The chill of late autumn seeped quietly into every corner of Konoha.
In the core chamber of the Root Base, buried deep underground and perpetually devoid of sunlight, the air was even more thick and frigid than the surface.
It was a mix of the musty smell of old scrolls and the pungent odor of special chemical solutions, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere.
Danzo sat rigidly on a cold stone chair, his single exposed eye flickering with a sinister and restless light under the swaying flame of an oil lamp.
His rough fingers were tapping heavily on several scrolls spread open on the stone table.
These intelligence scrolls, treated with special chemicals, carried information sent back by Kabuto from the distant Land of Stars.
Tatsuma stood by like a statue merged with the shadows.
He wore the Root's signature grey high-collared uniform and hood, a mask covering his mouth and nose, revealing only a pair of utterly placid eyes that resembled insectoid compound eyes.
"Tatsuma!" Danzo's voice was low and hoarse, carrying suppressed fury, "Is this the fruit of Kabuto's labor after months in the Land of Stars? Aside from that nation's seductive 'no nobility' policy, the Ninja Academy's curriculum, and the names of a few insignificant figures... the core intelligence on that Shura is practically blank!"
He pushed the scrolls aside. The oil lamp's flame wavered slightly, "In Sunagakure, in Iwagakure, he could unearth deep secrets! How has he become blind in the Land of Stars?!"
Tatsuma gave a slight bow. His voice, muffled by the mask, was flat and devoid of inflection, "Please calm your anger, Danzo-sama. Yakushi Kabuto is currently operating under the identity 'Kumamoto Kabuto' as one of the first batch of students at the Star Ninja Academy. He graduated early due to his Medical Ninjutsu Talents and was assigned to perform some low-level missions. But his access is limited to low-level Ninja and Academy's instructors."
"Shura himself is elusive, rarely appearing in public. His core team keeps an even lower profile. Given Kabuto's current identity and seniority, directly accessing Shura's core secrets would indeed require deeper infiltration and opportunity. The Land of Stars' information defense is more tight than anticipated."
Danzo's single eye narrowed dangerously. His gaze swept over another scroll.
That was the result of Kabuto's infiltration in Sunagakure and Iwagakure… detailed, in-depth, and of immense value.
"Hmph! Compared to how he thrived in other villages, he's practically stuck in quicksand in the Land of Stars!" His tone held not just dissatisfaction, but a trace of barely perceptible anxiety.
"This Shura... is even more mysterious than that Nagato in Amegakure with his Rinnegan! The Akatsuki organization, at least, has traces… a leader, members, bases, goals of amassing wealth and power!"
"But this Shura, with just one person, possesses the terrifying strength to cripple Kumogakure, and even has someone like Uchiha Hikari, a Mangekyo Sharingan wielder. Yet the pasts of both Shura and Uchiha Hikari are complete blanks!"
"This doesn't make sense! No powerful force can appear out of thin air!"
Tatsuma picked up on Danzo's obsession with the 'Rinnegan' in his words.
The failure to completely eradicate the Akatsuki and seize those legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths back then remained Danzo's greatest regret and source of apprehension.
Tatsuma added opportunely, his voice still calm: "However, Danzo-sama, at least one thing can be confirmed. Based on the limited information Kabuto has sent back, combined with our previous tracking of the Akatsuki's remnants, we can basically rule out the possibility that Shura is the Rinnegan-wielding leader of the Akatsuki or one of its core remnants."
"Their operational styles, organizational structures, and goals are completely different. Shura's power system also shows no descriptions of Rinnegan's characteristics."
"I am well aware of that." Danzo snorted coldly, but his furrowed brow did not relax.
Ruling out the threat of the Rinnegan only made Shura's true identity more puzzling, like a giant beast shrouded in thick fog… its roar heard, but its true form unseen.
"As for what those idiots in Kumogakure so confidently claimed, that Shura used the [Nine-Tails's Tailed Beast Mode]?" Danzo's tone was filled with undisguised mockery and laughter.
"It's nothing but a monstrous lie fabricated after they were once again defeated and humiliated by Shura! A lie to cover their own incompetence, shift blame, and even attempt to extort Konoha! The Nine-Tails' power was completely divided and sealed by the Fourth Hokage at the cost of his life using the Dead Demon Consuming Seal! It is absolutely impossible for it to reappear in the world so soon!"
