Konoha: Caught Tsunade watching a movie! Force her to submit

The soul traveled through Naruto and became Shimura Akira, the son of “Pot King” Danzo!

At the beginning, it is discovered that Princess Tsunade is hiding the “forbidden book”, and the whistleblower system is activated. By collecting black material, you can plunder power and climb to the top of the ninja world step by step!

From then on, there was a pair of eyes that could see through everything in the shadows of Konoha.

He used Tsunade’s “handle” as a weapon and skillfully maneuvered between Senju and Sarutobi, turning the proud princess into a chess piece in his hand.

He reached a devil’s contract with Orochimaru, who pursued forbidden knowledge, and shared dark research that could subvert the world, arming himself with technology and ruthlessness.

On the bloody stage of the First and Second Ninja World Wars, he was the calmest planner and the most ruthless reaper.

The stupidity of his enemy is his ladder, the ‘stain’ of the hero is his weapon.

He carefully planned every ‘accident’ and directed every ‘achievement’.

Konoha: Caught Tsunade watching a movie! Force her to submit
Chapter 1 Shimura Aki
An indescribable pain, as if countless steel needles were piercing his temples at the same time, pulled Shimura Aki out of the chaotic darkness.
He opened his eyes suddenly, his vision was blurry and his ears were buzzing. It took him a while to gradually focus.
What came into view was a completely unfamiliar scene.
The quaint wooden ceiling has delicate texture and exudes a faint wood fragrance.
There is soft tatami under me, which feels slightly cool.
He struggled, propped himself up with his still-unresponsive arms, and looked around.
This is a typical Japanese-style room with paper shoji doors. A landscape painting with a profound artistic conception hangs on the wall. In the corner there is a low table with a set of exquisite-looking tea sets on it.
The air was filled with a faint smell of herbs mixed with the fragrance of wood. It was not unpleasant, but it made him feel more strange and uneasy.
Everything here exudes a strong Japanese style, but upon closer inspection, it seems to be different from the Japanese-style decoration in modern society in his memory. It looks more ancient and more…real.
His body felt unusually heavy and weak, and every breath pulled at his chest, causing slight pain.
He tried to move his fingers. Fortunately, although they were weak, they could still move.
He slowly moved his body, carefully sat up, and leaned his back against the cold wall, trying to sort out his confused thoughts.
Who am I? Where am I?
He remembered that he was on his way home after working overtime. Due to staying up late for several days in a row, he was in a trance and seemed to be hit by an out-of-control truck… The violent impact and the sudden darkness still lingered on the edge of his senses.
So, this is a hospital? Or… the afterlife?
He subconsciously raised his hand and touched his face. It felt tender and soft. This was definitely not the face of an adult who had been weathered and beaten by society.
While wondering, he caught a glimpse of an ancient bronze mirror standing not far away.
The mirror surface is not particularly smooth, but it is enough to reflect the outline of a person.
He took a deep breath, endured the discomfort in his body, struggled to get off the bed, and staggered to the bronze mirror.
In the mirror, a completely unfamiliar boy was reflected.
He was about seven or eight years old, with short, slightly messy black hair sticking to his forehead, and a pale, sickly face.
A pair of equally black eyes were now slightly widened in shock, but deep within the pupils were revealed complex emotions that did not match his age—confusion, shock, and a hint of unbelievable fear.
This face… He looked at the appearance in the mirror carefully, and between the eyebrows and eyes, he could vaguely see some familiar outlines.
It was a sinister and resolute line, which, even on such a tender face, revealed a sense of oppression that could not be ignored.
This outline resembles a famous character he saw in a world-famous anime in his previous life—the “Potter King” who did whatever it took to “protect Konoha” and ultimately bore countless infamy, Danzo Shimura!
“King of pots? Shimura Danzo?”
He muttered to himself, his voice was hoarse and weak, with a childish tone, but it seemed strange because of the horror of the content.
At this moment, a huge stream of information rushed into his mind without warning, like a flood breaking through a dam.
Countless unfamiliar images, sounds, and emotional fragments intertwined together, madly attacking his already fragile nerves.
The severe headache came again, more severe than when he woke up just now. He couldn’t help but let out a low groan of pain. He hugged his head with both hands, squatted down, and his body trembled slightly because of the pain.
These memory fragments belong to the original owner of this body.
This child, named Aki Shimura, is eight years old.
And his father… turned out to be Danzo Shimura, the high-level advisor of Konoha who would stir up the future and was known as the “Dark Ninja”!
Shimura Aki breathed hard, trying to digest this suffocating fact.
He was not dreaming, nor was this a hallucination after death.
He traveled through time and space to the world of Naruto and became the son of Danzo Shimura!
This is the start of hell!
He endured the headache and tried hard to sift out useful information from the chaotic fragments of memory.
It seemed that the original owner had a sudden high fever and his illness recurred, and he eventually died. That’s why his body was taken over by this soul from another world.
I don’t have many memories about my father Danzo.
The original owner was full of awe and even fear towards this father.
Danzo was extremely strict with his only son and rarely showed any affection. Most of the communication between father and son was imperative, full of the scrutiny of a superior and unquestionable majesty.
But deep in his memory, there seems to be a subtle expectation. Danzo seems to hope that this son can inherit his will and glorify the Shimura clan.
He struggled to stand up, walked to the window again and pushed open the wooden lattice.
A fresh air rushed in, carrying the scent of earth and grass.
Outside the window, there are rows of Japanese-style buildings, and occasionally people in ninja costumes pass by quickly on the street.
In the distance, on a towering mountain wall, there are several huge stone statues of human faces carved.
His eyes were fixed on the mountain wall—Hokage Rock!
The first Hokage, Hashirama Senju, the second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, and… Sarutobi Hiruzen! There are only three faces! The fourth face is still a bare rock.
What does this mean? This means that the current time point is the early days of Konoha, when Sarutobi Hiruzen has just succeeded as the Third Hokage! It is even possible that the First Ninja World War has just ended, or is in the recovery period after the war.
Although this era seemed to be more peaceful than the later era when the Akatsuki organization was rampant and the Fourth Ninja World War broke out, it was also full of undercurrents.
The Uchiha clan has not yet perished, conflicts between the major ninja villages are brewing, and his step-father Danzo is also in a critical period of being ambitious and accumulating strength.
Shimura Akira felt a chill running down his spine.
As the son of Danzo Shimura, his identity is both a protection and a shackle and danger.
He could almost foresee that his future path would be full of thorns and calculations.
How will Danzo train him? Will he be made into a cold-blooded tool, or will the blood relationship make a difference?
No matter what, he couldn’t just sit there and wait for death.
He must adapt to this world as quickly as possible, integrate the original owner’s memories and his own knowledge from his previous life, and find a way of survival of his own.
Live, and live better, take control of your own destiny, instead of being a pawn on someone else’s chessboard.
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Chapter 3 Failure! (Old Version)
This sentence sounds high-sounding, but Shimura Aki keenly captured the hidden meaning in it.
Protect what “oneself” wants to protect? For Danzo, that is probably his power, his philosophy, and the “root” of Konoha that he controls.
“I understand, and I will work hard.”
Shimura Aki lowered his head again, his tone holding just the right amount of firmness.
Danzo seemed satisfied with his answer, or perhaps he didn’t care about his young son’s true thoughts. He was just giving orders and observing the results.
Without stopping, he turned and left the room, his footsteps fading away.
It was not until the footsteps completely disappeared at the end of the corridor that Shimura Aki slowly raised his head and let out a long, silent breath.
A layer of cold sweat had unknowingly seeped out of my back.
Every contact with Danzo Shimura is like walking on a tightrope.
This future “An of Shinobi” has a mind as deep as the ocean, and even this relatively young version is definitely not something an eight-year-old can easily fool.
I hope I can get away with it with my performance just now.
He calmed himself down and began to carefully recall the basic knowledge about the ninja school from the original owner’s memory.
The method of refining chakra, the order and key points of the three body techniques (substitution technique, transformation technique, and clone technique)… Although the memory is vague, it is not blank.
Combined with his adult comprehension ability, he should be able to relearn faster than an ordinary child.
“Basic Ninja Training…” He clenched his fists, feeling the weakness of this body.
This is not only to deal with Danzo, but also for his own survival in this dangerous world.
Strength is what he needs most right now.
He lay back on the tatami, closed his eyes, and began to try to sense the energy called “chakra” in his body according to the method he remembered.
This is a long and boring process, but he knows that this is the first and most important step to becoming a ninja.
He had to master it quickly.
From the next day, Shimura Aki’s life became regular and fulfilling, or rather, boring and hard.
Danzo really did what he said and sent a Chunin from the Shimura clan to guide his basic training.
This Chunin’s name is Shimura Aoi, he is in his early twenties, has an ordinary face and is taciturn. Like most Shimura ninjas, he has a slightly gloomy temperament.
His attitude towards Shimura Aki was neither enthusiastic nor indifferent. He was completely impartial and strictly carried out the training tasks assigned by Danzo.
The training location is in an open space in the backyard of the Shimura family residence.
It is very quiet here. Apart from the shouting and the clashing of weapons during training, you can hardly hear any noise from the outside world.
The training content starts from the most basic.
The first is the perception and refinement of chakra.
This is a brand new experience for Shimura Aki.
He sat cross-legged and followed Shimura Aoi’s instructions, trying to empty his mind and feel the special power in his body that was a combination of spiritual and physical energy.
At first, he felt nothing but emptiness.
This made him a little anxious. After all, he had the soul of an adult and his comprehension ability far exceeded that of his peers, but he was stuck at the first step.
But Shimura Aoi just stood there expressionlessly, neither urging nor giving any instructions, like a stone sculpture.
Shimura Aki could only be patient and try again and again.
He recalled the description of chakra in the anime and imagined the energy flowing in his body.
Time passed little by little, sweat soaked his forehead, and just when he was about to give up, finally, a faint warmth, like a trickle, slowly rose in his lower abdomen.
“I feel it!” He said silently in his heart, suppressing his excitement, carefully guiding this weak energy, and letting it circulate in his body according to the refining method.
This process is equally difficult. Chakra is as thin as a gossamer and extremely difficult to control. It will dissipate if you are not careful.
Shimura Aoi seemed to have noticed his progress. His cold face did not change at all. He just said calmly, “Continue.”
After refining the chakra, it is time to practice the three body techniques.
Transformation techniques, substitution techniques, and clone techniques are essential skills for the graduation assessment of the Ninja School. They are also the most basic and most commonly used techniques by Ninjas.
Sealing the seal is the first difficult hurdle.
The twelve basic mudras – Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu and Hai – seem simple, but it takes a lot of practice to combine them quickly and accurately.
Shimura Aki’s fingers are still very tender and flexible, but they are far from enough in terms of strength and speed.
He practiced the seals over and over again, and his fingers often cramped and he grimaced in pain.
Shimura Ao’s requirements are extremely strict. Any mistake in hand seals or any hesitation will be pointed out by him mercilessly, and then the learner will be asked to start over.
“Transformation Technique, make the ‘Not’ Seal, imagine the person you want to transform into, and evenly cover the entire body with chakra.”
Shimura Aoi’s voice was flat.
Shimura Akira concentrated his mind, formed the “Wei” seal, and tried hard to imagine what Shimura Aoi looked like.
With a light “bang” sound and a puff of white smoke, he turned into a… weird creature? He was a little taller than before, his clothes were still his own, and his face looked a bit like Shimura Aoi, but his facial features were distorted and looked very funny.
“fail.
Chakra control is not precise and imagination is not clear enough.
Come again. “
Shimura Aoi’s evaluation was concise and cold.
To practice substitution techniques, you need to prepare round wooden stakes.
At the moment of being attacked, use chakra to swap positions with a nearby substitute object (usually a log).
This requires extremely fast reaction speed and precise chakra control.
Shimura Aki couldn’t react at first. Either he didn’t have time to form a seal, or he failed to use chakra, and he was still standing there.
The art of clones, creating an illusory clone without a physical body to confuse the enemy.
This is relatively simple, but the clone created is blurry and can be seen through at a glance.
In addition to ninjutsu practice, there is also basic physical training.
Running, push-ups, sit-ups, balance training… For an eight-year-old child who had just recovered from a serious illness and had average physical fitness, these trainings were quite intense.
At the end of each day’s training, Shimura Aki was tired like a dead dog, his whole body ached, and he hardly even had the strength to lift a finger.
At dinner, he often couldn’t eat anymore after a few bites and just wanted to fall asleep.
But he didn’t complain or give up.
Because he knew clearly that these hardships were necessary.
He comes from a peaceful world, knows the value of peace, and understands the cruelty of this ninja world.
Without power, you can only be at the mercy of others.
What’s more, the sword of Shimura Danzo is hanging over his head.
Chapter 4 Not Enough (Old Version)
His adult soul gave him willpower and endurance far beyond his peers.
Whenever he was too tired to give up, he would think of the future wars and conspiracies, the powerful enemies, and the cold eyes of his cheap father, then he would grit his teeth and continue to persevere.
“It’s not enough… It’s far from enough…” Sweat slid down his cheeks and dripped onto the ground, but he clenched his teeth and repeated the boring movements again and again.
In addition to training, Shimura Aki would use the excuse of “getting familiar with the village environment” and “relaxing” to move around in a limited area within Konoha Village, accompanied by Shimura Aoi or other assigned caretaker ninjas.
Of course, this kind of “accompaniment” is more like surveillance, and his every move will probably be reported to Danzo.
But he didn’t care. This was a good opportunity for him to understand this era and this village.
He saw the Ninja School.
Although he was not yet eligible to enroll, watching the children of his age chasing and playing on the playground and practicing throwing shurikens from afar still gave him a wonderful feeling.
One day, he really saw three familiar figures near the Ninja School.
A little girl with long golden hair and the rudiments of a diamond-shaped mark on her forehead was standing with her hands on her hips, angrily scolding a little boy with white hair who was smiling like a fool.
There was also a little boy with black hair, black eyes, pale skin and a somewhat gloomy look next to them, who was watching their quarrel with interest.
Tsunade! Jiraiya! Orochimaru!
The future Sannin!
Shimura Akira’s heart skipped a beat.
They all looked so immature right now, Tsunade’s violent tendencies were beginning to show, Jiraiya’s lustful nature… well, that wasn’t apparent yet, and Orochimaru already exuded an evil aura and curiosity about the unknown.
Seeing them, Shimura Aki felt the world he lived in more deeply.
This is not a dream, this is the real world of Naruto. Those characters that once only existed on the screen are now appearing alive in front of him.
He did not go forward to disturb them, but just watched from a distance for a while, then left at the urging of the guarding ninja.
He also saw the prosperous village left behind by the first Hokage, Hashirama Senju.
The streets are spacious and clean, with shops lining both sides. Although the architectural style is simple, it is full of vitality.
Most of the villagers had peaceful smiles on their faces, and children were playing in the streets, creating a thriving scene.
However, beneath this peaceful appearance, Shimura Akiya keenly sensed something that was not easily noticeable.
Some elderly villagers occasionally reveal fear and fatigue of the war in their eyes.
There were quite a few ninjas patrolling the streets, looking alert.
Occasionally, passers-by could be heard whispering, and the content mostly revolved around the war that had just ended, the sacrificed relatives, and the expectations for the new Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen.
“I heard that Sandaime-sama advocates peaceful coexistence with all countries…”
“Peace is good, but how long has the war been over? Will those guys really stay quiet?”
“Master Tobirama was much tougher back then…”
“Shh! Stop talking nonsense!”
These fragmentary conversations confirmed his guess.
Now is indeed the time when the First Ninja World War has just ended and Sarutobi Hiruzen has recently taken over as the Third Hokage.
The village is in the process of post-war recovery, with a lot of work to be done, but it is not immune from all worries.
New contradictions and conflicts seem to have been brewing quietly under the soil of peace.
The relationship between the major ninja villages is probably far from as peaceful as it seems on the surface.
All of this made Shimura Aki more determined to improve his strength as quickly as possible.
In this seemingly peaceful but actually crisis-ridden era, only by mastering enough power can we have the ability to protect ourselves and fight for a chance of survival in the future storms.
At the same time, he also noticed some clues about his father Danzo.
Although Danzo acted in secret, he was, after all, the head of the Shimura clan and a high-ranking official of Konoha.
In the Shimura family mansion, Shimura Aki occasionally saw some strange, gloomy-looking ninjas entering and leaving his father’s study.
These people moved quickly and had solemn expressions, and it was obvious at first glance that they were not ordinary ninjas.
Combining the original owner’s memories and his own guesses, Shimura Aki was almost certain that Danzo was secretly gathering his own strength.
This force may very well be the prototype of the infamous “Root” organization in the future.
“It turns out that the old man has never been content from the beginning…” Shimura Akira said in his heart, and his vigilance towards Danzo deepened a little more.
Living next to such an ambitious person, he must always stay awake and take every step carefully.
The days passed one by one in such boring training and limited observation.
Shimura Aki’s body was gradually adapting to the intensity of the training, he was becoming more and more proficient in refining chakra, and he could barely perform the Three Body Technique successfully, although it was still very unstable.
In Shimura Aoi’s opinion, his progress rate can only be considered average, or even slightly below average.
This is exactly the result of Shimura Aki’s deliberate control.
He didn’t want to appear too genius and draw unnecessary attention and suspicion.
He just needs to show enough effort and potential to fit the image of “not the top-notch qualifications, but hardworking enough”.
He knows that his advantage lies not in his “talents” in this world, but in the information he comes from the future and the way of thinking and resilience brought by an adult soul.
On this day, after the training, Shimura Aki dragged his tired body and was about to go back to his room to rest, but was stopped by a ninja from the Shimura family.
“Master Qiu, Lord Danzo asks you to go to the study.”
The ninja said respectfully.
Shimura Akira’s heart tightened slightly.
His father was looking for him? Was it because of the training? Or… something else? He didn’t dare to neglect it. He simply tidied up his messy clothes, took a deep breath, and followed the ninja towards Danzo’s study.
The Shimura family’s mansion is large and complex in structure, full of the depth and solemnity of a Japanese garden.
The road to the study seemed longer than usual.
Shimura Aki’s steps were steady, but his mind was racing with various possibilities.
The door of the study was closed, and two ninjas with indifferent expressions stood at the door, like statues.
The ninja leading the way asked Yimura Aki to wait for a moment and went forward and knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
Danzo’s deep and majestic voice came from inside.
Chapter 5 The Heir of the Shimura Clan (Old Version)
The ninja pushed the door open, bowed towards the inside, then stepped aside and motioned for Yimura Aki to go in.
Shimura Aki calmed himself down and walked into the study.
The light in the study was a little dim, with only a few oil lamps lit.
The air was filled with a faint scent of ink and old paper.
The layout of the room is very simple, even rudimentary.
A large desk was placed in the center, with some scrolls and documents piled on it.
Behind the desk, there was a huge map of Konoha Village hanging on the wall, with some locations marked with different colors.
On either side were bookshelves reaching to the ceiling, filled with all manner of scrolls and books.
Danzo Shimura was sitting behind the desk, reading a document in his hand. Hearing footsteps, he slowly raised his head, and his sharp eyes locked onto Shimura Aki who was walking in like a hawk.
“Father.”
Shimura Aki walked to a few steps away from the desk and stopped, bowing slightly with a respectful attitude.
Danzo didn’t speak immediately, but just looked him up and down with those scrutinizing eyes.
In the dim light, the lines on his face appeared even colder and harder, and the aura he emanated made the atmosphere in the entire study room become depressing.
Shimura Aki could feel his heartbeat speeding up slightly, but he forced himself to remain calm, lowered his head and waited for his father’s instructions.
After a long while, Danzo put down the documents in his hand, leaned back slightly on the chair, and crossed his hands on the table.
“Cang has reported to me about your recent training.”
His voice was still calm, and no emotion could be heard.
“I have mastered the chakra refining and three body techniques.”
Shimura Akira felt a little relieved. It seemed that the training results were barely acceptable?
“Well, the performance is acceptable.”
Danzo gave an extremely stingy affirmation, but for him, this was already a rare praise.
However, before Shimura Aki had time to breathe a sigh of relief, Danzo changed the subject and his tone became serious: “But, Aki, you have to remember that just mastering these basics is far from enough.”
“Yes, my child understands.”
Shimura Akira responded immediately.
“Understand?” Danzo’s mouth seemed to curl up slightly, with a hint of sarcasm, “Do you really understand?”
He stood up, walked to the window, turned his back to Shimura Aki, and looked out the window at the courtyard shrouded in night.
“We, the Shimura clan, have followed the first and second generations since the founding of Konoha, and have made great contributions to the establishment and stability of the village.”
His voice was deep and powerful, echoing in the silent study, “But you have to know that merit doesn’t guarantee everything.
In this seemingly peaceful village, there are too many undercurrents and crises hidden. “
Shimura Aki listened quietly. He knew that the real “discipline” was about to begin.
“Hokage is the symbol of the village, the light.”
There was a hint of complex emotion in Danzo’s voice, “However, where light cannot shine, darkness will inevitably grow.
We, the Shimura clan, and those who agree with my philosophy, must become the roots that support the great tree of Konoha, taking root in the darkness, absorbing filth, and eradicating threats, in order to protect the bright and beautiful leaves. “
“This is the teaching of the Second Hokage, Tobirama. It is also the belief I have been fighting for my whole life.”
Shimura Aki secretly curled his lips in his heart. The old man began to instill his “root theory” again.
He even brought up the Second Hokage as a shield, acting as if he was so selfless.
“Huruzen… The Sandaime Hokage,” Danzo said with a pause as if he was not impressed, “He is an excellent ninja and has inherited some of his teacher’s will.
However, he is too soft-hearted and places too much emphasis on so-called “feelings” and “bonds”. He lacks sufficient vigilance and ruthless measures against certain threats.”
“Konoha experienced the First Ninja World War, and although it won, it also paid a heavy price.
The village needs to recuperate, but we must never let our guard down.
There are enemies outside who are watching us covetously, and there are also unstable factors inside.
In this case, relying solely on the ‘Will of Fire’ in the sun is not enough.”
Danzo turned around and looked at Shimura Aki with burning eyes: “The future of Konoha will require a stronger leader, more decisive decisions, and the determination to protect the village at all costs.
And you, as my son and heir to the Shimura clan, must have the strength and awareness to shoulder this responsibility.”
Here it comes, here it comes, here comes the key point! Shimura Aki’s heart was filled with alarm bells, but on the surface he showed an expression of listening attentively and thinking deeply.
“I hope you can grow up quickly.”
Danzo’s voice was filled with unquestionable authority, “It’s not just about mastering ninjutsu, but also about understanding my philosophy and inheriting my will.
In the future, you need to be my right-hand man, my sharpest blade, to help me clear all obstacles, strengthen the Shimura clan, and more importantly, ensure that Konoha can continue along the ‘correct’ path. “
Shimura Akira’s heart sank.
As expected, Danzo wanted to train him to be a loyal executor, a tool without his own thoughts.
The so-called “strengthening the Shimura clan” and “for Konoha”, I’m afraid the ultimate goal is to satisfy his own never-extinguished ambition for the position of Hokage!
“The old man is really ambitious!” Shimura Akira complained in his heart, “You said you did it for Muglia, but I think it’s for your own dream of being a Hokage! What do you think of me as? A stepping stone for you to realize your ambition? An inheritor of your will? An inheritor of your will of the ‘Pot King’ who would do anything to achieve his goal and end up killing himself?”
Although his heart was filled with turmoil and his energy of complaining was off the charts, Shimura Aki did not dare to show any of it on his face.
He simply lowered his head slightly, and said in a tone of awe and determination: “Father’s teachings, I will remember them in my heart.
I will definitely work hard and never let my father down.”
He himself felt a little disgusted by what he said, but the situation was stronger than him. Facing this future “An of Shinobi”, what else could he do except to stay alive and play the role of a “filial son”?
Danzo seemed satisfied with his attitude and nodded: “Very good.
Starting tomorrow, your training will become more intense.
In addition to basic training, Cang will begin to teach you some of our Shimura clan’s secret physical skills and basic swordsmanship.”
Chapter 6: Scoop System (Old Version)
“Yes, father!” Shimura Akira was startled. Is the training going to be more intense? It seems that the old man is determined to quickly train this “tool” of his.
“Go down.
Remember, don’t let me down.”
Danzo waved his hand, indicating that he could leave, sat back at the desk, and picked up the document, as if the heart-to-heart (or one-sided indoctrination) conversation had never happened.
Shimura Aki bowed respectfully and then slowly left the study.
After walking out of the study and closing the door, Shimura Aki felt his tense nerves relax a little, isolating himself from the suffocating and oppressive atmosphere.
He let out a long breath, and his forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat again.
This conversation with Danzo made him feel unprecedented pressure.
This old man is not only ambitious, but also has a strong desire for control. He has clearly planned his future – to become his right arm and his blade.
This made Shimura Aki feel a strong sense of suffocation and crisis.
He absolutely did not want to become Danzo’s tool, and even less did he want to walk on that path full of darkness and sin.
What he wants is freedom, the power to control his own destiny.
“I must find a way… I must find a way to deal with it…” As he walked towards his room, he quickly thought of a strategy in his mind.
It is definitely impossible to resist head-on now because he is too weak.
He could only pretend to be submissive and obey Danzo’s arrangements on the surface, working hard to improve his strength, while secretly looking for opportunities to accumulate his own trump cards.
However, facing an old fox like Danzo, how easy is it to do something under his nose?
Just when Shimura Aki was filled with worries about the future, as well as strong resistance and crazy complaints about Danzo’s theory, an emotionless, cold mechanical prompt sound suddenly rang deep in his mind!
[Ding——Strong emotional fluctuations of the host are detected, and the mental energy has reached the critical value…][Meet the conditions for activating the tip-off system…][The tip-off system begins binding…][Binding…1%…15%…48%…87%…100%! ][The tip-off system has been successfully bound! ]This sudden sound made Shimura Aki stop abruptly and his body froze instantly.
Auditory hallucination?
He blinked in disbelief and listened carefully. There was silence all around him, except for the chirping of insects in the courtyard and the sound of his own heartbeat, which was slightly rapid due to shock.
What was that sound just now? System?
He has been struggling to survive for so many days since he traveled through time, relying on his own efforts and understanding of the plot, and has almost given up the fantasy of the so-called “golden finger”.
Could it be… could it be that there really is a system?
He suppressed the turmoil in his heart, tried his best to keep a calm face, and quickly walked back to his room.
After closing the door, he even checked his surroundings cautiously to make sure no one was eavesdropping or watching nearby. Then he carefully tried to call out in his mind:
“System? Are you there?”
【Ding! The tip-off system is here to serve you wholeheartedly, host.
】
That cold mechanical voice rang out again, extremely clear, and echoed directly in his consciousness!
Really! There really is a system!
Shimura Aki’s heart began to beat wildly, and an indescribable ecstasy instantly swept over his body! The standard equipment of the time traveler, the golden finger! It was late, but it finally came!
“Leak system? What kind of system is this?” he asked in his mind.
As he thought about it, an extremely simple, translucent virtual panel suddenly appeared in his field of vision.
The panel was light blue, with only a few large, crooked characters on it:
【Revelation system (not activated)】
Apart from this, there is no other information, not even a beginner’s guide or function introduction.
“Isn’t this too simple?” Shimura Aki couldn’t help but complain.
[Brief description of system functions:] As if the mechanical voice had heard his inner voice, it sounded again and began to explain.
[This system aims to maintain the truth and order of the world (?), by collecting and “exposing” other people’s secret information, past embarrassments, major conspiracies and other “black materials”, disturbing the target’s emotions, creating chaos, and thus obtaining “exposure points”.
[The level of black material is assessed based on factors such as its degree of secrecy, importance, and impact on the target and surrounding environment, and is divided into six levels: white, green, blue, purple, gold, and color.
[The higher the level of the black material, the more points you will get after successfully exposing it, and it may also trigger special rewards.
[The leak points can be used to redeem items in the system mall, including but not limited to: ninjutsu, bloodline limits, props, talents, physique, and even lifespan.
[Note: The system mall function has not been activated yet, and the host needs to complete the novice task before it can be opened.
[Note: Please explore the specific methods and rules of exposing information by yourself.
After listening to the system’s explanation, Shimura Aki was completely stunned.
A tip-off system? Collecting dirty info? Getting rewards?
He was stunned at first, and then an unprecedented brilliance burst out in his eyes!
This… this is a system tailor-made for him!
Where is he now? The Naruto world! The Hidden Leaf Village! Shimura Danzo’s home!
What is the most lacking thing in this world?
It’s a secret! It’s a conspiracy! It’s all kinds of “black stuff” that can’t be seen in the light!
From the political games and conspiracies between the top leaders of the major ninja villages to the hidden secrets and past of every ninja and every family, it is simply a huge treasure trove of black material!
Let’s not talk about the distant past, just take his cheap father Danzo Shimura, how many scandals are there? He colluded with Orochimaru to conduct human experiments, was one of the behind-the-scenes pushers of the Uchiha clan genocide, secretly cultivated the “Root” tissue, transplanted the Sharingan and Hashirama cells… Any one of them, I’m afraid it would be golden or even colorful, right?
There is also the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen. Although he appears to be great and righteous on the surface, he secretly condones and even tolerates many of Danzo’s actions. Also, his attitude towards the Uchiha clan…
Not to mention the future Akatsuki, Obito, Madara, and Kaguya…
This world is full of gossips and stuff!
And he, Shimura Aki, as Danzo’s son, has a relatively convenient identity and is more likely to have access to some core secrets.
Plus his “prophetic” advantage from the future…
This whistleblower system was like a key to a new world! A weapon that could help him survive in this dangerous world, or even stir up trouble!
Just now he was feeling stressed out about how to deal with Danzo and how to survive in the cracks, but now, with this system, he suddenly felt that his future was bright!
Chapter 7 Novice Mission (Old Version)
“Hahahaha…” Shimura Aki could no longer suppress his inner ecstasy and almost laughed out loud. Fortunately, he covered his mouth in time so that no sound was made.
After the excitement, he quickly calmed down.
Although the system has received funds, the functions have not been fully activated yet. You need to complete the novice tasks to unlock the most important mall functions.
Moreover, the system does not give clear instructions on how to “leak information”, and you need to explore it on your own.
“Leaking information…should I say it out loud directly? Or should I let others know through some other method?” Shimura Aki began to think.
It is too risky to directly expose someone’s dirty laundry to their face, especially when facing a big shot like Danzo, it is simply courting death.
Perhaps, we can use a more subtle method? For example, anonymous letters? Or guide public opinion?
“System, what is the novice mission?” he asked impatiently.
【Ding! Newbie mission released: Collect and successfully expose a piece of black material with a level no lower than ‘blue’.
[Quest Reward: Open the system mall and randomly obtain a basic skill (taijutsu, ninjutsu or genjutsu).
Blue level black material…
Shimura Akira frowned.
According to the system’s evaluation standards, the blue level should be considered relatively important and confidential information.
For him now, an eight-year-old child with limited activities and limited contacts, it does not seem easy to get blue-level black material.
He began to carefully sort out the information he currently had and the environment he was in.
The people he could most easily come into contact with were the ninjas of the Shimura family, including the Chunin Shimura Aoi who guided him.
These people may have some secrets, but it is unlikely that they can reach the blue level.
Then there is his adopted father, Danzo.
There are so many negative things about him that any one of them is far worse than blue.
But the problem is that he has no ability to “expose” Danzo now, that would be tantamount to suicide.
So, the target should be on other people in the village?
He thought of the young Sannin he saw during the day.
They are still children, what blue-level scandals can they have? At most, they might have peeped into the women’s bathhouse (only for Jiraiya?), or done some pranks secretly, right? This is at most white or green level.
“Wait…” Shimura Aki suddenly thought of a possibility.
Black material does not necessarily have to be a major event in the future.
Something that is currently happening but has not yet been exposed, or something that involves certain important people but seems insignificant, may also reach the blue level.
He needed more information, needed to look more closely.
Starting tomorrow, increase the intensity of your training, and also pay more attention to the people and things around you.
Especially…the movements of Danzo and his men.
There was a gleam of excitement and calculation in Shimura Akira’s eyes.
With this leak system, he felt that his chances of survival in this world had greatly increased.
Not only that, maybe he could do something more interesting with this system.
He lay on the tatami, looking at the ceiling, the corners of his mouth involuntarily rising slightly.
Konoha, here I come.
In this world full of conspiracy and secrets, are you ready to welcome a “whistleblower”?
Shimura Aki suppressed his inner excitement and focused his attention completely on the simple translucent panel in his mind.
The whistleblower system, this sudden golden finger, is his greatest reliance at present and also his biggest secret.
He must find out the details of it as soon as possible.
He tried to communicate more deeply with the system in his mind: “System, you said you can scan the target? Are there any limitations to this scan?”
[Ding! System scan function description:] The mechanical voice responded calmly.
[1. Scanning range: In the initial stage, the scanning range is extremely limited, limited to targets that the host has had physical contact with, or has been continuously observed at a very close distance (within three meters) for more than one minute, and the host has basic knowledge of them (at least knows their name or identity).
[2. Scanning consumption: Actively initiating a scan of a specific target will consume the host’s mental energy.
The amount of mental energy consumed is related to the target’s strength, mental resistance, and the depth of information the host is trying to explore.
When the mental strength is insufficient, the scan will be automatically interrupted.
[3. Scanning Risk: Actively scanning a target whose strength far exceeds that of the host carries a very high risk of being detected.
Once detected by the target, it may lead to unpredictable consequences. Please use it with caution.
[4. Passive perception: Under certain conditions, such as when the target experiences strong emotional fluctuations near the host, or when an event related to “black material” occurs, the system may passively receive some information fragments. This process does not consume the host’s mental power, but the information is usually incomplete.
Shimura Aki digested this information carefully.
There are quite a few restrictions.
The initial scanning range is pitifully small, it also consumes mental energy, and it is risky to scan strong people.
This greatly limits his ability to proactively dig up negative information.
It seems that it is impossible to achieve success overnight with this system. We still have to be cautious and take every step carefully.
His eyes fell on the two gray columns on the system panel.
[Black material library (currently empty)]【Taskbar (currently empty)】
The black material database, as the name suggests, should be a place to store the black material information he has collected.
The taskbar is where the system publishes tasks.
The system mentioned before that it is necessary to complete the novice tasks to unlock more functions such as the mall.
“When will the novice missions be released?” Shimura Aki asked in his heart.
[Ding! The novice mission will be automatically triggered at the right time. Please be patient and actively explore the surrounding environment.
Well, it seems there is no point in being anxious.
Shimura Aki sighed, turned his attention away from the system, and began to think about his current situation.
The most urgent task is to improve one’s own strength.
Starting tomorrow, the training intensity will increase and he must adapt as soon as possible.
At the same time, you should also start paying attention to the people and things around you to see if you can find “black material” that meets the system requirements.
He thought of the Chunin Shimura Aoi who was in charge of guiding his training, the other Shimuras in the mansion, and the mysterious ninjas who occasionally came in and out of his father’s study.
Perhaps there are some secrets hidden in these people.
However, the system prompts that scanning strong people is risky.
Danzo naturally cannot be touched. Those mysterious ninjas who look very elite must be very powerful.
Even though Shimura Aoi is only a Chunin, he is still considered a “strong man” for a kid like him who only has basic skills, so it would be risky to scan him rashly.
It seems that we can only start with weaker and less threatening targets.
He thought of a genin servant at home who cleaned his room and brought him meals.
This person is not very old, probably about fifteen or sixteen years old, has low strength, and is a bit timid. He seems to be a suitable target.
He often touches himself, meets the scanning conditions, and is weak, so the risk of being detected should be small.
Chapter 8 Scanning Function (Old Version)
Having made up his mind, Shimura Aki began to recall the appearance and name of the Genin servant.
