The Ino–Shika–Chō trio had sacrificed much for the village and now truly wished to rest and recuperate.
Today, Yamanaka Inson and Akimichi Yamashiro coming to see the Hokage was something Nara Rokaku agreed with.
Every Special Jōnin from the Ino–Shika–Chō clans was a son, nephew, or junior relative; losing even one was heartbreaking.
The Third Hokage's announcement of no recruitment from the shinobi clans for two years was excellent news.
Shimura Danzo glanced at Nara Rokaku's relieved expression and said directly:
"Hiruzen, recruiting ninja from the shinobi clans into the Anbu and Root is one of the important means to prevent any single clan from becoming too powerful.
This is our established strategy. Why are you going back on it now?"
Yōkō was startled and quickly looked at the Third Hokage.
The expression on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face was quite a sight, as if he had swallowed a fly.
Preventing any single shinobi clan from growing too powerful was indeed a key strategy of the higher-ups.
Whether it was the Senju clan, the Uchiha clan, the Ino–Shika–Chō trio, the Hyūga clan, or any other shinobi clan.
However, you couldn't say this in front of Nara Rokaku.
Some things can be done but not said. Others can be said but not done.
Did he think Nara Rokaku didn't know? He knew everything.
But saying it to his face was somewhat of a slap; should Nara Rokaku erupt or not?
When internal contradictions cannot be resolved, one either launches an external war or initiates an internal purge.
Recruiting clan ninja into Root and the Anbu was a softer knife compared to war and purge, delaying the explosion of internal contradictions.
In peacetime, the Anbu could be used to systematically reduce the strength of the shinobi clans.
For example, the Aburame clan – Yōkō felt sorry for the Aburame clan.
They had contributed several experts from their clan, ensuring this powerful but small clan remained in a weakened state.
Sarutobi Hiruzen said: "Danzo! Don't presumptuously speculate about the Second Hokage's policies!
The Anbu is the village's sharp blade for executing high-difficulty missions; Anbu ninja are Konoha's heroes hidden in the shadows!
The Anbu is absolutely not a means to weaken the shinobi clans!
Since the Warring States period, the Sarutobi clan has been the witness to the Ino–Shika–Chō alliance. I have absolutely no intention of weakening the Ino–Shika–Chō trio!"
Yōkō thought to himself that Sarutobi Hiruzen was clever, pushing all the blame onto the Second Hokage.
The Anbu was established by the Second Hokage. Even if there were problems, they were the Second's problems; he was just continuing to manage the village according to his teacher's last wishes.
Nara Rokaku certainly understood everything, but he wouldn't expose it.
If he became Hokage, he would do the same things Danzo did.
Preventing any single shinobi clan from growing too powerful wasn't just done by the Hokage; the Kage of other villages did it too.
Especially in Kirigakure, which suffered greatly from powerful clans, seizing every opportunity to deal deadly blows to clans with Kekkei Genkai.
Konoha's internal situation was too complex. Danzo handled the affairs in the darkness very well. Whoever sat in the Hokage's seat would have to rely on someone like Danzo.
Danzo said: "Not recruiting from the shinobi clans for two years is impossible.
The abilities of clan ninja are irreplaceable.
For example, the Yamanaka clan's secret technique for extracting intelligence from corpses, or the Hyūga clan's ultra-long-range perception technique.
At most, one year without recruiting clan ninja. That is my bottom line."
After some arguing, Danzo had already conceded on both the spy system and clan recruitment matters, giving Sarutobi Hiruzen considerable face.
Finally, the two reached an agreement: no recruitment from the shinobi clans for one year, focusing on civilian ninja first.
By the end of their dispute, Yōkō was no longer willing to listen.
The other three people in the room seemed to have forgotten that Yōkō was of civilian ninja origin.
What, the clan ninja were unwilling to go to Root, but were the civilian ninja willing?
The full moon was like a silver plate.
A new full moon cycle had arrived.
Yōkō was anxious on Yuka's behalf; the other women had shown signs, so why was Yuka's belly still unchanged?
If Yuka could bear a child, the connection between the remaining Uzumaki forces and himself would become even tighter.
Yuka's child would also bear the Uzumaki name. If Yōkō and Yuka nurtured the child carefully, it was highly possible for them to compete for the position of Uzumaki clan head.
Coincidentally, with Kyōi and Purple Cat pregnant, Yōkō concentrated all his efforts on Yuka.
He not only put in sweat and effort but also often comforted Yuka, telling her to relax and not be too tense about Uzumaki clan matters.
After working hard at Yuka's place for an hour, Yōkō returned to Konoha.
