Chapter 143: External Intelligence Assets, and Izuna's Grand Tour of Konoha
The Hyuga Clan Compound.
Nakamaro Kaguya walked toward the gates carrying two heavy crates of premium
gifts. He greeted the sentry, Hyuga Huomen, with a practiced familiarity.
"Huomen-senpai! Is High Commissioner Tenzou in today?"
Huomen was genuinely surprised. It wasn't that Nakamaro was a stranger—over the
past few months, the Kaguya "exchange student" had been a frequent visitor to
the Hyuga compound. Initially, he just came to "trace the family tree" and chat
about common ancestors.
Huomen had been suspicious at first. A Kaguya might be a distant cousin, but
they were still Mist shinobi. He had reported the visits to Tenzou immediately.
To his surprise, Tenzou told him to let it be, stating that he had a "strategic
use" for the boy.
"The Clan Head is in," Huomen said, eyeing the crates. They were filled with
rare Fire Country medicinal herbs—expensive items. He chuckled. "You've
certainly adapted, Nakamaro. You're learning the art of 'Diplomatic Gifting.'
That's not the Kaguya I remember meeting a few months ago."
This was the source of Huomen's shock. The Kaguya clan, by reputation, had the
collective IQ of a bag of kunai. They were known for three things: being angry,
being mindless, and looking for a fight. Seeing one of them engage in "Human
Relations" was like watching a bear perform a tea ceremony.
Nakamaro gave an awkward smile. "Commissioner Tenzou always says: 'A shinobi's
identity is defined by the village his heart gravitates toward.'"
Huomen's eyes narrowed. Wait... that sounds suspiciously like a defection pitch.
He marveled at Tenzou's foresight. Has the Clan Head already visualized a future
where we co-opt these savages?
"You've had it rough in the Mist, haven't you?" Huomen patted Nakamaro's
shoulder. "Go on in."
Nakamaro nodded gratefully. He couldn't help but admire the "soft power" of
Konoha. Even a gatekeeper showed more empathy and "Emotional Intelligence" than
a Mist Jonin. In Kirigakure, it's all about raw force and internal purging.
Without a 'Dimensional Strike' of intelligence, that place is doomed, he
thought.
Tenzou's Private Office.
Nakamaro entered and found Tenzou sitting with Hyuga Takashi.
"Back again, kid? And with tribute this time?" Tenzou studied Nakamaro with a
sharp, calculating gaze. He saw in Nakamaro what he saw in the reformed
Hizashi—a man looking for a "System" that actually worked.
"I've learned much from your guidance, Elder. These supplements are a small
token of my 'ROI' for your time," Nakamaro said, struggling slightly with the
professional terminology he'd been reading in the High Commission's public
journals.
"Good! You're becoming literate. That's a rare trait for a Kaguya," Tenzou
laughed, gesturing for him to sit. "But you're among family here. Speak
plainly."
Tenzou was in an excellent mood. Between Hizashi's high-profile wedding and the
Prophet-Teacher's public endorsement of the Hyuga as the "Architects of Internal
Security," the clan's stock had never been higher. Hiruzen had even promised
that Hizashi's future children would be integrated into the "Hokage's Direct
Lineage."
As a Strategic Realist, Tenzou knew he couldn't let Hizashi do all the heavy
lifting. He needed to provide the Hokage with a fresh "Legacy Asset." And that
asset was the Kaguya clan.
"Elder... I'll be blunt," Nakamaro said, his face flushing with the effort of
speaking. "I don't want to go back to the Mist. I want the Kaguya to move here.
You don't understand—the 'Blood Mist' is about to boil over. It's going to be a
catastrophe."
Nakamaro explained that the Third Mizukage had recently appointed the Kaguya
clan to lead the "Internal Affairs Bureau"—a domestic monitoring force designed
to purge other clans.
"They think the Mizukage is showing them respect," Nakamaro said, his voice
trembling. "They think they're finally the 'Top Dogs.' But they're stupid! They
don't see that he's just using them as a 'Mop' to clean up his enemies before he
throws the mop away."
Tenzou sighed, looking troubled. "Nakamaro, the fact that you can see this
'Heart-Killing Strategy' for what it is shows you've truly grown. But the Mist
and Konoha are currently 'Allies.' I can't just tell you to defect without
causing a 'Diplomatic Incident.'"
Takashi, sensing Tenzou's lead, chimed in. "Indeed. The Mizukage is quite
clever. He's taking a page out of the Second Hokage's book—the 'Police Force
Trap.' He's concentrating all the village's hatred onto the Kaguya. Once you've
alienated everyone, he'll have the 'Political Capital' to wipe you out with zero
pushback."
