Konoha's Mission Master

First, the hand seals...

"巳——亥——戌".

He mobilizes earth-element chakra and pours it into the ground through his right palm, forming an earth flow wall. The height and range depend on the amount of chakra injected, while the hardness depends on the changes in the properties of the earth-element chakra.

Half an hour later, the earth flowed through the wall, and the entrance was reached.

The improvement in his intelligence also affected his learning of ninjutsu and his memory, which is why he is able to complete three book reviews every week.

Read ten lines at a glance, and a page every three seconds.

Yakumo himself came to the table and began his daily and weekly tasks, writing tirelessly, producing 20,000 words in one night.

The next day, Yakumo got up as usual…

After breakfast, Yakumo headed to the Senju clan's training grounds for practice, only to be informed by Mitarashi Anko that Jiraiya-sama had left the village on a mission. After a moment's thought, Yakumo left the training grounds, knowing that encountering Orochimaru again might expose his true strength.

On his way home, he happened to meet Aoyama Reiko, who was looking for Yakumo, and received the Earth Release: Hardening Technique as a reward from Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Yakumo, do you still remember... those Root ninja who questioned me yesterday?" Aoyama Reiko suddenly spoke up.

"I remember... what's wrong?"

"They were sent by Lord White Fang on a covert mission to an enemy country, and they won't be back for at least three years..."

Reiko Aoyama leaned closer and whispered to Yakumo, her joy barely concealed.

"Do you think... Lord White Fang might want to pursue me?"

"I guess not," Yakumo answered truthfully.

He studied swordsmanship at the Hatake residence for a month and thus gained a good understanding of Hatake Sakumo's character, as well as his feelings for his wife.

"You brat...don't you have any faith in your older sister?"

Reiko Aoyama pouted in dissatisfaction.

“I only know… what kind of person Uncle Sakumo is.”

“Okay, okay,” Aoyama Reiko added.

"I wouldn't dare to like someone like him."

While the two were chatting, Konoha released general information about Aoyama Reiko's mission to the Cloud Ninja.

He publicly condemned the Hidden Cloud Village for its treacherous behavior and openly admitted that White Fang killed the Hidden Cloud Village's Yotsuki Tenshin at the border of the Land of Fire!

The ninja world was in an uproar.

This was the first time a Kage-level shinobi had fallen since the Second Shinobi World War. The news released by Konoha immediately put Kumogakure in the spotlight, and after several years, all the major shinobi villages once again recalled the fear of being dominated by Sakumo.

Upon hearing this news, the villagers of Konoha idolized Hatake Sakumo even more. As Hiruzen Sarutobi listened to the residents outside his window chanting Hatake Sakumo's name, his expression darkened slightly.

Today they haile Sakumo Hatake as a hero, but tomorrow will Sakumo Hatake personally take the Hokage's authority from their own hands?

Hiruzen Sarutobi never liked to sit idly by and wait for his death. In the past... White Fang was very useful... loyal and powerful...

He is still powerful, but Hiruzen Sarutobi can no longer sense his loyalty. If he were truly loyal, he wouldn't have made the decision to travel thousands of miles to rescue Reiko Aoyama...

In his opinion…

This knife is already showing signs of turning on its master…

Hiruzen Sarutobi lightly tapped the table with his right hand, his expression growing increasingly complicated... It seemed that ever since the Kirigakure spy incident... he had begun to gradually lose control of everything.

Two hours later, Hiruzen Sarutobi pushed open the door and window, releasing the thick smoke that had accumulated inside the room, and clapped his hands lightly.

"Summon Danzo..."

He smoked his pipe for a long time before finally making up his mind.

"The roots... can be really useful sometimes."

That afternoon, Hiruzen Sarutobi resumed his position as Danzo, an elder of Konoha Village, while also serving as the vice-commander of the Anbu.

As a member of the Konoha Elder Council, Danzo was half a rank higher than Hatake Sakumo, meaning that although he was the vice-captain of the Anbu, he was not subject to Hatake Sakumo's orders.

Danzo, standing in front of the Hokage Building, smiled as he listened to the residents' adoration for Sakumo Hatake.

This was precisely the result of his behind-the-scenes manipulation. Only by making Hiruzen Sarutobi wary and dissatisfied could he possibly bring down Sakumo Hatake.

A few seconds later, Danzo's smile vanished, and his expression turned somewhat cold. Today, Danzo was going to wreak havoc on the Anbu!

Inside the underground hall of the Anbu, Hatake Sakumo was instructing the Anbu members on their training. Although he was only skilled in swordsmanship, he still possessed the experience and skill of a Kage.

With a bang, Danzo pushed open the door.

"White Fang, why did you send my men to the Land of Water!" Danzo's single eye swept across the entire hall, unleashing his imposing aura without restraint.

