"So, where are we going next?"
Kitahara Kaede left the Hokage's office building. The Third Hokage had seen Danzō's Sharingan—he'd probably be preoccupied with that for a while.
However…
All those people were in the same camp, so even if Danzō was exposed, he likely wouldn't face any real consequences.
But then—
"Kitahara-kun."
Kitahara looked toward the ANBU who had been following him.
This ANBU had walked with him for quite a distance. If it were purely to escort him back, they should've at least exchanged a few words.
The ANBU coughed twice, then removed his mask—
Revealing the face of Hayate Gekkō.
"About what you just saw, I hope you'll treat it as if nothing happened."
"Everything must wait for Lord Third to make a decision," the ANBU said. "Still, as part of procedure, I need to assess your current status."
"May I?" he asked.
"…Sure," Kitahara Kaede nodded.
"Phew…"
The ANBU let out a relieved sigh.
"Then let's begin the info-check."
[Descendant Chat Group (^_-) ]
[Minato Namikaze]: Kakashi, is ANBU this complicated nowadays?
[Kakashi Hatake]: If it were me, I might run background checks too.
[Kakashi Hatake]: But the kind of detailed questions this one's asking… It's a bit much. He even asked whether Kitahara-kun gives his bunny a bath.
[Filial Black Zetsu]: …
Well, of course.
Because that ANBU was a fake.
It was Black Zetsu.
Yes, this was Black Zetsu.
After discovering that the mother he'd spent a thousand years trying to resurrect had reappeared in Konoha as a ninja rabbit, he literally ran without drinking a sip of water—rushing to the village.
He killed an unlucky ANBU along the way and assumed his identity.
And now he had personally come to gather intel.
However—
What kind of information did he just dig up?
Kitahara Kaede had picked up this domestic ninja rabbit three years ago. It was aloof and cold by nature.
But now, he was gradually softening her temperament.
Recently, the rabbit had even allowed him to pet her.
He was also adjusting her diet—experimenting with different foods to suit her taste.
"…," thought Black Zetsu.
"…," again.
"…," one more time.
Recording as he went, Black Zetsu almost leapt up on the spot.
Because—
You little bastard… You're really treating Lady Kaguya like a PET?!
And—
You even want to give her a bath?!
You… you—your guts are reaching heaven itself.
"That's all the information about my current household,"
"And I really like my ninja rabbit, so I'm not giving her to anyone."
Kitahara Kaede stopped and provided the "ANBU" with some information.
But the words he said gave Black Zetsu an ominous feeling.
"Hmm…"
"That's it for now—cough cough…" Black Zetsu, still acting as Hayate Gekkō, gave a couple of fake coughs.
As expected of the master manipulator—Black Zetsu's acting was on point. Even pretending to be Hayate Gekkō, he went all in—complete with short lifespan and chronic coughing.
Which explained why he had successfully tricked Uchiha Madara… and later fooled Uchiha Obito too.
The man was a phenomenal actor.
However—
"You're asking too many questions."
"And they're too targeted."
"That will only invite suspicion."
"You did well this time, but don't try this again," Kitahara Kaede said.
Saying this, he patted the "ANBU" Hayate Gekkō on the shoulder.
"?"
"!!"
Black Zetsu, in disguise, stared in shock at Kitahara's back.
But Kitahara Kaede just walked away.
That action alone made Black Zetsu realize—
Had his identity already been exposed?
Did Kitahara Kaede know he was a fake? That he wasn't the real Hayate Gekkō?
And… had Kitahara intentionally leaked information about the ninja rabbit—Kaguya—to him?
No way…
Black Zetsu had just realized: He'd been discovered.
And right then, in the group chat—
[Descendant Chat Group (^_-) ]
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: @Kakashi, do you know that ANBU?
[Kakashi Hatake]: Yeah, that's Hayate Gekkō. He's not particularly strong, but he's good at piercing techniques, so the Third Hokage promoted him to Special Jōnin.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Special Jōnin? What's that?
[Minato Namikaze]: Let me think… I don't think that rank existed during my time.
[Senju Tobirama]: Never heard of it either.
As the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama had set the standard for all shinobi villages—ninja academies, Chūnin Exams, shinobi ranks—it all came from him.
He was the template everyone followed.
[Kakashi Hatake]: Special Jōnin… how to put it…
[Kakashi Hatake]: For example, the Third Hokage's son—Sarutobi Asuma—is a Jōnin of the village. I'm an Elite Jōnin. Guy is also an Elite Jōnin. "Elite Jōnin" is self-explanatory—it's the best among the Jōnin.
[Kakashi Hatake]: But in between, there's a special category: "Special Jōnin."
[Kakashi Hatake]: That refers to ninja with unique talents in a specific area, who are promoted to Jōnin with full benefits because of that one strength.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: I see…
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Hmm…
After hearing the explanation, Hashirama let out a sigh.
[Scaredy Cat - Ōnoki]: Lord Hashirama, why are you sighing?
Ōnoki joined in the conversation.
After all, this whole group chat was exposing and broadcasting Konoha's internal ninja affairs.
For Iwagakure, this was intel gold.
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Sigh…
[Tobirama's Achievement - Izuna]: Hashirama is sighing because he's worried about the quality and rank of Konoha's current shinobi.
[Senju Tobirama]: Sigh…
Tobirama sighed too.
[Scaredy Cat - Ōnoki]: Then, Lord Second Hokage—why are you sighing?
[Senju Tobirama]: …I'm sighing because Danzō is beyond saving, and that Sarutobi fool did nothing useful. Instead, he's continually expanding all the shady parts of the village.
[Senju Tobirama]: …
This jab left everyone momentarily speechless.
Because—
The emergence of "Special Jōnin" meant the bar for becoming a Jōnin had been lowered.
Which, in turn, meant—Konoha lacked talent.
They had no choice but to promote anyone with some specialty.
[Kakashi Hatake]: But what did Kitahara-kun's words just now mean?
[Minato Namikaze]: Was he hinting that there's something wrong with Hayate Gekkō?
[Kakashi Hatake]: Yeah, sensei, you caught it too.
[Kakashi Hatake]: I'm starting to wonder… Could Gekkō have been bribed by Danzō?
[Filial Black Zetsu]: …
[Big Dumb - Hashirama]: Black Zetsu-san, what's wrong?
[Filial Black Zetsu]: N-Nothing.
[Filial Black Zetsu]: …
What else could Black Zetsu say?
Of course he was multitasking like crazy.
To him, this group chat was cursed. Because of just two comments from Kitahara Kaede, his Oscar-worthy acting was already under suspicion.
If they sent Kakashi to check on the real Hayate Gekkō now, his whole disguise would be blown.
[Filial Black Zetsu]: Speaking of which—
Black Zetsu decided to steer the conversation elsewhere—to throw them off and protect his fake identity.
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Chapter 085+ in patreon.com/dzeref887