To ordinary people, Wood Release was merely the First Hokage's kekkei genkai, no different from the Sharingan or Byakugan.
But to the older generation of village leaders, who had witnessed the First wield Wood Release with their own eyes, it was practically an article of faith. Like Iwagakure's Earth Release and Cloud's Lightning Release, it was a kekkei genkai that could stand as the symbol of a ninja village.
Beyond its symbolic significance, Wood Release's greater value lay in its ability to suppress tailed beasts. During the Ninja War, Konoha had suffered considerable losses against other villages' jinchūriki, even abandoning strategic positions because of them.
Now, news of the Wood Release kekkei genkai instantly caused an uproar at the leadership meeting.
Pushing up his glasses, Mitokado Homura asked excitedly, "Where is the child who can use Wood Release? How is he doing now?"
Utatane Koharu also spoke up. "If possible, I'd like to meet him."
"The child is currently receiving treatment from the Medical Team. He was poisoned by Orochimaru's snakes, but his condition has improved somewhat. Apparently, he has ties to Orochimaru."
As he spoke, the Fourth Hokage glanced at Danzo, signaling for him to explain.
With a gloomy expression, Danzo reluctantly said, "That child is the sole survivor of Orochimaru's Wood Release Experiment, and the only survivor to have mastered Wood Release. According to our investigation, he has no family left."
After a pause, Danzo continued, "That child endured human experimentation, and now he is an orphan. His heart must be full of darkness. If he continues growing up like this, he may become another Orochimaru. Better to entrust him to my Root. I will train him into a suitable weapon."
Jiraiya couldn't help glancing at Danzo. Why did he always have to bring up orphans and Orochimaru?