Goro's Revelation

A/N: You guys hit the Double Release goal, so there will be a Double Release next Monday. For a Triple Release next Monday, we need to hit 1000 powerstones by Sunday. This story's continuation depends on your support—so don't forget to give the story powerstones! Next Goal: 1000 Powerstones! BTW Sakon and Ukon's Kekkei Genaki is Unnamed, so I called it Molecular Divison.

------------------------

Goro closed the door to Sasuke's hospital room behind him and walked down the quiet hallway, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he recalled the Kekkei Genkai he managed to copy.

'I did plan to use the training grounds to test my new abilities, but it's not smart to test Kekkei Genkai or Hiden out in the open. It's probably best if I test these abilities at home, at a lower scale.'

His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden blur of yellow dashing towards him. Naruto came sprinting down the corridor, an excited grin plastered on his face, but he wasn't paying much attention to his surroundings. He bumped into Goro with surprising force, though it hardly moved Goro at all.

Naruto stumbled back, falling to the floor with a yelp. He glared up at Goro, rubbing his sore arm. "What are you, 1000 pounds?!" he complained loudly.

Goro looked down at him and sighed. "Watch where you're going, Naruto..." he muttered. It looks like he's doing okay, Goro thought, observing Naruto's energetic behavior.

Naruto scrambled back to his feet, holding his arm and grimacing. "I'm probably still drained from the fight… YEAH! THERE'S NO WAY I'D FALL SO EASILY!" he shouted as if trying to convince himself.

"Hmph," Naruto huffed and walked past Goro into Sasuke's room, muttering to himself as he went. Goro shook his head and continued down the hall.

Taking the stairs down to the reception area, Goro pushed through the double doors and exited the hospital. He looked around, spotting three familiar faces just outside the hospital's entrance: Rock Lee, Neji, and TenTen.

Rock Lee, who was facing the door, immediately perked up and his eyes lit up with recognition. He squeezed between Neji and TenTen, nearly knocking them over in his haste as he ran towards Goro, his finger pointing dramatically.

"Ohh! I get it! Neji, this is the guy you were talking about!" Rock Lee yelled, his voice carrying across the courtyard.

TenTen and Neji, who were both taken aback by Lee's sudden outburst, turned their gazes towards Goro. TenTen's brow furrowed in confusion as she tried to place the unfamiliar face. Who's he? she wondered. Neji, however, remained silent, as he thought, It's him.

Neji slowly walked over, and TenTen followed, her gaze shifting between Neji and Goro as if seeking answers.

"Thank you for helping earlier," Neji said curtly, with his usual reserved demeanor.

Goro shrugged, "Yeah, no problem," he replied, in a hurry to leave.

Neji's eyes lingered on Goro, his curiosity getting the better of him. "You're a Chunin, but you look the same age as us," he remarked, his tone more of a question than a statement.

Before Goro could reply, Rock Lee jumped in, his enthusiasm overriding any sense of tact. "Don't you remember? He was with us in the Chunin Exams!"

Neji's face shifted into one of confusion. "With us in the exam…?" he thought, trying to recall. "I don't remember seeing him in the finals."

Goro seemed to read Neji's thoughts, his mouth opening to explain. "I failed in the first exam," he clarified.

Both TenTen and Neji's eyes widened in surprise. "You failed?" TenTen repeated, as if she hadn't heard him correctly.

Goro nodded. "I was promoted through a private Chunin Exam hosted by the Third Hokage."

Rock Lee's eyes sparkled with renewed admiration. "That means you must be strong! I've been wanting to ask this, but can we fight?"

Goro smirked. 'After all the skills I copied, of course I'd be strong. These guys who were initially far superior to me are not much to me anymore. System, pull up my new stats.'

[New Stats:

Taijutsu: Lower Kage (89%) 

Physical: Lower Kage (57%) 

Ninjutsu: Kage (43%)

Chakra Capacity: Kage (95%)

Chakra Control: Kage (84%)

Shurikenjutsu: Lower Kage (2%) ^ RANK UP

Kenjutsu: Lower Sannin (92%)

Fuinjutsu: Kage (90%)

Chakra Affinity/Kekkei Genkai: Water(x5) + Fire(x5) + Lightning(x4) + Wind(x4) + Ice(x4) + Earth(x5) + Storm(x4) + Shikotsumyaku (x1) + Molecular Division (x2)

