章 58: Chapter 58

Danzo was sentenced to execution. With the Hyuga clan members keeping Danzo in a state where he couldn't adequately use chakra, the medical-nin were able to swiftly destroy his arm embedded with Sharingan eyes.

It was decided to have the medical-nin perform the procedure so Danzo wouldn't die from blood loss, as chakra was beyond his control at that moment.

However, the biggest problem wasn't Danzo himself but the mess he left behind. Root agents were currently undergoing interrogations, and the children who were to become his future operatives were handed over to their clans or placed in orphanages.

But all this was an issue for Hiruzen's administration; meanwhile, Hiruzen himself had other problems related to that very administration.

"You both understand perfectly well what's awaiting you, don't you?"

Danzo's actions couldn't help but affect them. Since Hiruzen acted extremely swiftly, he managed to maintain his influence, whereas Homura and Koharu didn't exhibit the same promptness.

The weakest members of the Second Hokage's team were experiencing an incredibly complex mix of emotions at that moment. This was understandable even to someone without telepathy, as they had built their careers over decades.

However, they managed to maintain their composure thanks to their ample life experience.

"Yes," Homura nodded. "We can hardly remain in Konoha any longer."

Throughout their long lives as elders of Konoha, Koharu and Homura had inevitably established connections in the capital of the Land of Fire.

"When will our exile take place?" Koharu asked.

"With Tsunade's arrival," Hiruzen replied.

Sarutobi was confident that Jiraiya would handle the task assigned to him.

"It will be her first political decision as Hokage."

Homura and Koharu nodded with bitterness in their hearts. They both understood that this was the right course of action, but at the same time, they didn't want to lose what they had earned through their sweat and blood.

"Is that all?" Koharu asked.

The old woman didn't wish to stay in this place a second longer.

"Before you leave," Hiruzen began, "my advice to you: don't think of doing anything against Reed Richards. He's not someone you want as an enemy. I wouldn't want to bury the rest of my comrades."

Hiruzen's two old friends merely glanced at him, said nothing, and silently departed.

After they left his office, Hiruzen was able to breathe, but his thoughts were quickly occupied by a problem that promised to become his personal issue. That problem was named Uchiha Itachi.

I stopped monitoring what was happening in the Hokage's residence after the elders left, as all the interesting things had already concluded. At that moment, the part of my mind dedicated to creating the perfect combination of Uchiha Sasuke's DNA and Senju Hashirama's DNA found the answer.

"Time to finish Project Sage," I said to myself.

Thanks to my control over my body at the atomic level, making changes was quite convenient. I focused on my internal processes, integrating new DNA elements into my structure.

The process began with analyzing Sasuke's and Hashirama's DNA. The Uchiha DNA contained the genetic code responsible for the Sharingan and its advanced forms. Senju Hashirama's DNA held genetic material responsible for incredible regeneration and control over natural energy.

I began with synthesis. The first step was extracting the genetic code responsible for the ability to awaken the Rinnegan from Uchiha DNA. This code was like a complex mechanism requiring precise tuning. Next, I used Hashirama's DNA to enhance and stabilize this mechanism, adding elements that would allow me to control the enormous chakra flows necessary for activating the Rinnegan.

The integration process was incredibly complex and required utmost concentration. I observed every atom, every molecule, ensuring everything proceeded perfectly.

When all components were assembled, I activated the synthesis process. My cells began rapidly restructuring, adapting to the new genetic elements; within my body was the Sage of Six Paths' chakra. My eyes began to change. I felt new powers awakening.

Suddenly, the world around me became clearer. I saw not only physical objects but also the chakra flows permeating all existence. The Rinnegan had awakened. Along with this, knowledge of the techniques stored within these eyes appeared in my mind; to be precise, the knowledge of these techniques was at the DNA level.

"Project Sage..." A smile naturally appeared on my face. "Was successful."

—= Jiraiya =—

Reed's gift couldn't help but amaze the Sage of Mount Myoboku, for this gift was the very power that made the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, the God of Shinobi. What Naruto had created in a surge of emotions was none other than Mokuton. Jiraiya still remembered the tree sprouts that appeared around them when he and Naruto were training.

Naruto's potential, which was already incredible, now exceeded all imaginable limits. For this very reason, Jiraiya and Naruto were currently training in taijutsu. Jiraiya couldn't assist Naruto with Mokuton, but he could help with another aspect that had improved—taijutsu.

