Konoha's Mission Master

Yakumo silently ate his orange, while recalling the battle he had just fought. Toshiro's fighting style was simple and brutal...

Half an hour later, Yakumo squatted on the top of the tower, feeling the changes happening in his body. These changes mainly came from lightning chakra, which became more docile and easier to control. Moreover, under this docile state, Yakumo could feel a more violent power.

No hand seals were used.

Yakumo channeled his lightning chakra into his left palm and gradually compressed it... A few minutes later, Chidori was easily replicated, and he continued to compress it... Half an hour later, Raikiri appeared.

Yakumo now moves his lightning chakra with ease and skill, just like an incredibly obedient child.

Yakumo studied the transformation of lightning chakra at the top of the tower until late at night. Since there was no reference point, he could not judge the extent to which his lightning chakra had reached.

Whoosh... Golden arcs of lightning condensed into the shape of willow leaves and danced around Yakumo's wrist. The next moment, they gathered into a long sword that was eighty centimeters long. Unfortunately, they were just high-intensity energy aggregates. Although they had a form, they could not be used as conventional weapons. They were far from being able to solidify energy into a tangible form.

Before leaving, Yakumo compressed the lightning chakra in his hand into a small golden ball and casually tossed it into the air…

The golden sphere, now free from Yakumo's control, gradually revealed its violent and ferocious side. Its surface became increasingly unstable, golden arcs of electricity danced across its surface, and the sphere began to expand and disintegrate.

With a deafening roar, golden light filled the entire night, as if the sun had descended upon the world.

This moment... is like daytime.

"Well... that's a bit fierce."

A few days later, Konan was still blaming herself for Yahiko's serious injury. Her eyes were red and swollen, and her face turned as pale as paper. Sasori's actions had caused her great harm.

"If I hadn't been so willful... Yahiko wouldn't have..."

"If... I hadn't saved him back then..."

"If... I would listen to advice."

Konan was overwhelmed with deep self-reproach, and whenever she was about to sleep, she would think of Sasori piercing Yahiko's chest with his arm.

Jiraiya tried to persuade Konan but failed. Just as Konan was getting thinner, Yahiko, who had regained his senses, saved her once again.

It restored her former radiance, but unfortunately, a deep sadness remained hidden in her eyes.

"Cough cough... Thank you, Yakumo, for saving my life."

"If you keep working like this... you won't live long."

Yahiko was in his office, processing the documents that Akatsuki had accumulated over the past few days. His face was an unnaturally reddish-brown, and he coughed occasionally.

"I want to make this country a better place..."

A flame seemed to burn in Yahiko's eyes, a flame that was both the driving force behind his relentless efforts and the grim reaper that would claim his life.

"If you continue to work so hard... you won't live more than five years."

"Don't tell Xiao Nan about this."

“Okay… I suggest you start training Nagato so that he can take over your ideals and the Akatsuki organization.”

That's what I'm planning to do too.

Yakumo stood up, placed the blue medicine bottle on the table in front of Yahiko, and then turned and walked out.

"Can this medicine prolong life?"

"No, but it can make you live more comfortably in the limited time you have left. People who don't live long should still treat themselves well."

three days later.

Jiraiya received a message from Sakumo Hatake.

"Return immediately!"

A few days ago, the border outpost of the Land of Fire was attacked by ninjas from the Hidden Sand Village. The Hidden Leaf Village lost ten genin, five chunin, and one jonin. The Land of Fire has now officially declared war on the Land of Wind. Sakumo Hatake recalled Jiraiya in preparation for the upcoming war.

After all, the other major powers will definitely take the opportunity to join the battle... tearing off pieces of flesh from the rich Land of Fire to fill their hungry bellies.

The two hurriedly left Amegakure. Through their conversation, Yakumo learned that it was Sasori who attacked the Fire Country outpost, and that the bodies of the Jonin and Chunin had disappeared without a trace. The six people could only be listed as missing persons in the Konoha ninja roster, and could not be confirmed as dead.

PS: Requesting monthly votes.

Chapter 176: The Prelude to the Third War, A New Dungeon

"At first..."

"If I make up my mind to kill the scorpion..."

"Those people won't die..."

On the way back to Konoha, Jiraiya sighed more than once, saying that regret was the most deadly thing in the world. This regret was like the cold wind of the far north, blowing against Jiraiya's body and mind.

"You decide, you take responsibility..."

"That's right, this time I will go to the battlefield."

In the 41st year of Konoha, early December.

The Sand Village and the Leaf Village mobilized troops into the Land of Rivers, with the advance ninja forces of both sides, totaling eight thousand people, confronting each other at opposite ends of the plain.

The standoff is a matter of attitude, and there is still room for de-escalation.

A full-blown war is a fight to the death...

