The Metamorphosis

Shiraishi left, and Sakumo returned to the Broken Blade, leaving the space to the young boy and girl.

After leaving Kakashi's home, Shiraishi headed straight for the Hokage Building.

Since it was wartime, Konoha ninjas were not permitted to leave the village at will; Shiraishi needed to secure a departure permit for Kakashi.

Inside the Hokage office, Danzo, who had just returned from secretly seeing off the ninja troops, was preparing to resume his work.

Shiraishi followed his usual habit, flying into the office through the open window.

"You've come at just the right time," Danzo said, looking up from his chair as he spotted Shiraishi.

"Oh? What is it?" Shiraishi walked over to Danzo and sat on the edge of the desk.

"Two things. Orochimaru will be heading to the front lines with the next wave of ninja troops, and Hiruzen intends to transfer you to the front as well," Danzo stated concisely.

"The cloning experiments only need their nutrients replenished on schedule; they don't require Orochimaru's constant supervision. Just assign a regular lab assistant," Shiraishi said, picking up a pen from the desk and spinning it on his finger.

"As for going to the front, I would have gone even without his request. I need to collect the souls in the Soul Banner in a timely manner."

Danzo corrected him, "It wasn't me who sent you; it was Hiruzen who wanted you there."

"Tell me, then! What does that Third Hokage want me to do?" Shiraishi stopped spinning the pen and looked up at Danzo.

"He wants you to secretly look after Asuma and ensure his safety," Danzo said.

Hearing this, a smile appeared on Shiraishi's face. "Since he is the one in charge of the Root, does he really need to notify you for something like this?"

"You are a registered Root ninja, and he asked me about you—specifically regarding your strength," Danzo explained.

"It seems the Third Hokage thinks quite highly of my abilities!" Shiraishi remarked with a playful tone.

Danzo frowned slightly and corrected him, "I am the Third Hokage now."

"Yes, Lord Third Hokage," Shiraishi said, looking at Danzo and feigning respect.

Danzo knew Shiraishi was acting, but the attitude and words still stirred a sense of pride and satisfaction within him.

If only Shiraishi could be this respectful all the time, how wonderful that would be!

With Shiraishi's bizarre abilities, Danzo was one hundred percent certain he could lead Konoha to become the hegemon of the ninja world.

"Asuma is impulsive and eager to prove himself. This time, when you go to the front, regardless of your other motives, please ensure Asuma's safety," Danzo requested, uncharacteristically, for the sake of his nephew.

"I have a good idea—one that can both ensure Asuma's safety and temper his personality," a flash of inspiration struck Shiraishi, and he conceived a clever plan.

"What is it?" Danzo didn't feel relieved; instead, he grew wary.

In Danzo's eyes, Shiraishi was the same type of person as himself: cold-hearted, ruthless, viewing human life as mere grass, and with a mind filled with schemes and plots.

"Don't worry, it's not a conspiracy. It's a genuine plan that will change Asuma's character," Shiraishi said, the corners of his mouth curling up as he emphasized the last three words.

Danzo did not lower his guard, saying calmly, "Let's hear it."

"Do you remember the Reincarnation Technique I taught you to swap souls with the Third Hokage?" Shiraishi asked with a grin.

Danzo nodded, a vague understanding of Shiraishi's plan forming in his mind. "You mean..."

"Exactly. Doesn't Asuma hate his identity as the Hokage's son? Then let me temporarily extract his soul and place it into a recently deceased war orphan or a child from a destitute family. Let him truly experience the hardships of this world," Shiraishi said with a smile.

Danzo looked thoughtful; he felt that the plan Shiraishi proposed was indeed quite feasible.

"Will this cause any damage to Asuma's soul?" Danzo asked cautiously.

"There will be some negligible damage, but he is still young and will recover quickly," Shiraishi answered truthfully.

Danzo nodded upon hearing this, pondered for a moment, and chose to agree.

"Very well, but you must ensure Asuma's safety."

"Rest assured, I have never broken our deals," Shiraishi said, hopping off the desk.

"A deal?" The moment Danzo heard the word "deal" from Shiraishi, he felt an instinctive tension.

"Of course. Performing the Reincarnation Technique takes quite a toll on me," Shiraishi said, acting exaggeratedly.

"The war has already begun; you will soon obtain a massive amount of souls," Danzo countered.

Shiraishi smiled and shook his head, walking up to Danzo. "Stirring up war—you gain power and prestige, I harvest souls. That was the content of our original deal."

"You don't need to be nervous. For this deal, what I want is very simple."

Danzo became even more vigilant. He sat up straight and stared directly at Shiraishi. "What do you want?"

"I want Kakashi," Shiraishi said, raising his right index finger with a smile. "Just him alone."

Danzo laughed along. "What do you want with him? I still have use for Kakashi."

"I only want him," Shiraishi maintained his smile.

Danzo stopped laughing, his expression gradually tightening as he asked seriously, "You have to tell me what you want with Kakashi."

"That child has good potential. I intend to cultivate him properly as my reserve vessel for reincarnation," Shiraishi offered an excuse.

Shiraishi's explanation satisfied Danzo. He hesitated slightly; after all, no matter how much Asuma's character improved, he was not as important to the village as a genius like Kakashi.

But thinking back to his own deal with Hiruzen, Danzo hesitated for a moment before choosing to agree. "Fine, I agree."

"Then please, help me write a permit for Kakashi to leave the village," Shiraishi said, resting his right hand on the desk.

"What are you making Kakashi leave Konoha for?" Danzo pressed.

"That is my own business." Shiraishi did not provide Danzo with an answer.

Danzo felt a surge of dissatisfaction, but he did not let it show on the surface; he simply opened a drawer in silence, took out a leave-of-absence application, and began filling it out for Kakashi.

After stamping the application, Danzo handed it to Shiraishi.

"Shiraishi, I hope our cooperation can continue indefinitely." Danzo issued a veiled warning to Shiraishi.

"Of course, hasn't our cooperation been quite pleasant thus far?" Shiraishi took the application, glanced over it, folded it, and tucked it into his inner pocket.

Having obtained what he wanted, Shiraishi stepped back, preparing to leave.

Watching Shiraishi's retreating figure, Danzo spoke one last time: "Do not do anything that would harm the village. I am the Hokage of this village now!"

Shiraishi waved a hand, left behind a single sentence, and vanished from the office.

"Didn't our cooperation begin precisely by plotting against the Hokage?"

Upon hearing this, Danzo's expression turned increasingly grim, and he slammed his right fist onto the desk.

That bastard!