Chapter 47: Kage Level
A/N: Double Release (2/2). Our target is to reach 500 powerstones by next Sunday for another Double Release. This story's continuation depends on your support—so don't forget to give the story powerstones! Goal: 500 Powerstones!
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Leaning back in his chair, tired of the questioning, Goro began, "I was chasing after Kabuto—" but was quickly cut off by Ibiki.
"You claimed you chased after Kabuto, right?" Ibiki interrupted, raising an eyebrow as he shuffled through the papers again. "But here it says, when Guy and Kakashi arrived on the scene, you were nowhere to be found—just a man in a mask, standing over Kabuto's body."
Forcing a smile, Goro replied, "I don't get what you're trying to say. Are you saying I'm working with Kabuto or I'm the masked man? I think both conclusions are absurd."
Ibiki, picking up on Goro's apprehensiveness to answer questions, pressed forward. "The evidence points toward you working with Kabuto. You didn't pursue him. You didn't report back immediately. Hell, you didn't even stick around to explain yourself to Guy or Kakashi, even when you knew they were coming to back you up!"
Ibiki licked his finger, flipping to another page. "You vanished at the sight of the masked man and left Kabuto behind for dead. You're a traitor to both the Leaf and your accomplice!"
Goro could feel his temper waning, the accusations wearing down his patience. Taking in a deep breath, he exhaled slowly, trying to keep his calm. "These are all just assumptions," he said, his voice angry but controlled. "First you say I'm working with Kabuto, now you're saying I betrayed him, but you don't have proof for any of this. It's ridiculous. Speak to Asuma, then come back to me with a verdict. I won't be answering any more questions."
Ibiki glared at Goro, but Goro wasn't backing down. He forced himself to maintain eye contact with the interrogator, knowing full well that this was a delicate game.
'I thought I made a mistake, but I've been framed for conspiring against the Leaf. Asuma's testimony should mostly clear things up on my side, unless Danzo gets in the way.'
As Goro rose from his seat, Ibiki's strong hands clamped down on his shoulders, forcing him back into the chair. The wooden chair creaked under the sudden pressure.
"Not so fast," Ibiki said, his grip tightening. "If you refuse to answer more questions, we'll have no choice but to lock you up while we wait for Asuma's testimony." Ibiki's tone was harsh. He meant every word he spoke.
Goro gritted his teeth. Having nothing else to tell the interrogators, Goro pushed up against Ibiki's force, overpowering him and rising to his feet again.
"I could tell he had a bit of muscle, but his strength... He's strong," Ibiki thought as he struggled to push Goro back down, but to no avail.
"I've got nothing more to tell you," Goro said firmly, clenching his teeth, barely restraining his anger. "Lock me up if you want."
For a brief moment, neither moved. Goro's mind calculated the worst-case scenario.
'If things don't go my way... I can leave. Go rogue. The village can't stop me. And when Tsunade arrives and assumes the Hokage position, I can return. What I'm not going to do is serve as a prisoner for a whole month, while I wait for Tsunade to arrive.'
Ibiki watched him carefully, his grip loosening. "Lock him up and take him to the holding cells downstairs," he said, his words sharp. Once cuffs were placed on Goro's arms, Ibiki stared him in the eyes. "The Leaf doesn't take traitors lightly."
Goro didn't reply; there was no reason for him to argue with someone that wasn't willing to hear him speak.
'Is he purposefully pretending as if he knows what happened, to get me to confess, or does Danzo just have him so deeply wrapped in his scheme? It makes me wonder if he was placed under genjutsu... Also these cuffs... they don't seem to disrupt or block my chakra...'
Two men, both wearing black bandanas and long black trench coats, flanked Goro on either side as they guided him downstairs. Their footsteps echoed in the narrow corridor, the air growing colder with each step as they descended into the lower floors of the building.
On the lower floors, the hallway stretched on, lined with empty holding cells, their iron bars casting long shadows. Goro glanced around, taking in the sight of the deserted floor.
