!

Akihara Kagura controlled his chakra and raised his fingers again, manipulating the branches of the trees to converge!

"Wood Style: Wood Dragon Technique!"

A giant wood dragon slithered out from a tree trunk!

The wood dragon, like a colossal beast, slowly lowered itself and slid in front of Akihara Kagura, lifting the young boy with its head before slowly raising its head again.

"How is this possible... Wood Style Ninjutsu..."

Anko Mitarai stared at the scene in the Forest of Death with utter shock.

"I'll remember you."

Akihara Kagura looked back at Anko Mitarai and repeated himself, then controlled the wood dragon to coil and wander towards the depths of the Forest of Death.

"I should go say hello to everyone first..."

"This kid..."

Anko Mitarai pondered for a moment, then leaped towards the direction of the chief examiner!

In fact, Anko Mitarai didn't need to report it. Almost everyone present had seen the giant wood dragon appear. The wood dragon was almost floating above the Forest of Death, making everyone think they were under attack by an unknown enemy.

Hokage Building.

A group of Konoha higher-ups watched everything on the screen with surprise.

Even though Danzō Shimura already knew that Akihara Kagura had mastered the Wood Dragon Technique, he never imagined that the child could reproduce it completely under his abstract teaching methods.

The Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi held his pipe, hesitating to put it in his mouth. His mind raced as he calmly considered what this child who mastered Wood Release meant for Konoha.

Compared to Hiruzen Sarutobi, the other two Hokage advisors didn't have to think so much. Their suggestions were all based on prioritizing Konoha's interests.

Their gazes immediately fell on Danzō Shimura.

One of the elders wore glasses and was named Mitokado Homura; the other elder squinted her eyes and was named Utatane Koharu.

These two Hokage advisors were former teammates of Danzō Shimura, so they spoke without reservation, directly asking the most crucial question.

"Danzō, when did this child awaken Wood Release?"

"Homura, whose child is this? How did the Wood Release bloodline awaken within him? Does he possess the bloodline of the Senju clan?"

"..."

Danzō Shimura remained silent for a moment before replying, "This is a child from the Konoha orphanage. Years ago, Orochimaru conducted illegal human experiments with Wood Release on him, and he survived. Seeing the child's strong vitality, I brought him to Root. It was only recently that he suddenly awakened Wood Release..."

"Is that so?"

Mitokado Homura's brow furrowed with layers of aged wrinkles, and he sighed, "It seems to have been a very accidental event..."

Utatane Koharu's tone was no longer as excited as she spoke, "I thought we could allow the village to once again possess the First Hokage's Wood Release bloodline. Those human experiments, in the end, were still too dangerous for those who participated."

"Kano was just an isolated case."

Danzō Shimura slowly nodded as well.

"..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi finished his thoughts, picked up his pipe again, and slowly exhaled his first sentence: "It seems this child's Wood Release is very powerful, almost perfectly replicating the First Hokage's Wood Style Ninjutsu. One day, he might very well become the next First Hokage!"

"Oh?"

The two Hokage advisors immediately became curious.

Mitokado Homura had never paid much attention to the Wood Style Ninjutsu recorded in the Scroll of Seals, as Konoha had always been unable to replicate the First Hokage's Wood Release. He instinctively pressed further.

"Can this child become as powerful a ninja as the First Hokage?"

"Hmm?"

Danzō Shimura almost immediately understood Hiruzen Sarutobi's meaning and quickly said, "This child's Wood Style Ninjutsu cannot be compared to the First Hokage's at all. Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence..."

"Danzō, you're too limited."

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at Danzō Shimura, seemingly explaining seriously, "The Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence jutsu formula is not yet perfect... but the Wood Dragon Technique is different!"

"If his Wood Dragon Technique's effect is the same as what's recorded in the Scroll of Seals, even being able to suppress Tailed Beasts, then this child's Wood Release talent is far greater than you imagine. Having him do those small, dark deeds in Root is too much of a waste..."

"Wait..."

Danzō Shimura's eyes widened involuntarily.

"That's right, Danzō!"

Utatane Koharu frowned and proposed, "Danzō, keeping this child in Root is too much of a waste. You should hand this child over to Hiruzen..."

"..."

Danzō Shimura tightened his grip on his cane.

Why did that sentence sound so familiar? The very words he had always said to Hiruzen Sarutobi, why was he now on the receiving end of them?

Second update

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