There was this person in the original owner’s memory, named “Kichiya”, who seemed to be a civilian orphan who lost his relatives in the war. He was taken in and raised by the Shimura family, but his qualifications were mediocre and he could only do odd jobs.
The next morning, Ji came to Shimura Aki’s room with breakfast as usual.
He lowered his head and moved cautiously, as if he was afraid of disturbing the young master.
“Master Qiu, your breakfast.”
Ji also put the tray on the low table, his voice was weak.
Shimura Aki sat there and did not eat immediately, but pretended to look at Yoshiya casually.
He concentrated and silently said in his mind: “System, scan target: Ji Ye.”
[Ding! Scan command detected, target: Ji Ye (Konoha Genin).
Estimated mental effort: slight.
Risk Assessment: Low.
Do you confirm to scan? 】
“confirm.”
Shimura Qiu replied in his heart.
Instantly, he felt a faint warmth flowing through his mind, as if something was consumed, but it was not obvious.
At the same time, some fragments of information about Ji Ye appeared intermittently in his consciousness like blurry slides.
“Yesterday… I slept for half a quarter of an hour while on duty…”
“Half a piece of snack hidden under the bed…”
“Last time I made a purchase… I secretly quoted an extra fifty taels…”
“My secret crush… Sakura from the laundry room next door…”
The information is scattered and trivial.
Most of them are due to laziness, petty greed, or youthful thoughts.
[Scanning completed.]Target: Ji Ye.
Three pieces of information fragments were detected, with a rating of white (insignificant).
It does not meet the ‘black material’ standard.
No rewards.
The system’s prompt sounded coldly, confirming his guess.
Sure enough, this harmless little secret is not considered black material at all, let alone any reward.
The white level is probably the lowest level.
Shimura Aki was a little disappointed, but that was also expected.
It seems that if you want to get the system’s rewards, you must find some really substantial and explosive black material.
The system doesn’t care about such trivial matters.
“It seems that the choice of target is very important…” Shimura Aki thought silently.
He waved his hand, indicating that Ji could go down too.
Ji felt as if he had been pardoned, and he bowed and left immediately.
Shimura Aki looked at his back and fell into deep thought.
Ji Ye’s path doesn’t work, so who should be chosen as the first real “disclosure” target?
Danzo? Too risky, just rule it out.
Shimura Aoi? A Chunin with a certain level of strength, and he was sent by Danzo. If he acted rashly, he might alert the enemy.
What about other people in the village? For example, the young Sannin? They are still children now. What kind of dirty information can they have? Even if there is, it is difficult for me to contact them, let alone verify and “expose” them.
He had a headache.
This whistleblower system looks great, but in practice it has many limitations.
Especially in the novice stage, with incomplete functions and weak personal strength, it is simply difficult to move forward.
Is it possible that my first “melon” will be so difficult to give birth to?
He sat in the room, thinking, and silently refining chakra according to the method he remembered.
In any case, it is always a good idea to improve your strength.
Only when you become stronger can you have more choices and make better use of the system.
Time passes slowly in the boring practice and thinking.
Just when Shimura Aki was about to give up the idea of ​​completing the novice mission in the short term and was ready to stay alive and develop while slowly looking for opportunities, the system panel in his mind that had been silent for a long time suddenly lit up without any warning!
[Ding! It is detected that the activity trajectory of the special node character and the host’s potential action route intersect…][Generating newbie tasks…]【Newbie mission released! 】
Shimura Akira perked up and quickly immersed his consciousness in the system panel.
I saw that the originally empty [Taskbar] now displayed a line of clear text:
[Novice Mission: Peep into Princess Senju’s boudoir secrets – Tsunade][Task Description: Without being noticed by anyone, try to spy on the ‘secret activities’ going on in Tsunade Senju’s (current age is about 8-9 years old) boudoir, and successfully obtain at least one piece of ‘black material’ information that is judged by the system as ‘blue’ or above.
[Mission target: Tsunade Senju.][Task time limit: three days.]【Mission rewards: Chakra Refining Technique (Mastered), Medical Ninjutsu (Entry Level).
[Penalty for failure: System function unlocking will be delayed for one month, and the host’s mental strength will be permanently weakened by 5%.
When Shimura Aki looked at this freshly-released novice mission, his eyes widened instantly and his breathing couldn’t help but quicken.
The target…is Tsunade? !
Princess Senju! Granddaughter of the first Hokage Senju Hashirama! Great-niece of the second Hokage Senju Tobirama! The eldest daughter of the Senju clan, one of the most prominent families in Konoha Village! One of the future three ninjas of Konoha, the legendary
Shimura Aki suppressed his excitement and immersed himself completely in the simple translucent panel in his mind.
The whistleblower system, this golden finger that fell from the sky, is his biggest trump card at the moment and a secret that must never be leaked.
He took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and began to carefully study how the system worked.
“System, what exactly does the scanning function do? Are there any limitations?” He muttered to himself, trying to communicate with the system.
【Ding! System scan function description has been generated, please check it out.
】A cold mechanical sound rang out, and a stream of information poured directly into his mind.
[1. Scanning range analysis: During the initial activation phase of the system, the scanning function can only cover a very limited range.
Only targets that meet one of the following conditions can be scanned: first, they have had direct physical contact with the host; second, they are within a very close distance of the host (currently determined to be three meters) and have been continuously observed by the host for more than one minute; third, the host has basic knowledge of the target, at least knowing its name or clear identity.
[2. Scanning consumption mechanism: Actively initiate a scanning command to the selected target, which will consume the host’s own mental energy.
The amount of mental energy required will be dynamically adjusted based on the target’s overall strength, mental resistance, and the depth and secrecy of the information the host is trying to explore.
When the host’s mental power reserves are lower than the minimum threshold required for scanning, the scanning process will be automatically interrupted.
[3. Scanning risk warning: Serious warning, if you perform active scanning operations on a target whose strength level far exceeds the host’s current level, there is a very high risk of being reversely sensed or even locked by the target.
Once the scanning behavior is detected by the target, it may lead to unpredictable serious consequences, including but not limited to hostile targeting, attack, or even worse.
Please carefully consider and use this function with caution.
[4. Passive information perception: Under certain special conditions, for example, when a target carrying “black material” information experiences drastic emotional fluctuations within the host’s perception range, or an event directly related to the “black material” itself occurs, the system may passively capture some related information fragments.
This passive perception process does not consume the host’s mental energy, but the information obtained is usually incomplete, vague and random.
Chapter 9 Trigger Chance (Old Version)
Shimura Aki read and digested the instructions carefully.
There are indeed many restrictions.
The initial scanning range is pitifully small, almost like myopia, and it also requires the consumption of precious mental energy.
What’s even worse is that there is a risk of being discovered when scanning a strong person! It’s like searching for treasure in an area full of mines. If you are not careful, you may be crushed to pieces.
This undoubtedly greatly limits his possibility of taking the initiative to dig up the dirty laundry of those top bosses.
Want to scan Danzo or Sarutobi Hiruzen directly? I’m afraid that before the information appears, I will be backfired by the other party’s powerful mental power, or be directly treated as a suspicious element and “dealt with”.
It seems that this golden finger is not a master key, but more like a double-edged sword that needs to be used with caution.
It is obviously unrealistic to rely on it to achieve success overnight and become a winner in life instantly.
To be on the safe side, we still have to be cautious, take every step carefully, and improve our strength first.
His conscious “gaze” fell on the two columns on the system panel that were still gray, as if covered by a layer of fog.
[Black Material Library (Status: Not Activated, Currently Empty)]【Taskbar (status: not activated, currently empty)】
As the name suggests, the black material database should be a place to store and manage the various “black material” information he has successfully collected.
Maybe it will be possible to classify and search in the future?
The taskbar is where the system issues instructions and goals.
The system had clearly mentioned before that one must complete a novice mission in order to unlock the core functions of the system, such as the “System Mall” that he was looking forward to.
“System, when will the novice missions be released? Are there any triggering conditions?” Shimura Aki couldn’t suppress his anticipation and asked again.
[Ding! The timing of the release of novice tasks is uncertain. Usually, it will be automatically triggered when a suitable opportunity is detected or the host meets certain hidden conditions.
Please be patient and don’t be anxious. It is recommended that you actively explore your current environment to increase the chance of triggering.
The system’s answer was still in that formulaic tone, which was equivalent to saying nothing.
“Well, it seems we can only wait.”
Shimura Akira sighed helplessly.
There is no point in being anxious, the most important thing right now is still right in front of us.
He temporarily removed his consciousness from the system and re-examined his current situation.
The first priority, without a doubt, is to improve one’s own hard power.
Danzo has made it clear that starting tomorrow, the intensity of his training will increase, and it will not only include basic training, but also the secret physical and sword techniques of the Shimura family.
This is both pressure and opportunity for him.
He must adapt to this intensity of training as quickly as possible, absorb as much knowledge as possible, and enhance his strength.
Only when you become strong can you have more say and choices in the future.
Secondly, we must always be vigilant and pay attention to the people and things around us.
Since the system needs “black material” to drive it, he has to be a careful person and see if he can find some “melons” that meet the system requirements in daily life.
Several potential subjects for observation once again emerged in his mind.
The Chunin Shimura Aoi who was in charge of his training? This man was taciturn and was sent by Danzo. Could he have any secrets? But he was a Chunin, and his strength was far beyond his own. Actively scanning him was risky, and once he was discovered, the consequences would be disastrous, and it would probably directly alert Danzo.
The other clan members in the Shimura residence? There are quite a few of them, with varying strengths.
However, the Shimura clan has always been known for its secretive and rigorous style, so it might be difficult to find any valuable “information”.
Moreover, it always feels a bit awkward and dangerous to attack family members.
Chapter 10: Senju Tsunade (Old Version)
And what about those mysterious ninjas with cold temperaments who occasionally come in and out of my father’s study? They are not good people at first glance, their strength is unfathomable, and they are probably more dangerous than Shimura Aoi, and they are existences that cannot be touched.
After much thought, it seems that there are very few targets around me that are safe and “interesting”.
Do we really have to turn our attention to other people in the village?
He thought again of the young Sannin he saw near the ninja school during the day.
Tsunade, Jiraiya, Orochimaru… they will indeed be influential figures in the future, but they are just children now after all.
What kind of earth-shattering “black material” can a child of this age have? At most, it’s just some naughty and embarrassing things, such as Jiraiya peeping at girls taking a bath? (This is very likely!) Or Orochimaru secretly dissected the neighbor’s small animals? (This is more like what he would do!) It’s hard to say whether these things are enough to be judged by the system as “blue” level.
Moreover, due to his sensitive identity, his movements were restricted and he spent most of his time training in the mansion, so he had no chance to get close to and observe them.
Even if he occasionally goes out, he is followed by “bodyguards and monitors”, making it difficult for him to move freely.
“Oh, what a headache…” Shimura Aki rubbed his temples and felt weak.
This leak system is like a mirage. It looks extremely tempting, but when you really want to get close to it and grasp it, you find it difficult.
Especially in the beginning when there is no novice protection period (if any) and one’s own strength is pitifully weak, it is simply difficult to move forward.
Is it possible that the first “big melon” that I have come across is going to be so difficult to give birth to? This is not a good sign.
He shook his head, put aside these distracting thoughts, sat cross-legged again, closed his eyes, and began to silently try to refine chakra according to the vague method in the original owner’s memory and some basic principles taught by Shimura Soba.
Regardless of whether the system is powerful or not, your own efforts are the most reliable.
Chakra is the source of a ninja’s power and the basis for performing all ninjutsu.
He must master the extraction and control of chakra as soon as possible, even if it is a little slow, in order to lay a solid foundation.
Time passed quietly second by second in this boring practice and frustrating thinking.
The only sounds in the room were his own steady breathing and the occasional rustling of leaves in the wind outside the window.
Just when Shimura Aki was about to give up the idea of ​​completing the novice mission in the short term, and was ready to stay at home and train and grow, and then make plans when he became stronger and had more opportunities…
Something strange happened suddenly!
The system panel in his mind, which had been silent all this time and only made sounds when responding passively, suddenly burst into a faint but clear blue-white light without any warning!
[Ding! System alarm! The activity trajectory of the special node character ‘Tsunade Senju’ has been detected, and there is a high possibility that it overlaps with the host’s current potential action route…][Meets the triggering conditions for novice tasks… Generating the optimal novice tasks based on the current environment and target status…][Newbie tasks generated! ][The novice task has been posted to the task bar, please check it immediately! ]A series of rapid system prompt sounds rang like alarm bells deep in his consciousness!
Shimura Aki suddenly opened his eyes and his heart instantly rose to his throat!
A special node character? Tsunade Senju?!
Potential courses of action overlap? What does this mean?
He immediately focused all his attention on the [Task Bar] which was finally no longer dark!
I saw that in the taskbar, which was originally empty, a line of text emitting a faint blue glow was clearly displayed:
[Brief description of the mission background: The threads of fate are inadvertently intertwined. One of Konoha’s future legends, the pearl of the Senju clan, is currently carrying out an unknown “secret activity” in her private space.
Brave young man, go and uncover the mysterious veil! 】
[Specific requirements of the mission: Within the mission time limit, by any means (must ensure your own safety and not be detected by the target and any third party), successfully spy on and obtain the specific content of the “secret activities” being carried out in the boudoir of Tsunade Senju (currently estimated to be about 8-9 years old), and discover at least one “black material” information that is determined by this system to be “blue” or higher.
[Core target of the mission: Tsunade Senju.][Task execution time limit: seventy-two hours (three days) from the date the task is released.
[Rewards for successful mission: Skill ‘Chakra Extraction (Mastery)’, Skill ‘Medical Ninjutsu (Beginner)’.
[Penalty for mission failure: The unlocking time of the system’s core functions (including but not limited to the mall, black material library, etc.) will be forcibly delayed by one month.
At the same time, the host’s maximum mental strength limit will be permanently weakened by 5% of the current total value.
Shimura Akira read the task content carefully three times, word by word. His eyes widened and the expression on his face changed from the initial shock to a complex look mixed with excitement, disbelief and extreme solemnity.
The target of the mission…is actually Tsunade!
That Tsunade! The granddaughter of Hashirama Senju! The great-niece of Tobirama Senju! A princess of the Senju clan with a noble family background! One of the future Three Ninjas of Konoha, the famous Fifth Hokage!
The system actually let me spy on her boudoir secrets? And also dig up black material above the “blue” level?
Shimura Akira felt his throat getting dry.
This mission… is it too big?!
What is Tsunade’s identity? Where does she live? The Senju clan’s clan land! Even if the defense of that place is not as strong as it was in the future, it is definitely one of the most heavily guarded places in Konoha Village besides the Hokage Building! How many Senju clan ninjas live there? There may even be old monsters who survived the Warring States period!
Asking an eight-year-old kid who has difficulty in refining chakra and is not proficient in the three-body technique to sneak into the Senju mansion and spy on Tsunade’s boudoir? What’s the difference between this and asking a little sheep to break into a wolf’s den and pluck the wolf’s hair?
The risk is too great! So great that it is almost a matter of life and death!
Once discovered, not to mention the mission failure and punishment, it would be a question whether he could walk out of the Senju mansion alive! Even if he was lucky enough to survive and was caught by the Senju clan, his identity as the young master of the Shimura family would not only fail to protect him, but might also cause conflicts and suspicions between the two clans. What would his cheap father Danzo do to him? I’m afraid he would be the first to clear him out to appease the anger of the Senju clan and sever his ties with them!
Chapter 11 No Choice (Old Version)
A layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on Shimura Aki’s back.
but……
His eyes involuntarily fell on the column of mission rewards.
【Chakra Refining Technique (Mastery)】!
【Medical Ninjutsu (Introduction)】!
The temptation of these two rewards is simply fatal to him at this stage!
Chakra Refining Technique (Mastery)! What does this mean? It means that he can skip the long and boring exploration stage and directly master the most efficient and perfect chakra refining method! His training speed will be qualitatively improved, and the quality and total amount of chakra will far exceed that of his peers! This is the foundation for becoming a strong man! With this, he can learn ninjutsu faster, enhance his strength, and deal with various crises that may arise in the future, including pressure from his father!
Medical Ninjutsu (Introduction)! This is even more of a magical skill! In this ninja world where injuries and even death are common, mastering medical ninjutsu is equivalent to having one or more lives! Not only can you save yourself, but you can also save others at critical moments. Whether it is used to save lives, win people’s hearts, or develop power, it has immeasurable value! More importantly, the identity of a medical ninja is relatively special and it is easier to gain trust. Perhaps it can become a potential path for him to get rid of Danzo’s control in the future!
Temptation! Naked temptation!
This is an open conspiracy by the system! Knowing that the mission is extremely risky, it still throws him a reward that he simply cannot refuse!
Shimura Aki’s heart was beating so violently that it seemed like it was about to jump out of his chest.
In his mind, risk and return were like two ferocious beasts fighting fiercely.
On one side is an almost impossible task, the heavily guarded Senju mansion, Tsunade of noble status, and the disastrous end of being discovered.
On the other side is the long-desired mastery-level chakra refining technique, the extremely practical introduction to medical ninjutsu, the opportunity for a leap in strength, and the hope of taking control of one’s own destiny.
And the penalty for failure… the system function unlocking is delayed by one month, which is acceptable.
However, the mental power is permanently weakened by 5%! Mental power is extremely important to a ninja, especially for someone like him who needs to rely on the system and the brain to plan. Any permanent weakening is an unbearable loss!
There seems to be only one choice.
He must take on this task!
No matter how big the risk is, you have to fight it once! Fortune and wealth are sought in danger! If he doesn’t even dare to take this little risk, then how can he talk about changing his fate and fighting against Danzo? It’s better to just be a tool!
“Hu——” Shimura Aki let out a long breath, and his eyes gradually became firm.
Done!
Isn’t it just sneaking into the Senju mansion to take a peek at little Tsunade’s secrets? What’s the big deal! You can’t catch a wolf without sacrificing a child! If you don’t sacrifice your moral integrity… ahem, you won’t get a reward!
He concentrated his mind and responded to the system in his mind: “System, I accept this novice mission!”
[Ding! The host has confirmed to accept the novice mission: spy on the secrets of Princess Senju’s boudoir – Tsunade.
Mission countdown begins: 71 hours, 59 minutes, 58 seconds…】
[The task bar status is updated. Please keep an eye on the task progress and time limit.
Looking at the countdown numbers jumping in the taskbar, Shimura Aki felt a heavy pressure, but more of a determination to fight to the death.
He has to complete this seemingly impossible task in three days.
Now is not the time to get excited or scared; you must start making plans immediately.
He forced himself to calm down and began to carefully recall information about Tsunade’s youth.
This information mainly comes from the anime and comics he watched in his previous life, as well as some scattered memory fragments left by the original owner.
Tsunade… when she was a child… seemed to have a bad temper? Was she a bit boyish? Did she develop the habit of gambling later, or did she have the signs when she was a child? What would her room look like? What would the so-called “boudoir secrets” and “special publications” be for a girl of her age?
Did she secretly hide the scroll of ninjutsu that the second Hokage banned from researching? Or… did she hide some girlish secrets, such as having a crush on a boy (Jiraiya? Orochimaru? That shouldn’t be possible…)? Or… was she addicted to some “vulgar” hobby that didn’t fit her “princess” status?
There are too few clues.
The original work does not describe the childhood of the three ninjas in much detail, especially Tsunade’s bedroom life, which has never been mentioned.
It seems that we cannot rely solely on the “prophetic” advantage, and must conduct field reconnaissance and on-the-spot response.
The first problem is how to sneak into the heavily guarded Senju Mansion.
Shimura Aki immediately realized that his current identity as an eight-year-old child might be his greatest cover.
A seemingly harmless child could, at times, be more likely to lower the target’s vigilance than an adult ninja.
During the day, he could take advantage of the opportunity to go out during breaks in training and, under the supervision of someone, try to move around in the outer areas of the Senju Mansion.
Using the excuse of “getting lost” or “being curious” to observe the terrain, building layout, patrolling ninja patterns, and possible defense deployments.
He tried hard to recall some of the most basic stealth and reconnaissance techniques taught in the ninja school (although he had not yet attended, the original owner had some basic concepts in his memory).
For example, how to use shadows and obstacles to hide your body, how to control your breathing and footsteps, how to observe the environment, and find the enemy’s blind spots and patrol routes.
“System, can you provide some help when I’m conducting reconnaissance? For example, mark out dangerous areas or weak links?” He tried to ask the system for help.
【Ding! During the mission execution, the system will provide the host with limited environmental information assistance based on actual conditions without directly interfering with the real world.
Including but not limited to: marking potential sources of danger (such as traps, perception barrier range prompts), highlighting possible visual blind spots or defense weaknesses, and providing short-term optimal path suggestions under specific conditions.
But please note that the system information is for reference only, and the final decision must be made by the host. 】
It’s good to have assistance! Although there are limitations, it is much better than being in the dark!
Shimura Qiu felt a little calmer.
He needed a map, even the most rudimentary sketch.
He recorded everything he observed: the height and material of the wall, possible entrances (the main door would not work, he had to find a side door or a place that could be climbed over), the positions and shift times of the guards, the routes and frequency of the patrols…
Then, he needed to plan a relatively safe infiltration route and retreat route.
Various unexpected situations must be considered, such as how to escape quickly after being discovered.
At the same time, he would have to try to figure out Tsunade’s daily movements, especially when she was most likely to be alone in her yard or room.
This information is crucial and directly related to whether he can find the right time to infiltrate.
He remembered that he seemed to have seen Tsunade in a daze in the yard from a distance before? This memory fragment might come in handy.
Time is tight, there are only three days.
He had to act immediately.
The first step of the plan is to take advantage of the opportunity to go out tomorrow to begin preliminary peripheral reconnaissance of the Senju Mansion.
As for the time of infiltration, it is best to choose night.
On a dark and windy night, murder and arson occurred… cough, when sneaking in to spy.
Darkness is the best cover, and the sound of the wind can also help cover up some subtle sounds.
Shimura Aki silently considered every detail in his mind, and a preliminary, slightly rough but clear-cut stealth plan gradually took shape in his mind.
He knew that this would be an extremely dangerous adventure.
But he had no choice but to face the challenge.
Chapter 12 Action Tonight (Old Version)
The next day, Shimura Aki carried out boring and hard training under the supervision of Shimura Aoi as usual.
His clothes were soaked with sweat and his muscles were sore from overuse, but he gritted his teeth and persevered without slacking off.
His mind, however, had already flown beyond the training ground.
During the training break, he used the excuse that “after my father’s admonition yesterday, I want to know more about the village so that I can better protect Konoha in the future” and suggested to Shimura Aoi that he wanted to go and take a look at the area east of the village.
The Senju clan’s territory is located in the eastern part of the village, close to the edge of the forest area.
Shimura Aoi looked at him expressionlessly, as if evaluating the truthfulness of his words.
Danzo did give similar instructions, requiring the young master to understand Konoha.
This reason sounds reasonable.
“Can.
But you can’t leave my sight.”
Shimura Aoi agreed coldly.
Shimura Aki was delighted in his heart, but he did not dare to show it on his face. He still looked serious and studious.
So, with Shimura Aoi’s close “accompaniment”, Shimura Aki began his first reconnaissance operation.
He pretended to wander aimlessly on the street, but his eyes were like a radar, constantly scanning the surrounding environment, especially the area extending in the direction of the Senju Mansion.
The Senju clan’s territory is indeed extraordinary and occupies a fairly large area.
The tall wall was made of solid bluestone and was at least five meters high. The top of the wall was smooth and there were almost no footholds for climbing.
Ninja patrols can be vaguely seen on the wall, with steady steps and high vigilance.
The main gate was heavily guarded, with two ninjas wearing the Senju family crest standing like door gods, scanning passers-by with sharp eyes.
Trying to sneak in through the main gate is simply a pipe dream.
Shimura Aki didn’t dare get too close for fear of arousing suspicion.
He just watched from a distance, silently calling the system in his heart.
“System, scan the defense deployment in this area.”
[Ding! Environmental scan in progress… Scanning range is limited, only the visible parts outside can be analyzed… Traces of chakra reinforcement are detected on the wall… There is a sensory barrier reaction in the main gate area… The material of the specific area of ​​the wall (marked points A, B, C) is relatively weak/old… Three fixed sentry posts and two mobile patrol teams have been detected, and the patrol route is being analyzed…]The system prompts came intermittently. Although the information was incomplete, it was already very useful!
He carefully memorized the relatively weak spots in the walls marked by the system, as well as the general activity patterns of the patrol teams.
He also noticed that the Senju Mansion did not seem to be completely enclosed. There seemed to be some paths or corner gates on the side connecting to the outside, but they were also guarded by guards.
Time is limited, and Shimura Aoi obviously won’t allow him to stay here for too long.
Shimura Aki could only force himself to remember what he observed, and then pretended to be more interested in other places and led Shimura Aoi away from the area.
After returning to the Shimura mansion, he immediately found an excuse to go back to his room and closed the door.
He had no paper or pen, so he found a small piece of leftover charcoal and began to draw an extremely crude map on a relatively clean wooden board under the tatami, relying on his memory and the system’s prompts.
The walls, gates, side doors, known sentry posts, the approximate range of the patrol routes… He marked out these key information one by one.
Infiltration route… He looked at the several weak points in the wall marked on the map.
Point A is close to the main gate and has intensive patrols, so it is eliminated.
Point B is on the side, but there seems to be a corner gate nearby, the guards are unknown, and the risk is higher.
Point C is located at a relatively remote location on the back wall, close to a small forest, and seems to be the best choice.
The retreat route needs to be determined based on the specific situation after infiltration, but the general direction is still to leave from a remote area.
Over the next few days, he continued his observations, taking advantage of every possible opportunity.
Sometimes he would go out to “relax”, sometimes he would use it as an excuse to buy training supplies. Every time he would try to get closer to the Senju Mansion to collect information from different angles.
He also asked some servants in the house about the Senju clan and Tsunade in a roundabout way. Of course, he asked very obscurely so as not to reveal his intentions.
The information obtained was very limited, mostly well-known comments such as “Princess Senju is gifted”, “has a bit of a hot-tempered personality”, and “is deeply loved by the Third Hokage”.
The only useful information was that Tsunade did not seem to like participating in group activities within the clan, and preferred to stay alone in her own yard.
This confirmed his previous memories and guesses.
At the same time, he did not relax his preparations.
At night, after everyone had gone to sleep, he would practice the basic stealth techniques taught in the Ninja School over and over again in his room or in the most secluded corner of the backyard.
He held his breath, concentrated his mind, and focused his chakra on the soles of his feet, making his steps as light and silent as a cat’s.
He imitated a gecko and tried to climb the wall for a short distance (although with his current chakra control, the effect was very poor).
Practice seeing in the dark and how to use ambient sound to mask your movements.
The system would occasionally give some guiding tips, such as correcting the way he exerted force in a certain movement, or pointing out the errors in his breathing rhythm.
Although they were only basic skills, with the help of the system, his progress was faster than expected.
Time flies by quickly, and there is only one day left before the mission deadline.
Shimura Aki decided to take action tonight.
The weather forecast (based on his observations of clouds and wind direction, as well as some old folks’ experience) indicated that there would be thick clouds tonight, no moon, and a strong wind.
It was exactly the “dark and windy night” he had been looking forward to.
He prepared the items he needed for the action: a set of the darkest old clothes he found at the bottom of a box, a black cloth belt to cover his face (which might not be of any use, but would give him psychological comfort), and a training kunai with an unsharpened blade (which might be useful for prying open windows or for defense at critical moments).
The night, like a huge black ink, slowly permeated the entire Konoha Village.
The lights in every household went out one after another, and the bustling village gradually fell into silence. Only the sound of the wind whimpered between the eaves and treetops, like the whisper of a ghost.
Shimura Aki lay on his tatami with his eyes closed and his breathing steady, as if he had already fallen asleep.
But in fact, his mind was extremely clear and his mind was highly concentrated, listening carefully to the movements inside and outside the mansion.
The ninjas in charge of guarding his compound would, as per custom, take over their shifts at midnight, with a gap of a few minutes in between.
This was the perfect time for him to slip out.
Time passed by minute by minute, and his heartbeat gradually accelerated as time approached.
Finally, he heard light footsteps and whispers in the distance. It was the guard changing positions.
The time is now!
Shimura Aki slid down from the bed silently like a raccoon cat.
He quickly and lightly put on the dark old clothes he had prepared, tied the face mask, and put the unsharpened kunai behind his waist.
He went to the window and listened carefully to confirm that the guards outside had left and the new guards had not yet arrived in full.
He gently pushed open the window, dodged, and jumped out nimbly, making almost no sound when he landed.
The cool night breeze caressed his cheeks, bringing with it the scent of distant forest grass.
Chapter 13 Action Tonight (Old Version)
He took a deep breath, suppressed the tension in his heart, and began to sneak towards the wall of Shimura’s mansion according to the predetermined plan.
The process of leaving his own mansion was relatively smooth, after all, he was most familiar with the environment here.
The real test begins when you step onto the street leading to the Senju Mansion.
The Konoha Village at night was not completely silent.
In addition to the sound of the wind, one could occasionally hear the barking of dogs in the distance, as well as the slight sound of the ninja patrol on the roof moving quickly.
Shimura Aki completely blended his body into the darkness, moving quickly and cautiously along the corners of walls, shadows of trees, and shadows of buildings.
His senses were heightened to the extreme, always alert to any movement around him.
[Warning! Members of the Konoha Guard are approaching the corner of the street ahead. It’s a two-person team and is expected to arrive in thirty seconds.
It is recommended to avoid the alley on the left.
】The system prompt sounded in time.
Without hesitation, Shimura Aki immediately slipped into a narrow, dark alley nearby, held his breath, and pressed himself tightly against the cold wall.
A few seconds later, two ninjas in security force uniforms walked through the alley, talking in low voices as they walked, unaware that there was a person hiding in the shadows so close to them.
Only when the footsteps faded away did Shimura Aki breathe a sigh of relief and continue moving forward.
The closer we got to the Senju clan’s territory to the east of the village, the more solemn the atmosphere became. The number of patrolling ninjas also increased significantly, and they seemed to be stronger.
Finally, the tall wall that made him feel depressed during the day appeared in his sight.
In the dark night, it is like a crawling beast, exuding silent majesty.
Instead of approaching the main gate or the side door, he went around to the previously selected point C, the back wall near the grove.
This place is indeed relatively quiet, with only the faint glow of fire on the distant wall and the rustling sound of leaves in the wind.
He hid in the shadows of the trees and watched again.
[Scanning… Confirming that this section of the wall (point C) has a structural weakness… There is a fixed sentry post 50 meters above, currently unmanned… There is a mobile patrol team 120 meters to the left, moving in this direction, expected to arrive in three minutes.
Three minutes! Time is running out!
Shimura Aki no longer hesitated.
He pulled out the unsharpened kunai from behind his waist, bit it in his mouth, then took a deep breath and concentrated his chakra in his palms and soles of his feet.
He took a few steps, pushed off the ground, and stuck his body to the cold wall like a gecko! The feeling of chakra absorption was very weak, but he still relied on this power and some tiny bumps and cracks on the wall to climb up with difficulty!
His movements were slow and laborious, and he almost slipped several times.
Sweat ran down his forehead, soaking the face mask.
But he gritted his teeth and moved upwards bit by bit.
Finally, his fingers touched the top of the wall!
He carefully stuck half of his head out and looked inside the wall.
Inside was a neatly manicured courtyard, empty of people.
He didn’t dare to delay. He used up his last bit of strength, turned over and jumped over the wall, landing lightly on the soft grass on the inside.
Success! He successfully sneaked into the outskirts of the Qianshou Mansion!
Before I had time to catch my breath, the system alarm sounded again.
[Warning! The patrol team is approaching the outside of the wall! Please hide immediately! ]Shimura Aki’s heart trembled, and he immediately used his hands and feet to crawl to the shadow of a nearby big tree, sticking close to the trunk and restraining his breath.
Sure enough, a few seconds later, he heard footsteps and whispers outside the wall. It was the patrol team.
Fortunately, they didn’t seem to notice anything unusual and soon continued patrolling along the wall.
Only then did Shimura Aki dare to relax a little, but his heart was still beating like a drum.
The further you go in, the tighter the guarding becomes.
He has just entered the outer area.
He identified the direction and, based on the location of the courtyard where Tsunade lived that he had discovered during the day and determined with the help of the system, began to move carefully through the huge Senju mansion.
The courtyard here is designed very elegantly, with rockery, flowing water and various precious trees everywhere.
But because of this, there are plenty of shadows and obstacles to hide in.
He was like a real ghost in the dark night, making use of every available terrain, sometimes sneaking close to the ground, sometimes hiding in dense bushes, and sometimes sliding silently from one shadow to another like a fallen leaf.
[Ten meters ahead, there is a pressure-sensing trap on the ground, which has been marked.
[In the corridor on the right, two ninjas are talking in low voices. Be careful to avoid them.][Warning! Weak chakra fluctuations detected. There may be a perceptive ninja patrolling nearby. Please reduce your own chakra fluctuations to the minimum! ]The system’s prompts kept ringing in his mind, like the most accurate navigator and early warning radar, helping him escape danger time and time again.
Several times, he was even only a few steps away from the patrolling ninja, whose sharp eyes swept over the corner where he was hiding but found nothing unusual.
The thrill of the close encounter almost made his heart stop beating, and his back was already soaked with cold sweat.
This was ten thousand times more exciting than any stealth game he had played in his previous life! This was the real world, and if you made a mistake, the price would be your life!
Adrenaline was secreted crazily throughout his body, making his senses unusually sharp and his brain clearer than ever before.
Under the guidance of the system and his own caution, after more than ten minutes of difficult stealth, he finally arrived at his destination – a courtyard that looked relatively independent and quiet.
According to the information obtained during the day and the confirmation of the system, this should be the residence of Princess Tsunade of the Senju!
The courtyard door was ajar and it was quiet inside. Only a faint but warm light came through the window of one room, which was particularly eye-catching in the darkness.
Shimura Akira’s heart was pounding so hard that it almost broke his ribs.
Success is just around the corner! But it also means that the most dangerous moment is coming!
He held his breath, walked lightly, and approached the lighted window silently like a ghost.
The windows are Japanese-style paper shoji windows, with the lower part being a wooden lattice covered with white paper.
The window was not completely closed, leaving an imperceptible gap.
He approached the gap cautiously, put his eyes close to it, and peered inside.
The furnishings inside the room were indeed very elegant, but not luxurious. Instead, they exuded a sense of girlish warmth.
There were clean tatami mats, a cute scroll with a picture of a slug hanging on the wall, and a bookshelf in the corner with some scrolls and books scattered on it.
On the low table in the middle of the room, there was a set of bottles and jars that looked like medical supplies.
Chapter 14: Sustainment (Old Version)
At this moment, the owner of the room, the future Fifth Hokage, the young Tsunade Senju, was lying on the tatami in the middle of the room with her back to the window.
She was wearing a simple pink pajamas, her long golden hair was casually draped over her shoulders, with a few strands falling mischievously on the tatami.
Her shoulders were slightly hunched and her head was close together, as if she was concentrating on something in front of her.
From Shimura Aki’s perspective, he could only see her back and her dazzling blonde hair, and had no idea what she was looking at.
He didn’t dare make any sound, and even his breathing was extremely light, for fear of alarming the people inside.
He knew that he now had to wait patiently for his opportunity.
At this moment, the system prompt sounded in his mind:
[Ding! The target person (Tsunade Senju) is detected to be reading a certain ‘special publication’.
The system initially determined that the content of the publication was very likely to contain high-value “black material” information.
It is recommended that the host make sure to read the contents of the publication clearly! 】
Special publications?
Here it comes! The key point of the mission!
He immediately adjusted his peeping angle, trying to see clearly what was in front of Tsunade through the gaps in her shoulders or arms.
