Naruto: Getting Observation Haki By Sacrificing The Byakugan

One investigation team after another returned, each report surprisingly consistent—Root appeared unusually clean at the moment.

Was that even possible?

Now, only a few restricted chambers remained unchecked.

"My lords, everything that can be investigated has been investigated. Shouldn't you be leaving now?" said Aburame Ryoma, approaching with a respectful posture—but his words carried clear defiance.

They were now faced with two options: leave in defeat, or gamble that what they sought was hidden within those secret rooms.

But if they gambled and found nothing, they would surely fall into one of Root's traps. That much was certain.

At that moment, all eyes turned to Aoba Yamashiro, their unspoken thoughts clearly written on their faces.

But Aoba simply returned a cryptic smile—especially when he looked at Aburame Ryoma and Elder Mitokado Homura. His eyes gleamed with unsettling amusement.

"Indeed, it's time to leave," Aoba said suddenly, to the shock of everyone present.

Was Aoba giving up?

It wasn't unthinkable. Those hidden chambers were likely laced with Danzo's deadly countermeasures. Entering blindly could spell disaster. Even someone like Aoba had reason to hesitate.

Still, after making such a public scene, was he really willing to retreat?

Mitokado Homura frowned slightly. Aoba's inscrutable expression made him uneasy.

If that young man really backed off now, it might protect Danzo's legacy—but all the influence Homura had invested in pushing Aoba forward would be wasted.

He briefly considered provoking Aoba again. After all, he was still young—impulsive. There was still a chance to push him into action.

But before Homura could speak, footsteps echoed from the entrance.

"Lord Aoba!" called a firm voice. Aoba's trusted subordinate, Qingke, appeared. "We've tracked several Root operatives acting suspiciously. Following them led us to a concealed underground base."

Qingke hesitated a beat before adding, "We also uncovered forbidden items hidden within Elder Homura's residence."

The air shifted instantly. Everyone turned toward Homura.

"What did you say?!" Homura's face turned red with fury. "Aoba, you dare send people to search my home?!"

"If you listened carefully, Elder Homura," Aoba replied coolly, "you'd know that Qingke was following Root agents. Their trail led him to your property. Since they are still under suspicion, it was only natural for my team to pursue them."

He continued, voice heavy with sarcasm: "In fact, had those Root operatives turned desperate, your family might have been endangered. You could even thank me—I may have saved lives."

Aoba turned his attention to Qingke. "Tell everyone what you found."

"Yes, Lord Aoba," Qingke said, bowing slightly. "We discovered a series of experimental instruments and, shockingly, several young captives who appear to be test subjects. Furthermore, we found the remains of numerous Konoha shinobi—particularly those from clans with kekkei genkai and secret techniques."

Gasps rippled through the room. Homura's face went pale.

"Impossible!" he shouted. "This is slander! Control your subordinate, Aoba! This is not a place for baseless accusations!"

Panic cracked through his voice. Even the possibility of such crimes—unauthorized experimentation, corpse trafficking, and violating clan sovereignty—was catastrophic.

Worse still, Homura himself had no memory of keeping any such items. Could Root have planted them? Had Danzo left behind traps to implicate even his allies?

But regardless of the truth, Homura's growing desperation was visible to all.

Especially to Aoba, whose expression turned icy.

"Elder Homura," he said coldly, "Qingke is not just my subordinate—he is a loyal shinobi of Konoha. To accuse him of lying without evidence insults all of us."

He stepped forward slightly.

"Whether he speaks the truth or not, why don't we let everyone see for themselves? Shall we pay your estate a visit?"

Aoba's tone carried the weight of judgment. In his eyes, Homura was already condemned.

From that moment on, the fate of the Mitokado clan was sealed.

As the tension escalated, everyone's attention remained locked on Aoba and Homura—completely unaware of the subtle movements Aburame Ryoma was making in the shadows.

As soon as he heard Qingke's report, Aburame Ryoma realized that their entire operation had collapsed—and more than that, it was likely Kawaki Aoba had led them into a trap from the start.

Contemplating whether they could handle someone like Kawaki Aoba was pointless now.

All Ryoma knew was that if Root's darkest secrets were exposed, they would be cast out of Konoha with no hope of return.

And all of it... was thanks to Kawaki Aoba. That man was perhaps the most formidable adversary Lord Danzo had ever faced.

So, Aburame Ryoma resolved to do what he must.

Kill Kawaki Aoba at all costs.

Only then might Lord Danzo still have a chance.

