In Kawaki Aoba's Kenbunshoku Haki, he even sensed a trace of curiosity from the boy before him. Was this little guy curious about me?
"Hey, kid. You haven't graduated from the Ninja Academy yet, have you? What brings you here?"
"Everyone in the village says you're someone who can see into people's hearts, Senior," the boy replied earnestly. "Lord Third Hokage also said you're a powerful shinobi who can recognize the Will of Fire in others. I begged him for days to let me meet you so you could test mine."
The young Uchiha Shisui, noticeably shorter than Kawaki Aoba, spoke like a miniature adult.
Begged for days? He was probably manipulated into coming here.
Not that it's necessary, Aoba thought. This kid practically radiates the Will of Fire.
"Seeing through hearts is an exaggeration," Aoba said with a soft chuckle. "But yes, I can perceive intent—whether someone harbors goodwill or malice toward the village. From you, I sense nothing but genuine kindness. You'll grow up to be a good man… and maybe a bit too innocent."
Kawaki Aoba had no particular thoughts about the young Uchiha before him—not just because Shisui was still a child, but also because the boy was already under Sarutobi Hiruzen's close observation. Aoba had already stirred up trouble with the Hyūga affair; tangling with the Uchiha would be even riskier.
For now, best to stay in line and complete Hiruzen's mission. After all, he could feel the Third Hokage watching through the Telescope Technique even now.
Indeed, the moment Shisui entered the room, Aoba's Kenbunshoku Haki had picked up Hiruzen's chakra signature, observing from afar with his crystal ball.
"Senior, Lord Third Hokage told me to learn from you. So, may I ask… what does the Will of Fire mean to you?" Shisui looked up at him with sparkling eyes full of anticipation.
Whose test is this really? Mine or his? Aoba wondered. So this is Sarutobi's plan—to have me gauge Shisui's allegiance while letting the kid probe mine. A double-edged setup… as expected of that old man.
But a little scheme like this couldn't trip him up.
"The Will of Fire, huh?" Aoba smiled gently. "To me, it means protection. Protecting the village, protecting comrades, and most importantly, protecting the next generation—kids like you, who still have so much growing to do."
After the conversation, Shisui took his leave. The boy had been lured in by Sarutobi Hiruzen—and in return, Aoba had nudged him back with a carefully chosen reply.
Aoba had no doubt the Third Hokage watched the entire interaction. He was confident his performance would meet expectations.
But even more clearly, Aoba now knew: this child, Uchiha Shisui, had already been thoroughly indoctrinated.
Once the subtle feeling of being watched vanished, Aoba finally relaxed. Sitting there all day while acting a part was draining.
At the same time, on the Wind Country frontlines, another shinobi was just as exhausted—though for different reasons.
If Kawaki Aoba was mentally fatigued, then Orochimaru was both mentally and physically worn out.
Since arriving at the battlefield, Orochimaru had led eight probing skirmishes against the Sand forces under Rasa, the rising Fourth Kazekage. Though Rasa's Gold Dust Magnet Release technique was powerful, his methods were predictable—hardly a threat to someone like Orochimaru, whose escape techniques were honed to perfection.
But that assessment applied only to Orochimaru himself. His subordinates couldn't hope to match Rasa and had to constantly avoid direct confrontations. Rasa, on the other hand, had several jōnin capable of pressuring Orochimaru, forcing him to divide his attention between battle and the safety of his men.
Each of the eight encounters left Orochimaru increasingly frustrated.
Boom! A sudden explosion rattled the edge of the temporary Konoha camp.
"Orochimaru of the Sannin! Come out and fight!" came a voice—Rasa. If Orochimaru was right, the man had come to settle things directly.
"Tch…" Orochimaru's golden eyes narrowed, his tone cold and dangerous. So he came to me after all.
Sure enough, it was Rasa—and not alone. He'd brought dozens of Sand jōnin, aiming to overwhelm the Sannin in a group assault.
A siege? Funny. This is exactly what we did to the Sand during the Second Shinobi War. Now the tables turn.
"Everyone, fall back. I'll cover the rear."
Despite his moniker as the "Cold-Blooded Sannin," Orochimaru never abandoned his men needlessly. He was even known for securing benefits and resources for his troops, and he generously shared common jutsu knowledge.
That charisma made him respected even if feared.
As his comrades withdrew, Orochimaru summoned a torrent of serpents—standard-size snakes bursting forth in waves to hold the enemy.
Rasa's forces weren't trivial, but they were no match for Orochimaru unless Rasa personally closed the distance.
"Magnet Release: Gold Dust Wave!"
Golden particles surged through the air under Rasa's control, targeting Orochimaru with fierce precision. The snakes were ignored—Rasa had one goal: eliminate Orochimaru.
During the Second Shinobi War, the Sannin had dealt major damage to Sunagakure. Among them, Orochimaru and Tsunade were particularly feared—Orochimaru for his dark arts and Tsunade for neutralizing the village's poisons.
Killing either of them would secure Rasa immense prestige, which explained his shift from caution to aggression. This nighttime ambush was meant to be decisive.
But Rasa underestimated Orochimaru.
The Sannin's survival techniques were unparalleled. Even now, while dodging poison-laced kunai and the crushing force of gold dust, Orochimaru wasn't truly in danger—just stalling for time until his forces escaped.
Still, the betrayal of Rasa's ambush didn't sit well with him.
If I find the opportunity, Orochimaru thought, I'll return this favor with interest.
As the battle dragged on, Orochimaru showed signs of fatigue—but Rasa grew restless. His failure to finish Orochimaru swiftly made him uneasy.
Rasa's mistake lay in restraint. To reduce casualties, he hadn't sent fodder troops to intercept Konoha's retreat, nor had he committed to a full frontal engagement. That limited his tactical options.
