Chapter 334: I Recommend The Fox For Deputy Minister Of The Anbu
Yoru had once fantasized that after he returned to the village, the Third Hokage would inspire Konoha’s confidence, do a good job with Konoha’s spiritual construction, and make him perform Deep Forest Emergence in front of everyone.
Hiruzen Sarutobi’s magnanimity was disappointing.
After entering the Hokage’s Office, everyone’s expressions were very interesting.
Orochimaru standing beside the Third Hokage had eyes full of pride in his own test subject.
Look at my perfect test subject, who used Wood Style in actual combat and could even exchange blows with Uchiha Madara.
He looked at Danzo with an ashen expression. How about it, Danzo? Are you tempted? Want to come beg me?
Danzo Shimura’s expression was ashen, literally ashen.
He had schemed for Wood Style for so long, pulled in Orochimaru for Wood Style, and invested so many resources in Orochimaru.
In the end, Orochimaru’s last test subject, the Fox Captain whose strength reached Elite Jonin level, actually successfully obtained Wood Style.
Even if Danzo mastered Wood Style now, it wouldn’t mean the same to Konoha—it wouldn’t be the first, nor the only one.
The reason Danzo desperately wanted Wood Style was because Wood Style was the symbol of Konoha Village’s former prosperity, which could bring him power and prestige.
Danzo looked at the Copper Fox with a disgusting feeling like he had simmered ribs for several hours only for them to be gnawed by a wild dog.
Very disgusting.
Yoru looked at Danzo. What was that look in Danzo’s eyes? It didn’t seem like jealousy; it was a bit strange.
Sarutobi Hihaku’s face was full of self-blame and pain.
He had led the team to the Land of Grass to investigate the traitor ninja Heinosuke Sarutobi, and Anbu Deputy Minister Lynx and Squad Leader Yamakaze had died miserably.
The sacrifice was huge, yet they hadn’t investigated any useful information; they were simply beaten up by Heinosuke Sarutobi.
Sarutobi Hihaku, bearing the title of the second strongest in the Sarutobi Clan, had no performance at all in the mission.
As for Hiruzen Sarutobi’s son, he was still in Konoha Prison, and with the mission failure, early release was even more impossible.
Compared to them, the traitor ninja investigation mission in the Land of Rain had gone quite well.
Apart from some Uchiha ninja dying, there were no other losses.
Especially the Fox, who used Wood Style to contend with Uchiha Madara and finally successfully retreated with most of the living forces.
Kiiroinu stood on the other side of the Third Hokage, his gaze toward the Copper Fox somewhat complex.
Last time the Anbu Deputy Minister recommendation came up, he hadn’t resisted Danzo’s pressure, letting Lynx become Deputy Minister.
As a result, the Copper Fox had an unexpected encounter at Orochimaru’s place and actually obtained a rare Bloodline Limit like Wood Style.
The Copper Fox had told him in advance that the Copper Fox went to Orochimaru’s to get the experiment progress report and was injected with a few shots by Orochimaru; Kiiroinu hadn’t taken it seriously at the time.
It turned out that what Orochimaru injected was First Hokage Hashirama’s cells.
Kiiroinu didn’t know if there was any trickery here—whether Orochimaru had gone mad and brazenly attacked an Anbu Captain, or if the Copper Fox and Orochimaru had some deal.
He had no way of knowing these things.
The Copper Fox said Orochimaru insisted on injecting him; Kiiroinu thought that if he wanted to continue using the Copper Fox, he had to pretend the Copper Fox was coerced by Orochimaru.
Hiruzen Sarutobi showed no abnormality, looking at the Copper Fox with a kindly expression, and said:
“Copper Fox, Clan Head Zhong, you’re back. First, let Reconnaissance Squad Leader Hyuga Yue report the mission details.”
Hyuga Yue hurriedly stepped forward and handed over the mission report he had written during the rest stop on the road.
Hyuga Yue said: “Our early search process was not smooth; it was Fox Captain who suggested we could use Uzumaki remnants Nagato Uzumaki to find the target Uchiha Madara.
Uchiha Madara’s strength is extremely strong.