Through the control of the Impure World Reincarnation technique, Ryoma transmitted a command to all the reanimated Root operatives within the hall.

At that very moment, he launched his assault.

Without warning, the Root ninjas went berserk, sending the room into chaos. Despite the suddenness, everyone reacted with discipline: the ANBU moved to protect Minato Namikaze, the Konoha Barrier Corps shielded Kawaki Aoba, and the Uchiha Police Force focused on defending themselves.

But in Aoba's eyes, all their movements were unbearably slow.

A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. Though he hadn't anticipated the Root ambush, it hardly mattered.

Their attacks were pitifully weak.

Tenseigan energy erupted from Aoba's body, and the Yin-Yang Release bloomed within his palm. In a flash, several black receivers formed in his hand—similar to the chakra-suppressing rods used by Rikudō Sennin and Nagato.

He moved without hesitation, embedding the black rods into the chests of the reanimated Root ninjas, forcibly shutting down their chakra systems and seizing control of their reanimated bodies.

Ryoma, however, was not reanimated—he was alive. The only living Root member present.

That, unfortunately for him, made him the subject of Aoba's personal attention.

The sound of bones shattering rang out almost simultaneously.

Ryoma's arms and legs were broken cleanly—systematically—and the nano-sized kikaichū he released were instantly neutralized by Aoba's chakra suppression field.

All of this occurred in less than a heartbeat.

Even Minato Namikaze and Tobirama Senju, who was currently cloaked under a genjutsu among the Uchiha, showed visible surprise.

Especially Tobirama. He had heard rumors about Kawaki Aoba—a figure spoken of like a living legend—but he had assumed the young man's power was merely comparable to his own.

After all, Tobirama was a top-tier shinobi even during the Warring States Era—second only to his brother Hashirama Senju, and perhaps Madara Uchiha.

But what he had just witnessed changed his mind completely.

Kawaki Aoba's speed was terrifying. Even with his three-tomoe Sharingan active, Tobirama could barely follow the movements—and reacting in time was entirely out of the question.

He understood what that meant.

Aoba wasn't just strong—he was overwhelming.

Could this man's power rival that of the First Hokage? Not yet, perhaps—but it was certainly approaching that level.

And yet… how young was he?

In a few years, Konoha might just give rise to a second God of Shinobi. One with power and intellect—a dangerous combination.

A fire ignited in Tobirama's chest.

With someone like Aoba at his side, perhaps he could face Madara again.

Yes—he had already learned that Madara Uchiha was still alive, and the urgency in his heart had only grown since.

He trained whenever he had even a sliver of time to spare, trying to reclaim his full strength.

As for his old student Mitokado Homura… Tobirama only felt shame. That man's failures made him want to intervene personally.

And from the way Homura carried himself lately, it was clear he and Danzo were up to something sinister.

That, Tobirama thought, would soon be confirmed.

Just then, something else caught his eye.

His gaze fixed on the black receivers now embedded in the Root corpses.

He had almost ignored them, focused as he was on Aoba's speed.

But now, he noticed.

These black rods… they suppressed chakra and forcibly controlled the reanimated bodies. A technique reminiscent of the Rinnegan.

Could Aoba's Tenseigan somehow replicate Rinnegan-level abilities?

Tobirama's thoughts spiraled, only to be abruptly interrupted by a sudden clap on the shoulder.

His reflexes screamed danger—but before he could move, a calm voice whispered beside him:

"Hey, you Uchiha folks—go check on the Root ninjas. They're not looking so great."

It was Kawaki Aoba.

His glowing Tenseigan met Tobirama's crimson Sharingan. For a moment, Tobirama felt utterly transparent—like Aoba could see through every fiber of his being.

It was… deeply unsettling.

"…Yes, Lord Aoba," muttered one of the Uchiha.

They quickly moved to examine the pinned Root operatives.

Minato walked over to Aoba and spoke in a hushed voice.

"Aoba, you scared me for a moment back there. I thought you were about to attack that Uchiha… I was already planning how to explain it to Fugaku."

Aoba's expression turned playful.

"Minato, you disappoint me. You can't judge people by their clan. That Uchiha… Tobirama, right? He's filled with the Will of Fire. Honestly, I think he might make a good Hokage someday. He's got the potential."

Minato blinked.

…That wasn't what he meant.

Tobirama, crouched by one of the impaled corpses, briefly paused.

Then, without comment, he resumed his inspection.

"These bodies…" he muttered, "they're not alive. Could they be reanimation experiments?"

He narrowed his eyes.

"The Root… for them to tamper with forbidden techniques like this… truly despicable."

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