Chapter 220: Reconnaissance Shortcoming
Jonin Meeting.
Last Jonin Meeting ended anticlimactically with Orochimaru’s statement, and the important Jonin recommendations were not completed.
Nara Shikaku announced the progress on several important matters.
For the Ninja Academy Jonin arrangements, Sakumo Hatake rarely took the initiative to speak, saying he planned to be a Jonin next year and had already made early contact with the student he had in mind.
He actively responded to the village’s Jonin plan, intervening early, making early contact, and increasing training time.
Yoru looked toward the presidium, where Hiruzen Sarutobi and others showed no opposition, and he breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and others knew Minato Namikaze was a civilian genius at the Ninja Academy, but they had no accurate understanding of just how much of a genius Minato was.
The Ninja Academy produced several geniuses every year, but not all geniuses could become Elite Jonin.
Konoha’s White Fang wanting to take a civilian young boy as a disciple was not worth the village high-ranking officials making a big fuss in opposition.
They couldn’t oppose the White Fang on everything; after all, the White Fang was one of the village’s top handful of experts.
Another important agenda item: the Daimyo Guardian Ninja list.
The Daimyo sent people to Konoha, saying Konoha could send 8 Guardian Ninja, of which 4 were Guardian Jonin.
Of the 12 Guardian Ninja, the Daimyo wanted to appoint 4 himself.
The Daimyo had trained some Samurai, Temple of Fire Ninja Monks, and rogue ninja.
It seemed the Daimyo also knew not to put all his eggs in one basket.
The 8 Land of Fire Daimyo Guardian Ninja would mainly consist of Sarutobi Clan ninja, paired with one Hyuga Clan Special Jonin.
Monopolizing the Land of Fire Daimyo’s Guardian Ninja meant monopolizing the Land of Fire nation’s important S-rank missions.
The final agenda item, also the core of this Jonin Meeting, was the list for the Special Jonin promotion to Jonin exam.
Similar to last time.
Sarutobi Clan 5 people, Ino-Shika-Cho Clan 4 people, Shimura Clan 2 people.
Uchiha Clan and Hyuga Clan 1 each, Senju Clan 2 people.
The remaining 8 were civilian Jonin.
The only difference was the addition of Senju Michiko recommended by Tsunade, plus two people recommended by Orochimaru.
Tsunade, Sakumo Hatake, and Uchiha Kane did not object again.
The village high-ranking officials had privately talked to all three, breaking them individually.
The new candidates recommended by Sakumo Hatake, Shinma and Shirakumo Hayama, did not enter the review list, gaining nothing.
Seeing Sakumo Hatake sitting silently, Yoru thought to himself, alright, Hatake Zhaoda, you’re still too soft-hearted.
It was time for the “Ninja of Darkness” to make a move.
He memorized all the names of the Five Great Clans Special Jonin.
Your table manners are too ugly.
The Ninja of Darkness couldn’t stand by and had to make you spit out something.
Nara Shikaku announced: “Starting now, the Jonin exams will proceed in batches one after another, expected to end next month.”
That night, Yoru arrived at the dense forest deep above the Hokage Rock, carefully scouted with Earth Movement Barrier, then summoned Bai Ci and Bai You.
The two Stone Pandas knew it was time for reverse summoning again.
Yoru appeared at the Uzumaki Hideout in the Land of Rain.
Yuka noticed the extremely cold aura on the Fox, carrying a trace of killing intent.
“Yuka, I think the timing is ripe; it’s time to start revenge.”
Yuka asked: “Revenge? You mean…”
Yoru said: “The situation inside Konoha Village has changed. Post-war, clans like the Sarutobi Clan and Shimura Clan have seized too many benefits, already provoking public outrage.
I think we can carry out limited revenge, killing some Sarutobi Clan and Shimura Clan ninja. Probe the reactions from all sides.”
Yuka’s trembling hand was grabbed by the Fox. Finally, could revenge begin?
“Yuka, don’t be afraid, listen to me, we’ll take it slow.”
