Investigating Mo Chen's Blood Relatives Within Five Generations

In a dark underground space somewhere.

Danzo, whose face was a mask of bitterness and wrapped in bandages, held a mass of black material in his hand and listened to the report from an Anbu kneeling before him.

"...This is the power suddenly awakened by the graduating new student Mo Chen. When he went berserk, he easily subdued the Jonin Endo Hiroshi. He possesses strong chakra absorption abilities; once entangled, chakra will continuously drain."

"...Third Lord quickly issued a gag order and disposed of the traces at the scene. He intends to keep Mo Chen's abilities hidden. I also managed to sneak away a small piece while avoiding everyone's sight."

"Later, Third Lord summoned 'Jia' to the Hokage's Office and entrusted Mo Chen to 'Jia' for tutelage."

Danzo toyed with the black material in his hand, his expression shifting from surprise to thoughtfulness, and finally to disdain.

"Wood Release?" Danzo muttered to himself. "To think that even now, someone could awaken Wood Release on their own. This Mo Chen's background is not simple!"

"Investigate and find out Mo Chen's blood relatives within five generations. He absolutely cannot be a child born to commoners."

The last sentence was directed at the Anbu before him.

"Yes!" The Anbu immediately responded and left.

He was Danzo's spy embedded within the Hokage's direct Anbu. On the outside, he was a Hokage Anbu, but in reality, he was a Root member.

Ever since Danzo's 'unauthorized' actions and his 'leading role' in the Uchiha clan's annihilation, Third Hokage had relieved Danzo of his duties, disbanded the Root organization, and ordered Danzo to reflect on his actions in seclusion at home.

Over the years, Danzo had indeed become much more low-key.

He basically no longer interfered in political affairs, and outwardly, he had very few subordinates he could still use.

But he was a dormant venomous snake, ready to strike down his target with one blow given the slightest opportunity.

Of course, it wasn't time for him to surface yet.

However, the appearance of someone in the village suspected of possessing the Wood Release Bloodline Limit was something he couldn't ignore.

First, he would investigate Mo Chen's background. If possible, he would absorb him into his own ranks.

If not, then when he regained power, he would simply take him by force!

The Wood Release Bloodline Limit was a power that must be held in his own hands.

Everything for Konoha!!

Meanwhile, in the Hokage's Office, after Third Hokage finished his grand speech and saw Mo Chen leave with Yamato, he made the same decision as Danzo.

Investigate Mo Chen's background!

Wood Release absolutely could not appear on a commoner.

Either it was related to the Wood Release experiments of the past, or he was a direct descendant of the Senju clan!

Regardless of which possibility it was, it must be clarified, and then this Bloodline Limit must be firmly grasped in his own hands.

However, Third Hokage wasn't particularly anxious. Mo Chen was just a child, and he was the Third Hokage, beloved by everyone in the village.

From the brief contact just now, Third Hokage was very confident that he could easily mold Mo Chen to his will.

Investigating Mo Chen's background was merely adding an extra layer of insurance.

[Ino Yamanaka: Phew, it's finally over. Our team leader, Teacher Asuma, although he looks a bit unkempt, is really strong!]

[Tenten: Asuma Sarutobi? I've heard of him too. He's the son of the Third Hokage.]

[Tenten: It's said that he was quite rebellious in his youth, disagreeing with Third Lord's ideals, so he left the village on his own to develop elsewhere. He only returned in recent years and is one of the few elite Jonin in the village.]

[Hinata Hyuga: He sounds amazing, but my team leader, Teacher Kurenai, isn't weak either. She's very gentle with us.]

[Tenten: Kurenai Yuhi seems to have only become a Jonin this year. I don't know much about her, only that she inherited the Genjutsu clan and is currently the strongest Genjutsu master in the village.]

[Hinata Hyuga: Senior Tenten knows so much.]

[Tenten: Hehe, not really. I've been a ninja for a year now, and the most important thing for a ninja is information.]

[Ino Yamanaka: @Sakura Haruno, why aren't you saying anything? Is your team leader really a stoic pervert?]

[Sakura Haruno: ...]

[Ino Yamanaka: This reaction, did I guess right? Haha, I'm dying of laughter!]

[Sakura Haruno: Get lost! We haven't even seen our team leader's shadow yet, who knows what he's like. I've only confirmed one thing now: this person is definitely very unreliable!]

[Hinata Hyuga: Huh? You're still waiting in the classroom? Could they have encountered some trouble and are temporarily unable to get away?]

[Sakura Haruno: Please, he's a Jonin, and it's within the village. What kind of big trouble could there be? If that's the case, I'd have to doubt his strength again! I'm really worried about my future ninja career!]

[Tenten: In that case, I might know who Sakura's team leader is.]

[Sakura Haruno: Eh? Tell me more!]

[Tenten: Kakashi Hatake, also an elite Jonin of Konoha. He's been known as a genius ninja since he was a child. He graduated from the Ninja Academy at five, became a chunin at six, a Jonin at twelve, and independently developed an A-rank Ninjutsu...]

[Hinata Hyuga: Wow! So amazing!!]

[Ino Yamanaka: Really?]

[Sakura Haruno: Are you kidding me?!]

[Tenten: Because he's our Teacher's rival, he's always brought up. I've heard more about him. It's said that something happened during the Ninja World War, and now his personality is quite decadent, and he's also famously the village's King of Lateness.]

[Sakura Haruno: Decadent... Late... King?!]

[Ino Yamanaka: So he's not in trouble, he's just intentionally late! @Sakura Haruno, you have a long road ahead of you, my sympathies!]

[Sakura Haruno: ...]

After rejecting Teacher's suggestion for a newcomer's dinner, Ino chatted a bit in the Chat Group before turning her attention back to reality.

Before her now was a huge building, with several large characters emblazoned on it—Konoha Hospital!

Holding two bouquets of flowers, Ino walked to the front desk and asked a few questions, then quickly headed straight for the inpatient ward.

After her figure disappeared from the front desk area, two more people appeared, looking shifty, as if they were following her.

These two were one with a lazy expression and pineapple-shaped hair, and another fatty munching on potato chips.

They were none other than the other two teammates who had just formed Team 10 with Ino, Shikamaru Nara and Choji Akimichi!

Shikamaru pulled Choji over to the front desk and asked, "Which way did that girl go?"

The nurse at the front desk didn't think much of it and quickly pointed them in the right direction—Inpatient Ward B!

"Strange, why is Ino here at the hospital? Is someone admitted?" Choji asked, confused.

Shikamaru said thoughtfully, "You forgot, Chie Mai and Ryota..."

"Those two!" Choji pouted. "Is Ino here to pick a fight?"

"Perhaps!" Shikamaru didn't think much of it and immediately pulled Choji along to follow her stealthily.

Although the three of them were classmates and their families were old friends, Shikamaru had only ever been inseparable from Choji.

He had never really hung out with a girl like Ino before.

Remembering what Asuma had said, the three of them were the most suitable partners.

So, upon noticing Ino's somewhat strange behavior, Shikamaru wanted to investigate and understand more, which is why he brought Choji along to follow behind Ino