Back at the Ninja Academy.
Masahiko's expression was solemn as he scanned the crowd: "As you all saw, the spy lurking today was very likely the instigator of the previous riot."
"Danger is all around us!"
"As future Ninja, everyone must always be prepared for attacks!"
A single experience teaches a lesson.
Witnessing such a large-scale battle firsthand, not to mention these students, even the surrounding residents became vigilant.
The children below all had solemn, serious expressions.
"All of us must see ourselves as Ninja, as soldiers..."
Masahiko spoke endlessly from above, trying his best to get more screen time that might be edited into the footage.
After he finished speaking and stepped down from the stage... [naruto: prequel Episode 18 filming complete!]
[Editing in progress...]
[Film successfully produced!]
[Total appearance time: 10 minutes 36 seconds
Screen time ratio: 50.5%]
[As a villain, with over 50% screen time, your remuneration has significantly increased.]
[Hint:...]
Below, after finally being dismissed, the suppressed Uzumaki Naruto was finally released.
He laughed heartily:
"You guys are so weak, I just jumped down from above!"
However.
He hadn't been happy for too long... "Naruto!!"
A furious roar made Uzumaki Naruto shiver.
He looked up—
Iruka Umino, his face full of anger, rushed over and grabbed him, fuming:
"You're still happy? What if it was the third floor? If you jumped down and got injured, wouldn't that delay your classmates' escape?"
Uzumaki Naruto shrunk his head, appearing timid and scolded... Outside the village, Danzo Shimura looked at his broken sword and the disappearing back of his opponent, his face grim.
"Lord..."
"Let's go, he's not the priority right now."
Danzo Shimura threw the sword to his subordinate, retracted his hand into his clothes, and walked towards the Root Organization base.
At the base.
Ibara immediately rushed over and said, "Lord, the operation was successful!"
"Successful?"
Danzo Shimura sneered, "No matter how many Sky Ninja squads you kill, it won't be as harmful as one Shinno!"
"Shinno?"
Ibara was slightly stunned, "Isn't he dead?"
"He's still alive and well."
Danzo Shimura didn't elaborate.
Although Shinno had no intention of fighting him, and they only exchanged a few moves, the outcome clearly showed he was at a disadvantage.
Even with this thing now... Danzo Shimura clutched his arm, his brows furrowed.
"Shinno is a hidden danger!"
"But Lord, our current focus is still on the village."
Ibara whispered.
Danzo Shimura nodded.
He sat down, deep in thought.
"Lord, Masahiko is here."
"Good, let's see him."
Danzo Shimura got up and walked outside.
Soon after.
"Lord!"
Masahiko immediately reported the entire sequence of events.
In addition... "Lord, this is the puppet prosthetic arm I designed for Maruboshi Kosuke."
"Maruboshi Kosuke?"
Danzo Shimura took the scroll, touched the Jutsu formula on it, seemingly lost in thought.
After a few seconds, he returned it to Masahiko.
"Give it to him."
He looked at Masahiko and said, "The person you met is named Shinno. He was once the leader of the Village Hidden in the Sky. You can look up the information on the Village Hidden in the Sky later."
"Lord Danzo, you..."
Masahiko looked surprised and somewhat hesitant.
After a long hesitation, he gritted his teeth and asked, "Have you encountered any difficulties? If your subordinate can help, I am willing to share your burden!"
"Difficulties..."
Danzo Shimura heard this and couldn't help but smile coldly, staring at Masahiko as he asked, "What difficulties could I possibly have?"
"Although your subordinate is dull, I can still perceive a thing or two from recent events... You and Lord Utatane seem to be gradually being marginalized..."
Masahiko answered sincerely and without hesitation, "You asked me to look into the Village Hidden in the Sky matter, has something gone wrong?"
Danzo Shimura narrowed his eyes.
A few seconds later, he stood up and calmly replied, "It's nothing, it's just that Shinno's strength exceeded my expectations, and I might need your assistance later."
He looked down at the bowing Masahiko, "Being smart is a good thing, but making wild guesses is your mistake."
"Yes, your subordinate will definitely learn from this lesson!"
Masahiko responded.
Danzo Shimura waved his hand, signaling him to rise.
Then, he said, "The attack drill was good, you can continue it. Don't worry about anything else."
With that, Danzo Shimura walked to a nearby bookshelf.
He searched for a bit and finally took down a scroll.
"You mentioned before the idea of combining the Eight Gates with inhaling a large amount of oxygen to forcibly enhance physical activity... Is there still room for optimization?"
"This is the most feasible plan I believe. If optimized, it might also have to start with oxygen intake."
Masahiko replied, "Moreover, activation itself requires training, and even if it's quick, it won't happen overnight."
"Hmm."
Danzo Shimura nodded.
After a moment of silence, he handed him another booklet.
"Take this notebook and quickly produce results."
"Yes!"
...Back home, Masahiko opened the notebook.
Senju Tobirama's handwriting!
In addition, there were numerous notes and insights below.
Part of it was research on Ninjutsu and Genjutsu like Water Release and Darkness Walking Technique, and some of it was specifically for the Sharingan.
The other part was... Soul Binding Technique?
He was a bit surprised; he didn't expect it to be this Jutsu.
This forbidden Jutsu was very complex, and Masahiko ostensibly had no research on souls, so theoretically, he shouldn't have any results.
He looked at the other part.
He might as well hand in the Water Release and Darkness Walking Technique.
Night, eight o'clock.
In front of the screen, Masahiko put down his pen.
He had already written the research report for Water Release and Darkness Walking Technique.
It was still the same as before.
He divided Water Severing Wave, Darkness Walking Technique, and other techniques from being used by one person to being used by multiple people, clearly assigning tasks to reduce the difficulty of use.
For the Darkness Walking Technique, Masahiko wrote more insights and ideas for Danzo Shimura to research later.
Now... he'd better watch episode eighteen first.
A fifty-fifty split might yield a lot of information.
The opening scene was him sealing Ido, which he fast-forwarded through quickly, until Danzo Shimura's conversation with Hiruzen Sarutobi... "Danzo said Hiruzen's idea was too dangerous? Did I see that right?"
"Reversing the natural order!"
"No... Does Danzo really have no self-awareness? If the Third Hokage doesn't get rid of him, Konoha will be ruined by him and that old hag!"
"Indeed, if I were the Third Hokage, I'd be exhausted too."
In the manga, Danzo Shimura hadn't even appeared yet, but in just the "prequel" part, Danzo Shimura's reputation was already firmly established.
There wasn't a single compliment in the bullet chat.
However.
Masahiko was sharp-eyed and immediately spotted a different one—
"Why do I feel something is off? Could the Third Hokage old man's plan have been suggested by Masahiko Old Thief?"
This bullet chat was drowned out, and not many people noticed it.
Soon, the next scene began.
This was the scene of Danzo Shimura returning to his base.
In the dark room, there was only him, "Ibara," and another confidant dressed like a member of the Aburame Clan.
He spoke: "Hiruzen wants me to go out and form another organization to counter those people. What do you think?"
The other person remained silent.
"Lord, this might..."
Ibara hesitated for a moment and said, "If you leave, you won't have another chance."