"Hokage-sama, the casualty statistics of the Root base have been calculated."
"The death toll exceeds 70%, the Root base has been completely destroyed, and important departments such as the laboratory, storage room, have also been mostly destroyed."
In the Hokage room, the Anbu member who was reporting with a list kept narrating.
Every time he said the words, Hiruzen's face felt his head throb.
When it was around the end, even his face looked almost bloodless, and his back was hunched together, and hands shaking at the sheer amount of damage.
'Danzo is dead.'
'The Root is also completely destroyed.'
The loss was so great that even if he wanted to rebuild it, it was almost impossible to do so.
Danzo, his right-hand man, died in such a ridiculous and humiliating way.
The Shimura clan searched for a long time in the ruins before finding some of Danzo's remaining flesh and hair, and buried it wrapped in the clothes in front of him.
It could be barely considered a grave.
Until now, Hiruzen couldn't figure it out.
Why did Danzo attack Naruto?
Sitting next to him, Koharu and Homura, had equally pale and ugly faces.
To their left was Danzo's position.
All major meetings were usually discussed there by the four of them.
But now, only three of the four were left.
The position belonging to Danzo was now empty.
"Hokage-sama, there is another matter that I must report to you."
The Anbu member said.
"We found a ninja who can use Wood-style in the ruins of the Root base."
"What?!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Hiruzen took a breath, his eyes widened, and he stared at him with shock.
"Wood-style? Are you sure it's Wood-style?"
There was a hint of heaviness in his breath.
Wood-style Kekkei Genkai, that was the ability mastered by Senju Hashirama.
Konoha's First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, quelled the chaos of the Warring States Period and single-handedly created the era of one country and one village using this ability of his.
When Hiruzen was young, he witnessed the power of Wood-style with his own eyes. It was no exaggeration to say that it had the power that could even destroy the world.
"Yes, we found him in the ruins of the Root. Because he used a Wood-style-based dome like technique to block the impact of the collapse of the base, he was only slightly injured and is not in any danger."
'[Wood Style ∙ Domed Wall Jutsu]?'
Hiruzen took a breath.
This was a Wood-style defensive ninjutsu. An extremely versatile move, this technique uses chakra to activate the roots in the ground and, using the user of the technique as a reference point, makes wooden pillars appear from left and right. The wooden pillars join together in a dome-shape with the user at the center.
Since Anbu could accurately describe this technique.
So this news was most likely true.
"Where is that Wood-style ninja? Take me to him quickly!"
…
Anbu base.
In the medical-unit room, a brown-haired boy, with his arm wrapped in bandages, was sitting quietly in the corner.
*Creak*
The door to the medical room was pushed open.
The boy instinctively took out his kunai and stared at Hiruzen with a vigilant posture.
This move made Hiruzen's expression freeze.
"Hokage-sama, please forgive Kinoe for his behaviour. He has stayed in the Root base most of the time and thus, has a withdrawn and vigilant personality. He has never met you before, and such responded like this."
The Anbu member next to him quickly explained.
Hiruzen nodded slightly to show his understanding.
He knew very well the environment of Root, which was several times crueler and darker than Anbu.
Growing up in this kind of environment, it's normal for him to be wary of strangers.
"You just said, his name is Kinoe?"
Hiruzen looked at the Anbu member beside him.
"Yes, we tried to communicate with him, and all we got was the short name Kinoe."
'First-class?'
(T.L Note: Meanings for the name "Kinoe" - armor, high (voice), A grade, first class, former, instep, carapace)
'It really fits Danzo's naming characteristics.'
Hiruzen put on a kind smile on his face, like the grandfather next door, trying to use this method to dispel Kinoe's wariness against him.
"Child, can you show grandpa your Wood-style?"
Wood-style was of so much importance that despite listening to the Anbu member's detailed reports, it's not enough.
It must be verified with his own eyes.
Koharu, who came with him, and Homura, who came following them, also held their breaths and stared at him hopefully.
The medical-unit room fell silent for a moment.
Everyone's eyes were focused on Kinoe.
Amid their scorching gazes, Kinoe nodded, stretched out his right hand and spread his palm.
In his small palm, a bud grew slowly.
Seeing this scene, there seemed to be a fire rising in Hiruzen's eyes.
'Wood-style! It's really the genuine Wood-style!'
Since the death of Hashirama, Wood-style, which had been non-existent for decades, had finally appeared once more.
"God bless Konoha! It seems that god has not forsaken Konoha!"
Indescribable excitement surged out of Hiruzen's heart.
Anyone could see his joy at this moment.
Next to him, Koharu and Homura, also showed strong excitement on their faces.
Wood-style had a completely different meaning to Konoha.
It was the ability of the First Hokage Senju Hashirama that calmed down troubled times. It was a symbol, a symbol of the God of Shinobi.
Kinoe was still young and had endless possibilities for the future.
It was not impossible to grow to a level close to Hashirama.
(T.L Note: Dude's in for one hell of a massive disappointment)
Hiruzen suddenly felt that Danzo's death was not much a sad thing anymore.
He even wanted to thank Danzo. If it hadn't been for him, Konoha would not have had a ninja with Wood-style.
He already had some vague guesses about Kinoe's origin.
Many years ago, he had supported Danzo's experiments related to the Wood-style in the Root.
However, because there was no progress in the experiment, he ordered it to be shut down after it consumed a lot of Konoha's resources.
'It now seems that Danzo did not choose to give up at that time, but continued to research in private. Finally, Kinoe was successfully produced.'
"Kinoe, you are a gift from God to Konoha. The name Kinoe will be past from now on. I will give you a new name."
"Tenzo! How about Tenzo?"
Hiruzen stared at Kinoe, as if waiting for his response.
"Ten...zo?"
Kinoe, now Tenzo, tilted his head and murmured.
'It seems that he likes the name.'
"Okay! Very good!"
Hiruzen was so excited that he almost burst into tears.
The appearance of Tenzo was a symbol of fortune, and he was especially valuable for Konoha, which was now at its lowest.
'Maybe we can also use Tenzo to invite Tsunade back to the village.'
Tsunade, one of the Sannin of Konoha, was also touted as Princess Tsunade, but due to various reasons, her heart gradually deviated from the village.
She even did not hesitate to leave Konoha and wandered around major casinos all year round.
Hiruzen was extremely troubled by this. He tried various methods but could not bring Tsunade back.
But the appearance of Tenzo undoubtedly gave this matter a new turn.
The same Wood-style as her grandfather might mean that now Tenzo was also related to her by blood, and he might be able to use this reason to invite Tsunade back to the village.
Ever since Mirai returned to the village, huge commotions have occurred one after another.
Hiruzen's desire to have Tsunade return to the village had never been stronger than it was currently.
As one of the legendary Sannin, the Slug Princess of Konoha, and the granddaughter of the First Hokage, no matter which one of these identity was put on table, she was not inferior to the Blue Flash, Namikaze Mirai.
Mirai had openly set his sights on the position of Hokage.
Then Hiruzen would find him the strongest competitor.
The Fifth Hokage.
Would be one of these two.
*****
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