Hokage Office.
The atmosphere inside the Hokage's office was unusually heavy. The faint rustle of paper and the quiet hum of the wind outside were the only sounds that filled the room.
"Yondaime-sama, Sandaime-sama, this is the result of the examination of those children. They have no hope of recovery."
After a brief summary of the findings, Senmei Asahi lowered his head slightly, his voice carrying a trace of sorrow.
To avoid any suspicion, Asahi had stayed in the operating room for two days and one night straight, personally monitoring the children and compiling his report. In the analysis, he had deliberately blurred or omitted specific details that could expose how much he truly knew about the First Hokage's cells. The report was written in a way that would make it appear as though this was his first real encounter with such material — a medic seeing an anomaly, not a researcher analyzing a familiar subject.
Luckily, Asahi still had records from the very first time he'd come into contact with Hashirama's cells. Those old analytical notes proved invaluable now, letting him perfectly mimic the tone and methodology of someone encountering the cells anew.
Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen flipped through the examination report slowly, his eyes scanning each page before pausing. After a long moment, he closed the folder and shut his eyes.
Years of leadership and battle had hardened Hiruzen more than most shinobi could ever imagine. He had carried countless burdens for the sake of Konoha's peace, making choices that had stained his hands with sins both known and hidden. But this time, the old man's expression revealed genuine remorse.
If only he had acted faster… if only his hesitation hadn't delayed his judgment… perhaps some of those children might have been saved.
Orochimaru's defection had already shaken Konoha to its core. Not long after, Jiraiya too had departed — chasing his fallen comrade into the darkness. The loss of both Sannin weighed heavily on Hiruzen's shoulders, aging him a decade in mere days.
Though the Third Great Ninja War had officially ended, the cost left deep scars across the village. With so many of its top-level shinobi gone or missing, Konoha had lost much of the overwhelming strength that once made other villages hesitate.
In the power vacuum that followed, only the Third and Fourth Hokage still stood at the top — their names carrying more authority than anyone else. The Hokage's prestige had been consolidated, but Konoha's pride as the strongest village had faded.
If another major village chose this moment to attack, there would be few who could stand beside the Hokage.
"Can those children really not be saved?" Minato finally asked, unwilling to accept the answer so easily.
"They have been fused with those cells for too long." Asahi explained patiently. "If we were to remove them now, we would also have to remove a large part of their bodies. That would leave them without the physical structure to survive."
Minato's gaze lowered, his voice fading into a sigh. "I see…"
He said nothing more. Orochimaru had once been his senior, and the Third Hokage still sat beside him. The weight of the subject — human experimentation — was not one that could be spoken about lightly.
The phrase "human experimentation" might have sounded simple, but the reality behind it was unspeakably cruel. The children subjected to it endured pain beyond imagination. Their bodies twisted by invasive mutations, their freedom stripped away, their futures stolen. They were neither alive nor dead — just waiting. Waiting for the agony to end.
Death was merciful compared to that kind of life.
Even among Orochimaru's surviving subjects, few remained sane. While some were predisposed to instability, the vast majority had been driven to madness through pain and isolation — reduced to husks who no longer remembered what it meant to be human.
Hiruzen rubbed the bridge of his nose, his face shadowed by guilt. "Sigh… Let's give those children a proper burial."
"Yes." Asahi replied quietly.
"Senmei Asahi," Minato said gently, "you've worked hard these past two days. Go back and rest first."
"Understood, Yondaime-sama."
Asahi bowed respectfully and exited the office. The door closed behind him with a soft click.
As he stepped into the corridor, he allowed himself a subtle exhale of relief.
The danger had passed.
The Third Hokage was consumed by remorse and regret, far too preoccupied to suspect him of anything. Minato, though brilliant, had spent most of his recent years away from the village during wartime and knew nothing about the past entanglements between Asahi and Orochimaru.
As long as Asahi remained composed and low-profile, this entire matter would fade naturally with time. Once the immediate chaos of Orochimaru's defection subsided, no one would bother to bring it up again.
'But it's never truly over.' Asahi thought. 'Not with someone like Shimura Danzo lurking.'
