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The Land of Grass.
Konoha Camp.
Inside a tent, Danzo wearing a black kimono was seated, while quietly receiving treatment from a medical ninja.
After administering medication, the medical ninja smiled and spoke, "Danzo-sama, judging from your current recovery progress, you should be able to act independently in another week."
Danzo nodded lightly, his face devoid of visible emotions. He understood his physical condition better than anyone else.
While the injuries from the Gentle Fist had nearly healed, they had still left a significant negative impact on his body, resulting in a noticeable reduction in his physical responsiveness. Furthermore, the loss of an arm had diminished his strength to less than 70% of his prime.
However, when accounting for the summoned beast, Baku, he could barely participate as a senior combatant of Konoha in the upcoming war.
Despite his aspirations for the Hokage position, he knew this wasn't the time to pursue it. The village faced pressing issues, and competing with Hokage Hiruzen for power wasn't the solution. Outsiders could exploit the situation.
Once the medical ninja left, a member of the Root entered. Draped in a black coat and concealing their eyes behind sunglasses, they carried an aura of mystique that hinted at extraordinariness.
His name was Aburame Ryoma, hailing from the esteemed Konoha Aburame clan. He belonged to the same generation as the Sannin and possessed the strength to rival them.
As the deputy leader of the Root, he had temporarily overseen the organization in Danzo's absence, and his command was guided by a militant and radical mindset, which Danzo highly trusted.
"You're here, Ryoma."
"Yes, Danzo-sama. Congratulations on your recovery."
Ryoma's tone was flat, reflecting indifference to the situation.
Danzo was accustomed to Ryoma's indifferent and reserved demeanor, which often implied a deep contemplation of strategic matters. The sunglasses further obscured any hints of his thoughts.
"During my time in coma, what happened in the ninja world and the village? Tell me everything; I need to assess the direction of our next actions."
"Of course."
Danzo had, in fact, awakened a week prior but had prioritized his recovery due to weakened mental and physical faculties.
Ryoma then proceeded to provide an account of significant events during Danzo's recovery period, with in-depth explanations for important matters and brief summaries for less significant ones.
Having served under Danzo for many years, Ryoma excelled at conveying information efficiently, enabling Danzo to understand the current situation rapidly. He had to determine whether Konoha's status was favorable or not.
Upon learning that Koharu and Homura had secretly violated the Hokage's orders, initiating a secret investigation into the Hyuga clan over a personal dispute, the calm expression on Danzo's face transformed into one of displeasure and anger.
"These two fools, despite their many years of service as advisors, they have acted recklessly! Is this the time to hold the Hyuga clan accountable?"
Moreover, the matter had little to do with the Hyuga clan itself. While Danzo was humbled by the situation, he believed it more fitting for Hokage, in this case Hiruzen, to address the situation.
The Hyuga Clan wasn't a fighting faction within the village, and its role differed significantly from the Uchiha Clan.
It needed the personal attention of Hokage to avoid alienating the Hyuga clan and potentially drawing them closer to the Uchiha, which would result in even more significant complications.
"It seems that I must return to the village as soon as possible."
After a moment of contemplation, Danzo decided that appeasing the Hyuga clan was more vital than maintaining pressure on them. He understood Hiruzen's humble and diplomatic disposition and believed that as advisors, Koharu and Homura will definitely not receive any too severe punishment, it would be just a mere warning.
This shortcoming had indeed become the basis for the development of roots in peaceful times, but at this time, if the advisors were allowed to go on messing around, this shortcoming of the Hokage would instead become the chief culprit that destroys the balance of the village.
"Danzo-sama, that is not necessary."
Ryoma spoke at this time.
Although when he got the news, he was also dissatisfied with the behavior of the duo as consultants. Originally, the Hyuga clan was already in dire straits because of the defection incident. Doing so would only add fuel to the fire and alienate the relationship between the village and the Hyuga clan.
"What's wrong? Is there a problem?"
"Hokage-sama has personally issued an apology and severely reprimanded the advisors during a Jonin meeting. Additionally, Anbu will monitor the two advisors 24 hours until the war ends. Furthermore, Hokage-sama is willing to make concessions to the Hyuga clan."
Ryoma relayed this information methodically.
"Is that the case?"
"And... based on the information I've gathered, when the two advisors visited the Hyuga Clan that day, there was no conflict. In fact, they obtained permission from the Hyuga Clan's elders. It seems that only the branch family raised some complaints."
However, the branch family within the Hyuga clan held no significant power, rendering their concerns irrelevant. After all, following the defection incident, the management of the family divisions had become more stringent.
