Konoha's Mission Master

"Eat noodles, eat noodles!" Jiraiya laughed heartily.

That afternoon.

Yakumo returned home and began packing the items he needed for the mission: two storage scrolls, various sizes of night clothes, a replenished supply of corpse-dissolving water, specially made soldier rations, antidotes, as well as ropes and kunai.

Not long after, Masako Mori pushed open the door.

"Are we going on another mission?"

"That's right, we'll be back in two or three days after going to the City of Fire."

"Is there any danger?"

A look of worry appeared on Masako Mori's face.

"of course."

Yakumo responded and began using the Palm Healing Technique to soothe Mori Masako's body as usual.

The next day, early in the morning.

Jiraiya, Yakumo, and Kakashi leave Konoha.

Although Kakashi appeared quite silent on the way, it was his first time leaving Konoha, and he was full of curiosity about the surrounding scenery, often cautiously looking around.

"Actually, the outside world... is not as beautiful as Konoha Village."

Jiraiya suddenly spoke up.

Yakumo knew that Jiraiya intended to bring Kakashi to the brink of death on this mission. This was a necessary process, an inescapable fate for anyone becoming a ninja, and Kakashi had to get used to killing.

Six hours later, Jiraiya pinpointed the location of the mountain stronghold.

There were about a dozen bandits, but no ninjas.

Kakashi went up the mountain alone, while Yakumo and Jiraiya secretly followed him to ensure his safety.

A few minutes later, shouts of killing mingled with screams of agony, blood pooled on the ground, and the silver-haired youth swiftly slaughtered his enemies, his eyes resolute without any hesitation or pity.

“Exceptionally gifted…” Jiraiya murmured.

Half an hour later, Kakashi washed away the smell of blood from his body.

The three continued their journey towards the City of Fire; the previous incident was merely a minor episode.

One day later.

The City of Fire, in front of Daimyofu.

Shinichi, dressed in a dark green haori, greeted everyone at the door. His collar and cuffs were embroidered with gold thread, and his face, though full of warm smiles, also revealed the majesty of the daimyo of the Land of Fire.

"Brother Yakumo!"

"Brother Shinichi!"

The two embraced warmly in front of the gate. Knowing the inside story, Jiraiya felt a chill as he watched the brothers being so harmonious and showing their true feelings.

Shinichi flashed a warm and sunny smile, took Yakumo's right hand, and kept asking about his experiences during this time.

"Brother Zhenyi, where did Chenyu go?"

Annoyed, Yakumo finally asked.

After all, in a sense, Chenyu died because of Yakumo's scheme against Shinichi.

This was his revenge against Shinichi, since Shinichi hadn't mentioned that the Sand Village would be involved in that premeditated ambush.

"Sigh..." Shinichi sighed deeply, then shook his head sadly, tears welling up in his eyes, as if he were truly heartbroken for Chenyu.

"You, you finally get to see me and you bring up my sore spot. Just recently, Chenyu was killed by an assassin while protecting me."

"I didn't know you two had such a good relationship," Yakumo said.

“Without him, I would never have lived past twelve, so on the day I became a daimyo, I promised to let him enjoy all the luxuries of life,” Shinichi said.

"He died a worthy death; he can be considered a hero."

Jiraiya suddenly spoke up.

"This must be... Lord Jiraiya, right?"

Shinichi quickly turned his head, looked at Jiraiya's tall and upright figure, and asked, his tone full of flattery.

"I am Jiraiya, the Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku!"

Jiraiya answered with a somewhat irreverent laugh.

Jiraiya always harbored some wariness towards Shinichi, especially since he could clearly sense a chilling coldness beneath Shinichi's warm smile.

This chill is very much like his good brother Orochimaru.

"Haha, actually, Shinichi-nii-san, we're here for the Konoha Village military funds allocated by the Daimyo's government this year..."

"I wonder... what do you think is a suitable amount, little brother Yakumo?"

Shinichi looked at Yakumo with a sincere expression.

"How about... 8.5 billion?"

Yakumo tentatively asked, "Sakumo Hatake's bottom line is 7.5 billion, but the mission requires 8 billion. So, I'll ask for 8.5 billion first, leaving room for negotiation... Is that alright?"

"Although I would love to agree immediately, I still need to discuss it with the Minister of Finance. Why don't you stay in Daimyo Prefecture tonight? I will surely bring you good news tomorrow," Shinichi replied with an undiminished smile.

