Aburame Shigeo had no idea what Sarutobi Hiruzen was thinking. After taking Naruto home for breakfast, he grabbed the Sealing Scroll and headed to the Police Force Headquarters.
The headquarters building was the same as before, but the Uchiha fan symbol on it had been replaced with the Leaf Village emblem.
Two police officers stationed at the entrance immediately bowed in respect when they saw him.
"Lord Shigeo!"
"Commander!"
Shigeo nodded with a smile and walked inside, heading straight for his office.
A waiting officer quickly entered the room, placing a stack of documents on his desk.
"Commander, we've interrogated Mizuki. He confessed that he stole the Scroll of Seals under Orochimaru's orders. Orochimaru also provided the scroll's location. Mizuki acted alone; there were no accomplices."
Shigeo glanced at the document briefly before placing it back on the desk and nodding.
"Got it. Interrogate him a few more times, focus on details, and fill in any gaps. Report back with updates."
"Understood!"
The officer saluted, turned, and left, closing the office door behind him.
Seeing this, Shigeo smirked and eagerly unrolled the Sealing Scroll. For him, capturing Mizuki was a mere formality—the scroll was his true target.
The first technique he saw upon opening the scroll was *Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu*.
This advanced version of the Shadow Clone Jutsu required immense chakra and carried significant risk if used recklessly, which is why it was classified as forbidden.
In the original series, Naruto frequently used this technique throughout the story, making it one of his signature moves.
However, Shigeo had no interest in it and skipped ahead to examine the other techniques in the scroll.
Familiar names of jutsu began appearing before him—
*Bringer-of-Darkness Technique*, *Flying Raijin Technique*, *Explosive Tag Multiplication Technique*, *Impure World Reincarnation*, *Reaper Death Seal*...
Each was a formidable forbidden jutsu, capable of causing massive upheaval in the ninja world.
Yet none of these caught Shigeo's attention. He kept unrolling the scroll until he reached the section he was looking for—
- *Wood Style: Multiple Wood Clone Jutsu*
- *Wood Style: Ranking Pillar Technique*
- *Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence*
- *Wood Style: Flowering Tree World Descent*
- *Wood Style: Wood Dragon Jutsu*
- *Wood Style: Wood Golem Jutsu*
These were powerful Wood Style techniques from the First Hokage. While the jutsu varied, they all required the same hand seal—the *Serpent Seal* (hands clasped with fingers interlocked).
The iconic "clap and summon anything" move of Hashirama Senju was essentially forming this simple seal.
Despite the simplicity of the seal, the jutsu themselves were extremely complex. Each Wood Style technique demanded an immense amount of chakra, increasing with the jutsu's power.
For instance, without Kage-level chakra reserves, it was nearly impossible to perform *Deep Forest Emergence*.
As for *Wood Dragon Jutsu* and *Wood Golem Jutsu*, which could rival Tailed Beasts, the chakra requirements were astronomical.
"It's not chakra; it's *tonkra*," Shigeo mused while studying the scroll, shaking his head in awe.
"No wonder no one in the Senju clan other than Hashirama inherited the Wood Style bloodline limit. Even if they did, they might not be able to use these techniques effectively."
A faint smile of relief appeared on his face.
"Good thing my chakra reserves meet the requirements."
After studying the techniques, Shigeo concluded that the primary challenges were the Wood Style bloodline and chakra capacity. The chakra flow and release methods, by comparison, were so straightforward that they were easier to learn than most C-rank jutsu.
After going through the techniques twice, Shigeo committed them to memory. All he lacked now was an opportunity to practice.
"That's everything. To avoid suspicion, I'll return the scroll now."
He carefully re-rolled the scroll, grabbed the stack of documents, and headed to the Hokage's office.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was sipping tea when Shigeo entered with the scroll and documents, wearing a puzzled expression.
"What's the matter? Is there a problem with the police force?"
"No, I'm here to report," Shigeo replied, setting the scroll and documents on the desk.
"Mizuki is spineless. He admitted everything—acting under Orochimaru's orders to steal the scroll. He worked alone, no accomplices."
He pointed to the documents and scroll.
"The interrogation transcript and Sealing Scroll are here. Please review and sign off."
"Alright," Hiruzen replied with a nod, casually examining the scroll as he asked, "Did you read the Sealing Scroll?"
"Yes," Shigeo replied honestly.
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow, surprised by his frankness. "What did you read?"
"I focused on the First Hokage's Wood Style techniques. The others seemed too difficult to learn." Shigeo grinned.
Hiruzen's lips twitched. "As if Wood Style is easy to learn."
With a big smile, Shigeo stood in a horse stance, clapped his hands together, and shouted, "*Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence!*"
His voice echoed through the office, but nothing happened.
Hiruzen's eye twitched. "This is your 'almost'?"
"Yes!" Shigeo nodded earnestly. "I'm just a little short on Wood Style chakra."
Hiruzen: "…"
**This guy's messing with me.**
Without another word, Hiruzen set the scroll aside and began reviewing the interrogation transcript.
When he reached the section about Mizuki's punishment, he hesitated.
*"Given Mizuki's crimes of espionage and attempted murder, he is sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labor. All his assets are confiscated and allocated to the police force's budget."*
Hiruzen frowned.
"Isn't this punishment too harsh? And why are his assets being transferred to the police force?"
"It's perfectly reasonable. I spared his life, didn't I? As for his assets, that's also fair."
Shigeo adjusted his sunglasses slightly.
"Every case has a criminal and a victim. The criminal must be punished, and the victim compensated. Investigations and law enforcement require resources, which cost money.
The newly reformed police force should not burden the village's finances. My 'money-for-penance' approach is aimed solely at improving Konoha."
With sincerity radiating from his face, Shigeo grabbed Hiruzen's hand.
"Third Hokage, I'm Jiraiya's student, and he's your student, so that makes you my grandteacher. I'd never deceive you. You have to trust me!"
Hiruzen: "…"
*When it's convenient, I'm the Hokage. When it's not, I'm Grandpa Teacher?*
*You cunning brat, I don't trust you one bit.*