He paused, a glint of cold recollection of bygone days flashing in his single eye, "Back during the peace talks to Kumogakure, as the Second Hokage's guard, I saw with my own eyes those two monsters, Gold and Silver Brothers, who had devoured the Nine-Tails' flesh."
"Their so-called [Tailed Beast Transformation] merely borrowed a trace of the Nine-Tails' impure Chakra. The power was immense but out of control, far inferior to the true, perfect power of a Tailed Beast!"
"If Shura can indeed imitate it, at best it would be an inferior, defective product like Gold and Silver Brothers!"
However, the Kumogakure's resolute accusation ultimately stuck in Danzo's paranoid and conspiratorially-minded heart like a poisonous thorn.
His withered fingers unconsciously tapped on the cold stone table surface, emitting a monotonous, oppressive tap-tap sound.
The chamber fell into brief silence, broken only by the crackle of the burning oil lamp and the distant echo of dripping water.
"But-" Danzo's tapping finger suddenly stopped. A sharp light burst forth from his single eye, like a venomous snake spotting prey, "The nonsense spouted by those fools from Kumogakure has accidentally given me a reminder!"
He sharply looked up, his piercing gaze shooting towards Tatsuma, "If this Shura can indeed use some form of Chakra extremely similar to a Tailed Beast… even if it's just an appearance! Then, the source of this power might be the key to unraveling his mystery!"
"Find out the root of his power, and we can find his weakness, even his origins!"
"Tatsuma!" Danzo's voice suddenly rose, carrying a tone of unquestionable command.
"Yes!" Tatsuma instantly straightened his posture.
"Immediately! Send Kabuto a highest-level encrypted order!" Danzo enunciated each word, each one like an ice pick dipped in poison: "Order him to spare no cost, mobilize all covert resources, prioritize, and gather with all effort all intelligence regarding Shura! Especially any and all clues related to Chakra!"
"I want to know where his formidable power truly comes from!!"
"Yes! I will execute immediately!" Tatsuma bowed to accept the order. His movements were without the slightest hesitation, like a pre-programmed machine. He retreated silently, merging into the shadows of the wall as if he had never been there.
In the gloomy chamber, only Danzo remained. The dim lamplight stretched his hunched shadow, distortedly projecting it onto the cold stone wall.
His single eye stared at the jumping flame, burning with greed, calculation, and a deep wariness of the unknown power.
…
Under the same autumn sun, generously spilling onto the wide outdoor training grounds of the Konoha's Ninja Academy, the morning's slight chill was dispelled, replaced by a comfortable warmth.
In stark contrast to the cold and oppressive Root Base, this place was filled with the characteristic noise, vitality, and a touch of nervous anticipation unique to youth.
"Hey! Menma! Menma! Are you listening?!" Naruto, like an over-energetic golden retriever, jumped and danced around Menma, who was leaning lazily against the wall base. His hands waved excitedly.
"It's combat class today! I hope Iruka-sensei pairs me up with that smug Sasuke! I'm going to teach him a lesson and wipe that cool look right off his face! I'll show him who the real genius is! Make him—"
"Alright, Naruto," Menma said helplessly, digging a finger in his ear. A blade of grass he'd plucked was dangling from his mouth as he mumbled an interruption: "I know, I know. You're going to make me deaf."
He was using his real body today. After all, combat class involved real physical collisions, and shadow clones just weren't the same.
The golden sunlight fell on him, making him squint slightly.
Hinata kept her head down, her fair little face tinged with a faint blush, like a timid little rabbit, following closely at Menma's side.
Her two slender index fingers unconsciously twisted together, revealing her inner nervousness.
Hearing Naruto's words, she quickly glanced up at Menma's profile, then looked down just as quickly, as if startled. Her long eyelashes fluttered slightly, the blush spreading rapidly to the roots of her ears.
"Naruto, save your energy," Choji said, sitting cross-legged on a nearby step, happily munching on a large bag of potato chips. His chubby face wore a look of worldly wisdom.
"That guy Sasuke was the top student praised by Iruka-sensei right after school started. It's not like you've only lost to him once or twice."
"Hey! Choji! You-!" Naruto instantly jumped up like a cat with its tail stepped on, his fur bristling. He pointed at Choji, his face turning bright red.
"I'm the man who's going to be the Hokage! How could I keep losing to that Uchiha who only knows how to act cool! Just you watch, one day-"
"Hahaha!" Kiba laughed uproariously, arms crossed, showing a mouthful of white teeth: "Give it up, Naruto! At least make your lies believable! Forget Sasuke, you can't even dodge my Taijutsu attacks now! Maybe think about how to stably refine Chakra first! Eternal dead last!"
