Chapter 49: The Unveiled Power of Nawaki Senju
"Nawaki Senju, this is your ninja ID card."
After having his photo taken, Nawaki was called to the Third Hokage's office the next morning to receive his ninja identity card.
"Thank you, Hokage," Nawaki said.
The Third Hokage raised an eyebrow. It was the first time in a long while that he was face-to-face with Nawaki.
In speaking with Nawaki now, he noticed some changes in him.
One aspect, which he hoped was a misperception, was that Nawaki seemed more powerful than before. He exuded the aura of an expert on the level of Mito Uzumaki.
Perhaps instinctively sensing danger, the Hokage felt a twinge of fear at the thought of Nawaki's potential.
'Nawaki Senju... This boy seems to have matured greatly in the last few months. His enigmatic actions intrigue me, but unfortunately, the Telescope Technique is ineffective on the Senju Clan...'
The inability to discern Nawaki's plans was frustrating. A few months ago, Nawaki had been transparent, aspiring to follow in the footsteps of the First Hokage, Hashirama. Now, however, he was cloaked in mystery.
'I wonder what led to such a transformation?' This question seemed destined to remain unanswered, at least by the Hokage.
For someone who preferred control and predictability, Nawaki's unpredictable nature was troubling.
Another concern was the existence of Hana Senju.
'One problem after another, how much uncertainty will this family bring?' the Hokage pondered with a headache. 'And Tsunade's request... unfortunately, she used that leverage, and I couldn't refuse...'
Holding his pipe, the Third Hokage inhaled and then exhaled a ring of smoke. He appeared more fatigued than usual.
The moment Nawaki left the Hokage's office, the Hokage started surveilling him. However, once Nawaki reached the Senju clan's territory, the Hokage could no longer monitor him.
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Nawaki returned to the Senju Clan after receiving his ninja identity card.
He was required to report to the ninja school tomorrow to meet the team he would be part of.
Although he already knew what to expect, there was a chance something unforeseen could occur.
'By the way, it should be ready by now.'
Nawaki headed straight to the farm after leaving the Senju Clan.
There, he found Tsunade.
"Nawaki, come here."
Approaching her, Nawaki saw ripe lettuce.
Not just lettuce, but also radishes, spring onions, and spinach. Other vegetables showed signs of ripening, but they might need a few more hours at this rate.
Growing bananas, among other vegetables, seemed to take longer. He might just try these four vegetables first.
"I'm going to use these to make lunch," Nawaki said, his voice filled with anticipation.
"By the way, have you grown again?" Tsunade stood in front of him. She had to lift her hand a bit to reach over Nawaki's head.
"I am currently 166 cm," Nawaki stated.
"Oh, I see, eat well and grow well," Tsunade patted him on the head.
Nawaki chuckled, "Yes, I…" His expression suddenly changed.
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Meanwhile, in Cloud Village.
Blue B, who was rarely alone, fell asleep while training near a waterfall.
Usually, someone was always nearby, but this time, that person had to leave due to an 'emergency' call.
Rewinding a few minutes...
Nawaki, after observing Cloud Village for several days, understood many things about them, including their communication methods and how to issue an emergency call.
He mimicked the emergency call to summon Fukai back to the Raikage's office.
Before leaving, Fukai told Blue B to wait for him there.
Blue B nodded and closed her eyes as she lay on the grass.
It wasn't even five minutes after Fukai left when Nawaki, disguised as an Anbu Root agent, emerged from the shadows. He quickly broke the seal on his arm and then slammed his hand onto the chest of the sleeping Blue B, who was caught in a genjutsu, and twisted.
Shortly afterward, Blue B began roaring, waking from her sleep, or rather, the Eight-Tails awoke in her stead, transforming gradually into a gigantic beast.
Agitated and furious, Hachibi the Eight-Tails fled like a wild beast.
Without regard for its attacker, Hachibi charged at the Root Anbu, unaware that Nawaki's Shadow Clone had already departed.
It was at this moment that Nawaki received the information from his shadow clone.
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"Sis, I managed to free the Eight-Tails," Nawaki said seriously. "The other shadow clones have also sprung into action."
"Okay, let's head back soon," Tsunade responded.
They needed to warn Mito.
As for the farming, they could leave it to a shadow clone.
Nawaki and Tsunade each created a shadow clone and left them behind as they departed.
Since the clones were created already holding the farm's seal, they could remain on the farm without succumbing to the genjutsu.
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"Hachibi has broken free!"
