Yamanaka

In a cell deep within Konoha Prison, reserved for the most dangerous criminals, the previously cold and damp cell had been expanded and renovated.

Danzo, his hands and feet weighed down by heavy shackles, sat reading a piece of information from the battlefield in the Land of Rain, appearing almost ordinary. However, on this day, his personal freedom had been severely curtailed. Apart from the Root ninja assigned to him, the room was also filled with powerful Anbu operatives. They served as the watchful eyes of the Third Hokage, meticulously monitoring Danzo's every move.

Suddenly, Danzo's hand paused briefly before continuing to read the next piece of information as if nothing had occurred.

At that moment, a subordinate from the yamanaka clan's voice resonated within Danzo's mind.

Mind-to-body technique!

Following the restriction of his personal freedom and the close scrutiny by Anbu operatives, Danzo had resorted to this ninjutsu to remotely control his subordinates.

Although the Third Hokage was aware of this but lacked concrete evidence, he had little choice but to turn a blind eye.

"Master Danzo, the assassination attempt failed."

"Any loose ends?"

"No, it has been thoroughly taken care of."

"Intelligence on the target?"

"We have confirmed that he can effortlessly utilize the immensely destructive Vacuum palm technique, employ water escape and water body without seals, and execute binding-type sealing techniques capable of rapidly and silently ensnaring even a special Jonin. It is presumed that he possesses extraordinary mastery."

"Inform Yun, maintain vigilance while awaiting my orders. Cease all actions for now and continue to remain concealed."

"Understood."

The telepathic conversation concluded.

Danzo appeared outwardly composed, but his heart was filled with astonishment and regret for not eliminating the orphanage sooner. The ability to effortlessly dispatch a special Jonin at the tender age of eight was truly remarkable. Even Uchiha Kagami and Hiruzen, the most prodigious individuals he had known, couldn't have achieved such a feat.

This, however, was merely the tip of the iceberg of Kirito's abilities. After all, Kirito was the true heir of Uzumaki Mito's legacy.

"He's only eight years old, yet he will continue to grow in strength. No, I must find a way to eliminate him swiftly. This child is unlike Mito. He's not a benevolent person. He has formed connections with the Uchiha clan, and he's gaining substantial support from the Hyuga clan. This will undoubtedly pose a significant obstacle to my path to becoming Hokage."

Danzo felt the pressure from an eight-year-old child for the first time and silently resolved to eradicate Kirito.

Due to Kirito's exceptional talents, Danzo had been closely monitoring his activities within the village. He was acutely aware of Kirito's astute mind, even at such a young age, and his covert efforts to strengthen his abilities.

This was evident in Kirito's recruitment of disabled ninjas, clandestine support for civilian ninjas, and the use of sealing techniques to transform orphanages into fortified strongholds.

This was an ambitious young individual.

Despite his youth, he had already displayed his potential and determination. Those who underestimated him would undoubtedly face dire consequences.

The moment his plot against Mito had been exposed, Danzo realized that his relationship with the Senju Clan was now irreparable. He had received intelligence indicating that the Land of Rain's battle was nearing its conclusion, signifying Tsunade's return. With Tsunade's protection, it would be even more challenging to launch an attack on Kirito.

Tsunade had become the Senju Clan's standard-bearer and Konoha's princess, known for her strength, beauty, and esteemed reputation. It was all but certain that she would become the next Hokage. Once Tsunade assumed power, Kirito would undoubtedly gain her favor. Danzo needed to contemplate how he would deal with this situation.

"It's regrettable that we couldn't eliminate him this time. This assassination will undoubtedly raise Mito and Hiruzen's vigilance. Attacking him again in the near future will be nearly impossible..."

Danzo furrowed his brows in thought.

Suddenly, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"Hum...what if.. ? "

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

Inside the Hokage Building, in the Hokage's office.

Following Kirito's assassination attempt, the news reached the Third Hokage's ears within minutes. The Third promptly ordered Anbu ninjas to investigate the incident.

"Have we obtained all the details?" he inquired seriously an hour later.

He had recently withdrawn all the Anbu operatives who had been monitoring and guarding Kirito, and the assassination attempt had been a major embarrassment for him. It was imperative to uncover the truth and identify the traitor, as failing to do so would be a difficult explanation to Mito-sama.

"Indeed, Yamanaka Yun Jonin has already used his mind-reading technique on the assassin and discovered that there are traitors within the Torture Department and the Hospital Guard Team. Following the incident, those individuals fled in anticipation of being apprehended, and Anbu is currently mobilizing forces to track them down and eliminate them."

The Anbu ninja responded promptly.

"What did Yun have to say? And where is the assassin now?" the Third Hokage continued, his thoughts turning to information concerning Yun.

"According to Yamanaka Jonin's report, the assassin's mind had been marked with a highly secretive curse seal. When attempting to delve deeper into the curse seal using his mind-reading technique, he sustained significant damage. This information was verified by an autopsy conducted by Anbu Medical ninja."

The Anbu operative replied and handed over a scroll.

The Third Hokage accepted the scroll, swiftly perused its contents, and took a deep drag from his cigarette before exhaling a sigh, saying, "Well done. The individuals involved in the assassination must be apprehended as swiftly as possible. Spare no effort."

"Understood."

The Anbu ninja acknowledged the order, executed a hand seal, and vanished in a puff of white smoke.

"Yun Yamanaka..."

