Inside the Hokage's Office, smoke still lingered in the air.
The cat-masked Anbu Ninja who had escorted Shin earlier was kneeling on one knee, calmly reporting everything that had happened inside the sealed vault to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"So… in the end… he chose 'Water Release: Hard Whirlpool Water Blade.'"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's pipe paused slightly just before reaching his lips as he raised his gaze toward the kneeling Anbu below.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly lowered his pipe and leaned back into his chair.
'Water Release: Hard Whirlpool Water Blade… so that was his choice.'
It was both an unexpected and perfectly reasonable decision.
After all, Water Release: Hard Whirlpool Water Blade was one of the ultimate ninjutsu of Water Release personally left behind by the Second Hokage.
In terms of offensive power, it ranked among the absolute peak of Water Release Ninjutsu and was considered one of the final goals pursued by countless Water Release Ninjas.
For a youth gifted with extraordinary talent in Water Release and overflowing with youthful ambition, it was only natural for him to choose such a high-level ninjutsu when faced with its temptation.
'In the end, he is still young,' Sarutobi Hiruzen thought inwardly. 'Faced with a power capable of determining victory with a single strike, even he finds it difficult to resist.'
'Still… gold will always shine. What truly requires attention right now is…'
Before finishing his thoughts, Sarutobi Hiruzen waved his hand, dismissing the Anbu.
The office fell silent once more, yet Hiruzen's thoughts continued to churn.
Shin's choice was merely a small interlude. What truly concerned him was another matter entirely—Danzo.
Danzo's actions today had crossed far too many boundaries. If left unchecked, things would only grow worse.
'It is time to further tighten Root's oversight… Certain mission channels and sources of funding must be thoroughly reexamined.'
Sarutobi Hiruzen picked up a nearby document, a sharp glint appearing within his aged eyes.
"No matter what… this time, I absolutely will not allow you to continue acting recklessly, Danzo."
—
Meanwhile, deep within the darkness of Root's underground base—
Bang!
A cane slammed heavily against the stone floor, producing a dull and chilling thud.
Danzo's chest rose and fell unevenly. Clearly, the events that had just unfolded inside the Hokage's Office were something the nearly seventy-year-old elder could not accept.
Shin's mocking face and Sarutobi Hiruzen's blatant protection replayed repeatedly within his mind.
How many years had it been since he had suffered such humiliation?!
"What a wicked little brat…" Danzo cursed furiously.
"So rebellious, so disrespectful toward his elders, so sharp-tongued and insolent… he is practically identical to those inherently wicked Uchiha!"
"The Senju Clan once possessed such glory. First Hokage-sama possessed such incredible vision! Morisaki Aoi herself loyally served the Village… so how could she possibly give birth to such a rebellious descendant?!"
"Where is the sense of sacrifice and devotion expected from someone carrying Senju blood? He has clearly inherited the worst traits of the Uchiha!"
The more Danzo spoke, the angrier he became, his furious voice echoing endlessly throughout the empty underground chamber.
"And Hiruzen—that fool—is actually protecting him!"
"A child with such a temperament, no matter how talented he may be, is a hidden danger to the Village. He should be thoroughly disciplined by Root until every trace of his rebelliousness is ground away!"
Only after venting for quite some time did Danzo finally manage to release part of the frustration boiling within him.
However, the sinister gloom within his single eye remained unchanged.
A moment later, a shadowy figure cautiously emerged from the darkness and silently knelt on one knee behind Danzo, lowering his head deeply as he reported in a careful voice:
"Danzo-sama, regarding Kagutsuchi Shin… shall we still proceed with the original plan and designate him as a core candidate for the 'Jinchūriki Vessel Plan'?"
"'Jinchūriki Vessel Plan'…" Danzo slowly repeated the codename, and his emotions gradually steadied.
The so-called Jinchūriki Vessel Plan referred to Root's contingency plan concerning the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, Uzumaki Naruto.
Since Naruto himself was unstable and impossible to fully control, Root had long prepared a superior "backup vessel."
Once the timing became appropriate, they would deliberately trigger the Nine-Tails inside Naruto to rampage out of control, stripping him of his qualification as a vessel.
At that point, the tailed beast could then be resealed into the body of the chosen candidate, allowing Root to indirectly gain control over the Nine-Tails' overwhelming destructive power.
Shin, who possessed Senju blood, immense chakra reserves, and a naturally powerful physique, was almost the perfect candidate for this plan.
His potential far surpassed Naruto's unstable condition as a Jinchūriki.
However, whenever Danzo recalled Shin's rebellious gaze and blade-sharp words, irritation surged through him once again.
With such a personality, even if he became a Jinchūriki, fully brainwashing and controlling him would be extraordinarily difficult.
But… Danzo slowly narrowed his lone eye.
Compared to the strategic value of controlling the Nine-Tails, personal likes and dislikes meant absolutely nothing.
"The plan remains unchanged." Danzo's voice returned to its usual cold and gloomy tone.
"Kagutsuchi Shin remains the highest-priority target of the Jinchūriki Vessel Plan. His bloodline and chakra make him the optimal vessel for containing the Nine-Tails. Nothing can be allowed to go wrong."
"Continue monitoring him closely and collect all available data regarding him. At the same time, begin preparations for forced control. If necessary… directly capture and detain him."
A cold and sinister light flashed within Danzo's eye.
"Once matters reach that stage, even Sarutobi Hiruzen will no longer be able to interfere."
He paused briefly before continuing, his voice filled with unmistakable hatred toward Kagutsuchi Shin.
"When the proper time arrives, I will personally place the Curse Seal of Tongue Eradication upon him."
"Not only will I turn him into a vessel…I will ensure that his will forever submits to Root."
"Yes." The Root Ninja accepted the order without hesitation.
Danzo leaned upon his cane and slowly turned toward the endless darkness deep within the underground base.
Within his single eye flickered a cold and obsessive determination. "Kagutsuchi Shin… you will never escape my grasp."
"Your future will ultimately become nourishment for Konoha's darkness… and the cornerstone that allows me, Danzo, to ascend to the position of Hokage."