Naruto: Did i Just Get Reincarnated as Gojo?

"A rogue Jonin from Konoha?"

"Hiruko?"

"A familiar name…" Nagato murmured from the shadows. Where… where had he heard that name before?

His mind drifted back in time, to a memory from ten years ago.

Konan and Yahiko, exhausted from ninjutsu training, lay sprawled on the ground, fast asleep.

Nagato, thanks to his Uzumaki lineage, possessed far greater chakra reserves and recovery speed. He often sat with his teacher, Jiraiya, listening to stories of the ninja world.

"Nagato… sometimes, I feel the ninja world is utterly mad," Jiraiya had said, his voice tinged with melancholy. "Why can't people be content? Why are ninjas' desires never satisfied?"

Young Nagato, his eyes wide with curiosity, had asked, "Why do you say that, sensei?"

"I had a friend… He was already a Jonin, yet he craved even greater power. To compensate for his lack of natural talent, he crossed a line… We, his former friends, were forced to hunt him down. Me, Tsunade, and Orochimaru. But he escaped… And I watched helplessly as he descended into darkness."

Naive and hopeful, young Nagato had asked, "What was his name, sensei? Perhaps if I meet him someday, I can convince him to return."

Jiraiya had ruffled Nagato's red hair affectionately. "That would be wonderful. If you ever meet him, please do try to reason with him. His name is Hiruko. He has… white hair."

Snapping back to the present, Nagato asked, "Hiruko… what color was his hair?"

Though puzzled by the question, Konan quickly replied, "White."

A Konoha missing-nin, white hair, named Hiruko. It all matched.

A heavy silence fell over Nagato.

Normally, the arrival of a new member would be cause for celebration, a step closer to achieving their goals.

But Nagato felt no joy.

The shuriken he'd thrown years ago had now struck him.

In Nagato's heart, only two people held any real significance: Konan, his childhood friend, and Jiraiya, his sensei. He would abandon the entire ninja world before abandoning Konan.

As for Jiraiya…

A ninja's heart was a complex landscape. Nagato's hatred for Konoha was immense, but the gratitude he held for Jiraiya was equally profound. He often wished Jiraiya wasn't a Konoha ninja.

Unfortunately, the ninja world offered no such reprieves. When the day came for him to destroy Konoha, he and his sensei would be forced to fight.

He'd once promised to guide his sensei's friend back to the right path. Now, he himself had become the biggest threat to Konoha.

Even rogue ninja had their saviors… and he, Nagato, was now Hiruko's savior.

Disheartened, Nagato lost interest in Hiruko. "Konan, you handle Hiruko. Explain the rules and assign his missions. I don't wish to see him for now."

"What's wrong?" Konan asked, puzzled by his sudden change in demeanor. But Nagato, in Yahiko's body, simply turned and left without explanation.

However, as his childhood friend, Konan sensed his inner turmoil. Usually, if he hadn't personally recruited a new member, Nagato would take the time to assess their abilities. But this time… he hadn't even asked.

It seemed he was deliberately avoiding Hiruko.

After a personal assessment, Konan determined that this Konoha missing-nin, brought back by Zetsu, was a research-oriented ninja.

Hiruko specialized in scientific research—a talent the Akatsuki desperately needed.

Combat wasn't his forte, but his research abilities were astonishing.

He wielded the Chimera Technique.

This technique allowed him to fuse with other ninja or summoned creatures, absorbing their abilities, even Kekkei Genkai.

Possessing a single Kekkei Genkai often meant a ninja's potential surpassed ordinary ninja. A combat-focused Kekkei Genkai, developed to its fullest, could elevate a ninja to elite Jonin level. Two Kekkei Genkai, mastered, could potentially make a ninja Kage-level.

And the Chimera Technique allowed for the fusion of up to five Kekkei Genkai.

For years, in hiding, Hiruko had been hunting bloodline limit ninja, aiming to perfect his technique.

Such a ninja, such a jutsu… it made Konan wary.

She, too, possessed a Kekkei Genkai, making her a potential target.

In this organization of rogue ninja, there were no true bonds or friendships. Only mutual interests held them together.

Now, Konan had another person to watch out for.

