The report that a scouting team had encountered a powerful enemy wielding the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai quickly made its way back to Konoha.
The village was shaken to its core.
Wood Release one of the most legendary Kekkei Genkai, possessed only by the First Hokage was a power of unimaginable might. With this very ability, the First Hokage subdued the nine Tailed Beasts, established dominance over the shinobi world, and founded the Hidden Leaf Village.
Back then, Konoha stood unchallenged as the strongest of the Five Great Shinobi Villages. Even if the other four villages had joined forces, they still would've been no match. All bowed in fear, none dared oppose Konoha.
But after the First Hokage passed, that supremacy faded. The Wood Release Kekkei Genkai disappeared with him.
Not even his own descendants inherited it.
Yet now, this long-lost power had reerged and in the hands of an enemy.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, a high-level ergency eting was convened in the village.
"Hokage-sama, we've heard the scouting team encountered an enemy with the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai. Is this information accurate?"
The one speaking was Nara Shikaku, Konoha's brilliant strategist, recognizable by the signature pineapple hairstyle of the Nara Clan. His expression was solemn.
"The report is accurate," the Third Hokage replied after a mont's pause. Draped in his Hokage robes, the old man's age was showing—wrinkles etched his face, and age spots dotted his skin. "One of our search teams was indeed wiped out by an enemy who possessed Wood Release."
"It's true?!"
"Who could possibly have inherited the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai?"
"Isn't that supposed to be unique to the First Hokage?!"
The room buzzed with hushed discussions.
Though rumors had already spread, many still found them hard to believe. After all, the Wood Release was considered nearly mythical sothing that only the First Hokage had ever been able to use.
But now, with confirmation coming directly from the Third Hokage himself, even the most skeptical couldn't deny it.
The Wood Release had returned but not within Konoha.
It had appeared in the hands of an enemy.
"Hokage-sama," a female shinobi with short brown hair and red triangular markings on her cheeks stood up to speak. She wore a green standard-issue ninja uniform. "Could this enemy be a lost mber of the Senju Clan?"
This was Inuzuka Claw, head of the Inuzuka Clan one of the rare female clan leaders in Konoha.
"I've already ordered a full review of the Senju Clan's genealogical records," the Third Hokage said with a shake of his head. "There's no indication that any of their mbers went missing."
"Besides, ever since the First Hokage, no one from the Senju Clan has exhibited Wood Release again."
Just like Inuzuka Claw, the Third Hokage's first thought had also been that the mysterious shinobi ca from the Senju line.
But the evidence didn't support it. No lost branches, no missing mbers. The odds of this person being a Senju were slim.
"If not a Senju… then who?"
Frowns deepened across the room.
How could soone outside the Senju Clan wield a Kekkei Genkai believed to be exclusive to Konoha?
Sothing so tied to the village's identity… now turned against them.
It's Uchiha Obito.
Uchiha Fugaku remained silent through the debate.
There weren't many shinobi in the world who could use Wood Release. Considering this power had appeared in the hands of soone opposed to Konoha, it wasn't hard to deduce their identity.
The answer was obvious soone who had transplanted Hashirama Senju's cells.
Uchiha Obito.
And Uchiha Shisui was sent with that scouting team. I wonder if they encountered each other…Fugaku thought to himself with interest.
Both Shisui and Obito were his enemies. If the two t, it would be the ideal outco.
Not only could it clear him of any suspicion in Kakuzu's death, but it would also shift the bla onto Shisui. The Akatsuki, and Obito himself, would turn their attention toward him.
After all, compared to Uchiha Shisui wielder of the Mangekyō Sharingan Fugaku, as clan head, was hardly "worth ntioning."
Fugaku's eyes swept across the room and finally settled on the Third Hokage, a cold smile playing in his mind.
For too long, Sarutobi Hiruzen and the upper echelons of Konoha had targeted the Uchiha.
Today, he would finally return the favor.
With resolve hardening in his chest, he spoke.
"Hokage-sama, I have a question."
"Clan Head Fugaku," Hiruzen said mildly, "what is it you wish to ask?"
Though deeply prejudiced against the Uchiha, the Third Hokage was a master of masks. Unlike Danzo, who wore his cruelty openly, Hiruzen wrapped his in benevolent pretense pretending to treat all equally.
It worked. While most of the village distrusted the openly devious Danzo, they adored the ever-smiling Third Hokage.
"It's common knowledge that Orochimaru beca a rogue ninja after being caught conducting forbidden experints on fellow Konoha shinobi," Fugaku began, his eyes fixed on the Hokage. "But what exactly were these experints?"
"Fugaku, we are here to discuss the enemy with the Wood Release not Orochimaru. Why bring this up now?"
Danzo snapped before the Hokage could respond.
As Orochimaru's silent partner, he knew exactly what those experints were. They couldn't risk that information going public. It would be a massive scandal. He had to shut Fugaku down.
"Oh? So you claim there's no connection?"
Fugaku looked at him with mocking disdain.
"From what I've learned, not only is there a connectionbut it runs very deep."
"Fugaku, that's enough!"
Danzo barked, trying to silence him before he could go further.
Though Orochimaru's experints were top secret, Danzo had a terrible feeling. Sohow, Fugaku had found out.
"Whether I'm making baseless accusations or not, the others can decide after I reveal the truth of Orochimaru's forbidden experints."
Fugaku's gaze swept across the room.
"From what I've gathered," he said clearly,
"Orochimaru was experinting with the cells of the First Hokage… in an attempt to artificially recreate the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai."
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