Nakamaro's blood ran cold. "Is there no hope?"
Tenzou leaned forward, sketching a "Strategic Flowchart" on a piece of paper.
"If the Mizukage begins to fracture your clan from within, that is your signal.
Don't try to save the ones who have 'Naturally Evil' tendencies or those blinded
by bloodlust. Find the ones with 'Rational Potential.' When the purge begins,
that's when you apply for a Konoha Green Card. If you come as refugees fleeing
an internal coup, the Prophet-Teacher has the 'Moral Authority' to protect you."
Nakamaro bowed his head. "I understand. I will be the 'Hidden Hand' within my
clan."
Later, in the Uchiha District.
Nakamaro met with Yuki (an exchange student from the Ice-Style clan). Both were
looking at a village billboard. It was a public commendation for "Unsung
Heroes"—a PR campaign Hiruzen had launched to rebrand the "Root" and other
black-ops units as "The Silent Guardians of Prosperity."
"I want to go back now," Yuki whispered. "Not to stay, but to start moving my
people. If we can get the Ice-Style and Bone-Pulse clans to Konoha together, we
could form a new 'Elemental Coalition' under the High Commission."
"We need Kisame Hoshigaki," Nakamaro noted. "He's an idealist. He believes in
the 'Will of Water' or whatever. We need to use a 'Heart-Killing Strategy' on
him—show him the Mizukage's true face until his loyalty breaks. Once he's
disillusioned, he'll be the perfect 'Enforcer' for our defection."
The Seisui (Tobirama) Residence.
Inside the mental space of the Eight Yatagarasu Spirits, the atmosphere was
tense.
Izuna Uchiha's spirit was currently "touring" Konoha through Seisui's eyes. "I
have to admit," Izuna muttered, "this Sarutobi kid is a genius. The way he's
integrated the Uchiha into the 'Market Monopoly' of village security while
making them feel like 'Social Influencers'... it's brilliant."
Tobirama (as Seisui) snorted. "He's a 'Balanced Master.' He took my cold logic
and wrapped it in 'Soft Power' and 'Charisma.' It's disgusting how effective it
is."
"He's nothing like you, Tobirama," Izuna teased. "He actually has a soul. Look
at those kids in the Academy—they don't look like soldiers; they look like
'Stakeholders' in a thriving enterprise."
Tobirama ignored him, focusing on the upcoming Academy Graduation Tournament.
This was more than a test; it was a "Demonstration of Force" to show the
visiting Daimyo and merchants the "ROI" of investing in Konoha's future.
Suddenly, the front door creaked open. Isshin Uchiha walked in, looking like a
man on a mission.
"Seisui! My boy!" Isshin shouted. "Stop brooding over scrolls. You're a 'Legacy
Miracle'! You need to start thinking about the clan's 'Long-term
Infrastructure'!"
Seisui (Tobirama) looked up warily. "What are you talking about, Elder?"
"I'm talking about Tomie Uchiha! She's a three-tomoe elite, a few years older
than you—a real 'Power Player.' As they say in the business world, 'Acquiring a
seasoned asset is better than starting from scratch!' You two would produce
offspring with off-the-charts 'Military Metrics'!"
Inside Seisui's head, Izuna started howling with laughter. "Oh, please do it!
Tomie is from the branch of the family known for being 'Extremely Intense.'
She'll have you wrapped in 'Adamantine Emotional Chains' within a week!"
Tobirama felt a cold sweat. "Elder Isshin, I am focused on my 'Core Research'
and serving the Prophet-Teacher. I have no time for 'Mergers and Acquisitions'
of a romantic nature."
"Nonsense!" Isshin waved a hand. "I've already talked to the Hokage. He says a
'Healthy Work-Life Balance' is essential for a High-Level Bureaucrat. And don't
listen to those old stories about Izuna being a ladies' man—we all know he just
'Fabricated' those romances to boost his 'Social Status' in the clan!"
The mental space went silent.
Then, Izuna's spirit exploded. "FABRICATED?! TOBIRAMA, LET ME OUT! I'M GOING TO
PUT THIS OLD MAN IN A GENJUTSU SO DARK HE'LL THINK HE'S A SLUG FOR A CENTURY!"
Tobirama sighed, rubbing his temples. "Elder Isshin... I think you've said
enough for today."
As Isshin left, still muttering about wedding dates, Tobirama looked toward the
Hokage Rock. The Graduation Tournament was in seven days. It would be the
ultimate "Market Test" for the new generation.
"Brace yourself, Izuna," Tobirama whispered. "The Prophet-Teacher is about to
show the world what happens when you combine 'Ancient Legacy' with 'Modern
Management.'"
☆☆☆
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