'I guess no one comes here often. I wonder what they did with all those Sound Ninja I caught in my jutsu... Oh! I forgot to mention my jutsu as evidence!'
Goro facepalmed, although he was certain Ibiki would claim the jutsu was just to cover up his tracks, it was worth a try.
One of the two men escorting Goro stepped forward and pulled out a key, its metallic clink breaking the silence as he unlocked the nearest cell. The heavy door creaked open, the sound echoing through the quiet hall.
The second man nudged Goro forward. "Inside," he ordered.
Goro complied, stepping over the metal frame of the door and into the small cell. He heard the key turn in the lock behind him as the door clicked shut, sealing him in.
The cell was simple. A single bench was placed against the far wall, with a small pillow resting on it. A dividing wall stretched halfway across the room, offering some privacy for the toilet, and across from the toilet was a metal sink.
Goro ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply as he made his way to the bench. He sat down, the hard surface offering little comfort.
'This reminds me of my past life... I don't like it. But, I've been able to endure this environment for years, so a day shouldn't be too tough. Now I just need to wait for Asuma to give a statement, and if Danzo doesn't intervene, I should be good to go.'
Bored, Goro decided to have a mental chat with his System.
'System, what're the odds I'll go free tomorrow?'
[Solely from the talk, there's an 80% chance you'll go free tomorrow. However, there are many extraneous variables in your circumstance, like Danzo. I am unable to determine how Danzo's involvement will change this percentage.]
'I see... I should just focus on the present for now, then. System, you're done copying the Third Hokage's skills, correct?'
[Affirmative. The Third Hokage's skills have been successfully copied.]
'Show me my new stats.'
[New Stats:
Taijutsu: Lower Kage (33%)
Physical: Lower Kage (18%)
Ninjutsu: Kage (8%)
Chakra Capacity: Kage (79%)
Chakra Control: Kage (67%)
Shurikenjutsu: Kage Candidate (30%)
Kenjutsu: Lower Sannin (72%)
Fuinjutsu: Kage (78%)
Chakra Affinity: Water(x5) + Fire(x5) + Lightning(x4) + Wind(x4) + Ice(x4) + Earth(x4) + Storm(x4)
New Skills: <Chakra Scalpel>, <Temple of Nirvana>, <Dead Soul Jutsu>, <Mystical Palm Jutus>, <Monkey Summoning Jutsu>, <Dead Demon Consuming Seal>, <Earthstyle: Earth Dragon Bullet>, <Earthstyle: Earth Flow River>, <Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu>, <Firestyle: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet>, <Earthstyle: Shadow Clone>, <Roof Tile Shuriken> ]
'Kage-level fuinjutsu? That means I can now create seals and use complex jutsu like the Impure World Reincarnation and I can create a jutsu similar to the Flying Raijin... As I expected, copying the skills of the Third Hokage was the best move I could've made.'
[Correct. Once you use Impure World Reincarnation, it will be added to your skills, enabling you to use the jutsu without the need for hand signs or the complex ceremony. All you will need is the DNA of the intended target and a sacrifice.]
'I mean, that's great, but the ceremony wasn't too difficult to do, to begin with. I have a few questions, though. Is the rank above Sannin "Kage Candidate"?'
[Yes.]
'Okay, so that would mean with Hiruzen and Kabuto combined, on average, I went up by two ranks. That being said, wasn't Hiruzen rumored to have learned all the jutsu in the Leaf? Why did I only gain a few?'
[The skills that were copied were the ones the Third Hokage had in his active arsenal.]
'I knew the system didn't copy memories or knowledge, but I didn't expect that it exclusively copied the skills the user actually used...'
Laying down on the bench, Goro began to fall deep into his thoughts.
'I still gained a lot, so I can't complain...'
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Reminder: Our target is to reach 500 powerstones by next Sunday for another Double Release. This story's continuation depends on your support—so don't forget to give the story powerstones! Goal: 500 Powerstones!
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