Chapter 66: Dispatching Uchiha Shisui
In the Hokage’s Office, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi was staring at the scroll in his hand.
With a rhythmic knock on the door, Shikaku Nara, who had two scars on his face and wore a jonin vest, pushed the door open and entered.
“Hokage-sama!”
“Oh, it’s Shikaku. You came at the right time. Take a look at this.” Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi put down the scroll in his hand, and wisps of green smoke rose from the pipe.
Shikaku walked to the desk in the Hokage’s Office, picked up the scroll on the desk, and read it carefully. His brows gradually furrowed as his gaze swept over the text.
Hiruzen Sarutobi added some tobacco to the pipe and continued to puff away clouds of smoke.
“Hokage-sama, how is the authenticity of this commission verified?” After finishing reading the document, Shikaku voiced his first question.
The signature on this commission scroll was none other than the Leader of Hoshigakure, Third Star Shadow—Yoruya!
“Moreover, it is said that the Land of Bears has fallen into internal strife, and ninjas from Hoshigakure have attacked nobles including the daimyo of the Land of Bears. If Hoshigakure has been controlled by mysterious ninjas as stated in this commission, then are these Star Ninjas who slaughtered the daimyo subordinates of those mysterious ninjas, or ninjas of Hoshigakure?”
As the strategist by Third Hokage’s side, Shikaku not only had high intelligence but also strong strategic and judgment abilities. He had long served as jonin squad leader and was also a frontline commander during the Third Great Ninja War.
During the Fourth Great Ninja War, as the chief of staff of the Shinobi Alliance, after the Fourth Raikage went to support the front lines, Shikaku stepped up in the crisis and took on the duties of alliance commander, ultimately dying in the ultra-long-range strike of the Ten-Tails’ Tailed Beast Bomb.
In Konohagakure, Shikaku was undoubtedly one of the high-level officials, and he had the qualification to inquire about much of the intelligence collected by the village.
He had naturally heard about the dramatic changes in intelligence coming from the Land of Bears in the western Ninja Continent some time ago.
However, because the Land of Bears was located in the remote western Ninja Continent, separated from the Land of Fire by several countries, information transmission was slow, and the intelligence Konoha received was limited.
Some intelligence was even relayed back by Konoha’s spies embedded in Stone Village and Sand Village.
Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a puff of smoke and slowly said, “Slaughtering the daimyo is a grave crime of rebellion. Stone Village and Sand Village will inevitably be questioned by their daimyo, and they will send ninjas to the Land of Bears and Hoshigakure to gather intelligence, or even suppress the rebellion in Hoshigakure.”
“Originally, I didn’t want to send ninjas to get involved in something so far away, but the daimyo has also inquired about it…”
Hearing that it was their own daimyo who had inquired, Shikaku nodded in understanding.
Konoha was, after all, just a military organization and had to obey the daimyo.
“So, who do you plan to send to lead the investigation?” Shikaku pondered.
According to the request for aid commission, whether Hoshigakure was controlled by powerful ninjas or rebelling on their own, it indicated that the enemy’s strength would not be low. Ordinary chunin would likely find it difficult to complete the mission.
“That child Shisui hasn’t been on a mission for a long time.” Hiruzen Sarutobi’s right hand lightly tapped on the desk.
“You want Uchiha Shisui to lead the team?” Shikaku had a deep impression of this somewhat special Uchiha in his mind.
During the Third Great Ninja War, while he was commanding troops on the front lines against Kirigakure, Uchiha Shisui earned the name “Shisui the Teleporter” during the war and accumulated illustrious war achievements!
However, because he was too young, Shisui was not promoted to jonin until after the war ended.
Recently, it seemed he had heard that Uchiha Shisui was serving in the Konoha Military Police Force, rarely going on missions and mostly handling mediations between the force’s colleagues and the villagers.
“Shisui’s combat power is absolutely no problem. I suggest adding one sensory ninja and one taijutsu specialist ninja.” Shikaku voiced his idea.
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded: “Then have Hyuga Homura and Shirakumo Hayama go along as well.”
Hyuga Homura and Shirakumo Hayama were both ninjas who performed outstandingly in the Third Great Ninja War. Among them, fifteen-year-old Hyuga Homura had already been promoted to special jonin, while Shirakumo Hayama, though still a chunin, was highly skilled in taijutsu and was just one step away from promotion to special jonin.
“Yes, then I’ll go call these three right away.” Shikaku had no objections to this trio’s composition.
Uchiha Shisui had the strongest combat power, Hyuga Homura had the strongest Byakugan reconnaissance ability, and Shirakumo Hayama was steady, calm, meticulous, had participated in multiple campaigns, and was strong in both command ability and battlefield adaptability.
Moreover, most importantly, unlike other Uchihas who were arrogant, if Shirakumo Hayama proposed an opinion, Shisui, as captain, could well analyze the pros and cons before deciding whether to adopt it.
Soon, the three were brought to the Hokage’s Office.
They personally received this S-rank mission from Hiruzen Sarutobi’s hand!
After some preparations, the three set off.
——————
Two days later.
In the forest west of the Land of Birds, three figures sped quickly through the forest.
“This S-rank mission is thanks to you two.” Shirakumo Hayama, carrying a long sword on his back with a knife scar on his right lip, chatted idly with his two teammates.
The reward for S-rank missions was at least one million ryo, usually only taken by jonin, let alone this reconnaissance of a ninja village.
“You’re joking, senior. Your Vacuum Sword is even praised by the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. I believe after completing this mission, you will surely be promoted.” Uchiha Shisui slightly turned his head and gave Shirakumo Hayama a sincere smile.
The three had fought side by side during the Third Great Ninja War, and with their respective specialized abilities, they quickly developed some rapport.
Uchiha Shisui said to the two, “I hear Hoshigakure has some meteorite that’s a treasure coveted by various countries?”
“Haha, that kind of thing.” Hearing Shisui’s question, Hyuga Homura laughed first.
Shisui looked at Hyuga Homura, this senior two years older than them, somewhat puzzled.
“It’s called a treasure, but we’ve never seen Hoshigakure train any particularly powerful ninjas.” Hyuga Homura slowly said to Uchiha Shisui, “Although their village has a ‘Shadow,’ it’s just self-proclaimed. In terms of combat power or overall strength, Hoshigakure is just a small ninja village.”
“Takigakure was at least valued by the First Hokage and gifted a Tailed Beast; even Rain Village produced a strong practitioner like Hanzo of the Salamander. Hoshigakure… sorry, I haven’t heard of it.”
Hyuga Homura’s introduction piqued Shirakumo Hayama’s curiosity about Hoshigakure as well: “If that star has no use, why was it attacked by mysterious ninjas?”
“Well, we’ll know after investigating.” As Hyuga Homura spoke, the three had arrived at the border of the Land of Bears, and Hyuga Homura activated his Byakugan.
Their mission was to investigate the situation in the Land of Bears and the rebellion in Hoshigakure on orders. If mysterious ninjas had truly taken control of Hoshigakure, they could engage them in battle if strength permitted, helping the Star Shadow reclaim control of the ninja village.
As long as they completed this mission before the ninjas dispatched by Stone Village and Sand Village, Hoshigakure would become an ally of Konoha in the western Ninja Continent, helping Konoha tie down some forces from the two major ninja villages.
