Chapter 160: The Will of Fire and Kakuzu! Sage Mode and Tomie Uchiha (7k Huge Chapter!)
Yashiro was still immersed in the excitement of joining the new Root and didn't respond to Kakuzu.
Kakuzu shook his head speechlessly.
Another traditional shinobi seeking death for the village, wanting to sacrifice himself for the collective...
What a buzzkill!
But just as this thought emerged in his mind...
The content of Hiruzen Sarutobi's Fireside Chat echoed in Kakuzu's heart like a genjutsu.
It caused his gaze to unconsciously refocus on the Uchiha's model notice board.
If back in Takigakure...
After I failed my mission, if the leader of Takigakure had defended me like this, and even called me a hero of the village with a heart of gold...
Would I still have defected?
All five of Kakuzu's hearts twitched slightly at the same time.
Let alone defecting...
During the early days when the one-country, one-village system was just established, he was also just a hot-blooded youth. He probably would have had an incredibly strong will to fight to the death just like Yashiro, right?
Kakuzu couldn't help but look at the beaming Yashiro Uchiha, whispering to himself: "You really are a lucky kid. Being born an Uchiha is lucky, but being born in Konoha is unlucky. Yet, you just happened to encounter the Third Hokage..."
Yashiro said as a matter of fact: "I am indeed quite lucky. If I can join Root, I'll be even luckier. Using a magnificent death to protect my comrades, letting my name be engraved in the ninja academy textbooks..."
"By the way, don't you think that's very cool?"
Kakuzu nodded silently.
He had a thought.
"By the way, didn't you encounter a strong enemy?"
"If one day, the Third Hokage orders you to assassinate an enemy like Hashirama Senju or Madara Uchiha, what would you do?"
Kakuzu asked softly, "As a reward for your answer, I won't charge for this Storm Release shinobi; I'll give him to Konoha for free."
Yashiro Uchiha pondered.
"I definitely wouldn't be able to win... But since Lord Hokage gave the order, I would go execute it."
"If he asked me to face such an enemy, he definitely wouldn't send me alone. It would probably be to hold down the strong enemy head-on, creating an opportunity for other fronts..."
"When a war breaks out, everyone's head is tied to their waistband, doing jobs that cost lives. Lord Hokage would also definitely be the first to rush in and fight, so there's nothing to complain about."
"If everyone was afraid of death, how could we defeat the enemy? We are shinobi..."
Kakuzu sighed.
He understood now.
In Konoha, even sending shinobi to an obvious death on a highly controversial mission would not be questioned.
This could only prove that the village's system was incredibly popular, to a highly exaggerated degree.
"Then what if no one supports you, and you are sent to your death alone? And it has nothing to do with other fronts either..." Driven by some inexplicable impulse, Kakuzu asked, unwilling to give up.
"How could that happen? That doesn't conform to the Will of Fire..."
Yashiro Uchiha was full of questions. "For the sake of your Storm Release shinobi, taking a step back, if one day I am forcibly ordered to execute this mission..."
"Then I will go execute it first; that is my duty as a shinobi. But I will leave a letter for Clan Head Fugaku and Isshin, those two Konoha High Commissioners. They will go and raise the issue with Lord Hokage..."
"If my death can make the village's system more perfect, it can be considered a good thing."
"Moreover, the kind of situation you mentioned doesn't exist."
"Konoha is not a paradise; it's impossible to ensure every shinobi survives. But it is fair here. For a shinobi, isn't fairness enough?"
Kakuzu sighed.
He couldn't argue anymore.
Indeed, sometimes people live for a single breath, for that feeling of not being bullied and being treated fairly.
If everyone is risking their lives, then risking one's own life is completely acceptable.
Furthermore, Kakuzu keenly noticed the point about "Konoha High Commissioners" being able to raise issues with the Hokage.
When Hizashi introduced himself, he specifically pointed to the badge on his uniform and mentioned this title.
"What do your Konoha High Commissioners do?" Kakuzu wasn't in a hurry to find Hiruzen Sarutobi anymore; chatting with Yashiro Uchiha would yield more authentic firsthand information.
After all, Yashiro looked like someone who wasn't very smart.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi was a seasoned veteran. Even Kakuzu wasn't confident in saying his experience was superior to the Hokage's.
After all, one was a bounty hunter, and the other was the Kage of the strongest hidden village.
This wasn't something living twenty or thirty years longer could compensate for.
"In Konoha, every Jonin manages a corresponding group of shinobi, collecting their opinions and views on the village, and providing real-time feedback and resolution."
"If the Jonin can't solve it, they will report it to the Konoha High Commissioner managing them. Every Konoha High Commissioner is a hero with extraordinary skills."
Speaking of this, a flash of envy appeared in Yashiro's eyes. "I want to be one too... But it can't be helped, for our Uchiha generation, it will definitely be Fugaku and Seisui."
"The Clan Head has to take one spot, and the most outstanding talent takes another. I could take another path; the strong always have opportunities, but my abilities are a bit lacking. Being able to enter Root would be very good."
Yashiro sighed. "Let alone Seisui, I can't even beat Big Brother Fugaku..."
