Naruto: Did i Just Get Reincarnated as Gojo?

Yes, every notable ninja in the village was registered and accounted for.

They typically held crucial positions and were too busy to personally pursue missing-nin. Otherwise, if the Hokage or the Police Chief were to personally intervene, what rogue ninja could possibly resist?

That's why effective measures against rogue ninja from other villages were rare. If truly powerful shinobi existed, they were likely already deployed by their villages for military purposes.

It was a matter of cost-effectiveness. Eliminating rogue ninja wasn't the issue; the resources used for such pursuits were better spent on strategic military engagements. If Konoha had the strength to hunt down Kage-level missing-nin, that power would be reserved for war.

Deploying Kage-level shinobi when they had nothing better to do? Who could guarantee other major villages wouldn't seize the opportunity for a sneak attack?

It all boiled down to a lack of trust. The chasm between ninja had practically become an AT Field. Only by launching the Human Instrumentality Project could this seemingly insurmountable problem be solved.

Gojo Kaigetsu smirked. "Who said we lack such resources?"

"Hmm?" The assembled leaders looked up expectantly, awaiting his explanation.

"Due to the sensitive nature of [The Avengers Initiative], the specifics of the roster can only be handled by the Fourth Hokage and myself. Disclosing it now isn't appropriate. However, rest assured, according to my projections, Konoha currently has access to at least five Avengers."

"Excellent!"

"It's getting late… I'll conclude with two final points."

"Elder Danzo's death has saddened us all, but Root and our embassy in Kirigakure cannot remain leaderless. Nara Shikaku, you will depart for Kirigakure first thing tomorrow morning to oversee Konoha's operations there."

"As for the new Root leader…" Gojo Kaigetsu paused for dramatic effect. "I will announce that tomorrow."

"Meeting adjourned!"

With a dismissive wave, like a ninja ending a chapter abruptly, Gojo Kaigetsu dismissed the group, including Nara Shikaku, whose expressions were as sour as if they'd just bitten into a spoiled Soldier Pill.

Of course, this didn't include Minato and Fugaku. Like trusted readers privy to spoilers, Gojo Kaigetsu's inner circle always knew more than the general public.

Minato and Fugaku eagerly approached. "Kaigetsu-kun," Minato asked, his eyes shining with curiosity, "are there really hidden super ninjas in Konoha?"

Gojo Kaigetsu smiled mysteriously. "Why do you think I authorized the special military operation against Yugakure and reassigned Orochimaru-sensei to the secret research facility?"

Yugakure? Hidan?

Orochimaru? Research? Human Experimentation?

Minato's mind raced. "You mean… you had Orochimaru conduct human experiments on Hidan of Yugakure? But that kid, according to Hiashi's report, is just a Chūnin with a peculiar Jutsu. He doesn't seem like 'super ninja' material."

"You're right, but that's the beauty of ninja science. That's Orochimaru's… specialty."

Before leaving for the meeting, Orochimaru had submitted a progress report. The experiments on Hidan were progressing smoothly. While the [Wood Release] chakra within him could currently only produce small saplings, it showed growth potential.

Though it would never reach Hashirama's level… perhaps half that. But against ordinary ninja, it would be more than enough.

Hidan was now an adaptable living weapon. Any nature transformation could be implanted within him. In a single night, Orochimaru had imbued him with all five basic nature transformations. According to Orochimaru, the five natures were constantly destroying Hidan's body, but his regenerative abilities were continuously repairing it.

The process was agonizing, but it unlocked potential far beyond that of an ordinary ninja.

While not a true powerhouse yet, with the five nature transformations interacting within him, Hidan was already terrifyingly strong, at least Special Jonin level.

Lacking materials, Orochimaru had immediately requested additional resources from Gojo Kaigetsu.

Once he had [Kekkei Genkai] to implant, Hidan would become an all-around weapon!

From the photos Orochimaru had sent, Hidan's foul mouth was stitched shut with chakra threads, and his eyes were vacant, clearly under the influence of genjutsu and ninja science.