Danzo was somewhat surprised to hear about the Hyuga clan's response. He expected that Hiruzen would attempt to resolve the situation, but he hadn't anticipated such a concession from the Hyuga Clan's leader.
They had previously taken a strong stance and resisted the consultants' search operation, and Hiruzen wouldn't have interfered. In this case, even the Anbu would have considered the Hyuga Clan's position within the village and supported them.
However...
Danzo couldn't predict whether this development would ultimately be beneficial or detrimental for the village. After careful consideration, he found it to be reasonable.
The Hyuga clan's elders were retired ninjas who had been out of combat for decades, focusing on the political side of the village for a minimum of 20 to 30 years. Their response was in line with their customary approach, which leaned toward diplomacy over confrontation.
"For the village's current situation, the Hyuga clan's response is a favorable one."
Ryoma suggested after some hesitation.
"However, this could create problems if certain people decide to manipulate the situation secretly. From a long-term perspective, it could spell disaster for Konoha."
Danzo gritted his teeth and squeezed out these words.
"Are you saying..."
"Hyuga Ayane."
"That sounds alarmist."
"I've personally faced all three of them, and they are anything but ordinary ninja. Especially Uchiha Ruri, who fought Hiruzen that day, held her ground despite being at a slight disadvantage."
Although in that battle, Hiruzen hadn't used his full strength due to the need to protect the Nine Tails Jinchuriki, it couldn't be confirmed if Uchiha Ruri had done the same.
Furthermore, Hyuga Ayane had displayed remarkable strength. Based on the power she had demonstrated, it would take Might Dai, with his Eight Gates, and the entire Root combat force to win against her.
The strength of these two women were undoubtedly at the level of ninjas compared to the Five Kage.
"Do we have any spies within the Hyuga branch?"
"It's just a suspicion, but therein lies the problem. We can't be too forceful with the Hyuga Clan, but we can't ignore it either. If Hyuga Ayane has malicious intent, the Hyuga Clan could become a ticking time bomb within Konoha's walls. They won't easily relinquish the 'caged bird' seal, as it's a convenient asset for them."
Danzo's eyes glistened with resolve. If he were in their shoes, he would use such a transparent conspiracy.
The Hyuga Clan differed from the Uchiha Clan, even if they suspected that there maybe internal spies that might leak Konoha's secrets, they couldn't act recklessly or impose drastic measures upon the Hyuga Clan.
The Byakugan had always been one of Konoha's most crucial strategic assets, surpassing even the convenience offered by the Sharingan. It had played a significant role in Konoha's covert operations and counterattacks.
"How can we prevent this?"
In response to Ryoma's question, Danzo simply shook his head, unable to devise a solution in the short term.
"Currently, we will have to set the Hyuga Clan matter aside. With the Hyuga having restored some stability to the village, it's important to quickly end the war between Sunagakure and Iwagakure."
"The Root is currently understaffed."
Ryoma highlighted the dire situation faced by the Root.
"That's not an issue. I will select six Jonin from the Shimura clan and integrate them into the Root as temporary members. They will temporarily compensate for our lack of combat strength."
"With all due respect, if this continues, the Shimura clan..."
Ryoma had a premonition that the upcoming missions for Root would be exceedingly challenging and demanding.
"That's the destiny of ninja, as well as the destiny of the Root. If it's for Konoha, it's a worthy sacrifice. Next, we must head to the Land of Rain."
Danzo's eyes gleamed with resolve as sharp as a sword, as if he knew that the country was on the cusp of facing the most terrifying storm in its history.
"The Land of Rain?"
"Iwagakure is a formidable opponent, particularly in large-scale joint ninjutsu, which is their forte. Additionally, Iwagakure has more manpower in the Land of Grass than Konoha, and our forces can only barely hold their ground in direct confrontations. I will deploy Dai there to increase our combat strength, with the next battlefield being in the Land of Rain."
Danzo tapped the area of the Land of Rain on the map with his cane, his eyes cold.
"If we want to break the alliance of Sunagakure and Iwagakure, we must start by weakening the weakest link, Sunagakure."
"But..."
Ryoma hesitated.
Although the combat strength of Sunagakure was weaker than that of Iwagakure, Suna had the liberty to attack Konoha with all their might, without constraints. Orochimaru had fought a defensive battle in the Land of Rain, which had been far more brutal than the Land of Grass.
"No need to worry. I already have a countermeasure. I will leave in a week once I've fully recovered. You prepare and transfer the Shimura clan's Jonin here."
"Yes."
Seeing Danzo's unwavering decision, Ryoma could only comply.
"By the way, Danzo-sama, should I follow you to the Land of Rain?"