The Third Hokage muttered to himself as he continued to study the report on the scroll. He had a fairly good understanding of Yun Yamanaka, one of the most outstanding contemporary ninjas from the Yamanaka Clan. Yun had come close to becoming the clan's head due to his remarkable abilities. However, he had voluntarily withdrawn from the clan's leadership election for undisclosed reasons and had requested a transfer to the frontlines for guard duty.

For the past decade, Yun Yamanaka had diligently served on the frontlines and had rarely returned to Konoha during this time. His exceptional sensory perception abilities had allowed him to thwart several attempts by enemy ninjas to infiltrate Konoha.

It was due to Yun's unwavering loyalty to Konoha and his extraordinary sensory abilities that he had been transferred back to the Konoha Base Camp and entrusted with the crucial role of Hospital Guard Team captain.

Over the years, He had performed his duties diligently without making a single mistake, but today's events had cast a shadow over his record. The Third Hokage had no choice but to reinvestigate Yun Yamanaka in light of his negligence of duty.

The hospital had always been considered one of Konoha's safest locations, housing a large number of non-combatants, and an assassination attempt like today's was inexcusable.

While he didn't truly believe that Yamanaka Yun would betray Konoha, today's incident left him with no choice but to launch a thorough investigation into Yun Yamanaka's actions.

"Bring him in."

The Third Hokage swiftly issued a command.

A moment later, an Anbu ninja donning a dog mask materialized before him.

"Strip Yun Yamanaka of his position as Hospital Guard Team captain, commence a covert investigation into him, appoint Hyuga yama as the interim captain, and assign a squad, no, have someone monitor and protect Kirito once again."

The Third Hokage ordered.

"Understood."

The Anbu operative complied with the command and disappeared using a teleportation technique.

Once the Anbu ninja departed, the Third Hokage's serious expression began to fade, replaced by a smile.

His mood had improved thanks to Kirito's extraordinary abilities.

According to the autopsy report, the assassin possessed special jounin capabilities. Yet, Kirito had emerged unscathed and had even used the healing palm technique to heal the assassin's injuries before capturing him intact using a sealing technique. This had both surprised and delighted the Third Hokage.

In the Third's estimation, Kirito already possessed the abilities of an elite chuunin, at the very least that of a special Jonin. Such talent at a young age meant he was bound to grow even stronger in the future, well-prepared for a future role as a Jonin.

Konoha was undoubtedly fortunate to have such a genius among its ranks.

"This exceptional Konoha bud must be protected. Kirito will undoubtedly become a vital pillar of Konoha in the future."

The Third Hokage thought with joy.

But before long, his smile faded, and his brows furrowed in concern.

He couldn't help but think about his old friend who was imprisoned.

"I hope it's not him..."

The Third Hokage heaved a sigh, a somber expression crossing his face.

He had recently received reports that the Root, which had been dormant for some time, had become active once more.

In fact, Danzo had secretly disbanded the majority of Root and dispatched most of its personnel to various border regions and battlefields. His resignation had made it too perilous for him to control this group of dangerous combat ninjas associated with Root.

However, during his investigation, he discovered that a substantial portion of the list containing the names of Root personnel had been destroyed preemptively. Only Danzo possessed knowledge of the individuals on these lists.

The Third Hokage had considered employing illusion and mind-reading techniques on Danzo to extract the list information. However, knowing his old classmate's cruelty, he had instead chosen to implant a curse mark in Danzo's brain and applied Four Symbols Seals on his body.

He know if he attempted any forceful action, his old classmate would choose death, making it virtually impossible to extract information from him.

"Danzo, you had better refrain from any dangerous actions, or else you will come to regret it," the Third Hokage silently resolved.

For the sake of the village's safety, individuals like Danzo, who disregarded the greater good and wielded significant power within the village, were difficult to tolerate for long. The Third Hokage's patience had its limits.

...

In a mountainous clan area, Yamanaka Yun strolled along. He had taken an early leave today due to his temporary suspension from duty. During this period, while awaiting the issuance of new orders, other personnel would assume responsibility for hospital guard duty.

Yamanaka Yun had anticipated this outcome and didn't find it particularly surprising. The only thing that bothered him slightly was the surveillance he felt from hidden watchers in the shadows.

As a ninja with exceptional sensory abilities, it was impossible for him not to detect the presence of Anbu operatives trailing him.

Despite his discomfort, he understood that he was under suspicion, and for the time being, he had to pretend to be oblivious to their presence.

He followed his usual routine, exchanging greetings with acquaintances in the clan area, purchasing some groceries, engaging in conversations with various individuals, and finally returning to his home.

"I'm back," he announced to the empty house upon his return.

With a touch of melancholy on his face, Yun quickly concealed his emotions. He casually placed the items he had purchased on the ground and made his way to the bedroom. Sitting on the bed, he picked up a photo frame from the bedside table. As he gazed at the photograph within, a bright smile adorned the face of a young blonde woman, and his eyes filled with affection.

He remained lost in thought for over an hour.

"Rin, I will surely avenge you. It's almost time. Danzo promised that once I eliminate that brat, he will reveal the true culprits behind your murder."

(wtf with the rin in naruto world T_T, srsly, they always breed an edgy lord )

Yamanaka Yun whispered, his expression turning colder by the moment.

Suddenly, there came a knock on the door.

Startled by the sound,Yun reluctantly set aside the photograph, composed himself, and prepared to answer the door. As he exited the bedroom, a translucent white figure, Kirito's clone, materialized in the air. With a contemplative expression, it examined the image of the young blonde woman in the photo frame.