Such a tragic sight… Gojo Kaigetsu couldn't help but compare him to Deadpool.

Give Hidan Kimimaro's [Shikotsumyaku], bone blades erupting from his fingers… and there you have it, a shinobi Deadpool!

"Hidan has been transformed by Orochimaru into a ninja absolutely loyal to Konoha. He will join the Avengers Initiative under the codename 'Deadpool.' Trust me, his power will be… impressive."

"Deadpool? What a strange name," Minato muttered, still skeptical.

Transforming a Chunin into a ninja capable of taking on Kage or even elite Jonin-level opponents in a matter of days seemed impossible.

If such a feat were commonplace, what would be the point of arduous ninja training?!

Of course, if Minato knew the price—constant physical destruction and regeneration coupled with mind control—he might have a different perspective.

"And the other three?" Minato pressed.

"The other three?" Gojo Kaigetsu repeated.

"Catwoman, Homelander, Blazing Fury, The Deep, and Professor Paradox."

"???" Minato and Fugaku exchanged glances. What kind of codenames were these? Compared to the Anbu's straightforward naming conventions, Gojo Kaigetsu's were far too eccentric.

Having recently fought Yugito Nii, Fugaku was sensitive to the word "Cat" and offered an explanation. "Catwoman likely refers to the Two-Tails Jinchuriki. Matatabi's form does resemble a cat."

"As for the others… I have no idea."

Minato added his thoughts. "Blazing Fury probably refers to Pakura of Sunagakure. And Professor… perhaps that's the Third Hokage."

Minato frowned. The only one in the village who could be called "Professor" was his teacher's teacher! A sixty-year-old retiree returning to active duty? Was Konoha implementing a delayed retirement policy? The Third Hokage's involvement was a sensitive matter. Even in retirement, if his participation were exposed, it could lead to political issues.

Since three of the five Avengers were poached from other villages, it wasn't a major concern.

"Wouldn't revealing Pakura and Yugito Nii's identities be too risky?" Minato asked.

"As long as there are no witnesses, there's no risk of exposure," Gojo Kaigetsu reassured him. "The Avengers Initiative will only be mobilized when absolute secrecy is guaranteed. Normally, these two will act as my personal guard."

"So, the Third Hokage has already agreed?"

Gojo Kaigetsu shook his head. "Not yet. I finalized the Avengers Initiative tonight. But I sense the Third Hokage's… enthusiasm. He'll probably approach me soon, asking to join."

Minato nodded thoughtfully.

So, it seemed only Homelander and The Deep were reliable.

"Who are Homelander and The Deep?" Minato and Fugaku asked simultaneously.

"That's classified information!" Gojo Kaigetsu declared, ending their curiosity before leaving.

It had been several days, and he'd almost forgotten about Kisame, brought back by Tsunade from Tanzaku Quarters and currently imprisoned in the Military Police Force headquarters. Now that the Avengers Initiative was in motion, it was time to put certain plans into action.

Leaving the Hokage Tower, Gojo Kaigetsu blended into Konoha's bustling night market. Shouldering the village's security, the Anbu worked tirelessly. However, thanks to Gojo Kaigetsu's reforms, they now had scheduled days off and shift rotations – which basically meant rescheduling a day off ten years into the future due to workload.

Kakashi, as a squad leader, didn't have his holidays rescheduled. Tonight, he got off work early and was likely at home, immersed in "Icha Icha Paradise."

Gojo Kaigetsu soon arrived at Kakashi's apartment and knocked lightly.

Knock—

The door opened immediately, revealing Kakashi's typically impassive face.

"Gojo-sama… I'm off duty tonight."

"Oh, did I interrupt your evening, Kakashi? My apologies. I'm just here to retrieve something," Gojo Kaigetsu said casually, rubbing his hands together.

"Retrieve something?" Kakashi blinked, confused. His spartan apartment, furnished in minimalist Anbu style, contained little besides the banned books and foot massage coupons he bought with his Anbu and Police Force salary. What could Gojo possibly want?

