Kekkei Genkai

Hiruzen sat in his chair, the glow of his pipe casting faint embers as he exhaled a slow stream of smoke. His gaze remained fixed on Danzo, calm yet expectant. "What have you gathered about that boy after 4 months of surveillance?" His voice carried the weight of experience, each word measured and steady. 

Danzo, standing rigid with his hands clasped behind his back, regarded the Hokage with a neutral expression. "From what we've gathered, he is originally from a small Rain Village settlement near our border." 

Hiruzen's expression darkened slightly. "So, the story he told… is it true?" 

At first, the boy had seemed unremarkable—no chakra, no discernible threat. Just another orphan washed into Konoha like so many before him. Hiruzen had personally confirmed his lack of chakra, even conducting tests, but all results came back normal, aside from that single anomaly. Strange, yes, but ultimately unimportant. Even his backstory mirrored that of countless other orphans who had found refuge in the village. 

However, the moment he sensed that dark, oppressive aura radiating from Akuma, everything changed. 

Questions began to resurface—who was he, really? Where did that power come from? Hiruzen found himself questioning everything about Akuma. 

There was even a moment when he considered using a mind-reading technique to extract the truth. But to do such a thing, especially on a child, would leave an unthinkable stain on his leadership. If word got out, it could cause unrest. In the end, he decided against it. 

So, he left that task to the Anbu. They were silent, efficient, and thorough. If the boy had any secrets, they would uncover the truth about Akuma. 

Danzo's voice cut through the silence. "Yes, the story he told is true. His family was indeed killed by bandits. We verified this through witness accounts and DNA analysis of the bodies buried in his backyard. The timeline matches perfectly… save for one detail." 

Hiruzen exhaled, watching the smoke curl into the dimly lit office. "And what detail is that?" 

Danzo's single visible eye narrowed. "All of the bandits were found dead. In the same house." He let the words settle before continuing. "Akuma claimed he escaped from the bandits. But if that were the case… then who killed them?" 

Hiruzen remained silent, his fingers lightly tapping against the desk as he processed the information. 

"There are three possibilities," Danzo continued. "One, Akuma killed them all himself. Two, someone else intervened and slaughtered them. Or three, he did indeed escape, and a third party arrived to deal with the bandits afterward." 

The Hokage inhaled deeply from his pipe before speaking, his voice steady. "And what do you think happened?" 

Danzo met his gaze unflinchingly. "The bandits' bones bore no signs of jutsu—only standard weapon wounds. But most of them weren't simply cut down; their bones were shattered, skulls caved in. This wasn't the work of a typical shinobi, at least not in the way we know." 

He paused, his tone sharpening. "At that time, Akuma was just five years old. For a child that young to possess such strength—enough to shatter bones—it should be impossible. That leaves only two possibilities: either someone else intervened, or he truly did escape as he claimed. But beyond that… we have no further information." 

Hiruzen's gaze was steady, unwavering as he stared at Danzo. The room fell silent, heavy with unspoken tension. Danzo, feeling the weight of Hiruzen's gaze, knew he couldn't keep his secrets hidden for much longer. 

With a hard, serious tone, Danzo spoke first. "If you want my opinion, I believe that boy is the one who killed them all." 

A small, knowing smile tugged at Hiruzen's lips, but his eyes remained cold, calculating. "Danzo," he said, his voice low, "I know you're withholding something from me. Tell me what you really found out about that boy." 

Danzo's hands clenched at his sides, frustration seeping through his controlled exterior. With a deep breath, he began, his voice tinged with unease. "I believe the boy possesses a Kekkei Genkai. From all our research, every member of his family had chakra... except for him." 

Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, his eyes narrowing as he signaled for Danzo to continue. 

"I believe his Kekkei Genkai enhances all of his physical attributes significantly. More than that, every time he pushes himself beyond his limits, his abilities seem to grow permanently." Danzo paused, watching Hiruzen's reaction before continuing, "We've observed that the boy doesn't tire, his strength grows each day. He can even defeat someone like Sasuke—who is much older—with just one hit. And he's capable of easily going toe-to-toe with someone using the Eight Gates technique. We believe he is physically stronger than many Jonin." 

Hiruzen's eyes widened slightly, taken aback by the magnitude of what Danzo was saying. A child who could fight a Jonin—or even surpass them—was an extraordinary and troubling thought. 

Danzo continued, his voice lower now, as he added more disturbing details. "There are also physical changes. His hair, once dark, is turning red. His eyes, once black, are now crimson. These traits don't match his family's lineage. It's clear that his Kekkei Genkai is evolving him into something more... dangerous." 

His tone dropped further, as if revealing something sinister. "One more thing. When he becomes frustrated or angry, his power surges in an unnatural way. Even an elite Anbu operative admitted that they felt genuine fear when witnessing it firsthand. Fear of a six-year-old boy." 

Hiruzen's gaze softened as he processed the information, the weight of it settling heavily in his mind. His silence lingered for a long moment before he spoke, his voice firm but measured. 

"Continue spying on Akuma." His words carried a quiet authority, each syllable chosen carefully. "From what I've heard, he's not a danger to the village. In fact, he could become a great asset if we nurture him correctly." 

Leaning back in his chair, Hiruzen's fingers interlaced, and he stared thoughtfully into the distance. "He's already forged strong bonds with Rock Lee and Guy. Convincing him to care for the village while he's still young... that won't be difficult. If we guide him well, he could become invaluable." 

His eyes glinted with quiet resolve as he added, "The potential of his Kekkei Genkai is something we cannot overlook. If we can help him harness it, and if he can pass it down to his next generation... it could have immense value for Konoha." 

Danzo's face twisted in annoyance, a frown deepening. "We can't predict what will happen with that boy in the future. And we're unsure if he'll even be able to pass down his Kekkei Genkai. The better course of action is to conduct research on his body, store his DNA, and figure out how we can harness this power for ourselves. After just a year of training, one could attain strength rivaling that of a Jonin. If we're successful, we could have an army of Jonin-level ninjas within a year. Your plan, however, relies on the hope that Akuma will grow to love Konoha, and that his Kekkei Genkai will be passed down. But that could take decades—by then, who knows what could happen to Konoha or us? It's more prudent to act now." 

Hiruzen's brow furrowed as he processed Danzo's words. His voice was calm but unwavering as he spoke, "No. There's no guarantee that your experiment will be successful, and if it fails, we risk losing a valuable boy. We will not make such a hasty decision. Also, I will not harm an innocent child for our selfish desires. It's better to wait and see." 

Danzo's anger flared, his voice sharp as he shot back. "Because of your leniency, look at where the village is now! You're not fit to be Hokage, Hiruzen! You lack the courage to make the hard decisions that benefit Konoha!" 

With that, Danzo stormed out of the office, his footsteps heavy with frustration. He knew arguing with Hiruzen over this matter would be futile, so he decided to act on his own—for the sake of Konoha. leaving Hiruzen alone in the stillness of his office. 

 The Hokage's gaze remained steady, his thoughts calm but resolute. Danzo had always been impatient, quick to act, while Hiruzen knew the weight of waiting. He could only hope that his decision would prove to be the right one—for the sake of the village. 

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