Kakuzu glanced at Yashiro. "Fugaku? Is he the other one who was arm in arm with Danzo just now?"
Yashiro nodded.
That guy isn't weak. My combat intuition has always been accurate. He is a formidable shinobi.
Kakuzu was somewhat dazed.
Yashiro thought Fugaku was weak, which meant that such a man was at the bottom of the Konoha High Commissioners' comprehensive qualities.
Konoha is truly full of talents!
Some doubts arose in Kakuzu's heart.
But obviously, this question could not be answered by a Konoha shinobi at Yashiro Uchiha's level.
He had to ask Hiruzen Sarutobi face-to-face.
"Konoha..." Kakuzu slowly chanted the village's name in his heart.
Although deep down he still didn't want to admit it.
His gaze that looked around everywhere slightly exposed his true inner thoughts.
The former Kakuzu believed the one-country, one-village system was too hypocritical, not even as real as the coldness of the Warring States period.
So after leaving Takigakure, he chose to use money as the order in his heart.
But looking at it now, perhaps he just hadn't found the right place...
"Let's go, Lord Hokage already told me he's waiting for you at the training ground," Yashiro said to Kakuzu.
The two slowly walked through the village.
When they reached the Administration Department building, Kakuzu's gaze narrowed.
He saw several Kirigakure shinobi gathered in front of a notice board, their eyes filled with longing.
It was Kisame, Mei Terumi, Kimimaro, and Yuki.
The influence of the Fireside Chat was immense.
Not only on the shinobi within Konoha village, but it also had a significant impact on these international students from Kirigakure.
So a 'Kage' can actually be this approachable...
The village can actually provide a safety net for shinobi, and everyone can twist together like a rope to help each other!
So even after a few months, Kisame and the others still felt deeply shocked, and would occasionally come to the Administration Department to check Konoha's latest policies.
Although these had nothing to do with them, just looking at it made them feel a sense of participation.
"There's even a subsidy for childbirth?" Mei Terumi sighed. "This is too comprehensive!"
"In a month, we'll be going back to Kirigakure. Our one year is almost up." Kimimaro spoke coldly, glancing at Yuki beside him.
The four of them did not share the same mindset.
Kimimaro and Yuki were basically openly rebellious now, just waiting to return to Kirigakure to persuade their clansmen to prepare to run away.
Mei Terumi was a fantasy faction.
Although she was a Kekkei Genkai shinobi, her family had close ties with the Third Mizukage, so she was still thinking if they could change Kirigakure.
Finally, there was Kisame, a candidate for the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, a native faction loyal to the Mizukage. Recently, he had been hypnotizing himself with the thought that Kirigakure would also get better...
Kimimaro already had his eyes on Kisame. He planned to find his clansmen to operate behind the scenes once he returned to the village, throwing Kisame into the "Internal Affairs Department" to let him get a good look at Kirigakure's bloodiest side.
Fantasies must always be broken!
"Konoha Mutual Aid Fund..." Kisame stared at this line of text, shaking his head.
When Hiruzen Sarutobi implemented this policy, he specifically emphasized it was completely voluntary, not forcing everyone to participate.
But to support the Hokage, and of course to obtain this welfare, shinobi completely blocked the gates of the Administration Department the next morning, bustling with discussion and praise.
Kisame and the others naturally couldn't participate, but they unconsciously followed along, watching the flushed and excited faces of the Konoha shinobi warmly chatting about the village's future.
This feeling, even a shinobi like Kisame found hard to describe.
"It's like a dog squatting on the side of the road, watching people have a banquet..." Recalling the feeling of that day, Kisame muttered to himself as if possessed, "Under Lord Mizukage's Blood Mist Village, Kirigakure will also become as good as Konoha. Kirigakure shinobi will not be dogs; one day they will also become people who can sit at the table to eat!"
Kimimaro glanced at Kisame, chuckling internally.
Over the past few months, after finishing his sparring duties at the ninja academy, Kimimaro had been studying intensely with Tenzo Hyuga, absorbing knowledge from this 'second grand-uncle' of his.
So the current Kimimaro could also be considered a highly educated intellectual of the Kaguya clan.
"Second grand-uncle said, this kind of shinobi is the most dangerous. They have an extremely strong self-awareness and ability, so you can't use hard tactics, you can only use soft ones..."
"Even in the Hyuga clan, with the control of the Caged Bird, a smart Main Branch would not be so harsh on such a Branch Family member; it would plant a landmine for the family..."
"I will not give the Third Mizukage and his subordinates a chance to win over Kisame! I want him to see Kirigakure's bloodiest side, the most disgusting aspect that is completely different from Konoha..."
The battle-tested Warring States ninja clan warrior Tenzo imparted his core teachings to Kimimaro.
So that after returning to Kirigakure, he could quickly screen out Kaguya clansmen who could be won over.
It could be considered reverse engineering the secret manual.
Kakuzu passed by them, and Kimimaro and the others also noticed this strong individual from an outside village.
Their gazes met.
Kimimaro's heart tightened.
"This guy looks like he's not to be messed with. Oh no, why did he come to Konoha? And Big Brother Yashiro is receiving him, does he want to join Konoha too?"