Similar cries resounded throughout Cloud Village.
An elite squad quickly mobilized, accompanied by the Raikage.
"Ore, Ore!"
Fukai returned before even reaching the Raikage's office. Seeing the chaos, he attempted to halt the Eight-Tails' rampage towards the densely populated area of Cloud Village.
"Die!" The Eight-Tails lashed out with one of its tentacles.
The tentacle moved with incredible speed, and Fukai narrowly dodged, slicing through half of the octopus-like appendage.
But then a second and soon a third tentacle attacked. One grazed his belly, but Fukai couldn't deflect the third, and it impaled him before he could employ any life-saving techniques.
"This is what you deserve, a mere human who dares oppose me!" The Hachibi, wild and violent after being sealed for so long, became even more ferocious.
The Hachibi charged towards the populated area.
However, some individuals confronted it, wielding thick chains.
"Annoying humans!" The Hachibi roared. "Ore will destroy you all!"
With its bull's head and Jacob sheep-like horns, the Hachibi swung its tentacles in attack. However, its strikes missed, and the ninjas released the chains.
"Listen," commanded the Third Raikage, arriving with the Kohaku no Jōhei on his back. Placing it on the ground, he instructed, "You must restrain the Eight-Tails while I prepare the seal."
"Yes!" The remaining loyalists to the Third Raikage advanced towards the Eight-Tails.
The Hachibi grew even more enraged, struggling fiercely against the chains. Despite its efforts, the multitude of chains managed to restrain it.
Three long minutes passed, and just as the Eight-Tails neared the peak of its fury, the Third Raikage shouted, "Gyūki!"
"Don't call me by name, human!"
However, that was Gyūki's mistake.
Responding to the Third Raikage, who had waited for the right moment, Gyūki's voice was captured by the Kohaku no Jōhei. The pot began to draw Gyūki inside.
The Third Raikage quickly sealed the pot with a wooden lid.
A peculiar sound was heard as the Third Raikage, who had expended a considerable amount of chakra to use the Kohaku no Jōhei, sensed someone emerging from his shadow. However, before he could react, a seal was placed on his foot, momentarily paralyzing him.
This brief interval of one second was all the time Nawaki's shadow clone, donning the typical mask of Root Anbu members, needed to snatch the Kohaku no Jōhei and vanish into the shadows without a trace.
"Bastard!!!" The Third Raikage roared as he regained mobility. "Find him!!"
Even the most perceptive couldn't locate the masked ninja who had emerged from the Third Raikage's shadow.
Another cry echoed; a ninja ran towards them, announcing, "Yugito Nii has been kidnapped!"
Blue lightning crackled around the Third Raikage's body, his rage boiling over. He was torn between pursuing Yugito Nii's kidnapper and searching for the thief who stole the Kohaku no Jōhei.
"Third Raikage, Furui is dead," someone reported, having found a body.
"That body... It must be one of the culprits, killed by the Eight-Tails," another added, carrying the body of an Anbu Root ninja.
"This one..." The Third Raikage approached the body of the Anbu Root ninja: "Danzo!"
He recognized the chakra signature well and was familiar with some of Danzo's secrets. Upon inspecting the ninja's tongue, he saw the familiar cursed seal.
Almost immediately, he contemplated heading toward the Leaf Village but was stopped by Iron Claw, his son.
Another ninja intervened, "Third Raikage, we need to prioritize finding the Bijus!"
The Third Raikage partially calmed down, understanding the priorities, but this didn't diminish his anger. Still furious, he joined the other Cloud Village ninjas in their search for any trace of the thieves...
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Danzo, in one of his hideouts, received the latest news firsthand.
Upon learning that he was being implicated, and discovering that his cursed seal ninjas were in Cloud Village, with the freshly slain corpse of one of them found near the battle against the Eight-Tails...
Danzo realized he had been framed, yet he had no means to prove his innocence.
Like Nawaki, Danzo had shadow clones in Cloud Village, albeit his lived as an ordinary citizen.
The reason he deduced this was deliberate.
Nawaki orchestrated all these events, aware that one of Danzo's shadow clones was present.
Danzo hastily gathered what he could and secured it.
Subsequently, he set fire to the hideout, even though some of his experimental subjects were still inside.
Unbeknownst to him, as soon as he left, three of Nawaki's shadow clones emerged from the shadows. They used water jutsu to extinguish the fire, rescue the people, and destroy or retrieve what was necessary.
Moreover, unknown to Danzo, he was already being followed…