The Third Hokage Was Shocked
The clash caused by Xu Fan in the Anbu quickly reached the ears of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, thanks to Ibiki Morino's report.
In the Hokage's Office—
Before Ibiki could even finish his report, Hiruzen sprang up from his seat, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"Kakashi and Tenzo? Both of them were involved?"
Kakashi Hatake and Tenzo (Yamato) were among the most stable and skilled shinobi in the Anbu. Even if Xu Fan had been appointed squad captain, they should've complied without issue.
But it wasn't just Gekkō Hayate and the others—even Kakashi and Tenzo had joined the altercation.
"You're saying Xu Fan defeated all of them using Wood Release?" Hiruzen asked, stunned. The image of Xu Fan single-handedly overwhelming the Anbu replayed in his mind.
If Xu Fan had truly unleashed the Deep Forest Emergence, then it was no wonder every Anbu present had been stunned.
"It's plausible," Hiruzen muttered to himself, nodding gravely.
"Wood Release? Wait—what Wood Release?" Ibiki asked, his voice full of disbelief. "You're saying Xu Fan can use Mokuton?"
Ibiki's mouth slowly formed an "O" in shock. He thought he'd already been surprised once by Xu Fan, but now, within the same day, this mysterious figure had shocked him again.
"Wait a minute…" Ibiki narrowed his eyes.
Hiruzen also had a barrage of questions running through his head. "You mean… Xu Fan defeated Kakashi and the others without using Wood Release?"
He had assumed Xu Fan relied on a massive chakra reserve and powerful Mokuton techniques to overpower his opponents.
But according to Ibiki…
"He didn't use Mokuton at all?"
That made the situation even more alarming. Kakashi had been promoted to Jonin during the Third Great Ninja War and had received the Sharingan from Obito Uchiha during a mission against Iwagakure.
Tenzo had Hashirama Senju's cells implanted and was the only known living user of Wood Release besides the First Hokage himself.
Together, they were practically a poor-man's version of Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama—a low-end replica, but formidable nonetheless.
"It was Genjutsu," Ibiki clarified, snapping Hiruzen out of his thoughts. "That's what I believe happened."
"But…"
"But?" Hiruzen raised a brow. Something about this didn't sit right.
He had been suspicious from the moment Xu Fan suddenly exhibited an enormous chakra reserve. But considering Xu Fan's rumored Senju lineage—and his willingness to serve Konoha—Hiruzen had merely asked Kakashi to monitor him discreetly.
First, it was the immense chakra. Then Mokuton. And now… Genjutsu?
Just who was this kid?
Could it be Jiraiya?
Jiraiya could've returned to the village and trained Xu Fan without detection—he certainly had the skill.
But even under Jiraiya, this level of progress was extraordinary.
"Hmph…" Ibiki exhaled sharply, then added, "This is just a personal theory. No one saw Xu Fan cast a Genjutsu. No one even noticed when it happened."
"What?!"
Hiruzen was taken aback again.
As the Third Hokage, he understood better than anyone how dangerous this was. Genjutsu required some form of trigger—eye contact, sound, even subtle movements.
Observers could usually identify it by watching the caster's behavior or the chakra flow involved.
But Ibiki insisted: Xu Fan had just stood there, unmoving. Then, one by one, Kakashi and the rest collapsed unconscious.
And Ibiki wasn't just anyone—he was the Head of the Anbu Torture and Interrogation Unit, one of the village's top experts on Genjutsu.
Yet even he wasn't sure.
Which meant either: Xu Fan wasn't using Genjutsu at all…
Or he used a high-level Genjutsu so advanced, even Ibiki couldn't perceive it.
Shisui…
Hiruzen's eyes widened as a name surfaced in his mind.
Shisui Uchiha.
A Genjutsu prodigy. He possessed Kotoamatsukami, an illusion so powerful it could permanently alter a person's will without them realizing it.
That level of power had terrified even Hiruzen.
He'd once questioned whether entrusting that kind of ability to a single clan—especially one as volatile as the Uchiha—was wise.
It was why he had confided in Danzo, who had later orchestrated the theft of Shisui's eye.
When he heard that Shisui had committed suicide, he'd felt a conflicted sense of relief.
"No…" Hiruzen shook his head.
Shisui's Genjutsu relied on the Sharingan.
If it were transplanted, the eye would remain open and continuously drain chakra—as in Kakashi's case.
Xu Fan's eyes were normal. Clear. Unmodified.
"Third Hokage-sama?" Ibiki's voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"Hmm?"
Hiruzen quickly returned to focus.
"How is Tenzo?"
"Still unconscious," Ibiki replied. "Medical-nin say he'll need time to recover."
"I see…" Hiruzen sighed. "That complicates things."
He had intended to take both Xu Fan and Tenzo to the Land of Iron for an upcoming diplomatic summit. According to protocol, two shinobi—one combat-type and one sensory-type—were required for such a mission.
Tenzo was both, but now…
The Hyuga were the most proficient sensory clan, but given recent tensions, involving them could stir controversy.
Just as Hiruzen considered alternatives, a knock sounded on the office door.
"Come in," he called.
The door creaked open, revealing none other than Xu Fan himself.
"Third Hokage-sama," he said calmly. "Since Tenzo needs time to recover, it seems we'll need to choose someone else."
He glanced briefly at Ibiki, then returned his gaze to Hiruzen.
"I've already spoken with the other Anbu captains. They mentioned that summits like these require a sensory ninja."
Xu Fan paused. "What do you think about Yamanaka Inoichi?"
"He's sharp, calm under pressure, and highly perceptive."
Xu Fan smiled faintly.
"…Plus, I heard he likes bananas."