"Isn't this stealing our Kaguya clan's thunder!" Kimimaro suddenly became somewhat anxious.
He wished he could immediately return to Kirigakure and quickly lay out his plans.
"Sure enough, there are still many smart people in this ninja world! Konoha's goodness is going to gradually spread across the ninja world..." Kimimaro gritted his teeth.
However, Kimimaro was actually overly worried.
Konoha's advantages had not yet been widely known by other hidden villages in the ninja world. But with the anxious Kimimaro present, it was visibly clear that it would be vigorously disseminated in Kirigakure...
Konoha Second Training Ground.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat cross-legged in a sea of fire, bare-chested, with a faint curse mark protecting his lower body.
He closed his eyes and concentrated, his figure robust and upright, his muscle lines tight.
The raging fire burned across his skin, yet left no burns, instead gliding delicately like flowing water.
Kakuzu and Yashiro slowly walked to the entrance of the training ground, liaised with the Anbu at the door, and slowly walked in.
Seeing this scene, their gazes froze.
What is Lord Hokage doing?
A shinobi's body is very fragile.
Even Jonin and many well-known experts didn't have much difference in physical strength compared to ordinary Chunin or Special Jonin.
Only someone with an Earth Grudge Fear body like Kakuzu had special physical strength.
But without using ninjutsu to strengthen the body, one couldn't reach the level of taking a Fire Release unscathed.
"If he covered his face, given the Hokage's physical strength and robustness, I would have thought I was looking at the Raikage..." Kakuzu mumbled in his heart.
He remembered the day he traded blows with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Earth Grudge Fear Ultimate Shooting vs. Five Release Great Combo Technique.
Looking at it now, Kakuzu felt that Hiruzen Sarutobi might not even need to use ninjutsu; just using taijutsu, he might be able to beat him until he ran all over the ground.
What happened to the Professor of Ninjutsu? Why is he taking the physical route!
What Kakuzu didn't know was...
Hiruzen Sarutobi was a cautious person.
The body is the capital of everything. The fragile body of a shinobi combined with the high attack power of ninjutsu made him feel very insecure.
"Kakuzu, Yashiro."
"Come, use Fire Release on me!" Hiruzen looked up, a smile in his eyes.
Yashiro and Kakuzu froze.
Under Hiruzen's encouraging gaze, the two hesitantly formed hand seals.
"Fire Release: Searing Migraine!"
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Nail Crimson!"
An overwhelming amount of flames covered Hiruzen's body. Kakuzu and Yashiro stared intently at the Hokage.
Yashiro even activated his three-tomoe Sharingan, devoutly watching Hiruzen's robust physical body, a look of worry appearing on his face.
Through the Sharingan, Yashiro didn't see Hiruzen using chakra to protect his body's surface.
"Please be careful, Lord Hokage!" Yashiro couldn't help reminding him.
Hiruzen nodded, feeling the burning and scorching sensation from his body's surface, and exhaled a breath of stale air.
"Having a certain degree of resistance to Fire-nature chakra..."
"There's accident and uncertainty when others strike, which is actually beneficial for training..."
"I can already withstand the nature transformation of Fire-nature chakra at Yashiro's level. Kakuzu's can still harm me; if I get hit head-on several times, there will be obvious damage without using Lightning Armor."
Hiruzen slowly stood up, his body surface turning a coppery red because of it.
And a bizarre scene occurred at this moment.
His heart glowed faintly, and the violent flames suddenly became docile.
The flow of fire slowly seeped in along his muscle texture, flowing directly into his heart, like seawater retreating into a whirlpool.
Yashiro Uchiha watched this scene dumbfounded.
Huh?
Is Lord Hokage absorbing the flames with his body?
Even Kakuzu, a veteran of the ninja world who fancied himself knowledgeable, had a shocked expression.
"A jutsu formula to absorb chakra? No, if it were Dark Release, there should still be a conversion time for the Fire Release, it wouldn't be rendered completely powerless in an instant."
"This is almost as if it was sealed; only Sealing Jutsu could have such a domineering effect."
Kakuzu analyzed in a low voice.
"This looks like the Fire Sealing Method Big Brother Fugaku mentioned," Yashiro blinked.
After Fugaku was asked to read more books, he read some ancient texts.
However, as soon as he learned a little bit, he liked to show off to prove his extensive knowledge.
The Fire Sealing Method was one of them.
"Yashiro, my boy, let me tell you, our Uchiha clan's Fire Release is not invincible!"
"You must be humble. The Fire Sealing Method's suppression of Fire Release only requires a specially made scroll as a medium. Even Amaterasu, the ultimate dojutsu of Fire Release, would find it hard to break through this seal," Fugaku had previously said to Yashiro complacently.
"Yo, good eye, Yashiro!"
Hiruzen exhaled a scorching breath. "This can be considered an internalization of the Fire Sealing Method, but I'm not very proficient yet. Absorbing both of your Fire Releases is already my limit; I need some time to digest it."
Yashiro and Kakuzu both looked confused.
What does 'internalization of a Sealing Jutsu' mean?
A walking Sealing Jutsu, is it!
"You are truly impervious to water and fire now."
