The Tenseigan started from the Hyuga main family.

Such exquisite chakra nature transformation would be considered exceptional even among the Jonin of Konoha.

Judging from his age, he's probably no more than two years older than Sasuke. Is this a genius from the Hyuga clan comparable to Itachi Uchiha?

"As expected of Jonin Kakashi, he saw through my little trick at a glance."

Hyuga Zechen nodded, confirming Kakashi's guess.

"Kakashi-senpai, how is Neji?"

Tian Tian, ​​standing nearby, looked worried and hurriedly asked.

Neji collapsed to the ground within moments, and due to the ruptured blood vessels, his exposed skin gradually turned reddish-purple, appearing exceptionally terrifying.

"Take him to the hospital immediately, and he'll be able to get out of bed after ten days of lying down."

Kakashi tugged at his black mask and spoke expressionlessly.

The injury from that palm strike was naturally extremely severe, but Kakashi could tell that Hyuga Zetsu knew his limits and had clearly restrained his power. If Neji had used his chakra to unleash his full power, it would have been enough to severely damage his internal organs in an instant.

"It's just a fight between members of the same clan, yet you used such a heavy hand."

Tian Tian's hair bun at the back of her head trembled several times, revealing that its owner was extremely agitated. She pointed her finger and cursed angrily.

"Ha, he was the one who overestimated himself and started the fight, yet he couldn't even withstand a single palm strike. Whose fault is that?"

Faced with Hinata Zechen's response, Tenten opened her mouth to refute, but couldn't help but fall silent.

Just then, a tall figure sped towards them from afar at an astonishing speed, stirring up a tremendous gust of wind.

"Kai-sensei, Neji has been injured!"

Upon seeing the person approaching, Tian Tian seemed to have found a pillar of support and immediately shouted out.

Hinata Zechen's gaze sharpened, and his attention immediately focused on Might Guy.

This is the man who almost ended the series with a single kick.

Might Guy sported a watermelon-shaped haircut reminiscent of a kappa, with thick eyebrows even more striking than Rock Lee's. He wore a green bodysuit covered by a Konoha Jonin armor. Even upon seeing Neji lying on the ground, he maintained a cheerful smile.

"As expected, Neji has also gotten into a heated battle, and he actually suffered such a serious injury in the fight."

Matt Kai first made a funny face by extending his right hand and giving his signature thumbs up. Then, he bent down to check himself over, and large tears streamed down his face. It was unclear whether he was moved or saddened.

"Kai-sensei, he's the one who injured Neji."

Team 3 has been established for a year, and Tenten naturally knows that although Might Guy's behavior and appearance are different from ordinary people, his strength is quite amazing.

"Neji lost, which is clearly because his training wasn't enough. Once he recovers from his illness, I'll definitely make sure he runs ten laps around the village with me every day!"

As Might Guy spoke, he vigorously hoisted Neji onto his back and sprinted towards the Ninja Hospital.

Watching Might Guy's departing figure, Hinata Sawa raised an eyebrow, flipped over and leaped back onto the hammock in the tree, swaying in the wind once more.

"let's go……"

Seeing the unwillingness in Uchiha Sasuke's eyes, his gaze fixed on Hyuga Zechen, Haruno Sakura, fearing that Uchiha Sasuke would impulsively challenge her, carefully reached out and tugged at Sasuke's sleeve.

Sasuke gritted his teeth and forcefully shook off Sakura's pull, but instead of stubbornly rushing forward, he chose to follow Kakashi and turn to leave.

Although Sasuke was stubborn, he wasn't entirely unaware of right and wrong. He had heard of the chakra nature transformation that Kakashi mentioned.

Those are techniques that one only begins to try and master when they reach the Jonin stage.

How could someone of similar age possess such strength? If I could reach that level, I would surely be qualified to take revenge on that man.

With the departure of Class Seven, the surroundings returned to calm, leaving only the sound of rushing water and the gently swaying hammocks.

-----------------

"Kakashi, Jonin, the Hokage requests your presence."

In the evening, when Kakashi led Team 7 to the Hokage Building to hand over their mission, a figure wearing an Anbu mask approached and spoke.

Kakashi nodded, walked smoothly to the Hokage's office, and gently knocked on the door.

"Come in!"

Hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice coming from inside the door, Kakashi pushed the door open and entered. As expected, he saw the office filled with white smoke and a flickering pipe.

"Ahem, Hokage-sama, isn't this smoke a bit too much?"

Kakashi swung his arm forcefully, and a gentle breeze blew out, carrying with it white smoke that drifted out of the half-open window.

On the large wooden table were stacks of thick documents and numerous scrolls of various sizes.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was wearing a Hokage robe with a pure white cloak over it. He was not wearing a Hokage hat, which revealed his neatly styled white hair and the inverted triangular white beard under his forehead.

However, none of this could conceal the fact that the once-proud man's face was now covered with dense wrinkles and increasingly noticeable age spots.

Hokage-sama is getting older and older!

This is the thought that always comes to Kakashi's mind whenever he sees Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Kakashi is here."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a few deep drags on his pipe, then slowly put it down and pointed with the end of the pipe at the documents spread out on the table.

"Kakashi, what do you think?"

Kakashi took two steps closer and immediately recognized it as an application form for the Chunin Exams.

Name: Hinata Sawatatsu

Age: 13 years old

Ninja ID: 012315

……

He's only thirteen?

Kakashi looked surprised after only glancing at the beginning of the article.