Leaving Nagato, Konan retrieved the ring marked with the symbol for "Void" from her storage scroll. This would be Hiruko's designation within the Akatsuki.

Arriving at the Akatsuki hideout, Konan was taken aback by the scene.

She saw—

Sasori, his chakra strings manipulating ten lifeless bodies of ninja.

Ninja corpses weren't unusual. After all, the Akatsuki needed funds to operate. When not actively pursuing their main objective, members often took on missions from the underground exchange.

But these ninjas… they wore Konoha uniforms.

"Did you… go to Konoha?"

"Yo, Konan," Zetsu greeted her casually. "We didn't have time to report. But we eliminated Danzo and his elite guards. The bounty was one billion ryō. Unfortunately, Kakuzu and his Decapitating Sword were consumed by Danzo's Four Symbols Seal before he died."

Konan's usually stoic face showed a flicker of surprise.

"You… eliminated Danzo Shimura?"

Konan would never forget Danzo, the one responsible for Yahiko's death. She longed to kill him herself.

But the ninja world was in a delicate state. Konoha's influence was at its peak. If they traced the attack back to Amegakure… While Nagato could handle them, it would come at a great cost to his already weakened body.

"Did you… clean up?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

"Don't worry, Konan. I handled it personally. Konoha won't find a trace."

"Good. We can't afford to attract unnecessary attention. It's not time for us to reveal ourselves yet. We must await Nagato's orders."

"Sure, sure. Understood."

Sasori dragged the corpses toward his laboratory, while Kakuzu, his eyes gleaming, obsessively counted the bounty money.

'These… eccentrics…' Konan sighed inwardly. Though they were members of the same organization, adapting to their… unique personalities, was a challenge.

There wasn't a single "normal" person among them.

She tossed the ring to Zetsu. "Since you're back, deliver this to Hiruko."

After walking a few steps, she turned back to Zetsu. "Tobi hasn't contacted us in a week. Do you know where he is?"

"Tobi? He's… probably dead."

Konan merely raised an eyebrow. Zetsu handled the organization's intelligence. If even he believed Tobi was dead, it was likely true. Bounty ninja were like that. Though their skills were vetted, the ninja world was a dangerous place.

Black Zetsu watched as Konan disappeared from view.

"That woman… she's dangerous."

He had lived for countless years, but Konan's abilities were truly impressive.

With the formation of the Akatsuki, he had seen a glimmer of hope for his plan to revive his mother.

Nagato could wield the Rinnegan's power effectively; the loyal Uchiha Obito possessed space-time ninjutsu; and then, there was Konan.

That woman couldn't be underestimated. She posed an even greater threat than Nagato.

Her plan might fool others, but not Black Zetsu. Amegakure's inner lake… it was being slowly replaced with Konan's exploding paper tags.

Anyone unaware of this, even prime Uchiha Madara or Hashirama Senju, would be obliterated the moment they set foot in the lake. The sheer number of explosive tags was simply terrifying.

That's why Black Zetsu considered Konan dangerous, though not dangerous enough.

Her little scheme couldn't fool him.

Walking through the long corridors of the hideout, Black Zetsu arrived at Hiruko's assigned laboratory and entered.

Hiruko, clad in a white lab coat, his hair as white as snow, a mask covering his face, appeared to be only sixteen or seventeen.

Black Zetsu approached and handed over the ring. "Hiruko, this is your Akatsuki ring. Keep it safe."

"Zetsu, your organization is quite remarkable," Hiruko said, his eyes gleaming with avarice. "You wield Wood Release, that blue-haired woman Paper Release, there's the insane puppeteer who turned himself into a puppet, the monster with five hearts…"

"I've even heard your leader possesses the legendary Rinnegan."

"Hiruko, we are now, technically, comrades. Treating your comrades like prey is a dangerous game," Black Zetsu warned, a hint of menace in his tone.

"Hmph, I'm well aware of that." Hiruko averted his greedy gaze. Of the entire organization, only Zetsu seemed… manageable.

'They're merely relying on their natural talents. Once I've perfected the Chimera Technique, I'll be the ultimate ninja. This organization… it will be superfluous.'

