Chapter 38: When a Chess Piece Determines Its Own Value

By the River – A Distorted Memory

The gentle sound of water trickling through rocks echoed in the stillness of the night. The moonlight shimmered on the river's surface, casting an eerie glow over the unmoving figure lying by the bank.

Slowly, his eyes fluttered open.

Terai.

His entire body ached, every joint feeling as if they had been broken and crudely pieced back together.

For ten whole seconds, his mind was blank—hazy, clouded, as if something had shrouded his memories in fog.

What was he doing here?

A strange sensation crept through his brain, like puzzle pieces shifting into place. Fragments of memory resurfaced.

He remembered…

He had received orders from Danzo-sama.

To observe a low-ranked academy instructor—some nobody with a bit of talent but nothing worth noting.

And then…?

Oh, right.

He had followed the target into the forest, and then…

He decided to do some training.

Yes. That must have been it.

He had wanted to test whether this "Satoru" had anything noteworthy about him. But after hours of watching, he saw nothing.

It was a waste of time.

And somehow, he had fallen asleep during training.

Terai frowned. That was unacceptable.

But his body felt completely fine—no signs of injury, no battle wounds, no traces of combat at all.

It was as if nothing had happened.

He pushed himself up, dusted off his uniform, and let out a scoff.

"Satoru? A guy like that? Not even worth my time."

He turned on his heel and disappeared into the night, leaving behind only the sound of rushing water and the faint glow of moonlight.

In the Shadows – Danzo and His Plans

Root Headquarters.

The underground chamber was dimly lit, cold, and silent, save for the occasional flickering of candlelight.

Danzo sat on his grand chair, flipping through the mission report Terai had just handed him. His face remained unreadable, eyes moving methodically across the pages.

"…No irregularities?"

Danzo muttered under his breath.

Something felt off.

He didn't trust coincidences.

Terai was not the type to make careless mistakes. If he had declared that Satoru wasn't a threat, then maybe, just maybe, there was no need to waste any more resources on him.

For now.

Danzo temporarily dismissed Satoru from his priorities.

His mind drifted elsewhere—to the real concerns looming over Konoha.

Minato Namikaze.

Uzumaki Kushina.

These two were the true pieces he needed to move.

Minato was on the path to becoming one of the strongest shinobi Konoha had ever seen. If Danzo could recruit him into Root, he would mold him into the ultimate weapon.

But…

Hiruzen wouldn't allow it.

Danzo clicked his tongue in annoyance.

Still, if Minato was untouchable…

Then perhaps Kushina was the key.

The Nine-Tails.

A force that could level entire villages.

If he could find a way to control that power, to make Kushina fully wield it without restraint…

Then he would hold the greatest weapon in the upcoming war.

Satoru and His Dream of Becoming a Dragon

Back in his run-down apartment, Satoru didn't even hesitate before heading straight for the bathroom.

Cold water cascaded over his skin, washing away the dirt, blood, and lingering aches from the previous night.

He stood before the mirror, staring at the faint scar on his chest.

"Chaki… Haki… Chakra…"

He muttered.

That fight had been a wake-up call.

He was strong, yes.

But not strong enough.

If Terai, a mere Root operative, had nearly ended him… then he was still far from reaching his true potential.

"I need more power."

Sitting cross-legged on his bed, he took a deep breath, focusing his mind.

Something was stirring deep inside him—like a sleeping dragon waiting to awaken.

Tonight…

He would break through his second chakra gate—

The Du Mai (Governor Vessel).

If Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) helped him master control over his chakra flow, then Du Mai would serve as a foundation for stamina, reaction speed, and physical endurance.

He couldn't afford to delay any longer.

Morning in Konoha – Where Paths Cross

As the sun peeked over the horizon, golden light bathed the rooftops of Konoha. The smell of freshly baked bread and simmering ramen filled the streets as the village slowly came to life.

Satoru stretched his arms, inhaling the crisp morning air.

His body still ached, but it wasn't unbearable.

Lifting his shirt slightly, he inspected the wound on his chest.

The skin had already started to heal.

The swelling had vanished, leaving only a faint pink mark.

"Holy shit… This recovery speed is insane."

He had always known that people from One Piece had ridiculous physical abilities, but experiencing it firsthand was a whole different level.

A wound that should have taken weeks to heal had nearly disappeared overnight.

If his body kept improving at this rate…

Could he eventually become… indestructible?

"Not bad, but… still hurts like hell."

Cracking his neck, he grabbed his coat and stepped outside.

His next stop?

Kakashi's house.

For breakfast.

"Alright, my rich little student, get that breakfast ready—your sensei is starving!"

Whistling a tune, he made his way through the streets.

But then—

He froze.

A flash of golden hair caught his eye.

His head turned on instinct.

Minato Namikaze.

The young shinobi stood in the sunlight, his posture relaxed but his aura undeniably powerful.

And beside him—

A girl with blazing red hair, arms crossed, eyes sharp.

Uzumaki Kushina.

Satoru inwardly screamed.

"Oh, hell no."

A Chance Encounter

Minato noticed him almost immediately. His expression didn't change, but his blue eyes held a flicker of curiosity.

Kushina, on the other hand, immediately narrowed her eyes, arms still folded.

"You again?" she huffed. "What, still not done checking out my Minato?"

Satoru almost choked on air.

"WHY IS IT ALWAYS LIKE THIS!?"

He raised both hands defensively, laughing awkwardly.

"NO! No, no, no! I was just… walking! Pure coincidence! Total accident!"

Kushina didn't look convinced.

Minato, however, simply smiled.

"Nice to meet you again," he said warmly. "I never got to introduce myself properly last time. I'm Minato Namikaze."

Satoru blinked, then let out a sigh of relief.

Finally, someone normal.

"I'm Satoru. A teacher at the Academy."

Kushina eyed him up and down.

"Hmph. A teacher, huh? I guess that explains why you don't look completely useless."

Satoru laughed.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Minato watched him with mild interest.

"You don't seem like a regular teacher."

Satoru stiffened for just a second.

But he quickly smiled.

"Well, I'm broke, so I guess I look a little more… mature?"

Minato chuckled.

Kushina rolled her eyes.

Satoru decided this was his cue to leave.

"Alright, I gotta go before I'm late. You two enjoy your date."

As he walked away, he exhaled deeply.

"That could've gone WAY worse."

Now—

Time to rob Kakashi's breakfast.