"If you continue cultivating, even the legendary strongest Fire Release of the Uchiha clan, Amaterasu, the so-called inextinguishable fire and strongest physical attack, would be useless even if it burned you."
Yashiro said excitedly.
When Hiruzen got stronger, he felt a sense of shared honor, as if he himself was also getting stronger.
Kakuzu couldn't help frowning.
What kind of talk is this...
It sounds like the Uchiha have long been thinking about using Amaterasu to burn the Hokage... what a 'beautiful' sentiment.
"If it's the Uchiha, it's actually normal," Kakuzu muttered internally.
Even though Uchiha shinobi hadn't walked the ninja world for a long time, the EQ jokes about the 'red eyes' were widely circulated in the ninja world.
Yashiro seemed to realize it too and hurriedly wanted to find a way to patch things up.
But Hiruzen interrupted him with a smile. "If I can continue to improve in the future, and an Uchiha shinobi also awakens this dojutsu, we could actually give it a try."
"Don't be nervous, Yashiro. We are family, there's no need to be so formal when talking, just be casual."
"Your loyalty needs no further elaboration."
Yashiro chuckled. He knew his worries were actually a bit unnecessary.
Lord Hokage was not someone who picked faults and put hats on people!
Kakuzu was thoughtful. Perhaps this was why the Uchiha clan put up huge slogans in the Police Force.
An incredibly powerful expert who could still hold an extremely tolerant attitude towards a shinobi clan that once had a rift with him... this was truly rare in the ninja world.
Suddenly, Kakuzu thought of an acquaintance.
That was Hashirama Senju, who had once let him go.
"The figure of that person? I can't say he completely embodies it, but there is indeed a touch of that spirit."
"Yashiro, go about your business first. I will talk with Mr. Kakuzu," Hiruzen said.
Kakuzu slowly stepped forward and, at Hiruzen's gesture, sat side-by-side with him on the bench.
"How is it?"
"The Konoha under my governance has some changes compared to before, right?" Hiruzen said with a smile, "However, there are still many shortcomings."
"Do you have any advice for me?"
Kakuzu's expression froze. The Hokage was actually asking for his opinion?
"I am just a bounty hunter, a rogue ninja from Takigakure. What good advice could I possibly have for Konoha?"
Kakuzu smiled self-deprecatingly. "Wasting these years in the ninja world, I've only dealt with corpses and money."
"You are knowledgeable and experienced. Our perspectives on problems are also different."
Hiruzen shook his head. "Who can be perfect? We always need to pool our wisdom and efforts, finding problems together and building together."
Kakuzu was speechless.
He was even more confirmed that Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't act like a shinobi.
"If we're talking about problems... I actually have a few questions I'd like to ask Lord Hokage first, may I?"
Kakuzu said softly.
After getting Hiruzen's agreement, Kakuzu frowned and said, "Lord Hokage, why do you scatter all this gleaming silver to the poor?"
"Even if it's to gather people's hearts, your tilt towards the bottom is excessive. Concentrating advantages to supply the Jonin is enough; they are the foundation of your rule over the village."
"I don't understand. This is not the method for economic maximization."
Hiruzen smiled.
Kakuzu's thinking was like a merchant, conducting the most extreme, self-interested cost accounting.
"The poor are also people. Many of them just lack starting resources."
"My disciples Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Sakumo, Hiruko, and many Konoha Jonin... their backgrounds were not wealthy, but they still grew up."
"Some were poor but had luck, for example, being taken as a disciple by me."
"But perhaps there are shinobi with the same talent as them who didn't have this luck, possibly getting trapped on the struggling line of life, affecting their golden period of development."
"One million Ryo is not much for you or me, but for a Genin who has lost family support, it can allow him to settle down and realize his talent."
Kakuzu subconsciously asked, "Then what if there is no high rate of return? Most shinobi do not have the talent to become experts."
"This is where your considerations differ from mine. Wars between hidden villages are different from lone wolf operations."
"Any large-scale battlefield requires a large number of relatively mediocre shinobi to fill the front lines, hold various key points for the defense line, and prevent enemy infiltration and flanking." Hiruzen said slowly, "They will block the sharpest first wave of attacks from the enemy, and will also obtain precious intelligence from it, laying the foundation for elite troops to secure victory."
"So the casualties are very high."
"Letting them become as strong as possible is extremely beneficial to Konoha's military strength." Hiruzen sighed. "Moreover, this will also give shinobi more of an advantage when facing the enemy, and a greater chance of surviving on the cruel battlefield."
Kakuzu looked directly at Hiruzen and asked solemnly, "But... this doesn't benefit you much, does it? I am very curious, why would you want to take care of these shinobi?"
"I want to hear your truest thoughts!"
"Perhaps because I am Lord Hashirama's disciple," Hiruzen said without changing his expression. He believed the First Hokage's name was a special attack against Kakuzu.
He was practically the succubus of the First Ninja World.
"Lord Hashirama was so powerful. Besides Madara Uchiha and a few others, other shinobi in front of him were like you and me facing an ordinary Genin."
"But he still restrained his power. For the peace and happiness of the majority, he chose to create Konoha, and thus ended the Warring States period."