No one could see the sinister thoughts hidden behind his mask.

He could betray Konoha without a second thought; an organization formed out of convenience meant even less.

He had only joined because Zetsu had promised him access to valuable resources. He'd even temporarily abandoned his base on Mount Shumisen and his subordinates.

"Zetsu, I've been here for days. Where are the experimental subjects you promised?"

"So impatient. Haven't you heard? Self-sufficiency is the Akatsuki way," Black Zetsu chided, though he still handed over a storage scroll.

"What's this?"

Following Zetsu's instructions, Hiruko injected his chakra, retrieving the scroll's contents.

"This is…"

Two identical phrases, yet spoken with entirely different emotions.

Hiruko's eyes widened in astonishment. "The Edo Tensei? The Second Hokage's forbidden jutsu from the Scroll of Seals?! How did you obtain this?!"

"Ahem, allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Zetsu, codenamed Void. I'm the weakest member of the organization. My job is to gather intel."

Black Zetsu clenched his hand. "Let's just say, there's nothing in the ninja world I can't obtain."

"And… this isn't the Edo Tensei you're thinking of."

This was… Orochimaru's incomplete Edo Tensei!

Black Zetsu had initially intended to recruit Orochimaru. His research abilities were invaluable.

But for some reason, that snake-like bastard had vanished from Konoha. Perhaps he was dead.

Fortunately, Black Zetsu had acquired Orochimaru's most valuable research before his disappearance.

He just needed another skilled researcher to continue Orochimaru's work, to perfect the Edo Tensei.

Hiruko? A mere substitute for Orochimaru.

"This jutsu is currently incomplete. I expect you to finish what Orochimaru started. Show me its true potential."

The Edo Tensei held immense significance for Black Zetsu.

The Akatsuki's sole purpose was to assist him in gathering the Tailed Beasts.

Capturing Tailed Beasts was a sensitive operation, bound to cause an uproar, potentially uniting the Five Great Villages.

With their current roster, the Akatsuki had no chance of capturing all nine Tailed Beasts against a unified front.

Nagato's Rinnegan wasn't the original; he couldn't fully utilize its power.

The ninja world was finite. No matter how much he searched, the number of elite ninja he could recruit was limited.

If he couldn't recruit the living, he'd use the dead. The Edo Tensei could summon long-dead ninja from the Pure Land, bolstering his forces.

And he needed to revive Uchiha Madara, to serve as his mother's vessel.

'Everything is proceeding according to plan.'

"What do you think of this gift, Hiruko?"

"I don't know the specifics of your Chimera Technique, but if you're looking for bloodline limit ninjas, those resurrected from the Pure Land should suffice."

"Obtaining the corpses of Kekkei Genkai ninja is far easier than capturing live ones. Wouldn't you agree?"

"That's… true."

Hiruko's eyes burned with a fervent intensity. He knew of the Edo Tensei, but it was a forbidden jutsu, locked away in the Scroll of Seals, beyond his reach.

And now… it was his.

Moreover, this wasn't the original Edo Tensei. It had been modified, saving him considerable time and effort.

'Once I've perfected the Edo Tensei, I'll enhance the Chimera Technique… Then, I won't have to worry about finding Kekkei Genkai users.'

'All I'll need to worry about is the accuracy of the history books… whether the records of Kekkei Genkai users are true.'

'The most powerful bloodline limit ninja in history… they'll all be mine to choose from!'

'I was originally planning to use a cursed seal to steal Kakashi's Sharingan. But now… I can use the Edo Tensei to summon Uchiha Madara and take his eyes! The most powerful Sharingan!'

Edo Tensei? Chimera Technique? No! This should be called the Edo Tensei Chimera Reincarnation Technique!

A tremor of excitement ran through Hiruko.

Even during his Academy days, he had envied Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya—their exceptional talent, enough to become disciples of the Third Hokage.

He, however, was destined to remain a nobody, at most a mid-level Jonin.

Why?!

He looked to the heavens, wanting to question the gods who distributed talent so unfairly. Why him?!

From the day he graduated and began his training, Hiruko had been determined. He would carve his own path, regardless of his lineage.

