When Tejima Shinichi pushed open the door to his home, the lingering glow of the setting sun happened to dye the entrance in a warm gold.
"I'm back."
Before his voice could even fade—
"Pop! Pop!"
Two crisp sounds rang out, and colored confetti and shiny ribbons fluttered down from above, showering him completely.
Mori Chie and Tejima Kazuto each held a popped party popper, their faces overflowing with brilliant smiles as they clapped vigorously.
"Congratulations, Shinichi! Today you officially become a Konoha Ninja!"
Mori Chie's voice was gentle, her eyes full of pride.
Tejima Kazuto stepped forward directly, looking at the Ninja forehead protector on Tejima Shinichi's head, slapping his shoulder hard while laughing heartily:
"As expected of my, Tejima Kazuto's, son!"
Tejima Shinichi was stunned for a moment, looking at the unconcealed joy on his parents' faces and this warm welcoming ceremony.
The post-battle detachment brought about by the high-intensity battle that had just ended rippled away because of the scene before him.
This simple, ordinary scene was something that fellow named Uzumaki Naruto dreamed of but could never obtain!
Tejima Shinichi lightly brushed the colored paper from his hair and replied with a smile:
"Yeah."
...At the dining table, the atmosphere was even more enthusiastic than usual.
Tejima Kazuto asked excitedly, "Shinichi, tell us quickly, who is your Jonin Instructor? Are they powerful? What kind of style do they have as a Ninja?"
Tejima Shinichi swallowed the food in his mouth and answered calmly, "His name is Yamato."
"Yamato?" Tejima Kazuto scratched his head and looked at his wife beside him. "Chie, have you heard of him? He doesn't seem very famous."
Mori Chie also frowned slightly, thinking back carefully before shaking her head:
"I really don't have much of an impression. Before I retired, I hadn't heard of any Elite Jonin by that name. Maybe he was promoted in recent years, or..." She paused, guessing, "...has he always been serving in the Anbu?"
"Yeah, he was indeed in the Anbu before, and..." Tejima Shinichi nodded and added, "He can use Wood Release."
"Oh, Wood Release..." Tejima Kazuto instinctively followed up, then suddenly reacted, his eyes instantly widening into circles: "Wait! What did you just say?! Wood... Wood Release?!!"
"Clatter."
The chopsticks in Mori Chie's hand fell onto the table, making a crisp sound.
She was completely oblivious, just looking at her son in disbelief, her voice even carrying a hint of a tremble:
"Shinichi... are you sure it's Wood Release? Like the First Hokage-sama's... Wood Release?"
"Yeah," Tejima Shinichi confirmed. "He used a Wood Release Ninjutsu to defend against my Rasengan, and a binding technique that grew wooden strips from the ground."
Mori Chie took a deep breath, trying hard to calm the stormy waves in her heart.
As someone with the Senju bloodline, she knew better than anyone what awakening Wood Release meant!
That was the symbol of the peak of the Senju Clan's power, the great force that pacified the chaotic era!
"In that case, he... he is also a member of our Senju Clan."
If the Jonin Instructor was from the same clan, he would naturally be more dedicated to caring for and guiding Shinichi.
This was Mori Chie's first thought!
Tejima Shinichi's movements paused for a moment as the true origin of Yamato's Wood Release flashed through his mind —the First Hokage's cell experiment subject... He hummed vaguely, his tone rising slightly with uncertainty:
"Probably... maybe. After all, if he's not from the Senju Clan... how could he use Wood Release?!"
But this vague answer was enough to put Mori Chie at ease and even make her joyful.
"That's wonderful!" She picked up her chopsticks again, a relaxed smile blooming on her face. "Since he's a senior from the same clan, then Mama is relieved. He will definitely guide you well!"
She began to look forward to it; as a fellow possessor of the Senju bloodline, senior Yamato, who held the power of Wood Release, would surely be able to better guide the hidden power within Shinichi's body.
Tejima Shinichi saw his mother's happy appearance and didn't say anything more, just lowering his head to eat silently.
'Same clan, huh...' he thought to himself. 'Perhaps, in terms of the bloodline source of the power, he counts as one.'
...Deep within the dark base of Konoha's Root.
Danzo Shimura sat alone in the shadows, his single eye staring at a Root member kneeling on one knee below. The cane in his hand thumped heavily on the ground, making a dull sound.
"...So, Yamato took the initiative to terminate the test and approved all members of Team One!?"
The Root member reported in a monotonous voice,
"The target, Tejima Shinichi, displayed a terrifying Chakra volume during the test that far exceeds that of a Genin, even forcing Yamato to temporarily avoid a direct clash. His tactical style leans toward long-range Ninjutsu suppression. He has used various C-rank and B-rank Ninjutsu, including Water Dragon Bullet, Earth Dragon Bullet, and Headhunter Jutsu, and..."
The Root member paused and continued:
"...it is confirmed that he has mastered the A-rank Ninjutsu 'Rasengan' and used this technique to briefly contend with Yamato..."
"Rasengan..." Danzo's raspy voice rang out in the darkness, carrying a hint of coldness. "The Fourth's technique... he actually mastered it too..."
Cold light flickered in his single eye. The resentment from being forcibly stopped by Hiruzen Sarutobi and failing to get his hands on the boy now grew wildly again like poisonous vines.
Such a massive amount of Chakra, such amazing Ninjutsu talent, and possessing the most orthodox bloodline of the Senju Clan... this was simply the perfect Jinchuriki vessel!
Even more so, he was the most powerful weapon prototype that Root needed!
Now, he had been handed over by that indecisive fellow Hiruzen to that trash who defected from Root to join the Hokage—Yamato!
"Yamato... Kinoe..."
Danzo whispered the code name he had once bestowed, a flash of disgust crossing his single eye.
A failed experimental subject, a traitor who turned away from the darkness, was now responsible for guiding the genius he was determined to have?
It was simply a joke!
Such a perfect vessel, such a seedling containing the Senju bloodline, should be transplanted into the soil of 'Root.' In the darkness, he should be personally shaped into the sharpest weapon, becoming the ultimate power to protect Konoha... and realize his ideals!
Instead of growing into a useless greenhouse flower under Hiruzen Sarutobi's naive and weak 'Will of Fire'!
'Hiruzen, your indecisiveness and so-called "light" will only waste this talent and may even bring hidden dangers to the Village...' Danzo's single eye narrowed, a cold light flashing. 'This child is destined to belong to "Root".'
Danzo Shimura slowly stood up, the shadows swallowing most of his figure.
"Continue to closely monitor Team One, especially all of Tejima Shinichi's movements. In addition..." He paused, his voice dropping lower with an unquestionable command, "Re-evaluate the 'Wedge' plan. I need a... scheme that will make him take the initiative to approach the darkness."
"Yes!"
The Root member bowed and took the order, his figure silently merging into the shadows and disappearing.
In the empty darkness, only Danzo's figure leaning on his cane remained, along with his single eye flickering in the shadows.
'Tejima Shinichi... such a piece of unpolished jade, how can I let you waste away in the sunlight? Root is your ultimate destination... it's just that the timing requires waiting...'