After pushing through the Bamboo Grove and walking another few hundred meters, Xue Ge suddenly emerged into an open space.
The forest lay behind him, mountains surrounded him on all sides, and a full moon hung in the sky. A vast, shimmering lake lay at the center of the mountains.
A white-haired girl who looked scarcely older than Xue Ge sat on a stone platform by the lake. A mask covered the upper half of her face, obscuring her features. She held a large bowl and was busily gulping down whatever was inside.
Xue Ge walked over quietly, and a strong smell of alcohol hit him.
So that bowl... held liquor?
"-Ah!" The girl smacked her lips in satisfaction and swayed as she turned toward Xue Ge. Her face was flushed crimson; she was clearly drunk.
She grinned at Xue Ge. "Brat, hic, are you the one Danzo wants me to train?"
Danzo...
"Yes." Xue Ge found the smell of alcohol rather uncomfortable.
"All right, have a drink first." The girl filled the bowl, which was bigger than her head, and held it out to Xue Ge. "Here."
"I don't drink." Xue Ge shook his head.
"How can you not drink? You really won't? This is good stuff." "No." "Tch. A man who won't drink is no different from a whore who won't spread her legs. Boring."
"..."
Xue Ge felt awkward. Watching the girl resume guzzling her liquor, he ventured, "May I ask your name?"
"-Ah! Hic... Just call me Iris Moon," the girl slurred.
"Understood, Lord Iris Moon. My name is..."
"Stop!" Iris Moon abruptly cut Xue Ge off.
Xue Ge shut his mouth and regarded the... drunkard before him with a helpless look.
"I'm not interested in your name right now, and I haven't agreed to be your teacher yet." Iris Moon crossed her legs. "I want a talented student too, you know. They can't just foist anyone on me."
Xue Ge froze for a moment, then his expression turned serious, and he assumed a fighting stance.
"Please show me what you can do."
Bang!
Xue Ge had been prepared to fight Iris Moon. Instead, she turned, hauled out a vat of liquor from somewhere, and slammed it down in front of him.
She draped herself over the vat and pointed at its opening with a sour expression. "Drink it all."
"..." Xue Ge's eyelid twitched.
He was beginning to doubt whether this person could really be his teacher.
The next instant, as though she had seen through his thoughts, Iris Moon flipped off the Wine Vat and landed firmly on the ground. Then she formed two hand seals.
An enormous torrent surged upward from the ground along the perimeter of a vast circle centered on her. It spiraled into the sky like a tornado, spread outward, and crashed down like a waterfall, finally forming a great river that sent towering waves rolling across the lake.
"Water Release: Water Shockwave!" Boom!
Amid the thunderous roar, Xue Ge watched waves over ten meters high surge several hundred meters before slowly subsiding.
His pupils contracted slightly. A ninjutsu on this scale...
"Let me introduce myself again. You can call me Iris Moon. Former Jonin. I specialize in Wind Release, Water Release, and taijutsu."
With her back to Xue Ge, Iris Moon's voice suddenly turned cold. "Also, I'm at least twice your age. Don't mistake me for a little brat like yourself."
That's a strange thing to get angry about!
Xue Ge drew a deep breath, his eyes sharpening with resolve. Then... he began chugging the liquor.
Only then did Iris Moon beam with delight. She clapped Xue Ge on the shoulder and threw her head back in laughter. "Yes, that's the spirit! That's how a man should act! Exactly! Only a true hero deserves to be my student!"
"Glug, glug..." He couldn't speak.
Over half an hour later, Xue Ge finally finished the entire vat. He braced himself against the stone platform, trembling, his face green.
Even though he had used chakra to try to lessen the effects of the alcohol, he still felt somewhat dazed.
"If you need to throw up, go ahead."
Xue Ge pressed his lips tightly together and turned toward Iris Moon. To his surprise, in just half an hour, she had completely sobered up. Her complexion was as white as porcelain, and even the smell of alcohol on her had faded.
"You managed to stay conscious after drinking that much strong liquor. Impressive willpower, brat. You have my approval. Tell me your name."
"...Waterbird River Xue Ge."
"Good, Xue Ge. Use chakra to regulate your body, boost your metabolism, and enhance your bodily functions. That indirectly burns through the alcohol in your system at high speed. The same method can also be used to heal injuries, neutralize toxins, and remain conscious when severely wounded."
"That's your first lesson from me. Well? It looks like you've already grasped the basics. You're a quick learner."
Xue Ge stared at the now-serious Iris Moon for a moment, then said solemnly, "Teacher."
"Mm."
Hiruzen studied the intelligence in his hands, his expression deeply grave.
"Are you certain there's no mistake?"
"Lord Third, I spent two weeks repeatedly investigating and verifying this information at Yamabuki Ridge. There are absolutely no errors or omissions." Minato also knew how serious this matter was.
Hiruzen's heart grew heavier.
Fire Release Ninjutsu far beyond Jonin level, familiarity with Konoha, someone from at least the same era as Teacher Tobirama, exceptionally powerful taijutsu, extraordinary speed... According to Xue Ge, his name was 'Shura'...
There were also the several mountain peaks that had been sheared off at Yamabuki Ridge. The exposed surfaces were remarkably smooth, as though each had been severed with a single slash.
Someone who fits all those traits... Could it be...
A nightmarish name surfaced in Hiruzen's mind, and cold sweat broke out over his body.
"Shikaku!"
"Lord Hokage." Shikaku Nara emerged from the shadows.
"Notify the Sealing Squad immediately and have them strengthen the village's sensory barrier. Inform the Uchiha Clan and tighten security within the village. Have Sakumo report to the Naruto Building at once. And expedite Tsunade's recall."
"Yes!" Though he did not know why, Shikaku immediately left to carry out Hiruzen's orders.
"Lord Hokage, what is..." Minato was puzzled, but the grim-faced Hiruzen offered no explanation. Instead, he said, "That will be all, Minato. Your mission ends here. For now, it's best that you stay out of what follows."
Minato's expression changed. He had clearly realized that the mysterious man's identity was no simple matter, and he asked no further questions.
After Minato left, Hiruzen set aside his unfinished administrative work and hurried toward the Archive Room.
A few minutes later, Hiruzen emerged from the Archive Room with a map and saw that Sakumo was already waiting
outside the door.
He removed his Naruto Robe and conical hat, revealing the Ninja Armor underneath.
Sakumo's expression darkened slightly at the sight. The Third Hokage is gearing up for battle. But even during wartime, the Hokage almost never takes to the battlefield lightly. What's going on?
"I'll be away for two days. Handle the administrative work for me," Hiruzen said. Then he paused, took out a scroll, and handed it to Sakumo. "If I don't return within two days, you'll serve as acting Naruto. Danzo's temperament makes him unsuitable. This is my written order."
"!"
Sakumo stared in horror. What on earth has happened?