In a remote forest within the Land of Fire,
"Three, two, one—start."
An invisible force between heaven and earth began to gather, drawn together by a mysterious power, slowly flowing into a humanoid body.
The energy within that body gradually filled, rising from stability to boiling, until it began to surge violently.
"Kubisaki, interrupt him."
"Got it."
Kubisaki, the giant lizard, shot out a massive tongue, wrapped in that invisible energy of heaven and earth.
Just as it was about to strike the humanoid figure—
"Woof! Woof!"
A ninja dog nearly the same size as Kubisaki leapt out, and with a single swipe, knocked the giant tongue away.
Kubisaki immediately flared up in anger.
"Stupid dog, what are you doing? Didn't you see Kubisaki-sama was saving your master?!"
"Woof! Woof!"
"I can't understand dog language, damn it. With a body that big, how can you still not speak human language?!"
"Kubisaki, come back. Eimaru's decision is Ryoha's decision. He must have planned this from the start. We just need to support him."
Aburame Shiken, who had been preparing for possible aftermath measures, stood up.
"Some things—once the person involved has made their choice, all we can do is support them."
But inwardly he thought:
Ryoha, you stubborn idiot.
Kubisaki returned to Shiken's side.
"You humans are all crazy. There's something ready-made, yet you insist on mastering that massive natural energy yourselves. Isn't that just asking for trouble?"
"It's different. Your sage techniques aren't what Ryoha needs, so he has to master it himself."
"Oh right, you call this sage techniques. And even though the energy comes from heaven and earth, why do you insist on calling it natural energy?"
"Uh… just a convention."
Cold sweat formed on Aburame Shiken's forehead.
Using it was one thing—but renaming it afterward?
Even Shiken felt a bit uncomfortable about it. But if it were Uchiha Kamito, there wouldn't be any issue at all.
Everyone knew people had a sense of integrity.
But Uchiha Kamito had none.
"Shiken, I'm hungry."
"Oh, over there."
With a casual gesture, Shiken spawned dozens of parasitic insects.
Kubisaki pounced on them and devoured them eagerly.
Several hours later,
Ryoha's body was covered in blood, and the natural energy around him gradually calmed from violent turbulence to stillness.
Inuzuka Ryoha opened his eyes.
White eye-shadow-like markings appeared, and white patterns slowly spread across his body.
His wounds continuously healed, and beneath the torn fabric of his clothes, fresh pink flesh was revealed.
Ryoha looked at his sharp nails, and with a casual swipe at the ground, left several clear claw marks.
"Congratulations, congratulations. With that kind of regeneration, we should call you Wolverine—no, wait, you don't have adamantium claws. Still using nails… maybe Sabretooth suits you better."
Aburame Shiken clapped as he congratulated him.
"Wolverine or Sabretooth, it doesn't matter. At least this proves my idea has real potential. The weak human body should've been abandoned long ago."
"Sounds like you're not human anymore."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Ryoha examined his body after integrating natural energy as he spoke.
"Toads, slugs, snakes, lizards—all these animals can evolve using natural energy. There's no reason humans can't."
"Then what do we call you from now on? Summoning Sacred Land: Inuzuka Clan?"
"Still too early for that. And Shiken, don't you think summoned beasts are far superior to humans? They're intelligent, can communicate, have their own organizations—and most importantly, they live much longer."
"…When you put it that way, I guess you're not wrong."
"Right. So, when are you carrying out your next plan?"
"Plan?"
"Stop playing dumb. That coastline near the Land of Water—your insects have probably hollowed it out completely by now. Thinking of making a move against Kirigakure?"
"…Let's talk about it when we get back. I have a rough idea, but nothing concrete yet."
"Alright. Let's head back."
"What about Eimaru?"
Shiken looked at Eimaru, now the size of a small mountain, and felt a headache coming on.
There's no way Konoha can hide this.
"Let him stay here. Besides, he has a child now. Time for him to take responsibility as a father."
"Him? At that size?"
"Five years. It's not like he's the only success. And with me as such an excellent template, finding a pretty female dog is easy, right?"
"Woof! Woof!" What do you mean 'finding'? This is true love. Responsible love, okay?!
Eimaru barked nonstop in protest.
This was a matter of canine dignity.
...
Konoha,
Hokage's Office.
A somewhat disheveled Hatake Sakumo knelt before Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"I'm sorry, Hokage-sama. The mission failed."
"Oh, I see. Don't worry about it. Sakumo, go back and get some rest."
"Thank you, Hokage-sama."
Hatake Sakumo stood up and walked out step by step, his face filled with worry, as if burdened by an unresolved knot in his heart.
...
In another dark room, a Root member knelt before Shimura Danzō.
"Danzō-sama, Hatake Sakumo has left the Hokage building."
"Dismissed."
"Yes, Danzō-sama."
After the Root member left,
"Orochimaru, did you learn anything from this?"
Behind Danzō, to his right,
Orochimaru removed his hood and stepped forward.
"These past five years have been quite enlightening. Beneath the bright and sunny Konoha lies such a scene."
He sighed.
"They are the leaves basking in the sunlight, while we are the roots buried deep underground. Only when the roots grow deeper can the great tree of Konoha flourish. Orochimaru, are you interested in taking over this vast organization?"
Hokage? The one who becomes Hokage can only be me—Shimura Danzō.
"Root doesn't suit me. My pursuits lie elsewhere."
"Hmph. Foolish. Leave today—someone without the Will of Fire is nothing but trash."
After saying that, Danzō left.
Under the watch of Aburame Tatsuma, Orochimaru wisely departed Root.
Stepping back into the bright sunlight, he spoke slowly:
"The Will of Fire… If this is what it is, the souls beneath the memorial stone would weep."
"Sarutobi-sensei, you've truly grown corrupt—to allow someone like Danzō to exist."
"Prosperity is false. Words are false. Perhaps only those who live long enough can see the truth."
"Unfortunately, life is still too fragile."
...
"One, two! One, two!"
Another group of young Hyūga clan members was undergoing endurance training, running laps around the village.
They were full of youthful energy, but their foreheads were smooth and unmarked, because they had not yet earned the right to bear that "honorable" mark.
That's right—after Hyūga Hiyasu's "re-education"—no, correction—after his "proper education," the Caged Bird Seal had officially been renamed:
The Hyūga Warrior Seal.
Only those who bear the Hyūga Warrior Seal have the right to leave the village and go to the battlefield.