The training began with a simple warm-up. Naruto and Jiraiya exchanged blows, gradually increasing speed and power. Naruto moved with astonishing grace and precision; his enhanced reflexes and strength made his strikes powerful and swift. Jiraiya, despite his age, was an incredibly experienced fighter and easily parried the blond's attacks.

"You've become stronger, Naruto, but don't forget about concentration," Jiraiya said, dodging a punch and countering with a quick kick to the stomach.

Naruto quickly recovered, rolled, and attacked again; his fists flew at lightning speed. Jiraiya deftly dodged, blocking and deflecting blows.

"You think too much about power, Naruto," said Jiraiya, delivering a series of quick strikes that Naruto barely deflected. "In battle, strength isn't the only thing that matters; strategy is crucial too."

Naruto nodded, his gaze becoming more focused. He began combining attacks, trying to catch Jiraiya off guard. Jiraiya, on the other hand, used every opportunity for counterattacks, demonstrating astonishing speed and agility.

Suddenly, Naruto swept his leg, and Jiraiya lost his balance. But instead of falling, he flipped in the air and, using his weight, directed his heel straight at Naruto. The blond managed to raise his hand, blocking the strike, but the force was such that it threw him back.

"Good, Naruto. Now you understand how important it is to use not only strength but also agility," Jiraiya smiled, seeing that his student had learned the lesson.

Naruto, getting to his feet, nodded. His movements became smoother, and he began combining strikes with dodges and throws. Every time Jiraiya tried to attack, Naruto found a way to counter.

"Excellent, Naruto!" Jiraiya shouted, blocking a series of powerful blows and responding with quick counter-strikes. "Keep it up!"

At one point, Naruto, using his enhanced reflexes, made an incredible leap, delivering a downward strike. Jiraiya managed to dodge, but the power of the blow left a small crater in the ground.

In Jiraiya's mind, memories of Tsunade's strikes couldn't help but flash.

"You should have struck not with your hand," Tsunade said.

After meeting Naruto, she had managed to recover to some extent. Now she restrained her impulses.

"Using your leg would have been faster," she stated.

"Alright, Tsunade-baa-chan," Naruto replied.

Naruto's response couldn't help but irritate a woman like Tsunade Senju.

"Brat!"

Jiraiya realized that incredible destruction was about to occur. For this reason, he jumped away from the blond.

BAM

—\\—

At the moment my Rinnegan awakened, a powerful surge of chakra erupted from my body, inevitably drawing the attention of those nearby. In no time, Hiruzen's men arrived at the place where I was experimenting, led by Hiruzen himself.

They were alarmed. I deactivated the Rinnegan; its operational mechanism in this regard was similar to the Uchiha's Sharingan. In this matter, Itachi's memories had been of great help to me.

"Reed-san?"

"What terrifying chakra..." whispered an ANBU operative from the Hyuga clan.

Since I had never possessed the Sage of Six Paths' chakra until today, I couldn't experience such awe, but at the same time, I could observe the difference between myself and a typical ANBU-level shinobi.

The ground beneath my feet was riddled with cracks.

"I apologize for any inconvenience caused," I said with an awkward smile.

Thanks to Orochimaru's memories, who possessed a rather impressive chakra reserve, I was able to quickly figure out how to keep my chakra under control to avoid such problems. After I regained control of my chakra, the tension among those around me slightly eased, but it didn't disappear completely.

"What was that, Reed-san?"

At that moment, with a glance, he ordered his subordinate Hyuga to examine me using the Byakugan. As soon as he activated the Byakugan and looked at me, the image of my Sage of Six Paths' chakra appeared before his eyes.

"The experiment got out of control. I was creating a new technique."

Hiruzen scrutinized my eyes, trying to find traces of Orochimaru's influence, but finding nothing, he sighed with relief and allowed most of the ANBU to return to their positions.

After Hiruzen once again advised me not to do such a thing again, he returned to his residence, leaving a couple of ANBU to watch over me.

However, that was no longer of great importance, as I had completed the main experiments.

—= Jiraiya =—

The white-haired sage couldn't suppress a grin when his gaze fell upon his student, who at that moment was sporting a bump on his forehead. Despite the fact that Naruto by now surpassed genin and most chunin, he still needed to grow to reach jonin level. Tsunade, being a Kage-level shinobi, could easily give him a thrashing.

They had almost reached Konoha. The majestic faces of the Hokage carved into the cliff were visible on the horizon. The landscape around the village was picturesque: green hills covered with forests, a river flowing in the distance, and a blue sky where snow-white clouds occasionally drifted by.

