The Uchiha clan brought the sealed Shigeo back to Konoha. The Sandaime had already grown impatient, and the Analysis Squad along with the Interrogation Division were prepared and waiting.
Yamanaka Haiichi and Morino Ibiki were tense. They had personally witnessed the battle in the Forest of Death, standing on a distant ridge at the time. When the others discovered that Shigeo was still alive inside the sealing cloth, they hurried back to Konoha.
Haiichi rubbed his fingers together, glanced at his two fellow analysis members, Fuchiku Tonbo and Seiseimon, and asked quietly:
"You already checked his birth records?"
"Yes, and compared them with the blood database. Confirmed he's of the Hyūga clan."
At this point, there were simply too many unsolved mysteries about Shigeo. Each one could keep researchers busy for a lifetime.
Seven Bijū inside one body. Clearly every other village's Bijū were still where they belonged—so why did he also have them inside him? Could there be two of each Bijū in this world?
And even more bizarre—he didn't suffer any backlash. Not only was he unharmed, the Bijū could even manifest outside to fight at his side.
He wasn't Uchiha, his eyes were the usual blind Hyūga type, yet he could use the Mangekyō Sharingan.
He had never injected Senju Hashirama's cells, yet he could use Mokuton (Wood Release), and not only that, he could perform Hashirama's strongest jutsu at full power.
So many Kekkei Genkai in one body: Hyōton (Ice Release), Shōton (Crystal Release), Jiton (Magnet Release), Ranton (Storm Release), Futton (Boil Release), Yōton (Lava Release)…
How many more did they not yet know about?
Inside the chamber, everyone was tense. The Sandaime arrived, gave the room a glance, and nodded slightly.
Minutes dragged on. Finally came the report: the Uchiha Fugaku arrived carrying the sealed Shigeo.
The group rushed forward, hands trembling. Haiichi's throat felt dry, and after a long moment he forced out:
"Is he all right?"
Fugaku nodded.
"ANBU followed the entire way. We didn't stop. Everything's fine."
"Good, good." The Sandaime nodded and gestured. Medics came forward to receive the boy wrapped in sealing cloth.
"Shigeo, how do you feel? The sealing jutsu on your chakra is strong, but as long as you don't try to break it by force, it won't harm your body. We did this only to prevent the Bijū power from erupting." Haiichi explained.
Morino Ibiki, however, stared with dark, ruthless eyes. Known in the Interrogation Division as a merciless man, his impression of Shigeo was simple: absolute monster.
"Shall we begin?" The sealing squad stepped up, ready to undo the bindings.
"Yes." The Sandaime scanned the airtight chamber—no gaps, not even a fly could slip through. "Begin. Start from the head. Don't release the entire seal. Haiichi, it's up to you."
They intended to read all of Shigeo's memories, to discover why he was so powerful.
"Yes."
The sealing squad began the procedure carefully. The room was hushed, every person straining. The ANBU stood ready in case Shigeo somehow broke the seals and erupted. One surge of his chakra could obliterate Konoha's chambers.
The sealers shifted the charms and slowly began to unwrap the cloth around his head.
Everyone held their breath.
Finally, the cloth loosened. Haiichi stepped forward, eyes glittering with excitement.
But then—
Gasps. A few startled cries.
Inside was no boy at all—just a dried-up Mokuton doll.
"What?!"
For a long moment, even the Sandaime was stunned. Then Sarutobi roared:
"What's going on here?!"
His rage echoed through the Interrogation Division chamber.
Outside, Uchiha Itachi—who had been waiting anxiously—heard the commotion. He smirked, turned, and vanished.
…
At that very moment…
Inside Ichiraku Ramen, Shigeo was slurping down a huge bowl of ramen made by Ayame. His face split into a wide grin.
"Ayame, where's the summoning charm I gave you?"
"Eh! I lost it. I used to carry it like a treasure, always with me, sometimes taking it out just to look at it. I wanted to see you but never used it. Then somehow it just disappeared." Ayame smiled, peeling an egg for him and dropping marinated pork into his bowl.
"So good… Hey, Ayame, give me some of that jerky you make. I'm leaving soon, and if I want more later I'll have to sneak back."
The uproar about Shigeo challenging the Five Great Villages had spread everywhere, so of course Ayame knew. Hearing him, she ran to the back and soon returned with a huge bag of jerky, shoving it into his hands.
"At first I was really worried, but now that I see you're fine, I can relax. Live well."
"Of course. I'll keep living."
Jerky in hand, belly full, Shigeo waved and walked out. At the doorway he brushed past Nara Shikaku, who froze and turned—only to find no trace of him.
…
Later, when Shigeo appeared in Mu Wang City, carrying a massive wind-powered generator, everyone was dumbfounded.
"The city can't live without electricity. Resources here are scarce. From today, everyone focus on construction. Within three months, we'll have both Mu Wang City and Sky Ninja Village settled into proper life."
As the wind turbine blades began to spin, the city erupted in cheers.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, chaos reigned.
"Sandaime, we only held back from going to the Snow Country to negotiate because you insisted. And now? You tried to hide him! Tell us, where is he?"
"I told you, he's not in Konoha. That was a fake—just a Mokuton clone, already turned to wood. I've explained this in letters to the other villages, again and again, but they won't believe me. Now they even send envoys here!"
Facing the envoys from the other Four Great Villages, the Sandaime felt his head about to explode.
(End of Chapter)
[50 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter]
[10 Reviews = 5 Extra Chapter]
[Check out my Patreon to read 20+ chapters ahead]
[[email protected]/Zukooo]
[Thanks for your support!]