In the battle, Anbu was responsible for the side battlefield, capturing Uzumaki remnants. The Uchiha crowd was responsible for the front battlefield, confronting Uchiha Madara.
Uchiha Madara used a massive-scale Wood Style, and soon the Uchiha crowd suffered sacrifices.
Uchiha Michi Jonin, 3 Special Jonin, unfortunately died in battle.
Then Fox Captain urgently supported the front battlefield and used Wood Style similar to Uchiha Madara’s.
No, not similar to Uchiha Madara’s, but similar to First Hokage Lord’s Wood Style.
Fox Captain’s Wood Style was maple tree Wood Style with red maple leaves, a piece of scarlet red.
Red like fire, green like ink; the two’s Wood Style were evenly matched!”
Yoru thought to himself, no wonder Hyuga Yue you are so trusted by the high-ranking officials and were sent to supervise how I supervised the Uchiha.
These few sentences were said with some skill.
Red like fire, green like ink—quite accurately summed up.
Everyone could imagine the intense scene of ink-green Wood Style clashing with scarlet-red Wood Style.
Hyuga Yue continued: “Fox Captain faced Uchiha Madara with no great disadvantage and rescued the poisoned and comatose Uchiha ninja.
The specific mission details are in the mission report.
Right, Uchiha Madara called Fox Captain… Red Maple Fox!”
“Red Maple?” Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slightly, thinking the Copper Fox had gained another signature ninjutsu and a new title.
Konoha Copper Fox, Konoha Red Maple—these two titles would point to one person.
Just like Hiruzen Sarutobi himself, who gained the title ‘Ninja Overlord’ on the battlefield, and later because of his proficiency in Five Release Ninjutsu, gained the title ‘Ninjutsu Professor’.
Hyuga Yue’s report, Anbu’s report, Uchiha’s report were successively delivered to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He would judge the true situation of the front line battle through the three reports.
Hiruzen Sarutobi asked: “Copper Fox, what do you think Uchiha Madara’s current strength is like?”
Yoru thought to himself, if I don’t hype up Uchiha Madara at this time, how can I prove how strong I am?
He said: “Uchiha Madara’s chakra amount is ridiculously large; he doesn’t seem like a 70-something-year-old man at all.
Uchiha Madara used Wood Style, genjutsu, and Susanoo.
I couldn’t get close, so I couldn’t test Uchiha Madara’s taijutsu level.
However, I observed Uchiha Madara’s moments of weakness during the battle.”
As soon as this sentence came out, even Danzo looked straight at the Copper Fox.
Yoru said: “After Uchiha Madara used Wood Style and genjutsu, his chest began to heave, somewhat out of breath, proving he is not invincible.
After he started panting, I immediately used Wood Style and pushed back Uchiha Madara’s Wood Style.
5 seconds later, Uchiha Madara’s Wood Style recovered its intensity and suppressed me in turn.
If chasing and killing Uchiha Madara next time, I suggest treating it as a local war. Deploy no fewer than 500 ninja; it’s possible to pile him to death with lives.”
Hiruzen Sarutobi’s expression was unusually serious.
He believed the Copper Fox’s judgment; the Copper Fox was experienced and had clashed head-on with Uchiha Madara several times.
Uchiha Madara showing signs of exhaustion proved he might be strong on the outside but weak inside.
He looked down at Hyuga Yue’s scroll; Hyuga Yue hadn’t noticed these things.
He looked at Uchiha Kane’s scroll again; the Uchiha Clan didn’t know either.
It still had to be a powerful Anbu like the Copper Fox to fight out enough intelligence.
Anbu could not lack the Copper Fox.
Thoroughly killing Uchiha Madara… this idea was very tempting.
However, sending 500 ninja into the Land of Rain would make Hidden Rain Village think Konoha had declared war.
Uchiha Madara was troublesome, Hanzo was also troublesome.
If Uchiha Madara and Hanzo joined forces, it would be even more troublesome.
With the two joining forces, 500 Konoha ninja wouldn’t be enough.
