Shisui in Trouble

With the gold Long Ye had provided backing them, the village began rebuilding on a large scale, and life in Konoha steadily returned to normal.

Meanwhile, the reinstated Third Hokage learned more of Long Ye's secrets from his subordinates.

Wood Release was the key among them.

The thing Long Ye feared most had finally come to pass.

One day, a month later.

He was summoned to the Hokage Office again.

As expected, the Hokage wanted to discuss his "surgical Kekkei Genkai" ability.

Long Ye had already resolved to deny having the ability to perform "Cell Transplantation," no matter what. He insisted that his own successful transplant had been a lucky coincidence, and that there was no chance of success with anyone else.

Faced with his adamant denial, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not force him to admit anything. In the end, he could only drop the matter and let him leave.

No sooner had Long Ye left than someone else appeared.

One side of the man's body was wrapped in bandages. It was unmistakably Shimura Danzō.

"How did the questioning go? What did the brat say?" Danzo asked, looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"His transplant only succeeded through a lucky coincidence. It cannot be replicated on a broader scale."

Facing the window, Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff from his pipe as he spoke.

"Hmph! I knew he would say that!" Danzo sneered.

"What do you know?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was about to take another puff, but paused at those words.

"You can't believe a word of that brat's nonsense. When he fought the Nine-Tails alone, the powers he used included Iwagakure's unique Explosion Release and the Senju Clan's Wood Release. He had even mastered that clan's Chakra Enhanced Strength..."

"If Wood Release was a lucky coincidence, how do you explain his Explosion Release? Was