"If it weren't for Lord Hashirama, perhaps I wouldn't have survived until now, and wouldn't have had the space to grow," Hiruzen said seriously.
"You can't be serious. No matter what, you're a genius!" Kakuzu said hesitantly.
"I was only a few years old when the chaotic times ended. And in that cruel era, did few young geniuses die?" Hiruzen said slowly. "Lord Hashirama wouldn't calculate so-called extreme benefit maximization; he wanted to let everyone survive as much as possible. Otherwise, he could completely dominate anyone and launch massacre after massacre."
"I am a person with little ability, far too inferior compared to Lord Hashirama. But his broad-mindedness and figure will be forever engraved in my heart."
"So, I only want to realize what Lord Hashirama thought in his heart as much as possible. After all, I am a generation that grew up bathed in his grace. A man must know how to repay gratitude."
Hiruzen advanced by retreating, tying his name together with Hashirama's.
And the so-called repaying gratitude was explicitly about himself, but implicitly poking at Kakuzu's heart.
"What Lord Hokage says is true."
Kakuzu sighed softly. The image of Hashirama letting him go back then surfaced in his mind: Young man, you're quite skilled! Just bad luck, be careful not to be harmed by others in the future!
Hashirama's hearty laughter seemed to cross time and space, echoing in Kakuzu's ears once again.
If Hashirama had the same mindset as him, could he have lived to this day?
Obviously impossible.
"Lord Hokage, then what do you think about the saying of the face and the lining?" Kakuzu suddenly raised a strange question, his tone becoming slightly sharp. "Is it keeping the good side for yourself and letting others bear the bad side?"
After Kakuzu finished speaking, even he felt it was too presumptuous.
But he truly wanted to know.
As someone who had been hurt by a hidden village, he was particularly sensitive to any kind of "scapegoating" behavior, and extraordinarily desired to get Hiruzen Sarutobi's perspective.
If even this question could be explained...
Kakuzu felt that Konoha was his ideal dream organization, the only flaw being that he hadn't joined...
Hiruzen pondered for a while.
In the ninja world, this question was actually a bit out of scope.
He needed to organize his words.
"Uniting people's hearts comes from righteous narratives and moral consensus. And as the person expounding this system, I naturally need to avoid being tainted by too much darkness."
"But for a village to survive, especially in the ninja world, it must handle covert risks and grey missions that cannot be brought to the table, using tough and even dark methods to defend the organization's bottom line of survival."
"I need to establish an image of a strong leader who absolutely follows the rules. Once there is a slight imbalance in this aspect, due to my significant influence in the village, it will cause a large number of shinobi to lose trust in the rules."
"Therefore, I need other people to do this work for me, to act as the 'lining' you spoke of."
Hiruzen said sincerely.
These words were spoken so straightforwardly that Kakuzu was stunned listening to them.
This wasn't an excuse, but rather seemed like he was teaching him how to be Hokage.
"Those shinobi who do the dirty work, who are immersed in darkness, I see them all."
Hiruzen said softly, "For example, Danzo, the past Uchiha, Root. They sacrificed a lot, but sometimes invited misunderstandings from their comrades."
"Therefore, I also need to provide a safety net for them, using my influence to make their sacrifices public, giving them the commendations and honors they deserve, as well as substantial material treatment."
"On the other hand, I can also use my influence to restrain them, so they don't excessively break the rules."
"The lining handles things that are inconvenient for me to do, and I, as the face, help extricate them from the darkness, so that one day they can stand in the light with a prouder posture."
"They are not knives that can be discarded after use, but heroes moving forward carrying heavy burdens for me, for the village."
"I admit, this set of systems is not perfect, but it is the optimal solution I can find at the moment."
Hiruzen enunciated every word clearly.
Kakuzu slowly exhaled a long breath, his expression full of emotion.
As a shinobi...
What is the most terrifying thing? It's not sacrifice, it's not dedication, it's executing a mission with no reward.
Applied to the 'lining,' it means after finishing the work, being treated like a chamber pot, kicked away and disposed of when no longer useful.
That was what happened to the former Kakuzu in Takigakure.
But in Konoha.
Whether it was the Uchiha, Danzo, or the commended Anbu...
Various facts were telling Kakuzu that Hiruzen Sarutobi never owed those who worked for him.
Even if they had stains on them, turning hostile and dealing with them would be very easy.
For example, Root and Danzo. As long as Hiruzen Sarutobi slightly instigated things, Konoha shinobi would only have anger towards them.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't. He even stooped down and gave them transcendent treatment.
"Truly magnanimous, Lord Hokage..."
Kakuzu sighed from the bottom of his lungs. "I really like your explanation."
Hiruzen didn't beautify himself, but told Kakuzu the real operational mechanism of the village.
And it was precisely this authenticity that struck a soft spot Kakuzu couldn't avoid in all five of his hearts.
Complete honesty!
"Konoha is truly a good village."
"What a pity, I am a rogue ninja originating from Takigakure, and have wasted all these years in the ninja world," Kakuzu sighed.
"It's not a pity. You are a young talent that Lord Hashirama once lamented over." Hiruzen made a joke. "With your Earth Grudge Fear, you are still a young man, the road ahead is still very long..."