"Lord Danzo, this is the training ground of the Anbu. Even if you are an elder of Konoha, you are not qualified to trespass here at will."

Sakumo Hatake looked Danzo straight in the eye and answered calmly and confidently.

"Just now, the Hokage appointed me as the vice-captain of the Anbu!" Danzo answered, straightening his back, and then looked at Sakumo Hatake with a hint of provocation.

Hatake Sakumo was taken aback. He knew Danzo must have come prepared, but he didn't expect... Danzo's confidence came from the Third Hokage.

"So you're the vice minister. What right do you have to question me? Don't forget, in the Dark Division... I'm the minister."

"Don't forget... I am still an elder of Konoha!"

Danzo straightened his back and answered with great pride.

Why did you send my men to Kirigakure?

"Heh—" Hatake Sakumo sneered.

"Is it simply the duty of the secret service to infiltrate enemy countries and gather intelligence, or are your people more valuable than everyone else here, and therefore unable to carry out such dangerous missions?"

That's not what I meant!

Danzo's tone was slightly lacking in confidence. In his memory, Hatake Sakumo was a taciturn person. How could he have become so sharp-tongued now, making him feel somewhat overwhelmed?

"Then what does Your Excellency mean?"

At this moment, Danzo suddenly realized that his attempt to establish his authority might be in vain.

Danzo snorted coldly.

Danzo gained nothing and had no choice but to retreat. Hatake Sakumo also lost the will to guide the training and locked himself in the minister's office.

He knew perfectly well…

The Third Hokage's actions were intended to create a balance of power. It was precisely because he understood this principle that his feelings were so complex. Hiruzen Sarutobi had shown him great kindness and was the lord he had sworn allegiance to.

Half an hour later, Sakumo Hatake used his transformation technique to walk on the streets of Konoha. Listening to the residents' discussions and praise of him, a smile unconsciously appeared on his face.

As they approached the Hatake residence, he was in a bad mood today, so skipping work...that's normal, right?

After meeting Yakumo, Sakumo Hatake's behavior changed slightly, and he was no longer as conventional as before.

Meanwhile, the Hokage's office... was informing the entire village.

Danzo Shimura... was killed by the Third Hokage...

Officially appointed as... the Vice Minister of the Dark Division!

Chapter 87 Sparring

Hatake's residence and training ground.

Yakumo held two wooden swords and was slowly practicing the Hatake sword technique. After the fifth treatment, Yakumo's arms were almost healed.

By reviewing the old, he gains new insights with each practice session, and all of these insights accumulate to solidify his foundation in swordsmanship.

A middle-aged man dressed in coarse linen clothes pushed open the door and entered the Hatake residence. The elderly butler did not stop him, but instead respectfully made way for him.

Finally, the middle-aged man walked straight into the training field. He had an ordinary face and appeared very simple and honest.

"Uncle Sakumo?" Yakumo asked.

Within Konoha Village, only a handful of people could swagger into the Hatake residence, and Yakumo easily guessed his identity based on what had happened today.

"Bang." Sakumo Hatake deactivated his transformation technique.

"Shall we have a friendly spar?" Sakumo Hatake asked.

"I am still injured."

"It only involves a contest of skills."

"Then let's go."

Both maintained their physical abilities and chakra levels at a normal level, deciding the outcome solely through skill.

Sakumo Hatake picked up a wooden sword from the side. At their level, even an ordinary wooden stick in their hands could be used to fully demonstrate their skills.

"Come on." Hatake Sakumo chuckled, choosing to let Yakumo make the first move as the elder.

Concentrate and calm your mind, and adjust your breathing.

Yakumo leaned forward slightly, his feet gripping the ground tightly, a small amount of chakra flowing through his body.

The wind in nature began to circulate around Yakumo's twin swords, and wisps of breeze slowly merged into the blades.

Swish!

With a burst of speed, he arrived in front of Hatake Sakumo in an instant and slashed down with his right hand, his long sword flowing smoothly and naturally!

"Ding--"

When wooden swords clashed, a soft metallic clang was produced, as if the wind on the two blades was canceling and annihilating each other.

Sakumo Hatake's sword was even faster; almost instantly, his second strike arrived, emanating an extreme sense of oppression.

"Rebellion!" "Rebellion!"

Yakumo remained calm as he continuously parried and blocked Hatake Sakumo's attacks, the two trying their best to maintain the same level of physical fitness and fight with skill.

"Rebellion - Shaking Blade!"

In that instant, Hatake Sakumo's sword was knocked away by a powerful force, and at that moment, Yakumo was making the sign of the cross with his twin swords.

Sakumo Hatake took three steps back to dodge Yakumo's fierce slash; this was the first time he had retreated since the start of their sparring session.

"A flash!"