Hiruzen, You'll Regret This

"Do you have anyone in mind?" Sarutobi Hiruzen lit his pipe and asked in a low voice.

Danzo replied gravely, "I did suspect you. But then I thought it over. You've always kept yourself in the light, so you'd never do something like this."

"Then there's only one possibility."

Hiruzen hurriedly pressed him. "Who?"

Danzo sat back down, his expression dark. "Do you remember the man who controlled the Nine-Tails and attacked Konoha all those years ago?"

"It was him?" Hiruzen realized.

Danzo said gravely, "With that level of Body Flicker Technique, no one but the Second Hokage and the Fourth, who are both dead, or the Fourth Raikage of Kumogakure could have done it. Even Shisui couldn't. Only that Uchiha criminal who controlled the Nine-Tails could have managed it."

Danzo put particular emphasis on the words "Uchiha criminal."

At that, Hiruzen fell silent for a long while before finally speaking. "I understand. But the village has only just stabilized, so let's leave this matter here. Don't get involved any further. I'll send people to investigate."

Danzo said, "Are you talking about Uchiha Itachi again? He was the last person to see Uchiha Shisui. Shisui may well have entrusted his left eye to him, but he never mentioned it to you. Uchiha Itachi can no longer be trusted."

"No, it isn't him." As he spoke, Hiruzen explained that he had sent Fujiwara Chiya undercover.

"Foolish!" Danzo snapped. "Hiruzen, how do you know that boy won't be bribed by the Uchiha Clan instead?"

"What if he leaks our intelligence to the Uchiha Clan?"

Hiruzen replied, "You're far too suspicious, Danzo. Chiya is Teng's child. His parents sacrificed their lives to protect the village, and he inherited their will. He's determined to protect the village—to protect Konoha. He's a civilian, not one of those Uchiha you fear."

"That's hard to say. If he marries a girl from the Uchiha family, he'll be one of them. It would be better if I—" Danzo gave an ominous smile and made a throat-slitting gesture.

"That's enough, Danzo. I'm the Hokage." Hiruzen stood up, slammed his palm on the desk, and shouted at him.

"Hiruzen, you'll regret this."

Danzo gritted his teeth, slammed his hand on the desk, and stormed out. His resolve to become Hokage grew stronger than ever.

The next day, Chiya arrived at the training ground right on time, as agreed with Yuhi Kurenai.

Every team went through a period of adjustment when it was first formed, so they had no missions for the first three days.

During this time, the lead Jonin could assess each team member's abilities and plan their tactics. They could also offer some instruction in ninjutsu.

Akizuki Airi and Akimichi Pangci both had clans to rely on, so Yuhi Kurenai didn't need to worry about their ninjutsu.

After confirming they had no talent for genjutsu, she gave them a brief rundown of their training progress and sent them off to practice.

When it was Chiya's turn, she formed Hand Seals and cast Genjutsu: Three Absolute Cherry Blossoms on him.

"Chiya, you have a good talent for genjutsu. This is Genjutsu: Three Absolute Cherry Blossoms. It makes the enemy see petals and disorients them, allowing you to launch a surprise attack. With enough practice, you can even make the petals cover your opponent and restrict their movements. You might even be able to suffocate them."

"The Hand Seals and principles behind the technique are..."

As she spoke, Yuhi Kurenai's figure suddenly dissolved into petals before Chiya's eyes.

"Do you understand?" Yuhi Kurenai's voice sounded beside Chiya's ear. The petals gathered again, and her graceful figure reappeared before him.

Chiya nodded. Having absorbed Shisui's bloodline and gained Kyoka Suigetsu, his talent for genjutsu was practically maxed out.

Following Yuhi Kurenai's instructions, he quickly formed Hand Seals.

In an instant, he dissolved into petals before her eyes.

"Th-this is..." Standing amid a sea of cherry blossoms, Yuhi Kurenai gasped in shock. She stared at the sight before her in disbelief, her eyes shining with excitement and delight.

"Teacher Kurenai, does this mean I've learned it?" Chiya's voice came from every direction, as if each petal were his true body. It was impossible to tell where he really was.

The petals quickly gathered, and Chiya reappeared.

At that moment, Yuhi Kurenai felt as though she were seeing Chiya's father, Yuhi Shinku, in him.

Her gaze went blank.

Only after Chiya prompted her did she snap out of it and praise him. "You really are astonishing, Chiya! You'll definitely surpass me one day. No... you'll become a genjutsu ninja who surpasses even the Uchiha Clan."

Chiya smiled calmly and didn't deny it.

Half a year passed in the blink of an eye, and the next Chunin Ninja Exams were approaching.

Chiya was nearly twelve. He had carried out all kinds of missions, both large and small, with Yuhi Kurenai.

Along the way, he encountered all sorts of opponents, including even a Jonin. Chiya dealt with them all using his masterful genjutsu.

Thanks to his efficient mission completion rate, Chiya had become somewhat well-known among the Konoha Ninja.

Konoha, Hokage's office.

Just like the previous exam, the team leaders arrived one after another to recommend their students for the Chunin Ninja Exams to the Konoha F4.

Yuhi Kurenai was among them.

When her turn came, she respectfully handed over the files for Chiya and the others. "Lord Hokage, honorable advisors, Lord Danzo, these are my recommended candidates for the Chunin Ninja Exams."

Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced briefly at the files for Akizuki Airi and Akimichi Pangci, then passed them to Danzo and the other two. As he looked over Chiya's file, he said, "Kurenai, I hear that child Chiya has been quite active on missions lately."

"Yes, Lord Hokage. He's a true genjutsu prodigy. He also has considerable talent in ninjutsu and Taijutsu. I have nothing left to teach him." Yuhi Kurenai answered respectfully.

At those words, not only Sarutobi Hiruzen but also the other three members of the Konoha F4 and the team leaders present turned to look at her.

The spacious Hokage's office fell utterly silent.

Yuhi Kurenai's praise of Chiya was so high that it was almost beyond words.

She was practically saying that Chiya already had the strength of a Jonin.

The last time something like this had happened was with Uchiha Itachi.

Danzo glanced at Sarutobi Hiruzen, his expression shifting. After a long moment, he was the first to break the silence. "Jonin Yuhi Kurenai, am I to understand that Chiya already has the strength of a Jonin—or even that he's surpassed you?"

"Yes, Lord Danzo." Yuhi Kurenai made no attempt to deny it.

Only those who had spent time with Chiya could understand just how terrifying his talent as a ninja was.

Though they had only been together for a little over half a year, Chiya's strength had grown at a visibly rapid pace almost every time.

By now, Chiya had learned all her genjutsu, and surpassed her in ninjutsu and Taijutsu as well.

She truly had nothing left to teach him.

Perhaps this was what people meant when they spoke of a genius.