Through the window, Kyohiko quickly saw Danzo storm out of the room in anger.
He had come with high hopes but left disappointed.
Even without thinking deeply, Kyohiko could guess what had happened—it was just another round of their typical power struggle, though thankfully this time it had been only between Danzo and the Third Hokage.
As he left, Danzo glanced toward the jonin standby room.
Their eyes met briefly before parting ways.
Shortly after, Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived.
Inside the room, Hiruzen led Kyohiko to a small chamber within the standby area—a soundproofed space typically used for issuing highly classified missions.
"Kyohiko, there's a mission that requires your cooperation."
"Please explain."
Kyohiko nodded slightly.
Since Hiruzen had ordered him to standby earlier, he had already guessed it might involve an important task, so he wasn't particularly surprised.
The Third Hokage took out an intelligence scroll.
Unrolled on the table, the scroll contained information about "Hashirama Cell Research," including details about an operative codenamed "Kinoe"—his location, the base's approximate defenses, and potential guardians.
Kyohiko read carefully.
Simultaneously, Hiruzen observed him discreetly.
If this had been an ordinary child, he would never have shared such sensitive intelligence, let alone involved them in a mission of this level. But Kyohiko was different...
He wanted to see what this child was truly capable of.
After finishing, Kyohiko closed the scroll.
Was Hiruzen planning to take direct control of "Kinoe"?
Or did he have some new plan for handling "Kinoe"?
For example, having "Kinoe" study and research "Sage Transformation" from childhood.
In that case, leaving him under Danzo's control was indeed impossible. As for why he was assigning this to Kyohiko...
Was he worried about Danzo's spies within ANBU?
Hiruzen put away the scroll.
"Interested?"
"I am, but why choose me when there are so many ANBU operatives available?"
Kyohiko pretended not to understand.
Hiruzen sighed.
"You might not comprehend this, but although I'm the Hokage, ANBU isn't fully under my control. Danzo has numerous informants embedded there—any movement from ANBU would alert him immediately."
"Executing plans from the top down requires coordination at every level. That's the purpose of organizational structure. Even the Hokage can't accomplish everything alone."
Kyohiko responded calmly.
His established persona meant he no longer needed to play dumb.
Hiruzen paused momentarily before nodding.
"That's right, I'd forgotten... In any case, I need someone sufficiently capable for this mission who won't draw Danzo's attention."
"Are you certain I'm not already on Danzo's watchlist?"
Kyohiko's question bordered on impertinence.
"I'll make arrangements, naturally. This will require coordination between you and Tsunade."
Hiruzen's expression turned serious.
Then he sighed. "My views may differ from yours, Jiraiya's, and Tsunade's, but we all serve Konoha. Internal conflicts benefit no one. I used to believe Danzo shared this perspective, but recently he's disappointed me profoundly."
Kyohiko remained silent.
In his assessment, Hiruzen was every bit the political operator—perhaps better than Danzo, but only marginally. Such professions of good faith were only half-believable.
Take Danzo himself.
Did Hiruzen truly not understand his old comrade's nature?
After decades together?
More likely, Hiruzen understood Danzo better than Danzo understood himself.
If he genuinely didn't know, he was a fool. If he pretended not to know, he was complicit.
Kyohiko believed Hiruzen had been using Danzo as a deniable instrument and was now discarding him.
"Will you accept this mission?"
"Your intelligence is too sparse—no details about ROOT base defenses, personnel composition, or internal layout. I can't guarantee I'll locate him, but I'll do my utmost."
Kyohiko continued, "Additionally, in direct combat, I'm no match for Danzo."
He knew his limits.
While exceptionally skilled for his age, he remained far outclassed by the veteran shinobi. If Danzo was present at the base, the mission would be impossible.
"He'll remain in Konoha today and tomorrow—no need for concern there. Regarding intelligence gaps, I'll provide support."
"Understood."
——
After leaving the Hokage Tower, Kyohiko returned home to meet his "assistant."
It was none other than Hatake Kakashi.
"I thought it might be you."
"Let's be quick about this."
Kakashi formed hand seals and transformed into Kyohiko.
Kyohiko chuckled, then pressed against the wall, carefully listening for surveillance.
After a moment:
"I'm heading out. The books upstairs might be useful—feel free to browse them."
"But..."
Kakashi hesitated.
"I read every day. If you don't, wouldn't that seem suspicious?"
"...Fine."
Kakashi watched as Kyohiko Body Flickered away.
The "suspicion" excuse was transparently just to make the offer more palatable.
But after brief hesitation, he ascended the stairs.
The Second Hokage's notes.