"What do you need? I doubt there's anything in my apartment of interest to you," Kakashi asked.

What indeed?

"Kakashi," Gojo Kaigetsu began mysteriously, "do you want a Mangekyō Sharingan?"

"Huh?"

"Student discount. Your eye, plus 500,000 ryō." Gojo Kaigetsu extended his hand, beckoning with his fingers.

"Huh?" Kakashi stared, dumbfounded. Was this some kind of joke?

He couldn't believe Gojo Kaigetsu was asking for his Sharingan. How could he continue working in the Anbu without it? Besides, it was Obito's final gift, the source of his strength as a ninja. Even Gojo-sama couldn't just…

"If you give me your Sharingan, submit a medical leave request for a work-related injury, and I'll authorize a week's vacation for you," Gojo Kaigetsu added, raising a finger. "Paid leave, of course."

"It's… not about the vacation…" Kakashi stammered, still reeling.

"Two weeks."

"I'm… not that easily swayed."

"Three weeks."

"My Konoha training and the bonds of friendship wouldn't allow it…"

"One month."

"Gojo-sama, you truly understand me," Kakashi finally relented with a grin. He wasn't usually so easily persuaded. If anyone else had asked, he would have refused. Only the Uchiha Clan Head, his sensei, or the Hokage could make such a request.

But Advisor Gojo's loyalty was beyond question. Entrusting his Sharingan to him was perfectly fine! And a month's vacation? How much Icha Icha could he read in a month?! Operation: Icha Icha Completion, activate!

Kakashi lifted his headband, revealing his Sharingan. "May I ask what you need it for, Gojo-sama?"

"It's a secret. You'll find out soon enough."

"Store it in an opaque container. I have a weak stomach; I can't handle the sight of blood."

"…As you wish, Gojo-sama."

Kakashi winced as he carefully removed his Sharingan, placing it in a small box and handing it to Gojo Kaigetsu, who had turned away. A pang of sadness echoed in his heart. This was Obito's final gift…

You'd forgive me, wouldn't you, Obito… if you were here.

Gojo Kaigetsu weighed the box, pocketing it. "I won't disturb you any longer, Kakashi. Enjoy your vacation."

'Soon, your vacation will be anything but a vacation.' He left that thought unsaid. Once this hot-swappable Sharingan was implanted in Obito, stimulated with his chakra, and then retrieved, Kakashi could retire from the Anbu and become a full-time Avenger.

An Avenger with vengeance in his heart and people to protect—how could he rest?

Gojo Kaigetsu, with the [Sharingan] in hand, headed for the underground laboratory. Not just the Sharingan, he'd also arranged for Konoha's other Kekkei Genkai to be delivered to Orochimaru. Given Orochimaru's enthusiasm, there might be results tonight.

"[Kamui]… such a versatile ability." Even a single eye, developed to its fullest potential, could make its wielder one of the strongest in the shinobi world.

"If I remember correctly, besides transferring the user to the Kamui dimension, the left eye can also warp targets within its focal point to the Kamui dimension." Its destructive power was even greater than the right eye, capable of remotely removing parts of a target's body.

Perfect for a sneak attack. And because it directly manipulated space, even defensive ninjutsu like [Truth-Seeking Balls] couldn't block it. Theoretically, even a single Mangekyō Sharingan could manifest [Susanoo] with sufficient ocular power. Though, as far as he knew, only Shisui had achieved such a feat. Still, the possibility was tempting.

The thought of two Susanoo rampaging through Konoha made Gojo Kaigetsu giddy.

As for the hot-swap, he'd asked Kakashi, who hadn't experienced the power beyond the normal Sharingan. Whether due to insufficient chakra or the need for Obito's "key," Gojo Kaigetsu wasn't sure. But once this Sharingan evolved, the Anbu would lose Kakashi, gaining Homelander instead.

