Konoha's Mission Master

Hiruzen Sarutobi coughed repeatedly, as if he couldn't catch his breath, and almost died from Yakumo's words.

If his strength is only considered average, then haven't he wasted the last fifty years of his life...?

Yakumo quickly got up, picked up the kettle, and poured a glass of cool water for Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"How do you possess such immense strength?!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice betrayed his surprise.

When he learned about that person, Yakumo, he immediately began investigating Yakumo's growth trajectory, and all the information about Yakumo was laid out on his desk.

Hiruzen Sarutobi discovered that it wasn't a curve at all, but a perfectly straight line. From June of last year to September of this year... he had risen from an ordinary genin to a kage-level rank.

"Effort plus talent."

Yakumo replied that he could pat his chest and guarantee that his current level of strength was entirely due to his own efforts.

"Talent and hard work."

Hiruzen Sarutobi clearly didn't believe Yakumo's nonsense, but he didn't dwell on the matter any longer, since everyone has their own secrets.

“You were present at every occasion where that mysterious person appeared, but I ignored you. I even felt like I was going crazy when I guessed that the mysterious person was you.”

"I rejected the correct answer and kept searching for clues and intelligence on the wrong path because your age is too deceptive."

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed.

"You've been lying to me since the first time we met, haven't you?"

If Yakumo already possessed Jonin-level combat power when they first met, how could she have felt fear because of Orochimaru's aura, or appeared helpless in front of him?

“That’s not important, is it?” Yakumo did not deny it.

What bad thoughts could an eight-year-old child possibly have?

Hiruzen Sarutobi's decision to meet Yakumo alone indicates that he doesn't want to push Yakumo to the opposite side of Konoha; rather, he wants to firmly bind Yakumo to Konoha.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was a qualified Hokage. In his heart, the stability of Konoha always came first. However, in the later stages, due to the decline of his own strength, his foreign policy became somewhat weak and vulnerable.

For the sake of Konoha's stability, he sent his eldest son into the Anbu to fight... In the end, both his son and daughter-in-law perished. He was willing to sacrifice anyone for Konoha...

"But you killed Danzo, and many members of Root..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at Yakumo.

"I did not kill Lord Danzo, nor did I attack Root. I am a Konoha ninja, how could I do anything to harm Konoha's interests!"

Yakumo said with great certainty.

"you…"

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't understand why Yakumo continued to deny it... A few seconds later, he suddenly understood what Yakumo was trying to say, and then spoke up.

“That’s right… Danzo didn’t die at your hands. There’s another culprit who attacked Root. As the Third Hokage, I’m issuing you a mission: find the murderer who killed Danzo and the person who attacked Root!” Hiruzen Sarutobi commanded.

In Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart, Danzo and Yakumo were already dead and incomparable. The latter could directly make Konoha the strongest ninja village in the ninja world in the next ten years or so.

Danzo is indeed his close friend, but he is also the Hokage of Konoha. On the one hand, he will create a formidable enemy for Konoha, but on the other hand, he can bind this person to Konoha firmly. This is not a difficult choice.

Most importantly... aside from targeting Danzo, Yakumo did nothing to harm Konoha's interests. As for why he attacked Danzo, Hiruzen Sarutobi knew perfectly well that his best friend was a good person.

It's roughly like this... They saw Yakumo's strength and tried to coerce him into joining Root, but Yakumo turned the tables and killed them.

Hiruzen Sarutobi gradually pieced together the "truth" in his mind.

"As ordered."

Yakumo replied solemnly, "However, this task will never be completed."

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled with satisfaction. As long as the benefits were sufficient, even an opponent who was fighting desperately just a few seconds ago could easily shake hands and make peace.

"If the Third Shinobi World War breaks out in the future, I hope you can step in at the crucial moment to protect Konoha's army and secure victory on the battlefield," Hiruzen Sarutobi said.

"Of course, after all, I am also a member of Konoha."

Yakumo nodded in agreement.

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled with satisfaction. Tonight he had confirmed one thing: Yakumo's heart was indeed with Konoha. That was enough.

Yakumo got up and refilled Hiruzen Sarutobi's water glass with cool water. The latter immediately smiled, and the atmosphere between the two gradually became harmonious and warm.

"Old fox," Yakumo thought to himself.

"Little fox," Hiruzen Sarutobi thought to himself.

Starting tomorrow, Konoha will have an extra ace.

So he had a second reason for this trip.

"Yakumo, you're planning to help Sakumo Hatake become the Fourth Hokage... right?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly spoke up and asked.

“That’s right.” Yakumo nodded in agreement.

“Orochimaru is more suitable,” Hiruzen Sarutobi said.

