Third Hokage Shocked! Third Hokage Silent!

Time flowed, and in the blink of an eye, another month passed.

The Great Bridge of the Land of Waves was completed, the mission concluded successfully, and Team 7 set out on their journey back to Konoha.

Two days later.

They returned to Konoha without issue.

Feeling the familiar, lively atmosphere, even the perpetually cold-hearted pillar of heaven softened his expression slightly.

Not to mention the energetic Naruto, who excitedly looked around, finding everything familiar and nostalgic.

Yao also let out a sigh of relief. Konoha was good—prosperous, lively.

If only all the old schemers like Danzo were dead, it would be even better!

"Alright, I'll submit the mission report to the Hokage!"

Kakashi clapped his hands. "You all go home. Dismissed!"

"Yeah!"

Naruto was the first to cheer. "Yao, let's go eat Ichiraku Ramen! I've been craving it for two months!"

Yao smiled and nodded. "After all that traveling, I am hungry!"

"Yeah!"

Hokage Building.

Top-floor office.

Kakashi stood before the desk, finishing his report on the Land of Waves mission.

"Additionally, Lord Hokage, regarding Uchiha Yao—during this mission, he displayed Wood Release."

"..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi paused slightly, staring at Kakashi in shock. "What did you say? Wood Release? Are you certain?"

"I am absolutely certain!"

Kakashi nodded firmly.

"That's impossible!"

The Third Hokage refuted almost instinctively. "Wood Release is a Kekkei Genkai unique to the First Hokage!"

"Uchiha Yao... an orphan of the Uchiha Clan... how could he possibly... master the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai?"

Wood Release?

Uchiha?

That was too absurd!

He would rather believe Danzo had a secret crush on him, rather believe Orochimaru had turned into a woman, rather believe he himself was about to die.

Than believe an Uchiha could master Wood Release.

"Lord Hokage, I am certain!" Kakashi said seriously.

The Third Hokage fell silent.

He knew Kakashi—not a man to speak without basis. If he said it, it had to be true!

But how was this possible?

It made no sense!

The Third Hokage's mind raced, recalling everything about Uchiha Yao, trying to find a foundation for his mastery of Wood Release.

Transplanted First Hokage Cells?

An Orochimaru experiment?

Possessing Senju bloodline?

But no matter how he thought about it, he couldn't find any theoretical basis.

"What was his own explanation?" the Third Hokage asked in a low voice.

"He said..."

Kakashi reported truthfully, though his tone carried a hint of oddness:

"That he used the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique during these two months in the Land of Waves to develop and master it on his own!"

"Developed it on his own?" The wrinkles on the Third Hokage's face deepened.

If it were a descendant of the Senju Clan suddenly awakening Wood Release, the Third Hokage might find it plausible.

But the Uchiha Clan...

"Has Uchiha Yao awakened his Sharingan?" The Third Hokage looked at Kakashi.

"Nothing found yet!"

Kakashi shook his head.

Hiruzen Sarutobi silently put his pipe back in his mouth, took a deep drag, then exhaled a ring of smoke.

Twelve years old, and still no Sharingan awakened. For now, it seemed Yao's talent with the Sharingan was indeed average.

After all.

Sasuke had awakened his eyes at seven, and Itachi at eight.

It took a long while before the Third Hokage steadied his breath, then asked in a low voice, "Kakashi, what do you make of this?"

"Hokage-sama, though it sounds unbelievable..."

Kakashi said thoughtfully, "I believe the possibility of Yao mastering Wood Release on his own... does exist!"

Kakashi brought up another matter, "In the Land of Waves, I taught Chidori and Rasengan to Sasuke and Naruto."

The Third's eyelids lifted slightly. Chidori and Rasengan were both A-rank Ninjutsu.

Kakashi, as a teacher, sure had a lot of nerve—teaching them just like that, without worrying about his two students running into trouble?

"Sasuke took fifteen days to initially grasp Chidori."

Kakashi said, "Naruto took two weeks to learn Rasengan."

The Third's fingers holding the pipe paused slightly, stunned.

Two freshly graduated genin had mastered A-rank Ninjutsu in such a short time?

Just how many monsters had this generation of Konoha kids produced?

"And... Yao?"

The Third's voice was a bit hoarse.

Kakashi was silent for two seconds, then spoke with a hint of complexity in his tone:

"One day!"

"What?"

The Third thought he had misheard.

"Hokage-sama, Uchiha Yao—only one day!"

Kakashi repeated, his voice full of helplessness:

"Right after I finished explaining the principles of Rasengan and Chidori, he mastered both techniques in a single day!"

The Third fell silent again.

One day?

Mastering two A-rank Ninjutsu?

Was this guy a monster?

"Kakashi, are you sure you weren't caught in an Illusion Technique?"

The Third opened his mouth.

"Hokage-sama, I have the Sharingan! Three Tomoe!"

Kakashi replied.

