Nonō followed Yamanaka Torihito, listening intently as he explained the structure of the analysis division.
"The intelligence division is split into three main categories: foreign intelligence, counterintelligence, and signals intelligence."
Nonō's eyes sparkled; this was her first introduction to a systematic approach to intelligence training. During her internship, she had only been responsible for organizing non-confidential documents. But now, she was about to enter the heart of Konoha's intelligence operations.
Yamanaka Torihito continued, "Let's start with counterintelligence since that's the most pressing area. Every ninja village tries to infiltrate spies into other villages. Our job in counterintelligence is to identify these spies and, more importantly, decide how to handle them."
Torihito's voice took on a serious tone. "If you simply kill a spy or throw them in prison, that's a waste of a potential asset. The smarter choice is to turn the spy to our advantage. We can feed them false information or use leverage to make them into double agents, turning their allegiance to Konoha."
Nonō's face showed both surprise and understanding. Torihito's words held layers of nuance that hadn't been part of her earlier training. She was grateful for this guidance—these insights weren't about raw power, but about the subtle influence that could shift the balance of intelligence.
Pleased by her attentiveness, Torihito moved on. "Now, about foreign intelligence. This type of intelligence has three levels: strategic, operational, and tactical. Tactical intelligence comes from our ninjas on missions—battle information like enemy jutsu and their techniques. But here, we mostly focus on strategic and operational intelligence."
Nonō nodded, her interest deepening as she listened.
"Strategic intelligence is the broad information we gather about other nations and their ninja villages. It impacts national security and shapes our long-term strategy. Operational intelligence, on the other hand, is about the details that guide specific campaigns or military actions."
Torihito paused, letting the information sink in, then continued, "Finally, signals intelligence. This type is also called technical reconnaissance. It's a joint effort that involves teams from the sealing class, barrier class, and reconnaissance squad. You'll learn more about this area later on."
He looked at Nonō with a steady gaze. "Your first priority is to master the fundamentals: the planning, implementation, and supervision of intelligence policies, intelligence research and analysis, and even foreign protocol. In short, you need to become a fully qualified intelligence operative."
Nonō felt a sudden wave of pressure. She realized that intelligence work wasn't something to be taken lightly; it demanded a sharp mind, calm nerves, and a deep understanding of complex strategies.
But beneath her initial anxiety, her resolve was firm. She straightened up and responded, "Yes, Senior Torihito. I'll do my best."
Torihito nodded, turning so she couldn't see the slight smirk that tugged at his lips. His intent wasn't malicious. He had high hopes for Nonō and had purposefully described her training in a way that highlighted the difficulty. If she could meet those challenges, she wouldn't just be a qualified intelligence worker—she'd be among the best.
"Let's see how far you can go, Nonō," he thought to himself.
Konoha Border Stronghold
As Hirito arrived at the reconnaissance team's border outpost, he immediately spotted a familiar face.
"Hizashi! You're here too?"
Hyuga Hizashi looked up, surprised. "Hirito? I heard they were sending someone new today, but I didn't expect it to be you! You graduated just recently, didn't you?"
Hizashi noticed Hirito's exposed forehead and the Chūnin vest he wore.
A cheerful voice interrupted them, calling from a short distance away. "Hizashi, who's this new guy?"
Turning, Hirito saw a kunoichi about Hizashi's age. She had striking black hair and two streaks of red paint on her face. She wasn't alone—a huge, muscular black dog stood beside her, as intimidating as a bear.
"An Inuzuka clan member?" Hirito thought to himself, immediately recognizing her as part of the famed tracking clan.
Hizashi introduced the two of them. "This is Hirito, my cousin and our new teammate. Hirito, this is Inuzuka Claw and her partner, Kuromaru."
Inuzuka Claw gave Hirito a big grin. "A new Chūnin, huh? That's impressive!" She looked him over with a raised brow. "How old are you?"
Hirito hesitated. Thanks to his years of rigorous training, he looked a bit older than his actual age, his height only slightly shorter than Hizashi's.
"Uh… I'll be ten in about four months," Hirito answered after a moment's calculation.
"What? You're only nine?" Inuzuka Claw looked over at Hizashi in amazement. "A nine-year-old Chūnin! Looks like the Hyuga clan has produced another genius!"
Inuzuka Claw's clan was famous for raising fighting partners from an early age, but even for her, seeing such young talent in a Chūnin was a bit shocking.
Hizashi smiled, clearly proud, but kept his composure. "Let's go, Hirito. I'll introduce you to our team captain."
On the way, Hizashi explained that their outpost only had a total of four members. In addition to Hizashi and Inuzuka Claw, they had a Yamanaka and their team captain, Aburame Ryoma.
"Only four?" Hirito was surprised. He'd expected a larger unit, especially for border reconnaissance.
Hizashi nodded. "Reconnaissance squads are deployed at intervals along the border, each team about 300 meters apart. For us, a few skilled operatives are as effective as a larger group."
Hirito thought it over and quickly understood. In reconnaissance, having more ninjas with similar abilities could actually lead to wasted resources. Their team was composed of specialists in sensory perception, so each member had a distinct role.
Hyuga Hizashi, with his Byakugan, had a super-long range of vision and unparalleled clarity—ideal for visual reconnaissance. Inuzuka Claw, partnered with Kuromaru, specialized in olfactory perception, capable of tracking targets over vast distances.
As for the Yamanaka and Aburame members, Hirito hadn't met them yet, but their clan names were enough to give him an idea. The Yamanaka were adept at mental and chakra-sensing techniques, while the Aburame clan excelled in utilizing insects, which could detect enemies from a distance and provide advance warnings.
Each member of this team brought a unique strength to the field, forming an elite reconnaissance unit. Hirito couldn't help but be impressed. Only a major ninja village like Konoha could deploy such specialized squads along their borders.
As he thought it over, a realization struck him. "Wait, if Hizashi is here, does that mean our roles overlap?"
Hizashi smiled knowingly, seeming to read his cousin's mind. "Yes, our abilities are similar. But remember, in a team like this, there's no such thing as redundant skills. We support each other, covering each other's blind spots. Sometimes, a mission requires one set of eyes to track and another to provide backup."
(End of the Chapter).
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