He came to the training ground late at night and began contemplating his path to further self-improvement.
In terms of ninjutsu, he already had 8 ninjutsu at the Mastery level.
His main identity, Fox, could use Earth Release: Earth-Style Rising Spears, Water Release: Water Cutting Wave, and the Self-Cursing Body Binding Seal, all at Mastery level.
His alternate identity, Sarutobi Kanenosuke, had 5 mastered five-element nature transformation ninjutsu and the S-Class Forbidden Technique, Five Elements Unrivalled Attack.
In terms of Chakra Crystallization Refinement, he could only achieve Condensation with Water Attribute Chakra, not Crystallization.
His ninjutsu were comprehensive enough, with no weaknesses.
His Chakra reserve was 2.4 times that of an Elite Jōnin.
Relying on natural growth through physique to increase his Chakra reserve seemed somewhat slow now.
There were no areas particularly in need of strengthening next, so he would focus entirely on grinding his Chakra reserve.
Using the system, he needed to raise his Chakra reserve to Kage-level as soon as possible.
Finding Kage-level ninja only yielded Elite Jōnin-level Chakra reserves, which was somewhat wasteful.
Finding regular Jōnin yielded Jōnin-level Chakra reserves, which was one-fifth of an Elite Jōnin's, not satisfying.
What he needed to do next was select suitable Elite Jōnin.
Konoha didn't have many Elite Jōnin. What if he ran out?
Would he have to rely on grinding Jōnin to a minimal degree?
That would be a massive project; grinding 5 Jōnin would only equal one Elite Jōnin.
The Assassination Manual was very important; it recorded intelligence on many Jōnin and Elite Jōnin.
Yōkō waited for several days but didn't receive any assignment from Yellow Dog to take over the spy system.
He inquired discreetly and finally learned that Yellow Dog had a new assistant, Long-Armed Ape.
The spy system was too important. The spy networks of the two great nations transferred from Root were ultimately controlled by Long-Armed Ape.
From what Yōkō knew, Long-Armed Ape was a Sarutobi clan Jōnin, Yellow Dog's cousin, Sarutobi Enosuke.
Yōkō looked in the direction of Yellow Dog's office, his eyes growing colder.
It seemed Yellow Dog still trusted Sarutobi clansmen more...
I've shed blood for the Anbu, I've performed meritorious deeds for the Anbu, and the result? Yellow Dog's cousin plucked the ripe fruit.
And he plucked my fruit...
The next morning, Yellow Dog summoned Yōkō and told him to go to the Hokage Building, to the office of Nara Rokaku, the Jōnin Commander.
Yōkō showed not the slightest hint of abnormality; Yellow Dog couldn't detect any dissatisfaction from Yōkō about Long-Armed Ape taking the prize.
Yellow Dog said: "Fox, Lord Rokaku suggested hiding some targets from the Assassination Manual among the bounties of the Underground Bounty Exchange.
You, as the Anbu representative, go and listen to Lord Rokaku's arrangements."
"Understood, Battalion Commander."
Entering Nara Rokaku's office, Yōkō saw Nara Umeka.
He had once saved Nara Umeka during the Land of Rivers war.
"Fox is here."
"Lord Rokaku."
After exchanging pleasantries, Nara Rokaku said: "Fox, I plan to forge clients for the Underground Bounty Exchange to post bounties on enemy village Jōnin.
Nara Umeka will be specifically responsible for this matter.
You and Umeka will investigate intelligence on the Underground Bounty Exchange and post bounty missions.
We will assassinate the targets on the Anbu's Assassination Manual in the form of bounties to avoid limitless proportional retaliation from other villages.
For this investigation of the Underground Bounty Exchange, Umeka will take the lead, and you will be responsible for protection."
"Understood."
After receiving the mission, Nara Umeka and Yōkō headed for Konoha's main gate.
Yōkō followed behind, staring at Nara Umeka's back, wondering if he should grind Chakra reserves from her...
In the next instant, cold sweat suddenly broke out on Yōkō's forehead.
Wrong! He had already died once at the hands of Nara Umeka.
He had also obtained the Shadow Imitation Technique from her.
This terrible memory...
Dying twice at the hands of the same person would mean really dying.
This also served as a reminder to create a Mochizuki's Arc death record to avoid forgetting who he had died to after a long time.
In the future, he needed to be more careful. If he died once at someone's hands, it was best to kill them as soon as possible after reviving to avoid future accidents.
As Yōkō's thoughts churned, Nara Umeka seemed to sense something and glanced back at Fox.
Yōkō acted as if nothing had happened.
***
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(End of Chapter)