After instructing Yuka on many things, Yoru returned to the Anbu office, silently repeating several names in his mind.
In the Jonin Promotion Exam, the 8 civilian ninja were examined first.
Those examined first were at a disadvantage; whether it was Nara Shikaku or the 10 reviewing Jonin, they were full of enthusiasm and energy at the beginning.
Those examined later had an advantage; after a month-long exam, many were already fatigued.
Not everyone would pass the Jonin Promotion Exam; those clearly lacking ability would be eliminated.
The 11 Five Great Clans Special Jonin would begin their exams next month.
Just right, giving Yoru a month to prepare.
Killing Five Great Clans people required full preparation, without a single mistake.
Otherwise, he himself would fall into irredeemable doom, and everything around him—the Anbu Captain position he had struggled to achieve, Qiao Yi, Purple Cat, and everything since his transmigration—would all go up in smoke because of becoming a traitor ninja.
The first thing to solve was reconnaissance ability.
His current reconnaissance ability was severely lacking; he had considered acquiring some reconnaissance ninjutsu, but now it seemed insufficient.
He needed the top-tier reconnaissance ability before daring to act against Five Great Clans ninja.
Yoru looked to his left front.
After passing through several walls, it was the Golden Eagle Captain’s office.
The Golden Eagle Captain was a Hyuga Clan Jonin with powerful strength and strong Byakugan ability.
This month’s lottery would start with the Golden Eagle Captain.
It could gain the Byakugan’s top-tier reconnaissance ability while extracting the Golden Eagle’s information, making it easier to deal with Anbu High Command later.
With the Byakugan, everything he did would be convenient, not afraid of surveillance, able to detect enemies early, and avoid being tracked.
Purple Cat entered the office.
Yoru’s aura instantly changed, the coldness disappearing; he asked: “Purple Cat, is the Golden Eagle Captain in Anbu?”
“Yes, I just saw his assistant busy delivering scrolls.”
Yoru said that after knocking and entering the Golden Eagle’s office, he said to the Golden Eagle’s assistant:
“I have some secret missions to discuss with the Golden Eagle Captain; please leave us a space for private conversation.”
The Golden Eagle hurriedly waved his hand, signaling the assistant to leave first.
“Please sit, Fox.”
Yoru and the Golden Eagle sat facing each other across the table.
The Golden Eagle looked at the Fox curiously, wondering what the Fox wanted to say.
Yoru said: “Golden Eagle Captain, regarding the Hyuga Clan having only 1 person enter the Jonin Promotion Exam post-war, what are your thoughts?”
Under the mask, the Golden Eagle’s expression instantly tensed.
He couldn’t help but imagine: was Anbu investigating the Hyuga Clan?
In all of Konoha’s wars, the Hyuga Clan had dutifully served as reconnaissance ninja, often becoming priority targets for enemy villages to kill.
Post-war, they were the core force in the village’s daily guards and major Daimyo Guardian Ninja.
Every Daimyo had at least one Hyuga Ninja by their side.
These tedious guard missions consumed a lot of the Hyuga Clan’s energy, leaving Hyuga Ninja exhausted.
Of course, there were complaints within the clan.
However, everything was suppressed by the main family.
The main family didn’t have to carry out the tedious guard missions; all the branch family’s achievements became the main family’s political capital.
However, none of this could be said to Anbu.
The Golden Eagle was branch family Hyuga; he could not betray the clan.
Facing the probing, the Golden Eagle said: “Fox Captain, I have no thoughts on it.
The Hyuga Clan fully obeys the village’s decisions. The Hyuga Clan excels in reconnaissance; in combat, our main Eight Trigrams taijutsu is not outstanding.
Our primary ability is support; we lack the ability to independently command a large team or even larger-scale battles.
The Hyuga Clan knows its place; one more Jonin, and we are already very satisfied.”
Yoru nodded; he could predict this answer—the Hyuga Clan would not openly oppose the village’s decisions.
He asked again: “Golden Eagle Captain, I heard that some Hyuga Ninja were secretly executed for seeing high-ranking officials’ secrets; what are your thoughts on this?”
