Chapter 29: No Savior
Danzo felt like he could chew Takahashi up and spit him out. His dream of becoming Hokage was shattered, just like that. This damn kid could bring people back from the dead? He'd never heard of such a jutsu.
The Third Hokage was also stunned. He'd been on countless battlefields but had never seen anything like it. He touched his unnaturally smooth skin, feeling almost ten years younger.
Danzo, watching from the side, said loudly, "I feel like I could live another thirty years!"
That was the last straw. Danzo flicked his sleeve and stormed off. Not only had his secret power been exposed, but the Third Hokage was still alive. It was a complete failure. And it was all that brat's fault.
His anger burned hotter. Fū and Torune, his Root subordinates, didn't dare speak, afraid he'd take his rage out on them. They didn't want to be his punching bags.
Danzo's voice was icy. "I don't care how you do it. Get me all the information on that boy. If his background is clean, recruit him. He ruined my plans, but if someone with that power joined us, it would be a great asset. Most importantly, his speed... it was even faster than my Wind Style."
Fū had to agree. He'd been right there. When Takahashi flashed past him, he hadn't even seen a blur. He'd been utterly useless.
After they left, Tsunade circled the Third Hokage, checking him over. She even probed his body with her own chakra. No matter how she tested, the Third Hokage was perfectly healthy.
She couldn't take it anymore. She grabbed Takahashi, demanding an explanation. She couldn't accept that decades of medical expertise were made obsolete. It was humiliating.
"Alright, kid. Spit it out. How did you do it?"
Takahashi thought for a moment but couldn't come up with a good lie. So he just said the first thing that came to mind. "What if I told you it's a Kekkei Genkai?"
The looks on their faces changed. If that was the case, it made sense. Even Takahashi was surprised how easily they bought his flimsy excuse.
Since the lie worked, he focused on the Third Hokage. "Lord Third, are you feeling alright now?"
The Third shook his head, a sigh in his voice. "A student surpassing his master. Guy was right about you. You are truly remarkable. I had already made my peace, ready to die for Konoha. I'd already seen my life flash before my eyes. But you... you pulled me back from the underworld. If I ever see the First or Second Hokage again, I'll have quite the story to tell them."
His words lightened the mood. Though the village was damaged, the core was safe. Life would go on.
It was then that Kakashi finally arrived, having fought through crowds of panicked villagers. Orochimaru's forces had targeted Konoha's strongest fighters to keep them busy. Kakashi, the son of the "White Fang," was a prime target. His bright white hair made him easy to spot.
Seeing everyone was safe, he felt a wave of relief. Maybe he had overestimated Orochimaru's threat.
Seeing the crisis was over, the giant toad boss said his goodbyes to Jiraiya and vanished in a puff of smoke.
Just as everyone thought things were settling, Naruto came running up, his face frantic. "Kakashi-sensei! Have you seen Sasuke?"
Kakashi, unaware of the incident with Danzo, asked, "What's wrong?"
The situation was messy. Naruto didn't dare hide anything. He told Kakashi everything about following him and what they saw.
Even the Third Hokage sighed upon hearing it. "Is this fate? Who can say how much hatred would gather in an Uchiha's heart upon seeing the eyes of his clan collected like that? Not everyone can be Itachi."
Kakashi felt helpless. Seeing is believing. For Sasuke, that sight must have solidified the demon inside him. Great talent often came with great hatred.
Orochimaru was a prime example. If Sasuke followed that path, things would be even more troublesome.
But that was a problem for another day. Right now, rebuilding Konoha was the priority.
Naruto grew furious at their resigned attitude. "Are you just giving up on Sasuke? He's one of us! He's from Konoha!"
The others were too embarrassed to speak, but Tsunade punched him on the head. "You idiot! Don't yell here! The Hokage is present. It's not your place to speak!"
Takahashi watched quietly from the side. This famous bond between them... he sometimes wondered, if they weren't brothers in a past life, would Naruto still protect Sasuke so fiercely now?
Seeing Takahashi's indifference, Naruto turned his anger on him. "Hey! Why aren't you saying anything? Sasuke is our classmate! Are you just going to watch him go down this dark path?"
Takahashi gave him a strange look. You think I'm a saint like you? He had no such habit. Only he knew how much he had suffered before the system arrived.
His reply was simple and cold. "Konoha ninja... kill traitorous ninja."
He said it with a smile, but his tone held an undeniable killing intent. No one doubted he would actually kill Sasuke if he had to.
Kakashi's visible eye narrowed slightly. Takahashi met his gaze without fear, then turned and walked away slowly, not using his flash step this time.
He remembered Guy boasting before about a student who could take down several jonin. He'd thought it was a joke. Now, it seemed Guy was telling the truth.
Thinking of his own wayward student, Kakashi sighed. This was his responsibility, too. As a teacher, he had an obligation to bring him back.
Just then, an Anbu agent appeared. "Lord Hokage. We found traces of Orochimaru's group in the forest outside the village. Shall we pursue?"