Danzo had no concept of integrity — only utility and control. If the day came when Asahi's existence threatened his ambitions, Danzo would not hesitate to deal with him the same way he had with Orochimaru.
Still, Asahi's confidence had grown along with his strength. He no longer feared Danzo's methods. History itself had shown that during the Third Hokage's reign, Danzo had always been kept firmly beneath Hiruzen's hand. Only after Tsunade's later succession, when disasters struck one after another, would Root find space to move freely again.
'As long as I'm cautious,' Asahi reasoned, 'Danzo can't touch me. He might be dangerous, but not fatal.'
He exhaled softly and descended the staircase of the Hokage building. All he wanted now was a few hours of rest before beginning the next stage of his private plan — integrating the First Hokage's cells into his own body.
However, as he reached the ground floor, an unexpected group of familiar faces waited by the front steps.
Might Guy, Yuhi Kurenai, Sarutobi Asuma, and several other classmates stood clustered together, all looking slightly anxious.
"Is there something you need?" Asahi asked, glancing at them curiously.
"Asahi!" Kurenai stepped forward first, her expression tinged with concern. "Kakashi's been acting strange lately. He's changed so much… we're all really worried about him."
"Kakashi?" Asahi raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong with him?"
At that time, Kakashi had already endured losses that would break most shinobi. He had watched Obito die saving him — only to receive Obito's eye as a final gift — and not long after, Nohara Rin had died before his eyes as well.
Those two tragedies had struck at the core of Kakashi's soul.
Ever since the suicide of his father, Hatake Sakumo, Kakashi's worldview had twisted into rigid rules and unyielding obedience. But Obito's sacrifice had shaken that belief, reminding him of the importance of comradeship — something he had long suppressed. Rin's death then shattered that fragile rediscovery completely, plunging him into a confusion that no mission could numb.
"It might be that the deaths of Obito and Rin hit him too hard." Kurenai said angrily, her hands tightening into fists. "But we can't blame Kakashi for this! We can only blame Kirigakure and Iwagakure!"
"So we wanted to go comfort him," Asuma added, "but…"
"It's no use if we try to talk to him about this." Asahi interrupted gently. "Kakashi's always been firm in his beliefs. Give him some time — he'll find his way back."
"That's just it!" Kurenai said, shaking her head. "We've already tried, but he won't listen to us. That's why we came to you."
"Me?" Asahi blinked, genuinely surprised.
"After all, you once defeated Kakashi." Kurenai said firmly. "He might not listen to us, but he respects you."
"That's right! Please, Asahi!" Might Guy added, his voice booming with characteristic passion. His face was full of earnest expectation, fists clenched as if this were a matter of life and death.
Guy's boundless energy and loyalty hadn't changed at all — the same burning spirit that, in the years to come, would make him Kakashi's greatest rival and closest friend. But right now, that friendship was one-sided. Kakashi, drowning in guilt and sorrow, wasn't ready to let anyone in.
Asahi studied them silently for a few moments before giving a faint nod.
"Alright." he said at last. "I'll give it a try."
"That's great!" Kurenai said, her expression lighting up with relief.
Before this, Asahi had always kept his classmates at a polite distance — an exchange of greetings at most. The fact that he was now willing to help was enough to surprise everyone.
"Where is Kakashi right now?" Asahi asked.
"He should be at the Memorial Stone." Might Guy replied immediately. "He's been going there a lot lately."
Asahi nodded once, eyes steady. "Alright. Then let's go take a look."
*****
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I am working on the following projects:
✓ Killed For 100 Years in Hueco Mundo, Aizen Invited Me To Soul Society!
✓ Naruto: Senmei Asahi
✓ Naruto: Uchiha's Intelligence Dealer
✓ Naruto: The Fifth Hokage Is Naruto's Uncle
✓ Naruto: Who Made Him a Ninja?
✓ Bleach: In My Second Reincarnation, I Became The Ninth Kenpachi
✓ To Love-Ru: Spoiler Route [R-18]
✓ Naruto: The Accidental Incubus [R-18]
✓ The Academy's Saint Is Too Popular, But He's Not the Protagonist [R-18]