While her abilities are extraordinary, she controls too many secrets.
My subordinates plan for her to clash with another intelligence ninja, after which I will intervene, eliminating them completely."
Arata felt relieved. Medic Nonoyu, beautiful and gentle, would have been too great a loss otherwise.
Moreover, controlling her would also allow him leverage over the late-stage powerhouse Medic Kabuto.....a highly advantageous arrangement.
With Uchiha Mikoto now pregnant, though the clan had medical ninjas, none were on Nonoyu's level.
Bringing her in to care for Mikoto made perfect sense.
Of course, necessary safety precautions would be taken before she began her duties.
Uchiha Arata, thinking of Mikoto's current need for care, instructed Danzo:
"Cancel all actions targeting Medic Nonoyu and have her recalled immediately.
Since you're uneasy about her, hand her over. Once she returns, assign her to me...
I have use for her."
Arata paused, recalling that he had already completed the first stage of his training in the "Lightning Release Armor," yet the second and third stages still awaited.
Recently, he hadn't had time, otherwise he could have directly gone to the Hidden Cloud Village and copied the techniques using his Mangekyō Sharingan.
He then asked:
"I need the second and third stages of the Lightning Release Armor from the Lightning Shadow lineage. Does the village have them?"
The Third Hokage and Danzo both shook their heads. The Third Hokage explained:
"Lord Arata, regarding the Lightning Release Armor of the Lightning Shadow lineage, our village only has the first stage.
The first stage is semi-public in the Hidden Cloud Village, primarily for selecting those with talent in the technique.
Danzo and I have studied it ourselves. It's extremely difficult.
We tried promoting it on a small scale, but results were unsatisfactory. Thus, we never pursued the second stage."
"The cost is high; exposing it could reveal our spies in the Hidden Cloud Village.
As for the third stage, it's top-secret, passed down orally with no written records.
Obtaining it is even less likely."
Arata frowned. He had only mastered the first stage; attempting to copy the third stage directly would likely overwhelm his body and cause collapse.
Two options remained: acquire the second stage to build a foundation and then copy the full third-stage Armor...difficult but feasible since the Lightning Shadow lineage didn't highly value the second stage.....or strengthen his body to withstand the full technique, which was time-consuming and inefficient.
Fortunately, the strength of his body wasn't crucial.
Eventually, replicating the Sage Form of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, would solve this permanently.
Rubbing his forehead, Arata instructed:
"Have our Hidden Cloud undercover ninja acquire it if possible.
Prioritize their safety; no need to risk lives for this technique."
The Third Hokage and Danzo responded in unison:
Understood, Lord Arata."
The difference was that the Third Hokage smiled, approving Arata's care for ninja lives, while Danzo remained indifferent....mission success mattered more than life in his eyes.
Having settled the Lightning Release Armor matter, Arata turned to another pressing issue.
Now, who can tell me where Konoha's only Wood Release ninja is?"
He didn't name Yamato, since he wasn't sure of his current location.
If still with Danzo, his name wasn't Yamato, but codename "Alpha." It was clearer to ask for the Wood Release ninja directly.
Upon hearing Arata's question, Danzo immediately glared at the Third Hokage and complained:
"Lord Arata, the Wood Release ninja grew up in the Root. Recently, Sarutobi Hiruzen 'stole' him from me. He should be in Hiruzen's ANBU now."
The Third Hokage coughed, as if choked by smoke, then replied.
Lord Arata, the Wood Release ninja now goes by Yamato.
He remains in ANBU, though not assigned to your team previously, so he hasn't interacted with you."
Arata's mind eased. With both the Third Hokage and Danzo under control, he no longer feared Yamato being dispatched on a mission, delaying his plans to replicate Wood Release.
Satisfied, he instructed the Third Hokage:
Summon Yamato to an empty training ground. Tell him it's to check his recent progress.
Have him demonstrate all his Wood Release techniques."
The Third Hokage agreed without objection, sending Yamato to Training Ground 15.
Arata and the Third Hokage followed, with Danzo trailing, as he would still be needed after the Wood Release replication.
Yamato arrived quickly. Seeing Danzo nearby, he hastily approached the Third Hokage, half-kneeling:
ANBU ninja Yamato reporting, Hokage-sama."
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