Naruto: Unlimited Kekkai Genkai

Ishigami Hara's uniqueness lies in the fact that he is the most studious among his peers in the ninja academy. His dedication to learning differs greatly from that of the average person. Instead of simply following the curriculum taught by his instructors, he studies based on his own personal needs and interests.

To illustrate, the ninja academy has a library filled with various books, most of which are considered irrelevant or miscellaneous by ninjas. Yet, Ishigami Hara has read through all of them.

Moreover, Ishigami Hara has consistently ranked first in his class, always scoring full marks, and no one has ever come close to dethroning him.

It is precisely because of this that Ishigami Hara's eccentricity has become well-known, not only within the academy but throughout the entire village of Konoha.

The main reason for this is his unique approach to acquiring knowledge. Ishigami Hara needs diverse information to improve his proficiency in "learning" skills.

Repeated material no longer enhances his proficiency, and access to advanced ninjutsu knowledge is generally restricted for academy students. As a result, he has focused on absorbing what is considered miscellaneous knowledge.

However, now that he has graduated, the chance to explore more advanced ninjutsu has finally arrived.

When Ishigami Hara heard this, he raised an eyebrow but quickly relaxed. It was Uchiha Izuna, who had been a silent presence in his mind, that spoke up at this moment.

"Hokage? Ha, I'm curious to see what's so special about it."

Ishigami Hara responded in his mind: "You'd better keep quiet. Causing too much of a disturbance will do neither of us any good."

"Hmph, kid, mind your own business."

Ishigami Hara was unbothered by this typical tsundere attitude and followed Honma Daigo toward the Hokage building.

Along the way, Uzumaki Kushina, who had been energetic earlier, seemed to grow quiet for no apparent reason, while Namikaze Minato attempted to strike up a conversation several times but hesitated.

Observing this, Ishigami Hara glanced at the two of them. Based on the timing, he quickly deduced what might be happening and remained calm.

The group soon arrived at the Hokage's office. Upon entering, they saw several people already present. Besides the middle-aged Sarutobi Hiruzen, the most striking figure was an elderly woman.

The old woman had a serene expression, her long wine-red hair now slightly faded, and she wore a wide robe as she sat quietly on a sofa.

"She's… the one from the Uzumaki clan, Uzumaki Mito!?"

Uchiha Izuna's voice was filled with surprise.

"Do you know her?" Ishigami Hara asked mentally.

"Tch, she's a famous figure from the Uzumaki clan, skilled in sealing techniques. I heard she's married to Senju Hashirama."

When Uchiha Izuna spoke, there was a hint of resentment in his tone, though it was unclear exactly what he was jealous of.

The elderly woman was indeed Uzumaki Mito, and given her presence, it wasn't hard to connect the dots regarding why Uzumaki Kushina had been called here.

However, as they entered the room, Ishigami Hara's long, blood-red hair quickly drew attention.

"Who is this child?" Uzumaki Mito asked, puzzled. From Ishigami Hara's hair color, it was easy to infer a connection to the Uzumaki clan.

"Mito-sama, this is Ishigami Hara, the one I mentioned to you," Sarutobi Hiruzen replied, though he too seemed intrigued. He studied Ishigami Hara closely and asked,

"Hara, what's going on with your hair?"

As he spoke, his gaze shifted briefly to Uzumaki Kushina, clearly making a comparison between the two.

Ishigami Hara's hair had become much brighter than before, its vividness now three times more striking than Uzumaki Kushina's. It was hard to believe he wasn't from the Uzumaki clan.

Others in the room were also observing. Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu displayed curiosity, while Shimura Danzō narrowed his eyes, a strange gleam flickering within them.

Everyone had already made their assumptions. After all, such conspicuous red hair was almost exclusive to the Uzumaki clan in the ninja world.

The questions directed at Ishigami Hara were mostly to confirm what everyone already suspected. But instead of providing a clear answer, Ishigami Hara simply shook his head and replied, "I'm sorry, Hokage-sama, I don't know the details. My hair became like this after I woke up this morning."

At this moment, Uzumaki Mito smiled and added, "This child's chakra isn't any weaker than Kushina's."

Her words indirectly confirmed what everyone had been thinking.

As a skilled observer and knowledgeable about the village's families, Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly connected this to the Ishigami surname. "Now that I think about it, your Ishigami family has had ties with the Uzumaki clan through marriage, haven't they?" he asked.

Ishigami Hara lowered his eyes, pretending not to hear the question.

The others exchanged glances, some with amusement.

