Chapter 216: Konoha’s Future
Seeing Orochimaru stand up, the Third Hokage cast an inquiring glance toward Danzo.
Orochimaru is now a Root Ninja. Orochimaru has stated his position—didn’t he discuss it with you, Danzo, in advance?
Danzo slightly closed his eyes, thinking that Hiruzen Sarutobi’s disciple was about to challenge his superior again; none of them were obedient.
Nawaki’s death had caused Orochimaru to feel guilty toward Tsunade.
Seeing Tsunade’s resolute attitude, Orochimaru decided to help her out.
Orochimaru said: “I’ve been quite busy lately and forgot to submit the Jonin recommendation.
It seems this Jonin recommendation is highly controversial. Why not wait for me, and then review it again together with the Jonin recommendation I submit.”
Tsunade turned her head to look at Orochimaru beside her, wondering why Orochimaru wanted to delay this Jonin recommendation.
Orochimaru also had a group of subordinates beside him.
The strongest bonds form most easily during war.
Many people had received promotions and ninjutsu from Orochimaru.
Orochimaru also needed a group of obedient subordinates to help him with tasks.
Nara Shikaku glanced at the Third Hokage and saw that the Hokage showed no reaction, so he said:
“In that case, we wait for Orochimaru to submit his Jonin recommendation, and once Konoha Hospital issues the investigation report, we review the Jonin promotion candidates again.”
The Jonin Meeting ended hastily due to Orochimaru’s intervention.
On the street outside the Hokage Building, Orochimaru and Tsunade walked side by side, with the surrounding Jonin tactfully avoiding the two.
“Orochimaru, why did you get involved? Why disrupt my plan? Why help the Third Hokage?”
“Heh.” Orochimaru said:
“You think I’m helping Third Hokage Teacher? I’m helping you, Tsunade.
Hatake Sakumo is weak, and the Uchiha Clan carries original sin. Why would you think of allying with them?”
“Hatake Sakumo is weak? He’s the Konoha’s White Fang acknowledged by Sand Ninja—how could he be weak?”
Orochimaru looked at Tsunade with the eyes of someone gazing at a mentally challenged person:
“Who can’t be ruthless to enemies? Being ruthless to people in the same village is true ruthlessness.
You don’t understand Third Hokage Teacher and Danzo at all.
Look at Uncle Mito Mon’en—he seems mild-mannered, but he has the lives of at least eight Leaf Ninja on his hands, if not ten.
Tsunade, how many Leaf Ninja have you killed?
The Senju Clan’s belief in tolerance and universal love, Hatake Sakumo’s belief in the bonds of comrades, the Uchiha Clan’s belief in growing stronger through self-abuse—which of these can match Danzo?
In this Jonin promotion, do you dare to kill five Sarutobi Clan Special Jonin to force Third Hokage Teacher to yield?
They dare to kill your people in some inadvertent mission using someone else’s hand—do you dare to retaliate in kind?
Do you dare?”
Tsunade stood there, her eyes dazed, looking as weak as a Ninja Academy student who hadn’t graduated yet.
“Does it have to be that cruel?”
Orochimaru mocked Tsunade: “Look at your answer—it’s as weak as a slug’s body.
If you don’t dare to do anything, then obediently accumulate strength and do nothing.
The shadow of Konoha’s big tree is even darker than your imagination.
Either wait for this group of high-ranking officials to die of old age, or be even more ruthless than them.
Your collusion with Hatake Sakumo and the Uchiha Clan is simply childish—stupid enough that I feel like I don’t know you.”
Tsunade’s blood rushed into the vessels in her head, making it feel like it was about to split open with pain.
Could everything Orochimaru said be true? Was she completely ignorant of Konoha’s darkness?
Yoru was extremely disappointed with the Jonin Meeting.
The crucial struggle was interrupted by Orochimaru, leaving him unsatisfied.
He returned to Tsuruzuki Izakaya and set up an Earth Movement Barrier.
