Konoha: Who's the good guy?

I just left the Hokage Building.

Yamanaka Kei secretly used the sensory barrier that covered the entire Leaf Village to lock onto Nara Shikaku, who was working at the mission reception office.

Seeing that the distance between the two was less than 500 meters, he immediately used the telepathy technique to connect with the other's mind.

"Brother Lu Jiu, I just accepted a mission! Guess where I'm going?"

The sound of Yamanaka Kei gritting his teeth echoed in Nara Shikaku's mind.

"No guessing, goodbye!"

Nara Shikaku paused slightly with his pen, then quickly put it down and formed a hand seal.

Using the Nara clan's shadow magic, he controlled a large area of ​​shadow, completely enveloping himself, attempting to sever the connection between mind and body.

Both are secret techniques derived from Yin Dun (陰遁).

The Nara clan's shadow magic and the Yamanaka clan's spiritual magic each have their own strengths.

Ultimately, they are all variations of Yin Dun, and they are very likely to influence each other.

only......

"Take another guess, why hasn't the mind-to-body transmission technique been broken?"

Yamanaka Kei's words made Nara Shikaku's face twitch.

The difference in their mental strength was too great; he couldn't sever the connection between his spiritual and physical abilities and the mountain's spiritual transmission technique!

Don't panic!

He has a backup plan.

Looking to the side, at the rarely used confidential room of the mission reception area, he picked up the documents on the table and prepared to go in and activate the anti-sensory barrier.

The presence of a barrier, coupled with his own shadow magic.

No problem!

"I heard that on Adofu Street, there are two geishas who are just as beautiful as the courtesans, I think their names are Iwayama Momoko and Yanagi Sakura?"

Oh no, there's scenery in the mountains too!

Nara Shikaku covered his face with one hand and slumped into his seat.

Adofuku Street is less than 40 kilometers from Konoha and is an extremely bustling street in Senjuba Town.

Because Konoha Village is relatively strictly managed, there are no red-light districts or casinos, so there are very few things for ninjas to do for entertainment.

Adofu Street is located on a major north-south thoroughfare, which naturally led to the emergence of many such businesses.

He had only gone to see it a few times out of curiosity when he was young, along with Haiyi and the others.

Aside from drinking and listening to music, I really haven't done anything else.

But would Yoshino believe it if I told her?

That bastard Jing actually used something like this to threaten people.

What about the tacit understanding between brothers?

What are the bottom lines for a man?

Believe it or not, he'll go to Kushina and badmouth her.

"...I really tried my best! But the Hokage has his own ideas, what can I do?"

"I was sent to Kumogakure to assist spies in assassinating high-ranking Kumogakure officials and instigate conflict between the Kumogakure militant faction and other ninja villages. I don't understand why this mission was assigned to me."

Yamanaka Kei ignored Nara Shikaku's complaints.

He didn't understand. Although he had shown some strength, weren't these kinds of clandestine missions usually carried out by Root ninjas?

"It seems that Lord Danzo's relationship with the Hokage has improved quite a bit recently, and many Root missions have been transferred to him."

"What do you mean? A coincidence?"

Have you seen Lord Danzo recently?

"I saw her once, more than ten days ago, when I went to Konoha Hospital with Tsunade?"

"Lord Danzo previously suggested to the Hokage that you join Root and receive the same treatment as Orochimaru. The Hokage did not refuse outright, but said he would consider it."

"This is a ghost."

Upon hearing this, Yamanaka Kei's face darkened. He simply couldn't understand what Danzo was up to.

He could understand the need to ease tensions with the third generation; it was simply because the entry had come into play.

He could probably guess why the root task was being transferred.

At this stage, Danzo is eager to get rid of the influence of the negative term "mind-blowing".

Whether it's to investigate those evil artifacts from the Warring States period or to protect his own personal safety, a large number of people are needed.

Could he be added to the root?

Will he receive the same treatment as Orochimaru?

You should know that Orochimaru doesn't have the Tongue-Severing Seal!

Even if he doesn't become Hokage, he's still the successor to the next Root leader.

He has stood against Danzo more than once, and now he is the boyfriend of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, a staunch supporter of the Naruto series.

Is this some kind of attempt to sow discord among third-generation leaders?

"Actually, I suspect that this is likely a test between the Hokage and Danzo, and you... have enough strength but lack status and prestige, making you the perfect candidate for their test."

Nara Shikaku finally voiced his guess.

He had witnessed the underhanded power struggles between the Hokage and his advisors far too many times.

Danzo's proposal served two purposes: firstly, to curry favor with the Ino-Shika-Cho trio and demonstrate his support for their clan members to assume high positions.

Secondly, they may also want to gain more support from ninja clans at this juncture.

Thirdly, it is very likely that the Third Hokage was testing whether he would relax his control over Jinchuriki after another Uzumaki clan member was born.

Fourthly, they want to demand more rights, more manpower, and further expand the scale of their roots.

The third generation's reaction this time is somewhat intriguing.

They did not immediately reject Lord Danzo's suggestion to have Yamanaka Kei join Root.

He had recommended Yamanaka Kei several times for missions to the Land of Iron, but the Hokage had always refused and chosen others to carry out the missions instead.

Perhaps the Hokage intended to take advantage of this test to reclaim some of Root's power and prevent Root from growing further?

Or perhaps, the Hokage wanted to judge and see something clearly through Danzo's reaction?

It's impossible that they really want the mountain scenery to penetrate to the roots!

This is the future husband of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

"...They're strong enough, so why keep causing trouble if they can't kill them? What kind of idiots are they! Is there even a decent person among these two?"

Shan Zhongjing, cursing and swearing, severed the connection of the mind-to-body transmission technique.

He began quickly checking his ninja tool reserves and various sealing scrolls.

Regardless of what Danzo and the Third Hokage are up to.

In general, neither of them had any intention of directly targeting him, nor did they intend to make him a sacrifice.

But this feeling is really quite unpleasant.

Why don't you two test each other in a private room?

If we just go straight for bayonet fighting, who would say you two can't win?

Why cause trouble for others?

Yamanaka took a deep breath, suppressing his displeasure.

He secretly resolved that he must raise his strength to the level of Super Shadow this time he went out!

In the face of absolute power, all schemes and tricks are futile.

I recalled the contents of the mission scroll I had just looked at, as well as the time I met with Pharmacist Nonou.

A glint flashed in his eyes.

Five days later, at midnight?

It would take a normal ninja about four days to travel from Konoha to Kumogakure at full speed.

To prevent accidents on the road, an extra day is usually allowed.

He also possesses a rideable flying spirit beast, the eagle Pidgeot.

With Pidgeot's speed and stamina, even if they detour to the Land of Iron first and then head to the Hidden Cloud Village, they will have plenty of time.

Finding Madara Uchiha directly would be ideal.

Even if you can't find it, you can go back to the Mountain Graveyard after the mission ends and wait for it to come to you.

It is a bit troublesome.

But what does a little trouble matter if we can obtain the "Sage Body" from Madara Uchiha?

When I come back from outside...

Hehehe~

He wanted to see what these two were planning to do.