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[Class Quest · Stage Two]
[Command Shadows: 7/20]
[Conquer Shadows: 0/1 (Shadow Knight)]
—Shadow Knight…
Staring at those words, Shikage pulled up everything the system had shown him about the title.
It was a rank within the Shadow Legion—basically an elite version of a regular shadow soldier.
In other words, a boss-tier upgrade.
"So I need to raise one elite Shadow Knight."
He already had a rough training plan in mind.
"Looks like this one won't be finished overnight."
"First things first—get those twenty soldiers."
Mind busy mapping out the road ahead, Shikage drifted off without realizing it.
When he opened his eyes again, it was already the next morning.
Fresh air filled his lungs. His head felt crystal clear. Every muscle in his body hummed with comfort—no trace of yesterday's exhaustion.
This wasn't the first time. After brutal training sessions he could always bounce back completely after one good night's sleep.
He used to wonder why. Now he was almost certain it was the system.
"Absolute Adaptability is no joke—every bit as broken as Absolute Learning Ability."
"I wonder what Absolute Influence actually does…"
He was genuinely looking forward to finding out.
But even in a good mood, he didn't forget what came next.
Sure, he'd wiped every possible trace during the night.
Still, if Danzō wanted answers, Root would dig something up. They always did.
A whole Root squad dead on a failed mission in the Naka River forest?
Danzō wasn't going to let that slide.
Shikage had zero interest in open war with the old warhawk. The man was Kage-level and basically Konoha's shadow emperor.
If Danzō turned his full attention on him, being the Nara clan heir wouldn't save him.
He could always go missing-nin and run.
But why? His background was perfect—legitimate son of a major clan, heir to the Hokage's inner circle.
Staying in Konoha was still the best play.
Provided he could neutralize the threat from Danzō.
And he already had the solution worked out before he fell asleep.
Waiting passively had never been his style.
The Root deaths were permanent. Reviving them would cause more problems than it solved, and he didn't know Impure World Reincarnation yet anyway.
So instead of hiding the bodies, better to hand someone else the "culprit" label.
He already had the perfect candidate in mind.
Chakra flowed out of his body, guided by seals, and coalesced beside him into a black-robed, masked figure.
Shikage studied the familiar-yet-strange mask and gave a satisfied nod.
The shadow clone immediately cast Shadow Imitation on the five corpses.
Six figures now stood in perfect formation—impressive as hell.
Finally he tucked No.2 inside the clone's shadow to guarantee nothing went wrong.
Prep work complete.
All that was left was stepping onto the stage.
Shikage nodded to the clone.
"Let's go. Wouldn't want Lord Danzō waiting too long."
After the clone team left, Shikage looked toward the brightening sky and smiled faintly.
"Time to head home."
"Camping in the forest was nice…"
"But being the young master is way more comfortable."
...
Hokage's office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood by the window, looking out over the entire village.
"Shisui's death is a massive blow to the Uchiha."
"There's no need to keep squeezing them. If they snap back, the damage to the village could be irreversible."
"Danzō, do you understand?"
In the shadowed corner of the office, Danzō leaned on his cane, single eye fixed on Hiruzen's back.
"You're too soft, Hiruzen."
"The policy against the Uchiha was set by Lord Tobirama!"
"They even drove Shisui to suicide—what won't the Uchiha do next?"
Hiruzen stayed silent for a moment, then turned around and looked straight at Danzō.
"Why pretend between us?"
"No one knows the truth about Shisui better than you."
Danzō's gaze sharpened, but he didn't deny it. He answered calmly.
"I understand."
He turned and walked toward the door, leaving behind the same tired line Hiruzen had heard too many times.
"Hiruzen… you will regret this."
Hiruzen closed his eyes and shook his head. He sank into the Hokage chair with a heavy sigh.
"Itachi, you can leave."
The old voice echoed through the office.
A figure flickered into view and knelt respectfully.
"Lord Hokage… he seems to have noticed me."
"Normal. It is Danzō, after all."
After a few hesitant breaths, Itachi carefully took out a single eye.
"Lord Hokage, please accept this Sharingan."
"I can't always be by your side. If something happens…"
Hiruzen waved his hand, expression complicated.
"I trust you."
"And… I trust him too."
Itachi's eyes flickered. He pressed his lips tight.
"I understand."
"This subordinate will take his leave."
Once Itachi vanished, Hiruzen glanced at the mountain of political documents on his desk, but his mind wasn't on paperwork.
—Danzō… I hope you don't take the wrong path.
—So few of our old friends are left…
His feelings toward Danzō were a tangled mess.
Disgust, contempt, pity, respect…
Sometimes Hiruzen knew perfectly well that what Danzō did was wrong.
But he didn't see it as unforgivable sin.
At least Danzō acted for Konoha—just too extremely.
That was what he used to tell himself. What he wanted to keep believing.
But if Danzō ever crossed the line…
No matter how much hesitation he felt, Hiruzen would not hold back.
Danzō could be Konoha's shadow emperor. He could run Root. He could stand one step below the Hokage with ten thousand people beneath him…
But he could never touch the Hokage seat itself.
That was Hiruzen's bottom line.
Because Danzō could not save Konoha.
He was only a tool.
So who could take the hat?
Hiruzen didn't know.
He felt lost.
He understood better than anyone what being Hokage truly meant.
Living every day on a razor's edge wasn't something normal people could endure.
—Danzō is getting harder to control. He actually tried to use Kotoamatsukami on me…
—I'm getting old. I need to find a successor soon!
He couldn't keep waiting. He had to take action.
Since there was no perfect heir right now, he would cultivate one from the next generation.
Hiruzen picked up a document, eyes scanning the text, and murmured softly.
"Chūnin Exams…"