Naruto: System of Zoro

Chapter 10 - Sarutobi Hiruzen's Doubts

"You think you can just walk away after exchanging blows? Dream on. You thought you could just brush past me and leave?"

Kazane stood over the lifeless body of Matsunine Tōichirō, his brow furrowed in thought. His voice carried no triumph, only curiosity, as he studied the fallen enemy. Even though the battle had been short, the reality of what had just happened settled in.

A chūnin had died by his hands.

**Ding!**

A familiar chime rang in his mind, followed by the system's cold, emotionless voice.

"Congratulations to the host for achieving a milestone—slaying a Chūnin. Reward: Named blade 'Yukizome' and Three-Sword Style Ultimate Technique: Sanzen Sekai."

The announcement caught Kazane slightly off guard.

"So he really was a chūnin?" he muttered under his breath.

For a moment, he found himself reflecting on the battle. It hadn't been easy, but it also hadn't been as difficult as he expected. If someone like Matsunine was considered a proper chūnin, then maybe the Mist wasn't as formidable as people claimed.

No wonder they could never surpass Konoha. Their standards must have slipped.

However, any lingering thoughts about the Mist Village were instantly overshadowed by something far more exciting.

His reward.

Yukizome.

Kazane's heart raced with anticipation. A named blade—it wasn't just some random weapon, but something truly special. His previous battle had already taught him the importance of having a good sword. Now, he would finally have another weapon worthy of his skill.

But before he could check his new acquisition, a voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Kazane... you killed him. What now?"

Yūhi Kurenai's voice was steady, but there was no mistaking the tension in her tone. Her gaze flickered between Kazane and the corpse on the ground, the Konoha forehead protector still tied around the dead man's head.

To her, it was a shocking sight. A shinobi wearing their village's emblem lay motionless before them, slain by the boy standing next to her.

Kazane, however, remained unfazed.

"This guy probably wasn't a Konoha ninja."

His tone was calm, but there was an edge of certainty to it. He had already pieced together the truth. Matsunine had been an infiltrator, a spy from the Mist.

Kurenai hesitated.

"How do you know?"

"Because if he were really from Konoha, he wouldn't have tried to kill us the moment he saw us," Kazane explained. "And if he was a rogue ninja, his first priority would have been running, not fighting two kids who were just passing through."

He kicked the corpse lightly with his foot. "Besides, his headband is too clean. It looks like it was barely worn, which means he probably just stole it or used it as a disguise."

Kurenai wanted to refute him, but the logic made sense.

Still, she couldn't shake the unease in her chest. This was the first time she had seen someone killed right in front of her. Even if Matsunine had been an enemy, it didn't change the fact that a life had just ended.

Kazane must have noticed her discomfort because he sighed and turned to her.

"This will be our little secret, okay? Don't tell anyone."

He didn't say it as a threat or an order, but rather as a quiet request.

Kurenai clenched her fists, her mind racing. There was so much she wanted to ask— Where he had learned to fight like that, what he meant by "secret"—but the look in his eyes told her that she wouldn't be getting answers.

Not today.

She exhaled slowly, then gave a small nod.

Even if she didn't fully understand everything, one thing was clear—Kazane had no intention of explaining.

So, for now, she would simply follow his lead.

---

Not long after Kazane and Kurenai left the scene, the soft rustling of leaves filled the air.

**Swish! Swish!**

Several figures appeared in a blur of motion, their dark cloaks blending into the shadows of the trees. Each of them wore an animal mask—the unmistakable symbol of Konoha's ANBU.

"What's this...?"

One of the masked operatives stepped forward, crouching beside the lifeless body sprawled on the forest floor. The corpse's forehead protector gleamed under the fading sunlight, bearing the unmistakable mark of Konoha.

At least, at first glance.

The ANBU operative's sharp eyes scanned the fallen ninja's attire and weaponry. Years of experience told him that something wasn't right. After a moment of scrutiny, he turned toward the dog-masked man standing at the center of their formation.

"Captain, this appears to be a Mist shinobi. Judging by his equipment, he was likely a scout."

A flicker of surprise passed through the team as they exchanged glances. When they first detected signs of battle, they had assumed a Konoha ninja had been ambushed and killed. But now, they were looking at the exact opposite scenario—an enemy from the Mist had been taken down within Konoha's territory.