New Skills: <Earth Release: Earth Prison Dome of Magnificent Nothingness>, <Earth Release: Earth Style Wall>, <Chakra Absorption Technique>, <Earth Release: Earth Pillar Prison>, <Spider Sticky Gold>, <Spider War Bow: Terrible Split>, <Spider Web Net>, <Summoning Technique (Giant Spider)>, <Spider Web Flower>, <Parasite Demon Demolition Technique>, <Double Demon Attack>, <Summoning: Rashomon>, <Demonic Flute: Phantom Sound Chains>, <Summoning Technique (Doki)>, <Demonic Flute: Illusionary Warriors Manipulating Melody>, <Dance of the Camellia>, <Dance of the Willow>, <Dance of the Larch>, <Dance of the Clematis: Flower>, <Dance of the Seedling Fern>, <Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets>, <Four Black Fog Formation>, <Four Violet Flames Formation>, <Multiple Barrier Encampment Method>]

'They really don't stand a chance…'

"Lee…" TenTen sighed, placing her hands on her hips. "You were just discharged. You shouldn't be pushing yourself so soon after everything that's happened."

Rock Lee turned to her, his face serious. "No, but I need to test my healed body out. I haven't had the chance yet!"

Neji, who had been quietly observing the exchange, finally spoke up. "If I'm being honest, I also wanted to spar," he admitted, his gaze never leaving Goro's face.

Goro glanced at Rock Lee's eager expression and Neji's gaze. "I don't have time for this. I gain nothing from sparring with them," he thought, dismissing the idea of a fight with a quick internal evaluation. "I'd rather spend the time testing these new abilities. Fighting them would only be stroking my ego."

Letting out a sigh, Goro relaxed his stance. "I'm sorry. I'm busy. Maybe another time," he said simply, his tone calm but distant.

Before Lee could protest, Goro sidestepped the group and began walking away, leaving the trio standing by the hospital entrance.

...

A week had passed since Sasuke's discharge from the hospital. The Uchiha had finally been allowed to leave under strict surveillance, and Goro had also been relieved from his duty of guarding the Hokage Mansion due to the significant contribution he made during the Sasuke Retrieval mission. Although his temporary assignment was over, Goro still felt the village's watchful eyes on him.

He stood alone in the training grounds near his apartment. Goro's gaze scanned the horizon as he waited for Sasuke's arrival. They had made plans to meet up today so that Goro could finally reveal the details he had hinted at—the truth behind the Uchiha massacre.

After several minutes, Goro spotted a lone figure in the distance, approaching at a steady pace.

System, is that Sasuke? Goro thought.

[Yes, that is Sasuke.]

As the figure drew closer, Goro confirmed it was indeed Sasuke, his silhouette unmistakable even from a distance.

"Make it quick," Sasuke snapped, stopping right in front of Goro. His voice carried an edge of irritation, his arms folded across his chest defensively.

"You're in a hurry," Goro observed, arching an eyebrow.

"They've got me on tight surveillance," Sasuke explained, his voice low. "I only got away from Kakashi by claiming I needed the bathroom."

Goro's lips twisted into a smirk. 'They're doing what they did to me, to him, except he doesn't have to do the boring job of guarding the Hokage Mansion.'

"You should know," Goro began, his tone dropping to a whisper, "There are Anbu watching you. They're aware you didn't actually go to the bathroom. If you want to hear what I have to say, we should get away from here before they take you back."

Without waiting for Sasuke's response, Goro formed a series of hand signs. Materializing before them was the familiar water phoenix. "Hop on, quickly," Goro instructed, leaping onto the back of the water phoenix.

Sasuke hesitated for only a moment before he followed, climbing onto the back of the summoned beast. The water phoenix spread its wings and took off into the air, soaring high above the village. They were well within the village boundaries, but at this height, eavesdropping would be nearly impossible.

Sasuke's eyes wandered over Goro's creation as they flew. He couldn't help but be curious. "He's the same age as us, but how is he so strong? Is it true what Kakashi-sensei suspected? Is this the strength of someone on Orochimaru's side?" he thought, his mind going through the different possibilities.

Sensing Sasuke's thoughts, Goro interrupted him. "No, I'm not working with Orochimaru, if that's what you're thinking," he said with a hint of exasperation. "I got this strong on my own… Well, I guess I had a little help." Goro's voice trailed off mysteriously.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes but kept his suspicions to himself. "We're out of earshot now, aren't we?" he asked. "Tell me what you wanted to say."

"Right," Goro said, taking a deep breath. "So, that night when your brother murdered your clan, he didn't do so of his own volition. He was pushed to do it by a village elder. That elder orchestrated the downfall of the Uchiha. That elder was Danzo."

Sasuke remained silent, his gaze dark and stormy as he listened to Goro's explanation.

------------------------

Reminder: For a Triple Release next Monday, we need to hit 1000 powerstones by Sunday. This story's continuation depends on your support—so don't forget to give the story powerstones! Next Goal: 1000 Powerstones!