Iruka felt a bit relieved as he observed the unusually quiet classroom.
Under Shishou's leadership, Naruto, Kiba, and other troublemakers would periodically enter what they called 'XX mode,' becoming well-behaved.
This made Iruka's teaching job much easier.
However, there was still one troublemaker who gave him a headache.
That was Shikamaru.
Because he entered sleep mode.
Not only did he sleep during breaks, but he also slept during class.
With a flick of his wrist, Iruka prepared to hit the sleeping Shikamaru with a piece of chalk.
"Yawn~~~"
Shikamaru stretched lazily and scratched his head.
Seeing Shikamaru like this, Iruka twitched his eye and picked up the textbook.
"Today, we'll learn how to use the environment..."
...
Hokage's Office.
Bang!
"What did you say?"
"A mysterious person using Wood Release and someone using the Flying Thunder God appeared in Kirigakure?"
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, slammed his hands on the desk, staring intently at the ANBU member before him.
Wood Release was the signature jutsu of the First Hokage, and the Flying Thunder God was the signature technique of the Second Hokage.
Currently, no one in Konoha could use these techniques.
Yet now, they appeared in Kirigakure.
How could he not be shocked?
"Hiruzen, this is true."
"The information is absolutely reliable."
Danzo walked into the office, looking at Hiruzen and confirming.
The spy operations in other villages were usually handled by Danzo's Root.
So, Danzo had received the information even before the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
After multiple verifications,
Danzo had confirmed the authenticity of the information.
At this moment, the other two Konoha elders, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, also entered the Hokage's office.
They had obviously received the information through their own channels as well.
The Third Hokage waved his hand, dismissing the ANBU in front of him, and looked at Danzo.
"What's the situation?"
Danzo, with a grim expression, shook his head and said:
"Even Kirigakure couldn't identify the Wood Release user."
"They only know he wore a single-eye mask."
"As for the user of the Flying Thunder God, only the higher-ups of Kirigakure know, but the new Mizukage has issued a gag order, so there's no information."
A single-eye mask!
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression changed as he suddenly thought of the mysterious person who had stalled the Fourth Hokage during the Nine-Tails attack.
Recalling how the person had controlled the Three-Tails to attack Kirigakure, similar to how the Nine-Tails was controlled to attack Konoha,
It was the same person!
He was the mysterious figure who had manipulated the Nine-Tails.
The Third Hokage immediately understood the identity of the other party.
Realizing the person had Wood Release, Hiruzen's expression turned grim.
If he remembered correctly, the Nine-Tails' eyes had turned into Sharingan back then.
This meant,
the mysterious person not only had Uchiha powers but also the First Hokage's Wood Release.
And the person harbored extreme hatred for Konoha.
Thinking of this,
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked sharply at Danzo and commanded:
"Danzo, I don't care what methods you use, you must find this person!"
The thought of the mysterious person possessing both Uchiha and Senju powers genuinely terrified Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He had resolved to find the person before another attack on Konoha occurred.
Hearing the Third Hokage's words, Danzo, Homura, and Koharu were all stunned for a moment before nodding in agreement.
It seemed Hiruzen knew something they didn't.
"I understand, Hiruzen."
Danzo gave the Third Hokage a long look before nodding in response.
It was the first time in years that the Third Hokage had spoken to him so seriously.
Even Danzo had to give him face.
Moreover, he had already planned to use all means to find the person.
Although he had obtained all the cloning technology data from Orochimaru,
Orochimaru's cloning technology was still not perfect and required step-by-step experimentation.
If he could capture the mysterious person, Danzo could use Kotoamatsukami to control him.
Thus, gaining all his secrets and jutsu.
Successfully mastering Wood Release himself.
Although Danzo could currently use Wood Release, it was far from being under his control.
Instead of nurturing a few Wood Release subordinates, he preferred to master Wood Release himself.
"What about the person using the Flying Thunder God?"
Homura Mitokado spoke up.
The Flying Thunder God was also a secret jutsu of Konoha and couldn't be ignored.
"Yes, both matters will be pursued simultaneously."
"The Flying Thunder God is Konoha's jutsu, and we need to find out the truth."
"However, until we identify the person, we shouldn't antagonize them, but rather probe first."
Hiruzen Sarutobi, having calmed down, took a puff from his pipe and said.
The user of the Flying Thunder God, who saved Kirigakure from the mysterious attacker with Uchiha and Senju powers, must be extremely strong.
And it was clear the two were enemies.
Since the Mizukage had issued a gag order, it was evident that this person wasn't from Kirigakure.
Otherwise, in Kirigakure's weakened state, they would have revealed the person to intimidate other villages.
An enemy's enemy is a friend.
The Third Hokage considered first probing and then trying to recruit the person.
Moreover, given Konoha's current strength, it was not wise to make too many enemies.
Of course, if Jiraiya and Tsunade could return to the village,
that would be another story.
"Also, from now on, I'll assign two ANBU teams to guard Naruto."
"He will also move into my house."
The Third Hokage took a puff from his pipe, tapping the table, and issued a notice.
To prevent the mysterious person from targeting Naruto, the Third Hokage had to take precautions.
Additionally, since Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, any arrangements for him,
even if he was the Hokage, needed to be communicated to the other Konoha higher-ups like Danzo.
"Hiruzen, I've told you before."
"Let Naruto join Root, and he will be absolutely loyal to Konoha."
"Don't bring this up again, Danzo. I've given you a clear answer before."
"Hiruzen, you'll regret this!"
"Danzo, I'm the Hokage!"
...
Land of Water border.
"Tsunade-sama, there's information from the village saying something seems to have happened in Kirigakure."
Shizune, holding a report, walked into the room and looked at Tsunade on the bed.
Though Tsunade had left Konoha for many years, she still had some informants in the village to gather information about the ninja world.
After all, it was the village founded by her grandfather; she couldn't completely ignore it.
"Hmm, what does an incident in Kirigakure have to do with us?"
Placing her empty sake cup on the bedside table, Tsunade leaned back comfortably against the pillow.
Tsunade-sama really is huge.
Shizune shifted her gaze from Tsunade's ample chest and continued:
"According to our informant in Kirigakure, during the Three-Tails incident, a mysterious person capable of using Wood Release was discovered."
"It was this mysterious person who used genjutsu to control the Three-Tails Jinchuriki, causing the Three-Tails to go berserk."
"Additionally, a person capable of using the Flying Thunder God was also found. It was thanks to this person's help that Kirigakure survived the mysterious attack intact."
"The commotion in Kirigakure was so significant that it couldn't be hidden from the spies from other villages."
"Wood Release?"
Tsunade sat up, looking at Shizune.
She wasn't concerned about the Flying Thunder God.
Although it was her second grandfather's jutsu, it was still a jutsu, and it was normal for others to learn it.
But a mysterious person capable of using Wood Release? As the granddaughter of Hashirama, she couldn't ignore that.
"Yes, this information has already spread among the ninja villages."
Shizune nodded, confirming.
Hearing Shizune's response, Tsunade bit her well-proportioned finger, frowning in thought.
"Shizune, let's head to Kirigakure immediately and check out the situation."
Tsunade got out of bed and started getting dressed.
She was always decisive; once she made a decision, she didn't delay.
"Understood, Tsunade-sama."
Shizune responded and started packing, preparing to set off.