Which meant the real mystery was who had done it.

"From the time we detected combat until now... it hasn't even been ten minutes, right?"

The dog-masked captain turned to his subordinates, his voice low and measured.

"Yeah..."

A nearby ANBU, wearing a squirrel mask, frowned beneath his disguise.

"For someone to eliminate a Mist scout this quickly—keep in mind, these guys are at least chūnin, sometimes even elite chūnin—it had to be one of our top-tier chūnin or even a jōnin. But if they killed the Mist ninja and left immediately, that suggests they didn't want to engage with us."

Another ANBU, still crouching by the corpse, examined the wound closely. His fingers traced the deep, precise cut. There was no hesitation, no wasted movement—just a clean, efficient strike.

"The precision of this wound... it reminds me of Lord White Fang."

"Impossible!"

Both the dog-masked and squirrel-masked ANBU reacted at the same time.

"Lord Sakumo passed away two years ago," the squirrel-masked operative said grimly.

The crouching ANBU hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

"I know... but just look at this cut. If this were a Mist shinobi, I wouldn't be surprised. The Mist has plenty of skilled swordsmen. But in Konoha? Very few practice kenjutsu, and even fewer have mastered it to this level. Besides Lord Sakumo, I really can't think of anyone else."

A heavy silence settled over the group.

It was true—Konoha had very few dedicated swordsmen. Apart from Sakumo Hatake, no one in the village had ever reached that level of mastery with a blade.

"Compile the report and inform Lord Hokage," the dog-masked captain ordered.

"Understood!"

Without hesitation, the ANBU vanished into the trees, heading straight for the village.

---

"A Mist scout... slain by a single blade strike?"

In the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen leaned forward slightly, his fingers steepled as he listened to the report. His expression remained calm, but a glimmer of surprise flashed through his sharp eyes.

For a Mist scout to infiltrate Konoha's outskirts, they had to be at least chūnin-level. But to be taken down in a single slash? That was another matter entirely.

"Could it be... him?"

A certain figure came to mind— Kakashi Hatake.

The Hatake clan had a long-standing kenjutsu legacy. If anyone in Konoha could perform such a precise and deadly cut, it would be someone from that bloodline.

For a moment, Hiruzen felt a flicker of shock.

Could Kakashi have reached this level already?

He was not even eight years old yet...

But who else could it be?

If Kakashi had been listening in on this conversation, he would have been completely speechless. *All I did was go training, and suddenly I'm slaying chūnin?*

And as for **Matsunine Tōichirō**, if he were still alive, he would have definitely protested: *Who said sensor-type ninjas had to be strong? We're supposed to detect enemy positions and support teammates! It's completely normal that I'm not a fighter!*

Despite his doubts, Hiruzen couldn't ignore the facts. Taking a deep breath, he made a decision.

"Bring Kakashi to me. I need to speak with him."

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

An ANBU agent bowed before disappearing in a blur of motion.

---

A short while later...

Kakashi Hatake stepped into the Hokage's office.

"Lord Hokage, you called for me?"

Hiruzen stood from his desk, walking over to the boy. He placed a hand on Kakashi's shoulder, his expression unreadable.

"How's your training going? I never expected you, at this age, to already be mastering Sakumo's kenjutsu."

"???"

Kakashi blinked, momentarily caught off guard.

Hiruzen studied the young ninja's face for a long moment before sighing, a nostalgic smile creeping onto his lips.

"Looking at you, I feel like I'm seeing a young Sakumo... Do you have anything to report to me?"

"???"

Kakashi's confusion only deepened.

"This afternoon, at the river behind the mountain—give me a report on that battle," Hiruzen said calmly.

Kakashi tilted his head slightly, running through his memories.

"This afternoon... behind the mountain?" He frowned slightly before replying, "Lord Hokage, I spent the entire day training with Minato-sensei. He can confirm that. I haven't been anywhere near the back mountain."

Kakashi felt something was off.

Someone had been mistaken for him.

Otherwise, why would the Hokage suddenly question him like this?

Still, he wasn't particularly worried. He had an alibi. If something had happened, he could withstand any investigation with undeniable proof.

That said... he was definitely curious about what exactly had gone down.