The Sharingan, as the Kekkei Genkai of the Uchiha Clan, possessed abilities such as observation, copying, and hypnosis.

Its wielder had extraordinary insight, could observe Chakra flow, and could easily see through Illusion Techniques.

Ordinary Illusion Techniques simply couldn't fool Kakashi.

Unless it was a higher-level Illusion Technique cast with the Mangekyo Sharingan.

"Kakashi, all this you're saying—are you trying to tell me..."

The Third spoke slowly, "That this child has a talent in ninjutsu we can't comprehend, is that it?"

"Yes, Hokage-sama!"

Kakashi met the Third's gaze directly, "Uchiha Yao's talent in ninjutsu is the greatest I have ever seen!"

"Perhaps even the Second Hokage-sama would be inferior to him!"

"..."

The Third said nothing.

That was too heavy a judgment; he didn't know how to respond for a moment.

His teacher, the Second Lord, was a legend who had developed countless Forbidden Jutsu and laid the foundations of Konoha.

Kakashi actually believed Yao's talent might surpass his?

Was that possible?

"So..."

Kakashi pressed his advantage and stated his conclusion:

"Combining Yao's astonishing talent for ninjutsu with the Wood Release... I believe..."

"He really could have researched and developed Wood Release on his own!"

"It sounds like a fairy tale, but with him, it becomes the most reasonable explanation."

"He's an Uchiha!"

The Third Hokage almost instinctively retorted: "Uchiha chakra excels in Yin Release and spiritual energy; the Sharingan is their true home!"

"Wood Release is the ultimate expression of the Senju Clan's Yang Release and life force. These two powers have historically been..."

"Hokage-sama, Uchiha Yao is no ordinary Uchiha!"

Kakashi's tone was resolute: "At least, Yao isn't!"

"Hokage-sama, do you know why Uchiha Yao can master ninjutsu so quickly?"

"Beyond talent!"

"He also possesses an immense amount of chakra, able to maintain hundreds of Shadow Clones for training at once!"

"This terrifying chakra volume far surpasses even Naruto, who is a Jinchuriki!"

"What?!"

The Third Hokage's pipe nearly slipped from his hand. "Hundreds of Shadow Clones? Kakashi, are you joking?"

The number of Shadow Clones one can produce at once is one of the most intuitive measures of a ninja's chakra reserves.

Over a hundred Shadow Clones is a hallmark of Jinchuriki or Senju-level physique.

Hundreds of Shadow Clones?

It's practically unheard of!

"I'm absolutely certain!"

Kakashi nodded firmly: "Because I saw it with my own eyes!"

"That's why he amplifies his time efficiency by hundreds of times!"

"While others train for a day, he trains for years, allowing him to master Chidori and Rasengan in a single day!"

The Third Hokage leaned back in his chair, slowly removing his Hokage hat, pressing his fingers hard against his throbbing temples.

All the scattered clues finally connected in that moment.

Astonishing ninjutsu talent.

Suspected self-taught Wood Release.

Unparalleled chakra volume.

Using the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique for extremely efficient training.

This could no longer be summed up as a "genius Uchiha."

This was a being who had broken bloodline limits, shattered training common sense, and might even upset the balance of power...

A monster!

"I understand!"

After a long pause, the Third Hokage's voice carried deep concern: "Kakashi! Setting aside talent and ability..."

"What do you think of Uchiha Yao as a person?"

"I mean his heart, his character, and whether Uchiha Yao... poses a threat to the village?"

A ninja with such terrifying talent, and an Uchiha at that—the Third Hokage couldn't afford to take it lightly!

If he turned out to be someone like Madara Uchiha, the better his talent, the greater the threat and harm to Konoha!

"Hokage-sama, to be honest... I don't know either!"

Kakashi organized his words: "This child is very smart!"

"He has insight and wisdom far beyond his age, with clear logic and very definite goals."

"He can easily see through my intentions and my arrangements."

Kakashi gave a bitter smile: "So, I can't see through his true thoughts or grasp his deeper motives."

"Thus, on the question of whether he'll threaten the village... I can't give a definite answer."

The Third Hokage's heart sank.

Can't see through... This assessment was all too familiar to the Third Hokage.

Once upon a time, Orochimaru had given him the same feeling, and Uchiha Itachi was also deeply calculating.

Unfortunately, both Orochimaru and Uchiha Itachi ultimately walked paths that pained him.

Was history about to repeat itself?

After a long moment, the Third Hokage made his decision: "Everything about Uchiha Yao is classified as top secret!"

"Aside from you and me, no one is to be told of this for now!"

"Especially Danzo!"

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

Kakashi answered solemnly.

"Kakashi, you will continue to be responsible for guiding Team 7!"

The Third Hokage said in a deep voice: "Do your best to guide him, observe him, and understand his true thoughts and pursuits!"

"Konoha needs powerful strength to face the coming storms!"

"But we must first determine where that strength will be directed, and for whom it can be used."

"I understand!"

Kakashi accepted the order gravely.

"Go."