"No, you should continue to protect the Hyuga clan head. His demeanor may be cold, but he can treat both the main family and branch family equally. He serves as a vital bridge for maintaining stability between the Hyuga Clan and the village. His presence will be crucial for addressing the Hyuga Clan's future issues."
"Understood. I'll protect him with my life."
Ryoma nodded seriously..
...
The sphere of chakra interweaved with the breath of the wind.
That was the Rasengan infused with the wind chakra nature transformation—Wind Release: Rasengan.
Afterward, he directed the chakra ball, imbued with the change in nature of wind attribute chakra, towards the ground and pressed it down.
Accompanied by a resounding roar and the sound of stone fragments slicing through glass, it made one instinctively want to shield their ears from the piercing noise.
A large crater appeared in the ground, resembling a landscape ravaged by a huge beast and its minions. When compared to a standard Rasengan, the power of the Rasengan infused with chakra nature transformation had undoubtedly elevated to a higher level.
Minato observed the huge destructive force of his own ninjutsu, his face glistening with sweat and sporting a tired smile.
"This form is mainly for demonstration purposes." Minato remarked regarding his ninjutsu.
Although its immense power was more than sufficient for dealing significant damage to ninja like Hyuga Ayane, its preparation time hindered its usability in conjunction with the Flying Thunder God Jutsu.
The need to imbue the chakra with the change in wind nature delayed the jutsu. It still had flaws, as the simultaneous execution of this ninjutsu and the Flying Thunder God Jutsu could lead to failure and potential harm to his body.
Therefore, for the time being, it was not viable for practical combat. However, due to its huge destructive capabilities, it could be employed as a trump card for one-hit kills. But various factors needed to be taken into account when using it.
"Amazing, so powerful!"
The three people who practiced alongside Minato were naturally Kakashi, Obito and Rin.
Obito gaped at the enormous crater created by Minato. To be honest, the destructive force of this ninjutsu exceeded his understanding, even when compared to his own Fireball Jutsu.
Obito who was captivated by this particular ninjutsu, held his right wrist with his left hand and splayed the fingers of his right hand widely, shouting enthusiastically,
"Excellent, I want to try it too! Come out, Rasengan!"
A gust of wind passed between his fingers, but nothing happened.
Kakashi looked at him with his signature dead fish eyes, like he was looking at an idiot.
Rin and Minato shared awkward smiles while trying to be polite.
"Are you an idiot, Obito? Your weak weak chakra control ability makes you not suitable for this jutsu. You should focus on mastering your Fire Release jutsu." Kakashi said.
Obito had very limited qualifications when it came to chakra control. It might be due to his nature, nerves, or if there was something wrong with his brain. This rendered him incapable of learning certain high-precision chakra control techniques, and he exhibited no progress.
If he continued like this , even with the awakening of his Sharingan, his genjutsu abilities would likely remain subpar.
After all, genjutsu was a specialty that needed incredibly precise chakra control, making it more challenging to learn than many other jutsus.
"What are you talking about, Kakashi? Once I awaken ky Sharingan, I will definitely surpass you for sure!"
Obito immediately said unconvinced.
"The Uchiha clan is renowned. Even without the Sharingan, you can be an exceptional ninja. Just relying on the Sharingan for your status. Or so if you don't have the Sharingan, you can't be an elite ninja?" Kakashi said in a flat tone.
This statement ignited an inner fire of frustration in Obito, he was about to burst in anger. Just as he was about to retaliate, Kakashi extended his hand, and a perfect chakra ball spun in his palm.
It was Minato's Rasengan.
"It's amazing, Kakashi, you've quickly mastered Minato-sensei's A-rank ninjutsu." Rin praised Kakashi with adoration in her eyes.
"Tch, it's merely an A-rank ninjutsu. I will eventually create an even stronger S-rank secret jutsu! Just wait and see!" Obito said, tasting the bitterness of envy upon witnessing Rin's adoration for Kakashi.
Minato merely smiled, observing the exchange. Although he found it somewhat surprising that Kakashi had quickly understood the Rasengan, it didn't seem entirely implausible considering Kakashi's talents that defied common sense.
"Alright, let's end our training for today. We have a patrol mission tomorrow, so we should rest during the remaining time."
"Yes." came the response from the trio, and Minato left with a flicker.
"What's next?" Obito asked.
"I plan to train alone for a while, so don't disturb me." Kakashi said.
"Going to be play with the ghosts again."
Obito replied with his hands behind his head. He looked at Kakashi's leaving cold back, with his sword slung across it, and let out a soft snort.
Kakashi arrived in a quiet forest where dense leaves blocked out the sunlight, casting a dim atmosphere.
