When Shin pushed open the door to his home, the lingering glow of the setting sun happened to bathe the entrance in warm golden light.
"I'm back."
Before his voice had even fully faded—
Pop! Pop! Two crisp sounds rang out at the same time.
Colored confetti and shining ribbons burst overhead and fluttered down around him, instantly covering him from head to toe.
Aoi and Hiroshi each held a party popper in their hands, their faces overflowing with bright smiles as they clapped enthusiastically.
"Congratulations, Shin! Today, you officially became a ninja of Konoha!" Aoi's voice was soft and warm, her eyes filled with unmistakable pride.
Hiroshi strode forward immediately, his eyes locking onto the ninja forehead protector tied around Shin's head.
He slapped Shin heavily on the shoulder while laughing loudly.
"As expected of my son!"
Shin froze slightly for a moment, looking at the pure joy on his parents' faces and the unexpectedly warm welcome waiting for him at home.
This ordinary warmth… This simple happiness… It was something Naruto Uzumaki had dreamed about for years yet never truly possessed.
Shin lightly brushed the colorful paper from his hair before replying with a faint smile.
"Yeah."
—
At the dinner table, the atmosphere was even livelier than usual.
Hiroshi eagerly leaned forward and asked excitedly, "Shin, hurry and tell us—who's your Jonin instructor?"
"Are they strong? What kind of ninja are they? What's their fighting style like?"
Shin swallowed the food in his mouth before calmly answering, "His name is Yamato."
"Yamato?" Hiroshi scratched his head in confusion before turning toward his wife.
"Aoi, have you heard of him before? I don't remember any particularly famous Jonin with that name."
Aoi frowned slightly as she searched through her memories before slowly shaking her head. "I don't really remember anyone by that name either."
"Before I retired, I never heard of any Elite Jonin called Yamato." She paused thoughtfully before adding, "Maybe he was promoted in recent years… or perhaps…"
"…he used to serve in the Anbu?"
"Yeah," Shin nodded lightly. "He really was in the Anbu before."
"And…" He paused briefly before continuing calmly, "…he can use Wood Release."
"Oh, Wood Release…" Hiroshi instinctively repeated the words.
Then suddenly, His eyes widened into circles.
"Wait—what did you just say?! Wood Release?!"
Clatter. The chopsticks in Aoi's hand slipped and fell onto the table with a sharp sound.
Yet she didn't even notice. She simply stared at her son in disbelief, her voice trembling slightly.
"Shin… are you certain it was Wood Release? The same Wood Release used by the First Hokage-sama?"
"Yeah." Shin nodded calmly. "He used a Wood Release technique to block my Rasengan. And another technique that caused wooden vines to erupt from the ground to bind targets."
Aoi inhaled deeply, trying hard to calm the turbulent emotions surging through her heart.
As someone who possessed Senju blood flowing through her veins, she understood better than anyone what Wood Release truly represented.
That power symbolized the absolute pinnacle of the Senju Clan. The legendary power that once pacified the chaotic Warring States era itself.
"In that case…" Aoi's voice softened unconsciously. "He… he must also belong to the Senju Clan."
That was the very first thought that appeared in her mind.
If Shin's Jonin instructor truly belonged to the same bloodline, then naturally, he would place even more care and effort into guiding him.
Shin's movements paused very slightly.
The true origin of Yamato's Wood Release briefly surfaced within his mind: the First Hokage's cell experiments. A surviving test subject.
Shin gave a vague hum in response, his tone carrying a hint of uncertainty.
"Probably. After all, if he isn't connected to the Senju Clan somehow, then how else could he possibly use Wood Release?"
But even that ambiguous answer was enough to visibly ease Aoi's worries.
A bright smile gradually appeared on her face once more. "That's wonderful."
She picked up her chopsticks again, relief evident in her expression. "If he's a senior from the same clan, then I can finally feel at ease."
"He'll definitely guide you properly." At that moment, Aoi couldn't help feeling hopeful.
Shin saw the genuine happiness on his mother's face but chose not to say anything further. He simply lowered his head and quietly continued eating.
---
Deep beneath Konoha, within the dark underground base of Root.
Danzo sat alone in the shadows. His single visible eye stared coldly at the Root operative kneeling below him on one knee.
The cane in his hand struck the ground heavily with a dull thud.
"…So Yamato took the initiative to terminate the assessment and passed all members of Team One?"
The Root ninja replied in a flat, emotionless voice.
"During the test, the target—Kagutsuchi Shin—displayed Chakra reserves far exceeding the level of an ordinary Genin."
"He even forced Yamato to temporarily avoid confronting him directly."
"His combat style focuses primarily on long-range Ninjutsu suppression."
"He has displayed mastery over multiple C-rank and B-rank techniques, including Water Dragon Bullet, Earth Dragon Bullet, and the Headhunter Technique."
The operative paused briefly before continuing.
"…Additionally, it has been confirmed that he has mastered the A-rank technique 'Rasengan,' which he used to contend directly against Yamato."
"Rasengan…" Danzo's hoarse voice echoed through the darkness. "Minato's technique…and he seems to have mastered it well…"
A cold glint flickered through his lone eye.
The resentment he felt after being stopped by Hiruzen—and failing to obtain the boy for Root—once again spread wildly within him.
Such enormous Chakra reserves. Such monstrous talent in Ninjutsu. And the purest Senju bloodline imaginable.
In Danzo's eyes, Shin was the perfect vessel.
The ideal Jinchuriki candidate.
More importantly, he was the ultimate weapon prototype Root had always desired.
And now, that indecisive fool Hiruzen had entrusted him to Yamato.
To the failed Root experiment who had abandoned the darkness and defected to the Hokage's side.
"Kinoe…" Danzo slowly whispered the codename he himself had once bestowed.
Disgust flashed through his eye.
A failed experimental subject. A weakling who abandoned the darkness. And now that person was responsible for guiding the genius he had set his sights on?
What a joke.
A talent like Shin should never grow beneath Hiruzen's naive "Will of Fire."
He should be transferred to Root, forged personally within darkness into the sharpest blade possible.
Only then could he become the ultimate force protecting Konoha… and fulfill Danzo's ideals. Not some meaningless flower raised comfortably beneath hokage.
"Hiruzen…" Danzo muttered coldly, "Your indecision and your so-called 'light' will only waste this talent."
His eye narrowed slowly. "This child is destined to belong to Root."
Danzo slowly rose to his feet, the surrounding darkness swallowing most of his figure.
"Continue monitoring Team One closely. Especially all movements related to Kagutsuchi Shin."
He paused briefly before his voice grew even lower and colder. "And…I need a method…that will make him willingly approach the darkness himself."
"Yes!" The Root operative bowed deeply before silently vanishing into the shadows.
Soon, only Danzo remained within the empty darkness, leaning upon his cane while his lone eye flickered ominously beneath the shadows.
Kagutsuchi Shin…Such an extraordinary piece of unpolished jade…How could I possibly allow you to waste away beneath sunlight?
Root is your true destination.
It's only a matter of time.