Danzo? Never Heard of Him

The next day, Tsukimi and the other four submitted applications for early graduation. As soon as Hiruzen Sarutobi heard, he arranged a written exam for them.

His youngest son had always been a headache for Hiruzen Sarutobi.

His rebellious phase had come far too early!

Fortunately, Asuma had met Nara Tsukimi at school. At first, youthful competitiveness had prompted him to set aside his resistance and seek advice from his father for the first time.

After two years of training together, Asuma had grown steadily more composed, much to Hiruzen's relief.

Their practical exams were scheduled for that afternoon at Training Ground Nine. Official duties kept Hiruzen Sarutobi from attending in person, but that did not mean he took Tsukimi lightly.

Kakashi, whom Tsukimi had defeated, had been promoted to Chunin at just six years old the previous year. Tsukimi could only be stronger.

The other four needed to hold out against a Chunin for three minutes. For Tsukimi alone, Hiruzen Sarutobi personally assigned a seasoned Chunin veteran.

In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe and watched the crystal ball on his desk. It showed Training Ground Nine.

Tsukimi opened with the Shadowkhan as usual. His various squads worked together while he harried his opponent from a distance.

At first, the veteran Chunin handled it with ease. But as wave after wave of Shadowkhan closed in from every side, cracks began to show. Tsukimi seized his chance and caught him with the Shadow Imitation Technique.

Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke, smiling. He put away the crystal ball, took out the five exam papers from that morning, and began reading Tsukimi's closely.

Before long, a knock sounded. Tsukimi and the other four, fresh from passing their exams, came through the door.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked over the five boys. His gaze settled on Tsukimi in the middle, and his smile warmed.

"Congratulations. You're now officially registered Ninja of Konoha. Keep training hard, and do your part for the village."

With that, Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped out from behind his desk and personally handed each of them a forehead protector he had prepared.

When he reached Asuma, he patted his son on the shoulder. Feeling his father's approval, Asuma straightened his back.

When it was Tsukimi's turn, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression grew warmer still. "Tsukimi, I read your paper. Your understanding of the Will of Fire is profound. Some of your insights even gave me food for thought. Keep training hard!"

Tsukimi's face turned solemn. Shedding his usual languor, he bowed slightly. "Yes, Lord Hokage. I won't let you down. I'll put the Will of Fire into practice!"

That's what a ninety-point essay gets you! A little reading comprehension on the Will of Fire? Easy!

After they left the Hokage Building, Asuma was in high spirits from earning his father's approval. He volunteered to treat them. "We all graduated today! Barbecue's on me!"

As expected of the Hokage's son. Young Master Asuma's picking up the tab today!

Tsukimi wasn't about to hold back. After gaining the full boost from the Troll Tribe, his physique and appetite had surged together. He ate more and more, to the point that he was starting to resemble an Akimichi.

The clearest sign was his height. Though only eight, he had already reached 1.7 meters, towering over his peers.

With the talent he had shown, the Nara would hardly shortchange him. His allowance had gone up several times already, but that was money he'd earned through hard work.

Why spend my own money when I can eat for free!?

Laughing and chatting, they headed straight for the Akimichi family's barbecue restaurant.

Meanwhile, at the Root base, Danzo was reading the report his subordinate had brought him about Nara Tsukimi's early graduation.

He remembered asking Hiruzen for the boy two years ago and being firmly refused. His right hand clenched around the report, and the gloom in his eyes deepened.

"Ryoma, send three people to bring Nara Tsukimi back. Alive or dead, I want him found!"

Danzo's order was ice-cold. Nara Tsukimi's talent was too tempting. He had to seize the boy before he grew any stronger!

"Yes, Lord Danzo!"

Ryoma Aburame answered and vanished into the darkness.

Inside the barbecue restaurant, delicious aromas filled the air.

It was Tsukimi's first time there, and the food lived up to its reputation. He ate his fill—ten portions of barbecue—before he was barely satisfied.

When it came time to pay, Tsukimi watched Asuma count the money in his wallet with a pained, pitiful look. Feeling a little embarrassed, Tsukimi cleared his throat, walked over to the owner, and spoke to him quietly.

The Ino-Shika-Cho clans were closely tied, and Tsukimi happened to know the restaurant's owner. He called in that connection and got them a twenty-percent discount.

That'll teach Asuma not to offer to buy everyone dinner so casually!

After parting ways at an intersection, Tsukimi strolled home. A wisp of shadow curled around the fingers of his right hand, shifting shape without pause. One moment it formed a long blade, the next a shuriken, moving with effortless fluidity.

This was the ability granted by the newly unlocked Blade Squad: Shadow Shaping.

For the past two years, whenever Tsukimi wasn't training or sparring, he had been studying how to give Chakra physical form. With the Nara clan's knowledge of Yin Release and the Shadowkhan to observe, he should have worked it out long ago.

But once he dug deeper, he realized that giving Chakra physical form was, put simply, an advanced form of Chakra shape transformation.

Compared with ordinary shape transformation, though, it pushed scale, density, and complexity to their limits.

The best way to study shape transformation was to learn the Rasengan. Tsukimi had managed to develop it over the past two years, but after working out the timing, he figured Minato must have started researching it too, so he kept it hidden.

Thanks to the Mangekyō Sharingan, a "special converter," members of the Uchiha could wield an ultimate power like Susanoo without mastering how to give Chakra physical form.

Bah! What a bunch of cheaters!

Tsukimi didn't have a Sharingan. If he wanted to use Susanoo, he would have to master giving Chakra physical form completely. Fortunately, the Blade Squad's ability was exactly what he needed, and his research had finally made a little progress.

Lost in thought, Tsukimi drew near the edge of Konoha Forest without realizing it. The surroundings gradually fell quiet. Even the faint chirping of insects had vanished.

Tsukimi stopped and spoke at an easy pace. "There's no one else around. Aren't you three going to come out?"

Three figures appeared at once. Dressed in standard Anbu uniforms and wearing animal masks, they took positions on three sides, cutting off every escape route. Their killing intent fixed on the boy before them.

The Ninja leading them spoke coldly, without a trace of emotion. "Nara Tsukimi, on Lord Danzo's orders, you will come with us."

Tsukimi kept his hands in his pockets, looking pleasantly lazy after his meal. Feigning confusion, he asked, "Are you Anbu Ninja? And who's Lord Danzo?"

"Lord Danzo is the Hokage's advisor. He recognized your talent and sent us to invite you to join Root."

Tsukimi looked as though realization had dawned. His voice rose, excitement creeping into it. "Oh! You mean... you mean the legendary Lord Danzo?"

"That's right, Lord Danzo!" A flash of pride entered the Root Ninja's eyes, and he puffed out his chest.

The next instant, Tsukimi's expression went flat, and all excitement left his voice.

"Oh. Never heard of him!"

The three Root Ninja stared at him, baffled. If he didn't know Danzo, what the hell had he been so excited about?

"Rats from the sewers should stay in the sewers. You've got some nerve crawling out here!"

Tsukimi's mocking expression made the three realize he'd been toying with them. Anger edged the lead Ninja's icy voice. "How dare you disrespect Lord Danzo! Surrender now, or we'll kill you where you stand!"

"And if I don't?" Tsukimi asked, amused and utterly unruffled.

Danzo, you little fool. You dared come after me? You've signed your own death warrant!