You Regret, I Shadow

"Yes. That is Lightning Style: False Darkness."

Minato's pupils contracted instantly.

Although he had already guessed as much, hearing Sawada Hiroki admit it so bluntly still carried a massive impact.

Hiroki did not give him much time to digest the shock; after all, from the moment he was captured, he had prepared for the possibility of being questioned by the village, and he had already thought through his explanations and answers.

"After we were captured, I was carried on the shoulder of a Cloud Ninja the entire time," his voice was calm, as if he were recounting something that had nothing to do with him. "During that time, I... awakened a Kekkei Genkai."

"A Kekkei Genkai?" Minato repeated the term; it was the most logical explanation for now.

"Yes," Hiroki nodded. "A kind of... ability I don't even know how to name. I can 'feel' his thoughts, like reading an open book. All the knowledge of ninjutsu and combat experience in his brain were clearly presented before me. Lightning Style: False Darkness was something I 'read' from him."

This explanation was entirely true.

But Hiroki also withheld part of the information.

For instance, he did indeed "read" it, but not through sensory perception; he simply opened the other person's brain folder and read their thoughts, ideas, and memories.

Minato furrowed his brows, clearly struggling to digest this massive amount of information.

"So, you learned a B-rank ninjutsu on the spot while being held captive?"

"You could say that," Hiroki continued. "And it was precisely because of this Kekkei Genkai that I gained the ability to resist."

"At first, I just wanted to play dead and look for an opportunity. Later, using the same ability, I sensed your chakra approaching. I tried to establish a mental connection with you, hoping to pass on the intelligence."

"I received it," Minato immediately confirmed.

"But just then, the enemy captain noticed the chakra of my Kekkei Genkai. I was exposed, and he wanted to kill me, so I was forced to fight back," Hiroki sighed. "Because of that, I didn't have time to wait for you. I had to risk everything and use the ninjutsu I had just learned before he could act. In truth, I wasn't even sure of myself."

"But regardless, I had no choice but to go all in and strike first."

"...According to Sawada Hiroki's statement, upon realizing he had been exposed and was about to be silenced, he had no choice but to go all in and strike first."

In the Hokage's office, an Anbu ninja wearing a cat mask repeated the account, his voice devoid of emotion, relaying a story almost identical to what Hiroki had told Minato.

Sarutobi Hiruzen listened in silence, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the desk.

As Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen knew far more than Minato: Sawada Hiroki's answers during Minato's interrogation, the subsequent autopsy reports of the Cloud Ninjas, the investigation into Sawada Hiroki's ancestors, his parents, and the investigation into the trajectory of Sawada Hiroki's life...

Yet, nothing suspicious had been found.

Sawada Hiroki was simply born in Konoha to ordinary Konoha ninja parents who had died on the battlefield. If one insisted on a Kekkei Genkai, it wasn't entirely impossible; Sawada Hiroki's ancestors did seem to have had blood ties to the Yamanaka clan, who were skilled in mental secret techniques.

Although that was a very distant connection, the possibility of possessing such a Kekkei Genkai could not be ruled out.

Why did he know enemy ninjutsu?--Because the Kekkei Genkai "read" and "copied" it.

Why could he communicate remotely?--Because the Kekkei Genkai could establish a "mental connection."

Why did he act without waiting for reinforcements?--Because he was discovered by the enemy and forced to retaliate.

Although there were still some strange doubts, when synthesizing the Anbu investigation, the answers to these questions all pointed toward a "Kekkei Genkai."

Besides a Kekkei Genkai, what else could allow an eight or nine-year-old child to kill two ninjas in an instant, one of whom was a Jonin, and even severely injure another?

This explanation was seamless, leaving him unable to find any flaws.

Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded; he accepted Sawada Hiroki's answer.

But his old friend nearby seemed to have a different opinion.

"A Kekkei Genkai that can copy others' ninjutsu and conduct remote mental communication..." Shimura Danzō, sitting in the shadows, let out a hoarse voice, like sandpaper rubbing together.

"Hiruzen, this is a natural-born weapon! He must be placed under the strictest control! Hand him over to me, and he will be able to realize the maximum value of a tool!"

Here we go again.

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed in his heart.