Kakashi touched a tree beside him with one finger, and a current coursed through his finger before dispersing into numerous threads, extending and spreading in every direction.
After confirming that no one was observing him, Kakashi retrieved a dark green crystal resembling chalk from his pouch.
"Can this little thing really transmit information?" Kakashi held the crystal, he doubted whether such a small object could truly store and transmit a significant amount of information. After all, nothing like this had ever appeared in the ninja world.
It was more convenient than using messenger birds of the villages. Additionally, as long as a person had mastered natural energy, they could use it at their discretion, even if the distance spanned thousands of miles.
This device was the latest information collector developed by the research department of the Land Of Demons, using natural energy for information transmission and storage.
However, due to its high production cost, it was not yet possible for widespread use. Therefore, the initial owners of these information collectors held crucial positions.
"Forget it, just send the information quickly."
.....
Far away in Oni City, in the Land of Demons, within military jurisdiction offices, Shiraishi was seated in his own office, savoring a rare peaceful afternoon tea.
The current international climate was still dominated by ninja battles among the four villages. While the Land of Demins did not directly intervene, it gathered battlefield information to avoid being caught off guard.
As Shiraishi sipped his tea, on the left side of his desk, there was an instrument sealed in plastic wrap. It appeared as a square device with a side length of 50 centimeters. Suddenly, the device emitted mechanical sounds.
Then, a blank sheet of paper emerged from a slot.
The paper was unlike ordinary paper. It was created from the wood of Shikkotsu Forest's trees, which had soaked in natural energy for thousands of years, making it highly compatible with natural energy.
Currently, only the Land of Demons' military used this paper for information transfer.
The data on the paper was received from the Land of Grass, and the only person Shiraishi thought of was Kakashi.
Though the device had been developed for less than a week, its ability to transmit information quickly over such long distances was remarkable. It appeared the budget allocated to the scientific research department was being put to good use.
Shiraishi believed that swift information transfer would undoubtedly become an inevitable aspect of future wars. The device reminded Shiraishi of communication tools like telegraphs from his previous life. However, unlike telegraphs, the communication device in this world replaced electricity with natural energy.
Once natural energy could be widely used, it would bring about tremendous changes in this world's way of life. Shiraishi was eagerly anticipating the prospects.
After reviewing the information sent by Kakashi, Shiraishi nodded slightly.
Though Kakashi was unable to partake in the high-level meetings exclusive to Jonin due to his age and limited qualifications, the information he provided was still valuable.
What Shiraishi valued most was the information about Namikaze Minato—his adaptable fighting style and the powerful ninjutsu he was developing.
"Has he successfully incorporated wind nature change into the Rasengan?"
Shiraishi speculated that Minato would develop such derivative ninjutsu based on previous information, but he hadn't expected the progress to be so rapid.
It appeared that Minato's talents extended beyond just space-time ninjutsu, encompassing nerve response speed that defied common human sense and the ability to understand and develop jutsu.
While a jutsu like the Rasengan could be copied using Sharingan, further incorporation of nature change increased it to at least an S-rank, if not surpassing that rank.
The Sharingan couldn't replicate such high-level ninjutsu. Though Minato's jutsu was still in its infancy, Shiraishi believed that he'd perfect it in no time.
"The initial judgment was correct, this guy might become the turning point in the Third Ninja War, and he will also be the most challenging enemy..."
Just the Flying Thunder God Jutsu was challenging enough. If Minato developed such a destructive ninjutsu, stronger defensive measures would need to be considered.
Nonetheless, the same trick might not work twice. Following the Nine Tails Jinchuriki incident, Minato would have more Anbu personnel guarding him, making it more difficult to pinpoint his location.
While Shiraishi mulled over this matter, a subordinate came in to report.
"Shiraishi-sama, Kirigakure's secret envoy visiting the Land of Demons has arrived."
Shiraishi set down the information relayed by Kakashi, wearing a smile.
It seemed that recent events weren't all negative. As long as he pinpointed Kirigakure's weak point, he would eventually draw them onto his side, making it impossible for them to leave.
Shiraishi grasped the visitor's purpose behind Kirigakure's secret mission.
As Shiraishi awaited a reasonable offer for how much value Kirigakure might provide him, the other party sought to determine whether cooperation with Shiraishi could revitalize Kirigakure and propel it even further.
Considering the changes in the Blood Mist, that person likely harbored significant grievances against the daimyo and nobility of the Land of Water.
However, the one-country, one-village system was deeply ingrained in people's minds. Making hasty changes would likely lead to Kirigakure's downfall, so Shiraishi understood the other party's cautious approach.
"It's a good time; lead me to meet them. We mustn't underestimate our valuable allies."
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