The Man in Bandages

For Naruto, the commission this time was very successful.

He successfully completed the first research on Shinigami.

Under the injection of Reiatsu, Haku became Shinigami and not Hollow.

Recalling the details, Naruto frowned slightly and muttered to himself, "Will Ninja's strength affect the success rate of Shinigami's transformation?"

He was filled with anticipation for future research.

In the past, Naruto had been training and had never come into contact with anything related to research.

After passing the mountain bandits and Haku's tests, he was very interested in these unknown things.

He was also looking forward to meeting someone who was as interested in research as him.

In his opinion, fighting and killing should not be everything he had to live.

Just like the Sandaime Hokage, as an outstanding Hokage, he was also an outstanding researcher, creating all kinds of forbidden techniques through research.

Aizen was also an outstanding researcher, constantly exploring the boundaries between Shinigami and Hollow.

Every researcher was under the suspicion of the secular world, and their research process might be extremely tragic and go against ethics.

However, the result of the harvest was likely to open up a new system.

Naruto had heard from Minato that Orochimaru, one of Konoha Sannin, seemed to be very interested in research, and had also provided some good experimental results for Konoha.

Naruto once wanted to visit Orochimaru but found that Orochimaru defected a few years after Minato died.

Konoha Sannin, who was once famous and even killed a Demigod.

But now, he defected and left.

It's really sad.

There was no need to elaborate on the details. Naruto didn't need to use his brain to guess that it was related to Konoha's higher-ups.

...

After a few days of long travel, under the leadership of Kakashi, Team 7 returned to Konoha.

Kakashi also reported every detail of the commission to Sandaime in time.

After listening, Sandaime smoked his pipe hard. Smoke lingered around his face, and he frowned.

After a long time, he slowly said, "Naruto, you are too arrogant."

"Kakashi, you have done very well. You can leave now."

After Kakashi left, Sandaime slowly spat out a smoke and said to himself,

"Kyubi's Jinchuriki growing is very important. Now, Naruto's strength has improved too fast. His Kekkei Genkai still has a lot of space to develop, but Kakashi can't teach him."

"The commission this time also revealed Naruto's greatest weakness, arrogance."

"How can Naruto, who doesn't understand team collaboration, understand the importance of Haku's companions? Perhaps, it is time to let Jiraiya come back."

"With Jiraiya's guidance, I am at ease."

Sandaime muttered to himself.

...

Naruto, who had returned to Konoha Village, was taking a walk on the street. He deliberately avoided the crowded streets just to enjoy a moment of peace.

Clang clang clang clang. Suddenly, the sound of crutches hitting the ground came from the end of the street.

Soon, an old man with a long scar on his face appeared in his sight.

He was clearly just a strange-looking old man, but for some reason, all the hairs on Naruto's body stood on end.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, his face still maintaining a perfect and gentle smile as he leisurely walked forward.

At the same time, the old man on the other side still maintained a steady pace.

He had originally thought that this was just a simple passing by.

Unexpectedly, just as the two of them were about to meet, the old man stopped in his tracks, and a pair of turbid eyes suddenly met Naruto's gaze.

In those turbid eyes, Naruto saw a dark despair.

"Naruto, be careful. He is Danzo." Minato, who was in the sealed space, reminded him warily.

Shimura Danzo?

One of Konoha's higher-ups.

After failing to compete with Sandaime for the position of Hokage, Root hid in the dark, established the rotten Root, and controlled Konoha's ecological system.

He was a man full of stench, disgusting and terrifying.

Why would Danzo come here? What was he trying to do?

Could it be that Sandaime allowed it?

Countless thoughts flashed through Naruto's mind in an instant. Finally, they turned into a perfect smile.

"Hello, do you know me?"

Uzumaki Naruto, Kyubi's Jinchuriki, is the son of Namikaze Minato.

Meeting face to face, it was indeed as elegant and confident as the intelligence said.

Danzo's eyes flickered continuously. He held the upper end of the cane with both hands and revealed a smile. The wrinkles on his face squeezed together.

"I am Elder Shimura Danzo. Uzumaki Naruto, I am very interested in your Kekkei Genkai."

"How could Danzo avoid Sandaime and come into contact with Naruto?" Minato, who was in the sealed space, shouted, "Is Danzo so arrogant now?"

Naruto looked at Danzo carefully, and his smile gradually disappeared.

Danzo did not give Naruto a chance to continue thinking. He continued, "Uzumaki Naruto, in the commission of Nami no Kuni, the extremely powerful Kekkei Genkai is able to completely control Uchiha Sasuke, who awakened Sharingan's second Tomoe. Kidō, who is born, also has good destructive power. However, your development of Kekkei Genkai is far from enough."

Danzo's eyes were calm, and he said unhurriedly,

"Moreover, your Kekkei Genkai has a great drawback."

Hearing this, Naruto's eyes suddenly turned cold.

Danzo ignored it and continued, "If you don't believe me, you can use your Kekkei Genkai on me."

"This..."

Naruto was distressed about how to let the higher-ups of Konoha see his Shikai and become Kyōka Suigetsu's servant. He didn't expect that the troublesome Root Chief would come to him like this.

So Naruto began Shikai: "Break, Kyōka Suigetsu."

The world rippled, and Danzo still maintained a smile.

However, Danzo's figure paused slightly. In the next moment, the world in his vision suddenly shattered like a mirror, revealing Naruto's true surprised gaze.

Danzo was secretly pleased with himself. His face revealed a gentle smile like Naruto's, and he said softly, "Did you see that? In front of an expert like me, your Kekkei Genkai is not strong enough."

"Become my disciple, Naruto."

"Think about it carefully. I can give you everything you want."

After saying that, Danzo turned around and slowly walked away from the direction he came from.

Naruto silently put away Kyōka Suigetsu and revealed a gentle and elegant smile again.

...

Soon after, in Hokage's office.

"You have crossed the line, Danzo. I have already told you, I have already made a plan for Naruto to grow up." Sandaime's eyes were filled with anger.

If not for the fact that his old friend had a lot of power in his hands, he would definitely not hesitate to make a move.

"Hiruzen, this time, Naruto's performance in Nami no Kuni is too outstanding. His talent has already surpassed Minato. As long as we can reasonably develop his Kekkei Genkai, our Konoha will likely have another family comparable to Hyuga!" Danzo's eyes were burning with excitement as he grabbed his walking stick.

"Do you think a Kakashi is qualified to teach Naruto?"

"Hiruzen, after Uchiha was exterminated, our relationship with the various villages became very tense. We have no time to wait for Naruto to slowly grow up." Danzo said bitterly,

"We don't have time."

After saying that, Hokage's office fell silent again.

Sandaime naturally knew that Danzo's actions were also due to their lack of talent.

After all, the performance of Naruto's commission this time had exceeded everyone's expectations.

"Naruto's progress has indeed exceeded my expectations, but this is not the reason for you to interfere." Sandaime looked at his pipe and frowned. "Next, I will let Jiraiya teach Naruto."

"You." Danzo's expression froze, and a deep fear appeared in his eyes. He snorted coldly and said, "Why don't you let Naruto choose for himself?"

"If he is unwilling to become my disciple, I will never interfere with Naruto's growth from now on!"