Crimson Winds Of Konoha

Bang, bang, bang!

Above the dense forest, Might Duy opened the Fifth Gate of Limit (Tomon) and leapt through the air with explosive force, stepping on the air as if it were solid ground. His movements tore through the atmosphere, compressing the air into roaring shockwaves that echoed like thunder.

Below, standing in the thick underbrush, Uchiha Fenghuo and Might Kai watched in awe as Duy's green jumpsuit blurred across the sky.

"You need to open five gates just to stay in the air?" Fenghuo frowned. "But in the manga, Omote Renge only required three."

Boom!

Duy crashed down into the earth with a massive impact. The recoil from the Fifth Gate nearly ruptured the muscles in his legs. Fenghuo hurried over and pressed glowing green palms to Duy's calves, activating the Mystical Palm Technique (Shōsen Jutsu) to relieve the strain.

"It's still not enough," Duy gasped, wincing. "If I don't open the Fifth Gate, I can't stay airborne long enough. The recoil kicks me down too fast."

Fenghuo shook his head. "The technique needs to be compressed into using just the first three gates. That's what gives Front Lotus its strategic value—it's fast and deadly, but doesn't cripple the user mid-battle."

Duy scratched his head with a sheepish laugh. "I guess… I still can't do it after all."

"Father!" Kai stepped forward, eyes gleaming. "Failure's not the end! You always told me that youth burns brightest after a setback!"

Duy's eyes filled with tears. "You're right, Kai! If I give up here, what kind of youth would that be?!"

The father and son hugged dramatically, crying waterfalls of tears. Fenghuo edged away, expression deadpan. "Too much passion. I just wanted to be a cool, quiet guy on the sidelines…"

"Father!" Kai's fists clenched with determination. "When I open the Third Gate, let me try it! I've been training like crazy lately—I think I can break through!"

It might've been genetics. Fenghuo had already pushed his body to its current limits, but Kai… Kai was still advancing. In terms of mastery over the Eight Gates, Kai had caught up to Fenghuo.

But in other aspects—chakra control, ninjutsu repertoire—Fenghuo had the clear advantage. His chakra had already surpassed the elite chūnin threshold and was brushing the level of a tokubetsu jōnin. With that, he had begun practicing B-rank ninjutsu he'd copied from Kakuzu. Among them, the Five Elements Seal (Gogyō Fūin) was progressing well—out of ten attempts, he'd succeeded twice. A huge leap forward.

While Duy and Kai hit a wall with Omote Renge, another experiment had reached its own critical stage—deep underground, in one of Konoha's forbidden labs.

Danzo Shimura stood beside the pale and snake-eyed Orochimaru, watching as the latter frowned at a failed experiment.

"Looks like your little theory's hit a dead end," Danzo sneered. "You can't replicate a Kekkei Genkai without a matching bloodline."

"Hmph," Orochimaru scoffed. "We'll see."

"You're deluding yourself. Even if I gave you cells from the First Hokage, you'd only waste them on these mongrels."

Orochimaru's golden pupils narrowed.

He remembered the faces of the dead—his parents, Senju Nawaki, Kato Dan, and Tsunade, broken and sobbing. Powerlessness. Death. Weakness. He clenched his jaw.

"If you get me Hashirama's cells…"

Danzo gave a foxlike smile. "That's not difficult for me. But remember, those cells are priceless. Don't waste them."

Orochimaru stared into the test tube handed to him later that week. Inside floated a sliver of muscle tissue in a preservation fluid. His eyes glittered with obsession.

"These are really… Senju Hashirama's cells?"

"Yes," Danzo confirmed. "Cells from the God of Shinobi himself. Make them count."

"Wood Release is one of the strongest bloodline techniques in existence," Orochimaru muttered, his voice trembling. "But I'll need more materials. Human bodies."

"Hehehe…" Danzo laughed, low and dark. "That can be arranged."

Within two weeks, Danzo's Root operatives had abducted children from borderland orphanages and smuggled them into Orochimaru's lab. Alongside them came additional samples of Hashirama's cells.

As the experiments intensified, Orochimaru realized the hidden lab wasn't large enough. He began building a second one on the village outskirts. At the same time, he quietly cultivated his own loyal inner circle—spies, medics, and followers—so that he wouldn't have to rely on Danzo forever.

Meanwhile, Namikaze Minato's name began surfacing more frequently in the village's newspaper headlines.

Not because Sarutobi Hiruzen had officially named him as his successor—but because Fenghuo, now vice editor of the Konoha Times, had subtly started the push himself.

Though rarely present at the office, Fenghuo's status as founder gave him great influence. Even Nara Shikaku found it hard to argue against his editorials.

Minato, already admired for his grace, power, and humble origins, had quickly become a village-wide icon. As the student of Jiraiya, he had the prestige of the Sannin backing him. His commoner background made him relatable. After a few issues, he was the sweetheart of the new generation—and the dream crush of countless kunoichi.

Even Kushina didn't know whether to laugh or scream about it.

Families like the Naras and Akimichis weren't alarmed. They simply saw it as favorable PR for someone already on their side.

But Danzo wasn't so easily fooled. He didn't know Fenghuo's true intentions—but he could smell manipulation.

Now that Orochimaru had removed himself from contention, only one potential Hokage rival remained under Hiruzen's wing: Minato.

And worst of all, that "weakness" of being a commoner had now turned into Minato's greatest advantage—thanks to the newspapers.

"If it comes down to me versus Namikaze Minato…"

Danzo's face darkened.

Backed by Sarutobi and beloved by the village, Minato would sweep the election. Danzo's hands trembled.

"No. I won't allow this."

He clutched his right eye, the chronic pain spiking again. His vision blurred with fury.

He thought of the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan—specifically, the multiple three-tomoe Sharingan he kept hidden in his personal vault.

He couldn't resist any longer.

That same day, Danzo summoned a medical-nin from Root.

He underwent a secret operation, replacing his failing right eye with a three-tomoe Sharingan—a forbidden gift stolen from an Uchiha corpse.

And with that, Danzo's path grew darker still.

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