Clatter!
After reading the intelligence Kakashi had sent back, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was so shocked that his pipe slipped from his hand.
He staggered backward and dropped heavily into his chair.
His expression darkened.
For a long time, he said nothing.
The contents of the report were simply too shocking.
Complete missions and receive rewards.
Items.
Ninjutsu.
Even kekkei genkai.
If all of this was true, then the implications were enormous.
The Ninja Academy itself could eventually lose much of its purpose.
Even the foundations of the hidden village system could be threatened.
The entire shinobi world might be thrown into chaos.
Hiruzen’s expression shifted repeatedly.
This matter was far too serious for him to make a decision alone.
“Someone!” An ANBU appeared immediately.
“Summon Danzō.” “Yes, Hokage-sama.” Whatever else could be said about Shimura Danzō, there was no denying the weight he carried in Hiruzen’s mind whenever Konoha faced a serious crisis.
It didn’t take long for Danzō to arrive.
Hiruzen said nothing.
He simply handed over Kakashi’s report with a grim expression.
Danzō’s heart sank.
Did Hiruzen discover one of my secrets?
His thoughts raced, but his face revealed nothing as he accepted the report.
Then he began reading.
Bang!
A moment later, Danzō slammed his palm onto the desk.
His eye widened as he glared at Hiruzen.
“Impossible!” “Kakashi’s report has to be false!” “How could something like this exist?!
Completing missions and receiving rewards?
Learning ninjutsu without years of training?” “Absurd!” “I don’t believe it!” Danzō’s breathing had grown heavy.
The report contradicted everything he understood about shinobi.
Hiruzen’s voice was hoarse.
“But this information came directly from Kakashi.” “He personally experienced and verified everything written there.” Seeing that Danzō still refused to accept it, Hiruzen shook his head.
“Kakashi wouldn’t fabricate something like this.” His tone was calm.
That single sentence left even Danzō unable to argue.
For all his suspicions and paranoia, even Danzō trusted Kakashi’s professionalism.
He had no reason to believe Kakashi would falsify a report of this magnitude.
“Could he have been trapped in a genjutsu?” Danzō quickly proposed another possibility.
“It’s possible.” Hiruzen had already regained his composure.
“But unlikely.” “Don’t forget, Kakashi possesses the Sharingan.” “More importantly, he verified the information through several different methods.” By now, Hiruzen had already accepted that most of Kakashi’s report was probably true.
As unbelievable as that was.
“But…” Danzō opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
The report didn’t rely solely on Kakashi’s personal impressions.
It contained detailed accounts of what happened, along with evidence from Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura’s newly acquired techniques.
Several different observations supported the same conclusion.
Danzō slowly stepped backward and sat heavily on a nearby sofa.
For once, even he looked unsettled.
“We should proceed under the assumption that Itsuki and everything connected to him are real.” Hiruzen ignored Danzō’s momentary loss of composure.
“At the same time, we’ll send people to test and verify what we can.” Danzō’s expression darkened.
“It isn’t that simple.” He had calmed down as well.
“Don’t forget the scenarios Kakashi mentioned.” “The matter of the Uchiha Clan isn’t over.” “The Uchiha…” Hiruzen’s face immediately became heavier.
His gaze flickered.
That subject remained one of the most dangerous secrets held by Konoha’s leadership.
The truth behind the Uchiha Clan Massacre remained one of Konoha’s most dangerous secrets.
Danzō had forced Itachi into the decision that ultimately led to the clan’s destruction, while Hiruzen had failed to resolve the crisis before it reached that point.
And more importantly— One Uchiha still remained in Konoha.
And more importantly— One Uchiha still remained in Konoha.
“If Uchiha Sasuke discovers the truth…” Danzō stopped there.
A cold light flashed in his eye as he stared at Hiruzen.
“Hiruzen, we need to prepare for the possibility that our arrangement with Uchiha Itachi collapses.” Hiruzen’s expression shifted.
Age had worn away much of the decisiveness and ruthlessness he had possessed in his younger years.
Both men carried far too many secrets.
The appearance of Itsuki’s scenarios had suddenly made those secrets vulnerable.
The two spoke for a long time.
In the end, they reached the same conclusion.
They needed to see Itsuki for themselves.
No report, no matter how detailed, could replace firsthand experience.
For both the Hokage and Danzō to leave Konoha at the same time was no small matter.
Even if their destination was close to the village, extensive precautions had to be arranged.
Only after half a day of preparation did the two quietly leave Konoha, accompanied by ANBU and Root operatives.
Not far from Konohagakure.
Hiruzen and Danzō stopped in front of a white three-story building.
ANBU and Root shinobi spread out around the area, establishing overlapping layers of security.
“This should be the place Kakashi described.” Hiruzen paused outside the entrance.
“Let’s go in.” He entered with Danzō and several ANBU guards.
The moment they stepped into the hall, they saw a young man sitting casually behind the enormous counter opposite them.
Itsuki was already watching them with obvious interest.
“I assume you’re Itsuki-san, the man Kakashi told us about.” Hiruzen smiled.
Nothing in his expression revealed the anxiety he was actually feeling.
“The Third Hokage of Konoha.” Itsuki smiled faintly.
“And Shimura Danzō..” “Welcome.” At the same time, he checked the system’s response.
As expected of two veteran shinobi who had survived countless battles.
Both of them had a considerable number of missions and scenarios they could trigger.
Itsuki was very pleased.
“Kakashi told us quite a bit about you.” Hiruzen’s expression became serious.
“But without seeing and experiencing these things personally, they’re extremely difficult to believe.” “That’s understandable.” Itsuki waved a hand casually.
His gaze briefly passed over Danzō’s gloomy expression.
He didn’t mind giving them a small demonstration.
With a light wave of his hand, information related to the system was transmitted directly into their minds.
Hiruzen and Danzō both stiffened.
Their expressions changed as they processed what had suddenly appeared in their heads.
When they looked at Itsuki again, there was now unmistakable caution in their eyes.
And beneath that— Fear.
A method capable of transmitting information directly into someone’s mind without warning was nearly impossible to defend against.
After a long silence, Hiruzen finally exhaled.
“Your methods are indeed extraordinary, Itsuki-san.” Itsuki merely smiled.
He had no intention of explaining himself.
Instead, he waved his hand again.
“This is what you came here to see.” “Your mission panels.” The moment he finished speaking, Hiruzen and Danzō’s pupils contracted.
Without any warning or preparation, translucent panels appeared before their eyes.
The two exchanged a glance.
For the first time, both felt that coming here personally might have been more reckless than they had realized.
They had underestimated Itsuki.
Neither said anything.
Instead, they quietly began examining their respective mission panels.
Hiruzen had barely started reading when his entire body stiffened.
His expression filled with disbelief.
Mission: Settle the Score Your former student, Orochimaru, has been plotting in secret ever since defecting from Konoha.
Now, Orochimaru has begun moving again.
This time, his target appears to be you.
Objective: Kill Orochimaru and eliminate the threat posed by your former disciple.
Mission Rank: SS Reward: Lifespan The exact amount of lifespan awarded will be determined by mission completion.
Failure Penalty: None Hiruzen stared at the word Lifespan.
Before he could fully process it, another mission appeared.
Mission: Chūnin Exams You are preparing to host a joint Chūnin Examination.
Ensure that the Chūnin Exams conclude successfully.
Mission Rank: SS Reward: Lifespan The exact reward will be determined by mission completion.
Failure Penalty: None