Chapter 298: Preventing The Ninja Clans From Growing Too Powerful
The Ino-Shika-Cho Clan has sacrificed a lot for the village, and now they really want to rest and recuperate.
Today Yamanaka Ino and Akimichi Yamashiro came to find the Hokage, and Nara Shikaku agreed.
Every Special Jonin of the Ino-Shika-Cho Clan is a nephew or younger generation member, and losing even one is heartbreaking.
The Third Hokage announced that for 2 years no Ninja Clan Ninja will be conscripted, which is very good.
Danzo Shimura glanced at Nara Shikaku’s relieved expression and directly said:
“Hiruzen, conscripting Ninja Clan Ninja into Anbu and Root is one of the important means to prevent Ninja Clans from growing too powerful.
This is our established strategy, why have you changed your mind again?”
Yoru was stunned and quickly looked at the Third Hokage.
Hiruzen Sarutobi’s facial expression was very colorful, like he had eaten a fly.
Preventing any Ninja Clan from growing too big is indeed an important strategy of the high-ranking officials.
Whether it’s the Senju Clan, Uchiha Clan, Ino-Shika-Cho Clan, Hyuga Clan, or any other Ninja Clan.
But you can’t say it in front of Nara Shikaku.
Some things can be done but not said. Some things can be said but not done.
Do you think Nara Shikaku doesn’t know? He knows everything.
But saying it in front of him is a bit of a slap in the face. Do you want Nara Shikaku to explode or not?
If internal conflicts can’t be resolved, either launch a war outward or a purge inward.
Conscripting Ninja Clan Ninja into Root and Anbu is a relatively gentle knife between war and purge, delaying the outbreak of internal conflicts.
In peacetime, Anbu can systematically reduce the strength of Ninja Clans.
For example, the Aburame Clan—Yoru feels sad for them.
They contributed several family experts, keeping this powerful but small-population Ninja Clan in a state of decline.
Hiruzen Sarutobi said: “Danzo! Don’t assume the Second Hokage Lord’s policies!
Anbu is the sharp blade that executes high-difficulty missions for the village, Anbu Ninja are Konoha’s heroes hidden in the darkness!
Anbu is absolutely not a means to weaken Ninja Clans!
Since the Warring States Period, the Sarutobi Clan has been witnesses to the Ino-Shika-Cho Clan alliance. I have no intention of weakening the Ino-Shika-Cho Clan at all!”
Yoru thought to himself that Hiruzen Sarutobi is still smart, pushing all the blame onto the Second Hokage.
Anbu was established by the Second Hokage, so if there’s any problem, it’s the Second Hokage’s problem. He is just continuing to manage the village according to his teacher the Second Hokage’s legacy.
Nara Shikaku of course understands everything, but he won’t expose it.
If he were Hokage, he would do the same things as Danzo.
Preventing a certain Ninja Clan from growing too big is not only done by the Hokage; shadows in other villages do the same.
Especially the Hidden Mist Village, plagued by powerful Ninja Clans, seizes every opportunity to strike deadly blows against Bloodline Limit clans.
Konoha Village is too complex internally. Danzo has excellently handled the dark matters. Whoever is in the Hokage position has to rely on someone like Danzo.
Danzo said: “2 years without recruiting Ninja Clan Ninja is impossible.
Ninja Clan Ninja have irreplaceable abilities.
For example, the Yamanaka Clan has secret jutsu to read information from corpses, and the Hyuga Clan has ultra-long-range sensing techniques.
At most 1 year without recruiting Ninja Clan Ninja—this is my bottom line.”
The two argued for a while. Danzo had already compromised on the spy system and conscripting Ninja Clans, which was very face-giving to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
In the end, the two reached an agreement: no conscripting Ninja Clan Ninja within one year, prioritizing Civilian Ninja first.
By the end of their argument, Yoru no longer wanted to listen.
The other three in the room seemed to have forgotten that Yoru was from a Civilian Ninja background.
What, Ninja Clan Ninja unwilling to go to Root—does that mean Civilian Ninja are willing?
—
The full moon is like a silver plate.
A new full moon cycle has arrived.
Yoru is anxious for Yuka. The other women have had movements, so why hasn’t Yuka’s belly moved?
If Yuka can have a child, the connection between the Uzumaki Remnants and himself will be even tighter.
Yuka’s child would also bear the Uzumaki name. If Yoru and Yuka carefully nurture them, they could very likely compete for the Uzumaki Clan Head position.
Just right, Qiao Yi and Purple Cat are pregnant, so Yoru concentrated all his firepower on Yuka.
