Naruto: Dual-Pupil Uchiha-Chapter 262 - 261 : Wood Release!!

A Wood Release user... has appeared again?

This news had already spread across the ninja world. The moment Sarutobi Hiruzen heard about it, he immediately sent people to investigate.

After all—

Wood Release was deeply connected to Konoha. Now, a new user had appeared out of nowhere, and they had no apparent ties to the village. How could he just sit back and do nothing?

For the past few days, he hadn't been able to rest easy.

If they could find this person, Konoha would do everything in its power to bring them in. There was no way they would allow a Wood Release user to roam free.

Wood Release had always been a subject of Konoha's research. It couldn't be allowed to leak outside.

Of course, if they could bring this ninja back to the village and let the researchers study them, that would be even better. Konoha might finally break through one of the limits of Wood Release.

So, over the past few days, he had thought about many things—especially about how to capture this ninja for research. He convinced himself that this wasn't selfishness—it was for the sake of Konoha.

"Lord Hokage, we've uncovered some information!"

The leading Anbu ninja lowered his head and began to report.

"The Wood Release user seems to have appeared out of thin air. He wears an ox-head mask and calls himself 'Wood Ox.' Because of that, the people at the bounty exchange have been calling him 'Wood Ox' ever since."

"He doesn't seem to have any friends. A few days ago, he suddenly dragged in a corpse to complete a bounty mission—that's how he gained recognition."

"The reason people know he can use Wood Release is that someone witnessed him using it while hunting down a rogue ninja from the Hidden Cloud."

The Anbu ninja recounted everything he had learned, but there wasn't much else. They still didn't know the true identity of this Wood Release user.

A mask... Wood Ox?

He just appeared recently?

As Kakashi listened to the report, his thoughts churned restlessly.

Based on the timeline, this was exactly when Senju Hayashi left Konoha, and Senju Hayashi just so happens to be able to use Wood Release. He could be sure that this Wood Ox was Hayashi.

Thinking about this, he became even more confused about Genya.

Sending Senju Hayashi to carry out the task from the Bounty Station? Was Genya short on money? Receiving the task to pay back debt? But then, he shook his head. No, Genya couldn't possibly be out of money.

So, it must be something else. Genya had other intentions.

"No other information?" Listening to the report from the Anbu ninja, the Third Hokage took a puff from his pipe, falling into deep thought. With just this information, he couldn't deduce anything about the Wood Ox.

Let alone bring the Wood Ox back to Konoha for research.

"...There's one more thing, but I haven't confirmed it yet!" The Anbu ninja hesitated. He wasn't sure whether the information was accurate, so he hadn't told Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"One more thing?" Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. He looked at the Anbu ninja and asked, "What's the information you're not sure about?"

"According to the investigation, it seems like the Wood Ox mentioned its origin in front of others. It said it was from a group called Atsukara!"

The Anbu ninja hesitated, then added, "But this information hasn't been verified. I've looked into the organizations in the ninja world, both ancient and new, and there's no group named 'Atsukara,' so... I think this information might be false. The Wood Ox probably made it up!"

In fact, the Anbu ninja had already investigated, and Atsukara didn't exist at all.

Atsukara?

However, when Hiruzen and Kakashi heard the name, their pupils shrank, and their hearts shook.

Hiruzen was shocked that such an organization really existed. And aside from the mysterious person in black clothes, the one wearing a monkey mask and being a dwarf, there was also a Wood Release user. This organization seemed truly terrifying.

They didn't know if there were other members of Atsukara.

Kakashi's mind was in turmoil. He had already confirmed Senju Hayashi's identity, but he never expected that Hayashi was a member of Atsukara.

The only person he had encountered from Atsukara was the man in the black cloak, who had told him that Obito was still alive. Kakashi was still chasing that lead.

Since Hayashi had joined Atsukara, and as Genya who had frequent contact with Hayashi, he should know a lot about it too.

It seemed,

Kakashi decided he would make time to meet with Genya again; perhaps he would know something about the man in the black cloak.

This time, Kakashi was determined to find out where Obito was. He had to find him.

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Kakashi each had their own thoughts, and neither spoke for a while. The Hokage's office fell eerily silent.

It felt like they were in a quiet, deep pause.

After a long while,

An Anbu ninja glanced at Sarutobi Hiruzen, who had remained silent, and asked, "Lord Hokage, do you know this organization?"

"I know a little," Sarutobi Hiruzen replied. He took a few more puffs of his cigarette, returning from his thoughts, then looked at the Anbu ninja. "I understand the situation now. You all can leave."

"By the way, keep this matter confidential!"

After giving the order, Sarutobi Hiruzen motioned for them to exit.

However, he was lost in thought about how to bring the Wood Release user, the "Wood Ox," back to Konoha.

Should he seek out the black-cloaked ninja who had been a constant thorn in Konoha's side? It troubled him.

One thing he knew for sure: the Wood Release user was important to them!

But that Wood Release user was also a member of Atsukara. If they took action against the Wood Ox, would they anger the black-clad assassin who lurked around Konoha?

"If you anger him, it might not be worth the consequences."

After a long silence, he finally turned to Kakashi. "Kakashi, go get Danzo and the others. We're having a small meeting this time."

Since he couldn't figure it out on his own, he decided to gather his people and figure out how to solve this. Danzo should be interested in this matter.

Hiruzen even suspected that Danzo might already have plans to capture that Mokuton user.

Kakashi nodded and left.

Uchiha Hospital.

"Let's go, Dad! Time for your injection!" Genya opened the basement door and looked at his hesitant father, urging him.

Today, he was taking Uchiha Shin and his father to get their injections. Hanako had prepared everything early in the morning.

"Genya, I'm not feeling too well. Maybe we should do this another day?" Shin had been somewhat eager at first, but when he heard about learning ninjutsu, he became hesitant.

It wasn't that he wasn't interested—he just didn't want to learn ninjutsu.

"Shin, what are you waiting for? I'm already getting impatient. Let's go!" Uchiha Shin's hesitation annoyed Genya. He pushed him toward the basement, saying, "This is a good medicine!"

Compared to Shin's hesitation, Genya couldn't wait any longer. He dragged his indecisive father into the basement.

"Genya, you're here!"

As soon as they entered the basement, Genya saw Uchiha Shisui looking at him with bright eyes.

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