Kakashi's combat intelligence was exceptional; aside from low chakra reserves, the left eye was perfect for him. Giving it to Minato? Minato's chakra was already barely enough for the [Flying Thunder God]. Adding Kamui might not be effective. It was better suited for Naruto, or someone with massive reserves like Tsunade.

He soon arrived at Orochimaru's lab. Orochimaru was excitedly observing Hidan, whose body was hooked up to various machines, needles injecting colorful liquids.

"Oh, it's Gojo~" Orochimaru didn't even look up, his hands scribbling notes.

Gojo Kaigetsu noticed that Hidan's body was becoming transparent.

"Is that… [Hiding in Mist Jutsu]? Did the transplant succeed?" He recognized it as Hayate Gekko's Kekkei Genkai.

Though useful for concealing oneself, it was a relatively weak Kekkei Genkai. Effective against weaker ninja, but a mere parlor trick against stronger opponents. Still, for intimidation purposes, it was quite effective.

Orochimaru didn't respond verbally, choosing to demonstrate instead. He pressed a button, and Hidan, still on the bed, began forming hand seals, showcasing a variety of basic nature transformations.

And then, to Gojo Kaigetsu's surprise, the flesh between Hidan's fingers split, revealing bone spurs.

"Did you extract Kimimaro's Kekkei Genkai too?"

"A trivial matter," Orochimaru said smugly. "I, Orochimaru, need no guidance in my pursuits."

"How long until 'Deadpool' is ready for deployment?"

"The genjutsu control isn't fully stable yet. Remote control via ninja science might lack flexibility. Implanting higher-level jutsu also takes time. However, a simple appearance showcasing his abilities shouldn't be a problem."

To ensure control over Hidan, they had agreed on a dual-control system—genjutsu and ninja science, preventing scenarios where the Byakugan might dispel the genjutsu. The implantation of nature transformations was just the first step. Cursed seals, senjutsu chakra, Tailed Beast chakra, and even Kekkei Tōta were all possibilities. However, these were on another level—like jumping from elementary math to university calculus. If Orochimaru succeeded, Hidan would become Konoha's ultimate guardian!

"Orochimaru-sensei, I'll leave Hidan's development to you. I have something else…" Gojo Kaigetsu placed the box on the table, opening it to reveal the Sharingan.

Orochimaru's eyes widened. "A Sharingan?"

"Uchiha Obito's left eye. Implant it, stimulate it with his chakra, and try to evolve it into a Mangekyō Sharingan."

"Does Kakashi know?"

"Of course not. I traded it for a month's paid vacation."

Truly ruthless.

If Kakashi knew about this, who knows how he might react. The bonds of friendship in Konoha were a force to be reckoned with.

Orochimaru took the Sharingan, his face unreadable, tossing the box aside and walking towards Obito's restrained body. He implanted the eye without hesitation.

"Be careful, Orochimaru-sensei. If that eye evolves, it has the power to warp space," Gojo Kaigetsu warned.

"How do you know so much?" Orochimaru asked, his snake-like eyes narrowed. "His chakra is sealed; even if it evolves, he can't use any space-time ninjutsu." He then performed a series of complex procedures that Gojo Kaigetsu couldn't comprehend.

"Done. He's unconscious. As for when it evolves, I can't say." To prevent Obito from escaping, Orochimaru had kept him severely weakened.

"One last thing… Orochimaru-sensei."

"Danzo is dead."

Orochimaru's hands froze mid-experiment.

"Danzo… dead? Who did it?" He forced his voice to remain calm. Though they had no personal connection, they'd been partners in forbidden research.

"Unknown. On the way back to Konoha, he and eleven Root ninja were decapitated. Their bodies are missing."

"Missing?" Orochimaru's tone shifted.

"Yes, only their heads were found."

"Are you interested in taking over Root?"

"Me? Lead Root? I collaborated with Danzo. You're not worried I might use it to escape?"

"The Sage of Six Paths is watching."

Gojo Kaigetsu smiled enigmatically. Orochimaru, once he chose a path, was rarely swayed. Talk no Jutsu was the only exception.