He secretly accumulated strength, plotted human experiments, attempting to transplant the genetic material of non-human creatures into himself, then moved on to Kekkei Genkai…

Until that day, his experiments were exposed. He became a missing-nin, hunted by the Third Hokage.

What had he done wrong?

Hiruko believed he had done nothing wrong. The ninja world was simply unfair! From the moment they were born, those with Kekkei Genkai possessed an advantage he could never overcome.

He would use his Chimera Technique to reach the pinnacle of power!

He would show the world that even an ordinary ninja could become a god!

He would become the ultimate ninja, and declare war on the Five Great Villages!

Hiruko's eyes burned with determination. "I will win!"

Unfortunately, he was unaware of the events that had transpired since his defection.

If Gojo Kaigetsu knew his ambitions, he'd likely burst out laughing.

Ninjas… no, perhaps everyone born in the ninja world, possessed desires as boundless as the sea.

Orochimaru, whom Hiruko envied, had already abandoned the pursuit of natural talent. He craved immortality.

Black Zetsu, standing beside him, felt a growing sense of unease. He was starting to have serious doubts about this organization.

They were all utterly insane!

He turned and left, slamming the door behind him. "I look forward to your research results, Hiruko."

…

…

"If all goes well, the Fourth Raikage will send an emissary to meet with me secretly within the next few days."

"Then, it will be time for a showdown with Samui."

Tsunade bit her lip and slowly crawled toward Gojo Kaigetsu.

The soft bed seemed to have been transformed into a trampoline by some strange ninjutsu, bouncing rhythmically.

Kinetic and potential energy interconverted, eventually settling into equilibrium.

Tsunade wiped the sweat from her brow. "And after the showdown? How do you intend to handle… Samui?"

"Send her back to Kumogakure?"

"Showdown aside, after all this time… I don't plan to let her go."

"Oh?"

Tsunade glanced at Gojo Kaigetsu, a hint of reproach in her eyes.

Having played the role of "mistress of the house," she had developed a certain fondness for Samui, despite knowing the kunoichi's ulterior motives.

After all, they were sisters in arms… or perhaps, sisters in… other activities.

Having spent so much time together…

Tsunade sensed that Samui wasn't purely motivated by her mission. Her loyalty to Kumogakure seemed to be… wavering.

"Have you considered that she might not care about you at all? That her only goal is to gather intel? That all her sweet nothings are just an act?" Tsunade asked, her voice tinged with concern.

As she spoke, she seemed to shift her position, her movements… rhythmic.

"I trust my abilities, both above and below. Samui's body doesn't lie. She can't possibly be indifferent to me. After all, I have the key, and no matter how complex her lock, I've unlocked it," Gojo Kaigetsu said confidently.

Tsunade let out a breathy sigh, feeling a bit parched. It seemed tonight's water intake hadn't been enough.

Sometimes, the relationship between ninjas was simply that complex. Fighting together, but not against criminals. The burden they carried wasn't always the village's.

"Even so, Samui's reaction will likely be… intense. Forcing her to betray Kumogakure could get her killed."

"That's inevitable. Pushing too hard invites resistance. I don't intend to force her hand. We'll take it slow. Once Konoha and Kumogakure reach a peace agreement, she won't have anything to worry about."

"Hmph…"

"Inside is fine. I'll heal myself with Mystical Palm," Tsunade muttered.

Gojo Kaigetsu's eyes widened. "Mystical Palm… on… yourself? Well, alright."

A moment of silence passed. Tsunade rolled over, as if entering sage mode, her shoulder pressed against Gojo Kaigetsu's.

Seemingly satisfied with his performance, she brought up a ninja-related topic.

"This… Avengers Initiative… what exactly are you planning?"

Gojo Kaigetsu stroked Tsunade's golden hair. "Actually, I know who killed Danzo."

Tsunade's eyebrow arched. "You do? Then why…"

"Because I can't defeat him. He's too strong. So strong that… even all of Konoha's Jonin combined might not be a match for him right now."

"That's why we need a more subtle approach. Eliminate his pawns one by one. The opportunity might present itself during the Konoha-Suna Trade Route completion ceremony."