He delivered the precise finishing blow, hitting Naruto's sore spot… the 'dead last' title.
"Bastard Kiba! Who are you calling a dead last?! Do you want to fight?!" Naruto immediately switched targets, rolling up his sleeves and preparing to pounce.
Shikamaru leaned against the wall on the other side, hands in his pockets. Watching this chaotic daily routine, he let out a long, utterly weary sigh: "Ah... What a drag... These energetic single-celled organisms..."
The first semester was more than half over.
The theoretical lessons instilling the [Will of Fire] still seemed too grand and distant for these mostly six- and seven-year-old children.
What truly created a clear divide within the class were the practical courses.
Chakra refining, shuriken and kunai throwing, the basics of the three Basic Ninjutsu, Taijutsu sparring… these were the real, hard skills.
Clan children like Sasuke, Hinata, and Shino had already laid a solid foundation through systematic family training. Their Chakra refining was smooth and stable, their shuriken throwing accuracy far surpassed their peers, and their Taijutsu stances were well-formed.
Sasuke, in particular, stood out by being able to skillfully perform the C-Rank Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique, making him the undisputed top student and attracting the admiring gazes of a large group of girls led by Ino and Sakura.
Naruto, however, due to the unconscious Chakra interference from the Nine-Tails within him, found the refining process extremely difficult and highly unstable… sometimes strong, sometimes weak, often out of control.
His grades firmly occupied the bottom of the class. The title 'dead last' echoed throughout the entire grade, forming a glaring contrast with the dazzling Sasuke.
The bell for the afternoon combat class finally rang.
Iruka led the students to the wide training grounds at the back of the school specifically used for sparring.
The ground was packed earth, flattened and marked with clear white boundary lines. Stone steps for spectators surrounded the area.
"Alright, settle down! Everyone, find a seat!" Iruka clapped his hands to maintain order, pulling out a match-up list and announcing in a loud voice.
"First match! Uchiha Sasuke! Menma! Please both competitors enter the arena and prepare!"
The previously buzzing training ground instantly fell silent, then erupted into an even greater commotion, especially among the female students.
"Wow! It's Sasuke-kun!"
"Sasuke-kun! Do your best!!"
"Sasuke-kun is the coolest! You have to win!"
"M-Menma-kun... please do your best..." This was Hinata's encouragement, uttered in a voice so faint only she could probably hear it, her face buried and bright red.
"Hahaha! Menma! Go! Beat that smug Sasuke good! Show him there's always someone better! Get revenge for me!" Naruto, completely uninhibited, jumped onto the stone steps, waving his fists and shouting himself hoarse with encouragement, as if he were the one about to fight, his excitement plain to see.
Menma, who had been half-squinting and leaning against the wall as if he could fall asleep at any moment, raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing his name paired with Sasuke's. He finally seemed to perk up a bit.
He looked towards the center of the grounds.
Sasuke was already standing coolly in the middle of the arena, with his hands in pockets.
His black, spiky hair looked neat and sharp in the sunlight. His fair, handsome little face showed no expression, but the slightly raised chin and the confidence and pride shining in his dark eyes silently declared his position as the top student.
He ignored Naruto's noise, his gaze calmly sweeping over the girls cheering for him before finally landing on Menma, who was ambling over slowly. His eyes held a hint of scrutiny and the faint superiority of a strong individual.
Looking at Sasuke's classic arrogant attitude of 'I'm the best in the world' and 'you are all mere mortals', and listening to Naruto's expectant and provocating shouts of 'beat him up', a grin full of mischievous amusement tugged irresistibly at the corner of Menma's mouth.
'The sky was clear, the rain had stopped, and the little Sasuke thought he was hot stuff again.'
A long-dormant interest in 'bullying little kids', like a stone thrown into a calm lake, sent ripples spreading through Menma's heart.
'Heh... since I'm here...' Menma chuckled inwardly. '...might as well have some fun with this tsundere, arrogant little Sasuke.'
He casually flicked the blade of grass from his mouth with precision into a distant trash can. His previously lazy, languid posture abruptly changed.
Though he still didn't deliberately release any aura, his steps became steady and casual, carrying an indescribable sense of coordination.
He strode purposefully into the white circle at the center of the training grounds, stopping directly opposite Sasuke.
Their eyes met in the air, invisible sparks seeming to fly instantly.