Trading injuries seems foolish.
However, Ryujin Kenichi had his own confidence.
Being implanted with cells from Hashirama Senju had given him more than just chakra resilience. It granted him part of the First Hokage's Sage Body—a physical constitution known for rapid regeneration and immense chakra reserves. Though it wasn't as refined as Tsunade's Mitotic Regeneration, Kenichi had tested it before: minor injuries would heal within moments.
Sometimes he couldn't help but sigh, wondering why Masashi Kishimoto never specified Hashirama's cause of death. For someone so absurdly powerful, "dying in battle" just didn't feel like enough. All they ever said was that he sacrificed himself for the village.
But now wasn't the time to reflect on history.
Watching the Root ninja retreat into the shadows, Kenichi surged forward. He gathered a dense mass of Lightning Release chakra into his palm. The high-pitched shrieking of birds echoed through the trees.
Chidori.
His speed exploded, the world around him blurring. But even now, his eyes couldn't keep up.
"I can't track him..." Kenichi squinted. At this velocity, normal vision was useless.
Only those with a Sharingan could truly master Chidori. Kakashi Hatake had said it himself: without it, it was like running blind with a sword. Still, Kenichi had trained hard to minimize that flaw.
He caught a vague motion—a flicker of metal. Instinct kicked in. He twisted midair.
A sharp pain ripped through his shoulder. A kunai or short blade had found its mark.
But Kenichi didn't stop. His Chidori drove into the Root operative's chest, sending him flying back through the underbrush with a crack of thunder.
Blood streamed from Kenichi's wound as he yanked the blade out with a wince. There was no time to linger—Root rarely acted alone. Reinforcements might already be closing in.
He took one last glance at the downed ninja. No movement. No chakra spikes. He wouldn't be getting up soon.
Kenichi vanished into the forest.
The pain dulled as he ran. His chakra-enhanced cells had already begun the healing process. By the time he reached shelter, it would likely be sealed shut.
"If I went to the hospital now," Kenichi thought dryly, "the medic-nin would just scold me for wasting their time."
Danzo had clearly underestimated him. Probably thought a mere Chūnin wouldn't stand a chance against a Root Jōnin. That miscalculation bought Kenichi valuable breathing room.
After traveling for nearly a full day, he finally found a spot to fake his trail—leaving signs of passage toward the Land of Rivers—before cutting away and heading east.
"The teacher didn't tell me where to regroup," Kenichi muttered, leaping between tree branches, "but there's only one hideout I know that's far enough from Konoha."
The same lab they had used last time—the one where the captured Hyūga outcast was held. A secluded site, protected by dozens of jutsu traps.
He slowed as he approached. Even though no one else should know about this place, caution was second nature. If someone like Jiraiya had managed to tail Orochimaru...
Best not to take chances.
"You're late," came a smooth voice from behind.
Kenichi turned, a grin breaking out. "Teacher."
Orochimaru stood in the shadow of a tree, unchanged. His pale skin seemed almost luminescent in the forest gloom, but his breathing was steady. No injuries. No tension.
"Jiraiya was a bit of a nuisance," Orochimaru said with an amused smile, then turned toward the old iron door embedded in the rock face.
Kenichi followed him inside.
He had made his choice. He'd severed ties with Konoha.
What rank would they give him, now that he was a true missing-nin? The teacher, of course, would be S-rank. That was without question.
Back in the Hokage's office, tension hung thick in the air.
Sarutobi Hiruzen pinched the bridge of his nose. "...List Orochimaru and Ryujin Kenichi as missing-nin. Orochimaru: S-rank. Ryujin Kenichi: B-rank."
The news had already spread. The Sannin's battle shook the entire village. Half of Konoha had witnessed Orochimaru's escape—and the loyal disciple who chose to follow him.
Across the room, Hatake Kakashi stood silent. His expression was unreadable, but his mind was reeling.
Minato-sensei was dead. Kushina too. Obito... gone.
And now Kenichi—his comrade, someone he'd shared missions and laughter with—was labeled a traitor.
It felt like one betrayal after another. Like the world was hollowing out around him.
"B-rank?" Danzo Shimura slammed his hand against the desk. "That boy took down one of my Jōnin. That's not B-rank."
Hiruzen didn't reply. His eyes were on the window, on the fading daylight.
Too many losses.
Too many ghosts.
He had initially assumed that dealing with a mere Chūnin would be easy. When the time came, he intended to use Ryujin Kenichi's body as a scapegoat, perhaps even turning the situation to his advantage with a clever twist.
But things didn't go as planned.
The target escaped—and managed to seriously wound one of his Root operatives.
According to Tanuki, during the engagement with that brat, he suddenly felt a stabbing pain in his chest. His breathing became labored, vision dimmed, and his limbs turned sluggish. Even after attempting to retreat and re-center his chakra, he was hit by a Chidori. If not for the swift intervention of his fellow Root operatives, he would have died on the spot.
"Jōnin? Are you telling me Ryujin Kenichi took down a Jōnin?" The Third Hokage exhaled deeply, the scent of tobacco smoke lingering in the air. For once, he was genuinely surprised.
He remembered Ryujin Kenichi. The boy had only recently attained the rank of Chūnin—nothing remarkable, really. His talents were average at best. He'd reached Chūnin at an age when Kakashi Hatake had already been a Jōnin for years.
In the Hokage's mind, Kenichi had been no more than an auxiliary researcher stationed in one of Konoha's medical or scientific labs—someone not meant for front-line combat. That he could defeat a full-fledged Jōnin was... unexpected.
"Yes," Danzo said with a trace of mockery in his voice. "And he used that brat's Chidori to do it."
Kakashi's expression darkened. So this was why he had been summoned.
"…The Hatake clan has contributed more than its fair share to Konoha," Hiruzen said quietly. "And Kakashi wasn't even aware of it. There's no reason to bring this up again." He fixed Danzo with a long, reproachful look. His old friend was becoming increasingly reckless.
The Hatake clan had long since faded, leaving Kakashi as its sole heir. And now, Danzo was targeting him too? Unacceptable.
"Hmph," Danzo scoffed, but said no more.
"Then it's settled. Ryujin Kenichi is to be designated an A-rank missing-nin." The Third Hokage pressed the Hokage seal onto the order, finalizing the classification.
However, the upper echelons of Konoha did not immediately publish the bounty. The village had only recently suffered the betrayal of Orochimaru, one of the Sannin. The damage to their image and morale was significant.
Revealing that yet another elite had turned rogue would only amplify the perception of Konoha's weakness. So, for now, they would keep it quiet—at least until they were ready.