The scene shifts back to three days ago.
The news of Sarutobi Hiruzen taking Yagyu away quickly reached Danzo's ears.
Upon learning that Yagyu had finally awakened, Danzo's first reaction was regret and heartache.
Had he known earlier, he would have secretly transferred Yagyu. Who would have thought Sarutobi Hiruzen would act so quickly?
Fortunately, he still had 'Kinoe'.
After the initial heartache, Danzo quickly informed Kinoe of the news.
Learning that his last partner, who had been an experimental subject just like him, had awakened, Kinoe felt very happy and even wanted to meet Yagyu.
However, in order to hide his abilities, Danzo neither refused nor agreed. He encouraged Kinoe to train hard, stating that when he meets Yagyu in the future, it will represent a contest between Danzo and Sarutobi Hiruzen, and he hoped Kinoe would not disappoint him.
In response, Kinoe agreed with great anticipation.
Having been out for more than two years longer than Yagyu, Kinoe had attained considerable proficiency in Wood Release. A while ago, he even fought against the genius known as Hatake Kakashi. Although he was defeated, his strength was already at the level of an Elite Chunin.
Yagyu was only just starting to cultivate Wood Release; it would be difficult for him to catch up.
Seeing Kinoe full of fighting spirit, Danzo nodded with satisfaction, and a sense of rivalry also arose within him.
"Sarutobi, perhaps this is fate."
Danzo looked at Kinoe using Wood Release and thought to himself, Now both you and I have a seedling that has inherited Wood Release. Let us compete to see who trains them better! I will not lose to you again this time!
...
Yagyu did not know that he had escaped the covetous eyes of the "Scapegoat King" because of Danzo's rivalry.
Even if he knew, Yagyu wouldn't care.
The value of Wood Release was too high. To Konoha, it was even more important than the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Sarutobi Hiruzen would absolutely never yield on this matter.
Indeed, in the original story, when Sarutobi Hiruzen learned of Kinoe's existence from Kakashi, he immediately led a large number of Anbu to surround the Root organization, displaying a rare moment of toughness.
From the moment he saw Yagyu 'unconsciously' use Wood Release to pierce the container, Sarutobi Hiruzen had prepared to cultivate Yagyu into a trump card to suppress the Nine-Tails inside Naruto in the future.
Two days later, Sarutobi Hiruzen came to find Yagyu again. He took him to an empty training ground and brought him something he had been dreaming of.
"Yagyu, you have inherited the power of a god. Aside from Lord Hashirama, you are the second ninja capable of using the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai."
Sarutobi Hiruzen held a scroll in his hand and looked at Yagyu with great anticipation, handing the scroll to him. "This scroll records Lord Hashirama's Wood Release Ninjutsu. I hope you can comprehend it and become a towering tree of Konoha."
"..."
Yagyu did not show excitement but put on a look of half-understanding, fitting for a child who knew nothing.
"If there is anything you don't understand, you can ask me."
Sarutobi Hiruzen patted Yagyu's head and smiled gently. "Can you understand the Chakra Extraction Method? How about I find a teacher to teach you how to read later?"
"Okay."
Yagyu nodded.
In reality, Yagyu did not need a teacher.
He was a genius who was rational, willing to work hard for his interests, and possessed the necessary capital.
In order to understand various raw works, Yagyu had specifically learned Japanese in his previous life, mastering Chinese, Japanese, and English.
That was the reason he could understand the Chakra Extraction Method.
However, he couldn't tell Sarutobi Hiruzen this, so he could only let him arrange for a literacy teacher.
Seeing him so obedient, Sarutobi Hiruzen patted his head, then took out a piece of paper and handed it to Yagyu. "Yagyu, infuse your chakra into this. Let's see what attributes you have."
"Okay."
Yagyu nodded, took the paper, and infused his chakra into it to see the changes.
The next moment, a scene that shocked Sarutobi Hiruzen appeared.
The paper wrinkled, became wet, split, burned, and crumbled. There were a total of five phenomena.
Yin and Yang attributes, being special, could not be detected by chakra paper.
"Wind, Fire, Water, Earth, Lightning... you actually have the Five Elements attributes?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes widened, followed by a surge of ecstasy. He said to Yagyu, "Your attributes are the same as mine; you are suitable for cultivating all types of ninjutsu. After you learn to read, aside from Wood Release, I can teach you Five Elements Ninjutsu."
"Five Elements Ninjutsu?"
Yagyu tilted his head, revealing a confused expression again.
"Sit here, I will explain ninjutsu knowledge to you."
Sarutobi Hiruzen pulled Yagyu to sit on the grass nearby, as if returning to the time when he first took the Sannin as disciples, patiently explaining chakra and ninjutsu knowledge to Yagyu.
"...Everyone is born with chakra attributes; this is unrelated to nature transformation. Chakra attributes represent the ninjutsu you are suited to cultivate. For example, Fire attribute is suitable for Fire Release, Water attribute for Water Release... Chakra nature transformation is different from attributes. This can be cultivated later on. Every Jonin must possess at least two or more nature transformations."
"Kekkei Genkai is the combination of nature transformations to form a 'New Release'. Once cultivated successfully, it will change one's bloodline, thereby passing it down to the next generation through blood relations."
"Your Wood Release is synthesized from Water + Earth. But due to its special nature, currently, aside from Lord Hashirama, only you in Konoha have mastered it."
At this point, Sarutobi Hiruzen patted Yagyu's head, revealing a kind smile at the right moment, and said, "Therefore, you are the future of the village."
Being placed with high hopes by the Hokage and called the future of the village, other children would certainly jump for joy.
But Yagyu only revealed a determined look and nodded vigorously.
His behavior, however, made Sarutobi Hiruzen nod with satisfaction, labeling Yagyu as: [Smart], [Rational].
This kind of personality was much better than Naruto's and easier to cultivate.
"Yagyu, I will teach you a combination ninjutsu."
Sarutobi Hiruzen stood up and said to Yagyu, "This combination ninjutsu is called the 'Three Body Technique'. It is a basic ninjutsu that every ninja must master."
"Okay."
Yagyu laughed inwardly, but on the surface, he nodded seriously.