The road is still very long?
Kakuzu looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, his heart trembling.
Hiruzen Sarutobi also looked straight at Kakuzu, his gaze calm and firm.
"Lord Hokage, I heard..."
"Konoha allows other shinobi to join? The Tsuchigumo and Iburi clans joined the village's reserve forces..." Kakuzu said subconsciously.
"Of course, we welcome all like-minded shinobi who agree with the Will of Fire."
"Origins are instead the least important thing."
Kakuzu nodded, seemingly unintentionally.
A moment later, he said softly, "Then what do you think of me?"
Kakuzu was slightly nervous.
His reputation in the ninja world was truly terrible.
One couldn't say it was as renowned across the ninja world as Tobirama's, but he would also be strictly monitored if he passed by a major hidden village.
After all, no organization likes a powerful lone wolf.
"Me getting Kakuzu is like Lord Hashirama getting Sensei!"
Unexpectedly, Hiruzen laughed heartily and enthusiastically, firmly grasping Kakuzu's hand with considerable force. "Actually, I wanted to ask you just now, but I was afraid you'd find it presumptuous."
"I heard long ago from Anbu shinobi that you are a famous financial expert in the ninja world. Right now, Konoha's annual industrial profit is around five billion Ryo, and that's not counting missions!"
"If you come, I want to invite you to be my financial expert, summarizing, conducting secondary approval, and supervising the income and expenditure of all funds in the future..."
Hiruzen let out a long sigh of relief as if freed from a burden. "There are too few shinobi in the village who understand this. From now on, I finally have someone I can communicate with!"
Kakuzu's eyes widened.
Wait.
I just asked you if I could, why did you start off with an ultimate move?
Logically speaking, shouldn't you think about it for a bit and then say yes or decline?
Konoha has its own circumstances; put me through a series of tests, for example, let me enter a reserve force like the Iburi clan, and then wait for an opportunity to make a contribution before giving me full status!
You just handed over five billion to me to manage right off the bat. Although it's not total control, it's still way too unrestrained!
Five billion Ryo...
Kakuzu couldn't help but calculate in his heart: he would have to kill three to five hundred elite Jonin to gather that much bounty money!
If the five great hidden villages gathered together, it would probably only be about that much!
Even the wealthy Kakuzu was shocked by Konoha's massive gold coins.
"Do you trust me that much?" Kakuzu couldn't help asking.
"I have always employed people without suspicion, and suspected people I don't employ." Hiruzen said with a chuckle. "Actually, logically speaking, joining Konoha requires going through a procedure."
"But you have special talents and combat power, and you have old ties with Lord Hashirama and Lady Mito. You are already an old friend of Konoha."
"To tell you the truth, ever since I knew that as a bounty hunter, you scrupulously abide by the rules, I've been thinking that maybe one day, we could become comrades who rely on each other."
Hiruzen patted Kakuzu's shoulder, laughing heartily like Hashirama. "It seems my intuition was right!"
"I even talked to Lady Mito about this that day." Hiruzen blinked. "Right, you haven't visited the old lady yet, have you?"
Kakuzu was bewildered. "Yes... I haven't visited Lady Mito yet, but I plan to, I brought gifts..."
So he and the Hokage have been kindred spirits for a long time?
Is this the so-called 'bond'?
"That's good, go visit Lady Mito."
Hiruzen said with a smile. "I will send your forehead protector to Lady Mito right now. I hope you can gain her approval and let Lady Mito be your sponsor for joining Konoha."
"This way, no one will say anything. You will have established a foothold in Konoha, and your work will be smoother later, saving you from people causing you trouble."
An outsider shinobi receiving such heavy authority would naturally be viewed with vigilance; Konoha was no exception.
But Mito Uzumaki was a transcendent existence in Konoha.
Moreover, this was a charming anecdote about the Will of Fire and Hashirama!
Kakuzu, who had once been let go by Hashirama, was summoned by the Will of Fire fifty years later and joined Konoha through the approval of Hashirama's widow, Mito...
This was simply exquisite, rare promotional material!
The Will of Fire was practically combusting in this story.
Kakuzu took a deep breath.
He simply didn't know what to say.
He wasn't even a formal Konoha shinobi yet! Hiruzen Sarutobi was already starting to consider his work issues, preemptively removing difficulties for him so he wouldn't face deliberate obstacles.
What is he doing!
Kakuzu felt warm all over, and slightly feverish as if caught in a genjutsu. Even the flow of the black threads in his body seemed to have sped up significantly.
"Lord Hokage..."
"I will go visit Lady Mito immediately!"
"As for the specifics of my work, I will discuss it with you in detail later. I have a better idea that's good for the village."
Kakuzu stood up and said seriously.
His posture was straight; he had clearly already immersed himself in the sequence of Konoha.
"Good! I'll wait for you to come talk to me, but don't rush."
"We must take into account your own work habits, we will solve the problem thoroughly in one go." Hiruzen patted Kakuzu's shoulder. "Go on, send my regards to Lady Mito for me!"
Kakuzu nodded heavily.
