Chapter 74: Hiruzen Sarutobi: Senjutsu Seems Interesting!
During the great battle in the Land of Hot Water, Black Zetsu had been hiding in the shadows, observing.
At first, he hadn't paid much attention to this particular conflict. In his eyes, the outcome—win or lose—wouldn't affect the bigger picture much.
But one specific development during the battle left him so stunned that he still hadn't fully recovered.
"What was that? Why is the aura coming from that brat getting stronger… and more familiar?"
As the fight escalated, Kakashi unlocking the Mangekyō Sharingan caught him off guard, but it wasn't entirely surprising.
Mangekyō evolution could be linked, especially when the eyes were once part of a pair. Given the proximity and emotional resonance, it was plausible one awakening would trigger another.
Besides, the emotional toll on Kakashi was high—it wasn't unusual for that to lead to awakening.
But what truly disturbed him was Kitagawa Gen.
That kid had erupted with something different during the battle—an energy that made even him, an ancient being, feel a chill.
He'd always sensed something strange about Gen—a familiar yet foreign presence—but had never been able to pinpoint it.
And today, for the first time, he felt it up close—clearer than ever before.
It didn't last long, but the impact lingered, planting an absurd idea in his mind.
"Why… does it feel a bit like… Mother?"
Black Zetsu shivered.
He knew how ridiculous that thought was. Still, that aura was too unusual—too unnatural.
Even someone like him, who had lived for over a thousand years, was left confused and unsettled.
"Hey, Blacky, what's up with you today?"
White Zetsu's voice broke through his thoughts, snapping him back to reality.
Black Zetsu looked around instinctively and realized that Uchiha Obito had already disappeared. He exhaled a quiet sigh of relief.
"Just thinking," he replied.
Under his control, the whole pitcher plant sunk underground again as he continued, his tone calmer now.
"That kid… there's something off about him. His power feels… strange."
"Strange?"
White Zetsu tilted his head, thinking, then shrugged.
"Yeah, yeah! He is kind of weird. That brat's pretty strong. Even Obito wasn't that tough at his age!"
"..."
Can you not bring up Uchiha Obito right now?
Black Zetsu felt his irritation rise but pushed it down.
"Anyway, keep an eye on him. Have your clones investigate—but don't alarm him. Not a single misstep."
"Got it!"
White Zetsu nodded, but then asked with a hint of curiosity, "Should we tell Obito? He still wants me to steal that thing, after all."
"...Don't tell him yet."
Black Zetsu cursed inwardly. This white idiot can't tell what's important and what's not.
"Maybe I'm just being paranoid… The kid is special, sure—but maybe not that special."
Black Zetsu tried to reassure himself. After all, his "mother," the progenitor of chakra, had left her seeds in this world long ago.
Her bloodline had passed down through her "unfilial sons," Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo and Ōtsutsuki Hamura—eventually giving birth to the current shinobi world, brimming with life and chakra.
"Could that brat's ancestors just have some ridiculously mixed bloodline?"
The thought crossed his mind, but even he found it far-fetched.
Still, the best course was to investigate. Only then could he find peace of mind.
"Most likely… it's not what I think it is."
---
"…Kakashi, are you alright?"
In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi was reviewing Kakashi and Guy's mission report while mentally comparing it to the intel they had already sent back in advance.
But as his eyes drifted toward Kakashi, he couldn't help but ask in a low voice.
Kakashi had seemed completely drained the moment he stepped into the office, and Sarutobi couldn't help but wonder—was this the side effect of awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan?
He had received the intel days ago, and even now, he still felt genuinely pleased.
After all, the best way to counter a Sharingan... is with another Sharingan. Especially considering Kakashi's eye originally belonged to Uchiha Obito.
Sharing the same roots, it was only natural that they could suppress each other more effectively.
But... was the backlash really this intense?
"I'm fine, Lord Hokage."
Kakashi glanced at Guy from the corner of his eye before finally speaking in a weary voice.
"It's just... the drain was substantial. I'll need some time to properly recover."
"I understand. That eye of yours is certainly no ordinary one."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded solemnly. Then, deciding to wrap up the meeting quickly, he continued:
"This operation was a great success—not just for you personally, but also in shedding more light on that mysterious organization. You've both done well."
With this key intelligence, they could now devise better strategies moving forward.
The only regret was that the organization's true objective remained unclear.