However, Tsunade’s body blocked the view tightly, and he could only see some blurry colored shadows after trying for a long time, and was unable to recognize the specific content.
what to do?
He couldn’t just break in through the window, could he? That would mean he wouldn’t be able to complete the mission, and it would be a question of whether he could leave alive.
The task requires that the spying be completed without being noticed by anyone.
He forced himself to calm down.
Don’t be impatient. The more times like this, the calmer you need to be.
Tsunade couldn’t stay in one position forever.
She always gets tired, always turns pages, or changes her posture.
He just needs to wait patiently and seize that fleeting opportunity.
Shimura Aki focused all his attention on that small gap, staring at Tsunade’s back without blinking, like a most professional hunter, waiting for the moment when the prey revealed a flaw.
Time passed by minute by minute, and every second seemed as long as a century.
He squatted outside the window, the cold night wind blowing on him, his legs began to go numb, but he dared not move.
Tsunade seemed to be fascinated by the content. Occasionally, her shoulders would shake slightly when she saw something interesting, and she would let out a very slight laugh, like a cat being spoiled.
This made Shimura Aki even more curious.
What on earth could make the future Princess of Super Power so engrossed in watching it and even make such a… somewhat cute laugh?
What could it be? A scroll of forbidden techniques? I couldn’t possibly smile at that.
Love letters? At this age… is it possible? Or… some indescribable booklets with colorful covers from his past life?
He began to make wild guesses in his mind, trying to ease the anxiety of waiting.
Just when he was about to lose his patience, the opportunity finally came!
Tsunade seemed to have finished reading a page. She stretched, yawned a little, then raised her hand and prepared to turn to the next page.
At the moment she raised her hand to turn the page, the cover of the “special publication” in front of her was exposed to Shimura Aki’s sight for a moment!
Shimura Aki squatted outside the window. The night wind made him feel a little cold, and his legs began to feel numb from maintaining the same posture for a long time. However, he did not dare to relax at all, and his eyes were fixed on Tsunade’s back through the gap in the window.
Waiting is the most painful thing.
Time seemed to stand still, and every second seemed to be against him.
He could even clearly hear his own heartbeat, which was a little rapid due to nervousness, and the subtle sound of blood rushing in his veins.
Just when he was about to give up waiting and look for another way –
Tsunade in the room finally made some movement!
She seemed a little tired from reading, or her neck seemed a little sore.
She stretched out her body, her slender waist curled up under her pajamas.
Shimura Aki squatted outside the window. The night wind made him feel a little cold, and his legs began to numb from maintaining the same posture for a long time. But he didn’t dare to relax at all. His eyes were fixed on Tsunade’s back through the gap in the window, like a stone statue lurking in the darkness.
The air was filled with the moisture of grass and the fishy smell of soil. Occasionally, the chirping of unknown insects could be heard in the distance, which further highlighted the silence of the place and amplified the tension in his heart.
He could even clearly hear his own heartbeat, which was a little rapid due to nervousness, beating in his chest like a war drum, and the subtle sound of blood rushing in his veins, as if it was about to burst his eardrums.
Just when he was about to give up and wondered if he had chosen the wrong time, and wanted to give up waiting and find another way –
Tsunade in the room finally made some new movements!
She seemed a little tired from looking at it, or maybe her neck was a little sore from maintaining the same posture for too long.
She stretched her body slightly, and her slender waist outlined a soft curve under the slightly loose pink pajamas.
She yawned a small, slightly lazy yawn, her movements were natural and casual, and she was completely unaware that a pair of eyes were peeking at her in the darkness outside the window.
Then she raised her hand, as if she was going to put aside the “special publication” she had been holding and take a rest.
Her movements were very casual, just like putting down an ordinary book and placing it casually on the tatami beside her.
Then, she turned over, from her previous prone position to a more relaxed supine position, her cheeks slightly flushed, and she seemed to be still immersed in what she had just read, with even a barely perceptible smile at the corner of her mouth.
The opportunity has come!
Just at the moment when Tsunade turned over and the book was casually thrown on the tatami, it finally broke away from the cover of Tsunade’s body and was completely exposed to Shimura Aki’s sight!
Shimura Aki’s heart suddenly shrank, and he immediately focused all his attention on it! He widened his eyes, afraid of missing any details.
With the help of the dim light from the oil lamp in the room coming through the gap in the window, and the dim but better than nonexistent starlight outside the window (the clouds were very thick tonight and there was almost no moonlight), he finally saw the cover of the book that Tsunade cherished so much and read with great interest!
It was a picture album that looked a little crudely made, but used extremely bold colors.
The size was about the same as an ordinary scroll or book, but the pattern on the cover petrified Shimura Aki so much that he almost bit off his tongue!
On the cover, there are two characters, a man and a woman.
The male character has a tall stature and handsome face. He wears a flowing ninja outfit. There is a bit of unruly and unrestrainedness in his eyes, which is very similar to the protagonist of Jiraiya’s later novels.
The female characters, on the other hand, are even more… eye-catching.
She has long seaweed-like hair, a charming face, and an exaggeratedly hot body. The clothes on her body are pitifully small, barely covering her key parts, leaving large areas of snow-white skin exposed. Her posture is extremely seductive, and she is nestling lovingly in the arms of a male ninja.
The whole style of painting is filled with some kind of indescribable… well, adult meaning.
Although the lines are a bit immature, the content is definitely not suitable for children! This is an early prototype of an adult picture book of the “intimate paradise” type with bold style and explicit content! It is even more straightforward and hotter than those written by Jiraiya in later generations!
On the top of the album’s cover, there were a few large characters written in a slightly crooked but powerful font – “Heroes’ Stories: Romance”!
Chapter 15 Tsunade is reading pornographic books?! (Old version)
A story of heroes? A romantic story?
Shimura Akira’s jaw was almost dislocated.
He couldn’t believe his eyes!
The future medical expert! The only female among the three ninjas of Konoha! Princess Tsunade, who is famous in the ninja world for her extraordinary strength and medical ninjutsu, and has a bold and even somewhat irritable personality! She…she actually secretly read this kind of…this kind of pornographic book in her own boudoir?! And she seems to be enjoying it?!
This… this impact is too great!
In his mind, the image of Tsunade, the heroic figure who smashed Susanoo with one punch, instantly overlapped with the image of the little girl lying on the tatami in front of him, blushing and giggling because of reading an adult picture book, forming an extremely absurd and incongruous contrast!
This piece of black material… is simply a nuclear bomb! It is too explosive! It is much more explosive than any possibility he expected! What about peeking at the forbidden scroll, what about girlish feelings, compared to this, it is simply weak!
If this gets out, not only will Tsunade’s reputation in the ninja school be ruined, but the entire Senju clan will be disgraced! If the first and second Hokage knew about this, would they be so angry that they would jump out of their coffins?
Shimura Aki tried hard to suppress the shock that was surging in his heart and the urge to burst out in laughter, and he almost got a choke from holding back his laughter.
His shoulders trembled slightly as he tried to suppress a smile, and the expression on his face became extremely strange.
He took several deep breaths before he managed to calm down his excitement.
You can’t laugh! You absolutely can’t laugh! We are still in the enemy’s territory. Any negligence could lead to eternal damnation!
He immediately focused his mind and gave the system an instruction in his mind: “System! Quick! Record! Record this scene and the cover of the book for me!”
[Ding! Received the host’s command, activated the ‘black material image recording’ function… capturing information about key targets in the current field of view…]As the system prompt sounded, Shimura Aki felt as if his vision had turned into a viewfinder, accurately locking onto the cover of the picture album next to Tsunade and the general scene in the room.
An imperceptible wave of energy swept through, and the entire process was silent and astonishingly fast.
[Information capture completed.]Target person: Tsunade Senju.
Related items: “Heroes’ Stories: Romance” (adult picture book).
Event: The target secretly reads adult publications in her bedroom. 】
[The black material level assessment is in progress… Based on the importance of the target’s identity, the privacy of the incident, and the potential scope of impact… a comprehensive assessment…][Ding! Black material level judgment: blue (C+)! ][Rating reason: It involves the highly personal privacy of the target person (Tsunade Senju, granddaughter of the first Hokage, heir to an important Konoha family). Once exposed, it will have a significant negative impact on his personal reputation and family prestige. It has high intelligence value and usability. ][The black material information has been successfully locked and stored in the system [Black Material Library] (current capacity 1/unknown). ]Blue! C+!
Although Shimura Aki felt that this was at least a purple-level bombshell, since the system had determined it to be blue C+, it should have its standards.
Maybe it’s because Tsunade is still young and has limited influence? Or maybe it’s because this kind of personal privacy scandal, although explosive, has less impact on the entire ninja world than political conspiracies or forbidden secrets?
However, no matter what, the blue level has reached the requirements for novice tasks!
Mission… accomplished?
Shimura Aki felt a surge of ecstasy in his heart, but it was immediately replaced by a huge sense of tension.
Success! But it also means that this place is not suitable for long! He must retreat immediately! Who knows if Tsunade will suddenly turn around and look out the window? Or if a patrolling ninja happens to pass by here?
He didn’t dare to stay any longer. Even taking a closer look at the “secret book” might increase the risk of being exposed.
He carefully used his fingertips to gently, little by little, close the gap in the window that he had just opened, trying not to make any noise, and his movements were as gentle as caressing his lover’s cheek.
After making sure the window was back to its original state, he slowly and silently stepped back and hid in the shadow under the windowsill again.
He listened again, and the only sound in the room was Tsunade’s steady breathing. It seemed that she was a little sleepy and was about to fall asleep.
The courtyard outside was also silent, with only the sound of the wind.
retreat!
Shimura Aki gave himself an order in his heart.
Return along the same route!
The retreat process was even more thrilling than the infiltration.
Because he had the “stolen goods” in his mind (although they were only images recorded by the system), he became even more paranoid, always feeling that there were countless pairs of eyes staring at him in the dark, and any slight movement would make him jump with fear.
I came here with empty hands, determined to die if I didn’t succeed.
Now that I have succeeded, I am even more afraid of failing at the last minute, losing the duck in my hand and taking myself with it.
[30 meters to the left, there is a chakra reaction behind the bushes, suspected to be a lurking sentry, please go around from the right. ][Pay attention to your feet. There is a newly laid silk thread trap on the ground ahead. It has been marked.][A two-person team is approaching from the southeast at a fast speed. It is recommended to hide in the shadow of the rockery ahead immediately! ]The system’s prompts were more frequent and urgent than when they came. It was obvious that the nighttime defenses of the Senshou Mansion were not static, and might even become tighter as the night progressed.
Shimura Aki completely relied on the guidance of the system and his own tense nerves to escape danger again and again.
He hid behind the cold rockery, listening to the heavy footsteps and low conversations of the patrolling ninjas passing by a few meters away, his heart almost jumping out of his throat.
He crawled on the wet and cold grass, feeling the mental power of the perception-type ninja sweeping over him like a searchlight, and tried to suppress his own chuck fluctuations to the minimum, like a stone blending into the environment.
Sweat soaked his clothes again, not because of tiredness, but because of extreme tension and fear.
He could even smell the faint smell of sweat emanating from his body due to nervousness, and he was afraid of being detected by the ninjas or ninja dogs with a keen sense of smell.
Every step is like walking on thin ice, and every second is full of torment.
Finally, after a stealth that seemed as long as a century, the familiar back wall near the grove appeared in front of him again.
He quickly looked around and confirmed that it was safe for the time being.
[The fixed sentry post is still empty.]The mobile patrol has just left the area and is expected to arrive in ten minutes. 】
The system gave a safe signal.
Chapter 16 Verification (Old Version)
Shimura Aki did not dare to delay and once again concentrated his chakra in his hands and feet, climbing up the wall at a faster speed than when he came, but still carefully.
After climbing over the wall and falling into the shadow of the grove outside the wall, he finally dared to breathe deeply.
The free air! Although it still carried the chill of the night, it made him feel extremely at ease!
He succeeded! He actually managed to escape from the heavily guarded Senju Mansion with Tsunade’s secret!
After a brief relaxation, he immediately became alert.
This place is still on the outskirts of the Senju clan’s territory, so we cannot take it lightly.
Without stopping, he immediately went into the woods and returned quickly and stealthily towards the Shimura mansion along the same route he had come.
He hurried all the way until he saw the familiar outline of his own house in the distance, and only then did he feel relieved.
Use the same method again to avoid the guards and climb through the window into your room.
When he lay down on his familiar tatami again, he seemed to be exhausted, every limb was filled with fatigue, but his spirit was extremely excited.
He closed his eyes, the thrilling scenes just now still replaying in his mind.
The strictness of the Senju mansion, Tsunade’s concentration and silly smile when reading the pornographic book, the thrilling system prompts, the thrilling step-by-step retreat…
All this made him feel like he was dreaming, but the fatigue of his body and the dew and dirt on his clothes clearly told him that all this was really happening.
He recalled Tsunade’s appearance and the cover of “Heroic Stories: Wind Flower, Snow and Moon”, and still found it a little unbelievable, and the corners of his mouth could not help but rise slightly.
Who would have thought that the high and mighty Princess Senju, the future fifth Hokage, would have such a secret hobby?
This world is indeed full of surprises (or shocks).
Shimura Aki suppressed his excitement. Fatigue came over him like a tide, but he couldn’t sleep yet.
He has more important things to do – collect his mission reward!
He immediately sank his consciousness into his mind and opened the simple system panel.
On the panel, the novice task “Spying into the Secret Boudoir of Princess Senju – Tsunade” in the [Task Bar] has changed its status from “In Progress” to a bright red “Completed”!
Almost at the same time as he saw the task status change, the cold system prompt sounded on time:
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully completing the novice mission: Peep into the secrets of Princess Senju’s boudoir – Tsunade! ][Mission completion: Perfect (obtain blue-level black material within the specified time, and the target and any third party are not aware of it throughout the process).
[Task rewards are being distributed…][Rewards have been distributed successfully! Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Skill ‘Chakra Refining (Mastery)’! Skill ‘Medical Ninjutsu (Beginner)’! ]As soon as he finished speaking, an indescribable, huge and pure torrent of information rushed into his mind like a flood breaking through a dam!
This flow of information is not chaotic, but clear and logical.
One part is about chakra refinement.
From the most basic theories, to the most efficient extraction methods under various circumstances, to the countless techniques and tips on how to sense, guide, condense and compress chakra, and even some special breathing methods and mental guidance techniques that can only be found within large families or in secret and can improve the quality of chakra…all of it was like an epiphany, deeply imprinted in the depths of his soul.
He felt as if he had become a veteran who had been immersed in the art of chakra extraction for decades in an instant! He was no longer the rookie who had difficulty even sensing chakra and whose extraction efficiency was low!
Another part of the information flow is about medical ninjutsu.
From the basic qualities of a medical ninja, detailed maps of the human body’s meridian points, the theory of chakra’s impact on cell activity, to the most basic and core medical ninjutsu – the principles of the palm technique, the subtle methods of chakra output control, and methods of treating different injuries…all kinds of knowledge flowed into his sea of ​​consciousness like a trickle.
Although it was only at the “entry level”, the amount and depth of knowledge contained in it was far beyond what ordinary Genin could access! Moreover, this knowledge was not memorized by rote, but like an innate instinct, allowing him to understand and master it naturally!
Shimura Aki felt as if his brain had been forced to upgrade and expand, filling it with these valuable knowledge and skills.
Although the process is a bit shocking, the benefits it brings are unparalleled!
He doesn’t even need to study and practice deliberately, he already “gets it”!
“Is this… the power of the system?” he muttered to himself, his eyes filled with shock and ecstasy.
This method of directly imparting knowledge and skills is simply amazing!
He couldn’t wait to verify it.
He immediately sat down cross-legged, collected his mind, and began to practice the chakra refining technique according to the “mastery” level in his mind.
As soon as he thought about it, the spiritual energy and physical energy in his body began to merge and transform at an unprecedented speed! He didn’t even need to deliberately guide it, the chakra was like finding the smoothest river channel, and it automatically circulated in his body!
The efficiency of the refining process was much higher than the basic method he had explored and taught by Shimura Cang before! It was a world of difference!
If the chakra before was like a trickle of mountain stream, then now, it has gathered into a rushing river! Although the total amount has not increased immediately, the speed of refining and the purity of chakra have undergone a qualitative leap!
He could clearly feel that streams of warm and powerful energy were constantly being generated and gathering in his Dantian Qi Sea, filling his body with an unprecedented sense of power!
“Too… too strong!” Shimura Aki was so excited that his body was shaking slightly.
Just reaching the mastery level of chakra refining has brought him such a huge change! This has laid an extremely solid foundation for his future strength improvement!
Feeling the chakra flowing through his body, Shimura Aki turned his attention to another reward – medical ninjutsu.
This is a magical skill for saving lives and development!
He slowly stretched out his right hand, concentrated his mind, and according to the knowledge of Palm Fairy Technique in his mind, tried to mobilize the chakra in his body, transform its properties, and give it the “healing” attribute.
It was a bit awkward at first, and the chakra output was not very stable.
But as he continued to adjust, soon, a faint emerald green light emitting a soft breath of life slowly emerged and condensed in his palm!
Although the light is faint, like a candle in the wind, the warm and vital energy fluctuations contained in it are definitely medical ninjutsu!
Success! I successfully condensed the medical chakra on my first try!
Shimura Aki was very excited.
Chapter 17 Plan (Old Version)
It’s useless to just talk about it. You have to test the effect in practice.
He hesitated for a moment, his eyes falling on the unsharpened training kunai at his waist.
He pulled out the kunai, took a deep breath, then found a smoother spot on his left arm and gently and carefully scratched it with the tip of the kunai.
The movement was very light, but it still left a shallow bloodstain about an inch long.
Fine beads of blood immediately oozed out of the wound, bringing a slight stinging sensation.
He ignored the pain and immediately placed the palm of his right hand, which was covered with light green medical chakra, gently on the wound.
Warm and gentle energy instantly flowed from the palm of the hand into the wound.
An indescribable, tingling, and comfortable feeling, like soaking in a hot spring, came from the wound, instantly overwhelming the previous stinging sensation.
What shocked him even more was that under the illumination of the pale green light in his palm, the bleeding wound on his arm began to change at a speed visible to the naked eye!
The ruptured skin tissue was rapidly wriggling and growing, the tiny blood vessels were automatically connecting and stopping the bleeding, and the bloodstains were rapidly fading and disappearing…
It only took a dozen seconds!
When he removed his right hand, the clear wound on his arm was reduced to a very light pink mark! In a little while, even this mark would disappear completely!
“Is this… medical ninjutsu?” Shimura Aki looked at his arms that were as smooth as before and was deeply shocked again.
Although it was only at the “entry-level” level, the effect of treating such superficial injuries was so immediate! What if it was a higher-level medical ninjutsu? Wouldn’t it really be able to bring the dead back to life and turn flesh and bones into flesh? (Although he knew it wasn’t that exaggerated, it was close.
）
His heart was pounding with excitement.
Medical Ninjutsu! This is more than just the ability to save people! In battle, quickly healing your own injuries can greatly improve your ability to continue fighting and survive! In normal times, if you master this skill, you will be welcomed and valued no matter which team you are in! You can even use this as an opportunity to get in touch with more people and build your own network!
He suddenly realized that this skill had extremely important strategic significance for his future plans! Perhaps, he could use the identity of a medical ninja as a layer of protection, or even… as a way to escape from Danzo’s control?
With the Chakra Extraction Technique (Mastered) as a foundation and the Medical Ninjutsu (Entry-level) as a trump card, his strength and future possibilities will get a qualitative leap!
The risk of exploring the Qianshou Mansion at night was well worth it!
The novice gift package is really generous!
Feeling the chakra filling his body and the newly acquired magical power, Shimura Aki was excited for a long time before gradually calming down.
My strength has improved, the novice mission has been completed, and the system mall will probably be unlocked soon (although there is no prompt on the panel yet).
Then, we should consider how to make good use of this “harvest”.
——That “blue” scandal about Tsunade.
“Heroes’ Stories: Romance”…
When he thought of this, Shimura Aki couldn’t help but laugh.
How to use this secret?
Go straight to Tsunade, take out the “evidence” (even though it’s just system records), and threaten her?
Shimura Aki immediately rejected the idea.
So stupid!
First of all, although Tsunade is young now, she definitely has a bad temper and a powerful background.
If you push her too far, given her personality, she might just punch you! By then, let alone using secrets, you might even lose your life.
Even if she didn’t dare to take action on the spot because of the consequences, she would definitely find ways to retaliate afterwards.
It is definitely not a wise move to offend a future Sannin and Hokage, who is also a medical ninja with super powers.
Secondly, direct threats are too low-level and too easy to expose oneself.
Once Tsunade knew that she had sneaked into her boudoir and knew her secret, it would inevitably arouse her vigilance and the attention of the Senju clan.
Then I will get into big trouble.
Therefore, a more “gentle” and “clever” approach must be adopted.
I had to let Tsunade know that “I know your secret” so that she would be afraid of me, but I couldn’t let her know exactly how I knew it, and I certainly couldn’t let her feel that I was threatening her maliciously.
It would be best to achieve an effect of “stopping at the right time” and “leading without firing”, so that she would feel guilty and thus “take care of” or “concede” to herself in certain matters in the future.
The balance in this process is a great test of acting skills and timing.
Shimura Aki stroked his chin and began to think carefully about the specific plan.
He needed a suitable occasion, a public place where he could “accidentally meet” Tsunade.
Moreover, it would be better if there were other people present at this occasion, especially people of the same age like Jiraiya and Orochimaru, so as to better set the atmosphere and make his words seem more like “childish talk”.
An open class at a ninja school? Or a public training ground in a village? These places seem to be more suitable.
Then, he needs to design his lines and performance.
You have to act naive and innocent enough, as if you are just a curious child who accidentally saw something interesting and asked casually.
Yes, that’s the feeling! Use the most innocent expression to say the most frightening words to the other person!
A slightly sinister smile appeared on the corner of Shimura Aki’s mouth.
Plans began to take shape.
A few days later.
Shimura Aki finally waited for a perfect opportunity.
On this day, the Ninja School organized an open basic physical training class for all students at the largest public training ground next to the school.
It is said that the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen would occasionally take time out to come and watch and comment, thus attracting a large number of students and some idle villagers to come and watch.
Shimura Aki once again obtained Shimura Aoi’s “accompanying permission” on the grounds of “observing and learning, and increasing knowledge.”
Of course, he knew that his every move would most likely be reported to Danzo.
But it doesn’t matter, he just wants to act in a relatively public place.
The training ground was bustling with people.
Students of different grades, according to their classes and under the guidance of their respective instructors, practiced the basics of physical training, exerting their sweat and youth.
There was a warm atmosphere in the air.
Shimura Aki followed behind Shimura Sora, pretending to look around curiously, but his eyes were quickly searching for the target in the crowd.
Soon, he saw several familiar figures in a corner of the training ground.
Chapter 18: Little Clothes (Old Version)
It’s them!
The future Sannin are now gathered together.
Tsunade stood at the front, her long golden hair tied into a neat high ponytail. The small diamond-shaped mark on her forehead seemed to be clearer than the last time she saw her.
She was wearing a tight training suit that was easy for her to move in. She had her hands on her hips and was talking to Jiraiya next to her. She looked like a big sister.
Judging from her age and figure, she should be a senior student in the ninja school, perhaps graduating soon?
Jiraiya still had his signature white hair and a playful expression on his face, as if he was refuting or teasing Tsunade’s words. From time to time, he would secretly glance at the female classmates from other classes nearby, with a somewhat dishonest look in his eyes.
Orochimaru stood alone a little further away, leaning against a tree, with his arms folded across his chest. His skin was still too pale, and his golden vertical pupils were flashing with an inexplicable light. He observed the training of other students on the field with great interest. Occasionally, a barely perceptible sneer would appear at the corner of his mouth. No one knew what he was thinking.
Very good, all the main characters are there.
There were also many other students and onlookers around.
The timing and location were perfect.
Shimura Aki took a deep breath, adjusted his expression, and tried to make himself look like an innocent eight-year-old boy who was curious about everything.
He even deliberately blanked his eyes, appearing a little confused.
He gently pulled the corner of Shimura Aoi’s clothes in front of him.
Shimura Ao looked down at him, his eyes still cold.
“Uncle Cang,” Shimura Aki asked in a timid, childish voice, “Who is that big sister with golden hair over there? She looks so powerful.”
He said, pointing his finger in Tsunade’s direction.
Shimura Aoi looked in the direction he pointed and said calmly, “That is the eldest daughter of the Senju clan, Lady Tsunade.
She is the granddaughter of the first Hokage.”
There was a barely perceptible awe in his tone.
“Wow! The granddaughter of the first Hokage!” Shimura Aki opened his mouth in surprise, his eyes sparkling with admiration, “Then she must be very, very powerful!”
His voice was neither loud nor soft, but loud enough for some people nearby to hear.
Tsunade seemed to have noticed the commotion here as well and gave them a puzzled look.
This is exactly the effect that Shimura Aki wants!
While Tsunade was looking over, he immediately broke free (or pretended to break free) from Shimura Aoi’s hand, and trotted towards Tsunade with his short legs.
“Hey! Young Master Qiu!” Shimura Aoi obviously didn’t expect him to run away suddenly. He let out a low shout and immediately followed him. However, considering the occasion and Tsunade’s identity, he did not stop him forcibly, but his expression became even uglier.
“Sister Tsunade!” Shimura Aki ran to Tsunade and stopped about two or three steps away. He raised his little face with a bright (fake) smile on his face, and looked at her with shining eyes.
Tsunade was stunned by this little guy who suddenly ran over and looked somewhat familiar (after all, he was Danzo’s son).
She frowned slightly and looked at Shimura Akira, her tone carrying a hint of vigilance and impatience: “Are you… the kid from the Shimura family? What do you want from me?”
Jiraiya beside her also came over curiously and laughed, “Oh? Isn’t this the kid from Elder Danzo’s family? Why, do you want to spar with our big sister Tsunade?”
Orochimaru was still leaning against the tree, but he looked over with a hint of scrutiny and amusement in his eyes.
The attention of some students around was also attracted, and they looked curiously at the child who suddenly broke in.
Shimura Akira ignored Jiraiya’s teasing and continued to look at Tsunade with innocent eyes. He bowed politely and said, “Hello, Sister Tsunade! My name is Shimura Akira.”
Then, he stood up, tilted his head, and showed a confused and curious expression on his face, as if he suddenly remembered something important. He spoke clearly in a voice that was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for the people around him to hear clearly:
“Sister Tsunade, I seemed to see you reading a very interesting picture book in your room a few nights ago! The cover showed a very, very beautiful older sister wearing very little, and a very, very handsome ninja brother who looked like a great hero! What kind of book is that? It looks so interesting! I want to read it, too!”
His tone was full of the innocence and curiosity that is unique to children, as if he had really just seen something new and wanted to share and understand it.
But what he said was like thunder from the sky, instantly striking Tsunade’s heart!
Shimura Aki’s voice was clear and loud, full of the innocence unique to children, as if he was just sharing an interesting discovery.
However, the content of these words was like dropping a depth bomb on the calm lake, instantly creating huge waves in Tsunade’s heart!
“…”
The expression on Tsunade’s face stiffened at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The smile that originally had a bit of big sister majesty because of scolding Jiraiya froze at the corner of her mouth in an instant, as if the pause button was pressed by some mysterious force.
When she heard the keywords “picture album”, “beautiful sister”, “wearing very little”, and “handsome ninja brother”, her pupils suddenly contracted as if they were pricked by needles!
An invisible thunder seemed to strike her crown with incredible precision at this moment, leaving her stunned on the spot, her brain even temporarily freezing.
What did she hear?
What is this little devil… talking about?!
How could he…how could he know about that picture book? !
Impossible! Absolutely impossible! That book, “Heroes’ Stories: Wind, Flowers, Snow and Moon”, was a treasure that she had finally obtained from a merchant who was secretly selling banned books! She had always kept it well hidden, and only dared to take it out and secretly appreciate it when it was late at night and she was sure that no one was around! And every time she finished reading it, she would immediately hide it in the secret compartment under the bed!
How did this kid, this kid from the Shimura family, know this?! Could it be that he has X-ray vision?!
Tsunade’s heart began to beat wildly, and an indescribable sense of panic and shame, like a cold tide, instantly overwhelmed her!
Almost subconsciously, she quickly glanced around.
As far as the eye can see, is Jiraiya’s gossipy face which is very close, with an expression of “Oh shit, there’s something good to watch” written all over it. His eyes are wide open, and the corners of his mouth are stretched to his ears. It is obvious that he has a strong interest in the “picture album” that Shimura Aki mentioned.
There was also Orochimaru, who was still leaning against the tree with a lazy posture, but his golden snake eyes were slightly narrowed at this moment, flashing with a light of inquiry and amusement, and he was obviously also aroused by this sudden “revelation”.
Not to mention the students from other ninja schools who were originally watching the excitement and now pricked up their ears with their eyes as bright as light bulbs! Although they may not have heard it clearly, just by looking at Tsunade’s instantly changed face and Jiraiya’s exaggerated expression, they knew that something incredible must have happened!
It’s over!
Tsunade felt as if her cheeks were on fire, and instantly became hot! She could clearly feel the blood rushing to her head, and her ears were so red that they were almost bleeding!
Chapter 19 Aki Shimura (old version)
Her pitiful little secret, hidden deep in her heart, which absolutely must not be known by anyone… was actually… actually exposed by this kid who appeared out of nowhere, in such a “childish and innocent” way, in front of so many people? !
She was feeling ashamed, angry, shocked and scared right now!
What’s embarrassing is that my little-known “dirty” hobby was discovered, especially by a boy who is several years younger than me!
What makes me angry is that this kid has no restraint and dares to talk nonsense in public!
What’s surprising is how did he know this secret? How much did he see? What else does he know?
What she feared was that once this matter got out, it would cause a devastating blow to her reputation! She, Tsunade Senju, the granddaughter of the first Hokage and the future medical ninja master (as she herself expected), was actually addicted to reading vulgar adult picture books! This was simply a huge scandal! If the elders of the family knew about it, they would definitely skin her alive!
No! I absolutely cannot admit it! I cannot admit it even if I am beaten to death!
Tsunade took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down.
Although her heart was already in turmoil, on the surface, she still tried to maintain the last bit of calmness.
She even tried to force a smile, although it looked uglier than crying and was as stiff as a cheap mask.
She bent down and said to Shimura Akira in a gentle tone (but in fact, her voice was trembling due to nervousness): “Ah… Hehe, little brother, you… maybe you saw it wrong?”
Her voice was a little dry and her eyes were a little vague. She didn’t dare to look into Shimura Aki’s clear (fake) eyes.
“Sister, I…what I was looking at was not some picture book, that was…that was very serious ninjutsu experience! Yes, it was ninjutsu experience! It was left to me by my second grandfather, and it’s very profound!” She tried to make her tone sound righteous, but her quickly red ears and slightly trembling fingertips had already mercilessly betrayed her inner panic.
“Experiences in ninjutsu?” Shimura Aki blinked his innocent big eyes, with an even more confused expression on his face, as if he didn’t understand at all why Tsunade said that, and seemed to have completely failed to receive the “shut up” signal that Tsunade was desperately trying to convey in her eyes.
He tilted his head and continued to ask in a childish, stubborn tone that was unique to children, “Really? But…but I clearly saw something like ‘Romance’ written on the cover?”
As soon as the words “wind, flowers, snow and moon” came out of her mouth, Tsunade’s heart felt like it was being tightly grasped by an invisible big hand, and she almost couldn’t breathe!
He…he even read the words on the cover?!
It’s over! It’s really over now! He wasn’t just guessing! He really saw it!
Tsunade felt like her worldview was about to collapse.
How on earth did this kid find something she hid so secretly?! Did he sneak into her room that night?! Impossible! The security around her room was clearly very tight!
Shimura Aki seemed to be completely unaware of Tsunade’s murderous gaze and increasingly paler face, and was still immersed in his own “curiosity”.
He even stretched out his little hands, gestured, and tried hard to recall (actually deliberately selecting provocative details):
“Also, that picture book… oh no, the ninja brother in that ninjutsu experience book, the moves he uses are so strange, it seems that they are not the ones taught in our school! It’s… it’s the kind… um… that can suddenly create a lot of water and make flower petals rain from the sky… That… that girl…”
He deliberately paused here, pretending to think hard, while secretly observing Tsunade’s reaction.
Sure enough, when Tsunade heard the words “flower petals raining down”, her face turned from pale to ashen! That was an extremely gorgeous (and of little practical value) special water ninjutsu used by the hero in “Heroes’ Stories: Wind, Flower, Snow and Moon” to please the heroine! Only those who have actually read the picture book know this detail!
This kid…did he really…really read all the content?!
Tsunade felt like she was about to suffocate! She stared at Shimura Akira fiercely, her eyes filled with disbelief, shame and anger, and a hint of murderous intent that was almost uncontrollable! If eyes could kill, Shimura Akira would have been tortured to death by her ten thousand times!
But at the same time, deep within the anger and murderous intent, a barely perceptible trace of… pleading and fear also quietly grew.
She was scared, she was really scared.
She was afraid that this kid would say something even more explosive!
The atmosphere around was becoming increasingly weird.
Jiraiya had already laughed so hard that he couldn’t straighten his back. He held his stomach and laughed wildly, while winking at Tsunade: “Hahahaha… Tsunade! ‘Flower, Snow and Moon’? How do you do a ninjutsu that makes it rain flower petals? When did the Second Hokage study such a… romantic ninjutsu? Show it to us! Let us learn from it so we can chase girls in the future! Hahahaha!”
Although Orochimaru did not laugh as wildly as Jiraiya, the playful curve at the corner of his mouth became more and more obvious, and the look he gave Tsunade was full of inquiry, as if he was re-evaluating this companion who had always had some “violent tendencies”.
The other students who were watching were whispering and talking to each other. All kinds of speculation and gossip fell on Tsunade as if they were real. She felt like a thorn in her back and she wished she could find a hole in the ground to crawl into immediately!
“Shut up, everyone!” Tsunade finally couldn’t bear it anymore, turned her head abruptly, and shouted angrily at Jiraiya and others who were making the most noise!
The momentum that burst out at that instant was quite majestic, with a bit of the future Fifth Hokage’s authority, which made Jiraiya’s laughter stop abruptly. He touched his nose awkwardly, not daring to continue provoking.
After scolding her companion, Tsunade immediately turned around and stared at Shimura Akira with an extremely complicated look.
There was anger, shame, threat, warning, and a barely perceptible hint of… pleading in those eyes.
She knew that she couldn’t let this kid continue talking now! She had to stop him immediately! And not here!
She took a deep breath, forced down the emotions churning in her heart, and grabbed Shimura Akira’s wrist.
Her grip was so strong that it hurt Shimura Aki’s wrist, but he just frowned slightly and did not struggle, still maintaining that innocent expression of “not knowing what was going on”.
Chapter 20 Small Chest (Old Version)
“You! Come with me!” Tsunade almost squeezed out these words from between her teeth, and then without saying anything, she pulled Shimura Aki and walked quickly towards a relatively secluded corner of a grove next to the training ground where there were few people.
Shimura Ao, who followed closely behind, had a face so gloomy that water seemed to drip out of it, but he took one look at Tsunade, who was obviously on the verge of an explosion, and then at the “innocent” expression of his young master. In the end, he did not immediately step forward to intervene, but just followed at a distance, obviously wanting to find out what was going on.
Jiraiya and Orochimaru looked at each other, and saw a hint of curiosity and gossip in each other’s eyes. They also followed quietly, wanting to see what happened next.
Soon, Tsunade pulled Shimura Akira to a secluded corner deep in the woods where there was no one else around.
As soon as she stopped, she immediately shook off Shimura Aki’s hand as if it was something dirty.
