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Only after Naruto and Iruka had left...
A figure flashed through a nearby patch of shadow, and Mizuki's corpse disappeared. Neither Naruto nor Iruka had paid any attention to the body they'd left behind. Ordinarily, a ninja's corpse had to be dealt with. If it could be recovered, that was the priority; if not, it had to be destroyed as thoroughly as possible, at the very least ensuring the brain was destroyed. A ninja's corpse was a database in itself, and could even have considerable value. That was especially true of ninjas with Kekkei Genkai. Of course, Mizuki had only been a Chunin of Konoha, so his corpse wasn't all that important. Still, if it could be recovered, it should be, rather than simply abandoned.
Today's circumstances, however, were unusual.
As a Chunin of the village, Iruka had known before setting out that evening that someone would come to clean up afterward, so he hadn't paid it any mind. Naruto, meanwhile, no longer needed to devote all his attention and energy to fighting once the battle was over. With his senses now free to roam, he detected a faint, concealed presence not far away.
He immediately understood that the person must be an Anbu member sent by the Third Hokage.
Of course, Naruto had no idea that the person was the renowned Copy Ninja—Hatake Kakashi. Kakashi had arrived early, before Naruto and Mizuki fought, and even before Iruka and Mizuki clashed. He had been ready to step in at any moment, but when he saw that neither Naruto nor Iruka was in danger and that they had killed the rogue ninja Mizuki, there was no need for him to intervene. All he had to do was recover the body after the battle.
What Kakashi hadn't realized was that Naruto, who had only just graduated from the Ninja Academy, had sensed his presence.
Of course, the main reason was that Kakashi hadn't thought the two people there would notice him. He hadn't made a serious effort to conceal his presence. Otherwise, given the current difference in strength between Kakashi and Naruto, Naruto would never have discovered him if Kakashi had truly wanted to remain hidden.
Inside the Hokage Office Building in Konoha.
The Third Hokage held his old pipe in his right hand and smoked leisurely. His left hand rested behind his back as he gazed out the window at Konoha, gradually blanketed by the dawn. A trace of contemplation flickered deep in his eyes.
"Whoosh."
A figure appeared directly behind the Third Hokage.
It was Kakashi, who had just completed his surveillance mission and recovered Mizuki's corpse.
"How did it go, Kakashi?"
"Yes, Lord Third. The rogue ninja Mizuki was killed by Naruto Uzumaki, and the Scroll of Sealing was safely brought back by the Chunin Iruka."
Kakashi knelt on one knee behind the Third Hokage and answered respectfully.
"Mm. Thanks for your hard work."
The outcome had been exactly as expected.
The Third Hokage turned around, nodded, and spoke softly.
He was a little surprised that Naruto had killed Mizuki outright.
But it had been a battle between ninjas.
A kill was a kill.
It didn't stir even the slightest ripple in the Third Hokage's heart.
"In that case, I'll leave Naruto in your hands from now on, Kakashi. You understand Naruto's identity and the burden he carries—things most people can't understand. You know what his life has been like these past few years. Thankfully, this child is very much like the Fourth. You can see the Fourth in him. I hope you'll raise him well. And that Uchiha child I mentioned before will be in your care as well. Kakashi, I hope these two children can become pillars of the village one day. Do you understand?"
The Third Hokage looked directly at Hatake Kakashi, a meaningful glint in his eyes.
It was fair to say that, among the people in Konoha today, Kakashi was one of the few who was both capable and worthy of the Third Hokage's trust. There was no need to mention the trust he placed in his own son, but when it came to ability, the Third Hokage trusted Kakashi more. That was the main reason he had personally intervened in the assignment of this graduating class and placed Naruto and Sasuke on Kakashi's team. Given the identities of those two, the Third Hokage believed that only Hatake Kakashi was suited to be their team leader.
This arrangement had a double meaning.
It was meant to train Naruto and Sasuke.
It was also meant to pave the way for Kakashi.
After all, in the Third Hokage's eyes, Kakashi was undoubtedly the Jonin in the village best suited to take his place and become the Fifth Hokage. As for his own two disciples, after all these years as their teacher, didn't the Third Hokage know them well?
"Yes, Lord Third. I understand. Please rest assured."
Kakashi bowed his head and replied in a low voice.
"Mm. I'll leave it to you, Kakashi."
The Third Hokage nodded with a pleased expression, then waved his hand.
"Whoosh."
Kakashi vanished once more.
"Minato... Itachi..."
In the vast Hokage's office,
only the Third Hokage's barely audible sigh lingered in the quiet.
Meanwhile,
somewhere deep beneath another part of Konoha, in a place like an abyss,
inside a gloomy, dark building,
a figure sat in the center, his whole body radiating a heavy aura of killing intent, bandages wrapped around the area near his right eye and cheek.
Kneeling before him were dozens of figures wearing animal masks and the standard uniforms of the Konoha Anbu.
This was Root, an organization that had branched off from the Konoha Anbu and operated independently.
The man seated at the head of the room was Shimura Danzō, a symbol of Konoha's darkest side and a former teammate of the Third Hokage. He had also been a disciple of the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju.
"The outcome?"
Shimura Danzō looked at the Root member kneeling at the very front. His low voice echoed throughout the room.
"Yes, Lord Danzō. Naruto Uzumaki and the Scroll of Sealing were safely brought back by the Chunin Iruka. The rogue ninja Mizuki was killed by Naruto Uzumaki. The Hokage's personal Anbu took the body away."
"Killed by Naruto Uzumaki?"
Shimura Danzō opened his left eye slightly, a faint look of surprise flickering in it. He asked as if he couldn't quite believe it.
"Yes, Lord Danzō!"
The Root member remained kneeling on one knee, his posture respectful as he replied in a low voice.
After a moment's thought,
Danzō spoke again.
"Bring Mizuki's body back. I want to see the examination report afterward."
"Yes!"
Another Root member immediately answered.
The next moment,
he flashed away,
disappearing straight into the darkness.
Deep within the gloomy Root Base,
the faces of the Third Hokage and Naruto flashed through Shimura Danzō's mind. His right eye narrowed, a faint glimmer of cold light showing in it.
"Hiruzen, what exactly are you thinking!?"
His low voice held a trace of anger.
It revealed the undisguised displeasure this master of Konoha's darkness felt toward the Third Hokage!