"Hmph, the Sage is indeed watching…" Orochimaru waved his hand. "I'll take over Root. But I can't leave the lab. Send a Root operative here."

Gojo Kaigetsu nodded and left. Orochimaru was left alone, the silence broken only by the hum of machines.

He stroked his chin, deep in thought. He hadn't been concerned, but Gojo Kaigetsu's words sparked a thought—the missing bodies of Danzo and his Root ninja.

It reminded him of an old acquaintance… if that person were still alive, they might be collecting powerful corpses for experiments as well.

"Could it be you?"

Orochimaru walked over to his bookshelf, retrieving a notebook containing jutsu that might enhance the Edo Tensei. If Edo Tensei couldn't be improved directly, perhaps another jutsu could offer a solution. His gaze stopped at a certain entry. "This might be the answer… but it's incomplete."

In Kumogakure,

"Elder Advisor, the exchange has confirmed the bounty is complete."

The advisor's subordinate bowed deeply, avoiding his bloodshot eyes. The pain of losing his grandson was still raw.

In his grief, he'd handed over a billion ryō to the Kumogakure contact at the underground exchange, issuing a bounty for the assassination of a Konoha elder. Frankly, at this critical juncture, a billion ryō wasn't much. Even if successful, the assassin would face Konoha's wrath.

Elder Advisor hadn't expected anyone to take the bounty. But it had been claimed almost immediately. And the assassin had succeeded, eliminating the infamous Danzo Shimura!

That was Danzo Shimura! Kumogakure had considered assassinating him, but he was always protected by Root Jōnin. He was among the hardest targets in the ninja world. Killing him would require at least a Kage-level ninja, maybe more for a clean assassination. And yet, he was dead.

Elder Advisor shuddered. Even someone like Danzo could be eliminated. What about him? Life had become a commodity with a price tag.

Despite his fear, he was also relieved. Such a terrifying ninja was his ally!

"Good riddance!"

"Konoha, you killed my grandson! I will have my revenge!" he growled.

"Butler! How much is left in the clan account?"

"Elder Advisor… only 300 million ryō."

"300 million? Too little!" He slammed the table. "I've dedicated my life to Kumogakure! How can there be only 300 million left?!"

The butler hesitated, wanting to remind him that service didn't guarantee wealth.

But Elder Advisor had tasted blood. If money could eliminate Konoha's elite, he would… single-handedly issue bounties for all of them! That ignorant A wanted him to endure this?

"How much are we allocating to the southern territories?"

"1.3 billion ryō, as budgeted."

"Give them 300 million. Use the remaining 1 billion for bounties."

"Elder Advisor, if the Raikage finds out…" The butler trembled. The southern ninja had been causing trouble, and A had already allocated 1.3 billion ryō from the village's tight budget. Now, before even reaching them, 1 billion would be diverted?

This… though not treason, was more damaging than any rogue ninja!

The butler shuddered, the consequences beyond his comprehension.

"A? He's too soft. Besides, he's preoccupied."

"His… downfall has begun."

Elder Advisor tossed a report onto the table, sneering.

"I've been wondering why Samui hasn't sent any intel about Konoha's special military operation. Turns out… Samui has betrayed Kumogakure."

"Because of Samui's incompetence, our ninja died in Kusagakure… my grandson died!!"

He glared at the report, his eyes blazing. It detailed "Konoha: War Ninja," including the headband inscription. The secret was out. The discrepancy in the inscriptions was a matter he could exploit. He would use it to attack his political rival, A. After all, it was A who sent Samui to Konoha.

Once he controlled Kumogakure, he would have his revenge on Konoha, to avenge his grandson!

He wouldn't endure this! Though, for the village's sake, he wouldn't declare war on Konoha just yet. But adjusting the budget, reducing the southern allocation, and using the funds to issue another bounty… that was within his power. With enough money, the heads of those in Konoha were just a matter of numbers.

"Let the hunt for those terrified Konoha ninja begin!"

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