What are the chances of good news?

"Over 95%!"

“Alright, then I’ll stay for one night!” Jiraiya replied.

"Then...please come with me."

Shinichi walked ahead, but Yakumo's eyes occasionally flashed with contemplation; he always felt that this matter was not so simple.

In the end, Jiraiya, Yakumo, and Kakashi squeezed into a guest room. There were still several hours until the banquet. Jiraiya and Yakumo sat on the edge of the bed, while Kakashi went to the bathroom to take a shower.

"Was it Uncle Sakumo's decision to have me negotiate?"

Yakumo suddenly snapped out of his reverie, his eyes regaining their sparkle, and asked Jiraiya a question.

"Some time ago, Sakumo and the Daimyo negotiated several times through letters, but they could not reach a consensus. In the end, it seems that the Daimyo suggested that I bring you to the Fire Capital for negotiations."

"There's something fishy going on here; he agreed too readily."

"He agreed very readily. Could it be because you brothers have a very deep bond...?"

“Do you remember Chenyu? He was Shinichi’s confidant… I killed him… Most importantly, he knew it,” Yakumo said.

Jiraiya was taken aback upon hearing this, and the sincere and enthusiastic smile on Shinichi's face when he faced Yakumo flashed through his mind, causing him to sigh in admiration.

"This child... is extraordinary."

Has anything major happened in Konoha these past few days?

Yakumo continued to ask.

"There shouldn't be anything major. The only thing that could be considered a big deal is that the Sunagakure delegation will be visiting Konoha around today to congratulate Hatake Sakumo on becoming the Fourth Hokage."

As Jiraiya spoke.

Yakumo finally found the source of the anomaly. Shinichi agreed too readily, as if the entire goal of the incident was to confirm that Jiraiya and Yakumo had left Konoha.

This is a tactic to lure the tiger away from the mountain.

The reason for this is most likely the Sunagakure delegation!

During World War II, Sakumo Hatake commanded the battlefield in Sunagakure, slaughtering countless high-ranking Sunagakure members, including Sasori's parents. In other words, Sunagakure and Sakumo Hatake had a blood feud. Why would they kindly congratulate him on becoming the Fourth Hokage? Since it wasn't out of kindness...

That was an assassination attempt...!

Thanks to Yakumo's intervention, Sakumo Hatake survived.

This led to Sasori's target shifting from the Third Kazekage to the Fourth Hokage, Sakumo Hatake.

Whether the assassination succeeds or not, as long as he attacks Sakumo Hatake in Konoha, it will be the prelude to the Third Shinobi World War.

"I'll leave a shadow clone here, while my main body will rush back to Konoha tonight, hoping that everything is still in time."

PS: Requesting monthly votes.

Chapter 156 Sasori of the Red Sand, The Chase!

Early morning, in the Hokage's office.

Sakumo Hatake was processing documents rapidly, occasionally putting down his pen to think of countermeasures, while three shadow clones around him were writing furiously.

shuh…

Yakumo jumped in through the window. The night's run had left him pale, but when he saw that Hatake Sakumo was unharmed, his heart finally settled down.

"Shouldn't you be in the City of Fire right now?"

Sakumo Hatake expressed his doubts.

"That's not important. What about the Sunagakure delegation?"

"The Sand Village delegation left Konoha yesterday afternoon. They were just here to congratulate me on becoming Hokage and to confirm whether the Treaty of Peaceful Coexistence would continue to be implemented."

“Something’s not right.” Yakumo slumped on the sofa.

At the same time, his hands began to form hand seals, and invisible waves spread out.

I didn't sense any unfamiliar chakra fluctuations in the village. Could it be that there was no assassination attempt at all, and I was just imagining things?

Could this just be a misunderstanding...?

Yakumo sorted through his analysis in his mind and began to explain to Hatake Sakumo the reason why he had rushed back to Konoha from the City of Fire under the cover of night.

Sakumo Hatake gradually began to smile.

"You don't really think someone can assassinate me silently under the 24-hour protection of the secret service, do you?"

Sakumo Hatake's tone was filled with strong confidence.

"Is there a pink-haired boy in the delegation?"

"I don't recall there being one, but there was a person in the Sand Village delegation whose entire body was wrapped in bandages. I suspect he was likely a puppeteer." A flash of recollection crossed Hatake Sakumo's eyes.