Kakashi Hatake glanced at Might Guy.
"Then what do you think?"
Guy's expression was serious.
"I think… it might be the Nine-Tails."
At this point, Guy still didn't know that Naruto Uzumaki was Kakashi's student.
Kakashi fell silent.
He knew very well—
It wasn't Naruto.
"Kakashi, I think the Nine-Tails jinchūriki lost control."
Kakashi shook his head.
"I don't think so."
Guy frowned.
"Then who else could cause that level of destruction?"
The explosion earlier—
Had reshaped the terrain of Konoha's back mountains.
Other than a Tailed Beast Bomb—
No one should be capable of that.
(If Guy knew about Madara Uchiha or Hashirama Senju, he wouldn't say that so confidently.)
Just as they were speaking—
The Hiruzen Sarutobi approached.
"Kakashi, what is Naruto's current condition?"
Even the Third Hokage suspected Naruto had gone berserk.
After all—
Jinchūriki losing control was not uncommon across the Five Great Nations.
Kakashi thought for a moment before answering:
"Lord Hokage… I don't think it was Naruto."
Hiruzen frowned.
He felt Kakashi might be protecting Naruto.
But he didn't blame him.
In truth—
Hiruzen had high expectations for Naruto.
The fact that he placed Naruto in Team 7 was proof enough.
In his mind—
The next Hokage would likely come from either Naruto or Sasuke Uchiha.
Just like previous generations—
The strongest of their era would rise to the position.
Even Sasuke—
Despite being from the fallen Uchiha clan—
Was still a viable candidate.
After all, the clan no longer existed—
So there would be no political complications.
So although Naruto and Sasuke currently held awkward positions—
They were both, in reality, candidates for the future Hokage.
Naturally—
Hiruzen didn't want Naruto to be responsible for something so dangerous.
However—
All evidence pointed toward the Nine-Tails.
Even if he didn't want to believe it—
The scale of destruction suggested otherwise.
Hiruzen looked at Kakashi seriously.
"Kakashi, I hope you understand the seriousness of this matter."
Kakashi shook his head calmly.
"Lord Hokage… if it were Naruto, then who stopped him?"
Hiruzen paused.
Kakashi continued:
"In the current village, aside from you—"
"No one could stop a rampaging Naruto."
"And if such a powerful attack was released…"
"It would mean he had completely lost control."
"The Nine-Tails would have broken free."
"But in reality—"
"After that explosion… everything went silent."
Hiruzen was stunned.
Kakashi's reasoning was sound.
If it were Naruto—
Who could have stopped him?
And more importantly—
Kakashi had just provided him with an excuse.
A way to protect Naruto from suspicion.
After a moment of silence, Hiruzen nodded.
"I will have the ANBU investigate this thoroughly."
"Increase village security immediately."
Soon—
Hiruzen led a group of jōnin to the back mountains.
When they saw the crater—
Even the Third Hokage inhaled sharply.
"This level of destruction…"
"Other than a Tailed Beast Bomb…"
"Only those two could achieve this…"
He thought of two names—
And frowned deeply.
Earlier, he had already agreed with Kakashi's analysis.
Now, after seeing the site—
He confirmed it.
There was no trace of Nine-Tails chakra.
Whenever the Nine-Tails rampaged—
It always left behind overwhelming chakra residue.
But here—
There was nothing.
That made the situation even more terrifying.
If it wasn't Naruto—
Then someone else had caused this.
A Tailed Beast doing this was understandable.
But a person doing this?
That would require power on the level of:
Hashirama SenjuMadara Uchiha
And if such a being existed—
Could Konoha even deal with it?
Hiruzen's expression turned extremely serious.
The surrounding jōnin were equally stunned.
They couldn't imagine—
What kind of jutsu could create such destruction.
Even Guy spoke solemnly:
"Even if I open the Seventh Gate… I couldn't do this."
"It's terrifying."
Kakashi looked at the crater.
Even seeing it a second time—
It still sent chills down his spine.
Orion survived this…
That alone proved—
There was something extraordinary within him.
A hidden power—
Even Orion himself didn't understand.
Asuma Sarutobi, Kurenai Yuhi, and the others stood silently.
The scene left them speechless.
Hiruzen sighed.
"I don't know whether this was done by someone inside the village… or outside."
"I hope… it was someone from within."
"Because if it was an outsider…"
"…then the ninja world may soon witness another existence rivaling those two."
Even if it was someone from the village—
It still meant a dangerous individual existed.
But at least—
They could try to control or recruit them.
If it was an outsider—
And someone who attacked Konoha like this—
Then it meant hostility.
After a moment—
Hiruzen turned away.
"To the ANBU—"
"Closely monitor the back mountains."
"And keep tonight's incident confidential."
"Officially, we will say it was an ANBU jutsu experiment."
The ANBU nodded.
Hiruzen then looked at Kakashi.
"Kakashi. Come with me."
Kakashi nodded.
The two vanished instantly.
Meanwhile—
The villagers, who had been anxiously waiting for news—
Relaxed after hearing the official explanation.
They returned home, believing it was just an experiment.
But—
That excuse might fool civilians.
It would not fool one man.
Root Headquarters
Deep underground—
A figure stood with a cane.
One eye wrapped in bandages.
Danzo Shimura.
He looked down at the kneeling Root ninja before him.
"Was it the Nine-Tails jinchūriki?"
The ninja replied:
"There was no Nine-Tails chakra detected at the scene."
"However… the level of destruction matches that of a Tailed Beast Bomb."
Danzo narrowed his eye.
"…Not the Nine-Tails?"
"No, sir."
Danzo stood up slowly.
His expression turned grave.
"If it's not the Nine-Tails…"
"Then who did this?"
"And more importantly—"
"Is this person a threat to Konoha?"
His thoughts deepened.
Then—
He muttered coldly:
"What is Hiruzen doing…?"
"Could he have developed some kind of secret weapon?"
Danzo's concern was simple—
If Hiruzen possessed such power—
It would threaten him.
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