Obito had mentioned something briefly, but Kitagawa Gen's interpretation had sent chills down everyone's spines. They needed to dig deeper.
"We're just doing our duty,"
Kakashi and Guy replied humbly in unison.
Sarutobi gave another nod, then asked,
"By the way—Gen... is he alright? According to the report, his opponent was far from ordinary. Multiple hearts, overwhelming strength... Did he act recklessly?"
As he spoke, he cast a brief glance at Guy, as if silently asking, What are you teaching him?
"He was indeed a bit reckless," Kakashi admitted. "But he got lucky this time—came out mostly unscathed."
He couldn't help but feel a bit emotional as he continued,
"In fact, it was Gen's battle that turned the tide. When I first tapped into that eye's full power, I was already close to exhaustion.
If he hadn't escalated his fight and triggered that massive explosion, we might not have gotten out of there so cleanly."
"A little reckless... but definitely impressive," Guy added, seemingly oblivious to the glances between Kakashi and the Hokage.
"Still, I think we need to talk to him. Gen's always been obedient, but once someone tastes that kind of power... it's hard to let go."
"Agreed. I propose we ask Lord Jiraiya to speak with him as well," Kakashi suggested with a nod.
"Gen's trained and gone on missions with all three of us. His bond with Jiraiya is strong.
If Jiraiya speaks to him, the message might carry more weight."
"Jiraiya, huh..."
Hiruzen fell silent, contemplating the matter.
Kitagawa Gen's performance had been dazzling, but it no longer surprised him. Compared to the other prodigies who'd shaken the ninja world at age thirteen or fourteen, Gen still seemed... well-mannered.
His opponent had been formidable, yes, but true geniuses were always unpredictable. With the sheer power Gen possessed, his over-the-top display wasn't entirely unexpected.
And the stronger he becomes, the brighter Konoha's future will be.
With that thought, Sarutobi made up his mind.
Asking Jiraiya to persuade him shouldn't be difficult—
But Sarutobi had more in mind than just a conversation.
He knew his student's capabilities. Sage Mode was Jiraiya's ultimate trump card.
Jiraiya had even passed the knowledge to Minato Namikaze, though Minato once admitted the technique didn't quite suit him—his chakra nature and fighting style didn't align. But at the very least, he had learned it.
So what about Gen?
Gen already knew Flying Raijin and didn't seem overly reliant on it. He had also mastered Kakashi's sword techniques and possessed an exceptionally strong chakra.
He might be able to wield Sage Mode even better.
Still, even the first step doesn't seem to be going smoothly, Sarutobi thought with a frown.
He remembered Jiraiya's complaint: Gen apparently disliked toads and refused to even sign the summoning contract.
"That's... troublesome."
Still, it was worth trying. And Sarutobi also resolved to revisit the old research left by the First and Second Hokage.
If he recalled correctly, the First Hokage could also use Sage Mode.
"Alright, I've made up my mind. As for this matter—"
Just as he was about to finish his thought, a voice rang out from the window.
"Old man! I'm back!"
A white-haired figure stepped casually onto the Hokage office windowsill.
The breeze caught his long hair, flowing behind him in the sunlight. His relaxed aura and confident stance made him look like a sage descending from the mountains.
He glanced at the others in the room, then asked,
"Did I come at a bad time?"
"No!"
Hiruzen's eyes lit up. It was a stroke of good fortune—he had just been thinking about him! Beaming, he stood up and exclaimed:
"You came at the perfect time!"
"..."
Seeing that burning gaze, Jiraiya shivered on the spot.
He recognized that look. It meant trouble was coming.
He instinctively stepped back—
And promptly slipped.
"Wahhh—!"
To the stunned silence of Hiruzen, Guy, and Kakashi, Jiraiya flailed wildly and tumbled right off the Hokage office window!
That air of otherworldly elegance evaporated in an instant.
---
A short distance away, Kitagawa Gen and Naruto were walking toward Ichiraku when they saw someone fall from the Hokage building.
"What was that?" Naruto asked, a bit alarmed. "Is it dangerous?"
"Don't worry," Gen replied calmly. "He's not the type to get hurt so easily."
Even from afar, Gen could clearly see who it was.
Jiraiya's back, huh?
Watching Jiraiya's dramatic fall, Gen twitched slightly. That overwhelming sense of déjà vu...
He turned to the confused, concerned blond beside him, and after a moment of thought, he muttered:
"You two really are alike…"
"Huh?" Naruto blinked.