Even fundamental concepts would be invaluable. If studying them could make him stronger—better able to protect comrades on future missions—why refuse?
The helplessness he'd felt days ago, being forced to accept compromises to save his teammates, had been unbearable.
He refused to remain the liability.
Upstairs, Kakashi surveyed the study. One shelf held numerous volumes while another contained fewer, newer-looking notebooks.
"Kyohiko's research notes?"
He recognized the handwriting.
The titles alone indicated these were Kyohiko's personal jutsu studies.
Too personal. He wouldn't pry.
Kakashi turned to Senju Tobirama's materials, neatly organized by Kyohiko into ninjutsu, kenjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu sections, with miscellaneous journals at the end.
He reached for the ninjutsu shelf.
——
Night had fallen when Kyohiko arrived at an ancient mountain temple near Konoha—Senrinji.
According to Hiruzen, this was the entrance to Kinoe's underground facility, laden with traps.
Yet the promised support team was nowhere to be seen.
After waiting without any sign of backup, Kyohiko decided to proceed alone.
Pressing his ear to the ground, he enhanced his hearing with chakra.
After some time, he detected faint footsteps originating beneath the temple's northeast sector.
Additional patrols moved through the structure itself.
Substantial security.
Biting his thumb, Kyohiko formed hand seals with minimal chakra output.
A small toad materialized.
While lacking Jiraiya's infiltration techniques, toads were far less conspicuous than humans—especially against opponents unfamiliar with Mount Myōboku's summons.
"Locate the underground entrance in that temple," he whispered.
The toad nodded.
Kyohiko shunshined to the rooftop, deposited his summon, then withdrew to cover.
Amongst the dense vegetation teeming with insects, one additional amphibian attracted little notice.
With chakra-enhanced hearing, Kyohiko tracked subtle hopping patterns below.
Eventually:
"Main hall. Behind the stone statue."
Several minutes later—
Thud!
A shadowy figure dropped silently from above as a ROOT patrolman collapsed unconscious, dragged into darkness.
Moments after, two figures emerged—one generic shinobi, the other now resembling the captured operative.
Kyohiko couldn't search the entire facility alone. Thus—
The optimal strategy was forcing their quarry into the open by creating internal chaos.
A classic flushing maneuver.
After having his clone hide, Kyohiko (now disguised) resumed the patrol route until—
"Agh!"
A strangled cry echoed from a corner.
Kyohiko sprang into action, rushing into the main hall where another guard materialized, blade drawn.
"Identify yourself!"
"Intruders outside! Extremely skilled swordsman! We're—"
Before he finished, steel whistled through the air behind him.
The guard instinctively blocked, demanding, "Who are you?"
"Surrender 'Kinoe' or die!" the clone growled.
Kyohiko bolted down the corridor, shouting, "Emergency! They're after 'Kinoe'!"
Pandemonium erupted below.
Ducking into shadows, he waited.
Soon ROOT operatives streamed outward, oblivious to his presence.
"The current ROOT lacks experience."
"Understandable..."
Kyohiko filtered through the cacophony, seeking any trace of his target.
Where was Hiruzen's promised reinforcement?
As insect chirps grew unnaturally close—
Wait!
Kyohiko's hand flew to his sword just as the swarm coalesced into human form.
"It's me."
"Aburame-senpai?"
Kyohiko blinked at Aburame Shibi's unexpected appearance.
Shibi nodded approvingly. "The Hokage sent you?"
He sounded impressed. "Finding the entrance alone and engineering this disruption to force their hand... For a solo operative, this approach was optimal."
"You flatter me. I merely did what was necessary."
Kyohiko remained deferential.
"I've located him. Follow me."
Shibi led deeper underground.
Soon—
"You—"
"We're allies! Don't attack!"
Kyohiko raised empty hands.
His opponent drew a blade regardless.
Then Kyohiko's free hand wove seals while the other mimicked swaying willow branches.
Multiple attackers seemed to materialize from all directions.
Impossibly fast!
The ROOT kunoichi slashed at phantoms—all empty air.
Illusions?
Crescent Moon Dance variant?
She drew a kunai to block high—
Nothing!
Genjutsu!
As she dispelled it, Kyohiko's palm connected with her forehead.
Thud!
She collapsed unconscious.
Nearby, Kinoe also broke the illusion, forming hand seals as wood erupted beneath Kyohiko.
But—
Steel flashed, severing all tendrils.
Unbelievably swift!
As Kinoe prepared defensive wood techniques, Kyohiko's sword hilt struck his temple.
Darkness swallowed his vision, leaving one fading thought—
That voice... so young.
Not much older than himself.
Kyohiko created a shadow clone to guard both captives before moving to reinforce Shibi.