Chapter 67: The Unseen Observer
After his soul returned to his body, Kato Dan remained in a state of profound shock. His family, the Kato Clan, had existed since the Warring States Period. While not part of a hidden village, they were a shinobi clan in their own right. After Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha united to form Konoha, his ancestors had shrewdly aligned themselves with the Land of Fire's Daimyo, securing their status as nobles.
Though they had paid less attention to active shinobi development in recent decades, they still possessed their inherited secret art: the Mind Body Switch Technique. Unless an opponent was born with an inherently powerful soul or possessed monstrous chakra reserves, it was nearly impossible to defend against. Even those with strong souls would have to fight him on the spiritual battlefield within their own body. This was the first time he had been repelled so effortlessly, unable to even make contact.
"What's so shocking?" Akatsurugi's voice was calm, cutting through Dan's stupor. "Your family's technique is potent, but all ninjutsu have their flaws."
After a moment, Kato Dan managed a slow nod. It made sense that a shinobi of the Blaze God's caliber would have his own unique counters and insights.
Akatsurugi then proceeded to critique Dan's earlier performance, pointing out flaws in his stance and chakra control. Finally, he sighed, as if with genuine regret. "It's a shame it's your family's forbidden technique. Otherwise, I might have been able to help you refine it."
Then, his tone shifted back to business. "Alright, I have a clear measure of your capabilities now. I will prepare a suitable training plan for you."
With that, Akatsurugi took his leave, leaving Kato Dan to process the encounter. The plan was set; now he only had to wait for the seed he had planted to take root.
Kato Dan, still a teenager, wasn't deeply scheming. However, the Kato family maintained contact with him through an elderly butler assigned to his care. After hearing Dan's account of the day's events, the butler sent a detailed report back to the clan.
In the capital of the Land of Fire, the Kato Clan Patriarch received the message. Reading between the lines, he understood Akatsurugi's implicit interest. Akatsurugi was a rising star, a figure whose name was known across the entire shinobi world.
Patriarch Kato decided immediately to forge a connection with him. Whether the clan's secret technique could be improved was almost secondary. Now that they were entrenched in the capital's political life, their shinobi arts saw little practical use. What they valued more was influence and profit. An alliance with Akatsurugi could bring immense benefits.
And so, the very next day, Akatsurugi found Kato Dan waiting for him, holding a scroll containing the Mind Body Switch Technique and earnestly begging for his guidance in improving it.
Akatsurugi didn't refuse. He accepted the scroll and began Dan's training. With his level of expertise, instructing the young noble was a simple task.
Once he possessed the technique, Akatsurugi began his own study. His soul was already formidable, and his practice of sword meditation—using his soul to commune with his Zanpakutō—had prepared him perfectly. Upon comprehending the scroll's contents, he instantly grasped the principle of soul projection.
He sat in meditation, and a moment later, a translucent version of himself stepped out of his physical body. He looked back at his corporeal form, still clad in his shinobi attire, and smiled. It was exactly as he had theorized. He had only been missing the key, and the Mind Body Switch Technique was that key.
Reviewing the technique once more, he found it to be a rather rudimentary method for soul separation. Improving upon its principles wouldn't be too difficult. He jotted down some of his initial thoughts on the scroll, planning to return it to Dan the next day. For now, he wanted to experience the world in this new form.
And so, Akatsurugi, invisible to all, walked the streets of Konoha. No one could see him, not even an Uchiha with their Sharingan active.
An idea, both brilliant and mischievous, popped into his head. He made his way to the Hokage Tower. Though it was late, the office was still brightly lit; Sarutobi Hiruzen was diligently working through a stack of documents.
Akatsurugi drifted directly through the closed window. In this spiritual state, he walked on air as if it were solid ground, a discovery that sparked new ideas about aerial mobility he was eager to test in his physical form later.
The Third Hokage remained completely unaware of his presence. Grinning to himself, Akatsurugi drew his spiritual Zanpakutō and pointed it directly at Hiruzen's back.
In that instant, Sarutobi Hiruzen's instincts screamed. He leaped from his chair, his body tense as he scanned the room, his senses on high alert.
Finding nothing, he frowned deeply. The feeling of imminent danger had been so vivid, yet the room was empty.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Three ANBU operatives materialized around him, kunai drawn, their gazes sweeping the room. Seeing no threat, and with the unsettling feeling fading, Hiruzen waved a hand. "It's nothing. Stand down."
The ANBU bowed and vanished. Hiruzen retrieved his pipe, took a long, steadying pull, and then brought out his Crystal Ball. He channeled chakra into it, its surface shimmering as he scanned the village for any disturbances. Finding none, he sighed and prepared to return to his paperwork.
Akatsurugi stood by the window, watching the entire scene with amusement. He was about to leave when the office door was thrown open without a knock. Danzō walked in.
This abrupt entrance made Sarutobi Hiruzen jump again. The lingering unease from moments before, combined with Danzō's lack of courtesy, soured his mood immensely. They were old friends, but he said nothing.
Danzō, oblivious, got straight to the point. "Hiruzen, my Root division is short on funds. I need you to approve an allocation."
He was always this direct. Root required a constant influx of money for equipment, maintenance, and operations. Normally, Hiruzen would have grumbled but eventually approved it. This time, however, fueled by his irritation and the strange, unresolved panic, he flatly refused.
Danzō was dumbfounded. "What is the meaning of this? You've never refused before!"
Just as Danzō was about to argue further, Hiruzen's temper finally snapped. The unexplained palpitation, he now irrationally concluded, must have been a premonition of Danzō's annoying arrival. Who else would barge in right after such a feeling?
It seemed the title "The Unlucky Scapegoat" fit Danzō perfectly.
Thoroughly chastised by an unusually angry Hiruzen, Danzō's face darkened with rage. But the Hokage was the Hokage. With a final, furious glare, Danzō turned on his heel and slammed the door shut on his way out.
Akatsurugi watched the entire comedy unfold from start to finish. He almost felt a pang of sympathy for Danzō. Almost. The man was thoroughly unlikable. He had no one to blame but his own rotten timing.
Curious, Akatsurugi decided to follow Danzō. He floated after the fuming elder, heading towards the Root headquarters. He wanted to see what Danzō had been so busy with, considering the vast sums of money he was constantly requesting. The Sharingan he had promised Danzō had been delivered some time ago. This was a perfect opportunity to see what experiments were underway.