And his overestimation of his strength led him to believe he could kill a Sannin without major losses.
It was battlefield arrogance at its finest.
Orochimaru's serpentine eyes gleamed with contempt as he looked upon Rasa. With a cold smirk, he whispered, "Rasa of the Gold Dust… You've got guts, launching a sneak attack like this. I'll remember it."
Orochimaru's original plan was to retreat after delivering a few venomous parting words, but before he could finish, an unexpected interruption broke onto the battlefield.
"Ah ya ya ya ya ya... Orochimaru, don't be so cold! This Toad Sage is here to save the day!"
A white streak tore across the night sky, followed by a sudden burst of smoke. With a thunderous boom, a massive toad the size of a mountain crashed down, shaking the earth and kicking up a cloud of dust.
"Heh heh heh…" Orochimaru narrowed his golden eyes, shielding himself from the dust. As it cleared, he scowled at the familiar silhouette standing atop the toad.
"Hey, Orochimaru, I arrived just in time! You should be thanking me, not looking so sour," Jiraiya said, grinning as Orochimaru leapt onto Gamabunta to stand beside him.
"Heh." Orochimaru let out a dry laugh, acknowledging the help, but made no attempt to hide his disdain.
His gaze briefly dropped to the massive toad beneath them, and for a moment, a flicker of envy passed through his eyes. If only Manda were as obedient as this beast… I wouldn't be in such a mess.
"Come on, Orochimaru, don't ignore me. The old man sent me here to back you up," Jiraiya continued, deliberately invoking Hiruzen Sarutobi's name.
Orochimaru cast a sidelong glance at him, his face blank. "You haven't changed a bit. Still as stupid as ever."
A tick mark formed on Jiraiya's forehead. "What the hell does that mean? You better explain yourself, Orochimaru!"
"Heh. If you're going to make up a story, at least make it believable. If Hiruzen really sent you, where's the support?" Orochimaru's words struck a nerve, and Jiraiya fell silent.
He had, in fact, stormed into Hiruzen's office demanding reinforcements. When none were available, he came on his own.
Before the silence could grow awkward, Gamabunta spoke up in his gruff voice, "Oi! How long do you two plan to argue on my head? The guy on the other side's already making a run for it."
Indeed, across the battlefield, Rasa's face had grown grim the moment he saw the giant toad. He recognized it immediately—Gamabunta, summoned by none other than Jiraiya, another of the legendary Sannin.
They had already failed to take down Orochimaru alone. Now that Jiraiya had arrived, the tide had decisively turned.
Rasa clicked his tongue in frustration. He had no choice but to retreat.
"Heh. Already retreating? Smart move. But if you think you can just walk away after all this, think again." Orochimaru's slitted pupils gleamed with menace.
With the battlefield now tipped in Konoha's favor, the Sand Village was left with no strategic ground to stand on. Two Sannin and a giant summoning beast meant one thing: guaranteed defeat. The only question was how many they'd lose before retreating.
---
The next day, word spread quickly throughout Sunagakure—Rasa's surprise attack had failed. Worse, he'd been repelled by the combined forces of Orochimaru and Jiraiya.
Upon hearing this, Pakura of the Scorch Release rushed to the war council room.
BAM! Her fist slammed down on the table. "I've said it before! We shouldn't leave the battlefield in the hands of that unreliable man! Rasa should just stick to refining gold dust. That's the only thing he's good at. Let me go—I'll burn the Leaf's Sannin to ashes!"
The heavy loss of elite jōnin under Rasa's command left his supporters shaken and silent.
Eventually, Chiyo, the respected elder seated at the head of the council, sighed deeply.
"Sigh... It was two of the Sannin. Rasa did his best to protect our forces. He's still young and has potential. But... it's clear we need more capable leaders at the frontlines. Pakura, since you've been asking to join the battle, gather your team and support Rasa."
"Tch. Should've done that from the start, Old Hag." With her goal achieved, Pakura turned and marched out without another word.
Chiyo watched her go, a flicker of worry passing through her eyes.
Rasa lost because he failed to assess the situation accurately—he's too young. But Pakura is also headstrong and impulsive. If she doesn't change, she won't be fit to become Kazekage either.
Sunagakure could only look on with envy as the Leaf Village's steady stream of young geniuses continued to shape the tides of war.
---
Chiyo turned her attention to the report in her hands—a dossier from their remaining spies.
Almost all of Sunagakure's operatives in Konoha had been exposed. Only a few had escaped detection thanks to subconscious sand-based memory seals. The rest had been rooted out.
And the one responsible for this counter-intelligence nightmare?
A child named Aoba Kawaki.
The internal explanation given by Konoha was that he possessed a unique sensory ability—one that could distinguish between good and evil in a person's heart.
Because of this rare gift, Aoba had successfully purged not only the Sand's spies but likely those of other villages as well.
Even more intriguing—he had no eyes.
Chiyo's brows furrowed. She reread the notes on him carefully.
> Self-created signless ninjutsu. Disputes with the Hyūga Clan. Blind. Possesses unique sensory abilities related to morality…
Her heart skipped a beat. Sensing the good and evil in people's hearts…
Why did that sound so familiar?
A shiver ran through her spine as memories from long ago surfaced. She had lived during the time of Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage—an era dominated by his light and that of Madara Uchiha.
One name from back then had never been forgotten: Mito Uzumaki.
The first Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails. The first human vessel for a Tailed Beast. And according to old whispers… a woman with a spiritual sense so strong, she could perceive malice itself.
Could it be...?
Chiyo's eyes narrowed as she stared at Aoba Kawaki's profile. Is this child somehow... connected to that bloodline?
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