Although Kakashi judged that Hyuga Zetsu was not old, his age of thirteen, along with his inconsistent temperament and strength, reminded him of his former ANBU subordinate, Uchiha Itachi.

Both are from ninja clans, both possess eye-type bloodline limits, and both demonstrate overwhelming strength compared to their peers.

The only difference is that Uchiha Itachi was already a renowned genius ninja in Konoha when he was six or seven years old, while Hyuga Zechen has only just revealed his talent now.

Will he be the next Itachi Uchiha?

For no apparent reason, this question flashed through Kakashi's mind.

Chapter 8 Your Regret, My Shadow

"He is a genius far superior to me, and has broken away from the traditions of the Hyuga clan, forging a path different from the past. However, since we haven't fought each other personally, I can't determine whether this change is good or bad."

After reviewing the documents on the table several times, Kakashi carefully chose his words before answering Hiruzen Sarutobi's question.

"Oh?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Kakashi with a hint of surprise, clearly not expecting Kakashi to have such a high opinion of him.

"Kakashi, don't be so modest. Graduating from the Ninja Academy at 5, becoming a Chunin at 6, and a Jonin at 12, plus developing new ninjutsu—each of these is unprecedented and unlikely to be repeated. If it weren't for..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze fell on Kakashi's crooked Konoha headband, and he sighed inwardly, not continuing to speak.

While transplanting Obito Uchiha's Sharingan allowed Kakashi to copy thousands of ninjutsu, earning him the title of "Copy Ninja," it essentially locked down his potential. Otherwise, given Kakashi's talent, how could his strength have remained stagnant for so many years?

"As for Hyuga Zechen... it's too early to draw conclusions now. We'll see clearly during the Chunin Exams."

Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped his index finger on the table a few times before finally deciding to wait and see.

If Hyuga Zetsu were of commoner origin or a member of a fallen minor ninja clan, Hiruzen Sarutobi might have considered recruiting him into the Anbu for further training, along with instilling the Will of Fire to prevent the genius from going astray and to cultivate him into the Fifth Hokage's right-hand man.

However, since Hyuga Zetsu was born into the Hyuga clan, and was one of the few main branches, Sarutobi Hiruzen hesitated for a moment.

Since the Senju clan went into hiding and completely assimilated into Konoha, and the Uchiha clan, having survived the massacre and now existing in name only, the Hyuga clan has become the nominal number one ninja clan in Konoha. As he grows older, Hiruzen Sarutobi becomes increasingly indecisive, losing all the decisiveness of his youth. He only wants to fulfill his duty until the very end, then select a Fifth Hokage to ensure the Will of Fire continues to be passed down.

Seeing that Hiruzen Sarutobi had pulled himself out of his thoughts and was continuing to review the numerous documents on the desk, Kakashi took a few steps back, turned around, and left the Hokage's office.

As the first electric light came on, Konoha, gradually enveloped in the thick darkness of night, saw rows of lights illuminate the scene, dispelling the darkness.

Just then, a heavy thud came from afar, gradually approaching before abruptly stopping at the entrance to the Hokage's office.

"Come in, do I have to invite you?"

Even before the sound of his cane hitting the ground was heard, Hiruzen Sarutobi had subconsciously frowned. The lack of a knock on the door forced Hiruzen to speak first.

As the door was pushed open forcefully, a figure that Hiruzen Sarutobi recognized all too well walked in—it was Danzo Shimura.

This old partner of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the founder and leader of the "Root" organization, has long brown hair that is not commensurate with his age. His entire forehead and right eye are wrapped tightly in white bandages. His face is as gloomy as ever. There is a forked scar on his chin. His entire right arm is completely wrapped in black clothes and hangs in front of his chest. A purple belt is wrapped around his waist. His only outstretched left hand is holding a solid wooden cane.

As Shimura Danzo entered the office, he did not speak. When he looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen, a fiery glint flashed deep in his eyes, revealing his undisguised desire for the Hokage position.

Hiruzen, you're getting old. It's time to pass the Hokage title to me!

"Next time you have something to do, can't you come during the day?"

After placing the reviewed documents on his left, Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up his pipe, lit it, and took a few slow puffs before raising his head to speak.

"I am the root of Konoha, so naturally I should live in the darkness."

Danzo Shimura lowered his eyes slightly and spoke in a gloomy tone.

“State your purpose, or I should go home.”

Hiruzen Sarutobi was perfectly aware of his old friend's thoughts. After exhaling a smoke ring, he spoke in an almost commanding tone.

Hiruzen, you deserve to die!

If it weren't for my momentary lapse of judgment, how could you have been so arrogant and domineering in front of me?

Danzo clenched his fist tightly inside his robe, his chest heaving slightly as he suppressed his anger.

The forbearance that he used to be so proud of was always hard to suppress in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"I've heard that the Hyuga main family has finally produced a genius. You're aware of the many arduous tasks that 'Root' undertakes. In the past, you always refused to let the Byakugan join Root, citing the Hyuga branch family's inability to keep secrets. This time, I suppose you won't refuse, will you?"

Danzo stared directly into Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes without any hesitation, his deep voice echoing in the office.

“No. Last time you forced the various ninja clans to send geniuses to join your ‘Root,’ which caused a lot of opposition within Konoha. I barely managed to suppress it. Then you destroyed the Uchiha clan, which has greatly weakened the village and makes it unable to withstand another round of turmoil.”

Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed his hand on the table, his face full of anger.

"Besides, I have already approved Hyuga Sawatatsu's participation in the next Chunin Exams, which will be jointly held with Sunagakure. It cannot be changed!"