"Well, in the current Konoha Ninja Village, you are the only one who can subdue these two unruly students at the same time," the Third Hokage smiled. Minato Namikaze would have no problem, but Uchiha Yoruki was arrogant and proud. The Hokage thought he would never accept even an ordinary jonin. But Hatake Sakumo was different. Not only did he become a jonin at a young age, but he was also very famous among the major clans in the village with his extraordinary talent and strength. Even the current patriarch of the Uchiha clan was in awe of him.
"But in the previous Ninja Trial, Uchiha Yoruki had just been defeated by Minato. If we let the two of them get together now, I'm afraid..." Sakumo didn't say the rest, but the Third Hokage should know that no matter how talented Uchiha Yoruki was, he didn't pass, and that was also a fact.
"I think you should be clear about the significance of the village's top leaders holding this trial. The so-called qualified places are just a gimmick set up to motivate those little guys." The Third Hokage's expression became a little solemn. "I never thought about it before. Not only did that Minato protect Kushina, but he also led three mediocre students to the end, and Takenouchi Rin even drew a bye."
"Do you mean to cancel her qualified place?" Sakumo asked.
"No, luck is also part of strength," the Third Hokage shook his head and said. "But you and I both know that passing this trial is just the beginning of the assessment of these students. Although I want to select the elites among them in this way, I don't mean to let them die. Takenouchi Rin's strength is too far behind."
Sakumo nodded, with some reluctance in his eyes, and said hesitantly, "Third Hokage, I am not questioning the decision made by the top management, but is it too cruel for Minato and others to do it? Nawaki, Sarutobi Ao, and others are fine, but those children are not ninjas yet."
"But you and I both know that it won't be long before these students will graduate from the ninja school, and what awaits them will be a more cruel reality. Instead of letting them die defenselessly at that time, it is better to prepare a lesson for them in advance. This level will have to be passed sooner or later." The Third Hokage's tone was also full of reluctance, but what else could he do? In the final analysis, it was because he was not capable enough. The peace that the previous generation of Hokage exchanged for his life did not last long before it was broken again.
"Master Shodai, Master Nidai, please forgive me," the Third Hokage sighed in his heart.
Upon hearing this, Sakumo nodded heavily and said, "I understand, Sandaime, please give the task." After that, he looked up at the Third Hokage, who smiled faintly and said, "According to the time, your teammates should be here soon."
"Teammates?" Sakumo murmured.
Dongdong! When his voice fell, there was a knock on the door outside, and then the door of the Hokage's office was opened, and a slender and tall figure walked in. Sakumo glanced sideways, and when he saw the person coming, he was surprised and said, "Suzuka?"
This was a beautiful woman with long straight black hair, eyes as bright as black gemstones, and fair skin. She was a great beauty. But this great beauty was wearing standard ninja clothes and a Konoha forehead protector, but even so, it did not affect her beauty.
"Lord Sandaime," Suzuka first bowed to the Third Hokage, then turned her head and smiled gently at Sakumo. "Senior Sakumo, long time no see," she said with a smile on her face.
"Yeah, long time no see," Sakumo replied. He hadn't seen the woman in front of him for several years. She was Sakumo's junior in the Ninja School. He was naturally a celebrity in the Ninja School back then, the top student in the school, and Suzuka was also a genius, but Sakumo hadn't seen her since he graduated from school early. Although they had grown up, her face still retained the old face in his memories, and Sakumo recognized her because of this.
"I didn't expect that you could still recognize me." Suzuka seemed very happy, just because Sakumo still remembered her. Sakumo smiled faintly and stopped talking. Suzuka also knew that this occasion was not suitable for small talk. Both of them turned to face the Sandaime, and the latter's expression became serious: "According to the tip we received three hours ago, Kuriyama Shinzo appeared in the territory of the Land of Lightning."
When he heard his name, Sakumo's expression changed, and then he said angrily, "This traitor actually dared to show up!"
Although the Sandaime was not as angry as Sakumo, his expression was obviously not very good, and he said, "I heard that the guy is now treated as a guest of honor by the Cloud Ninja Village. As for the reason, you should know."
Suzuka also spoke at this moment, "That guy was once a special jonin in the village, and one of the important personnel responsible for intelligence gathering. Now that the relationship between the major ninja countries is tense, as a traitor ninja, he naturally has to seek protection. Otherwise, if he meets our people, he will have no way to survive!"
"Well, the information he knows is his bargaining chip in the Land of Lightning. But this guy is really bold. He is not afraid of the intelligence department of the Land of Lightning taking action against him," the Sandaime said. The two people in front of him had no doubt that if Kuriyama Shinzo stood here, he would be killed by the Sandaime directly. Although this lord looks kind on the surface, he will never tolerate harm to the village.
"Among the compatriots that guy killed before he defected, there were ninjas from the Yamanaka clan, so I think he must have learned the secret jutsu of the Yamanaka clan, so he is not afraid that the Lightning Country Intelligence Department will capture him and directly retrieve information from his memory," Sakumo's eyes flickered, and his words were also filled with murderous intent.
"In any case, the existence of that guy is a threat to the village, and the Anbu who had been tracking him were also eliminated by the people of the Cloud Ninja Village." The Sandaime looked gloomy and spoke in a heavy voice.
Sakumo and Suzuka were even more shocked. The latter said, "The Cloud Ninja Village dared to openly attack our Konoha ninjas. Are they declaring war?"
The Sandaime continued to add, "Although there has not been a large-scale war in the Rain Ninja Village, we are already at an absolute advantage in the secret confrontation because of the participation of Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru. At this time, the appearance of Kuriyama Shinzo is undoubtedly a good thing for the Cloud Ninja Village."
The two nodded.
The Sandaime looked stern and said, "In any case, we can't let this guy who endangers the village continue to be at large, so I decided to appoint Hatake Sakumo as the team leader, Suzuka, Minato Namikaze, and Uchiha Yoruki will form a four-man team to sneak into the Cloud Ninja Village and kill the rebellious ninja Kuriyama Shinzo!"
Suzuka was fine, just thinking about these two names, but Sakumo's expression changed suddenly when he heard it. "Sandaime, you actually want to let two children carry out this level of mission?"
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