He knew his old friend too well; for anything with utility, whether person or object, Danzō wanted to turn it into a tool in his own hands.

However, a ninja is not a tool; a ninja is also a human being.

Being human, one must consider the feelings of other ninjas. After all, they were not as powerful as the First Hokage, who could single-handedly distort the order of the entire ninja world.

"Danzō, that cannot be done." The Third Hokage stared at Danzō, his voice low and his tone firm.

He looked at Danzō, his eyes turning sharp. "He is still a child, a child who protected his companions in a desperate situation! He is a hero of Konoha! Your so-called 'training' would only turn him into a heartless killing tool."

If even a child who saved his companions were to join the Root, how could Konoha develop?

"Besides," Sarutobi Hiruzen paused, preparing to deliberately downplay Hiroki's value.

"This Kekkei Genkai is not as powerful as you imagine. According to the report, his mental connection is extremely unstable and easily detected by sensory ninjas; it is far inferior to the secret techniques of the Yamanaka clan. That Cloud Ninja seemed to have realized he was still awake precisely because of his communication with Minato."

"As for copying ninjutsu, isn't the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan more convenient?! They can even copy ninjutsu just by looking at it once!"

"If you let him enter the Root today, what will the Uchiha clan think? What will the Yamanaka clan think? You cannot only consider the impact of the matter itself; you must also consider the situation in the village!"

Sarutobi stood up and walked to the window, looking at the Hokage Rock outside. "Konoha is not just our Konoha! Konoha belongs to everyone!"

"Womanish benevolence!" Danzō snorted coldly, standing up from the shadows; he did not believe this rhetoric at all.

In his view, any weakness could be overcome through training, while potential was what mattered most; Kekkei Genkai were simply a cut above the rest.

Besides, joining Root was always painted by Sarutobi Hiruzen as if it were a death sentence, but in reality, which of those ninja clans—aside from the Uchiha—didn't have members operating within Root? He only used the Cursed Seal of Rōshō to restrict them from revealing secrets; there were absolutely no other restrictions placed upon them!

Root was definitely not a bad choice!

"Hiruzen, you are always like this! According to you, should everyone just shout about love and peace, and then Konoha will become the number one ninja village? Ridiculous!" Danzo sneered. "You will regret this! Hiruzen!"

"I am the Hokage, Danzo!" Sarutobi couldn't help but retort.

"Then tell me, what should we do? The village needs fresh blood right now. We can't just let Jiraiya and Orochimaru be the only ones on the front lines!" Danzo asked with a mocking laugh.

The Third Hokage couldn't help but frown upon hearing this.

It was a fact; since the Second Hokage passed away, the ninja world had fallen into a brief period of peace. However, because of this, Konoha had entered a rare period of leisure—something unseen since the Warring States Period—and there were surprisingly no low-intensity battlefields left to temper the new generation.

If this were the past, following others onto the battlefield at five or six years old would have been the norm.

The Third thought for a moment, hesitating slightly, but finally spoke: "Sawada Hiroki and Namikaze Minato have displayed strength in this incident that far exceeds the level of students at the Ninja Academy. Keeping them in school any longer would indeed be a waste of time."

Danzo's eyes flickered; he immediately understood Sarutobi Hiruzen's line of thinking.

He had compromised after all.

"You mean... let them graduate early?" Danzo raised an eyebrow.

"That's right," the Third Hokage nodded. "However, to convince the others and to more accurately assess their potential, we need to arrange a graduation exam. Let's see exactly what level they have reached."

So that was it; a compromise, but not a total one.

He wanted to use the exam to stall for time.

Danzo sneered inwardly; he knew full well that Hiruzen was likely waiting for his student, Jiraiya, to return to the village so he could take these individuals—especially Sawada Hiroki—under his wing.

However, that was actually a good idea.

Because it would also take some time for Orochimaru to return to the village.

"Fine." Danzo sat back into the shadows, his voice returning to a calm state. "Then, we should carefully discuss the choice of examiners."

Once Orochimaru returned to the village, having him take the boys as his students, and then gradually drawing them into Root through continued contact to serve Konoha, would be the best choice.

And if they couldn't be brought into Root... Danzo narrowed his eyes... then he would have to find a way to eliminate such an unstable threat.