Unable to maintain her previous disguise any longer, her pretty face turned red with extreme anger and shame, her chest heaved violently, and her beautiful almond-shaped eyes stared at Shimura Aki with a look as if they were about to spit fire!
“Little brat!” Her voice trembled slightly with anger, with a taste of gnashing teeth, “What do you want?! Tell me! How did you know about that?! Did you sneak into my room?!”
Facing Tsunade’s almost cannibalistic gaze and questioning, Shimura Aki seemed to feel no pressure at all.
He rubbed his wrist which was slightly red from being pinched, with an expression of both aggrieved and frightened on his face, and even his eyes were slightly red, as if he was frightened by Tsunade’s ferocious look.
“Sister Tsunade…you…you hurt me…” He pursed his lips and complained softly. His voice had a hint of crying, making him look pitiful.
Seeing him like this, Tsunade’s anger couldn’t help but stagnate.
After all, the other party was just an eight-year-old child. Was she a little too fierce just now? But when she thought of what he had just said in public, her anger rose again!
“Stop playing dumb!” Tsunade said viciously, “Tell me now! How did you know that? If you don’t explain clearly, don’t even think about leaving today!”
Shimura Aki shrank her neck when she yelled at her, and said timidly: “I… I didn’t mean it… It was just a few nights ago, I… I couldn’t sleep, so I wanted to go out for a walk, and then… Then when I passed by your house, I seemed to see that the window of your room was not closed tightly, and the light was on inside, so I… I took a look out of curiosity…”
As he spoke, he carefully observed Tsunade’s expression and made up an excuse that sounded ‘reasonable’.
Of course he couldn’t admit that he was driven by a system task and had sneaked into her room premeditatedly.
“Really… I just took a look…” He lowered his head, playing with his fingers, his voice getting smaller and smaller, “I… I didn’t know what book it was at the time… I just thought the cover was nice… I… I didn’t mean any harm, Sister Tsunade, don’t be angry…”
His performance of “I’m just a curious baby, I accidentally saw something I shouldn’t have seen, but I really don’t understand anything” is simply at the level of an Oscar-winning actor.
Tsunade looked at him doubtfully.
Passing by? Saw it by accident? The window was not closed tightly?
She thought carefully about what happened that night.
Did I really forget to close the window that night because I was so engrossed in watching? And given the location of my room, if someone happened to pass by from a tricky angle, it seemed… it seemed that it was really possible to see a little bit of what was going on inside through the gap?
Is it… really a coincidence?
This thought flashed through Tsunade’s mind, but she quickly denied it! Coincidence? How could there be so many coincidences! This kid definitely didn’t tell the truth! He must have used some despicable means to peek! He might even have peeked on purpose!
However, it is no longer important to find out how he knew it.
The important thing is, he knew it! Moreover, he almost revealed his secret in public just now!
“You…” Tsunade was so angry that she couldn’t speak, and the fingers pointing at Shimura Akira were trembling slightly.
Seeing this, Shimura Aki knew that the time was almost right, so he immediately raised his head at the right time and said in a flattering and tentative tone: “Sister Tsunade, you… don’t worry, I… I won’t tell anyone else! I will keep the matter of that… the album a secret! Really!”
He patted his chest and assured in a “serious” manner.
Hearing the word “secret”, Tsunade felt a little relieved, but then she became alert.
This kid suddenly said he wanted to keep it a secret? He definitely had bad intentions!
Sure enough, Shimura Aki’s next words exposed his true purpose.
“But…” He changed the subject, showing a somewhat embarrassed smile on his face, rubbing his hands and saying, “Sister Tsunade, you are so amazing. You are the granddaughter of the first Hokage, you must know a lot of things, right? I… I am very interested in medical ninjutsu recently, but no one at home taught me this… Uncle Cang also said that I don’t have enough talent… Sister Tsunade, can you… can you help me a little? For example… give me some pointers occasionally?”
He also deliberately emphasized the tone of the words “help” and “small favor”, and his eyes were full of “innocent” expectation.
Tsunade understood instantly!
This brat! He is blackmailing me! He wants to use that secret to blackmail me into teaching him medical ninjutsu!
Tsunade is so smart! Although she is young, she is familiar with this kind of transaction and blackmail tricks after being exposed to the big family!
An uncontrollable rage once again burned in her heart!
This bastard brat! How dare he blackmail Tsunade Senju?! Who does he think he is?! Is being the son of Shimura Danzo so great?!
She wanted to punch the kid in the head and let him know why the flowers were so red!
But…reason once again pulled her back.
She couldn’t do it.
Once the action starts, things will get out of hand.
Not to mention the consequences of injuring Danzo’s son, the reason why she hit someone is enough to ruin her reputation.
The situation is stronger than people!
In order to protect her reputation, in order to prevent the shameful secret from being exposed…she seemed…seemed to have no choice but to compromise?
Tsunade’s face turned pale and blue, and she was struggling fiercely in her heart.
She looked at Shimura Aki’s “innocent” face, and her teeth itched with hatred! This brat must have done it on purpose! He just mentioned the album in public just to force her to submit!
Too insidious! Too despicable! Even worse than her father who was known for his viciousness!
Chapter 21 Silver Fang (Old Version)
“You…what else do you want?” Tsunade bit her back teeth and squeezed out these words from between her teeth.
She knew that this brat definitely wanted more than just medical ninjutsu instruction.
Shimura Aki was secretly happy when he saw Tsunade give in, but he still maintained that harmless expression on his face.
“Nothing… nothing…” He waved his hands, looking very “sensible”, “It’s just… if I run into any trouble in the village in the future, or… or want to know some… um… information that I should know at my age, can Sister Tsunade… use your identity to help me a little bit?”
He deliberately emphasized “a small trouble”, “a small favor”, and “information I should know at my age” in an attempt to lower Tsunade’s vigilance and make her feel that her request was not excessive.
Tsunade stared at him intently, trying to discern from his seemingly clear eyes what he was thinking deep down in his heart.
Instruct in ninjutsu? Provide convenience? Obtain intelligence?
This kid is really ambitious! Is he trying to use his status and resources to pave the way for himself?
Tsunade sneered in her heart.
He is indeed the son of Danzo Shimura, so scheming at such a young age!
But does she have a choice now?
No.
That damn secret was like a sword hanging over her head, forcing her to bow her head.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she opened them again, her eyes were still filled with resentment and anger, but there was a hint of helpless compromise.
“Okay!” She almost gritted her teeth before uttering the word.
“I promise you!”
“I can give you some pointers on medical ninjutsu occasionally.
I can also help you with some small matters that do not violate village regulations or harm family interests.
But!” She changed the subject, her eyes becoming fierce, “You must swear! What I saw and heard today, as well as that… that thing, must be kept secret forever! You must never mention it to a third person! Otherwise…”
She didn’t finish her words, but the threatening look in her eyes said it all.
If Shimura Aki dares to break the agreement, she will definitely make this brat pay a heavy price! Even if her secret is exposed, she will teach this bastard who blackmailed her a lesson!
Shimura Aki looked at Tsunade’s angry and helpless expression, as if she wanted to eat him alive, and felt secretly happy in his heart, but an ecstatic expression immediately appeared on his face.
“Great! Thank you, Sister Tsunade!” He almost jumped up with joy, “Don’t worry, Sister! I swear! I, Shimura Aki, swear to heaven! What happened today, and that… that album, I will never tell anyone! If I break my oath, then let me… let me never be able to refine chakra again!”
He raised three fingers and made a very “sincere” oath which was quite vicious for a ninja.
Of course, this oath was of no binding force on him.
With the system in hand, I have the chakra!
Tsunade watched him finish his oath, and her expression improved a little, but still gloomy.
She snorted coldly, obviously not completely convinced of the effectiveness of this oath, but things had come to this point, and she could only choose to believe it temporarily.
“Remember what you said!” She gave a final warning, then turned and left. She didn’t want to stay with this hateful kid who had caused her such a big loss for a moment.
Looking at Tsunade’s angrily leaving back, the “innocent” smile on Shimura Akira’s face disappeared instantly, and was replaced by a smug smile of success.
First step, success!
Not only did he successfully complete the novice mission and receive generous rewards, he also used this “black material” to initially establish contact with Tsunade and gain some valuable resources and conveniences for himself.
Chapter 22 “Innocence” (Old Version)
Although the process was a bit thrilling and definitely offended Tsunade, the benefits were huge!
As for the anger and desire for revenge in Tsunade’s heart?
Shimura Aki didn’t care.
As long as the secret is still in his hands (or in the system), Tsunade would not dare to do anything to him.
Moreover, there is still a long way to go, maybe there will be a chance to repair the relationship in the future? After all, the future Sannin is still worth winning over.
He straightened his clothes and walked in the opposite direction of Tsunade, preparing to meet up with Shimura Aoi who was still “watching” not far away.
The subsequent “explanation” work will require some thought.
However, as long as he insists that he was just a child and “said nothing”, and that he saw it accidentally, and that he is Danzo’s son, he should be able to get away with it.
After all, who would have thought that an eight-year-old child would be so deliberate in scheming against the Thousand-Handed Princess, who was a few years older than him and of noble status?
The corner of Shimura Aki’s mouth once again curled up into a meaningful smile.
This ninja world is becoming more and more interesting.
Shimura Aki walked towards Shimura Aoi with brisk steps, and the “innocent” expression on his face appeared just right again.
Although the confrontation with Tsunade just now was brief, it consumed a lot of his energy, especially as he had to maintain his disguise at all times while trying to figure out Tsunade’s psychology and guide her into the trap he had set. The calculations and performances involved were even more tiring than undergoing a high-intensity physical training.
But the results are encouraging.
He successfully used a “blue” level black material to exchange for Tsunade’s “friendship” (forced) and substantial benefits.
This deal is a sure win.
From a distance, he saw Shimura Ao still standing at the edge of the grove, expressionless, like a stone sculpture.
Not far behind Shimura Aoi, the figures of Jiraiya and Orochimaru were also looming. It was obvious that although they did not get close during the “private negotiation” just now, they had been observing secretly.
Shimura Akira understood in his heart that it seemed that the “interaction” between him and Tsunade just now had been seen by many people.
But it doesn’t matter, as long as the core secret is not exposed, nothing else matters.
Even, letting others see that you can “talk” to the arrogant Thousand Hands Princess is itself a kind of invisible capital.
He trotted up to Shimura Sou, looked up, and had a look of relief at surviving the disaster and a little pride on his face.
“Uncle Cang, I’m back.”
He said sweetly.
Shimura Ao’s sharp eyes swept over him, as if trying to see something from his face.
Although he was too far away to hear the specific content of the conversation between his young master and Princess Senju, he knew that things were definitely not simple just by looking at Tsunade’s furious and violent expression.
“What happened just now?” Shimura Ao’s voice was still cold, with a hint of interrogation.
As the person sent by Danzo to protect and monitor Shimura Akira, he has the responsibility to find out everything that may be detrimental to the young master or may involve the interests of the Shimura family.
Shimura Aki had anticipated this question and had already prepared an answer in his mind.
He showed an expression that was both excited and a little embarrassed, scratched his head, and said: “Um… Uncle Cang, I… I seem to have made friends with Sister Tsunade!”
“Friend?” Shimura Cang frowned slightly.
He had dealt with Tsunade before and knew the temper and arrogance of the Senju Princess. How could she easily make friends with a kid from the Shimura family whom she met for the first time? Moreover, Tsunade’s behavior just now was not at all like the attitude one should have when making friends.
Shimura Akira nodded vigorously, with a face filled with “innocent” joy: “Yes! Sister Tsunade is a very good person! It’s just… she was a little fierce at the beginning…”
He began his performance.
He described in vivid detail (of course, with exaggeration and half-truth) how he “mustered up the courage” to approach and talk to Tsunade, and how he “keenly” observed that Tsunade seemed to admire the First Hokage very much, so he “cleverly” started with this topic to express his admiration for the First Hokage and his “sincere” praise for the contributions made by the Senju clan to Konoha.
“…I say, the First Generation is the greatest Hokage, he founded Konoha Village and brought peace, we all should be grateful to him and the Senju clan.
After hearing this, Sister Tsunade seemed very happy and was not as fierce as before…”
As he spoke, he secretly observed Shimura Aoi’s reaction.
Shimura Aoi still had a blank expression on his face, but the doubt in his eyes seemed to have eased a little.
After all, flattering the Senju clan, especially the first Hokage, does sound reasonable in easing Tsunade’s attitude.
Then, Shimura Aki began to describe how he “just right” showed a strong interest and “desire” for ninjutsu, especially medical ninjutsu.
“…Then I said that I really wanted to be a powerful ninja like Sister Tsunade, to protect the village and my father! I also said that I heard that Sister Tsunade’s medical ninjutsu is very powerful and is the hope for the future of Konoha. I…I also want to learn medical ninjutsu so that I can heal my injured companions in the future…”
He portrayed himself as a studious young man who was positive, eager for power, and passionate about the medical field.
“After listening to me, Sister Tsunade seemed… seemed to be moved by my ‘sincerity’? She… she actually agreed to give me some guidance on my training when she is free in the future! Especially in the area of ​​medical ninjutsu!” When Shimura Aki said this, an expression of incredible surprise and gratitude appeared on his face, as if he had really received a great gift from heaven.
With this speech, he cleverly packaged his behavior of “extortion” into an inspirational story of how he successfully impressed the cold princess and gained the support of his predecessors by relying on “wisdom”, “eloquence” and “sincerity”.
Of course, the most crucial part of the story is omitted – the book “Heroes’ Stories: Romance”.
Chapter 23 Rhetoric (Old Version)
Shimura Aki knew that he must not tell anyone about the picture album, including Danzo.
This is not only an agreement with Tsunade, but also for protecting himself.
Once Danzo knew that he had the leverage over Tsunade, who knew how that old fox would use it and how he would view his “audacious” son.
So, he had to rationalize the whole process and make everything seem logical, at least on the surface.
In order to increase the credibility of his words, he also “inadvertently” revealed some seemingly insignificant “details”.
“By the way, Uncle Cang,” he added as if he suddenly remembered something, “When I was chatting with Sister Tsunade just now, she…she seemed to have mentioned something else…”
He deliberately lowered his voice and made a hesitant expression, as if saying, “I heard something amazing, but I’m not sure whether I should say it.”
Shimura Aoi’s eyes immediately became sharp: “Oh? What did she say?”
Shimura Akira pretended to think and recalled, “Hmm… it seems… she was a little worried about the recent… Ninja School teaching reform plan in the village? She felt that some parts were not quite right… and… she seemed to have commented on the guarding work of a certain patrol area that our Shimura family was responsible for, saying… that it seemed a little lax?”
Of course, he made up this information.
He was just making reasonable guesses based on his own thoughts about some potential problems that might exist in Konoha at the current time, with the aim of conveying a message to Danzo: Not only have I established contact with Tsunade, but I can also obtain some valuable information from her!
This is the “value” he really wants to show Danzo.
After hearing this, Zhicun Cang’s eyes flickered for a moment, but he did not immediately express his opinion. He just looked at Zhicun Qiu deeply, and then said, “Okay, we should not stay here for long, let’s go back.”
He did not ask for any further details, obviously intending to report the situation to Danzo in full, and let Danzo make the final judgment himself.
Shimura Akira nodded obediently, followed Shimura Cang, and left the training ground.
The moment he turned around, he glanced vaguely in the direction of Jiraiya and Orochimaru, with a barely perceptible curve at the corner of his mouth.
This “chance encounter” had an outstanding effect.
After returning to the Shimura mansion, Shimura Aki did not go back to his room immediately, but took the initiative to report to his father about what he had seen and gained at the training ground today.
This is naturally part of the plan.
He must tell Danzo this “good news” in person and tell it in his own way in order to maximize his weight in his father’s heart.
The path leading to the study seemed less depressing than last time.
Maybe it’s because I have more confidence in my heart, or maybe it’s because of the confidence brought by the improvement of my strength.
It was still the study room with dim light and solemn atmosphere.
Danzo was sitting behind a desk, holding a scroll in his hand, seemingly reviewing it.
Shimura Akira bowed respectfully.
Danzo raised his head, his sharp eyes falling on his son like a hawk.
He had obviously received a preliminary report from Shimura Aoi, but remained calm.
“Cang has already told me what happened at the training ground today.”
Danzo’s voice was low and steady, “You said that you got Tsunade to agree to guide you in your training?”
“Yes, father.”
Shimura Akira straightened his small body, with just the right amount of confidence and a hint of youthful pride on his face, “I… I used a little ‘wisdom’ to have a ‘sincere’ exchange with Lady Tsunade, and luckily I gained her approval.”
Next, Shimura Aki once again told Danzo the carefully woven story in a vivid manner.
He emphasized how he was observant, how he catered to the princess’s preferences, how he demonstrated his “loyalty” and “ambition”, and how he finally “touched” the proud Princess Thousand Hands.
He portrayed himself as a “smart kid” who, although weak in strength, had a quick mind, was good at observation, and knew how to use his advantages (such as being young and seemingly harmless) to achieve his goals.
Of course, he also “inadvertently” mentioned again some of the “views” and “evaluations” about village affairs that he “heard” from Tsunade, and he was more specific and in-depth than when he told Shimura Aoi, implying that his ability to obtain intelligence should not be underestimated.
Danzo listened quietly, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the table, making a light “tap, tap, tap” sound.
There was no expression on his face, and his deep eyes were as calm as an ancient well, making it impossible to guess his true thoughts.
Of course, he wouldn’t completely believe his son’s words.
He knew Tsunade’s character better than anyone else.
Arrogant and impulsive, he inherited the first Hokage’s seemingly generous but actually naive temperament, and also inherited the stubbornness in the Senju clan’s bones.
The possibility of her willingly mentoring a child she is not familiar with and who comes from a family of “political enemies” (although ostensibly colleagues) is slim.
There must be some hidden story behind this.
Maybe this guy really used some special means? He caught Tsunade with something? Or… he took advantage of some unknown relationship?
Danzo’s eyes roamed back and forth across his son’s face, which was still a little childish, but whose eyes revealed a calmness and cunning that was inconsistent with his age.
He doesn’t care how the process goes.
What he cares about is the results.
The result is that his son, Shimura Aki, did get in touch with Tsunade Senju.
Moreover, it seems that some useful information can be obtained from this line.
This in itself was beyond Danzo’s initial expectations.
He originally just hoped that his son could grow up as quickly as possible, become a qualified tool, inherit his will, and strengthen the Shimura clan.
But now it seems that this son seems to have more “potential” than he imagined.
Not only in ninja talent (although it doesn’t seem to be top-notch at the moment), but also in mind, means and…ambition.
At such a young age, he was able to make the notoriously difficult princess of the Senju family “submit” without showing any signs of his true colors, and was even able to extract information from her… This is definitely not something an ordinary child can do.
This made Danzo feel a little surprised, and also… aroused a little interest.
Chapter 24 Small Training Ground (Old Version)
He began to re-examine his son.
Maybe… give him more attention? More resources? See how far he can grow?
If he really has enough ability and ambition, and can be firmly controlled in his own hands, then in the future, he may not only be a qualified tool, but may even become an unexpected trump card in his hand?
Of course, the prerequisite is that he must be absolutely loyal to himself and to his own ideas.
Danzo’s mind was racing with thoughts, but his face remained expressionless.
He put down the scroll in his hand, leaned forward slightly, and stared at Shimura Aki with a sharper gaze.
“Are you sure that Tsunade is really willing to guide you? And not have any other purpose?” he asked in a deep voice, trying to find flaws in his son’s reaction.
Shimura Akira was startled, knowing that his father was testing him.
He immediately showed an expression that said “I don’t know, but I feel like she really admires me” and said, “I think… Sister Tsunade must have been moved by my determination to become stronger and to serve the village and father. Moreover, I am… indeed studying very hard! Perhaps… she has seen my potential?”
He cleverly avoided the trap of “sincerity” and attributed the reason to his own “determination” and “potential”, while not forgetting to flatter Danzo.
“Hmph, potential?” Danzo snorted noncommittally, but his tone seemed to soften a little.
“Since she’s willing to coach you, that’s your chance.
Seize it and don’t waste it.”
He paused and continued, “Medical Ninjutsu is indeed an important skill.
Not only can it save lives, but it can also help you survive longer on the battlefield.
It’s good that you are willing to learn.”
“As for the information you heard from Tsunade…” Danzo’s eyes became deeper, “Continue to pay attention to it in the future.
But remember, everything should be done in moderation and not cause unnecessary suspicion.
Your first priority is to improve your strength.”
“Yes! I understand!” Shimura Aki immediately responded respectfully.
Seeing his son’s submissive and obedient appearance, Danzo temporarily suppressed the last trace of doubt in his heart.
No matter what means this kid used, at least for now, he seems to be “sensible”.
Finally, a very subtle look, which could be called “satisfaction”, appeared on Danzo’s face.
Although it was fleeting, it was still captured by Shimura Aki who had been observing him carefully.
“very good.”
Danzo nodded, with a hint of encouragement in his tone, “Since you are so ambitious, as a father, I will naturally support you.”
He pulled out a small scroll from under the table and handed it to Shimura Akira.
“It contains some of our Shimura clan’s experiences and techniques in chakra control, as well as a detailed explanation of some basic sword techniques.
Take it back, follow Cang’s instructions, and practice well.”
Shimura Akira took the scroll with both hands, felt it sinking slightly in his hands, and felt happy.
This is a pleasant surprise! The secret chakra control techniques and swordsmanship of the Shimura clan! This is definitely a good thing! It seems that my “performance” this time really worked, making Danzo willing to invest more resources in me!
“Thank you, father!” He showed a sincere expression of gratitude on his face.
“Um.”
Danzo waved his hand, “Go down.
“Yes! I’ll take my leave!” Shimura Aki bowed respectfully again, then took the scroll and left the study.
The moment he walked out of the study, Shimura Aki breathed a sigh of relief.
My back still feels a little cold, but my heart is filled with the joy of success.
This move was the right one! He successfully raised his status in Danzo’s heart and gained more training resources and attention.
While this attention may come with closer surveillance and higher expectations, for him, the pros outweigh the cons!
With Danzo’s support and the “guidance” from Tsunade, his strength will increase even faster!
And the “secret agreement” between him and Tsunade can finally be officially implemented.
…
Tsunade has been in a very bad mood ever since the humiliating “secret agreement” was reached at the training ground that day.
When she thought about how she was held hostage by a kid who was several years younger than her and from the Shimura family, and was forced to agree to those unequal treaties, she was so angry that she wanted to punch the wall!
Especially that little kid who pretended to be harmless and grateful in the end, he was so shameless!
She swore that when she had the chance in the future, she would teach that little rascal named Shimura Aki a lesson! She would make him pay for what he did today!
But for now, she had to hold her nose and fulfill her promise.
There’s nothing we can do about it. Who allowed her to have such leverage in the hands of others?
A few days later, at an agreed time (proposed by Shimura Akira and agreed by Tsunade with a dark face), Tsunade “guided” Shimura Akira in training for the first time.
The location was chosen to be a relatively remote small training ground in the Senju family.
Tsunade obviously didn’t want too many people to see her hanging out with a Shimura brat, especially “mentoring” him.
At first, Tsunade’s attitude was extremely perfunctory.
“Well, the most basic of medical ninjutsu is chakra control and understanding of the human body structure.
Read the book first, and then ask me if you don’t understand.”
She threw a few thick, boring-looking medical books and human body atlases to Shimura Aki, then walked away and began practicing her own super-powerful boxing skills, pounding the ground of the training ground to vent her frustration.
She was calculating in her mind: This kid is only eight years old, he probably can’t even recognize all the characters, it will take him several months to understand these books, right? By the time he finishes reading, the opportunity will be gone! Then she can just give him some pointers and just deal with it.
However, what she didn’t expect was that Shimura Aki’s performance was completely beyond her expectations.
Shimura Akira picked up those medical books that seemed extremely boring to her, and actually read them with great interest! And she read them very quickly, turning the pages so fast that she was a little surprised.
What surprised her even more was that not long after, Shimura Aki ran over with a book in hand and asked her questions.
Moreover, the questions she asked were extremely precise, pointing directly to some key points and difficulties in the theory of medical ninjutsu! For some questions, even she herself needed to think carefully before answering them!
“Sister Tsunade, the book on the ‘Model of the Effect of Yang Release Chakra on the Energy Conversion Efficiency of Cell Mitochondria’ says that there is a threshold effect, but it does not explain the specific mechanism. Do you know why?”
“Also, the chakra output frequency of this Palm Immortal Technique is suggested in the book to be dynamically adjusted between 3 Hz and 7 Hz. What is the basis for this? Are there differences in the repair effects of different frequencies on different types of tissues?”
“Regarding nerve regeneration, the book only mentions the theoretical possibility, but does not give a specific chakra stimulation plan. Is it because there are no successful cases yet?”
Faced with Shimura Akira’s series of highly professional questions that were like a machine gun, Tsunade was completely stunned.
This… is this a question an eight-year-old can ask?! Did he really understand those books?! And he understood them so deeply?!
Tsunade looked at Shimura Akira’s clear eyes that were sparkling with a desire for knowledge, and for the first time felt a little…surprised at him.
Chapter 25 The Miss (Old Version)
Could it be that… this kid really has… a talent in medical ninjutsu?
When this thought came to her mind, Tsunade herself was shocked.
But the facts were before her eyes and she had no choice but to believe it.
The originally perfunctory attitude began to undergo some subtle changes unconsciously.
As a future master who is also passionate about medical ninjutsu, when she met a talented and diligent “junior” (although she was forced to accept him as her), her competitive spirit and “teaching” instinct were quietly aroused.
She began to be patient and answer the questions raised by Shimura Aki seriously, and even gave more in-depth explanations based on her own understanding and practical experience.
And Shimura Aki’s performance constantly surprised her.
For many complex theories, Shimura Aki could understand them immediately with just a few pointers from her, and could even draw inferences from them and come up with more constructive ideas!
In terms of practical operations, Shimura Aki’s progress is even faster!
Tsunade only demonstrated the most basic palm chakra condensation and output method, and Shimura Aki was able to successfully condense a stable and pure light green medical chakra in his palm after just a few attempts! Although it was still very weak, for a beginner, this was already an extremely remarkable achievement!
You know, when she first started learning the art of palm magic, it took her a whole day just to condense the first strand of qualified medical chakra!
“You…you have learned medical ninjutsu before?” Tsunade couldn’t help but ask, with a hint of disbelief in her tone.
“No.”
Shimura Akira blinked her eyes, looking innocent, “I just… thought it was very interesting, and then Sister Tsunade, you taught me well, and I understood it as soon as I heard it.”
He flattered Tsunade again without making any noise.
The corner of Tsunade’s mouth twitched, and she felt mixed emotions.
She would rather believe that she was a good teacher than admit that this damn kid was a medical genius!
However, as time went on, the awkwardness and anger in her heart began to be gradually replaced by a complex emotion in the face of Shimura Aki’s amazing learning speed and visible progress.
There was surprise, disbelief, and reluctance (how could this annoying kid be so talented!), but also… a hint of… admiration quietly grew?
After all, mentoring a smart, studious and talented student and watching him grow at an astonishing rate is a very fulfilling thing in itself.
Even if this student “forced” himself to teach by using not very honorable means.
Thus, the originally “forced” teaching began to become a little more serious unconsciously.
Tsunade no longer just did things perfunctorily, but began to systematically impart the medical ninjutsu knowledge she had mastered to Shimura Aki, including the techniques of precise chakra control, diagnosis and treatment methods for different injuries, and even some basic detoxification knowledge.
Of course, she still maintained an unwilling and fierce look on the surface, and would scold and attack Shimura Aki at every turn (although it had no effect) to vent her frustration.
“Idiot! Your chakra output is unstable! Do you want to burn the wound?!”
“I’ve told you this many times! You must first determine the type of injury before deciding on a treatment plan! It’s useless to just use the Palm Immortal Technique to cover it up!”
“You can’t even tell the difference between these herbs? Is your brain made of wood?!”
However, Shimura Aki always maintained a humble and studious attitude. No matter how Tsunade scolded him, he accepted it humbly (on the surface), and then mastered and improved at a faster pace, constantly “slapping” Tsunade in the face with his practical actions.
This peculiar teaching model unfolded between the two of them.
With the solid foundation laid by Tsunade’s “careful” guidance (although she herself would not admit it) and the “Medical Ninjutsu (Introduction)” rewarded by the system, Shimura Aki’s medical ninjutsu level began to make real leaps and bounds!
He had already mastered the basic theories of medical ninjutsu and the methods of performing palm ninjutsu through system rewards.
Now with Tsunade, a “famous teacher” (although forced) to provide hands-on guidance and answer questions, we are even more powerful!
His understanding of the Palm Immortal Technique became deeper and deeper, and his chakra control became more and more precise.
In the beginning, it could only barely treat some skin injuries, but later it was able to deal with some less serious internal injuries such as muscle strains, bone cracks, etc.
Although it is still a long way from Tsunade’s level of being able to bring the dead back to life (an exaggeration), the speed of progress is enough to shock anyone who understands the difficulty of medical ninjutsu.
Tsunade felt more and more uncomfortable as she watched the emerald green light in Shimura Aki’s palm becoming brighter and more stable, as well as his technique that was becoming more and more skillful and precise when treating wounds.
This guy… is he really a monster?!
In addition to the Palm Fairy Technique, Shimura Aki also madly absorbed other related knowledge from Tsunade like a sponge absorbs water.
Herbalism.
After all, Tsunade is the eldest daughter of the Senju clan. She has been influenced by her family since childhood. Coupled with her own interest in medicine, she has a very deep understanding of the identification, medicinal properties, and compatibility taboos of various medicinal materials.
Under Shimura Akira’s “persistence” (and the occasional casual mention of the “picture album”), Tsunade finally reluctantly took him into the Senju clan’s coveted huge medicinal herb warehouse, which contained countless rare medicinal herbs!
Facing the rows of shelves filled with all kinds of exotic flowers and herbs, emitting a strong medicinal aroma, Zhicun Qiu’s eyes were about to shine! He was like a mouse falling into a rice jar, greedily identifying and memorizing the name, shape, smell, and efficacy of each medicinal material…
Tsunade originally just wanted to broaden his horizons and give him a blow (“Look, you can’t afford these precious medicinal herbs in your lifetime!”), but she didn’t expect Shimura Aki to have such an amazing memory that he could remember many herbs after just looking at or smelling them once, and could even deduce some possible combinations based on their properties!
This made Tsunade once again feel deeply frustrated and… a hint of indescribable horror.
toxicology.
As a compulsory course for medical ninjas, Tsunade also mastered a lot of knowledge about poisons and detoxification.
At Shimura Aki’s “strong request”, she reluctantly taught him some basic toxicology knowledge, as well as methods of identifying common toxins and preliminary detoxification principles.
Shimura Aki took this knowledge as his golden rule and kept it firmly in mind.
He knew very well that in the treacherous world of ninjas, poisoning and detoxification were often the key to life and death! The more knowledge he had in this area, the more he could save his life!
Combine theory with practice.
Shimura Aki was not only satisfied with learning the theory, he also began to try it himself.
Chapter 26: The Fake (Old Version)
He used some basic medicinal materials “extorted” from Tsunade (Tsunade felt very painful every time, but dared not not give them), plus some common herbs he managed to get himself, and hid in his room, clanging and starting to try to prepare some simple medicines and antidotes.
Thanks to the knowledge instilled by the system and Tsunade’s guidance, coupled with his adult thinking and hands-on ability, he actually succeeded in configuring some finished products with quite good effects! Although it is not as good as the secret elixirs of the Senju family, it is more than enough to treat ordinary injuries or relieve some common toxins!
When Shimura Aki showed Tsunade the hemostatic and skin-growing ointment that he had successfully prepared for the first time, which was placed in a small porcelain bottle and exuded a faint fragrance, Tsunade fell silent again as she looked at the delicate and even ointment and smelled the perfect medicinal aroma.
She picked up a little of the paste, twisted it carefully, put it to the tip of her nose and smelled it, and even… couldn’t help but taste a little bit with the tip of her tongue (good children don’t learn this).
Then, she looked at Shimura Aki with an extremely complicated look, and after holding it in for a long time, she squeezed out a comment from between her teeth: “…It’s…it’s okay.
Barely usable. ”
But deep down in her heart, she was roaring: How can this be okay?! This is simply genius! The proportion and temperature control of this ointment are better than many experienced lower-level medical ninjas! This bastard brat! What kind of monster has he become?!
Shimura Aki looked at Tsunade’s cute (??) expression of being obviously shocked but pretending to be stubborn, and laughed in his heart.
He knew that his medical ninjutsu skills were improving rapidly at an incredible speed.
All of this is thanks to Tsunade, the “forced” mentor, and… the invaluable book “Heroes’ Stories: Wind, Flowers, Snow and Moon”!
Tsunade was certainly shocked and depressed by Shimura Aki’s amazing talent and rapid progress in medical ninjutsu, but she was not completely passive in taking the beating.
After all, she is the proud Thousand-Handed Princess at heart. It is embarrassing enough that a little kid has a hold on her. If she is completely led by the other party in teaching, where will she put her face?
Therefore, in addition to the “guidance” of medical ninjutsu, Tsunade also began to “actively” carry out “intensive training” on Shimura Aki’s other basic abilities, calling it “all-round development”, but in fact she wanted to regain some ground in other aspects, or in other words, she wanted to “torture” this hateful brat through high-intensity training and vent her frustration.
The first thing to be affected is the three most basic and important ninja techniques – clone technique, substitute technique, and transformation technique.
“Hmph, no matter how well you learn medical ninjutsu, if you can’t even create a decent clone in actual combat, you’ll still be killed in one blow!” Tsunade stood at the edge of the training ground with her hands on her hips, looking at the slightly blurry and stiff clones created by Shimura Akira, and criticized mercilessly, “Look at your clones, they’re like paper, the chakra fluctuations are so obvious, and the movements are so stiff, are you trying to tell the enemy ‘come and beat this fake me’?”
Upon hearing this, Shimura Aki did not refute, but silently formed hand seals again, trying to gather more chakra and inject it into the clone.
Thanks to the abundant chakra and precise control brought by “Chakra Refining Technique (Mastery)”, his use of chakra is actually far superior to his peers.
It’s just that Shimura Aoi’s teachings before were rather rigid, focusing more on “form” rather than “spirit”.
Tsunade’s guidance focuses more on practical results.
“The key to the clone technique is not only to inject enough chakra, but more importantly to distribute the chakra evenly and simulate the breath and subtle movements of the original body! You have to imagine that you are really divided into several, and each one is the real you! The eyes, breathing, and even some inadvertent little habits must be imitated perfectly!”
As she spoke, she demonstrated it herself.
She quickly formed seals with her hands and whispered “Clone Technique!” In an instant, three clones that looked exactly like her appeared on the scene.
Not only are the appearances of these three clones flawless, but they also imitate the arrogance and impatience in their eyes perfectly. They even exchange glances with each other, as if they have independent consciousness!
Shimura Aki’s eyes lit up.
As expected of the future Sannin, even basic ninjutsu can be made into something special in her hands!
He immediately began to adjust his chakra output and mental control according to what Tsunade said.
He has the soul of an adult and has natural advantages in “imagination” and “imitation”.
He tried hard to recall his own words and actions, and transmitted these detailed information to chakra through mental power, and then injected it into the clone’s body.
After repeated attempts and adjustments, the clones he created began to become more and more realistic.
It is no longer the stiff puppet it was before, but has begun to have subtle changes in expression and its movements are more fluid and natural.
Although it is not as lifelike as Tsunade’s, it is enough to confuse the enemy in actual combat.
“Hmm… barely… barely acceptable.”
Tsunade looked at Shimura Aki’s progress, curled her lips, and gave a not-too-low evaluation, but was secretly surprised: This guy’s learning ability is too strong, isn’t it? Not only medical ninjutsu, but also ordinary ninjutsu has such a high understanding? What a freak!