"Do you need my help?" Tsunade asked, her tone unusually serious. "If you're targeting them, I can come out of retirement and assist you."

Tsunade had grown weary of the ninja world's endless conflicts. That's why she had abandoned her title as a Sannin and retreated to Tanzaku Quarters.

But the shinobi world's situation was changing rapidly.

During this period of "cold war with localized skirmishes," the frequent assassinations couldn't be ignored. Even the village itself wasn't as safe as it seemed.

First Gojo Kaigetsu, then Danzo… While Danzo's death didn't faze her, Gojo Kaigetsu was different. She couldn't bear to lose another close friend.

Ninja wars rarely reached the Hokage Tower. Her home was safe; she didn't care about such large-scale conflicts.

But those lunatics, driven by greed and willing to do anything for money… they were a different matter. Their methods were unpredictable. Who knew when they might infiltrate the Hokage Tower and eliminate Gojo Kaigetsu?

There's a saying: You can be vigilant for a thousand days, but you can't prevent a thief forever. For Gojo Kaigetsu's safety, Tsunade considered returning to active duty.

As the man who knew Tsunade best in the ninja world, Gojo Kaigetsu was touched.

He hugged her tightly. "If you could return, Tsunade, that would be wonderful."

"Hmph… Minato mentioned you gave codenames to the Avengers."

"Minato's a blabbermouth."

"Kushina told me."

"Then she's tight-lipped."

"Enough. What's my codename?"

"Yours?" Gojo Kaigetsu grinned.

"Captain Konoha."

Tsunade fell silent. Compared to the other Avengers' codenames, hers seemed… rather plain.

"The old man's codename is Professor Paradox, Pakura's is Blazing Fury, and then there's Catwoman… Those codenames match their abilities. Why is mine Captain Konoha?" Tsunade's tone hinted at displeasure. Only in private, like this, did she revert to her childish, academy-graduate self.

Perhaps… she wanted to recapture her youthful spirit.

She tightened her grip on Gojo Kaigetsu. "If you don't give me a satisfactory answer, you can spend tomorrow night with Mei Terumi and Samui."

"Because Captain Konoha is the embodiment of Konoha's Will of Fire. It represents the purest form of the Will of Fire! In all of Konoha, no one is more qualified to embody the Will of Fire than you, Tsunade."

"You carry the legacy of the First Hokage. You are a natural-born hero, possessing near-immortal strength! You symbolize Konoha's vitality, like an eternal flame. As long as leaves dance in the wind, the fire will burn, and new leaves will sprout. The fire's shadow illuminates the village, and the shadow of Captain Konoha will protect all of Konoha!"

"The villagers will proudly declare, 'I have lived my entire life under the protection of Captain Konoha.'"

"And when those you cherish need protection… Captain Konoha's true strength will be revealed. Just like… you're willing to return to active duty to protect me, Tsunade."

Gojo Kaigetsu, his fate literally in Tsunade's grasp, rolled over and gently held her hands, his voice filled with warmth.

"I-Is that so?" Tsunade stammered, flustered.

"Absolutely. I even have a uniform prepared for you~"

Gojo Kaigetsu released her hands and, with a flourish, produced two uniforms from his storage scroll.

One was clearly for public appearances. Its aesthetic design was… debatable, but it was certainly… practical. It exuded an air of seriousness and authority, perfectly befitting a super kunoichi.

As for the other…

"Is this… a uniform?" Tsunade stared at the barely-there scraps of fabric, utterly bewildered.

"The other one is for public appearances. This one… is for me~" Gojo Kaigetsu grinned, rubbing his hands together. He was about to elaborate when…

Tsunade, her chest heaving with anger, pointed towards the door.

"Get out!"

Seeing that Gojo Kaigetsu remained unmoved, she kicked him playfully.

Gojo Kaigetsu started humming a children's song: "The little girl picking mushrooms, so diligent and kind, carrying a large bamboo basket, early in the morning, bare feet, walking through the woods and mountains…"

<><><><>

Support & Read 10 Advanced Chapters. Ahead of the rest!

https://p-atreon.com/dragonnx

(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)

There is 9 Exciting Fanfics already available on my Patreon!