Undercurrents

The light in the Hokage's office remained on until late.

The Third Hokage held his pipe in his mouth, staring at the mission report in his hands for a long time. The report had been submitted by Aoba Yamashiro, serving as a supplementary explanation for the C-rank mission in the Land of Waves. The preceding pages were routine, but when he flipped to the final paragraph, the Third's brow furrowed.

"Continued combat after the left shoulder was pierced by a kunai. Post-battle examination revealed the wound had already healed; the recovery speed significantly exceeded the normal range. Preliminary judgment suggests no medical ninjutsu intervention; specific causes pending investigation."

The Third exhaled a puff of smoke, placed the report on the desk, and tapped his fingers twice against the surface.

"The bloodline of the Senju," he muttered to himself, his voice very low.

He pulled open a drawer and took out an old file. The cover was labeled "Senju Clan Population Registry," the paper already yellowed and brittle. Inside were densely packed names, most of which had been crossed out with black lines—killed in action, died of illness, missing.

Flipping to the last page, he found a faded note tucked inside. The handwriting belonged to the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju: "The Senju clansmen have integrated into every corner of Konoha, and this is a good thing. The bloodline will dilute, but as long as the Will of Fire remains, the Senju have not truly perished."

The Third closed the file, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes.

After a long while, he sighed softly, "Danzo has likely received the news as well."

Deep beneath Konoha Village.

The headquarters of Root never saw the sun year-round, and the few candles on the walls were the only source of light. Danzo sat in the shadows, bandages wrapped around half his face, motionless as a stone.

A member of Root knelt on one knee before him.

"Subject 0123, Mori Takuma. During the C-rank mission in the Land of Waves, two teammates were killed in action, and the leading jonin was severely wounded. During the battle, the subject's left shoulder was pierced by a kunai, and the wound healed on its own without the use of medical ninjutsu. The medical team's conclusion is that the recovery speed is approximately five to eight times that of an ordinary ninja."

The reporter paused, then added, "The medical team discussed it privately, saying this regenerative ability is somewhat similar to the constitution of the First Hokage."

Danzo opened his eyes a crack, the candlelight flickering in his pupils.

"After Tsunade left, there was no one of substance left in the main Senju line," Danzo's voice was hoarse, like sandpaper rubbing against stone. "I didn't expect one to be hiding among the collateral branches that changed their surnames."

Danzo stood up with his cane and walked to the wall. A map of Konoha hung there, covered in various small flags. His gaze paused on a location in the mountains behind Konoha—marked as the "Senju Old Residence Ruins."

"Root needs people like this. The regenerative ability, the Senju chakra foundation, and decent combat awareness. Cultivate him well; he can become a fine weapon."

He turned around. "Initiate the Class B observation protocol. Without being discovered, record his combat data, daily activity range, and the people he contacts. The priority is the upper limit of his regenerative ability—how severe a wound he can self-heal, and what happens if a vital point is injured."

"Yes."

"Also. The Third is already paying attention to this child; keep it restrained."

Danzo did not finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear.

The Root member bowed and retreated silently.

Mori Kazuki called out to Takuma just as he was about to head out. "When your mother and I got married, we thought about changing our name to Mori and no longer being ninjas, letting you live the lives of ordinary people. Perhaps we thought too simply. This whole Senju business isn't something you can just shake off by changing a surname."

"Dad, my recovery ability will likely be written into the mission report; it can't be hidden. Besides, being a ninja is the path I chose myself."

"I know," Mori Kazuki gave a wry smile. "I'm not blaming you. The Senju bloodline is just like that—the more you try to hide it, the more it surfaces. Your grandfather was like that, and so was his grandfather."

He reached into the deepest part of the bookshelf and pulled out a yellowed scroll, placing it in Takuma's hands.

"This is the complete Water Release Secret Technique Scroll of the Senju Clan. You already know Water Wave; now start learning Water Wall and Water Dragon Bullet." His father's hand pressed down on the scroll. "I originally wanted to wait until you were a chunin to teach you, but I'm afraid some people won't wait for you to take your time."

Takuma unfurled the scroll. From basic nature transformation to advanced shape manipulation, every level had detailed diagrams and chakra circulation routes. At the end of the scroll, there was a technique that had been blotted out; the ink was very old, likely decades old. Takuma squinted at it, vaguely recognizing the characters "Hard Whirlpool Water Blade." His father's earlier words also gave him a faint suspicion—was it Danzo?

"Water Dragon Bullet is an advanced version of Water Wall." Mori Kazuki performed the hand seals, his movements not fast, allowing Takuma to see every gesture clearly. "Water Wall focuses on defense, while Water Dragon Bullet condenses water into a dragon shape and imparts directional impact."

Takuma followed the seals. Water-attribute chakra moved up from his dantian, flowed through the meridians in his arms, and gathered at his fingertips. The sensation was icy, completely different from the heavy feel of the earth attribute.

The first time, a water ball the size of a fist emerged from his fingertips. Before it could take shape, it popped, splashing his face.

The second time, the water ball was a size larger, barely resembling a dragon's head. As soon as he let go, it collapsed into a puddle.

The third time, a water dragon the thickness of an arm spun twice in his palm, shot out a meter, and shattered.

Mori Kazuki stood by and watched, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly. "Don't rush. Shape transformation for Water Release is quite a test of patience. It is said that Lord Tobirama took a week to produce a complete Water Dragon Bullet for the first time."

"Lord Tobirama took a week?" Takuma wiped the water from his face. "Then I guess it'll take me a month."

Mori Kazuki patted his shoulder. "Your grandfather, when he was learning Water Dragon Bullet, was so angry that he threw the scroll into the river on the first day, only to sheepishly go into the water to fish it out the next day."

Takuma let out a laugh.

Takuma practiced repeatedly against the wooden stakes in the backyard. Water Dragon Bullet required six hand seals, more than twice as complex as Water Wave. Every time the water dragon shattered, he made a mark on the ground; eventually, there was a long row of tally marks.

Takuma bent over, gasping for air, sweat dripping from his chin onto the ground.

Mori Kazuki clapped from the doorway. "Thirty-seven times? It hasn't even been two hours since you got the scroll."

Takuma straightened up, surprised himself. "Maybe it's because my chakra reserves are large enough? I've practiced so many times and haven't felt my chakra bottom out."

"The Senju bloodline is indeed manifesting in you." His father's expression was complex, both happy and worried. "If Lord Tobirama knew you took less than two hours, he'd probably crawl out of his grave to take you as his apprentice."

"Don't. Lord Tobirama is a forbidden-jutsu fanatic; I'm afraid he really might crawl out."

Mori Kazuki was amused by this and shook his head.

"Alright, that's it for today." Mori Kazuki put away the scroll, walked two steps toward the door, then stopped. "By the way, be careful lately."

"I know."

Takuma returned to his room. He closed the door, lay on the bed, and stared at the ceiling.

He had to keep practicing tomorrow. He hadn't even started learning Water Wall, and Earth Release was waiting on the pages behind the scroll. He might have already been noticed by Root. The Chunin Exams didn't seem to be far off either.

And deep beneath the village, a report that had just been delivered sat before Danzo. The cover was labeled "Class B Observation: Mori Takuma: Initial Assessment."

Danzo flipped to the last page, picked up a pen, and wrote a note in the blank space.

"Compatibility between self-healing ability and Senju constitution is higher than expected. Potential is considerable; continue observation."

"If necessary, forcible containment is authorized."