Next is the substitution technique.
“The substitution technique is not a simple swap of positions! Timing! Timing is the key!” Tsunade said as she suddenly picked up a stone from the ground without any warning and threw it at Shimura Akira!
The stone made a sound of breaking through the air and was moving at an extremely fast speed!
Shimura Aki was startled and almost instinctively formed seals quickly!
“Bang!”
The moment the stone hit, Shimura Aki’s figure turned into a piece of log, while his real body appeared behind a tree trunk a few meters away.
“Too slow!” Tsunade criticized mercilessly, “The enemy’s real attack will only be faster than this! Your reaction just now is enough for you to die three times! Moreover, your choice of location for your stand is also wrong! Why did you choose to be behind the tree trunk? The vision there is limited, which is not conducive to counterattack! You should choose the bushes, which can be hidden and observe!”
She pointed out many problems in Shimura Aki’s body substitution technique, and conducted a detailed analysis of everything from reaction speed to timing and the choice of the body substitution position.
Shimura Akira listened humbly (on the surface).
He knew that Tsunade was right. Although the substitution technique seemed simple, it actually involved extremely high skills and combat wisdom.
If the timing is too early, the enemy will easily see through your intention; if the timing is too late, you may actually be hit.
The choice of the substitute’s position is even more related to the subsequent counterattack or escape.
Chapter 27 Black Material (Old Version)
Under Tsunade’s almost actual combat “feeding moves” training (Tsunade would often launch “sneak attacks” on him without warning, forcing him to use substitution techniques), Shimura Aki’s substitution techniques level was also improving rapidly.
His reaction speed was getting faster and faster, his seals were becoming more and more skillful, and his grasp of timing was becoming more and more accurate.
He even began to learn to use smoke or other small props to create interference while acting as a stand-in, so as to gain more initiative for himself.
Finally, there is the art of transformation.
Transformation is relatively the least technically demanding technique, but it also requires the most details.
“Transformation is not just about changing your appearance. Voice, height, body shape, and even some subtle habits and movements must all be imitated to make it truly indistinguishable from the real thing!” Tsunade emphasized, “Especially when you want to transform into a specific person, your understanding of that person directly determines the success rate of your transformation!”
She asked Shimura Akira to try to become Shimura Aoi.
Shimura Aki closed his eyes and carefully recalled Shimura Aoi’s unchanging icy face, his slightly stiff posture when walking, and his low and emotionless voice.
“Transformation Technique!”
After a puff of white smoke, a smaller version of “Shimura Aoi” appeared in front of Tsunade.
Although he was only as tall as an eight-year-old child, his stern face, tightly pursed lips, and deliberately imitated cold eyes were surprisingly similar! Even his walking posture was imitated perfectly!
“Hmph, you have some observation skills.”
Tsunade couldn’t help but twitch her lips when she saw this mini version of the “Iceberg”, but she still said with a straight face, “But the details are not enough! Shimura Aoi’s left eyebrow is habitually raised 0.5 millimeters higher than the right one, and when he speaks, there is a barely noticeable drag at the end of the sentence! You didn’t even imitate these!”
When Shimura Qiu heard this, he was secretly shocked.
Tsunade, this guy, is her observation ability too abnormal? She can even notice such details? It seems that I have to be more careful in front of her in the future and not reveal any flaws.
However, Tsunade’s words also reminded him.
The essence of transformation lies in the imitation of details.
He has the soul of an adult and has advantages far beyond ordinary children in observing and imitating others.
So, in the following training, he began to consciously observe and imitate the people around him, including Tsunade, Jiraiya, Orochimaru (he only dared to imitate these three secretly and did not dare to imitate them in front of them), Shimura Aoi, and even his cheap father Danzo!
He found that imitating different people not only required changing one’s appearance, but also required understanding the other person’s personality and habits, which in itself was a kind of insight into and training of the human heart.
With constant practice and Tsunade’s “picking on him”, Shimura Aki’s transformation technique has reached a very high level.
He can not only imitate the other person’s appearance, but also imitate the other person’s voice, tone, and even some iconic catchphrases and small movements vividly.
If it weren’t for the limitations of his height and size, he would even be confident that he could deceive some people he was not familiar with.
Just like that, under Tsunade’s “forced” and somewhat “competitive” guidance, Shimura Aki’s medical ninjutsu not only made rapid progress, but even the most basic three-body technique reached a level far beyond that of ordinary Genin, even approaching the level of some experienced Chunin!
The rapid improvement in strength filled Shimura Aki’s heart with unprecedented confidence and courage.
He is no longer the weak boy who was confused and fearful about the future when he first came here.
He now possesses the initial strength to protect himself and has the foundation to gain a foothold in this cruel world!
This feeling is very solid and safe.
Just as Shimura Aki was immersed in the joy of his improved strength and was thinking about how to further “take advantage” of Tsunade (such as learning some secret physical techniques or sealing techniques of the Senju family?), the leak system that had been silent for a while issued a new prompt sound again.
[Ding! The system has detected that the host’s strength has reached a new stage, and it has the initial ability to act independently and collect information.
[The newbie guidance period has officially ended.]【System function upgrade instructions:】
[1. Scanning range: The current scanning range is still limited, and mainly relies on close contact and observation by the host.
If you want to expand the scanning range, improve scanning accuracy, and reduce scanning risks, you need to consume “explosion points” to upgrade or complete specific system tasks.
[2. Black material analysis: The current system can only conduct a preliminary level assessment of black material.
If you want to obtain more detailed black material background analysis, potential utilization value assessment, best time to disclose information and other advanced features, you need to consume “disclosure points” to upgrade.
【3. System Mall: The system mall function has been initially unlocked.
The host currently has 0 revelation points.
Exchanging items in the mall requires explosive points.
The product list will be dynamically refreshed based on the host level, unlocked functions, and specific event triggers.
[4. System upgrade method: Obtaining more ‘explosive points’ is the core method of system upgrade.
Scoring points are mainly obtained through the following methods:
【1. Successfully expose “black material”: the higher the level of black material, the more exposure points you will get.
The lowest effective explosive grade is ‘White D’ (very low value).
Blue C-level and above black materials can obtain visible points and have a chance to trigger additional rewards.
【2. Complete special tasks or challenges issued by the system.
[3. Participate in and influence “specific important events”: Play a key role or make important contributions in some events that can have a significant impact on Konoha Village, the Ninja World, or the fate of key figures. The system will issue breaking news points as rewards based on the impact of the event and the host’s contribution.
[Recommendations for the current stage: The host should actively seek out and collect higher quality black materials (recommended target level: blue C level or above, purple B level or gold A level is preferred), and at the same time pay attention to “specific important events” that may occur around you, so as to accumulate resources for further upgrading the system and unlocking more powerful functions.
A series of prompts from the system cheered up Shimura Aki.
The novice period is finally over! The system mall is also unlocked! Although I am still a pauper now and don’t have any revelations points, at least I see hope!
More importantly, the system points out the next direction of development – collecting higher quality black material and participating in influencing important events!
High-quality black material… The system clearly recommends that the target level be above C, preferably B or even A.
Chapter 28 Preparation (Old Version)
Level C corresponds to blue.
Tsunade’s secret picture album incident was rated C+.
It seems that the blue level should be considered as the more valuable black material.
So, what about B-level (purple) and A-level (gold)? That probably involves a higher level of secrets.
For example… some high-level political scandals? Some family taboos and secrets? Or even… some historical truths that are enough to subvert cognition?
The higher the status of the people involved, the greater their influence, and the more secretive the black material is, the higher its value.
The standard is very clear.
Shimura Aki began to think quickly, thinking about new goals.
Although Tsunade’s black material is easy to use, you can’t just fleece a sheep to death.
After all, he had just taken advantage of her, and now the relationship was in a delicate balance. If he continued to dig up her other secrets without knowing the consequences, or repeatedly used the album incident, it would probably completely infuriate her, leading to a situation where both sides were destroyed, and the gain would be greater than the loss.
Moreover, Tsunade is still young and has limited influence, and the value of the negative information about her is probably not that high (that picture album is already an unexpected surprise).
If you want to obtain higher quality black material and more points for exposing it, you must target those who truly hold power, are in high positions, and may be hiding more secrets!
The top brass of Konoha!
As soon as this thought came to mind, several familiar names immediately came to Shimura Aki’s mind.
First, there is the current Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
As the third Hokage and professor of ninjutsu, Sarutobi Hiruzen is undoubtedly the power center of Konoha Village.
There are definitely a lot of secrets about him! Whether it’s the grudges between him and Danzo and the two advisors when he was young, or his true attitude towards the Uchiha clan, or his acquiescence and connivance of Danzo’s dark deeds… If you dig up any of them, I’m afraid they will all start at purple B level, or even gold A level!
But… it’s too difficult!
Sarutobi Hiruzen himself has unfathomable strength, and his perception ability is top-notch.
Moreover, he is always guarded by Anbu, and his residence, the Hokage Building, is heavily guarded.
With Shimura Aki’s current strength and status, he wanted to get close to him, and do something under his nose to dig up his dirty laundry? It was simply a pipe dream! The risk was so high that it was almost suicide!
Therefore, Sarutobi Hiruzen as a target can only be ruled out for the time being.
So, what’s the next goal?
Shimura Aki’s gaze naturally fell on two other people who were as famous as Sarutobi Hiruzen and equally powerful – the Hokage advisors, Mito Kado En and Utane Koharu!
These two are the real veterans of Konoha Village! They have been Tobirama’s disciples since the time of the second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, and are teammates in the same team with Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo! They have witnessed the ups and downs of Konoha Village for decades, experienced several ninja world wars, and have always been in high positions, holding huge voice and influence!
It is no exaggeration to say that they are the living history of Konoha Village and the real power hidden under the halo of Hokage!
Such people may have as many secrets and “black materials” hidden in them as Sarutobi Hiruzen! Maybe even more! Because they don’t need to maintain a glorious image like the Hokage, they may act more…secretly and pragmatically (or unscrupulously)?
Moreover, compared to the powerful and heavily guarded Sarutobi Hiruzen, these two advisors, although equally powerful (after all, they are disciples of the Second Hokage, and those who have survived to this day are not easy to deal with), they are not Hokage after all, and their daily defenses and the attention they receive, in theory, should be relatively lax than Sarutobi Hiruzen.
As Danzo’s son, he has a special status and occasionally has the opportunity to come into contact with them (such as when he accompanies Danzo to attend some high-level meetings).
This provides convenient conditions for approaching and observing them!
More importantly, the relationship between these two consultants and their cheap father Danzo Shimura has always been delicate.
They are both former teammates and opponents with political competition and differences.
If I could get hold of something on these two consultants…
Not only can he obtain rewards from the system and improve his own strength, but he can also provide great help to his father Danzo on the political level! It may even become a key trump card for Danzo to suppress these two advisers in the power struggle!
Once I achieve this, my status and value in Danzo’s heart will be unprecedentedly improved! At that time, the resources and freedom I can obtain will also be greatly increased!
Thinking of this, Shimura Aki’s heart couldn’t help but beat faster.
The target is them! Mitomonen! Utane Koharu!
Are these two old guys ready to receive the “greetings” from the “younger generations”?
Of course, Shimura Akiya knew that this was definitely not an easy task.
Mitokado En and Utane Koharu are both cunning and treacherous people. They have been immersed in the political struggles among the high-level officials of Konoha for decades. They are meticulous and cautious in their actions. It is extremely difficult to catch any evidence against them.
Moreover, their strength should not be ignored.
Once their actions are discovered, the consequences will be disastrous, perhaps even worse than offending Tsunade!
You must make a careful plan and proceed cautiously and step by step.
After determining the new goal, Shimura Aki immediately began preparations.
First, there is intelligence gathering.
He began to take every possible opportunity to observe Mitomon En and Utane Koharu.
The most direct opportunity is to occasionally follow Danzo to attend some high-level internal meetings that are not open to the public.
Although he was just a child who was allowed to sit in on the meeting, he was not allowed to speak and even had to pretend to be sleepy or uninterested in the content of the meeting most of the time to avoid attracting attention.
But his eyes and ears remain highly alert at all times.
He carefully observed how Mitomon En and Utane Koharu spoke at the meeting, their facial expressions, their interactions with other people, and their attitudes towards different topics.
Mitomon En looks rather serious and rigid. He always quotes from classics when speaking, and emphasizes rules and traditions. He seems to be a conservative.
But the occasional gleam in his eyes made Shimura Aki feel that this old man was not as simple as he seemed.
As one of the few women in senior management, Utane Koharu appears to be more shrewd and pragmatic.
She doesn’t talk much, but every time she speaks she gets to the point, and she is very good at mediating and maintaining a balance between different factions.
But Shimura Aki always felt that behind her seemingly gentle smile, there was some subtle calculation hidden.
In addition to observations at the meeting, Shimura Aki also tried to use his “child” status to get close to them in some informal occasions.
For example, you could “accidentally” meet them in the corridor of the Hokage building, then respectfully go up to them and say hello, while pretending to casually ask some “naive” questions, trying to capture some useful information from their answers or reactions.
Chapter 29: Children of High-ranking Officials (Old Version)
Of course, the effect of this direct contact is minimal.
These two old foxes are very shrewd, how could they easily reveal anything in front of a little kid?
He also tried to secretly scan them with the system from a distance.
[Ding! Scan target: Mizuto Kado En.
Strength assessment: Far beyond the host’s current level.
Mental Resistance: Very high.
Scanning risk: extremely high! It is strongly recommended that the host give up! 】
【Ding! Scan target: Utatane Koharu.
Mental Resistance: High.
Scanning risk: High! It is not recommended for the host to scan! 】
The system’s warning was cold and direct, completely discouraging his desire to obtain black material directly through the system.
It seems that if you want to deal with a person of this level, you can’t use force, you have to find another way.
Since we can’t start directly with the target himself, we can only start with the people around them!
Family members, confidants, disciples, and even… servants who are responsible for taking care of their daily lives!
These people will, to a greater or lesser extent, be exposed to the private lives of the two consultants and learn about some of their unknown habits, hobbies, or interpersonal relationships.
Extracting information from these people is relatively low-risk and easier to find a breakthrough.
As a result, Shimura Aki began to shift his attention to collecting peripheral intelligence about these two consultants.
He began to pay attention to the various rumors circulating in the village about Mitomon En and Utane Koharu.
Whether it was public comments or private gossip, even trivial matters such as “What kind of tea does Consultant Mitomon En like to drink?” and “Consultant Utane Koharu recently accepted a new disciple,” he kept them all in mind, trying to analyze some useful clues from them.
He also took advantage of his occasional visits to the Senju household to ask Tsunade “questions” to indirectly ask Tsunade about these two consultants.
Of course, he asked very cleverly, packaging it all as a child’s curiosity about his elders.
Although Tsunade still had a bad face towards him, perhaps out of some kind of “compensation” mentality, or perhaps because she felt that the information was insignificant, she would occasionally reveal some non-confidential information.
For example, Tsunade once complained that Mito Kado En was too old-fashioned and always brought up some outdated rules; she also complained that Utane Koharu was too calculating and always tricked people with a smile.
Although this information is highly subjective, it also indirectly confirms Shimura Aki’s initial judgment of these two people.
It is obviously far from enough to rely solely on these scattered rumors and evaluations.
He needed a more direct, inside source.
After much thought, Shimura Aki decided to take a relatively safe target first to test his skills in collecting intelligence through peripheral personnel and the practical application limits of the system scanning function.
His gaze finally locked onto…the servant.
No matter whether it is the high-ranking Hokage advisor or the once-powerful Princess Senju, their daily lives are always inseparable from the servants who are responsible for cleaning, cooking, and delivering messages.
These people are of low status and easily overlooked, but precisely because of this, they can often hear and see many unknown secrets.
Moreover, they are usually weaker in strength and have lower mental defenses, making them ideal targets for system scanning and “rebellion”.
Of course, going directly to Mitomonen or Utane Koharu’s house to incite the servants to rebel is still too risky and may easily alert the enemy.
Shimura Aki decided to start with targets that were easier to reach – for example, the servants of the Senju family or the Sarutobi family.
These two families have close relations with the two advisors, and the information from their servants may also indirectly involve Mitomonen and Utane Koharu.
After several days of secret observation and screening, Shimura Aki locked on a target: a Genin servant of the Sarutobi family named “Kenta” who was responsible for purchasing sundries.
There are three reasons for choosing him:
First, Kenta is a servant of the Sarutobi family, and Sarutobi Hiruzen has a close relationship with the two consultants. Kenta may come into contact with some information or people related to the consultants during his work.
Second, according to Shimura Aki’s observation, Kenta has a somewhat slippery personality and does not seem to have very clean hands and feet. He also has some status among the other servants and is well-informed, but he also likes to gossip. This kind of person is more likely to be “exploited”.
Thirdly, and most importantly, Kenta’s strength is only at the Genin level, and his mental strength does not seem to be strong, so the risk of scanning him with the system is extremely low.
After making up his mind, Shimura Aki began his “trial run” plan.
He took advantage of several opportunities to “hang out” near the Hokage Building (of course with Shimura Aoi) to create several “chance encounters” with Kenta.
When they met for the first time, he pretended to accidentally bump into Kenta who was carrying something, then immediately apologized sincerely, and took the initiative to help him pick up the scattered things. He behaved very politely, leaving Kenta with the initial impression that “although he is the son of a high-ranking official, he is not arrogant.”
The second time they met, he “happened” to see Kenta being scolded by the steward for a trivial matter, so he stepped forward and “spoke up for Kenta” a few words, helping Kenta out of the predicament, and by the way, he stuffed Kenta with some candies (it was normal for a kid of his age to carry candies with him), further strengthening their relationship.
The third time, he “accidentally” met Kenta who was shopping in a dim sum shop, and “enthusiastically” invited Kenta to taste the latest dim sum in the store. During the conversation, he pretended to casually reveal his curiosity about the “outside world” and his “sympathy” for the hard work of the servants in their daily work.
After several “carefully designed” encounters and “sincere” conversations, Kenta really developed a liking for this “Master Qiu” who looked innocent, unpretentious, and generous, and he let down his guard a lot.
He was even a little flattered, thinking it was an honor to be able to talk to the grandchildren of the Hokage’s advisor (he might have misunderstood the relationship between Shimura Aki and Danzo, or simply regarded Danzo as someone at the level of the Hokage’s advisor).
The time is ripe.
During another “chance encounter” and a conversation, when the two were close enough, Shimura Aki concentrated and silently said in his mind: “System, scan target: Kenta.”
[Ding! Scan command detected, target: Kenta (Konoha Genin).
Estimated mental effort: Very low.
Risk Assessment: Very Low.
Confirm the scan. 】
Chapter 30 Pipe (Old Version)
[Scan completed.]Target: Kenta.
Five pieces of black material information were detected. 】
[1. White D-level: He slept several times during his duty.][2. White D-level: Stealing snacks from the host’s house three times.][3. White C-level: Falsified purchase accounts and embezzled the price difference, totaling about 5,000 taels.][4. White C-rank: Secretly sell the old ninja tools discarded by the owner to black market merchants.][5. Green B-level: He had an improper relationship with the kitchen maid Aya, and accepted benefits from Aya to help her conceal the theft of food ingredients.]Shimura Aki looked at the information fed back by the system and the corners of his mouth rose slightly.
As expected, Kenta is not a law-abiding person.
Although the levels were not high, the highest was only Green B, but it was more than enough to control him! Especially the matter of embezzling public funds and colluding with the maid, once it was exposed, it would be enough for him to lose his job, and he might even be punished more severely!
In the following conversation, Shimura Aki pretended to casually mention that “money is a bit tight lately and I don’t have the money to buy a new ninja tool bag”, and then “inadvertently” said “I heard that things on the black market are quite cheap, I don’t know if they are reliable”, and at the same time, he glanced “wanderingly” at the slightly old ninja tool bag on Kenta’s waist.
When Kenta heard this, his face changed instantly! His heart skipped a beat and he almost broke out in a cold sweat! This Master Qiu…how could he know about the black market? Could it be…could it be that he knew about me secretly selling old ninja tools? !
Then, Shimura Aki asked “naively”: “Brother Kenta, are the meals cooked by Sister Aya in your kitchen especially delicious? I heard from others that she seems to be very good at ‘taking care of people’?” He also deliberately emphasized the pronunciation of the three words “taking care of people”, with a mischievous smile in his eyes.
Kenta was completely panicked! His face turned pale! He even knew about Aya?! Who was this young master?! How much did he know?!
Looking at Kenta’s distracted and sweaty appearance, Shimura Aki knew that the fish had been hooked.
He did not continue to point out the problem, but changed the subject and began to care about Kenta’s work and life, and “generously” stuffed another small bag of coins into Kenta’s hand (about one thousand taels, which was nothing to him, but was a considerable windfall for a servant like Kenta), saying, “I’d like to invite Brother Kenta to have tea.”
Give him a beating and then give him a sweet date.
Use both kindness and severity.
Kenta looked at the heavy bag of money in his hand, and then thought about the “little tricks” that might have been known to the other party, as well as the unfathomable background behind this young master (he guessed). How could he dare to be disrespectful or conceal anything?
In response to Shimura Aki’s subsequent “casual” questioning, Kenta told almost everything he knew.
He told Shimura Aki everything he knew about the Sarutobi family, and even what he occasionally heard about the living habits, interpersonal relationships, and even some harmless inside information of the two advisors, Mito Kado En and Utane Koharu (for example, advisor Mito Kado En seemed to be having a headache recently because of his grandson’s education, and advisor Utane Koharu seemed to like collecting antique tea sets, etc.).
Although this information itself does not have much value, a lot of it is just trivial gossip, which is far from being “black material”.
However, the success of this “trial run” allowed Shimura Aki to verify that his idea was feasible!
Through external personnel, some internal information can indeed be collected! And the system scanning function is an invincible weapon when dealing with these weaker and less prepared targets!
More importantly, he initially mastered the skills of using information asymmetry and human weaknesses to manipulate and guide others.
This provided him with some valuable experience and ideas for his subsequent actions against the two “big fish”, Mito Kado En and Utane Koharu.
Of course, he also knew that a small character like Kenta and the two consultants who were old foxes were not in the same league at all.
It would be much more difficult and risky to use the same method to deal with people around them.
We must be more cautious and patient.
There was a thoughtful gleam in Shimura Akira’s eyes.
His hunting game has just begun.
Shimura Aki carefully sorted out the information he had obtained from the Sarutobi family’s servant named Kenta.
Most of them are trivial gossips about family matters, such as whose child’s test scores have dropped, which jonin has a new girlfriend recently, or what brand of pipe Sarutobi Hiruzen likes to smoke, etc.
This information is somewhat useful for understanding the daily life atmosphere of Konoha Village, but it is almost worthless for digging up dirty secrets of high-level officials.
However, among these seemingly useless fragments of information, a description of Konoha’s senior advisor Utatane Koharu, like a spark in the dark night, instantly attracted Shimura Aki’s attention.
Kenta said this (of course, with a bit of exaggeration and a gossiping tone): “…If we were to say who is the most difficult person to serve in Konoha, it would definitely be Elder Utane Koharu! That old lady…tsk tsk tsk, she is really particular! I heard that she has mysophobia! And it’s the kind of…very, very serious mysophobia!”
Kenta lowered his voice and added mysteriously, “I heard from our housekeeper that every time Elder Koharu goes to the Hokage Building for a meeting, she has to have her attendants wipe the chair she sits on seven or eight times with special disinfectant before she is willing to sit down! She only uses the special tea sets she brings with her when drinking tea, and she won’t even look at anything that has been touched by others! There are even… there are rumors that she even thinks the air she breathes is dirty! There is a special kind of incense burning in the room all year round, which is said to purify the dust in the air…”
Abnormal cleanliness? Severe to the point of paranoia?
Shimura Akira’s eyes lit up.
This bit of information is very interesting!
A person’s habits, especially those that are unusual and even somewhat pathological, are often not as simple as they seem on the surface.
There may be deeper reasons behind it.
Perhaps it was a childhood trauma? Perhaps it was some special experience? Or perhaps… some unknown fear?
Moreover, quirks themselves are often a person’s most obvious weakness!
A person who has such an obsessive pursuit of “cleanliness” will inevitably have an extraordinary sensitivity and disgust towards “dirt” and “pollution”.
If I could take advantage of this… maybe I could find a way to get close to her, or even influence her?
Shimura Aki immediately called the system in his mind: “System, analyze the value and potential exploitability of this information about Utatane Koharu’s ‘cleanliness obsession’.”
Chapter 31 Pollution (Old Version)
[Ding! Received the command.]Analyzing the information of the target person ‘Utatane Koharu’…】
[Reliability of intelligence source: medium to low (derived from rumors among servants, may contain exaggerations or untruths).
【Information content analysis: ‘Abnormal cleanliness’.
This feature is significant, beyond the normal range, and has certain research value.
[System supplementary tips: According to the existing database (information source: some historical document fragments and host memory), it is preliminarily inferred that Koharu Utane’s cleanliness may be related to her early experiences (the specific events are unknown), and may be accompanied by other undisclosed, more bizarre compulsive behaviors or potential fears.
The host is advised to observe and verify further.
[Potential exploitability assessment: Medium.
The target’s extreme cleanliness makes them extremely sensitive to “sources of pollution” in the environment, and their emotions are easily affected.
If one can accurately grasp the target’s “cleanliness” standard and the threshold that triggers the “disgust” reaction, one may be able to exploit this weakness and create a specific situation to influence the target’s emotions, divert their attention, or even gain their trust (by helping them maintain “cleanliness”).
[Risk warning: Excessive use or improper operation can easily cause strong disgust and vigilance in the target, and may even trigger an overreaction.
Please evaluate carefully and act prudently.
Systematic analysis confirmed Shimura Aki’s guess.
Utatane Koharu’s cleanliness is indeed a potential breakthrough! Moreover, the system also prompted that there may be a deeper secret behind this! This makes Shimura Aki even more excited!
A person’s weakness is often a shortcut to his inner secrets!
He decided to start with this “cleanliness obsession” and try to approach and influence this senior advisor of Konoha.
Of course, he wouldn’t be stupid enough to directly challenge Xiaochun’s bottom line of cleanliness, such as deliberately dirtying things in front of her.
Doing so is too low-level and too easy to expose one’s own malicious intent, which will only backfire.
What he needs is a more subtle and silent approach.
He needed to create an opportunity, an opportunity that would allow him to appear in front of Koharu Utane, who was unhappy because of her mysophobia, with a “positive” and “friendly” image, and help her solve the “trouble” “just right”.
This requires patience, a little bit of luck, and careful planning.
Shimura Aki began to pay close attention to Utane Koharu’s movements and schedule.
It wasn’t easy, as as the Hokage’s advisor, much of her schedule was kept secret.
But Shimura Aki has his advantage – he is Danzo’s son.
By asking his father indirectly about some issues concerning village management, or by taking a few “curious” peeks when Danzo was handling documents, he was always able to obtain some scattered information about the dynamics of the top leaders.
Finally, hard work pays off.
He learned from an unintentional conversation with Danzo that Utatane Koharu would be in charge of a task in the near future – reviewing a batch of newly purchased teaching aids that were to be distributed to ninja schools.
This batch of equipment is quite large in number and of various types, including new training kunai, shurikens, scrolls, tactical sand tables, and even some basic medical teaching models.
Although the review work is not particularly important, it is related to the teaching quality of the ninja school. According to Koharu Utane’s meticulous (or picky) character, she will definitely review it personally and check it very carefully.
There was a sly gleam in Shimura Akira’s eyes.
Reviewing teaching aids… This means that Elder Xiaochun will be exposed to a large number of items that are not her personal property.
Given her severe mysophobia, during the inspection process, she would inevitably feel uncomfortable or even have an attack when she found some places that she thought were “not clean enough”.
And I just need to create a little “surprise” in advance on this batch of utensils…
A plan quickly took shape in his mind.
He needed to create a tiny bit of “pollution” among the huge number of teaching tools without anyone noticing, but it would be enough to accurately touch the germophobic nerves of Koharu Utane.
This “pollution” cannot be too obvious, otherwise it will be discovered in advance or appear too deliberate.
It must be hidden enough, so hidden that only someone like Utane Koharu who has a perverted sensitivity to “cleanliness” can easily detect it.
At the same time, this “pollution” cannot be really dirty, otherwise Elder Xiaochun may lose control of his emotions on the spot, which will be detrimental to his subsequent plans.
It’s better to have something that seems to be unintentional but does make people feel “unclean”.
Like… a strand of hair?
Or… a barely visible, tiny oil stain?
Shimura Akira stroked his chin and thought carefully.
The hair is blown away too easily by the wind, and the source is hard to explain.
Oil stains? That seems like a good idea, but how can you make it invisible and still be noticeable?
He thought of a more clever way.
he
Shimura Aki stroked his chin, thinking carefully about how to create a “small pollution” on the teaching tools that would accurately touch Koharu Utane’s germaphobia without arousing suspicion.
The hair is too easy to clean up and its origin is difficult to explain.
Oil stains are slightly better, but they are easy to leave marks during operation, and the size and location of the stains
Hair is too easy to clean up and its source is difficult to explain. If it is found out that it is your own hair, it would backfire.
Oil stains are slightly better, but they are easy to leave marks during operation, and the size and position of the stains are difficult to control. If they are too obvious, it will appear deliberate, and if they are too subtle, Elder Xiaochun may not notice them.
He needed a subtler, more covert approach.
A method that can 100% trigger Xiaochun’s “cleanliness alarm” but will definitely not make people think of it as a means of human destruction.
He thought of another possible trait of Koharu Utatane – according to Kenta’s description and the system’s additional hints, extreme cleanliness is often accompanied by some degree of obsessive-compulsive disorder, such as a strict demand for order and perfection.
What if… in the midst of absolute neatness and order, we could create a tiny “flaw”?
The outline of a plan gradually became clear in his mind.
First, he needed to find an opportunity to get access to the teaching aids.
This batch of equipment is huge in quantity and will definitely be stored in a specific warehouse or room before being officially distributed to the ninja school.
He began to pay attention to relevant news.
By “chance encounters” with the Shimura clan member in charge of logistics management at home several times, and pretending to be curious and asking some questions about the allocation of materials in the village, he indirectly found out the approximate storage location of the batch of teaching aids – in a medium-sized warehouse in the logistics department of the Ninja School.
Now that we know the location, the next step is how to sneak in.
It’s definitely impossible to break in by force, there are guards around the warehouse.
His current strength is not enough to sneak into a place guarded by ninjas without being noticed.
He thought of the method he had used to deal with Kenta before – using identity and money to pave the way.
He specially picked an afternoon and asked Shimura Aoi to “accompany” him to the Ninja School to “observe and learn”.
When passing by the logistics department’s warehouse area, he “happened” to see a young Genin who was in charge of moving supplies taking a break.
Chapter 32 Excellent Next Generation?! (Old Version)
Shimura Aki immediately stepped forward and, using his perfected combination of “innocence” and “enthusiasm and generosity”, took the initiative to strike up a conversation with the Genin.
He first greeted them respectfully, then expressed his “understanding” and “admiration” for the hard work of the ninja school’s logistics, then asked out of “curiosity” what good things were placed in the warehouse, and finally, naturally stuffed a small bag of coins into the hands of the Genin (this time he was more generous, with a full two thousand taels), under the pretext of “inviting the big brother for tea to thank him for his hard work.”
The genin had obviously never seen a high-ranking official take the initiative to talk to a low-level person like himself, let alone give him money.
She was flattered at once, and coupled with Shimura Akira’s harmless appearance and sweet words, she soon let down her guard.
When Shimura Aki suggested “I want to go in and take a look at those cool new ninja tools”, the Genin hesitated for a moment, looked around to see if there was anyone, weighed the heavy bag of money in his hand, and finally gritted his teeth, secretly opened a crack in the warehouse door, let Shimura Aki slip in, and told him “Look quickly, don’t mess things up, and don’t let anyone find you.”
The warehouse is filled with various boxes and shelves, on which brand new teaching aids are arranged in different categories.
The air was filled with the mixed smell of new wood, metal, and paper.
Shimura Aki looked around quickly, looking for a suitable target.
His eyes quickly locked onto a batch of utensils.
One batch was brand new scrolls for teaching, tied with uniform blue ropes and neatly stacked on a shelf. The height and angle of each bundle was exactly the same, obviously they had been carefully arranged.
Another batch is human meridian models used for medical teaching. They are made of special materials, have a smooth and spotless surface, and are placed in glass cabinets.
There was also a batch of standard kunai and shurikens for training, polished to a shine and neatly inserted into special wooden racks.
A barely perceptible smile appeared on Shimura Aki’s lips.
That’s it!
He walked to the pile of neatly stacked scrolls, carefully pulled out one of the bundles, untied the rope, and then deliberately pulled one of the scrolls out a little bit, just a few millimeters, then tied the rope again and put it back in place.
From a distance, there is almost nothing unusual.
But if you look closely, or touch them with your hands, you can feel the subtle difference between this bundle of scrolls and the other bundles – that little “flaw” in order.
Then he walked to the glass cabinet and his eyes fell on one of the meridian models.
He took out a tiny, almost invisible transparent sticky glue particle from his pocket (which he made by boiling sugar water and then air-drying it), and with his fingertips, he lightly pressed it next to an uncommon acupuncture point on the inside of the model’s arm.
This colloid particle is colorless and odorless, and it cannot be seen unless you look carefully.
But if you touch it with your hand, you can feel that tiny, uncomfortable sticky feeling.
Moreover, under light, that position will produce extremely subtle differences in light refraction due to the presence of the colloid particles.
After doing all this, he quickly checked the scene to make sure that no traces were left, then slipped out of the warehouse quietly, thanked the Genin who was still watching outside, and left immediately.
The whole process went smoothly without disturbing anyone.
Next, we just have to wait for the review date to arrive.
A few days later, at the Ninja School logistics warehouse.
Koharu Utane was wearing a meticulously dark kimono with a white haori of the Hokage’s advisor over it. Her face was expressionless but her eyes were as sharp as an eagle’s as she was carefully examining the new batch of teaching aids.
Behind her were several logistics department heads and staff who looked nervous and didn’t dare to breathe.
Everyone knows that this consultant is notoriously strict and picky, especially when it comes to “cleanliness” and “order”, where he has almost perverted requirements.
Koharu’s review method is very special.
Unlike others who would just glance through or check the quantity, she would personally examine the details of each item with her white-gloved hands, extremely carefully.
She picked up a training kunai and examined the blade and handle carefully against the light, making sure there were no blemishes or stains.
She opened a tactical sand table and gently brushed her fingers across the sand, feeling the uniformity and dryness of its particles.
She walked to the shelf where the scrolls were placed, and her eyes swept over the neatly stacked scrolls like a ruler.
Suddenly, her eyes stopped on one of the scrolls and her brows frowned almost invisibly.
She reached out her white-gloved hand and gently touched the bundle of scrolls.
“Who sorted this bundle?” Her voice was not loud, but it had a cold quality that made the air around them seem to drop a few degrees.
The staff member in charge of sorting the scrolls turned pale instantly, and hurried forward, stammering, “It was…I sorted it out, Elder…Elder Xiaochun, may I ask…is there anything wrong?”
“See for yourself.”
Xiaochun spat out three words coldly and pointed at the bundle of scrolls.
The staff came closer to take a look and didn’t find anything wrong at first. But upon closer inspection, they discovered that in the bundle of scrolls, the edge of one scroll protruded slightly more than the others, by just a few millimeters!
“This… this…” The staff member broke out in a cold sweat. He couldn’t figure it out. He had clearly checked it several times and confirmed that it was perfectly aligned before putting it in place. How could it be…
“They can’t even do the most basic alignment. Is this the attitude for the logistics work of the ninja school?!” Xiaochun’s voice suddenly rose a few notes, and his eyes swept across everyone present sharply, “Meticulous! Strive for perfection! This is the most basic quality of a ninja! If you can’t even do this, how can you talk about cultivating an excellent next generation?!”