The Third Kazekage did not want to directly clash with Konoha and had even sent people to negotiate with Konoha. Unfortunately, Hatake Sakumo was determined to fight, so this was just a delaying tactic. Konoha needed to wait for the arrival of the deputy commander, Jiraiya, who was more like a high-level combatant.

Yakumo and Jiraiya returned to Konoha.

The streets of Konoha were bustling with people, and many more were ninjas dressed in black running at high speed. Weapon shops displayed their wares outside for customers to choose from.

Many masked ninjas are rapidly purchasing weapons, and weapon prices are now more than double what they used to be. At the same time, the prices of necessities such as food, rice, flour, and meat are also skyrocketing.

This place has been transformed into a cold and solemn military fortress; the former tranquility and peace were merely a false facade on the outside of Konoha Village.

Konoha's mission department no longer accepts missions from the outside world, but instead devotes all its energy and personnel to the war between the two countries. Various assassination missions and sabotage missions behind enemy lines with generous rewards have appeared on the mission department's list of available missions.

In this war, the leaders of Sunagakure are Elder Chiyo and Ebizo, while the only leader from Konoha is Hiruzen Sarutobi who has gone to the border.

That afternoon, Jiraiya rushed to the Land of Rivers. The areas where great powers fight are always the surrounding small countries. They are the buffer zones between great powers, and they are also destined to be called battlefields.

The ninja academy, on the other hand, began to consciously accelerate the teaching process and opened up a channel for early graduation, which means that these young children could step onto the cold and ruthless battlefield at any time.

Yakumo lay on the sofa eating red bean dumplings and stroking her breasts, looking very content.

Of course, he also knew that he wouldn't be able to stay quiet for long.

The Sand Village battlefield requires ninjas capable of neutralizing or clearing poison. Currently, Tsunade is traveling and shows no sign of returning. On the Konoha side, the only ninja capable of countering Chiyo's potent poison is Yakumo…

That afternoon, the secret service came to visit.

"This is your ninja certificate. Congratulations on passing the early graduation exam and officially becoming a Konoha genin."

The members of the ANBU congratulated him verbally, but their eyes betrayed pity or sympathy, as if to say...you're doomed, you're going to the battlefield...you can start preparing for your funeral...

This poor kid must have offended the Fourth Hokage to be immediately assigned to the battlefield... to die.

The battlefield in the Land of Rivers is like a powder keg about to be lit, which will soon turn into a bloody meat grinder.

Yakumo felt that she could put up a fight.

"Impossible, I never applied for early graduation!"

"That's impossible. Your application for early graduation was handled personally by the Fourth Hokage," the Anbu replied calmly.

"This child... is doomed."

Yakumo understood instantly.

"Lord Hokage, is there anything else you require?"

"I hope you will set off for the River Country tomorrow."

"Am I the only one?" Yakumo asked.

"Jonin... Reiko Aoyama is the team leader."

"Understood," Yakumo replied.

Before leaving,

The members of the Dark Division offered their blessings with some reluctance.

"I hope you can survive the battlefield."

"Thank you... for your blessings."

The Dark Division disappeared, but their eyes were full of doubt before they left. When the boy heard the news, his expression was too calm. There was no tension, fear, or excitement as if he was about to go to the battlefield. It was as if he was already calmly preparing to face death.

Does he already know that he's being targeted by the Hokage?

Yakumo lay on the sofa and sighed.

"I knew it... would turn out like this."

"A life of toil, a reckless man."

Not long after, Aoyama Reiko arrived.

Through conversation, it was learned that only advance teams from both sides had arrived at the battlefield. The logistics and medical teams would not depart from Konoha until tomorrow, as it would take time to gather resources and prepare medicines.

The medical team from Konoha was led by Reiko Aoyama, while logistical support was handled by Homura Mitokado. However, Iwao Mitokado would not go to the battlefield; instead, he would coordinate all aspects of the operation from Konoha.

"fear death…"

The Mitomon clan was a small ninja clan that relied on the Sarutobi clan during the Warring States period. It was only because Mitomon Homura became the Minister of Finance that it rapidly grew to its current size.

Unfortunately, no one capable of great use has emerged from the clan... The rise and fall of the clan is closely tied to Mitomon Homura, which makes him dare not take risks.

Koharu Utatane... is the same... for the sake of the ninja clan behind them, the two cannot afford to relax at all.

Before leaving, Reiko Aoyama made a promise with Yakumo.

"Meet me at the village entrance at six o'clock tomorrow morning."

"Okay... Sister Aoyama."

Yakumo closed the door, turned and went into the bathroom, where he began to wash himself carefully. When important events occur, one should take a thorough bath, change into new clothes, and burn incense to show sincerity.

Half an hour later, Yakumo sat quietly on the bed.

The sandalwood incense on the table emitted a delicate fragrance.

Yakumo opened the game interface and found the dungeon interface.