He knew all of Konoha Village’s defense information and knew there were no Hyuga Ninja nearby.
After carefully reconnoitering for half an hour and confirming no suspicious personnel nearby, he used Summoning Jutsu.
Ninja Dog Pakkun appeared in white smoke.
Pakkun said: “What major event is it this time?”
“It’s indeed a major event.” Yoru said:
“Pakkun, the village has just stipulated that, except for Anbu Jonin, all Jonin must serve as a lead Jonin at the Ninja Academy at least once within three years.
Please tell Lord Sakumo to pay attention to a person named Minato Namikaze at the Ninja Academy.
He must, absolutely must, take him as a disciple.
The struggles in the Jonin Class are temporary; for Lord Sakumo, it’s far less important than taking Minato Namikaze as a disciple.”
Pakkun was extremely confused. The fox specifically emphasized letting Sakumo take a student as a disciple?
This matter was a bit outrageous, which made it seem truly important.
He didn’t ask more and prepared to relay the fox’s request.
In the middle of the night, Hatake Sakumo heard the fox’s message and was equally surprised.
The next day, Hatake Sakumo brought Kakashi to outside the Ninja Academy.
A ninja greeted Sakumo: “Lord White Fang, why have you come to the Ninja Academy?”
In the Jonin Meeting, Hatake Sakumo was just a lower-ranked high-level deputy commander, but in the eyes of ordinary ninja, White Fang was an extremely respected strong individual.
Sakumo said: “I’m bringing Kakashi to experience the atmosphere of the Ninja Academy in advance.”
Kakashi curiously looked toward the school interior, where senior students were sparring.
Sakumo quickly found his target: Minato Namikaze with his bright yellow hair.
Minato Namikaze was sparring with a Uchiha student.
The Uchiha Clan was a famously precocious ninja clan; their children showed talent and strength far beyond their peers at a very young age.
Hatake Sakumo immediately noticed Minato Namikaze’s abnormality.
Calm—extremely calm.
Whether it was the oncoming fist or the kick straight for the knee, Minato Namikaze tracked them with his eyes.
His pupils moved with the Uchiha student’s actions, taking in every detail.
This proved that Minato Namikaze had insight and reaction ability far beyond his peers.
Reaction ability was one of the important talents for a ninja.
Hatake Sakumo’s sword technique was built on reaction ability surpassing others.
Even without the White Fang’s fierce Blade Aura destructive power, giving Hatake Sakumo an ordinary kunai would allow him to carve out a piece of sky.
Hatake Sakumo was secretly shocked. With this reaction ability, whether taijutsu, sword technique, or ninjutsu, it would easily grow to Jonin level.
No, perhaps it would very easily grow to Elite Jonin level.
No wonder the fox specifically instructed him to absolutely take Minato Namikaze as a disciple.
Minato Namikaze’s talent was exceptionally astonishing.
“Let’s go, Kakashi. You can only enroll next year, so make sure to listen well to the teacher’s guidance in school then.”
Early the next morning at the Anbu Base.
Purple Cat submitted a mission report.
Yoru looked at the scroll and found it was a Jinchuriki surveillance mission.
All suspicious personnel around Kushina Uzumaki were under Anbu surveillance.
Kushina’s friends—Minato Namikaze, Uchiha Mikoto, Senju Xiao, and others—had high surveillance levels.
Last night, Yak Squad was on rotation monitoring the Jinchuriki, and they discovered a new situation with the Jinchuriki’s closest friend, Minato Namikaze.
After school, Minato Namikaze was practicing hard at a training ground and encountered a father and son.
Hatake Sakumo began teaching Hatake Kakashi kunai and shuriken.
The three met at the training ground.
Yoru said: “Purple Cat, hand this report to Butterfly, and say that I’ll personally handle the upcoming surveillance.
It involves Hatake Sakumo; other squad leaders would be discovered. Only I can complete the mission.”
“Understood, Captain.”
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