[Main Quest: Promotion to Sequence 5 - Dream Walker (completed)]
Find Harpy in the spirit world, sign a contract with it, then take one of its tail feathers and consume the potion while in a state of intense joy or anger; or use other methods to stay awake in a dream.
[Reward: Creeping Hunger]
[Main Mission: Promotion Sequence 4 - Manipulator]
In a grand event involving at least 10,000 people, consume the potion amidst the intense emotional resonance.
[Reward: Groselle's Travels]
After achieving his initial promotion, Uchiha Sogetsu closed his eyes and savored the moment.
The potion during the hypnosis phase was well digested, with no spiritual overflow. Initially, there was slight instability after the promotion, but it's a minor issue that will naturally settle over time.
"Building upon the original foundation, enhancing low-level abilities," Uchiha Sogetsu absorbed the potion's knowledge and swiftly mastered the new 'Dream Walker' ability: "Guiding and manipulating dreams, altering them at a deeper level, thus affecting the target's Body of Heart and Mind—a subtler, more covert influence compared to hypnosis."
Compared to his previous enhancements, Uchiha Sogetsu cared more about the core abilities of the Dream Walker.
"Transform the body incorporeal, akin to a ghost in a dream. Not only can it directly conceal itself in others' dreams, but it can also leap and shift from one dream to another."
"Excellent. With the Dream Walker and Hermes' brass candlestick, I can induce forced hypnosis, then instantly leap away,'' Uchiha Sogetsu expressed satisfaction with the addition of this potent life saving skill. Overall, it greatly assisted in his future plans.
"Perhaps we can advance the planned schedule a bit."
Seated at the table, he extinguished the candlestick and resealed the scroll, muttering, "The demi-god ritual draws closer."
In the Land of Fire, Konoha,
After a prolonged absence, Yakushi Nonō was eager to return home, rushing back to the village with barely any rest.
Spy ninjas deployed on extended missions outside the village typically underwent meticulous scrutiny upon their sudden return.
Yakushi Nono found herself confined to a room under the watch of several ANBU, while the intelligence she brought back swiftly reached the Hokage.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had been in high spirits lately, enjoying a smoke while "monitoring" activities through a crystal ball, including the women's bathhouse.
As the Hokage, he bore the responsibility for the village's safety, which justified his vigilance over everyone, right?
Just as he was engrossed in his observation, a knock interrupted him.
Skillfully concealing the crystal ball, Sarutobi Hiruzen clenched his fist, coughed twice into it, then composedly said, "Enter."
Anbu, who had been waiting anxiously, pushed the door open and entered. He appeared calm as he handed over the scroll in his hand, saying, "Hokage-sama, this is the information sent by the undercover spy Wandering Miko, commissioned by Owl."
"Oh?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen raised an eyebrow, then smiled knowingly, "Haha, that boy must have run into some trouble."
"Youth tends to be headstrong. They need some polishing," he remarked, taking the scroll and unfolding it slowly. His expression wrinkled, but he smiled, "Challenges are good. They refine us like jade!"
But as Sarutobi Hiruzen read further down the scroll, his laughter faded. His face froze, a sudden stiffness replacing his earlier smile.
Darkness seemed to cloud his vision, and his heart raced.
Noticing the change in the Hokage's demeanor, Anbu was puzzled, "Could something serious have happened? It couldn't be Uchiha Sogetsu; he died in the Land of Water, right?"
"I... I..." Sarutobi Hiruzen stuttered, unable to finish his sentence. His face flushed, veins bulging with suppressed emotion.
"Hokage-sama, please calm down!" Anbu's heart pounded in fear, worried the Hokage might collapse from anger.
"Ahhh!" Finally, unable to contain himself, Sarutobi Hiruzen roared, slamming the scroll onto the table.
Startled by the outburst, Anbu ninja looked at the Hokage in confusion, shrinking back, "Hokage, has something major happened with Uchiha Sogetsu in the Land of Water?"
"Him? Something happened to him?!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen shot him a deadly glare. His entire body trembled with anger, his beard bristling, veins bulging on his forehead as he bellowed, "What in the world was he thinking! He's perfectly fine! Absolutely fine!"
Anbu ninja, who had been inexplicably splattered with spit, could only wipe it off his face, feeling utterly bewildered.
If nothing had happened to Uchiha Sogetsu, why was the Hokage so furious?
"Just see for yourself!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen spat vehemently and tossed over the scroll.
Anbu ninja caught the scroll hastily and scanned it. Instantly, his blood pressure soared. It felt like a hammer had struck the back of his head. Stars danced before his eyes. Swallowing hard, he stammered, "He... He actually... assassinated the Mizukage?!"
Honestly, how naive could he be!
Before seeing this information, Anbu ninja had been wondering what could have enraged the Hokage so much.
But now, all he could think was: Well done—no, it's insane!
Especially towards the end of the report, Uchiha Sogetsu explicitly stated that, following the Hokage's orders to prevent an alliance between the Hidden Mist and Hidden Rock villages, he was "compelled" to take drastic measures and eradicate the problem at its source.
Anbu ninja set down the scroll, his eyelids twitching uncontrollably.
Well... one couldn't exactly fault him for what he did. After all, he did eliminate the Hidden Mist problem "at its source."
"Did I ask him to escalate things? Did I ask him to assassinate the Mizukage?!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen pounded the table furiously, roaring, "Tell me, what in the world was he thinking? Does he interpret my orders that way?! Huh?!"
Anbu ninja fell silent for a long moment, his masked face twitching. Finally, he said, "Hokage-sama, truthfully, while he may have crossed a line, Uchiha Sogetsu strictly followed your orders and carried out the mission. As for the Mizukage, it was an unintended consequence."
"Follow my orders strictly? Just like that?!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen clutched his heart and sank heavily into his chair. He looked like a deflated balloon, staring blankly at the ceiling with lifeless eyes.
Bitterly, he murmured, "I only intended to stir things up and teach the Hidden Mist Village a lesson. I never intended for him to assassinate the Mizukage!"
His intentions had been noble, but the execution had gone awry. Could he be blamed for this?
Even if he were to stand up now and declare loudly that he, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had never sanctioned the assasination of the Mizukage, who would believe him?
Wait... Why did this situation feel so familiar?
Confusion clouded Sarutobi Hiruzen's face, then suddenly it dawned on him—that moment with Danzo all those years ago!
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