Chapter 116

Hashirama Senju and Hiruzen Sarutobi moved swiftly and with absolute determination.

The news that Fujinaka Genma had killed Danzō was not widely spread throughout the Hidden Leaf Village.

But those who needed to know, knew.

The Uchiha clan, the Hyuga clan, the Nara clan, and others.

One by one, the ninja clans received the news.

The newly appointed leader of Root had simply eliminated Danzō.

On the surface, Konoha remained calm.

But beneath, Fujinaka Genma’s action had stirred up ripples.

Fujinaka Genma killing Danzō was not merely a demonstration of his formidable strength—it showed every ninja clan his unyielding dominance.

Hyuga clan.

Listening to his clansman’s report, the ancient Hyuga patriarch, now blind in one eye, gazed at his successor, Hyuga Hiashi: “Hiashi, I hear that Mio has taken up with Genma?”

“Yes, Father!”

Hyuga Hiashi nodded, then, as if making a momentous decision, said: “I intend to remove the Caged Bird Seal from Mio once the matter is settled.”

Hyuga Hizashi beside him looked startled.

In the past, the Hyuga clan had never removed the Caged Bird Seal—indeed, he had almost believed it was irreversible.

The Hyuga patriarch regarded Hyuga Hiashi with a calm expression: “Do Itachi think this is worth it?”

“Remember, this is a rule the Hyuga clan has upheld for generations. Breaking it means there will be a second time.”

“We have already lost one eye… more will come coveting ours.”

The Hyuga main house has always passed down in a single lineage.

For example, Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Hizashi were both born into the main house, but the next generation will have only Hyuga Hiashi as the main house head, while Hyuga Hizashi becomes a branch house member.

And Hyuga Hizashi had long ago been branded with the Caged Bird Seal.

During this great ninja war, Konoha’s strength was stretched thin—even the Hyuga patriarch was forced to take the battlefield.

Even though Fujinaka Genma had changed much, crushing the Mist ninja early on.

Yet the Mist ninja’s desire for revenge grew stronger afterward.

Obito Uchiha’s death was accompanied by many feints from the Mist.

It was then that the Hyuga patriarch, despite having guards, lost one eye under siege.

The brutality of war is evident—even the Hyuga patriarch could not guarantee his own safety.

Now, Hyuga Hiashi had already begun taking over clan affairs.

“Rules are important, but sometimes, for the clan’s growth, they must be broken.”

“After all, rules exist to better protect the clan—not to restrict it.”

Hyuga Hiashi said, gathering courage.

A faint smile flickered in the Hyuga patriarch’s eyes, then vanished as he lowered his gaze: “Hiashi, from this moment, Itachi are a worthy successor.”

“From this moment, Itachi are the new Hyuga clan head.”

Hyuga Hiashi froze, then quickly nodded solemnly: “Yes, I understand!”

…

Root training base.

Fujinaka Genma did not know that Minato Namikaze had clashed with the two Hokage advisors, nor that Kushina Uzumaki had rebuked the Uchiha clan, nor of the Hyuga clan’s decision.

At this moment, he had beaten every Root ninja in the base—except one boy.

Koji!

Or rather, the ten-year-old Mokuton user, Yamato.

Hmm, Konoha’s architect.

Of course, though he had long known of Yamato’s existence, Fujinaka Genma now feigned mild surprise as he looked at Koji: “Mokuton? A remarkable Kekkei Genkai. I imagine the Third Hokage will be very pleased when he hears of this!”

Behind him, Shino Aburame’s eyebrow twitched, but seeing Koji’s wary stance, he spoke up: “Koji, this is the new Root leader, Fujinaka Genma!”

Koji, without his mask, blinked in surprise, then knelt on one knee: “Koji bows before Lord Genma!”

Fujinaka Genma nodded, finding the codename “Koji” awkward, and declared: “From now on, your codename is Yamato. Itachi will accompany me for now.”

“Yes, Lord Genma!”

Yamato was obedient, rising to stand behind Shino Aburame.

Fujinaka Genma toured the base, then delivered his message to the beaten Root ninja before moving on to the next base.

As for what these Root ninja would do next, he did not care.

Thus it went.

At every Root base, Fujinaka Genma first beat the Root ninja senseless, flexing his strength.

This brutal method left Shino Aburame and the others stunned.

Meanwhile,

In the Hokage’s office, Minato Namikaze and Hiruzen Sarutobi received a series of troubling reports.

Over ten Root ninja had left Konoha.

But Fujinaka Genma soon returned, appearing in the Hokage’s office.

With Yamato beside him.

“Fourth Hokage, Third Hokage!”

Fujinaka Genma greeted them.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at his relaxed demeanor and felt a headache coming—he had just realized that the old, docile Fujinaka Genma, the seemingly easygoing Fujinaka Genma, had all been an act.

“More than ten Root ninja have left the village, Genma. What do Itachi intend to do?”

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked.

“Simple. Bring them all back.”

Fujinaka Genma smiled, formed hand seals, and instantly created twenty Shadow Clones, each vanishing one after another.

Meanwhile, his true body casually pointed to Yamato beside him: “Fourth Hokage, Third Hokage, this is Yamato, a Root ninja—formerly codenamed Koji.”

Minato Namikaze and Hiruzen Sarutobi finally turned their attention to Yamato; until now, they had nearly overlooked him, assuming he was merely one of Fujinaka Genma’s newly acquired subordinates.

But now, it was clear he was far from ordinary.

Fujinaka Genma nodded to Yamato, who immediately brought his hands together and formed the Si seal.

Instantly,

The wooden floor of the Hokage’s office cracked, and a pillar of wood thrust upward.

“This…”

Minato Namikaze and Hiruzen Sarutobi were both stunned.

“Mokuton… this child is…”

Hiruzen Sarutobi already suspected.

He had once investigated Danzō and Orochimaru’s human experiments.

But the investigation ended in silence, the records secretly sealed.

Though no official findings were released, the results had already been determined.

Otherwise, he would not have abandoned Orochimaru and chosen the younger, less steady Minato Namikaze as Fourth Hokage.

A man who dares to experiment on his own people as Hokage would be a catastrophe!

But he had assumed the human experiments had failed—never imagining…

“Danzō’s human experiments. The sole surviving Mokuton subject.”

Fujinaka Genma explained simply, but he knew both Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato Namikaze would understand—and grasp the implications.

After all, Yamato was only around ten years old.

One could imagine what kind of human experiments this entailed.

It certainly was not the voluntary human trials conducted by Konoha in the past.