Hiruzen smiled as he watched Kakuzu's back figure.
The inherent paranoia of shinobi meant that as long as you hit the soft spot in their hearts, the trope of "their whole body trembling and immediately bowing down in submission" was highly operational.
However, Hiruzen didn't trust Kakuzu completely.
The reason he sent him to find Mito Uzumaki also involved an incredibly critical point.
That was Hiruzen's trust in Mito Uzumaki's Mind's Eye of the Kagura and malice sensing.
An investigation that even Tobirama-sensei couldn't escape back then; in Hiruzen's view, Kakuzu didn't have the ability to either.
Although it was a calculation, it was a matter that benefited all parties.
Hiruzen could confirm Kakuzu's usability, Kakuzu could obtain endorsement and trust, and Mito could reminisce about Hashirama's past deeds and figure.
A win-win situation!
"Fire Release..."
Hiruzen felt the Fire Release he had absorbed within his body, as well as his current Fire Release resistance.
He smiled slightly.
The progress was accelerating.
"I wonder if that stinky brat can give me a surprise when he comes back..." Hiruzen chuckled dryly; he was talking about Jiraiya.
Jiraiya, who was training in seclusion at Mount Myoboku, said he could already barely use Sage Mode in actual combat through advance preparation.
He had sent a letter to Hiruzen Sarutobi, Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Hiruko.
Proudly stating that he had already become a Sage, his strength was incomparable to the past, and he would show it off fiercely when he returned to Konoha!
Calling himself the "Heavenly Disciple Immortal Sudao under the Master of Prophecy of Mount Myoboku in Konoha"!
Hiruzen hadn't seen Sage Mode up close yet, and was very curious about it.
And regarding Jiraiya, this old disciple of his, his hands had actually been itching for a while.
I really want to hit him, feels like he'd have good texture!
As Hokage, Hiruzen couldn't be like Sakumo in his daily training, going to the border to chop up a few spies when he felt he lacked actual combat.
If he moved out of the village, the entire ninja world would have to move.
So he could only engage in actual combat with the shinobi in the village in the name of sparring and exchange.
Originally, Hiruzen had his eyes set on Tobirama.
He planned to trade blows with his youthful sensei.
But Jiraiya swaggered about, wanting Hiruzen Sarutobi to see his prowess.
Then it would be a waste not to beat him up!
Anbu.
Danzo, who had sobered up, or rather, hadn't been drunk at all, looked extremely satisfied at Seisui in front of him.
The play-acting with Isshin and Fugaku was mainly so that the shinobi would spread the news, letting everyone in the village know they had reconciled, wrapping things up neatly like a dumpling.
Otherwise, behind closed doors, who would know?
And in Danzo's eyes, the more he looked at "Seisui," the more satisfied he became.
The more he looked, the more he felt he didn't resemble Izuna, but was carved from the exact same mold as his sensei!
Of course, only Danzo would think this, because the habit of staring at Tobirama's photo every day made him unconsciously magnify the features on "Seisui's" face that related to Tobirama.
But interestingly...
Tobirama with a cold face finished reading the documents and ninjutsu Danzo gave him.
And uttered a surprisingly unexpected sentence: "How could you perfect the Wind Release Chakra Mode from this angle? You don't understand the basic principles of perfecting ninjutsu at all!"
"It's obvious."
"You should start with nature transformation, use the Hozuki clan's Hydrification Technique's starting structure as a reference, supplemented by the aerodynamics of airflow as an extension. If you do it your way, you won't complete this jutsu in your lifetime."
Danzo was stunned.
Facing the blueprint of ideas handed over by "Seisui", Danzo subconsciously asked, "How do you know so much?"
Tobirama spoke self-righteously, having planned this long ago: "My younger brother is Shisui. His family has ancient texts and research ideas left by Tobirama Senju. Can't one understand these things with just a glance?"
"Lord Second organized them so simply and easy to understand..."
"I'm very curious, as his disciple, why can't you even understand this?"
Danzo showed a confused expression for the first time in a long while.
He naturally knew what the so-called Tobirama's ancient texts and research ideas referred to.
Everyone in the personal guard had a copy back then. Tobirama-sensei hoped they would inherit his mantle, and everyone would at least understand a little bit of research.
But terribly, no one could understand them back then.
Including Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Because Tobirama's thinking was too jumpy. Many logical steps and research inspirations that seemed matter-of-fact to him were always represented by one "obviously" after another.
Even Danzo, who respected Tobirama so much, had complained to Hiruzen Sarutobi when they were young: "Where exactly is the 'obviously' here?"
Danzo stood up with a swish, his palms trembling slightly unconsciously, and read it meticulously.
After a long time, he took a deep breath forcefully.
This feeling...
It was almost as if Tobirama-sensei had come back to life!
He was helping him complete this jutsu!
"Seisui..."
Danzo stared at Tobirama, the fanaticism in his eyes like a burning fire. "I will definitely help you become Hokage!"
Tobirama curled his lip.
I won't be Hokage!
You understand after doing it once, it's as tiring as peeling off a layer of skin. How is it as comfortable as now?
I've been tired my whole life; it's time I enjoyed a bit of personal freedom!