She was obviously dissatisfied with this tiny “flaw in order” and started to scold him in a very serious manner.
Everyone around was silent, lowering their heads and not daring to speak.
Then, Xiaochun walked to the glass cabinet where the medical teaching models were placed.
She motioned for the staff to open the cabinet door, then reached out and prepared to pick up one of the models for inspection.
Just as her fingertips were about to touch the model arm that had been tampered with by Shimura Aki, her movements suddenly stopped.
Her brows furrowed again, and a hint of obvious disgust flashed in her eyes.
She seemed to have some extraordinary intuition, or she saw the extremely tiny reflection abnormality in the light and realized that something was wrong.
She did not touch the model immediately, but stared at the acupuncture point that had been tampered with, and her face became increasingly uglier.
“What…what is this?!” Her voice was filled with suppressed anger and…a barely perceptible tremor.
The staff member in charge of keeping the model was also frightened and hurried over to take a look, but after looking at it for a long time, he couldn’t make any sense of it.
“Nothing… nothing, Elder Xiaochun…”
“Nothing?!” Xiaochun’s voice became even sharper, “Feel it yourself!”
The staff member stretched out his hand tremblingly, touched the place carefully, and then his expression froze.
He felt it! That tiny…tiny, uncomfortable sticky feeling!
“This…this…” He was suddenly panicked and didn’t know how to explain.
At this moment, a clear child’s voice, with a bit of curiosity and innocence, suddenly came from the warehouse door.
“Father, is this the warehouse where the new teaching aids are stored? Wow, there are so many things!”
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Shimura Danzo walking slowly towards them. Behind him was a little boy with black hair and black eyes, who looked only seven or eight years old. It was Shimura Aki.
Chapter 33 Response (Old Version)
Danzo had apparently calculated the time accurately and “just happened” to pass by this place with his son.
He glanced expressionlessly at the somewhat awkward atmosphere in the warehouse and the obviously unhappy expression of Utane Koharu, and said nothing.
And Shimura Aki, as if completely unaware of the tense atmosphere here, ran in curiously with his short legs, looking around and touching things.
When he ran to the glass case, he pointed at the tampered model as if he had suddenly discovered something new, and said loudly in a surprised (pretended) tone:
“Eh? Elder Xiaochun, look here! There seems to be a little bit of shiny stuff stuck on the arm of this little guy! Does it look like the trace left by a slug crawling over it?”
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone present focused their attention on the model arm.
Sure enough, next to that inconspicuous acupuncture point, there was indeed an extremely tiny thing that reflected slightly under the light!
Then, Shimura Akira seemed to have remembered something, and ran to the pile of scrolls. He pointed at the scroll that Elder Xiaochun had scolded, and said in the same innocent tone: “Ah! And this scroll! Look, it’s not standing straight, a little shorter than the one next to it! Did someone accidentally knock it crooked when moving things?”
His innocent words instantly pushed the awkward atmosphere to its peak and focused everyone’s attention on the two extremely subtle “problem points”.
Then, Shimura Aki made a move that no one expected.
He took out a neatly folded, extremely clean and soft white handkerchief from his pocket (he had prepared it at some point), trotted over to Utane Koharu, raised his little face, and said in a tone of great sincerity and concern:
“Elder Xiaochun, please don’t be angry! There seems to be something dirty here, just wipe it off!”
He handed the handkerchief to Utane Koharu, his big eyes twinkling, full of “innocence” and “kindness”.
“Besides, maybe the scroll was accidentally knocked crooked during transportation? Or… maybe the mice in the warehouse came out to play at night and accidentally messed it up? It definitely wasn’t something this uncle did not do well on purpose!” He was also very “considerate” and tried to excuse the logistics staff member who was about to cry.
This series of operations was smooth and seamless.
Not only did he accurately point out the “source of pollution” that made Elder Xiaochun unhappy, he also provided a clean “solution” (handkerchief), and used a reasonable guess to give Elder Xiaochun a way out, so that she would not appear to be too harsh and lose her identity because of a trivial matter.
The whole process looked like an observant, kind-hearted and clever child who inadvertently resolved an embarrassing situation.
Koharu Utane is suffering from a mysophobia attack and is on the verge of losing control.
She felt physically nauseous because of the sticky feeling, and uncomfortable because of the messy scroll. She was so angry that she had no place to vent.
At this moment, the appearance of Shimura Aki and his words were like a stream of fresh air, instantly diluting the irritability in her heart.
She was first surprised that this child could actually find a more subtle “source of contamination” that she herself had almost overlooked (that rubber particle was indeed more unbearable to her than the misalignment of the scroll), and then she felt a sense of unexpected… comfort about the handkerchief that was so clean that it was almost perfectly clean?
In the end, after hearing his “thoughtful” words of excuse, the anger in her heart actually dissipated a lot.
Yes, why get so mad over such a small thing? Maybe it was just an accident.
Moreover, it was indeed beneath one’s dignity to criticize a subordinate for such a small matter in front of Danzo.
She took a deep look at the child in front of her who was looking up with clear eyes and holding a handkerchief.
Shimura Danzo’s son…Shimura Aki?
This child…his observation ability is indeed extraordinary.
Moreover, it seems… that he is quite sensible? He knows how to give way at this time.
Koharu Utaha’s mind was racing.
She did not take the handkerchief herself (given her obsession with cleanliness, it was impossible for her to directly touch anything handed to her by others), but instead winked at the follower behind her.
The attendant immediately understood, stepped forward, took the handkerchief from Shimura Aki, and then carefully wiped the tiny rubber particles on the model’s arm with the handkerchief, and rearranged the bundle of scrolls that were not neatly arranged.
After doing all this, Utane Koharu nodded almost imperceptibly and very lightly to Shimura Aki.
She uttered a single syllable through her nose in response.
Although he still had no expression and his tone was not gentle, it was obviously much softer than the cold and sharp look just now.
The unhappiness and irritability in his eyes had indeed dissipated a lot.
She did not pursue the responsibility of the logistics department any further, but simply said “Pay attention next time” and turned around to continue other review work.
Although there was almost no substantive communication between Koharu Utatane and Aki Shimura during the entire process, she didn’t even say “thank you”.
However, Shimura Aki keenly captured the flash of surprise in her eyes and the subtle change of attitude.
More importantly, at the moment when Elder Xiaochun nodded, the system panel in his mind changed slightly silently.
Next to the logo representing Koharu Utatane, the “attention” bar, which was originally almost zero, jumped up a small grid very faintly and almost imperceptibly!
Although it was just a tiny bit, and it was still a long way from “trust” or “favorability”, it meant that his plan was successful!
He successfully left a little “special” impression in the mind of Koharu Utane, a Konoha high-ranking official known for his pickiness and cleanliness! No longer completely ignored, or just labeled as “Danzo’s son”!
“Tsk, it really works!” Shimura Aki was secretly delighted.
It seems that this method of “solving small troubles” and “meeting special needs” to increase the sense of presence and improve favorability is feasible! Although this kind of favor is very shallow, and may even be just a temporary “surprise” for Elder Xiaochun, but a little bit of accumulation will eventually wear away a stone!
As long as you can continuously demonstrate your “value” at the right time (whether it is observation, attentiveness, or problem-solving ability), one day you will be able to pry open these seemingly indestructible senior figures!
Of course, he also knew that this kind of trick could only be done occasionally, and it had to be done perfectly without leaving any deliberate traces.
Otherwise, once these old foxes discover his true intentions, the consequences will be disastrous.
Shimura Aki glanced at Utane Koharu who was still pretending to examine the tools beside him, and then glanced at his cheap father Danzo who was standing not far away with deep eyes and no one knew what he was thinking, and secretly planned his next step in his heart.
Chapter 34: Awakening (Old Version)
Gaining favor is only the first step. The ultimate goal is to dig up valuable “black material”.
What secrets are hidden behind Koharu Utane’s unusual cleanliness? This is what he is really interested in.
It seems that we need to create more similar opportunities in the future, and cleverly create some “positive” presence in front of these Konoha high-level officials to lay the foundation for “in-depth understanding” in the future.
The hunting game continues.
And he, this hunter from another world, is patiently weaving his own web.
Although the “chance encounter” at the logistics warehouse of the Ninja School seemed to be just a small episode, it quietly caused some subtle ripples in the small circle of Konoha’s high-level officials.
Later, during an informal meeting with Danzo, Koharu Utatane did casually mention: “Danzo, your son…his name is Aki, right? He is a thoughtful child with good observation skills.”
This comment, coming from the mouth of Koharu Utane, who is known for being picky and strict, carries a lot of weight.
When Danzo heard this, there was still no expression on his face. He just said “hmm” faintly as a response.
But in his heart, he re-evaluated his son Shimura Aki’s performance.
It’s not easy to get an old lady like Xiaochun to praise someone for being “thoughtful”.
It seems that this guy is not only lucky to have the connection with Tsunade, but he also has some skills and good vision.
In addition to what Shimura Aki reported earlier, he was able to obtain some information from Tsunade by “hitting the fence”…
The scale in Danzo’s heart, which originally viewed Shimura Aki as just a “qualified successor” and a “usable tool”, began to tilt further.
He felt that maybe…it was time to expose Qiu to something deeper.
Something that truly belongs to the Shimura family and to the core strength of Shimura Danzo.
We can no longer view him as just a child who needs basic training and external support.
He must understand the dark side of this world as early as possible, understand how power works, and understand… the existence and significance of “roots”.
Only in this way can he be truly trained into what he wants him to be – a successor with enough strength, intelligence, ruthlessness and loyalty, who can inherit his will and support the future of the Shimura clan and the “Root”.
So, in the following days, Danzo began to consciously and gradually let Shimura Aki get involved in some marginal affairs of the “Root” organization.
Of course, such contact is extremely cautious and limited.
For example, Danzo would occasionally give Shimura Aki some summaries of intelligence collected by Root members that he had personally screened and deleted from sensitive information and operational details.
The contents of these summaries are varied, including dynamic monitoring reports on certain families or ninjas in Konoha Village, some basic intelligence analysis on other ninja villages, and even some assessments on the situation in small countries around the village.
“Let’s take a look.”
Danzo threw a thin scroll to Shimura Akira and said calmly, “Learn how to find the truly valuable things from these seemingly disorganized information.”
Shimura Aki knew that this was his father testing him and showing him the power of his “roots”.
He immediately put aside his other thoughts, took the scroll respectfully, and read it meticulously.
He did not disappoint Danzo’s “expectations”.
With the soul of an adult, reading comprehension ability far beyond his peers, and a “big picture” from the future, he was able to quickly grasp key information from the processed intelligence summaries, and even draw inferences from one example to another, and come up with some analyses and judgments that even Danzo was slightly surprised.
“This report on the recent material movement of the Sand Village may seem to be just routine border supplies, but considering the small-scale conflict that occurred on the border with the Iwagakure Village last month, it is likely a preparation for a larger-scale military operation.
We need to strengthen surveillance in the border areas between the two countries.”
“This report on the power struggle among the bloodline limit families in the Hidden Mist Village mentioned the conflict between the Kaguya clan and the Mizunotsuki clan.
Perhaps… we can try to contact one of the parties, sow discord, create chaos, and weaken the power of the Hidden Mist Village?”
“This report on the recent financial status of the Fire Country Daimyo’s office shows that the Daimyo seems to be interested in cutting financial allocations to Konoha.
Father, do we need to make some preparations in advance, or… exert some “influence” on the Daimyofu?”
Although the analysis and suggestions put forward by Shimura Aki are still a bit immature and even a little whimsical, the strategic vision and sensitivity to the value of intelligence demonstrated in them are far beyond the level of an eight-year-old child.
Danzo listened to his son’s analysis with no expression on his face, but the satisfaction in his eyes grew stronger and stronger.
This kid… is really good material!
In addition to reading intelligence summaries, Danzo occasionally allowed Shimura Aki to sit in on some Root internal meetings regarding the arrangement of low-risk missions.
Of course, these meetings were carefully planned.
Core confidential content and parts involving sensitive actions such as assassination and sabotage will be deliberately avoided.
What was presented to Shimura Aki was more relatively “mild” content such as intelligence gathering, target surveillance, or some internal discipline rectification.
The atmosphere of the meeting is always depressing and solemn.
Most of the “Root” members who participated in the meeting wore uniform black tights and expressionless masks on their faces, or simply had no expression on their faces, with eyes as cold as iron.
They speak succinctly and report situations accurately and objectively, without any personal feelings.
The entire meeting process was efficient, ruthless, and filled with a militarized, iron-blooded atmosphere.
Shimura Aki sat in the corner, listening quietly.
He tried to treat himself as a transparent person, carefully observing the operation mode of the “Roots”, learning how they processed intelligence, issued orders, and responded to emergencies.
Every contact gave him a deeper understanding of the “Root” organization.
He finally understood why his father Danzo was so obsessed with controlling this power.
The intelligence network of “Root” is indeed so powerful that it is frightening! It is like an invisible big net, covering every corner of Konoha, and even extending to other ninja villages and countries.
From the military movements of an enemy country to the trivial matters in a civilian’s home, it seems that nothing can escape the eyes of the “Root”.
The execution of the “Root” is even more ruthless and efficient! Once they receive an order, these machine-like ninjas will complete it without compromise, no matter how dangerous the mission is, no matter how much it costs, and even… no matter how despicable and inhumane the means are.
This shadow force hidden beneath Konoha’s bright and beautiful appearance is indeed Danzo’s most important and sharpest tool to realize his political ambitions and control the future of Konoha!
While understanding the power and operation mode of “Root”, Shimura Akiya began to think about a deeper question: How to combine his own whistleblower system with the intelligence gathering capabilities of “Root”?
The whistleblower system needs “black material” as its driving force.
And “Root” is one of the largest “black material” production and collection factories in the world!
If… I could use my gradually improving status within “The Root” (even though it’s still on the fringe now) to get access to more and higher-quality intelligence, wouldn’t the speed at which I gain leak points be greatly accelerated?
On the other hand, if one can use the whistleblower system to predict the occurrence of certain “black material” in advance, or accurately locate certain deeply hidden secrets, and then “inadvertently” reveal this information to the “root” (of course it must be disguised and processed so as not to expose the system), then not only can one obtain rewards from the system, but also make great contributions within the “root”, further consolidating and improving one’s position!
These two can form a virtuous circle, promoting and achieving each other!
Thinking of this, Shimura Aki’s heart couldn’t help but feel hot.
This is simply a shortcut to the pinnacle of power!
However, after the excitement, calmness follows.
As he came into contact with the marginal affairs of “Root”, Shimura Akiya felt more and more clearly the chilling cruelty and cold-bloodedness emanating from this organization.
Those “Root” members are more like killing machines deprived of emotions and humanity than being ninjas.
Their eyes are empty, their expressions are numb, and they seem to have no reverence for life.
When performing missions, he would not hesitate to strike at enemies or innocent people who were considered to be “hindering the interests of Konoha”.
He was also keenly aware that there was an obvious rivalry and deep-seated distrust between the Root and the Anbu directly under Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Although both parties serve Konoha (at least on the surface), their styles of doing things, their philosophies, and even the objects of their allegiance (the Root tends to be more loyal to Danzo personally) are completely different.
This internal conflict and friction is like a time bomb buried deep in Konoha, which may explode at any time.
All this made Shimura Aki feel deeply alert.
He realized that the road ahead would not be smooth.
Once you truly step into the dark vortex of “Roots”, it means drifting away from the light, constantly walking on the edge of danger, and facing countless conspiracies, betrayals, and killings.
Moreover, although his cheap father Danzo seems to value him now, in essence he still regards him as a tool and a pawn.
Once he lost his usefulness or showed any signs of being out of control, Danzo would definitely abandon him without hesitation, or even… clean up the mess!
Chapter 35 Mastering Skills (Old Version)
He must improve his strength as soon as possible! Not only in Ninjutsu and Taijutsu, but also in having enough mind and strength to protect himself in this dark vortex, or even… control the situation!
He needs to cultivate his own confidants! Some people who can be absolutely trusted and have enough potential!
This idea, like a seed, quietly took root and sprouted in his heart.
As he came into contact with the “Roots”, he began to pay more attention to the younger and less prominent members.
He tried to find a glimmer of humanity beneath those cold masks and numb expressions, or… some desires and weaknesses that could be exploited.
He knew it was difficult.
Most of the people who enter “Root” have undergone cruel brainwashing and training, and their emotions have long been erased.
But there are always exceptions. There will always be one or two who still retain a trace of self-awareness, or… are dissatisfied with and ambitious about the status quo.
These people may be the ones he can win over and cultivate in the future.
Of course, all of this must be done in extreme secrecy, and Danzo must not be able to detect any clues.
While Shimura Aki was working hard to learn the knowledge of “Roots” while secretly observing and planning for the future, Danzo seemed to feel that it was time to further improve his son’s “hard power”.
It is far from enough to just study theory and attend meetings.
If you want to survive in the cruel world of ninjas and take on the responsibility of being the “root” in the future, you must have strong enough self-protection abilities and… killing skills!
One day, Danzo called Shimura Akira to a secret training ground located under the Shimura mansion, which he had never been to before.
This training ground is very large, with walls made of hard obsidian, covered with scratches and craters left by various training sessions.
There was a faint smell of blood and sweat in the air, which made people shudder.
In the center of the training ground stood a ninja who was not tall, but had an extremely cold and dangerous aura.
He was wearing a black tights without any logo and a white mask with an owl pattern on it, revealing only a pair of emotionless black eyes.
“From today on, he will be responsible for teaching you taijutsu and…some necessary survival skills.”
Danzo pointed at the masked ninja and spoke to Shimura Akira, his tone calm but with an unquestionable command.
“His code name is ‘Xiao’, and he is one of the best instructors in ‘Gen’.
You must study carefully and not make any mistakes. “
Shimura Akira was startled and responded respectfully.
He could clearly feel the murderous and dangerous aura emanating from the masked ninja codenamed “Owl”! This aura was stronger than any ninja he had seen before! It was even more terrifying than Shimura Aoi!
This is definitely a real killing machine with blood on his hands!
“Xiao, I leave him to you.”
Danzo instructed Owl, his tone carrying the indifference of a superior to a tool, “The goal is to let him master the ability to protect himself and effectively remove the ‘obstacles’ in the shortest possible time.
The training standards are based on the reserve forces of the ‘roots’.”
“Yes, Lord Danzo.”
The owl’s voice is hoarse and low, like the cry of a night owl, without any emotion.
He bowed slightly, as if accepting the order.
Danzo said nothing more, turned around and left the training ground, leaving only Shimura Akira and this mysterious and dangerous instructor.
When the heavy stone door slowly closed behind him, Shimura Aki felt as if the temperature in the training ground had dropped by several degrees.
Xiao turned around, and the pair of black eyes hidden behind the mask, like two bottomless cold pools, stared coldly at Shimura Aki.
“From today on, forget all your previous training.”
Xiao’s voice was flat, “Here, there are no young masters, only apprentices.
If you can’t keep up with the training or fail to complete the task, there is only one outcome – elimination.”
Although he did not explicitly say what “elimination” meant, Shimura Aki had already guessed the answer from his cold tone and the smell of blood in the surrounding environment.
In the world of “roots”, “elimination” often means death.
“Yes, instructor.”
Shimura Aki took a deep breath and his eyes became firm.
He knew that the coming days would be the toughest test he had faced since his time traveling through time.
Xiao’s training is just like him, cruel, efficient and merciless.
It is completely in accordance with the “Root” standards for cultivating killing machines.
The daily training content was fully arranged and the intensity was so high that even Shimura Aki, who had the soul and willpower of an adult, felt a little overwhelmed.
In the early morning, before daybreak, we start extreme physical training.
Weighted long-distance running, high-intensity obstacle course crossing, push-ups, pull-ups…each one must be done until exhaustion.
Owl stood aside, watching indifferently, holding a thin wooden stick in his hand. As long as Shimura Aki’s movements were slightly deformed or his speed slowed down a little, the stick would hit him mercilessly, leaving a burning pain.
“The roots don’t need waste.”
This is the sentence Xiao often says.
After physical training, it is time to practice fighting skills.
What Xiao taught was not those “orthodox” physical techniques that focused on the beauty of the moves or the point of stopping, but the deadly, simple and efficient close combat techniques! Eye-poking, throat locking, tendon breaking, bone crushing… all for the purpose of killing the enemy as quickly as possible or making him lose his combat effectiveness!
Owl would demonstrate it himself and then let Shimura Aki practice it repeatedly.
The angle, strength, and speed of each movement required extreme precision! Any deviation would result in even more severe punishment from Xiao.
In the afternoon, there is basic training in stealth, reconnaissance, and assassination techniques.
How to hide in various environments, how to approach the target silently, how to use the environment to create traps, how to use various hidden weapons and poisons, and… how to kill with one blow in the simplest way!
These techniques, full of darkness and blood, made Shimura Aki feel both physically and psychologically uncomfortable.
But he knew that these were necessary skills to survive in this cruel world.
He must learn, must master!
Chapter 36 Exposed (Old Version)
The training of Xiao is far more than just teaching moves and techniques.
He pays more attention to the cultivation of practical ability.
He often sets up various simulation scenarios to allow Shimura Aki to conduct confrontation exercises in a close-to-real environment.
Sometimes, the training ground would be arranged into a pitch-black environment to simulate a night combat environment, and Owl would lurk in the dark like a ghost, ready to launch a fatal sneak attack on Shimura Aki at any time.
Shimura Aki must rely on hearing, touch, and even his intuition for danger to dodge attacks and try to fight back.
Sometimes, the training ground will be arranged into a narrow alley or a jungle full of traps. Shimura Aki needs to complete the designated “mission objectives” while avoiding the owl’s pursuit, such as obtaining a certain item or reaching a designated location.
Sometimes, Owl would even blindfold Shimura Aki or tie one of his hands and fight him under such unfavorable conditions!
Owl’s attacks are never just “feeding moves” that stop at the right time.
He would control the force precisely so as not to kill or seriously injure Shimura Akira, but every attack was accompanied by a real killing intent and a sense of oppression! Every punch hit the flesh! Every move was ruthless!
Shimura Aki spent almost every day in pain and fatigue.
His body was covered with purple bruises and small wounds, with new ones appearing as the old ones had not yet healed.
There were several times when he was so tired that he almost collapsed and in so much pain that he wanted to give up.
But he gritted his teeth and persevered.
He knew that Xiao’s cruel training was not to torture him, but to make him adapt to the survival rules of this world as quickly as possible.
Every drop of sweat he sheds now, every bit of pain he endures, will increase his hope of survival in the future!
He can’t give up! Nor can he complain!
He regards every failure and every pain as the price and motivation for growth.
After being knocked down again and again and struggling to get up again and again, his body became stronger and stronger, his reaction speed became faster and faster, and his ability to withstand blows became stronger and stronger.
His eyes gradually lost their previous immaturity and confusion, becoming more and more resilient, sharper, and even… revealing a hint of coldness and murderous intent that was inconsistent with his age.
Even he himself was not fully aware of this change.
The whistleblower system occasionally plays some unexpected roles in this brutal training process.
Although the system cannot directly improve his physical or combat skills, when he is in actual combat with Xiao and gets into trouble or bottlenecks, the system will occasionally give some extremely critical hints.
[Ding! A subtle habit is detected in the opponent’s (owl) attack mode: after a left straight punch, the center of gravity is unstable for 0.1 seconds. You can try to counterattack with a downward kick.
[Ding! Suggestions for correction of force technique: The power transmission from the waist is not smooth. Try to lower the center of gravity by another two centimeters and use the core muscles to drive the limbs to exert force.
[Ding! Stealth skill optimization: breathing frequency is not synchronized with the ambient wind sound, making it easy to be exposed.
Try to pace your breathing so it blends in with the background noise.
Although these “plug-in” prompts from the system cannot help him turn defeat into victory immediately, they can help him find the key to the problem faster, master the essentials of the skills faster, and adapt to the combat rhythm of Xiao faster.
This made his progress in training once again exceed Xiao’s expectations.
Although Xiao remained silent, there was no expression on his face.
But Shimura Aki could feel that the time the gaze hidden behind the owl mask was fixed on him seemed to be getting longer and longer.
In that gaze, besides the initial coldness and scrutiny, there seemed to be… a hint of barely perceptible… surprise?
Shimura Aki knew that he was growing at an astonishing speed.
All this pain and hardship will become the capital for him to overcome all obstacles and control his destiny in this turbulent world of ninja in the future!
He is looking forward to the day when he will truly break out of his cocoon and become a butterfly!
The training of Xiao is comprehensive and extremely cruel.
The training of physical fitness and fighting skills is only the foundation. The more core and more thrilling part is the learning of assassination techniques.
Chapter 37 Strength Improvement (Old Version)
This content is usually only taught to the core members of the “Root” or the elite of the Anbu, and represents the sharpest and darkest fangs of Konoha hidden under the light.
Danzo asked Owl to teach these to the eight-year-old Shimura Aki, which shows how deep his “expectations” were for his son, or in other words, how determined he was to completely transform his son into a “tool” that meets his needs.
The study of assassination techniques is filled with a suffocating sense of danger and a huge moral impact from the very beginning.
The first thing Xiao taught was how to completely erase one’s own presence and blend into the environment.
“An assassin is not someone standing in the darkness, but a shadow that has become part of the darkness.”
Owl’s voice was like a cold ice cube, echoing in the empty underground training ground. “Your breathing, your heartbeat, your smell, and even the slightest fluctuation of your chakra could become a fatal flaw that exposes your position.”
He taught Shimura Aki various extreme concealment techniques.
How to use light and shadow and blind spots to hide your body on flat ground without any cover; how to lurk in the water for a long time without making any bubbles; how to control your breathing and heart rate to the lowest level, as if entering a state of suspended animation; and even how to use special drugs and techniques to temporarily eliminate your own smell.
Many of these techniques violate the physiological limits of the human body, and the practice process is full of pain and danger.
Several times, Shimura Aki almost suffocated because he held his breath in the water for too long, and several times, his body suffered adverse reactions due to forcibly suppressing his heartbeat.
But he managed to get through it all thanks to his strong willpower and the system’s occasional optimization suggestions on breathing rhythm and muscle relaxation.
After mastering the art of stealth, the next step is to approach the target silently.
Owl asked Shimura Aki to tie specially made small bells on his ankles and wrists, and then sneak on the ground covered with gravel and dead leaves.
The goal is to move to the designated location within the specified time without making any sound from the bell!
This requires extreme control over every muscle in the body, with steps as light as a cat and movements as pliant as a snake.
Shimura Aki couldn’t do it at first. The bell kept ringing, but in return he received merciless punishment from Owl.
But gradually, he mastered the trick, learned how to use chakra to wrap the soles of his feet, how to adjust the center of gravity of his body, and how to make every movement as smooth and silent as flowing water.
Next, various assassination weapons are used.
Conventional ninja tools such as kunai and shuriken are of course no problem for him, but Xiao focuses more on those hidden and deadlier concealed weapons.
For example, tiny poison needles hidden in cuffs or soles of shoes, blowpipes that can be shot silently, tough steel wires wrapped around fingers, and even some seemingly inconspicuous daily necessities, such as hairpins and fans, can all become deadly weapons in the hands of an owl.
Xiao not only taught him how to use these weapons, but also taught him how to make and poison them.
“A true assassin never relies on fixed weapons.
Everything around you can become a tool for you to kill people.”
As Xiao spoke, he picked up a stone and flicked his finger. The stone shot out like a bullet and accurately shattered the throat of a wooden target in the distance.
The poisoning part made Shimura Aki feel extremely uncomfortable.
Xiao showed him various highly toxic substances extracted from plants, minerals, and even animals, and explained in detail their toxicity, onset time, and detoxification methods.
He also asked Shimura Aki to handle these deadly poisons himself and learn how to extract, preserve and apply them safely.
Looking at those strangely colored liquids and powders emitting dangerous auras, and imagining the pain and death they might cause once they entered the human body, Shimura Aki’s stomach churned.
He came from a peaceful world with sound rule of law and priority for life. This direct contact and learning of killing methods had a huge psychological impact on him.
But he forced himself to calm down and tried to overcome his inner disgust and fear.
He told himself that this was a chaotic world, this was a ninja world.
Here, kindness and weakness will only lead to faster death.
If you want to survive, if you want to protect what you truly care about (if there is a future), you must master these dark means.
Even if you may not actively use them in the future, you should at least know how to guard against them and how to use them to fight back when necessary!
After mastering weapons and poisons, the last and most important thing is the technique of killing with one strike.
Xiao hung a detailed human anatomy diagram on the wall, with the vital points of each part of the human body marked in red.
Heart, brain, carotid artery, spine…
Xiao used the thin wooden stick to point at these parts one by one, and in an emotionless tone, like a butcher explaining the parts of livestock, he explained in detail the best angles, strength, and effects of attacking these vital points.
“Choke the throat, use your knuckles to precisely compress the trachea and carotid artery, and it will cause suffocation and brain hypoxia within three seconds.”
“To break the neck, you use the explosive force of an instant to twist the cervical spine. It must be fast, accurate, and ruthless. A slight deviation in the angle may cause serious injuries.”
“Stab the heart. It is most effective to stab from the fourth intercostal space on the left side. The depth should be at least…”
He also personally demonstrated various special moves on the wooden target with his bare hands or using a short blade. His movements were clean and neat, full of cold and efficient beauty (or horror).
Shimura Aki watched and listened with a pale face, trying hard to engrave this bloody and cruel knowledge in his mind like a brand.
He knew that these skills might become the key to saving his life one day in the future.
The process of learning assassination skills is not only a physical training, but also an extreme test of the mind and will.
Shimura Aki felt as if he was walking on a dark road covered with thorns and blood. Every step forward required tremendous effort and he had to overcome his inner struggle.
But he didn’t back down.
Because he knows that only by walking this path can he truly have the power to gain a foothold in this world.
Under the dual effects of Tsunade’s “forced” careful guidance and Owl’s hellish and harsh training, Shimura Aki’s strength truly began to improve at a rapid pace that can be described as “making rapid progress every day.”
Chapter 38 A Place to Stay (Old Version)
His chakra capacity has been increasing steadily with the help of “Chakra Extraction Technique (Mastery)” and the pressure of daily extreme physical training. It has far exceeded the average level of his peers and is even approaching that of some mediocre Genin.
His level of medical ninjutsu was soaring at a speed that even Tsunade found unbelievable.
The application of Palm Immortal Technique is becoming more and more proficient, not only the treatment effect is better, but also the chakra consumption is less.
His knowledge of herbal medicine and toxicology became more and more solid, and he was even able to independently prepare some relatively complex medicines and antidotes.
On many occasions, when Tsunade was instructing other students or handling her own affairs, Shimura Aki was able to act as an “assistant teacher” in a proper manner, helping to deal with some simple injuries. The precision of his techniques and solid theoretical foundation made many students in the ninja school secretly admire him (of course, more of it was jealousy).
Tsunade looked at Shimura Aki, who she once regarded as a “troublemaker” and a “little rascal”, and now showed amazing talent and concentration in the medical field, and her heart was filled with extremely complicated emotions.
On the one hand, she was still brooding over the fact that she was caught and forced to teach, and when she saw Shimura Aki’s “harmless” face, she couldn’t help but feel angry.
But on the other hand, as a genius who also loves medical ninjutsu and has extraordinary talent, she couldn’t help but feel…admiration and amazement at the talent displayed by Shimura Aki.
There was even a hint of… the excitement of meeting a worthy opponent? (Although she would never admit it!)
She discovered that, although the cause of her mentoring Shimura Aki was ignominious, the process was not entirely torture.
This kid’s ability to understand and speed of learning were so fast that when she discussed with him many medical techniques and theories that she was still exploring or had just comprehended, he could always give her some unique ideas that made her eyes light up! This feeling of mutual learning was something she had never experienced when she was guiding other students with mediocre qualifications.
Especially in physical skills and three-body skills, Xiao’s training results are beginning to show gradually.
Shimura Aki’s skills became more and more agile, and his reactions became faster and faster. Although his basic physical skills were not as good as those of the ninjas who specialized in physical skills, he was already a leader among his peers.
He has mastered the Three Body Technique to perfection. His clones are real enough to be indistinguishable from the real thing. He has a perfect grasp of the timing of the Stand Technique and his Transformation Technique is even more lifelike.
Tsunade once deliberately made things difficult for him, asking him to change into her appearance to tease Jiraiya. As a result, Shimura Aki not only imitated her appearance exactly, but also her usual tone of voice, her habit of putting her hands on her hips, and even her look of disdain and helplessness towards Jiraiya. She almost couldn’t tell them apart! Jiraiya was fooled around, and when he was finally discovered, he was beaten up by Tsunade (real body).
Afterwards, although Tsunade still had a stern face and scolded Shimura Akira for “not doing his job and only doing these crooked ways”, she had to admit in her heart that this kid’s talent in imitation and disguise was simply at the level of a demon!
Watching Shimura Aki grow visibly stronger, from a little guy who needed her “protection” (forced), to a “junior” whose strength should not be underestimated, Tsunade’s mentality was also quietly undergoing some subtle changes without her realizing it.
The initial pure disgust, anger and unwillingness did not completely disappear, but were diluted by other more complex emotions.
She found that she didn’t seem to hate this kid as much as she thought?
Yes, he was sly and crafty, and he used despicable means to get hold of something on his own.
But… he’s also very smart, very hardworking, and has a maturity and perseverance beyond his age.
In terms of cultivation, he was more focused and hardworking than any other person of his age she had ever met.
Moreover, although the purpose was to blackmail him, he always maintained enough respect for his (forced) “teacher” (at least on the surface).
And, the most important point is that the damn “secret agreement” is like an invisible chain that binds the two of them together tightly.
This relationship can no longer be easily severed or gotten rid of.
Tsunade began to think calmly about a question: since she couldn’t get rid of it, then what good would it do her to continue to be hostile like this?
It seems… not.
On the contrary, because of your emotional way of dealing with the situation, the secret may actually be exposed.
So, how about another way?
Although Shimura Aki is Danzo’s son, the talent and intelligence he displays indicate that he is definitely not an ordinary person.
In the future, maybe he can really become a great ninja, or even… occupy a seat among the top leaders of Konoha?
What if… my current “dedication” and “guidance” to him is not just to keep him silent, but a kind of… long-term “investment”?
Invest in a future strong person with great potential, someone who…maybe can become your “ally” in the future?
As soon as this idea came into her mind, it was like a stone thrown into a lake, causing ripples in Tsunade’s heart.
Allies? Alliance with Danzo’s son?
The thought seemed a little ridiculous to her.
Her philosophy and Danzo’s are completely opposite.
She advocates uprightness and is the heir of the “Will of Fire” from the first Hokage; whereas Danzo believes in darkness and iron-bloodedness and is the controller of the “Root”.
They are destined to be people on two different paths.
But… this Shimura Aki seems… a little different from his father?
Although he is also very cunning and calculating, at least for now, he seems to be more focused on improving his strength and is also passionate about medical ninjutsu.
Moreover, although his attitude towards her was a bit of exploitation, it wasn’t completely false? (Tsunade tried to convince herself)
Maybe… maybe I could try to influence him? Instill some of the Senju clan’s ideas, some things that belong to “light” into him subtly? So that he wouldn’t completely follow his father’s dark path?
If he succeeds, not only will he gain a powerful “ally”, but he can also, to some extent, curb Danzo’s influence in the future?
This idea was full of temptation, and it also allowed Tsunade’s originally conflicted and struggling heart to find a new balance point.
So, in the following “guidance”, Tsunade’s mentality began to truly change.
Chapter 39: Elusive (Old Version)
She no longer did things perfunctorily just to fulfill the agreement, or “tortured” Shimura Aki out of revenge, as she did before.
