Naruto Shippuden

I don't want to believe that he planned this

so he could return to power…

Kakashi…

Kakashi…

Kakashi!

Hashirama's Cells

So he's back to ignoring me again.

Welcome!

Wood Style! Giant Forest Jutsu!

Who is that boy who uses the Wood Style?

Maybe I'll find some information there.

HASHIRAMA CHRONICLES

FIRE STYLE

Found it.

Hashirama Senju… The leader of the Senju Clan of the Forest,

brought peace and stability to this bloody, war-torn world.

He and he alone mastered the Wood Style Ninjutsu…

He and he alone mastered the Wood Style Ninjutsu…

No, there's one more.

What does this mean?

How is he able to use the Wood Style?

TOP SECRET

Top secret?

Where are the contents?

Is this what you are looking for?

Professor!

It's all right. I give you permission.

Read it.

Yes, sir!

Long ago, the First Hokage, Lord Hashirama…

after a death match with Madara…

used the Wood Style to suppress the Nine Tails.

After that, there was no one to take over the Wood Style Jutsu…

Either the Sharingan or Wood Style are necessary

to suppress the Tailed Beasts.

In the Hidden Leaf Village,

there was a time when they researched

and tried to revive the First's Wood Style Jutsu.

However…

despite the dedicated efforts of many…

the tests to transplant Lord Hashirama's cells failed one after another…

and the lives that were sacrificed continued to grow.

And so… unfortunately, that jutsu…

was deemed a Forbidden Jutsu and sealed away.

But recently, genin and chunin,

and even members of the ANBU have gone missing.

Furthermore, what's more disturbing are incidents

where newborn infants have been kidnapped

from hamlets surrounding the Hidden Leaf Village.

Infants?!

Of those confirmed, there have been 60 kidnappings.

Who could have…?!

What I'm about to tell you is hearsay…

Someone is continuing the experiments

and trying to implant the cells of Lord Hashirama.

Even if they're rumors, why would anyone…?

There are those who want to obtain every jutsu that exists.

Even I have wondered sometimes,

if there were only someone who knows the Wood Style…

Had that been the case,

the Fourth Hokage need not have sacrificed his life.

Isn't that why Lord Fourth lost his life?

Mind you, this is just hearsay.

If…

If Lord Hashirama's cells had really been implanted into infants…

Implanting cells into infants is forbidden…

And even if someone was doing so,

the possibility of it succeeding would be very low.

However…

If…just if…the first infant who was kidnapped survived…

He or she would be ten years old already.

Ten years old…

Are you all here?

Yes, sir!

Tomorrow morning at the hour of the tiger,

the Third Hokage and five ANBU under his direct command

will depart for the Feudal Lord's prefecture.

His purpose is to reassume the Hokage post

left empty by Lord Fourth's demise.

If we allow this,

the Hidden Leaf Village will once again be forced to accept

a weak and indecisive leader.

For the sake of the village, we must prevent this at all cost.

Hence, your mission is…

somewhere along the route…

take the life of the Lord Third quickly and discreetly.

Remember, no one must know of this.

It must appear that it was the work of itinerant shinobi.

Understood?

– Yes, sir! – Yes, sir!

Lord Third, are you ready?

Yes, let's depart!

Enemy attack!

Wood Style Jutsu!

What?!

A Substitution?!

Wood Style! Giant Forest Jutsu!

Chidori!

You…

Where did you learn the Wood Style?

I didn't expect an answer anyway…

Leave.

Go quickly!

That jutsu of yours will be critical for the Hidden Leaf Village one day.

They were only after Lord Third.

It seems their purpose was to separate us from Lord Third.

They scattered off somewhere.

Were you all right here?