In the mountains behind Konoha.
Boom!
Boom!
The sound of violent impacts echoed through the valley again and again.
“That’s enough.” Orochimaru finally raised his right hand.
Yujiro slowly stopped.
The valley around them was already a wreck.
Broken stones, cracked ground, and sliced tree trunks were scattered everywhere.
A faint black aura still clung to Yujiro’s body and the blade in his hand.
It was energy born from his control over chakra and his own physical power.
Chakra itself was a form of energy.
And after breaking past the limits of his body through the Limiter, Yujiro had awakened another kind of energy within himself.
When the two were combined, the power naturally became terrifying.
“What’s wrong?” Yujiro asked.
In just the past few minutes, he had already surpassed his attribute limit twice.
This was much faster than when he fought Uchiha Itachi and Kakashi.
“You’re strong,” Orochimaru said with a low, hoarse smile.
The boy before him, carrying a blade at only five years old, had truly caught his interest.
There was a terrifying amount of power hidden inside that small body.
Of course, if Orochimaru truly wanted to defeat Yujiro, he could still do it by going all out.
But there was no reason to.
This had only been a test.
More importantly, during those few short minutes of combat, Orochimaru had clearly noticed something strange.
Yujiro’s strength had been growing during the fight.
That alone made Orochimaru lose the desire to continue carelessly.
Besides, he had not come here just to fight.
Hearing Orochimaru’s words, Yujiro’s expression barely changed.
If anything, Yujiro actually wanted Orochimaru to continue being his sparring partner.
After all, under enough pressure, the Limiter opened much faster.
“If we’re done, I’m going back.” Yujiro put away his black blade.
After saying that, he turned and began walking away.
“Boy,” Orochimaru called out with a smile.
“What’s your name?” “Yujiro.” Yujiro waved casually without looking back.
Even if he did not say it, with Orochimaru’s methods, he would probably find out within half a day anyway.
“Oh, right.” Yujiro suddenly tilted his head slightly and smiled.
“Orochimaru, whenever you feel like training with me, I don’t mind keeping you company.” Then his tone became calmer.
“But as for what you’re doing in the shadows… you should restrain yourself for now.” “If word reaches the Hokage, things will become troublesome.” After saying that, Yujiro left without another word.
Orochimaru stood where he was.
For a brief moment, his expression froze.
He knows?
Impossible.
No one should know about that except one person.
“Is that a warning?” Orochimaru slowly licked his lips, interest flashing through his snake-like eyes.
“It seems you have plenty of secrets too, Yujiro-kun.” A breeze passed through the valley.
In the next instant, Orochimaru’s figure vanished.
By the time Yujiro returned home, the night had already grown deep.
However, the lights in the house were still on.
He stepped inside and saw Yuhi Kurenai lying asleep at the table.
She was waiting for him?
Kurenai had been worried about Yujiro.
After all, that morning, he had beaten up the annoying Asuma because of her.
Later, the Fourth Hokage personally came to tell her that Yujiro was fine, and only then did Kurenai finally relax.
Even so, she still could not fully stop worrying.
That was why she stayed awake, waiting for Yujiro to come home.
In her half-asleep state, Kurenai suddenly felt someone lift her up.
Her eyelashes trembled slightly.
Then she quietly opened her eyes.
Eh?
Yujiro is carrying me?
He’s back… Good.
He’s finally back… But why didn’t he wake me up?
Wait.
What is he trying to do?!
Yujiro carried Kurenai back to her room and gently placed her on the bed.
Seeing that he made no other move, Kurenai quietly let out a breath of relief.
A short while later, after hearing no movement, Kurenai opened one eye.
Yujiro was already standing by the door.
He turned his head slightly and said in a serious tone, “Kurenai-nee, good night.” Then he added calmly, “Also, your acting is terrible.” After saying that, Yujiro left as if nothing had happened.
“Ahhh!
Yujiro!
You stupid otouto!
I’m going to kill you!” Ten seconds later, a roar filled with embarrassment and anger came from Kurenai’s room.
Yujiro picked his ear.
Stupid otouto?
Wasn’t that someone else’s line?
After washing up, Yujiro returned to his room and went to sleep.
… Hokage Office.
Inside the office, Namikaze Minato reported everything that had happened that morning to Sarutobi Hiruzen without leaving anything out.
After hearing it, Hiruzen fell silent.
He knew Minato would not lie to him.
In other words, his troublesome son had indeed been the one to provoke things first.
“Haah…” After a long silence, Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a heavy sigh.
“Asuma’s injuries will need some time to heal.
For now, let this matter end here.” Hiruzen spoke quietly.
After saying that, he silently left the Hokage’s office.
Watching the Third Hokage leave, Minato finally relaxed a little.
Sure enough, Yujiro’s judgment had been correct.
Even if the Third Hokage was unhappy about this matter, he would not say anything more.
After all, he was still the Third Hokage.
It was already late at night.
Minato left the office and prepared to return home.
When he thought of Uzumaki Kushina waiting for him, a smile naturally appeared on his face.
… Night was peaceful.
It was the time when most people finally relaxed.
However, about ten meters beneath Konoha Village, a massive hidden mechanism was still operating.
Root.
The roots of Konoha.
This was the darkest place in the village.
And the man who controlled it was Shimura Danzō.
Shimura Danzō was a contradictory man.
For Konoha, he could do anything.
And yet, at the most critical moments, the cowardice buried deep in his heart always made him hesitate.
Back then, when the Second Hokage asked who would stay behind as the decoy… If Shimura Danzō had raised his hand first, perhaps he would have become Hokage.
Of course, whether the Second Hokage would truly have chosen him was another matter entirely.
Either way, the existence of Root represented the darkness hidden beneath Konoha.
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