"Hey, Sasuke, who was that old guy? He felt really familiar."
Naruto scratched his head, a puzzled look on his face, trying hard to recall where he had seen Hashirama Senju before.
"Idiot." Sasuke rolled his eyes in exasperation, a hint of disdain showing in his expression.
He was always going on about becoming Hokage, yet he couldn't even recognize the First Hokage. It was truly baffling.
Meanwhile, inside Konoha, Tsunade sat in her office, her brow slightly furrowed.
Suddenly, a feeling of unease washed over her. She set down the documents she was holding and massaged her temples, a flicker of confusion in her eyes.
Elsewhere, Jiraiya, who had yet to leave Konoha, was strolling leisurely through the village streets.
A relaxed smile was on his face, and he hummed a tune to himself, seemingly in high spirits.
But then, he abruptly stopped, his brow knitting tightly and a flash of wariness appearing in his eyes.
He lifted his head slightly, gazing up at the sky.
In the Root's base, Danzo sat in a dimly lit room.
Suddenly, his body jolted violently, and a muffled grunt escaped his lips.
"Why is it rampaging again?" His voice was filled with alarm. The Hashirama cells, which had finally settled down recently, were once more spiraling out of control.
"Is someone out there harboring hatred for me again?"
…
The next day, Sasuke, deep in thought, arrived at the place where Kakashi was. He spotted Kakashi leaning against a large tree, reading a copy of *Make-Out Paradise*.
Sasuke walked up, catching Kakashi's attention.
Kakashi slowly looked up and instantly tucked the book away.
"Kakashi-sensei, do you know a man named Danzo?" Sasuke asked directly.
Kakashi's smile vanished, replaced by a grave expression.
"How do you know about him?" Kakashi's voice was serious.
"I overheard it outside the Hokage's office yesterday." Sasuke's expression was calm as he quickly fabricated an excuse, showing no sign of panic in his eyes.
There were some things he couldn't let Kakashi know just yet.
Kakashi frowned slightly, carefully studying Sasuke's face as if trying to gauge the truth of his words.
After a moment, he gave a slow nod, accepting the explanation for the time being.
"Kakashi-sensei, who is he?" Sasuke pressed eagerly.
Kakashi sighed softly.
"He was a disciple of the Second Hokage. He holds great power and status."
"Back then, in the race for Hokage, he came very close to becoming the leader."
"He's also someone who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals."
"Sasuke, it's best you have no contact with him." Kakashi's tone grew stern, his eyes fixed intently on Sasuke as he stressed the gravity of the situation.
"Getting involved with him could drag you into endless trouble."
Sasuke listened quietly to Kakashi's words, clenching his fists slightly.
While Kakashi's warning made him aware of the danger Danzo posed, it only strengthened his resolve to learn more.
"I understand, Kakashi-sensei." Sasuke gave a slight nod.
Though he agreed verbally, the questions in Sasuke's mind only grew heavier.
Could the tragedy of the Uchiha clan's massacre truly be connected to this ruthless Danzo?
And what role had his own brother, Itachi Uchiha, played in it all?
Countless questions plunged him into deep contemplation.
"Kakashi-sensei, there you are. Oh, Sasuke's here too."
Just as Sasuke was lost in thought, Naruto's energetic voice suddenly rang out.
"Kakashi-sensei, I feel like I've gotten stronger. Wanna see the progress of a genius like me?" Naruto grinned, flashing a row of white teeth, his face brimming with confidence.
"Idiot." Sasuke shot Naruto a cold glare, a sarcastic smirk curling at the corner of his mouth.
With his arms crossed, his expression held a hint of disdain; he was long used to Naruto's boastful antics.
Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, Kakashi quickly stepped forward, raising a hand between them with a resigned look.
"Alright, alright. Perfect timing. I'll be your opponent today and see how strong you've both become."
He squinted slightly, a glint of anticipation in his eyes. He wanted to test how much they had improved lately.
At Kakashi's suggestion, both Naruto and Sasuke's eyes gleamed with excitement.
Their attention instantly shifted away from their quarrel.
Soon, they arrived at the training ground. Sakura Haruno had also been called over by Kakashi, a trace of nervousness in her eyes.
Sasuke was a genius, and Naruto wasn't simple either. She alone felt ordinary.
"You three, feel free to unleash your full strength."
Kakashi smiled, his voice echoing across the training ground.
Just then, a familiar figure appeared in their view.
"Haha, Kakashi, my timing is perfect."
Jiraiya walked over with a booming laugh, his signature grin on his face.
"Ah, Ero-Sennin!" Naruto shouted excitedly upon seeing Jiraiya. Delight shone on his face.
He dashed over and circled around Jiraiya a few times.
Sasuke stood off to the side, frowning slightly.
Then, remembering Roy's instruction, he walked up to Kakashi.
"Kakashi-sensei, I want to learn the Eight Gates."
"That's a forbidden technique." Kakashi's brow furrowed deeply.
The Eight Gates was a forbidden technique that could drastically boost one's power in a short time, but it came with immense risk. One wrong move, and the user could pay with their life.
"I think my body can handle it." Sasuke lifted his chin slightly, meeting Kakashi's gaze directly.
Kakashi looked at Sasuke silently, recalling the boy's impressive taijutsu skills.
He certainly had a natural gift for physical combat. At that thought, Kakashi found himself without an argument.
"Maybe Sasuke really is a taijutsu prodigy," Kakashi mused inwardly.
"Sasuke, I can teach you, but you must promise me not to force the gates open for the sake of revenge."
Kakashi's expression turned serious, his eyes locked on Sasuke.
Even considering Sasuke's current strength, even if he learned the Eight Gates, he wouldn't be able to open the most dangerous Eighth Gate anytime soon. Still, Kakashi felt it was necessary to warn him in advance, to prevent him from acting recklessly out of a thirst for vengeance.
"I will." Sasuke nodded without hesitation, a barely noticeable flicker of joy in his eyes.
He calculated inwardly: once he mastered the Eight Gates, he could exchange this technique for something from Mr. Roy, reaping more benefits.
Moreover, this forbidden technique Roy had specifically asked him to learn piqued his curiosity, and he was eager to harness its formidable power.
Meanwhile, Naruto had stopped horsing around with Jiraiya and was watching Sasuke and Kakashi with curiosity.
Jiraiya, on the other hand, squinted slightly, observing the scene with keen interest.
---