The Ishigami family's eccentricities were known across the ninja world, and their unusual family rules often elicited chuckles.

Seeing that Ishigami Hara wasn't inclined to answer, Sarutobi Hiruzen cleared his throat and shifted the topic. "I originally called you here to assign you to lead a Jōnin team, but given the current situation, we'll need to put that on hold."

"Minato."

"Yes!"

At the sound of his name, Namikaze Minato immediately stood at attention.

Sarutobi Hiruzen continued, "From now on, you will be part of Jiraiya's team. He will be your lead Jōnin. Your teammates will be Sarutobi Shinnosuke and Hatake Kumi."

"Yes, Hokage!" Minato responded firmly.

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded in approval. "Good. You and Honma Daigo may return for now."

"Yes!" The two replied in unison. Before leaving, Minato glanced at Uzumaki Kushina, who offered him a reassuring smile in return.

Ishigami Hara observed the exchange, sensing that the real purpose behind this gathering was about to unfold.

Sure enough, Sarutobi Hiruzen turned his attention to Uzumaki Kushina and asked, "Uzumaki Kushina, are you ready?"

Kushina took a deep breath, her expression becoming resolute as she nodded firmly. "Yes!"

The atmosphere in the room grew tense, with everyone present wearing serious expressions—except for Uzumaki Mito, who continued to smile gently as she quietly observed the proceedings.

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, though when his gaze passed over Ishigami Hara, a deeper contemplation seemed to flicker in his eyes.

At this moment, Shimura Danzō broke the silence. "Lady Mito, let the boy serve as a backup."

Both Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu turned their attention to Ishigami Hara, quickly grasping Danzō's intention. They understood that Sarutobi Hiruzen intended to keep Ishigami Hara involved, though there were certain matters the Hokage couldn't state directly—this was where Danzō came in, as always.

Uzumaki Mito remained silent, her gentle demeanor unwavering, as though she preferred not to acknowledge what was happening.

Uzumaki Kushina, however, looked surprised and glanced at Danzō and the others. With a determined voice, she said, "Hokage-sama, this is my responsibility. I don't think anyone else should be involved."

Sarutobi Hiruzen hesitated for a moment before replying, "This is a matter of great importance, and we must ensure that every precaution is taken."

While he didn't outright reject Kushina's objection, the meaning behind his words was clear.

Throughout the conversation, Ishigami Hara remained silent, though he understood perfectly well what they were implying. They were considering him as a potential backup for the Jinchūriki process.

Despite the gravity of the situation, Ishigami Hara kept a composed expression, as if unaware of the true nature of the discussion, though he fully grasped it in his mind.

Uchiha Izuna's voice suddenly echoed in his thoughts, filled with curiosity. "What are they talking about?"

Ishigami Hara replied in his mind, "It's about the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki."

Uchiha Izuna, clearly surprised, responded, "Jinchūriki? The tailed beasts sealed into human bodies?"

"It's true. Uzumaki Mito is the current Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, and now the village needs to transfer the beast. Uzumaki Kushina is the chosen candidate, but because of my recent physical changes and my chakra, they're considering me as a backup."

Uchiha Izuna sneered, "How absurd. Ninjas have fallen so low that they now rely on weaponizing the tailed beasts, using humans as vessels for their power. It's disgraceful."

"Calm down," Ishigami Hara responded evenly. "Not everyone has the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan like you. That kind of strength is beyond the capabilities of those present here."

"You know about the Mangekyō?" Uchiha Izuna sounded even more shocked.

Ishigami Hara's expression remained composed. "It's not exactly a secret. Why wouldn't I know?"

"You're hiding something!" Uchiha Izuna's voice grew colder.

"You'll understand later," Ishigami Hara replied cryptically.

Outside, Uzumaki Mito finally spoke up. She sighed softly before saying, "Let's proceed with the original plan. As for this child... let him stay with me for a few days."

Though she didn't outright refuse the idea of Ishigami Hara being a backup, her words subtly blocked this possibility. It was clear that she didn't want him to carry such a heavy burden. In her eyes, one person enduring that kind of fate was already enough.

Ishigami Hara was slightly taken aback but merely raised his eyes, meeting Uzumaki Mito's gaze. Her eyes were still gentle, filled with quiet understanding.

Shimura Danzō looked as though he wanted to argue, but a glance from Sarutobi Hiruzen stopped him. Danzō, clearly reluctant, nodded and said, "Very well. The child's bloodline has obviously been influenced by the Uzumaki clan. In that case, we can consider him one of them. I will leave him in your care, Lady Mito."