After hearing the Copper Fox’s report, Hiruzen Sarutobi turned to Uchiha Kane and said:
“Clan Head Zhong, the sacrifices of Uchiha Michi and the three Special Jonin—I am deeply grieved. I didn’t expect Uchiha Madara’s hatred for our Konoha to be so great; even with you there, he showed no mercy at all.”
Uchiha Kane didn’t say anything, not knowing what to say.
Uchiha Madara hated Konoha and called Konoha a pile of dung where all dreams had died. He had no emotion left for the Uchiha Clan.
Uchiha Kane really wanted to say that anyone could go investigate Uchiha Madara, but the Uchiha Clan could not.
Whether Uchiha Madara still cared for the Uchiha Clan or hated the Uchiha Clan, the Uchiha Clan would not have a good outcome.
Hiruzen Sarutobi said: “Clan Head Zhong, Hyuga Yue, you can go back and rest first. Also Hihaku, you return to the clan compound.”
In the Hokage’s Office, only the high-ranking officials and Anbu remained.
Kiiroinu spoke first: “Hokage, the former Deputy Minister Lynx unfortunately sacrificed; I recommend Copper Fox as Anbu Deputy Minister!”
Kiiroinu steeled his heart; he couldn’t hesitate anymore. Now was the best opportunity; he must repair the rift with the Copper Fox.
The matter between the Copper Fox and Orochimaru, Kiiroinu did not plan to pursue.
The Copper Fox was very important to him.
Whether it was Uchiha Madara or Heinosuke Sarutobi, they were not something Kiiroinu could handle.
Did he want him to face Heinosuke Sarutobi head-on like Lynx?
Back then, his attitude toward Sarutobi Hou wasn’t good; how well could a lackey treat him?
Rather than hesitating, dawdling, and waffling, better to show full sincerity now!
Yoru instantly looked up at Kiiroinu.
Kiiroinu actually had such magnanimity? Or was his scheming extremely deep?
Yoru recalled a line: This man must not be left alive!
Such a Kiiroinu was a bit frightening.
Before assassinating Kiiroinu, Yoru thought he still couldn’t expose his purpose.
Did he have to perform the deep bond between the generous Minister and the loyal subordinate again?
Yoru’s throat moved, swallowing saliva to show his current excitement, looking at Kiiroinu.
Hiruzen Sarutobi thought Kiiroinu was a bit anxious; he looked at Danzo.
Mito Mon’en thought for a moment and spoke before Danzo:
“The enemies Anbu now faces are very tricky; whether Heinosuke Sarutobi, Uchiha Madara, or other enemies, they all need a powerful Deputy Minister to lead the team out of the village to execute missions.
I think Copper Fox is a very good candidate; what do you all think?”
Danzo frowned at Mito Mon’en.
Mito Mon’en’s son, Mito Mon’etsu, was Guardian Ninja Captain in the Land of Rivers.
With Guardian Ninja dying one after another in the Land of Grass, Mito Mon’en was getting anxious.
Danzo had many clan members; Mito Mon’en had only one son.
If the traitor ninja targeted the Land of Rivers, Mito Mon’en’s son couldn’t escape the traitor ninja’s assassination.
So, Mito Mon’en was urgently pushing Copper Fox up, probably wanting Anbu to help deal with the complex situation.
Not only did Mito Mon’en intend for Copper Fox to be Anbu Deputy Minister, even Nara Shikaku was moved.
Nara Shikaku nodded frequently, expressing agreement.
The Land of Whirlpools Guardian Ninja Captain position was monopolized by the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans.
They too feared the traitor ninja going berserk and running to the Land of Whirlpools for a killing spree.
Konoha urgently needed a powerful Anbu Deputy Minister to handle enemies in the shadows.
After hearing Mito Mon’en’s statement, Danzo didn’t speak but looked at Orochimaru.
Everyone was puzzled, not knowing why Danzo seemed to be waiting for Orochimaru’s statement.
Orochimaru couldn’t possibly go be Anbu Deputy Minister.
Try one chapter of 3000 words, two updates a day; not sure if the reading experience is better than one chapter of 2000 words and three updates. Still 6000 words a day, posted at 10 AM and 8 PM.