"Orochimaru was not suitable to be the Fourth Hokage. In order to study him, he cooperated with Danzo to dig up the First Hokage's grave, steal the corpse, and conduct human experiments."

Yakumo looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi and spoke.

"Is this for real!?" Hiruzen Sarutobi lost his composure.

"You can investigate this yourself..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi instantly thought of a forbidden technique created by his teacher Tobirama Senju: Impure World Reincarnation.

From its very inception, it was abhorred by the First Hokage. The ninjutsu that summons the souls of the dead back to the present world to fight violates human ethics and is filled with unclean attributes.

Digging up graves and exhuming corpses in the ninja world is a despicable act, especially when the person whose grave was dug up was the founder of Konoha Village, the First Hokage... Hashirama Senju.

Hiruzen Sarutobi knew that if this matter came to light, Orochimaru's accumulated reputation would collapse instantly, and it might even affect him.

Looking at Yakumo's resolute face, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but believe him to some extent. He barely suppressed the anger surging in his heart and spoke to Yakumo.

"How dare he do this... I'm leaving now."

Hiruzen Sarutobi rose to take his leave. At this moment, he finally understood why Orochimaru was able to kill Hanzo of the Salamander. It must have been due to the Impure World Reincarnation.

Yakumo got up and walked towards the bedroom.

Time flies like a white horse; it's November of the fortieth year of Konoha.

During this period, a major event occurred: the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Orochimaru had a fierce argument in the Hokage's office. As a result, Orochimaru was stripped of all his positions in Konoha and was punished by being confined to his quarters to recuperate.

Anyone with eyes could see that this was imprisonment, and no one could understand why Hiruzen Sarutobi would punish his beloved disciple so cruelly.

This is in the Hokage's office.

"Old man, what exactly did Orochimaru do?"

Jiraiya slumped onto the sofa and asked.

"You can ask him!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's face was covered in wrinkles, and his once sharp eyes were now filled with weariness. In just a few months, he seemed to have aged several years. Orochimaru, who was once his proud disciple, had now become his heartache.

"Ugh, Orochimaru... he won't even see me..."

Jiraiya murmured.

Hiruzen Sarutobi ignored Jiraiya and lowered his head to continue working, now enveloped in deep exhaustion.

"Um... how about... we lift his confinement?"

A dozen minutes later, Jiraiya tentatively spoke up.

"Impossible!" Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't even raise his head.

Jiraiya's face fell. He was puzzled as to what Orochimaru had done to anger the old man so much that he had dismissed Orochimaru from all his posts and sent the Anbu to monitor him day and night.

"If all else fails, I'll write the self-criticism for him."

When they were children, Jiraiya would often make Hiruzen Sarutobi angry, and Orochimaru would help Jiraiya write a self-criticism to earn Hiruzen Sarutobi's forgiveness.

"Hey, go ask Yakumo."

Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head. The past was so clear... as if it were right before his eyes. It is said that when you get old, you like to reminisce about the past. In his memory, Orochimaru was cold but upright at heart... but he never thought that he would become like this now.

While Hiruzen Sarutobi was furious, he felt even more guilty, naturally assuming that Orochimaru had gone astray because of his negligence.

"Old man, you know?" Jiraiya asked in surprise.

"Yes...that's right."

With a whoosh, Jiraiya instantly left the Hokage's office.

The living room of the Hatake residence.

Sakumo Hatake and Yakumo were eating fruit and discussing their plans for January when they suddenly looked up at the corridor at the same time. A few seconds later, Jiraiya, with his full head of silver hair, appeared.

"Yakumo, the old man said you know why Orochimaru was removed from his post and placed under full surveillance by the Anbu."

As soon as Jiraiya entered the room, he rushed to Yakumo's side. His tall stature created a terrifying sense of oppression, completely enveloping Yakumo in his shadow.

"I do know that..."

Yakumo put down the roasted chestnuts in his hand and spoke slowly, while gesturing for Jiraiya to sit down beside him.

"Orochimaru, in collusion with Danzo, stole the First Hokage's corpse for experimental research and secretly conducted human experiments..."

"Is this true...?" Jiraiya immediately asked.

"Of course, I personally led the investigation, which took a month and a half. We located four laboratories and rescued dozens of human test subjects, the youngest of whom was only five years old."

Sakumo Hatake spoke up, then added.

"The evidence is conclusive."

Jiraiya froze on the spot as if struck by lightning, then clenched his fists and turned around angrily.

"What is Lord Jiraiya planning to do?"

Yakumo grabbed Jiraiya's wrist.

"Of course we should beat him up and wake him up!"

Jiraiya said matter-of-factly, his neck stiff.