After all, Hiruzen is doing a great job...
"Your top priorities right now are, one, perfecting the Wind Release Chakra Mode according to my ideas, and two, adjusting the organizational structure of Anbu's intelligence department. Finish the work at hand first."
Tobirama brought over another piece of paper. "According to the ancient texts left by Lord Second, the intelligence work on the periphery of Anbu emphasizes single-point silence, single-line contact, and nodes not crossing each other."
"The current situation of these few spies is very dangerous, you must adjust it quickly!"
Danzo frowned. He felt his work was fine.
But after seeing Tobirama's annotations, his back unconsciously became a bit wet.
Did I really not thoroughly understand Tobirama-sensei's teachings from back then?
How could this be!
"There's no need to be overly harsh on yourself. You are the Anbu Commander; with so many affairs, there will always be some omissions."
"Now I am here to check for gaps and fill loopholes for you."
Tobirama patted Danzo's shoulder. "I'll leave first. You and the Uchiha clan shinobi performed very well today, but it still seemed slightly deliberate."
"Next time, you can try inspecting with a smile, using your inherent persona to create a sense of contrast."
Danzo nodded, speaking as if by muscle memory, "Alright, I understand!"
A moment later, after hearing a heavy door close, Danzo finally reacted.
Wait.
He was the master!
"Seisui" clearly became his disciple, yet hadn't called him 'master' even once!
Why did he get his work comprehensively rectified before he even spoke, and was even given homework?
"Truly worthy of being Tobirama-sensei's grandson."
"This is the talent who truly inherited Tobirama-sensei's mantle; he must become Hokage!" Danzo read Tobirama's annotations again and sighed sincerely.
"However, I won't admit defeat. I will definitely make Seisui call me master sincerely from the bottom of his heart one day!"
Just as Danzo was fantasizing...
The next day.
Tobirama, who had returned to the Uchiha clan compound.
Actually encountered a very major hurdle.
Under the joint arrangement of Danzo and Isshin, Tobirama and Tomie Uchiha met.
Although Tobirama was interested, he wasn't in a hurry.
But he couldn't withstand Isshin and Danzo, both of whom wanted the bloodline of Izuna and Tobirama to flow in Konoha once again.
One could only say that these were originally two wildly divergent intentions, but they surprisingly harmonized perfectly.
Opposite Tobirama.
Tomie Uchiha chatted with him sporadically.
This eighteen-year-old girl had a beautiful face, long black hair, fair skin, and a crimson tear mole at the corner of her eye.
But strangely, her expression was indifferent and hollow, seemingly apathetic to everything.
Izuna watched Tomie nervously from within Tobirama's body, his internal warning landmines about to explode!
Warning! Warning!
This look is too standard.
"Seisui, run quickly! Something's wrong with this one, trust me, don't talk to her about family and trauma! If you actually chat until she's interested in you, then it's over..."
Izuna said repeatedly.
Tobirama, however, paid no mind.
Just chatting, what's so scary?
"Are you an orphan too? I am too."
Tomie Uchiha said softly, "It seems we have a common topic..."
"The village and the clan are my family, are you the same?" Tobirama asked tentatively.
His early warning radar had also activated.
However, it had nothing to do with an Uchiha landmine girl, but rather that he caught the scent of an extreme Uchiha on Tomie.
"Lord Hokage is doing a good job, but I..."
Tomie shook her head gently. "I don't know how to face the village. But actually, it doesn't matter, these things have nothing to do with me anymore. Honestly, you shouldn't have come to see me today."
Tobirama's heart chilled. What did she mean by having nothing to do with her?
This was too dangerous!
Tobirama chatted with her cautiously, and the two seemed to converse more and more happily.
Finally, Tomie slightly revealed a bit of her situation: "I have no sense of belonging to the clan or Konoha."
"My father was still muttering about Tobirama Senju right before he died, saying he was going to ruin the clan. He basically died of depression caused by his Police Force policies."
Tobirama ground his teeth.
Oh no, why is there such a situation?
Izuna couldn't help but curse, "This bastard! Harming my clansmen!"
"My grandmother raised me, but she later fell ill, forgot many things, and kept muttering to herself that Grandpa was killed by Izuna Uchiha, that he didn't even spare his own clansmen."
Tobirama forcibly maintained his expression, looking deeply pained.
This did not prove that Izuna didn't love his clansmen.
Back then, when Madara and Izuna had just stepped onto the clan's stage of power, a reign of terror was indispensable; the internal strife of the Uchiha clan during the Warring States period was very fierce.
But this time, it was finally Izuna's turn to lose it.
Wait.
This kind of thing actually exists?
I only purged a few stubborn hardliners back then, and I actually bumped into their descendant, and during a matchmaking session at that?
Especially since he and Tobirama had each killed an important family member of the other, this was even more hellish.
What kind of situation is this!
"Thank you for listening to me tell you these things." Tomie Uchiha tucked her long hair and said softly, "However, let's not meet again. It's not that I'm unsatisfied with you, but I have a Kekkei Genkai disease, and I'm probably going to die soon."
Tobirama and Izuna both lost it together.
This girl cannot die!
☆☆☆
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