She began to impart knowledge and skills more seriously, and even took the initiative to give him some tips and key points in practice, sharing some of her unique insights into ninjutsu and chakra control.
These were all valuable experiences that she would never easily tell others before.
She even began to try, intentionally or unintentionally, to instill some of the Senju clan’s ideas and values ​​into Shimura Aki during their conversations.
Of course, she chose those more positive contents that emphasized bonds, protection, and the preciousness of life, trying to use these “bright” things to neutralize the “dark” influence that Shimura Aki might have received from his father.
“The strength of our Senju clan does not only come from the powerful Wood Release and the vast chakra, but also from our trust in our companions, our love for the village, and our reverence for life.”
“True strength does not come from intrigue and cruelty, but from using one’s own strength to protect important people and create a better future.”
“Medical ninjas are the bridge between life and hope.
Our hands exist to save lives and must not be tainted by darkness.”
When Tsunade said these words, her expression was serious and earnest, with an idealistic gleam in her eyes.
Shimura Aki listened quietly but laughed secretly in his heart.
Innocent princess, do you think you can “influence” me like this? However, this kind of “positive energy” infusion can serve as a good disguise.
On the surface, he showed an expression of listening attentively and thinking deeply, and would even ask some questions to express his agreement or confusion at the right time, and have “in-depth” discussions with Tsunade, making her feel that his “influence” was working.
What’s even more interesting is that in certain situations, Tsunade actually began to subconsciously protect Shimura Akirai.
Once, Jiraiya saw Shimura Aki following Tsunade and “asking questions” on the training ground, so he ran over and laughed at Shimura Aki with a grin, calling him “Tsunade’s follower” and “a little brat who only knows how to hide behind women.”
In the past, Tsunade would definitely be more impatient and might even punch Jiraiya away.
But this time, she frowned, glared at Jiraiya, and said in a cold voice: “Shut up! Jiraiya! Qiu is just asking me for medical ninjutsu. He works very hard. He is much better than you who only know how to be lazy and play tricks!”
This sudden maintenance not only stunned Jiraiya, but even Shimura Aki himself was a little surprised.
After Tsunade finished speaking, she seemed to realize that she was a little “abnormal”. Her ears turned slightly red. She immediately frowned and scolded Shimura Akira: “What are you looking at! Keep practicing! Your chakra control is not in place again!”
But the subtle sense of maintenance was clearly conveyed.
Even Tsunade herself was not fully aware of this change in mentality, or rather, she was unwilling to delve into why she did this.
She just felt that since she had already regarded Shimura Aki as a long-term “investment target”, then it seemed only natural to appropriately maintain his “image”?
In this way, the relationship between Shimura Aki and Tsunade continued to develop in an extremely delicate and complicated state.
It is no longer simply blackmail and being blackmailed, nor is it pure disgust and exploitation, but a mixture of teacher-student relationship (forced), mutual testing, and a hint of strange “bond” that even they themselves cannot explain?
Of course, Shimura Aki’s recent series of “active” performances could not completely hide from the eyes of the real helmsman of Konoha Village, the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Although Hiruzen focused most of his energy on dealing with various affairs inside and outside the village, he always kept a close eye on the dynamics of important people in the village and their families.
Especially for his old teammate and “rival” Shimura Danzo, and Danzo’s only son Shimura Akira, he naturally would not ignore it.
News about Shimura Aki began to reach his ears piecemeal through various channels.
During one of her work reports, Koharu Utatane mentioned “in passing” that Danzo’s son was very careful when examining teaching aids, unlike an ordinary child.
When discussing the affairs of the Ninja School, Mizuto Kado En also “inadvertently” mentioned that he heard that Tsunade seemed to be getting very close to a boy from the Shimura family recently, and they often appeared together in the training ground, and no one knew what they were doing.
Even his own son Asuma Sarutobi (if he had been born, or other children of the Sarutobi family) might have mentioned in casual conversation that he had seen Shimura Aki and the Sannin together at school or on the training ground.
These seemingly insignificant pieces of information may not seem like much when viewed alone.
But when they come together here, Sarutobi Hiruzen, the experienced Hokage, an unusual outline is drawn.
Shimura Danzo’s son… Shimura Aki…
Hiruzen was not impressed with this child.
All I remember is that he was a little guy who looked a little taciturn and inconspicuous. He seemed to be in poor health and had suffered a serious illness some time ago.
How come after recovering from the illness, he suddenly became so… “active”?
Not only can she win the attention of the arrogant Tsunade and often give her “guidance” (of course he doesn’t believe it is just simple guidance), but she can also leave a comment of “meticulous mind” from Utane Koharu?
This is not something a normal eight-year-old would do.
Could it be… that Danzo was the one instigating and arranging this behind the scenes?
Hiruzen subconsciously thought of this possibility.
Based on his understanding of Danzo, that guy would do anything to achieve his goals.
Using his son to get close to Tsunade or to please Koharu in order to achieve certain political goals is completely in line with Danzo’s style.
But… Hiruzen felt that things were not entirely like that.
According to the preliminary observation report of the Anbu, the child’s strength has indeed increased rapidly recently, and it seems that… he has displayed certain characteristics that are different from Danzo’s pure viciousness?
A trait that is… more reserved, better at disguising, and more… elusive?
Sarutobi Hiruzen leaned back in the chair in the Hokage’s office, puffing on his beloved pipe, his brows slightly furrowed, his eyes gleaming with thought.
Chapter 40 Aki Shimura (old version)
Shimura Aki… this little guy who he had ignored in the past, seemed… to be becoming a little interesting?
Perhaps… I should find an opportunity to “get in touch” with this child in person? To see if he has really been “reborn”, or if he is… just another pawn hidden in the shadows, carefully cultivated by Danzo?
A wisp of light smoke slowly came out of Sarutobi Hiruzen’s mouth, lingering on his face full of wisdom and vicissitudes, making it impossible to see his true thoughts at the moment.
The undercurrent of Konoha Village seems to have become more turbulent and…unpredictable because of the arrival of a soul from another world.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat behind the large Hokage desk, looking through the window at the Hokage Rock standing in the distance.
The sunlight fell on the stone statues of the first and second generations, and also illuminated his own face, which looked a little young but was already marked by the traces of time and the burden of responsibility.
His fingers tapped lightly on the table, his eyes were deep, but his thoughts drifted to a corner of the village – the Shimura mansion.
Shimura Danzo… this name can always easily stir up his peaceful heart.
They were once teammates who fought side by side, grew up together under the guidance of the second-generation teacher Tobirama, and shed sweat and blood for the establishment and protection of Konoha.
But as time went by, differences in ideas and different views on power and the future made them grow farther and farther apart, and even… stood on opposite sides.
Hiruzen knew Danzo’s ambition.
He craves power and desires to “protect” Konoha in his own tough and even cruel way.
To this end, he spared no expense to secretly cultivate his own power – an organization called “Root”, which was like a poisonous vine rooted in the darkness, constantly absorbing nutrients and trying to entangle the entire Konoha.
Hiruzen was not completely unaware of Danzo’s little tricks.
Even at times, for the sake of the “stability” of the village (or, to maintain the balance of power), he chose a certain degree of acquiescence and connivance.
But this does not mean that he completely trusts Danzo, nor does it mean that he will let Danzo do whatever he wants.
He always remained highly vigilant against Danzo.
And this vigilance naturally extended to the person closest to Danzo – his only son, Shimura Akira.
In Hiruzen’s impression, Shimura Aki has always been an insignificant existence.
He is silent, introverted, and physically weak, and does not seem to have inherited Danzo’s ruthlessness and ambition.
Hiruzen even thought at one point that this child might become Danzo’s only “weakness” in his life, or… an ordinary person who was destined to be unable to carry his father’s ambitions.
Therefore, he had not paid too much attention to Shimura Aki before.
However, the recent news has forced Hiruzen to re-examine this child.
Tsunade… the girl who inherited the cells and super strength of the first generation, and whose character was so arrogant that even he, the Hokage, dared to contradict her, would actually “condescend” to guide a kid from the Shimura family? This itself was weird.
Hiruzen knew Tsunade’s personality and knew she was not the type to be moved by a few compliments or so-called “sincerity”.
There must be deeper reasons behind this.
Shimura Aki, what method did you use?
And Koharu… that meticulous and discerning old partner actually praised Shimura Aki for being “detailed” and “good at observation”? This surprised Hiruzen even more.
Koharu’s praise is more valuable than Tsunade’s “guidance”.
This shows that Shimura Aki has indeed demonstrated his extraordinary qualities in certain aspects.
Could it be that… this child has really been reborn? That serious illness not only did not break him down, but instead made him… wiser?
Or… was all of this just a carefully planned play by Danzo? Was Danzo behind the scenes, using his own son as a pawn to get close to Tsunade, to influence Koharu, and to try to expand his influence among the top brass?
Hiruzen preferred the latter.
Based on his understanding of Danzo, this possibility is very high.
But no matter what the truth is, the child Shimura Aki is no longer someone who can be ignored.
He had entered Hiruzen’s sight and became a target that needed to be “slightly paid attention to”.
Hiruzen needed to figure out what the future held for this child.
Will he completely inherit Danzo’s dark will and become the next generation core of “Root”? Or… are there other possibilities? What special expectations does Danzo place on him?
These issues are all related to Konoha’s future stability and the balance of power.
As the Hokage, Hiruzen must take all potential risks into consideration.
He picked up the pipe on the table, lit the tobacco skillfully, took a deep puff, and exhaled wisps of white smoke.
In the smoke, his eyes became deeper and more complex.
Observation must begin.
But it cannot be too obvious, so as not to alarm Danzo, the old fox with a keen sense of smell.
Sarutobi Hiruzen did not choose to summon Shimura Aki directly.
Doing so would be too deliberate and would easily arouse Danzo’s vigilance, and he might not be able to see the true side of this child.
He chose a more covert method that was more in line with his status as Hokage – using the Anbu.
He secretly summoned a confidant among the dark team captains who was best at intelligence gathering and undercover reconnaissance.
“Go, keep an eye on Shimura Danzo’s son, Shimura Aki.”
Hiruzen’s voice was calm, without any emotion. “I need to know his recent detailed movements, daily training content, who he came into contact with, what he said, and what he did.”
“There is only one request,” Hiruzen added, his tone a little more serious, “Don’t alert anyone, especially Danzo.
I just want to…get to know this kid a little better.
Do you understand? “
“Yes, Lord Hokage!” The Anbu captain knelt on one knee and accepted the order respectfully. Then his figure flashed and disappeared into the shadows like a ghost.
Thus, an invisible observation network set up by the Hokage himself began to quietly cover Shimura Aki.
Of course, the density and strength of this network are controlled at a very delicate level.
The purpose is simply observation and information gathering, not close surveillance.
Hiruzen didn’t want to irritate Danzo too soon, nor did he want to overstress the possibly ‘growing’ child.
The Anbu ninjas, like the most experienced hunters, lurked silently in every corner where Shimura Akira might appear.
They recorded the high-intensity training that Shimura Aki conducted every day in the backyard of the Shimura mansion, and recorded how the Root ninja code-named “Owl” cruelly trained him.
Chapter 41 Personality Traits (Old Version)
They observed that Shimura Aki regularly went to the Senju family’s training ground to receive “guidance” from Tsunade, and recorded the interaction between the two that was both awkward and seemed to have a tacit understanding.
They also noticed that Shimura Aki would occasionally appear in various places in the village, sometimes going to the library to look up information, sometimes going to the herbal medicine store to buy herbs, and sometimes just wandering around the street like an ordinary child (of course, Shimura Aoi was always by his side).
The information collected by the Anbu continued to flow onto Sarutobi Hiruzen’s desk.
Hiruzen flipped through the reports carefully, his brows sometimes relaxed and sometimes furrowed.
The report shows that Shimura Aki’s strength improvement speed is indeed astonishingly fast.
Whether it’s the amount of chakra, the proficiency in the Three Body Technique, or the physical and fighting skills he has recently demonstrated, they are all far beyond the level of an eight-year-old child.
Especially in the area of ​​medical ninjutsu, even Tsunade, that arrogant girl, seemed to look at him differently. This was definitely not something that could be achieved by just “guidance”.
A gifted person? Or…Danzo used some special means? For example…human body modification? Or transplanted something? Hiruzen couldn’t help but think of the unclear connection between Danzo and the defected disciple Orochimaru, and a trace of haze flashed through his heart.
In addition to his strength, the report also describes some of Shimura Aki’s personality traits.
He still looks taciturn, but when interacting with others, he shows maturity and… scheming that is inconsistent with his age.
He seems to be very good at observing people’s hearts and minds, and knows how to use words and actions to achieve his goals.
He showed this trait to Tsunade, Utane Koharu, and even to the lowly servants.
This made Hiruzen more inclined to believe that Danzo was behind Shimura Aki’s actions.
This kind of precocious scheming seemed to be deliberately cultivated by Danzo.
However, the report also mentioned something that confused Hiruzen.
For example, Shimura Aki seems to have shown a strong interest and enthusiasm in medical ninjutsu itself, rather than just using it as a tool.
His concentration and dedication in learning medical knowledge did not seem to be fake.
Moreover, the Anbu observed that when Shimura Aki was with Tsunade, although he was very purposeful, it seemed that… he was not completely without a bottom line? He did not use the possible “handle” (guessed by the Anbu) to ask for too much, but controlled his demands within a relatively “reasonable” range, such as ninjutsu guidance and some limited resource allocation.
This doesn’t seem like something a “tool” who has been completely brainwashed by Danzo and only knows how to use any means to achieve his goals would do.
Is this child… black or white? Is he a chess piece or… a rising variable with self-awareness?
Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn’t see through it completely for a moment.
But he already had a preliminary assessment in his mind: Shimura Aki was no ordinary person.
Regardless of whether there is the shadow of Danzo behind him, the potential he has shown is worthy of vigilance.
Hiruzen decided to continue observing.
He needed more time and more information to judge the true face of this child and the impact he might have on Konoha in the future.
He quietly upgraded Shimura Aki’s name from the list of “needing a little attention” to the level of “needing continued attention”.
Chapter 42: Solid Evidence (Old Version)
While Konoha’s highest authority was secretly evaluating himself, Shimura Aki was completely unaware of it all.
He still carried out his plan step by step.
His strength is steadily improving, his relationship with Tsunade is subtly “consolidated”, he has also gained some presence in the eyes of Elder Koharu, and even his weight in the heart of his father Danzo has increased.
Everything seems to be moving in the right direction.
But Shimura Aki did not become satisfied or relax because of this.
He knew that this was just the beginning.
If he wants to gain a real foothold in this world and escape the fate of being a chess piece, he needs more powerful strength, more trump cards, and… more breaking news points!
The system mall has been unlocked, and the dazzling array of goods inside (although most of them are in gray and unlocked state) makes him envious.
Ninjutsu scrolls, blood limit transplantation techniques, various magical props, and even options to improve talents and lifespan! But all of this requires a huge amount of explosive points to redeem!
And now, he is still a poor zero!
Tsunade’s blue C+ grade black material, as a novice mission reward, did not bring him any breaking news points.
He must find new, high-quality black material as soon as possible to complete his “original accumulation”!
At this moment, the whistleblower system, which had been silent for a while, assigned him a new task again.
[Ding! It has been detected that the host has the initial ability to act independently and has a basic understanding of the internal operations of Konoha Village.
System task released! 】
[Mission name: First test – expose a small-scale abuse of resources in Konoha Village]【Task Description: There are shadows beneath the light.
Even in Konoha, a village founded on the “Will of Fire”, corruption and infestation are inevitable.
Please use your wisdom and courage to successfully expose a resource abuse incident that occurred within Konoha Village and whose level is no lower than ‘White C’ while ensuring your own safety.
There is no limit to the type of incident, it can be embezzlement of public materials, misappropriation of training funds, cutting corners on engineering projects, etc.
[Task requirements: It is necessary to provide solid evidence and make the matter public or report it to relevant departments through some “reasonable” means, so that the abuser will eventually be punished accordingly.
【Quest Reward: Skill ‘Breath Concealment (Mastery)’.
[Failure penalty: There is no direct penalty, but it will affect the system’s comprehensive assessment of the host’s capabilities.
New system tasks!
Shimura Aki read the mission content carefully, his eyes narrowed slightly.
Exposing a small-scale resource abuse within Konoha Village?
This task requirement does not sound too high.
The target level only needs to reach white C level, which is much lower than Tsunade’s blue C+ black material.
Moreover, the punishment only affects the assessment, without any substantial loss.
However, the mission reward is extremely tempting – Breath Concealing Technique (Mastery)!
The Breath Concealing Technique! This is one of the core skills of a ninja for stealth, reconnaissance, assassination, and hiding one’s own strength! Ordinary Breath Concealing Techniques can only simply converge chakra fluctuations, but the mastery of Breath Concealing Techniques can probably make one’s breath, heartbeat, and even body temperature perfectly blend into the environment, achieving an effect that is almost “disappearing”!
For Shimura Aki, this was like a perfect match! Whether it was to carry out the “Root” mission in the future, to do something secretly, or to save his life at a critical moment, mastering the level of Breath Concealment would play a vital role!
He is determined to win this reward!
Moreover, this mission itself seems to hide some other “opportunities”.
Exposing corruption…it’s not just about completing system tasks and getting rewards.
If done right, it might even be possible…
1. Fight against dissidents? If the corrupt person happens to be from the faction of my father’s political enemy, then exposing him myself would be like helping my father to remove obstacles.
Second, gain connections? If I hand the evidence to a person in the supervision department who is honest but lacks background, maybe I can use this opportunity to establish a connection with him?
3. Improve your reputation? If you expose this matter in a way that “does not fear power and speaks for the people” (of course you have to disguise yourself well), maybe you can gain some positive reputation in the village? (This is a relatively risky move, so be careful.)
Several thoughts flashed through Shimura Aki’s mind in an instant.
This task seems simple, but it has a lot of room for operation.
The key lies in how to choose the target, how to collect evidence, and…how to submit the evidence “reasonably”.
You have to complete the task and get the reward, but you also have to try your best to gain other benefits for yourself. At the same time, you must not expose yourself (especially with the existence of the whistleblower system), let alone bring trouble upon yourself.
This requires careful planning.
Where to start?
Shimura Aki began to sort out the information channels he currently had.
First, there are those fringe intelligence snippets from “The Root.”
Although it has been screened, it occasionally reveals some clues about the internal operations of the village, especially information related to material allocation, project construction, etc.
Secondly, it’s Tsunade.
Although she couldn’t ask directly, Tsunade, as the eldest daughter of the Senju clan and the future head of the medical department (a potential stock), must know more about the inside story of the village’s logistics and medical system than ordinary people.
Perhaps you can try to find out some relevant information indirectly when “asking questions”.
Then, there was Kenta, the servant of the Sarutobi family, whom he had already taken preliminary control of.
Although he has a low status, he works for the Hokage family after all. He may know some gossip about logistics procurement or engineering projects through the influence of the environment?
Finally, there are some scattered information he obtained through his own observation and systematic scanning (although limited in scope).
He focused his attention on those departments that controlled the “oil and water”.
Logistics Department: Responsible for the purchase, storage and distribution of daily supplies for the village, there are bound to be tricks involved.
Engineering Department: Responsible for the construction and maintenance of various buildings in the village, such as training grounds, ninja dormitories, fortifications, etc. The project costs are huge, and it is also a hard-hit area for corruption.
Equipment Department: Responsible for the distribution and maintenance of ninja weapons and equipment. There is a high possibility of passing off inferior goods as good ones and falsely reporting losses.
Medical Department: Although it is relatively better, the procurement of medicines and medical equipment may not be completely clean.
After careful investigation and information comparison, a potential target gradually emerged in Shimura Aki’s mind.
The village is currently in the process of renovating and repairing several old public training grounds.
The budget for this project is not particularly huge, but it is not small either.
The person in charge of the specific project implementation and supervision is a Chunin manager named “Kuroda”.
According to some vague descriptions that Shimura Aki saw in several intelligence summaries of “Root” (routine reports on the progress of recent infrastructure projects in the village), and gossips such as “Butler Kuroda seems to be frequenting high-end bars recently and spending lavishly” heard from Kenta, combined with the feedback from the system after a long-distance fuzzy scan of Kuroda that “the target’s recent financial fortune is unusually strong, and he has close contacts with several building materials merchants”…
Shimura Aki is 70% to 80% sure that this manager Kuroda is very likely to have embezzled money from the training ground renovation project!
For example, when purchasing building materials, they would use inferior quality wood instead of high-quality hardwood; or they would falsify the amount of work done, counting areas that only needed repairs as reconstruction; they might even withhold the wages of the Genin or civilian craftsmen who were responsible for the specific construction!
Although the amount of money involved in each of these actions may not be large, when accumulated, they are enough to constitute “resource abuse” and harm the interests of the village.
Moreover, Kuroda is only a Chunin manager with a low status and seemingly shallow background. Targeting him would be relatively less risky and more likely to succeed.
The target is this Kuroda!
Once the target is determined, the next step is to collect solid evidence.
Rumors and speculations are useless, and the system mission clearly requires “providing conclusive evidence.”
Shimura Aki knew that this required him to take action personally.
He began to use the night time to sneak out of the Shimura mansion.
Thanks to Xiao’s rigorous training and the system’s occasional suggestions for optimizing stealth skills, his stealth ability is now much better than before.
It was not difficult for him to avoid the guards of the Shimura family.
He first sneaked into the temporary office responsible for the training ground renovation project.
The office was very simple, just a makeshift wooden hut.
He carefully pried open the window and sneaked in as quietly as a civet cat.
There are some drawings and documents piled up in the office.
Shimura Aki searched carefully, hoping to find some evidence of unclear accounts or falsified material lists.
He also tried to use the system to scan the office.
[Ding! A hidden file has been scanned and is located in the secret compartment on the floor.
Initial analysis suggests it could be a case of falsified accounting or bribery.
Shimura Aki was delighted and immediately followed the system’s instructions to find the extremely hidden secret compartment in the floor and took out a booklet from it.
Sure enough, the booklet contained some figures that did not match the official accounts, as well as some suspicious financial transaction records between material suppliers!
Success! This is the key evidence!
In addition to the office, Shimura Aki also ventured into Kuroda’s temporary residence (a simple dormitory next to the construction site).
Under Kuroda’s bed, he found several samples of what were obviously inferior wood with some special markings on them. They seemed to be “samples” prepared to be used to replace engineering materials.
He also secretly followed Kuroda several times.
It turned out that this guy was indeed not honest. He often sneaked out at night and drank in a remote tavern with a few guys who didn’t look like serious businessmen. During that time, he also secretly delivered bulging envelopes several times.
Shimura Aki used transformation and stealth techniques to record the time, place and characteristics of these encounters from a distance.
Chapter 43 Opportunity (Old Version)
After several days of secret investigation and evidence collection, Shimura Aki has a relatively complete chain of evidence in his hands.
These included falsified accounting records, samples of inferior materials, and eyewitness testimony (although his own, the clues could be provided anonymously) of Kuroda’s private contacts with suspicious businessmen.
Although these evidences may not be able to completely convict Kuroda (more professional audits and investigations are still needed), they are enough to prove that he was seriously corrupt in the training ground renovation project. At the very least, it is enough to get him fired from his job, or even thrown in jail!
The evidence required for the mission is basically complete.
Now, what lies before Shimura Aki is the last and most critical question:
How to submit this evidence “reasonably”?
Hand it over directly to his father Danzo? This is the simplest way, and the one that best meets Danzo’s expectations.
But by doing so, he would become a tool in Danzo’s hands to eliminate dissidents, and would not be able to obtain all the rewards of the system tasks (the system requires that they be made public or reported to the relevant departments so that the abusers will be punished).
Report anonymously to the Hokage or the Supervisory Department? The risk is too great and it is easy to expose yourself.
Moreover, given the possible mutual protection among Konoha’s high-ranking officials, anonymous reporting may not be effective.
Hand it over to a ninja who looks upright but lacks background? For example, a passionate but unsuccessful Chunin? Maybe it can win people’s hearts, but the effect is difficult to guarantee.
Or… use Tsunade? “Accidentally” reveal the evidence to her, and let the “righteous” Princess Senju come forward to expose it? This seems to be a good choice, which can not only complete the task, but also further deepen the “cooperation” relationship with Tsunade, and push the trouble to her.
There was a calculating gleam in Shimura Akira’s eyes.
He needs to choose a method that is most beneficial to him, has the least risk, and ensures the completion of the task.
An “anti-corruption storm” surrounding a small Chunin manager is quietly brewing under his planning.
Shimura Aki held in his hand the evidence that would bring disgrace upon the Chunin Kuroda, and in his mind he repeatedly weighed the best way to deal with the situation.
Hand it over directly to father Danzo? No.
Although that would allow him to see results the fastest and take credit in front of his father, the system task requires him to “make the matter public or report it to relevant departments” and that the abuser must be “punished accordingly.”
If we hand it over to Danzo, given his style of doing things, he will most likely just use Kuroda as a pawn, or simply deal with him secretly. There may not be a public trial, and the mission reward may be discounted or even impossible to complete.
Moreover, he would completely become a tool for Danzo to eliminate dissidents, which was not what he wanted.
Report anonymously to the Hokage or the Supervisory Department? Too risky.
Konoha’s supervisory system is not completely independent, and the top leaders are deeply connected. Anonymous letters are likely to fall on deaf ears or be suppressed by certain people.
Moreover, once one’s handwriting or reporting method is tracked by someone with ulterior motives, the risk of being exposed is extremely high.
Hand it over to some upright Chunin? Even less reliable.
As a person with little influence, your report may fail and you may end up getting yourself into trouble.
Using Tsunade? That’s a good choice.
With Tsunade’s hatred of evil and inability to tolerate any grain of sand in her eyes, she would definitely make a big fuss once she knew about this.
Moreover, she has a noble status and can have a great influence if she makes a fuss.
But the question is, how to hand over the evidence to her “naturally”? Moreover, after taking advantage of Tsunade recently, if I push this troublesome matter onto her, will she feel that I am pushing her too far and turn against me completely?
After much thought, Shimura Aki’s gaze finally fell on another person – Utane Koharu.
Although this Hokage advisor tends to be conservative and shrewd in her style of doing things, according to Shimura Aki’s observations and indirect understanding, she seems to be relatively firm in her bottom line on matters of principle, especially when it comes to maintaining the rules and interests of Konoha Village.
Moreover, last time I took advantage of her “cleanliness obsession” to win her favor, leaving her with the impression that I was “detailed and observant”.
The most important thing is Utane Koharu’s almost paranoid cleanliness!
Shimura Aki was keenly aware that this extreme disgust for “stains” on the physical level might also extend to the rejection of the system, rules, and “stain” behavior within the village on the psychological level! How could a person who couldn’t even tolerate dust in the air tolerate someone eroding the body of Konoha like a termite under his nose?
Especially now that Konoha has just experienced the First Ninja World War, everything is in ruins and resources are tight, and every bit of supplies is hard-earned.
Engaging in corruption and enriching oneself at this time is probably not just embezzlement, but also a betrayal of the entire Konoha in the eyes of Elder Koharu, who values ​​order and rules!
Using Elder Koharu’s “cleanliness obsession” and her relatively upright stance to expose Kuroda’s corruption seems to be a low-risk, high-success rate, and multiple-purpose option!
Not only can he complete the system task and obtain the reward of “Breath Concealment Technique (Mastery)”, but he can also further improve his “positive image” in front of Elder Xiaochun and deepen her impression of his “carefulness and integrity”. He can also push the trouble to this senior consultant to deal with, avoiding being directly exposed to the storm.
Perfect!
The core of the plan is how to convey information and evidence to Utane Koharu “naturally” and “cleverly”, making her believe that she discovered it “accidentally” and is willing to take action to deal with it.
Shimura Aki began to wait patiently for the right opportunity.
He needed a public but relatively inconspicuous occasion where he could “accidentally meet” Utatane Koharu and have a brief “private” conversation.
The opportunity will come soon.
A few days later, Konoha Village held a small memorial ceremony for a group of ninjas who died in the previous war.
The ceremony was held in front of the memorial tablet in a solemn atmosphere.
As high-ranking officials of Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Mito Kado En, Utane Koharu and Shimura Danzo all attended the ceremony.
As Danzo’s son, Shimura Aki was also asked to participate.
He was wearing a fitted black suit, following behind his father, with a solemn expression and just the right amount of sadness in his eyes (of course, fake).
After the memorial service, the crowd gradually dispersed.
As per custom, several senior executives will hold a brief informal meeting in a small tea room nearby to discuss some follow-up compensation issues.
Shimura Aki knew that this was a great opportunity.
Chapter 44: Rolling Down (Old Version)
He did not leave with his father immediately, but deliberately slowed down his pace and stayed for a while in front of the memorial tablet, pretending to pay tribute to the martyrs.
At the same time, he kept keeping an eye on Koharu Utane’s movements from the corner of his eye.
Sure enough, Elder Xiaochun did not go to the tea room immediately with the others. Instead, he paced slowly alone on a secluded path near the memorial tablet, seemingly thinking about something, or perhaps just wanting to be alone and quiet.
Her followers followed from a distance and did not come forward to disturb her.
Shimura Aki took a deep breath and adjusted his facial expression, trying to make himself look like a child who felt a little depressed and confused because of the solemn ceremony just now.
He took small steps and “accidentally” walked in the direction of Koharu Utane.
“Elder Xiaochun.”
He walked to a place a few steps away from Elder Xiaochun and stopped, bowing slightly. His voice was low and a little timid.
Utane Koharu came back to her senses from her thoughts and when she saw it was Shimura Aki, she raised her eyebrows slightly, as if she was somewhat surprised to see him here.
She had some impression of the child who had helped her out in the warehouse last time.
“Hmm? It’s the boy from the Shimura family.”
Her voice was still dull, but compared to other people, it seemed less cold and indifferent.
“The ceremony is over, why are you still here?”
Shimura Aki raised his head, his little face showing a bit of worry and confusion that was inconsistent with his age, and his eyes were a little dim.
“I… I saw the names of those ninjas who sacrificed just now, and I felt… a little sad.”
He lowered his head and said in a muffled voice, “They all sacrificed themselves to protect the village…but…”
He deliberately paused here, pretending to be hesitant to say something, and successfully aroused a hint of curiosity in Koharu Utane.
“But what?” Xiaochun asked.
Shimura Aki raised his head, his eyes full of childish innocence and confusion. He moved closer and lowered his voice, as if he was sharing a big secret: “Elder Xiaochun, I… I heard some… some not-so-good rumors in the village recently… I don’t know whether I should tell you…”
His expression was full of confusion and hesitation, perfectly portraying the image of an upright child who discovered something “bad” but didn’t know what to do and was struggling inside.
When Utane Koharu saw him like this, she felt a slight movement in her heart.
Bad rumors? About what? Could it be… about the inside of the village?
She asked calmly, “Oh? What’s that rumor? Tell me about it.”
She wanted to see what this thoughtful little guy had discovered.
Shimura Aki bit his lip, and seemed to have made up his mind, before he began his “confession” in an extremely tactful and vague way.
“It’s… it’s about the training grounds that are being renovated on the east side of the village…” He lowered his voice, “I… I passed by there a few days ago, and saw the newly replaced wooden stakes. They seemed… they seemed not very strong. Several of them were cracked… I heard… I also heard a few uncles in charge of the work nearby secretly complaining, saying… that the wood used for them was not good, and they also said… they also said that the food was very bad, and the wages… seemed to have decreased…”
He did not directly accuse Kuroda of corruption, nor did he mention any specific evidence. He simply objectively described what he “saw” and “heard” from a child’s perspective.
These phenomena themselves are enough to arouse suspicion.
“And…” He added, with a look of deep worry on his face, “Those training grounds are for us ninjas. If the wooden stakes are not strong, what if they break during training and someone gets hurt? Those uncles who sacrificed their lives protected the village. We… shouldn’t we build the village better and safer?”
These words are full of a childlike sense of justice, and they also point out the seriousness of the problem just right – the potential safety hazards that may be caused by engineering quality problems, and the “betrayal” of the victims.
This will undoubtedly touch the nerves of people like Koharu Utane who pay attention to rules and collective interests.
Utane Koharu listened quietly, her brows gradually furrowed.
Training ground renovation project? Poor wood quality? Withholding of wages?
The combination of these words immediately made her alert.
Although she was not in charge of specific engineering projects, as the Hokage’s advisor, she had some understanding of various affairs within the village.
She knew that there was indeed such a project going on recently.
If what this child said is true…then the nature of it is quite bad!
Her sharp eyes fell on Shimura Aki again, as if trying to judge the truthfulness of his words.
But this child had clear eyes, a sincere expression, and a tone full of worry and confusion. It didn’t look like… he was lying or gossiping at all.
It’s more like… a kind-hearted child who accidentally discovered a problem but didn’t know what to do, and whose heart was full of confusion and sense of justice.
At this moment, Shimura Aki subconsciously began to play with a small pocket on the corner of his clothes, as if because of nervousness and not knowing what to do.
Suddenly, with a light cry of “Ouch!”, a small object wrapped in oil paper, which looked like some kind of document or note, slipped out of his pocket, “accidentally” fell to the ground, and rolled not far from Koharu Utane’s feet.
Shimura Aki immediately showed a panic expression on his face and hurriedly bent down to pick it up, but his movements seemed a little clumsy and he failed to pick it up after several attempts.
“This…this is…some things I just wrote down…” His cheeks turned slightly red and he looked a little embarrassed, as if some little secret of his had been discovered.
Utane Koharu’s gaze naturally fell on the oil paper bag that fell to the ground.
With her eyesight, even though she was several steps away, she could vaguely see that the oil paper package did not seem to be sealed tightly, and a corner of paper was exposed inside. There seemed to be some numbers and words written on it, as well as some… things that looked like simple maps or markings?
Thinking back to what Shimura Aki said about the “concern” about the training ground…
The intuition of an experienced politician and intelligence worker made Koharu Utane immediately realize that the thing that was “accidentally” dropped was probably… not simple.
She didn’t say anything, but just watched quietly as Shimura Aki was “flustered” picking up things.
After a few “efforts”, Shimura Aki finally picked up the oil-paper bag, but perhaps because he was too nervous, when he was about to put it back into his pocket, his fingers slipped and the oil-paper bag fell again! And this time, it fell closer to Elder Xiaochun, and a few pages of the paper inside were scattered because of the fall!
Now, even if Elder Xiaochun didn’t want to look, he could clearly see some shocking contents written on the several pages of paper scattered on the ground!
——“Inferior quality wood sample number and characteristic description…”
——”Falsely reporting the comparative data of engineering quantities…”
——”The time and place records of the private contact between the material supplier ‘Yamada Building Materials’ and Kuroda…”
——”Index of key pages of suspected forged accounts…”
Chapter 45 Tsunade’s “Teaching Achievements” Display (Old Version)
Although the content is incomplete and many of the content are just keywords and clues, it is enough to make people understand that this is an anonymous report pointing out that Kuroda, the person in charge of the training ground renovation project, has serious corruption problems!
Shimura Aki showed a panicked expression on his face. He quickly squatted down and hurriedly picked up the scattered papers, muttering: “Oh no… How did it fall out…”
His performance was perfect.
The image of an upright child who accidentally discovers a shocking secret, secretly records it, but doesn’t know what to do with it, and finally accidentally exposes it under nervousness, comes to life on the paper.
Utane Koharu stood there, watching all this with a cold gaze.
She did not pick up the papers immediately, nor did she try to stop Shimura Aki.
There was already a storm in her heart!
This kid… he didn’t just hear rumors! He actually had evidence! And judging by the level of detail in the material, it definitely wasn’t accomplished overnight!
When did he start investigating? How did he get the evidence? Was there someone behind him? Was it Danzo?
Countless thoughts flashed through Elder Xiaochun’s mind in an instant.
But soon, she suppressed these doubts temporarily.
The most important thing now is not to investigate how the child obtained these evidences, but the issues that these evidences themselves point to!