"It's good to be back home," Naruto said with a relieved smile, gazing at the familiar sight.

Jiraiya agreed. After all, Konoha's hot springs topped his personal list. He too felt nostalgic seeing his homeland.

"If someone had told me a month ago that I'd willingly decide to return to Konoha, I'd have said that's an incredibly funny story..." Tsunade remarked.

Her words were full of disbelief, but her gaze burned with determination. This was largely thanks to Naruto's personal charisma. He had managed to awaken hope and inspiration in her, making her believe once again in the strength and future of the village.

"Let's pick up the pace," Naruto declared as the gates drew closer. His heart beat faster in anticipation of meeting his friends and returning to his village.

Jiraiya and Tsunade exchanged glances and, nodding, followed him. The wind gently lifted their hair, and the sounds of the village grew louder, reminding them of home.

As they approached the main gates, the guards, recognizing them, saluted. Naruto, Jiraiya, and Tsunade passed through the gates, feeling the warmth of their homeland. The streets of Konoha were lively—people bustling about, children playing—and all of it filled the heart with joy.

"Home sweet home," Jiraiya said quietly, looking around with a smile.

Tsunade nodded, her gaze full of determination and hope for a better future. Naruto, looking ahead, was already making plans for the coming days. They had returned to Konoha.

—= Tsunade Senju =—

The princess of the once-great Senju clan couldn't help but appreciate the warm welcome Konoha had given her. Tsunade, accompanied by Jiraiya, was heading to the Hokage's residence, where Hiruzen awaited them.

Tsunade immediately noticed the ANBU who were covertly watching them. She would have to get used to such attention, as she would soon become Hokage.

When Tsunade's gaze fell upon the faces of the Hokage carved into the cliff, her heart trembled. Memories surged over her like a wave.

"So, I've returned home," she quietly said, holding back her emotions.

Jiraiya, walking beside her, smiled slightly, catching her words.

"Finally," he said. "The village needs you, Tsunade."

When they entered the residence, the atmosphere was tense. Hiruzen stood before them; despite his fatigue and all the hardships he had endured, he still radiated strength and wisdom. ANBU surrounded the room, ready for any orders.

A healer's eye couldn't help but notice signs of a recent battle.

"Tsunade, Jiraiya, glad to see you," Hiruzen greeted them. His voice was firm, but a hint of fatigue could be felt.

—= Some time later =—

"What can you tell me about Reed Richards?" Tsunade asked Hiruzen.

The Third Hokage looked at her in bewilderment. He didn't understand why she might be interested in this foreigner.

"He caught her attention because of the gift Reed gave to Naruto," Jiraiya said.

The white-haired Sannin hadn't sent Hiruzen all the details of what had changed with Naruto.

"What kind of gift could have interested you?... Wait, you don't mean to tell me you wanted to take the inheritance of an orphan?!" Hiruzen's thoughts instantly led him to consider what might have interested Tsunade.

Clear signs of displeasure and irritation appeared on Tsunade's forehead.

"Hahahahaha," Jiraiya laughed, but the laughter quickly faded when he saw Tsunade's piercing gaze full of incredible wrath. "Ahem, I couldn't tell you what happened to Naruto because the messages could have been intercepted..."

Hiruzen immediately understood that he was talking about Danzo and his people.

"Danzo was sentenced to execution for treason."

Jiraiya's and Tsunade's eyes widened in surprise.

"The village sure has changed quickly during my absence..." Tsunade said.

In the healer's tone, distinct echoes of satisfaction could be heard. Shimura Danzo wasn't respected among Jiraiya and Tsunade, nor among the rest of Konoha's elite.

"Since he's been dealt with, there's no point in hiding it now," Jiraiya said. "Reed gave Naruto Mokuton and most likely enhanced Naruto's body."

Hiruzen's eyes widened in astonishment.

"His Mokuton is stronger than what Yamato demonstrated," Jiraiya added.

"Kami," Hiruzen groaned, anticipating the headache this information would cause in Konoha.

—= Reed Richards =—

I realized that Naruto had returned to the village not thanks to telepathy but because the entire village echoed with the blond's shout.

"WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED HERE WHILE I WAS GONE?!"

The voice came from the place where the Ichiraku Ramen restaurant used to be, but recently Ayame, the owner's daughter, decided to change the menu... Ah, well, that explains everything.

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu."

The entire training ground was engulfed in white smoke, which soon dissipated, leaving behind ten of my clones.

"You know what to do."

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