"I'm back, Lord Yoichi."
Uzumaki Minami returned from Konoha Hospital. Upon entering the house, she saw Yugito walking inside, still wearing her knee-high white socks. Her small feet moved quickly, making a pattering sound on the floor, prompting Minami to ask curiously, "What's with her?"
"Maybe she's tired!"
Uchiha Yoichi replied solemnly. He swore he was just joking earlier, but didn't expect Yugito's Ninja Path to be one of putting words into action.
After coming back, she had found a pair of knee-high white socks, put them on, and walked out of the house. Her golden hair was tied in a single ponytail hanging in the back, and her small face looked conflicted and somewhat disdainful as she walked by.
In the end, Uchiha Yoichi could only lie on the sofa, enjoying a back massage. It was serious!
The soft white sock-clad feet were very suitable for massages, helping to relax the muscles to an appropriate degree.
Eventually, Samui left too, but before letting her go, Uchiha Yoichi used the Sharingan to find out from her how they planned to take Yugito back.
The Hidden Cloud planned to use the Six Paths Ninja Tools, letting Yugito willingly enter the Red Gourd, then use the Heavenly Transfer Jutsu to send the Red Gourd back to the Hidden Cloud Village.
Upon hearing this plan, Uchiha Yoichi felt glad Yugito didn't agree because she no longer wanted to return to the Hidden Cloud Village. This method might have actually succeeded for the Hidden Cloud.
However, Uchiha Yoichi also had the training method for the Heavenly Transfer Jutsu. He planned to select several individuals from the Uchiha Race to learn it. This way, combined with the Amber Purifying Pot, it could allow for instant delivery.
Even a mountain of goods could be transported in an instant.
Many of the Hidden Cloud Village's Secret Techniques could be popularized within the clan, but the Lightning Release Ninjutsu was difficult, as there were few Uchiha Clan Members with the Lightning Attribute.
"Minami, how is the cultivation of the Hashirama Cells going?"
"It's already started, but whether it's mine or Uchiha Mikota's, our cells fuse with the Hashirama Cells very slowly, unlike Lord Yoichi's cells."
Uzumaki Minami leaned against Uchiha Yoichi, mentioning that ever since Mikota moved out to be with her son, she had been occupying more and more of Lord Yoichi's time. Sometimes she would wake up and find herself being held, feeling incredibly happy.
"At the current rate, it could take another month. I can keep an eye on it with a Shadow Clone every day..."
"There's no need to rush. First, prepare the Hashirama Cells for yourself. If a war breaks out, you'll definitely have to go to the battlefield."
The Chunin Exam could not entirely eliminate the risk of war. Sarutobi Hiruzen's plan to project military strength attempted to be undermined by the Hidden Rock Village, but it wasn't completely destroyed.
Even though nine Genin from the Hidden Rock managed to make it into the third phase individual battles, the top two were still Genin from Konoha Village.
Among Uchiha Yoichi's three students, two became Chunin. Chishima Ichihiko was a bit unlucky; his strength was definitely enough to be a Chunin, but he happened to face off against a team member.
However, Hyuga Satomi was severely injured and was hospitalized after the competition, so the celebrations for Team 8 would have to wait until she recovered.
Moreover, Team 8 might be disbanded. Uchiha Yoichi was now both the Uchiha Clan Leader and Security Team Captain, and with Yuhi Kurenai and Hyuga Satomi having become Chunin, the four of them couldn't really form a team anymore.
Uchiha Yoichi intended to negotiate on their behalf so that the three of them could continue to perform missions as a Chunin Squad.
The combination of the three was perfect, using illusions, taijutsu, and ninjutsu. Chishima Ichihiko was gradually learning Ninjutsu, and with the presence of the Sage Curse Seal, he could multiply the power of his Ninjutsu several times over, reaching a Special Jonin level even with a D-Class Fire Release.
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"Danzo, why did you send people to assassinate Jiraiya's students, especially so close to Konoha?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen said irritably, "Now they've been captured, and Jiraiya knows about it. If you don't give him an explanation, your Root Ninjas might get ambushed every time they leave the village!"
This was exactly something Jiraiya would do. After all, he wouldn't kill them; he'd just knock them out and toss them aside. What could Danzo do even if he knew about it? Retaliate in kind?
"It was a demand from Hanzo from the Hidden Rain Village and their alliance. The existence of the Akatsuki Organization feels threatening to Hanzo. Didn't I give you the alliance scroll from the Hidden Rain Village last time?"
Danzo frowned and said. He hadn't expected the Akatsuki Organization's three leaders to have such connections with Konoha.
He knew Jiraiya had stayed in the Land of Rain to teach students, but he didn't expect his students to become the leaders of the Akatsuki Organization.
"Since those three have ties to you, then Root won't interfere. Anyway, it was an agreement with Hanzo from the Hidden Rain Village, and you agreed at the time."
Danzo, thinking it over, decided to back off. His people had completed their mission for Konoha, only to be captured and brought back; what's the point?
"Danzo...."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's mouth twitched, but Danzo had no intention of staying longer and directly left the Hokage Office.
Subsequently, Sarutobi Hiruzen called for the Anbu and had them bring over the information on the Akatsuki Organization. The Anbu had also collected data; after the Root had completed the alliance with the Hidden Rain Village for Konoha, they shared some Akatsuki information with the Anbu.
"Established a peace village, opposed war, focusing on resolving conflicts through peaceful negotiation, with approximately sixty ninjas and over five hundred peripheral members... Their reputation is indeed high. No wonder Hanzo couldn't resist moving against them."
Sarutobi Hiruzen thought about how Yahiko, at just over ten years old, had developed an organization of this scale. If given another ten years until the three leaders of the Akatsuki reached the peak of their Ninja abilities, what level could the Akatsuki Organization reach?