The Night Five Years Ago: Zuo Hao Confronts the Third Hokage

"Brat! You're dead!"

The masked ANBU with a dog's face finally threw a punch.

The wind from his fist brushed Zuo Hao's bangs, the blow moving like a black shadow.

Zuo Hao reacted instantly and turned intangible.

All three ANBU's pupils contracted.

"What the—!"

Zuo Hao gave them no time to react.

His intangibility lasted only a fraction of a second. The instant his body became solid again, his right foot landed on the dog-masked ANBU's knee. He sprang upward and drove his left knee into the man's chin.

The strike was vicious and precise, far beyond what a newly graduated Genin should have been capable of.

The dog-masked ANBU grunted and reeled back. Flecks of blood sprayed from beneath the edge of his mask.

But he was ANBU. The instant he took the hit, he regained his balance and slashed sideways with a Kunai held in a reverse grip.

Zuo Hao tilted his head in midair. The Kunai grazed his ear and sliced through a few strands of black hair, but never touched his skin.

He landed, crushing a few dry weeds between the paving stones. Before he could steady himself, a Wind Release attack from the monkey-masked ANBU came at him from the side.

A blade of wind shrieked through the air, scattering loose stones across the ground.

Zuo Hao did not dodge.

He raised one hand and formed Hand Seals at a furious pace.

Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame.

It was a B-rank Fire Style technique, one of the Uchiha Clan's signature jutsu. Cast by a newly graduated Genin, it should not have been especially powerful.

But Indra's chakra flowed through Zuo Hao's body, multiplying the jutsu's power.

Flames erupted from his mouth and swallowed the wind blade whole, then surged on toward the monkey-masked ANBU without losing momentum.

The man's expression changed drastically. He hastily raised an Earth Release defense and barely blocked the flames, but the blast of heat forced him back five or six steps.

"This brat—!"

Before he could finish, Zuo Hao was right in front of him.

Body Flicker Technique.

"I told you," Zuo Hao said, his voice so low only the monkey-masked ANBU could hear. "You're all worthless."

As the words left his mouth, his right palm struck the man's chest.

A burst of pure chakra sent the monkey-masked ANBU flying through the courtyard's already crumbling low wall.

Dust billowed.

Zuo Hao stood where he was, lowered his hand, and turned his head toward the cat-masked ANBU.

His expression had not changed since the fight began.

That spine-chilling calm was like a bottomless pool of stagnant water. Whatever lay beneath its surface was the truly terrifying part.

The cat-masked ANBU had already gripped the Kunai in his tool pouch, but he did not draw it.

His fingers were trembling.

A twelve-year-old Genin had overpowered two ANBU in three moves.

The dog- and monkey-masked men might not have been the best in ANBU, but they were far beyond what an ordinary Genin could handle.

Yet Zuo Hao had acted as though he were doing something trivial. That unhurried composure unsettled the cat-masked ANBU most of all.

"Zuo Hao!"

The dog-masked ANBU climbed to his feet. Half his mask was shattered, exposing a bloodied face.

His eyes were bloodshot, killing intent nearly spilling out of them. His fingers flew through Hand Seals, and his chakra surged violently.

He was about to get serious.

This time, the cat-masked ANBU did not stop him.

He knew he could not.

Zuo Hao did not retreat either.

He eased one foot back, lowered his center of gravity, and reached his right hand toward the tool pouch at his waist.

Just as they were about to clash—

"Stop."

An aged, commanding voice came from the darkness.

Everyone froze.

The Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped out of the shadows.

Someone else followed behind him.

Silver hair. A face mask. A dead-fish eye.

Kakashi Hatake.

"Third Hokage." The cat-masked ANBU reacted first, dropping to one knee and bowing his head.

The dog-masked ANBU hesitated for a second before gritting his teeth and kneeling too.

The monkey-masked ANBU clutched his chest and was the last to kneel.

Only Zuo Hao remained standing.

He had not even changed his stance. He still looked ready to resume fighting at any moment.

The Third Hokage drew on his pipe and slowly exhaled. His gaze rested on Zuo Hao for a moment before turning to the cat-masked ANBU.

"As I recall, my order was to invite Zuo Hao to see me, not to tear his house apart."

Cold sweat instantly broke out across the cat-masked ANBU's back.

"I accept responsibility for my mistake."

"Take off your mask."

The cat-masked ANBU stiffened visibly, but he raised a hand and removed it.

Beneath it was an older face. His Forehead Protector gleamed coldly in the moonlight. His expression was tense, and humiliation simmered in his eyes despite his efforts to suppress it.

The Third Hokage glanced at him, said nothing more, and turned to Zuo Hao.

"Zuo Hao, shall I have them apologize to you first?"

The courtyard was silent for several seconds.

The dog-masked ANBU clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. The monkey-masked ANBU kept his head down without a word. The cat-masked ANBU swallowed, then finally forced out, "Uchiha Zuo Hao... what happened just now was our—"

"Don't bother."

Zuo Hao cut him off.

The Third Hokage's brows lifted slightly.

"I don't need their apology." Zuo Hao glanced at the Third Hokage, a faint curve pulling at his lips. "Lord Hokage, if you have something to say to me, just say it."

The Third Hokage was silent for a moment, turning his pipe lightly between his fingers.

"Come." He turned his back on Zuo Hao, his voice betraying neither anger nor approval. "Kakashi, you too."

Kakashi answered. As he passed Zuo Hao, he slowed and glanced sideways at him.

Something complicated flickered through that dead-fish eye.

Then he patted Zuo Hao on the shoulder.

"Come on, kid."

Zuo Hao said nothing and followed.

Behind them, the three ANBU remained on their knees.

The Hokage's office door opened with a low creak.

The Third Hokage went in first, walked around the broad desk, and sat down.

Kakashi followed him, took his usual place against the wall, and pulled out his copy of Icha Icha Paradise again.

Zuo Hao entered last.

He left the door open.

The Third Hokage picked up his pipe, leisurely packed it with fresh tobacco, struck a match, and lit it. He took a puff and slowly exhaled a cloud of white smoke.

"Zuo Hao," he began, his voice as steady as it had been in the courtyard, "I'll make sure ANBU answers for what happened tonight. They disobeyed my orders. This won't be swept aside."

Zuo Hao looked at him without speaking.

The Third Hokage continued, "I mainly called you here to discuss your team assignment. You and Sasuke have both been assigned to Team 7, with Kakashi as your supervising jonin."

"Given your strength, Genin rank clearly isn't enough for you. I'm considering—"

"Lord Hokage."

Zuo Hao interrupted him. He stood in the middle of the office with his hands in his pockets, as relaxed as if he were in his own living room.

"Is that why you called me here?"

The Third Hokage did not answer. He only watched Zuo Hao, his gaze turning more searching.

Zuo Hao tilted his head, a faint smile on his lips. "If it's about my team assignment, I already know. If it's about what ANBU did tonight, I've already told you I don't need their apology."

He paused. "If there's nothing else, I'll head home."

The Third Hokage's brows lowered slightly. "In such a hurry?"

"Yes." Zuo Hao nodded. "Sasuke's home alone. I'm worried he might be in danger."

The Third Hokage lowered his pipe. "The village isn't as unsafe as you think."

"Isn't it?" Zuo Hao gave a humorless laugh. "The village seemed pretty safe that night five years ago, too."