He not only put in sweat and effort but also frequently comforted Yuka, telling her to relax and not be too tense about Uzumaki Clan matters.
After working hard at Yuka’s place for an hour, Yoru returned to Konoha Village.
He arrived at the training ground late at night and began pondering his path for continued strengthening.
In terms of ninjutsu, he already has 8 mastery-level ninjutsu.
The main account Fox can use Earth Release: Earth Spear, Water Style: Water Severing Wave, Karma Seal of Retribution—all at mastery level.
The sub-account Sarutobi Heinosuke even has 5 mastery-level five-element ninjutsu and the S-rank forbidden jutsu Five Elemental Great Exploding Air Bullet.
In chakra crystal refinement, Water Release Chakra can only be condensed, not refined into crystals.
His ninjutsu is comprehensive enough with no shortcomings.
Chakra amount is 4 times Elite Jonin level.
Relying on physique for natural chakra growth seems a bit slow.
There are no particular areas needing strengthening next, so go all out to grind chakra amount.
Use the system to quickly grind chakra amount to Kage level.
Finding Kage Level Ninja only yields Elite Jonin level chakra amount, which is somewhat wasteful.
Finding normal Jonin yields Jonin level chakra amount, which is one-fifth of Elite Jonin level—not enough to quench thirst.
What to do next is select suitable Elite Jonin.
Konoha doesn’t have many Elite Jonin—what if they run out?
Would he have to rely on a very small extent to grind regular Jonin?
That would be a huge project—grinding 5 Jonin to match one Elite Jonin.
The Assassination Manual is very important; it records intelligence on many Jonin and Elite Jonin.
Yoru waited several days but didn’t get Yellow Dog to arrange for him to take over the spy system.
He secretly inquired and finally learned that Yellow Dog had gained an assistant, Gorilla.
The spy system is too important. The two major countries’ spy systems transferred from Root are ultimately controlled by Gorilla.
As far as Yoru knows, Gorilla is a Jonin from the Sarutobi Clan, Yellow Dog’s cousin, Sarutobi Einosuke.
Yoru looked toward Yellow Dog’s office, his gaze turning colder.
It seems Yellow Dog still trusts the Sarutobi Clan more…
I shed blood for Anbu, I made contributions for Anbu, and in the end, Yellow Dog’s cousin picked the peach.
But it’s my peach he picked…
The next morning, Yellow Dog called Yoru and told him to go to the Hokage Building, to the Jonin Squad Leader office of Lord Shikaku.
Yoru’s attitude showed no abnormality at all; Yellow Dog couldn’t tell that Yoru had any issue with Gorilla picking his peach.
Yellow Dog said: “Fox, Lord Shikaku suggests hiding some targets from the Assassination Manual among the bounty targets at the underground exchange.
As Anbu representative, go listen to Lord Shikaku’s arrangements.”
“Understood, Minister.”
Entering Nara Shikaku’s office, Yoru saw Nara Baika.
He had once saved Nara Baika during the Land of Rivers war.
“Fox is here.”
“Lord Shikaku.”
After pleasantries, Nara Shikaku said: “Fox, I plan to forge task commissioners from the underground exchange to issue bounties on enemy village Jonin.
Nara Baika is specifically in charge of this.
You and Baika go investigate the underground exchange’s intelligence and issue the bounty tasks.
Assassinate the targets from Anbu’s Assassination Manual in the form of bounties, to avoid other ninja villages’ bottomless equivalent retaliation.
This investigation of the underground exchange will be led by Baika, with you responsible for guarding.”
“Understood.”
After receiving the mission, Nara Baika and Yoru headed to the Konoha Village entrance.
Yoru stared at Nara Baika’s back from behind, wondering whether to grind chakra amount on her…
The next instant, cold sweat suddenly broke out on Yoru’s forehead.
No! He had already died once at Nara Baika’s hands.
He had even obtained the Shadow Imitation Jutsu from Nara Baika.
This terrible memory…
Dying twice at the same person’s hands would really kill him.
This also serves as a reminder to build a Moon Arc death record to avoid forgetting over time who he died to.
In the future, be extra careful—after reviving from dying once to someone, kill them off as soon as possible to avoid future accidents.
Yoru’s thoughts shifted, and Nara Baika seemed to sense something, turning back to glance at Fox.
Yoru acted like nothing happened.
There’s a recommendation on the 31st, so concentrate extra updates on recommendation day. Owe one extra for 6000 monthly votes, make up at month-end.
