After Yōkō returned to Konoha Village, Purple Cat immediately delivered the recent intelligence summary.
An Uchiha named Uchiha Obito was missing?
The Anbu had investigated the incident of Uchiha Obito's inexplicable disappearance. Reading the report, Yōkō thought to himself that because of his appearance, all events seemed to have been moved up.
Uchiha Obito was suspected to have awakened the Mangekyō ability Kamui, and in both eyes at that.
In the original story, Kakashi graduated from the Ninja Academy at age 5, while Obito was always the academy's dead-last.
In the original story, Obito, at fourteen or fifteen, was able to orchestrate the Nine-Tails attack and fight the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, on equal footing.
Now, Kakashi, with his status as the son of a Konoha hero, remains in the Ninja Academy. Obito, conversely, had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan at just 8 years old.
Uchiha Obito's grandmother fell on the street, and no one went to help her? Obito pleaded with all the villagers he had once helped, and not a single one lent a hand?
The dilemma of whether to help someone up really is a major issue, a major issue in any world.
A simple "to help or not to help" had actually catalyzed the birth of a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan.
Uchiha Madara had gained another capable subordinate.
The difference was that Tobi now possessed a Mangekyō, making him stronger than in the original story.
Uchiha Obito had dual Mangekyō, dual Kamui, also stronger than his original counterpart.
Both of these individuals had the ability to come and go freely. The Flying Thunder God Technique was even more critical for Yōkō.
If Sarutobi Hiruzen was willing to hand over the Flying Thunder God, that would be for the best. If he wasn't... Yōkō's expression shifted. The Konoha Crush Plan wasn't something that couldn't be moved up.
In Konoha Village, behind the Memorial Stone.
Yōkō stood before a tombstone, looking at the names inscribed on it.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke and Sarutobi Hōbi, a joint burial mound.
It was called a tomb, but it was actually a cenotaph. The bodies of the two had long been vaporized in the explosion of the Tailed Beast Ball.
Missed the wedding, you see, and missed the funeral too.
Yellow Dog, do you resent me this much?
I was your trusted subordinate, your sworn brother, closer than kin.
Yōkō tilted his head slightly as the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, landed beside him with a Body Flicker.
Under the Hokage's hat, Hiruzen looked at Fox with a complex expression.
Fox, born in Konoha year 23, originally a cannon-fodder Chūnin, had actually attained terrifying power capable of annihilating a Tailed Beast by the age of 20.
Without a doubt, Fox was now the number one individual in Konoha Village.
When Fox was in the Land of Hot Water, the pressure he exerted on Hiruzen felt distant.
Now that Fox was back in the village, that pressure was immediate. Just standing beside Fox made Hiruzen feel very uncomfortable.
"My apologies, Hokage-sama. When Lord Shinnosuke sacrificed himself, I was on a mission at the Fire Temple..."
Hearing Fox's words, Hiruzen's heart softened a little. He said, "I don't blame you for that. Shinnosuke had to send you away at that time to eliminate other options for the Daimyō of the Land of Fire. Shinnosuke's choice wasn't wrong. The Daimyō of the Land of Fire has already terminated his cooperation with the Fire Temple. The monk-nin of the Fire Temple will not become the Daimyō's Guardian Ninja. Fox, come with me. This isn't the place to discuss what comes next."
Yōkō nodded. "Yes, let Lord Shinnosuke rest in peace."
Konohamaru from the original story would never exist now.
Sarutobi Hiruzen would focus all his efforts on training his second son, Sarutobi Asuma.
Inside the Hokage's Office, Hiruzen pointed to the sofa. "Sit, Fox."
After Fox was seated, Hiruzen spoke: "Fox, you did well in the Land of Hot Water. The only thing you shouldn't have done was to vent your anger by allowing the Kumo-nin spy to kill the former Daimyō of the Land of Hot Water."
Yōkō said, "It wasn't exactly 'allowing'. I didn't know the Kumo-nin spy would act so recklessly in desperation. But that Daimyō is dead, and he deserved it."
"Fox, I'm not blaming you. You are an Anbu ninja; this style of action is typical for you."
Hearing this, Yōkō understood Hiruzen's intended arrangement for him, which matched his own expectations.
Hiruzen believes I am unsuited for handling matters outside of the Anbu.
Hiruzen said, "Fox, with Shinnosuke gone, I would like to appoint you as the Head of the Anbu. Are you willing?"
Yōkō saw no need to pretend anymore. With his current power, further pretense would be hypocritical, and Hiruzen wouldn't believe it anyway. The fact that Hiruzen had brought it up proactively proved that the pressure from Yōkō's strength was so immense that Hiruzen had no other choice.
