Naruto: I am Uchiha Fugaku

"It wasn't a Wood Release Kekkei Genkai user, but someone impersonating one?"

The Third Hokage was taken aback. He hadn't expected Uchiha Shisui to propose such a bold theory it caught him completely off guard.

"Lord Hokage, this is just my speculation. I can't say for sure if it's true,"

Shisui quickly explained, noticing the Hokage's surprise.

"No, your speculation, while bold, is reasonable. It's not outside the realm of possibility."

The Third Hokage took a deep breath, his expression turning solemn.

Indeed, Shisui's words had shocked him at first.

But upon closer thought, the idea that someone might be impersonating the Wood Release user was plausible.

The few surviving witnesses had confirmed that the real Wood Release user had always displayed near-unbeatable spatial ninjutsu in the past.

But this time, no such technique was used—an inconsistency that had already aroused the Hokage's suspicion. That was exactly why he'd summoned Shisui, the one who had fought this mysterious Wood Release user and understood them best.

If the attacker this time was a fake, then the anomaly would make sense.

"If someone really is impersonating the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai user, who do you think it might be?"

"I suspect it's someone who bears a grudge against Advisor Danzō—after all, the people killed last night were all connected to the Shimura clan."

After a moment of thought, Shisui replied.

"That's true. All of the victims were related to the Shimura clan. It's highly likely this person has a grudge against Danzō."

The Third Hokage nodded, but then his brow furrowed again.

"However, quite a few members of the Iwasaki clan saw this person use Wood Release to kill the clan head. That suggests this person can indeed use Wood Release.

If it really was an impersonator, how would they possess the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai?"

"The Wood Release user isn't necessarily the same person we've been chasing. I've heard that one of the former Anbu members can use Wood Release as well,"

Shisui replied slowly.

"I believe this person may be a test subject from the First Hokage's cell experiments—someone who's undergone related procedures."

"Hmm, yes, there's indeed more than one person capable of using Wood Release,"

the Third Hokage nodded.

"There's someone in the Anbu, codenamed Alpha, whom I took from Advisor Danzō. He's a survivor of the First Hokage's cellular experiments."

"Danzō was conducting research with the First Hokage's cells?"

Shisui asked, his face showing clear disgust.

He abhorred such experiments stealing cells from the First Hokage and using human test subjects was something he found utterly repulsive.

"Orochimaru once conducted such experiments in secret. Once I found out, I forbade it immediately."

"Danzō does have access to some of Orochimaru's research notes and results, but whether he's continued those experiments in secret—I can't say for sure,"

the Third Hokage explained.

Just two light comments, and he had already distanced himself from the research into the First Hokage's cells.

But in truth, while he had never explicitly supported the experiments, he had turned a blind eye in their early stages—hoping, perhaps, to gain something from them.

Unfortunately, even before Orochimaru defected, the results had fallen far short of expectations.

"Danzō possesses Orochimaru's data, and now someone impersonating the Wood Release user might also hold a grudge against him…"

Shisui frowned in deep thought.

A moment later, he spoke, though uncertainly:

"Lord Hokage, is it possible that Danzō is still conducting those inhumane experiments in secret and the impersonator is a victim of those experiments, now seeking revenge?"

"It's very possible."

The Third Hokage's expression turned grim.

"If the current Wood Release user is indeed an impersonator, then the person pretending must hold a grudge against Danzō most likely a victim of the experiments."

At that, his expression suddenly turned solemn and righteous.

"I will order a full investigation starting from this lead. If it turns out Danzō has truly continued these inhumane experiments, I will not tolerate it!"

Seeing the Hokage's firm stance, Shisui couldn't help but feel deep respect.

The appearance of such unethical research using the First Hokage's cells in the village wasn't the fault of the Third Hokage, but of Orochimaru and Shimura Danzō.

They had hidden the research from him. The Third Hokage had no knowledge of it, and it was thanks to his intervention that the cruel experiments had come to an end.

Meanwhile, back at the Uchiha compound, Uchiha Fugaku after briefly guiding Sasuke as usual entered the secret room in his study.

His previous refinement of the Yuki Clan's corpse had severely depleted his ocular power.

Now that it had fully recovered after several days, he decided to begin refining the corpse of the Kaguya Clan to obtain the Shikotsumyaku (Dead Bone Pulse).

Poof—

He took out a sealed scroll, and with a puff of smoke, the corpse of a middle-aged man appeared.

This man had once been a powerful member of the Kaguya Clan, possessing strength close to Kage-level and a strong Shikotsumyaku ability.

"Corpse Refinement—"

Fugaku's eyes turned into Mangekyō Sharingan, the tomoe spinning rapidly in his left eye.

A black vortex appeared, and he swiftly tossed the corpse into it.

As the body entered the swirling darkness, white, bone-like biological matter began to form in Fugaku's left eye and entered his body.

Once inside, the tissue seemed drawn toward his skeletal system, rapidly integrating into his bones.

Crack! crack!

The bones throughout Fugaku's body began to undergo a drastic transformation.

They grew denser, harder, and tougher becoming as resilient as metal.

More than that, the very structure of his skeleton began to change.

Adult bones that had already lost regenerative activity were now revitalized to a ridiculous degree.

Had professional instruments been used, they would have shown that his bone activity was hundreds of times higher than a normal person—and still increasing.

The violent change in his body caused loud crackling sounds, like beans being stir-fried.

After a while, the corpse was completely refined, and the transformation stopped.

At that moment, Fugaku felt a strange new sensation.

He realized that if he willed it, he could cause any bone in his body to grow rapidly at will.

This was the hallmark of the Shikotsumyaku—proof that he had successfully obtained the Kekkei Genkai.

With this ability, he likely would never have to fear bone fractures again.

His bones had become as hard as metal, and even if they broke, they would rapidly regenerate.

From now on, broken bones would be a thing of the past.

PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/XenTronix