Yōkō said, "Hokage-sama, I am very willing to become the Head of the Anbu, and with Konoha in a weakened state, I also have the capability to serve as Head of the Anbu."
Hiruzen puffed on his pipe and presented his condition for the exchange. "I want Black Ant to serve as Deputy Head of the Anbu. In the future, you will focus externally, dealing with enemies outside the village. Black Ant will focus internally, helping me manage the village from within."
"Good, I agree. Black Ant's abilities are unquestionable; I can work well with him." Yōkō immediately presented his own condition: "Hokage-sama, the enemies outside the village are formidable. Uchiha Madara and his subordinates are each very troublesome. I wish to see the Scroll of Seals to enhance my own strength."
Hiruzen frowned slightly but didn't make Fox wait long. "Fox, you may choose one forbidden jutsu. I can authorize you to learn one of the village's forbidden jutsu. You know, the Scroll of Seals is a matter of utmost importance. The orderly transmission of the Scroll of Seals is crucial for Konoha's ability to endure for centuries."
Yōkō thought to himself, Hiruzen is still so stingy.
He needed several forbidden jutsu urgently.
To utilize his believer Hidan's immortal body to its fullest, he needed the Eight Gates.
To counter Uchiha Obito's dual Kamui, he needed the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Furthermore, the Spirit Transformation Technique, the Impure World Reincarnation, and others might prove extremely useful at some point.
Yōkō looked at Hiruzen. Seeing that Hiruzen showed no intention of budging, he changed his demand.
"Hokage-sama, I can agree to learn only one forbidden jutsu. However, I will be operating outside the village year-round. The spy network should be under my control. Using the village's Ninja Hawks to intelligence relay to me is too inefficient."
Hiruzen thought for a moment. If I'm not giving Fox the Scroll of Seals, giving him the spy system can be a form of compensation.
"Agreed. The spy network is yours." Hiruzen said, "Fox, you must treat the spies our village has sent out well. They are the greatest heroes during times of peace."
"I understand, Hokage-sama. I will also report to you consistently. All intelligence from the spy network will be sent to the village."
"Good, then it's all settled." Hiruzen asked, "Fox, which forbidden jutsu do you wish to learn?"
The exchange was concluded. Both sides got what they needed. After compromise, they had maximized the fulfillment of their own core demands.
Overall, while doing his best to satisfy the demands of Konoha's strongest individual, Hiruzen had also secured gains for himself.
While Yōkō hadn't gotten everything he wanted, under the circumstances, there was no need to flip the table yet.
Yōkō said, "Hokage-sama, I wish to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique."
Hiruzen frowned. The Flying Thunder God Technique was the core ability of the Second Hokage, his teacher.
Fox has already mastered my teacher's Water Cutting Wave, mastered the First's Wood Release. If he now masters my teacher's forbidden technique, Flying Thunder God... developing in the future, he might very well become a combination of the First and the Second.
A monster. A true monster.
But without Fox, Konoha wouldn't be able to survive its current low point.
The village can't even select a Foreign Affairs Advisor.
"The Flying Thunder God Technique is extremely difficult to learn," Hiruzen said in a tone of concern. "Someone from the Senju clan once tried to replicate this jutsu, but during the training process, they were decapitated. You must be very careful. Fox, you absolutely cannot come to harm. If something were to happen to you, Konoha Village could collapse."
Yōkō said, "Hokage-sama, I will be careful. Very careful."
Hiruzen nodded. His admonition was sincere. "Wait a few minutes. I will go copy the Flying Thunder God Technique for you."
He walked towards a side chamber. A glow of cursed seals emanated from the crack in the door—Hiruzen was undoing the Barrier Technique protecting the Scroll of Seals.
After five minutes, Hiruzen walked out holding a small scroll.
Yōkō stood up and accepted the forbidden jutsu scroll across the Hokage's desk.
Hiruzen said, "Fox, Konoha's forbidden jutsu must maintain an orderly line of transmission. If you wish to grant the Flying Thunder God Technique to someone, you must inform me and have it recorded."
"Good, I understand the importance of forbidden jutsu." Yōkō said, "Hokage-sama, since Black Ant will be responsible for the Anbu's activities within the village, let him have his office in the basement of the Hokage Building. I anticipate I will be leaving Konoha frequently, so occupying that office wouldn't be very useful. Therefore, I will still operate from the Anbu headquarters."
Hiruzen said, "Good. We will announce your and Black Ant's new appointments at tomorrow's Jōnin Commander meeting."
Yōkō first returned to the Anbu headquarters, opened the Flying Thunder God scroll, and began studying the Flying Thunder God Technique.
***
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