There are actually people in the village who dare to embezzle so blatantly during the critical period of post-war reconstruction! Cutting corners! This is simply digging at the foundation of Konoha! It is blaspheming the heroic spirits who sacrificed for the village!
An uncontrollable rage, mixed with her instinctive disgust towards the “stain”, instantly surged into her heart!
Her eyes became complicated as she looked at Shimura Aki, who was still busy collecting papers, his face full of “fear” and “helplessness”.
This kid… maybe… he just discovered the problem by chance? And then, with his extraordinary attentiveness and… some unknown means, he collected these evidences? And he chose to “accidentally” expose these things to me at this time, because… he trusted me? Or, he felt that only I could handle this matter?
Whatever the truth is, this kid…did a good job.
At least, he did not choose to remain silent, but exposed this “stain” in his own way.
Utane Koharu took a deep breath and suppressed the anger and speculations in her heart.
She did not touch the papers scattered on the ground (her mysophobia would not allow that), but waved to her followers in the distance.
The attendant immediately stepped forward quickly.
“Put these things away.”
Koharu ordered in a tone that left no room for doubt.
“Yes, Elder Xiaochun.”
The attendant responded respectfully, then carefully collected the scattered papers, along with the oil paper bag, and handed them to Elder Xiaochun.
Elder Xiaochun did not take it immediately, but signaled his followers to take it first.
Then, she turned her gaze back to Shimura Aki, who was still squatting on the ground, looking up at her timidly.
Her face was still cold, but the anger in her eyes had subsided a lot, replaced by a kind of scrutiny and… a hint of imperceptible solemnity.
She did not ask Shimura Aki where the materials came from, nor did she ask him why he was investigating these things.
She just said in a calm but majestic tone: “That’s all for today.
What you heard, saw, and… all these things, should all rot in your stomach, and you are not allowed to mention them to anyone, including your father.
“Ming…I understand, Elder Xiaochun.”
Shimura Aki nodded quickly, with an expression of “as if pardoned” on his face, as if he was fortunate that the elder did not pursue his behavior of “peeking and taking notes”.
Elder Xiaochun nodded slightly and said, “You go back first.
I will take care of this matter.”
There was an unquestionable determination in her tone.
“Yes! Thank you, Elder Koharu!” Shimura Aki bowed again as if he had been pardoned, then turned around and left the secluded path as quickly as if he was running away.
Looking at Shimura Aki’s slightly panicked back as she left, Utane Koharu’s eyes became even deeper.
She did not leave immediately, but signaled her followers to open the oil paper bag and carefully spread out the ingredients inside.
She stood there, looking down at the book, and read carefully, page by page.
The more she looked, the gloomier her expression became and the colder her eyes became.
Although the materials were incomplete and there were only clues in many places, the information revealed was enough for her to confirm that the Chunin manager named Kuroda was indeed guilty of serious dereliction of duty and corruption! He passed off inferior products as good ones, falsely reported the amount of work, and withheld workers’ wages… Every one of them touched her bottom line!
“Humph! You are so brave!” She snorted coldly, with a fierce look in her eyes, “How dare you do these dirty things under my nose! Do you really think no one can do anything to you?!”
Her almost paranoid cleanliness had now completely transformed into a strong hatred and desire to eliminate this “institutional stain”!
She carefully (signaling to her attendant) put all the materials away again, then turned around and walked quickly in the direction of the Hokage’s office.
She didn’t even go to the small tea room again for informal talks with other senior executives.
Now, nothing is more important than eliminating this “cancer” within the village!
Shimura Aki knew that his goal had been achieved.
Given Utane Koharu’s personality and her high-ranking position, she would definitely not sit idly by and watch this matter.
Next, just wait patiently for the results.
He believed that the fate of the unlucky Kuroda was already determined.
And the rewards for your system tasks will soon be in your hands.
More importantly, he successfully deepened the impression of himself in Koharu Utane’s mind as “a thoughtful, observant, honest and reliable (although disguised)”.
This subtle “favorability” is accumulating bit by bit.
Just as Shimura Aki had expected, Utane Koharu’s actions were swift and decisive.
She did not make a big deal out of the matter immediately. Instead, she used her power and connections to secretly dispatch several absolutely reliable subordinates to conduct an extremely secret and in-depth investigation into the training ground renovation project and its person in charge, Kuroda.
Chapter 46: Danzo’s Further Resource Diversion (Old Version)
She needs to get more solid and irrefutable evidence to make this matter a complete ironclad case and not leave any chance for anyone (including possible behind-the-scenes protectors) to turn the tables.
The investigation process went very smoothly.
Thanks to the key clues “provided” by Shimura Aki, the investigators were able to follow the clues and quickly dug up all the evidence of Kuroda’s corruption.
Falsified accounts, records of inferior materials entering the warehouse, secret agreements with suppliers, testimonies from workers who were deducted… all the evidence pointed to one fact: Chunin Kuroda took advantage of his position to enrich himself in the training ground renovation project, seriously damaging the interests of Konoha Village! Although the total amount is not an astronomical figure, in the context of the village’s post-war reconstruction and financial constraints, the nature of this behavior is extremely bad!
When all the evidence was presented to Utane Koharu, this Hokage advisor who was always known for his calmness and shrewdness was so angry that he was shaking all over!
“Vile scoundrels! Scum!” She slammed the table and stood up, her eyes filled with undisguised anger and disgust. “At a time when the village needs unity and to tide over difficulties together, someone actually dared to embezzle public funds so blatantly! Cutting corners! This is simply an insult to all those who have sacrificed for the village! It’s a blasphemy against the Will of Fire!”
She immediately took all the evidence and went straight to the Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen.
“Hurizen! This matter must be dealt with seriously! No leniency!” She threw a thick stack of investigation reports on the Hokage’s desk, her tone firm and full of unquestionable majesty.
Sarutobi Hiruzen picked up the report and read it carefully.
As the content deepened, his expression became more and more solemn.
He had never expected that under his rule, there was actually such a black sheep hidden! Although he was just a small Chunin manager, the problems reflected by his behavior made him feel frightened and angry!
“Xiaochun, you’re right.”
Hiruzen put down the report and said in a heavy tone, “This kind of behavior cannot be tolerated! It must be severely punished to serve as a warning to others!”
He immediately issued an order to set up a special investigation team (mainly for procedural reasons, as the evidence was actually sufficient) to conduct a formal investigation and interrogation of the Chunin Kuroda.
The result is naturally no surprise.
Faced with overwhelming evidence, Kuroda’s psychological defenses completely collapsed and he confessed to his acts of corruption.
The final result was quickly announced: Chunin Kuroda was removed from all positions, stripped of his ninja status, all illegal gains were confiscated, and he was sentenced to serve several years in Konoha Prison.
Several material suppliers who colluded with him were also punished accordingly.
At the same time, Sarutobi Hiruzen took this incident as an opportunity to carry out a small-scale anti-corruption rectification within Konoha, requiring all departments to strengthen self-inspection and self-correction to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
Although the impact of this incident was not too large and was mainly concentrated in the logistics and engineering departments, it also caused quite a stir within Konoha.
Those people who usually behaved in a rather untidy manner have become more restrained, and the atmosphere in the village has also become more refined.
And in the process of handling this matter, the decisive, impartial and righteous attitude displayed by Utane Koharu also greatly enhanced her prestige in the village, especially among ordinary ninjas and villagers.
Of course, the “driving force” behind all this, Shimura Aki, has hidden his merits and fame.
Except for a few people (such as Koharu Utatane herself, and Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo who might have guessed it), no one knew that this small “anti-corruption storm” was actually triggered by a child who was only eight years old.
And Shimura Aki finally heard the system prompt sound as he wished.
[Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully completing the mission: First Test of Strength – Exposing a small-scale resource abuse in Konoha Village! ][Mission completion: Excellent (successfully exposed the target and brought him to severe punishment, which had a certain positive impact on the internal atmosphere of Konoha).
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining the skill ‘Breath Concealment (Mastery)’! ]A series of exquisite methods and techniques on how to perfectly restrain one’s own aura, chakra fluctuations, and even heartbeat and body temperature to minimize one’s own presence instantly flooded into his mind!
A satisfied smile appeared on the corner of Shimura Aki’s mouth.
The news that Chunin Kuroda was dismissed and investigated was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples within Konoha Village, especially in the departments related to logistics and engineering.
People were privately discussing Kuroda’s greed and stupidity, and were also wondering who had such great power to so quickly and thoroughly bring down this seemingly insignificant manager who was said to have some powerful backers.
Of course, no one would associate this incident with an eight-year-old child.
Only a few people have a rough idea of ​​it.
Koharu Utane sat in her office, handling her daily duties.
The sunlight shone through the window onto her well-maintained face, but the lines on her face still looked a little cold and hard.
She seemed to be reviewing documents, but her thoughts occasionally drifted back to the child who “confided” to her in front of the memorial a few days ago.
Shimura Aki…
That child indeed left a very deep impression on her.
It’s not just because of his extraordinary observation skills, which can detect tiny “stains” that even she almost overlooked.
More importantly, it’s the way he handles the problem.
He was not like ordinary children who would either panic or recklessly spread the news when they found out about the problem.
Instead, he chose an extremely “smart” and “measured” approach – to “subtly” confide and hint to her, a senior consultant who was capable of handling the problem and had a relatively upright stance.
He did not make direct accusations or produce solid evidence (although the evidence “accidentally” fell in front of her). Instead, he packaged everything as childish worries and confusions, which not only expressed the problem but also protected himself, and gave her enough space to judge and deal with it.
This kind of mentality and means, appearing in an eight-year-old child, is really… amazing, even a little… scary.
Koharu Utane had to admit that this child was far more complicated than she had initially imagined.
She even began to wonder, was it really a coincidence that he pointed out the “stain” on the model in the warehouse? Or… was it also part of his elaborate plan? Was it to leave a “careful” impression on her and pave the way for this “report”?
This thought made Elder Xiaochun feel a chill.
Chapter 47: Primary Trial of “Root” (Old Version)
If this is true, then this child’s scheming is so deep that it is scary.
However, no matter what, the outcome of this incident was good.
A parasite in the village was cleared out, and the atmosphere was improved to a certain extent.
And this child played a…what could be called a “positive” role in this incident.
He did not choose to cover up or use the information for personal gain (at least not on the surface), but instead reported it to someone who could solve the problem.
From this point of view, this child seems to… still retain some “integrity”?
Utatane Koharu’s evaluation of Shimura Aki has subtly changed again.
In addition to “delicate mind” and “keen observation”, there are also the labels of “acting with discretion” and “seemingly still having integrity”.
She even took the initiative to mention Shimura Aki again during an informal conversation with Danzo (although the two had different political views, they were teammates for decades and would occasionally communicate in private).
“Danzo,” she picked up her special teacup, took a sip, and said in a calm tone, “Your son has been doing well recently.”
When Danzo heard this, a hint of barely perceptible surprise flashed across his eyes.
Old lady Xiaochun actually took the initiative to praise her son? And she even used a relatively positive comment like “good performance”? This was the first time in history.
“Oh?” Danzo asked calmly, “Why do you think so?”
“Hmph,” Utane Koharu put down her teacup, and the corners of her mouth seemed to curl up slightly, “You heard about the corruption case of the training ground renovation project that the village dealt with a few days ago, right?”
Danzo nodded.
Naturally, the news of this internal purge could not be concealed from him.
But he didn’t know the inside story and just thought it was a problem that Hiruzen or Koharu discovered themselves.
“The initial clue of that case was provided by Qiu.”
Utane Koharu said this lightly, as if she was talking about a trivial matter.
“What?!” Danzo was really surprised this time, and even the hand holding the teacup paused slightly.
Qiu? How could he be involved in such a thing?
Utatane Koharu briefly recounted what happened in front of the memorial that day.
Of course, she concealed her speculation about Shimura Akira’s motives, and only objectively described how Shimura Akira “worriedly” reflected the situation and how he “accidentally” dropped those key “clue materials.”
“…That kid is really observant. He also knows how to report the problem to the right person and doesn’t act rashly. He is quite sensible.”
Koharu finally commented, “If you train him well, he might become an excellent ninja in the future and remove more ‘dirt’ for the village.”
Her words were both a compliment to Shimura Aki and a subtle warning to Danzo – I hope your son will be on the “right path” in the future, instead of being like you, doing shady things in secret.
Danzo was so smart that he naturally heard the hidden meaning in Koharu’s words.
But he didn’t care.
What he was more concerned about now was…his son actually did such a thing without his knowledge? And he did it so…beautifully?
Not only did he successfully bring down a corrupt Chunin without exposing himself, but he even won such high praise from old lady Koharu?
A huge wave of emotion rose in Danzo’s heart! He originally thought that his son’s ability to get in touch with Tsunade and occasionally provide some information was already an extraordinary performance.
Who would have thought that he could have dealt with Xiaochun so quietly in such a short time? And he also indirectly facilitated a not-so-small anti-corruption campaign?
This… this is simply… a pleasant surprise!
Although Danzo doesn’t care about the life or death of the Chunin Kuroda, he may even be happy to see some “small problems” in the village so that he can take advantage of the situation.
But the abilities his son demonstrated in this matter—his keen observation, his means of gathering intelligence, and… the “wisdom” that seemed to be able to accurately grasp people’s hearts—made him feel unprecedented satisfaction and… a hint of excitement!
This is his son, Shimura Danzo! This is the one who can inherit his will and even surpass him!
“Well, that kid… has really been working hard lately.”
Danzo suppressed the excitement in his heart and regained his calm expression, but there was a barely perceptible hint of pride in his tone.
“Xiaochun, thank you for taking care of him.”
He even said something close to “thank you” to Utane Koharu for the first time.
Utane Koharu glanced at him and said nothing more. She picked up the teacup and continued to sip her tea.
But she knew that what she said today would probably increase the importance of the little brat named Shimura Aki in Danzo’s mind again.
And this, perhaps… is exactly one of the results she wants to see?
Using a potential “plastic talent” to influence or even check and balance Danzo’s future power? This move might be worth a try.
While the two Konoha high-ranking officials were secretly competing and calculating over Shimura Aki, the real protagonist of the incident, Shimura Aki, was immersed in the joy of completing the mission and receiving the reward.
When Utatane Koharu reported the results of the investigation into the Kuroda corruption case to the Hokage and finally took serious action, the task status of “exposing small-scale corruption” on the system panel in Shimura Aki’s mind instantly changed from “in progress” to a bright red “completed”!
Along with the cold system prompt sound, another huge and subtle torrent of information, like a warm stream, poured into his sea of ​​consciousness!
This time, the content of the information flow is all about various techniques and experiences on how to perfectly control one’s own breath and hide one’s own existence!
From the most basic chakra wave convergence to the deeper level of regulating and suppressing heartbeat, breathing, body temperature, and even weak muscle electrical signals…
How to use the airflow, sound, light and shadow in the environment to hide yourself…
How to simulate the aura of different states (such as being injured, tired, or simply “not existing”)…
How to keep your breath stable while moving at high speed…
How to avoid being detected by a sensory ninja when in close contact…
Countless methods of “hiding” and “cheating” were like enlightenment, deeply imprinted in the depths of his soul, and perfectly integrated with his own chakra control ability and mental strength!
Shimura Aki felt as if he had instantly transformed into a top assassin who had been immersed in this art for decades! His understanding and control of “aura” and “sense of presence” instantly improved by several levels!
This feeling is mysterious and wonderful beyond words!
He couldn’t wait to try out this newfound power.
Chapter 48 Mitomon En’s “Concerns” (Old Version)
He sat cross-legged in his room, and with a thought, he began to try to practice the “Breath Control Technique (Mastery)”.
Almost instantly, the weak chakra fluctuations that were originally emitted naturally from his body due to cultivation disappeared without a trace as if they were absorbed by an invisible black hole!
But this is just the beginning!
He concentrated further and, according to the method in his mind, began to consciously adjust his breathing frequency, making it extremely long and weak, almost blending with the flow of the surrounding air.
Then the heartbeat.
He tried to slow down his heartbeat and reduce the strength of his heartbeats, so that the originally audible “thump thump” sound became like the low buzzing of a mosquito, intermittent.
He even felt that he could control his body temperature to a certain extent by slightly investigating the speed at which carats flowed on the surface of his body, making his body feel more like a lifeless, cold stone.
When he pushed the Breath-Concealing Technique to its limit, he even had a strange feeling—as if he… had really disappeared from this room?
It’s not a physical disappearance, but a kind of… complete concealment in existence!
He was clearly sitting here, but if he closed his eyes and tried to sense it, even he himself would probably find it difficult to be aware of his own existence!
“It’s…so amazing!” Shimura Aki’s heart was filled with shock and ecstasy.
The mastery level of Breath Concealment Technique has such a terrifying effect!
This is simply a magical skill tailor-made for stealth, reconnaissance, and assassination!
He immediately stood up and tried to move around the room.
He discovered that even when moving, the effect of the Breathing Technique would not be weakened as long as he remained focused.
His footsteps were still light and silent, and every movement of his body seemed to blend into the shadows, without causing any unnecessary wind sound.
He even had a strong confidence: if he were to sneak into the Senju Mansion or the logistics warehouse again, it would definitely be a hundred times easier than last time! He was even confident that if he just wandered around in front of some perception-type ninjas whose strength was not at the top, they might not be able to find him!
Of course, he also knew that the breath-concealing technique was not a panacea.
If you encounter top-notch warriors like Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo, or people with special perception abilities (such as the Byakugan and Kagura’s mind’s eye), even a mastery level of breath concealment may not be able to completely conceal the truth.
The huge gap in strength cannot be made up by any skills.
But no matter what, the acquisition of this skill is definitely a qualitative leap for his current strength!
It greatly enhances his ability to survive and… to cause trouble!
Whether he is carrying out those shady missions of “Root” in the future, secretly collecting “black material” by himself, or conducting a strategic retreat when encountering a strong enemy, the Breath Concealing Technique (Mastery) will become an extremely important trump card in his hand!
Shimura Akira felt the endless chakra flowing in his body (Chakra Refining Technique – Mastery), sensed the healing light that could be condensed at any time in his palm (Medical Ninjutsu – Entry Level), recalled the deadly fighting and assassination techniques in his mind (Owl’s teachings), and now with this mysterious ability to conceal his breath…
For the first time, he realized so clearly that he was no longer the weakling who had just arrived and was at the mercy of others!
Although there is still a long distance to become a truly strong person.
But at least, he already has the capital to gain a foothold in this cruel world!
His overall strength now is probably not inferior to some experienced but mediocre Chunins! In some aspects (such as stealth, medical treatment, intelligence analysis), he may even be stronger than ordinary Chunins!
And he is only eight years old!
This strength and potential are enough to make him full of confidence in the road ahead!
System tasks will continue to be released.
The system’s mall was waiting for him to unlock it with his revelation points.
There are still countless secrets and “black materials” in this world waiting for him to dig out!
He knew that his journey had just begun.
Becoming stronger will be his eternal theme! Only by becoming stronger can one master his own destiny, survive in this magnificent yet dangerous world, and… live better!
Just as Shimura Aki was feeling excited and expectant about his further improvement in strength, in the study room of the Shimura mansion, Danzo was also feeling sincerely…gratified about his son’s “growth”.
Yes, relieved.
This man, who has always been known for his coldness and ruthlessness, couldn’t help but reveal some “fatherly” emotions deep in his heart when facing his only son who performed far beyond expectations.
Although this emotion is still wrapped and suppressed by his strong rationality and obsession with power, it does exist.
Shimura Aki’s recent performance was really beyond his expectations.
Being able to get in touch with Tsunade and obtain information from her has already made him look at her with new eyes.
Afterwards, he was able to skillfully demonstrate his “value” in front of Utane Koharu and won the praise of the old woman, which surprised him even more.
And now, without his knowledge, he quietly “facilitated” a not-so-small anti-corruption incident? Although the process may be just a coincidence (Danzo would rather believe that his son was lucky than believe that he had such a deep calculation at such a young age), the result is good! This at least shows that this child… has brains, courage, and… luck?
What made Danzo even more satisfied was his son’s improvement in strength.
He reads Xiao’s training report every day.
In the report, although Xiao’s words were still concise and cold, between the lines, he also revealed his…acknowledgement of Shimura Aki’s amazing learning speed and strong willpower? (According to Xiao’s standards, not criticizing him was already a compliment).
Danzo himself would occasionally visit the underground training grounds for “inspections”.
He saw with his own eyes that his son was knocked down again and again under Xiao’s storm-like attack, and struggled to get up again and again. The stubbornness and ruthlessness in his eyes were very much like himself when he was young!
There is also the increasingly improved physical skills, the increasingly proficient assassination techniques, and… the calmness and tenacity that emanates from his bones and is inconsistent with his age!
All of this made Danzo feel a sense of… satisfaction that there would be successors.
He began to truly regard Shimura Aki as the hope for the future of the Shimura clan, and as the only person who could inherit his lifelong pursuit and unfinished business!
He even felt that with Qiu’s current potential, he might be able to surpass himself in the future? To reach the peak that he had not been able to reach?
This thought made Danzo’s heart beat faster.
Chapter 49: Utatane Koharu’s “Attention” Upgrade (Old Version)
He looked out the window with a deep gaze.
The future of Konoha requires a stronger and more decisive leader.
And his son, Shimura Aki, seems… to be growing rapidly in this direction!
It’s time… to give him more trust, more resources, and… a bigger stage!
The corner of Danzo’s mouth curled up into an extremely rare smile that was full of expectation and… desire for control.
He couldn’t wait to see his son, on this stage called Konoha, shine with his own…or rather, the Shimura family’s…”light”!
Danzo Shimura stood in front of the study window, with his hands behind his back, looking through the window lattice at the vigorous ancient pine tree in the courtyard.
His eyes were deep, like a deep pool of water, reflecting not only the scenery before him, but also the burning fire of ambition in his heart that had never been extinguished.
Becoming Hokage and standing at the pinnacle of power in Konoha Village is undoubtedly his lifelong goal.
But that’s not all his ambitions are about.
Deep in his heart, he has a greater and more secret wish – that is to bring the Shimura clan, a family that has followed the Senju brothers since the founding of the village and made great contributions to Konoha, but has never been able to truly join the top ranks, to an unprecedented height!
He longed for the Shimura clan to have a status and influence comparable to the Senju and Uchiha clans of the past (in their heyday)! To become the true pillar of Konoha, or even… to become a powerful existence that the entire ninja world could not ignore!
This is not only for personal glory, but also to realize his political ideal of “Konoha is led by the strongest and most rational person, and the interests and order of the village are maintained with an iron fist.”
In his opinion, only when the Shimura clan becomes truly strong can they provide him with the most stable and reliable support, help him thoroughly implement his will, and build Konoha into the “ideal” city in his mind.
However, achieving this goal is not easy.
Although the Shimura clan has a good foundation, there is always an unbridgeable gap between them and the Senju and Uchiha clans in terms of top combat power, bloodline limits, and number of clan members.
Although he is powerful and scheming, he can’t do it alone.
He needs a… successor.
A successor who can perfectly inherit his will, his power, and even surpass him! A leader who can lead the Shimura clan to continue to move towards glory after him!
And now, he seemed to… see hope.
Aki Shimura.
His only son.
This child, who once disappointed him and whom he even thought was just an ordinary and weak child, recently showed a variety of “unexpected” behaviors, which rekindled a hot flame in his “father’s” heart that had been frozen for many years.
Astonishing learning talent, mental means far beyond his age, and the tenacity and…ambition hidden under the calm appearance!
All this made Danzo see the dawn of realizing his family’s long-cherished wish!
Qiu, perhaps he really is the unicorn child bestowed by God to the Shimura clan?
Once this thought came into being, it quickly occupied Danzo’s heart like a wildly growing vine.
Chapter 50: Sarutobi Hiruzen’s “Cold Treatment” (Old Version)
His training strategy for Shimura Aki also underwent subtle but profound changes.
He was no longer satisfied with merely letting Qiu master the basic ninjutsu, taijutsu and assassination techniques, and no longer simply wanted to train him to be a qualified member of the “Root” or his own “tool”.
He began to consciously consider Qiu in a higher position, and started to cultivate his overall view, leadership, and ability to handle complex affairs.
He began to seek Shimura Aki’s opinion on some family affairs that did not involve core secrets.
For example, the issue of allocation of resources within the family.
Danzo would deliberately place several application reports submitted by members of different factions in front of Qiu, asking him to analyze the pros and cons and make suggestions.
“Qiu, look at this report. The Third Elder hopes to increase the investment in the training of their orphan ninjas, on the grounds of replenishing fresh blood in the family.
The fourth elders, on the other hand, believed that resources should be invested first in upgrading the equipment of elite ninjas in order to enhance the family’s immediate combat capability.
Which one do you think is more reasonable? “
Shimura Aki knew that his father was examining him, so he would carefully analyze the contents of the report, combine it with his own knowledge of the family’s current situation (although limited), and then put forward his own opinions.
“Father, I think that while adding fresh blood is important, elite combat power is the foundation of our family’s current existence.
However, the third elder’s proposal is not entirely unreasonable.
Perhaps… we can try a compromise solution? For example, appropriately cut some non-essential expenses for equipment updates, and use the saved resources to establish a more efficient orphan screening and basic training mechanism? Prioritize those truly talented seedlings for key training, rather than casting a wide net? “
His answer may not be completely correct, and may even be a little idealistic.
But the logical thinking ability and the idea of ​​trying to balance the interests of all parties shown in it made Danzo nod secretly.
In addition to family affairs, Danzo even began to involve Shimura Aki in discussions on some non-core decisions of the “Root” organization.
Of course, these decisions usually do not involve specific assassination or sabotage operations, but are more about the adjustment of intelligence networks, preliminary screening of personnel, or some infiltration plans of peripheral organizations.
Danzo would present relevant intelligence and alternative plans to Akira, asking him to analyze the pros and cons of different plans, predict possible risks, and give his own suggestions.
“We recently planned to establish a new intelligence base in the border area of ​​Grass Country.
There are three alternative options here: Option one is to disguise as a caravan, which has the advantage of good concealment and the disadvantage of restricted movement; Option two is to directly send an elite team to lurk, which has the advantage of quick response and the disadvantage of easy exposure; Option three is to bribe a small local force as an agent, which has the advantage of low cost and the disadvantage of difficulty in guaranteeing loyalty.
Qiu, which plan do you think is more suitable? Or… do you have any better ideas?”
Shimura Aki will carefully study the maps and intelligence, and analyze them based on the knowledge he has gained from the system and his memories of his past lives.
“Father, I think that any single solution has obvious drawbacks.
Perhaps… we can combine several plans? For example, we can use the caravan as cover to enter, establish a preliminary base, and then secretly send an elite team to infiltrate and be responsible for collecting and transmitting core intelligence.
Chapter 51 Orochimaru’s “Re-contact” (Old Version)
At the same time, you can also try to contact and observe the local small forces and find reliable agents to serve as peripheral auxiliary forces and… scapegoats?”
His thoughts often carry a sophistication and ruthlessness that is inconsistent with his age.
This made Danzo feel satisfied, but also a little frightened – this child seemed to be more like himself than he had imagined…?
Danzo’s purpose is clear.
In this way, he wanted to constantly hone Shimura Aki’s thinking ability, cultivate his sense of the overall situation, and make him familiar with the operation of power and the rules of the dark world as soon as possible.
He wanted to make Qiu understand that in order to achieve ambitious goals, he must have a long-term vision, careful planning, and… a ruthless heart.
He hopes that Shimura Aki can grow up as quickly as possible, not only in strength, but also in maturity in mind and pattern.
He needs a right-hand man who can truly understand him, support him, and fight alongside him! A successor who can continue to lead the Shimura clan and the “Root” to glory after him!
For the rise of the Shimura clan! For the Konoha “ruled by the strong” in his heart! He is willing to devote more efforts and resources to cultivate this son who gave him hope!
The more satisfied Danzo was with Shimura Aki’s performance, the longer his long-suppressed desire for supreme power grew in his heart, like a flame that was poured with oil, becoming hotter and more violent!
He looked out the window at the Hokage Rock, which symbolized the Hokage’s power, and his eyes became sharper and more determined.
Hiruzen…his old teammate, although he was an excellent ninja, in Danzo’s opinion, his rule was too “gentle” and too “weak”!
Too much emphasis on so-called “feelings” and “bonds”, looking ahead and behind when dealing with many problems, lacking iron fist and efficiency! In the long run, the advantage that Konoha has finally established in the First Ninja World War will sooner or later be gradually eroded by those other ninja villages that are eyeing it covetously! Look at the restless guys in the Sand Village! Look at the shrewd Third Tsuchikage in the Rock Village! And the Mist Village that is dormant in the water like a venomous snake! Which one is the one who is easy to deal with? !
Only he! Only he, Shimura Danzo! Can use the toughest attitude and the most ruthless means to clear away all internal and external troubles! Only he can lead Konoha to true, unquestionable strength!
In the past, he might have had some concerns.
He was worried that his methods were too drastic and would cause a backlash within the village; he was worried that if he failed, the Shimura clan and “roots” would have no successors.
But now, there is autumn!
This son who gave him infinite hope was like a shot of adrenaline! It made him feel that he had someone to carry on his legacy! It made him feel that he could let go and boldly implement the plans that he had been planning for a long time!
He began to convene core members of the “Root” organization more frequently, and secretly discuss various plans in that dark underground base.
How to place more people in the Anbu to weaken Hiruzen’s control over the intelligence system?
How to further expand the scale and influence of “Root” and extend its tentacles to every key department of Konoha?
How to create trouble for those families and forces that oppose you in terms of economy and public opinion?
Even…how to plan ahead in the future power changes (such as Hiruzen’s retirement or an accident) to ensure that he can successfully ascend to the coveted position of Hokage?
Sinister and meticulous plans were worked out under the dim light.
Chapter 52 Systematic Interim Summary and Outlook (Old Version)
There was a cold and fanatical light flashing in Danzo’s eyes, as if he had already seen the day when he would rule Konoha.
The existence of Shimura Akira is like the most important and confident trump card in his gamble.
Just as Danzo’s ambition grew due to his son’s “growth” and he stepped up his plans, Shimura Aki was also improving himself step by step and actively looking for new “opportunities”.
Soon, a new opportunity came quietly in a way he had not expected.
In order to test the recent training results of young ninjas (especially the Genin who are about to graduate or have just graduated), and to promote communication and coordination between ninjas from different classes and backgrounds, Konoha Village organized a small-scale joint exercise.
The exercise was conducted in a complex jungle area outside the village.
The content of the exercise is mainly to simulate the coordinated operations of small teams, including reconnaissance, infiltration, target capture, and encounter combat.
Although Shimura Aki has not officially entered the Ninja School yet, considering his recent “outstanding performance” and the fact that he is Danzo’s son, after some “operations” (most likely at the suggestion of Danzo or Elder Koharu), he also got the opportunity to join the exercise as a “special participant.”
For Shimura Aki, this is a rare opportunity to test his own strength and accumulate practical experience in a relatively real combat environment.
At the same time, it is also an opportunity to closely observe other “genius” ninjas of the same age, and even… find new targets for “exposing information”.
It was a sunny day on the day of the exercise.
Shimura Aki, wearing a well-fitting black training suit and carrying a ninja tool bag, came to the designated gathering place.
Many boys and girls of his age have gathered here.
Most of them are students who are about to graduate from the Ninja School, or newcomers who have just been promoted to Genin.
Each and every face is filled with youthful vigor and longing for the future, and of course, a bit of nervousness and competitiveness.
In the crowd, Shimura Aki saw several familiar figures at a glance.
Tsunade and Jiraiya were among them.
They seemed to be participating in an exercise as members of a small team.
Tsunade still looked like a big sister, heroic and dashing, but when she saw Shimura Aki, her eyes couldn’t help but drift away, with a hint of discomfort and… warning (as if reminding him not to talk nonsense).
Jiraiya was still in that nonchalant look, boasting about something excitedly to a few female classmates next to him, causing Tsunade to roll her eyes.
Not far from Tsunade and Jiraiya, a figure caught Shimura Akira’s special attention.
He was a slightly thin boy with sickly pale skin and long black hair that fell softly on his shoulders, covering half of his face.
He stood alone at the edge of the crowd, his hands in his pockets, his head slightly lowered, exuding a cold aura that kept strangers away.
But the most eye-catching thing was his golden vertical pupils that appeared when he occasionally raised them! Like a cold-blooded snake, they flashed with wisdom, inquiry, and… a hint of heart-pounding chill!
Orochimaru!
One of the future three ninjas! A scientist who masters core technology! A rebellious ninja obsessed with the study of immortality and forbidden techniques!
Shimura Akira’s heart couldn’t help but skip a beat.
Chapter 53: The Dark Clouds of the First Ninja World War (Old Version)
It has to be said that Xiao’s training effect is significant.
Shimura Aki moves in the jungle as agilely and silently as a real cheetah.
He always finds hidden traps in advance or avoids detection by other teams.
Although his two teammates were of average strength, they managed to keep up with the pace and did not fall behind under his reminders and cover.
Soon, they occupied a hillside that was higher, had a wide view and was easy to hide.
From here, you can overlook several main paths leading to the target area below.
They lie in wait patiently, like venomous snakes waiting for their prey.
As time passed, the sounds of fighting and the roar of ninjutsu explosions began to be heard from the jungle.
Apparently, some teams could no longer hold back and started clashing over flags or to eliminate their opponents.
Shimura Aki remained calm throughout and did not let his teammates act rashly.
He carefully observed the details of every battle below, analyzing the strength and tactical characteristics of each team.
At this moment, a battle encounter in an open space below attracted his full attention.
The fighting party is the team that Orochimaru belongs to!
Their opponents were another team of three Genin, who seemed to be quite strong.
However, the course of the battle was one-sided!
Orochimaru was seen moving around the battlefield like a ghost. His movements were not as bold as Jiraiya’s, nor as powerful as Tsunade’s. Instead, his movements were… as precise, efficient, and… deadly as a poisonous snake hunting its prey!
He rarely uses powerful ninjutsu, but relies more on exquisite physical skills, strange body movements, and some unexpected little tricks to break down the opponent’s offensive and create loopholes.
His two teammates, under his command, cooperated very well, one was responsible for frontal containment and the other for flank harassment.
Orochimaru himself is like a calm hunter who always appears in the most deadly position at the most critical moment!
He just moved his fingers slightly, and several thousand bullets soaked with paralyzing toxin were shot out silently, accurately hitting the acupuncture points of an opponent’s ninja, causing his movements to slow down instantly.
Then, like a slithering snake, he approached another ninja in an instant, wrapped his arm around the opponent’s neck at a strange angle, and twisted it gently! Although he did not really kill him (according to the drill rules), it was enough to make the opponent lose his ability to fight.
Finally, the ninja saw that the situation was not good and wanted to escape, but he was entangled by the ankle in a trap made of extremely thin steel wire that Orochimaru had set up in advance, and fell heavily to the ground.
The entire battle took only a few minutes! Orochimaru’s team easily defeated the opponent at a minimal cost!
Moreover, what shocked Shimura Aki the most was that throughout the entire battle, Orochimaru always had a faint, interested smile on his face! As if… as if he was not fighting a life-and-death battle (although it was an exercise), but an interesting game, or… an experiment?
He also has a unique understanding of the use of ninjutsu.
He didn’t seem to pursue the power of ninjutsu, but rather focused on its efficiency and… changes? He even tried to fuse the chakras of wind escape and earth escape to some extent during the battle. Although he failed, his spirit of daring to try and explore far surpassed his peers!
Calm, intelligent, efficient, with a unique understanding of ninjutsu and an almost obsessive desire to explore…
Is this the young Orochimaru? Sure enough… he is an absolute genius! He is also… a completely dangerous person!
Shimura Aki looked at Orochimaru below, who was clapping his hands as if he had just done something insignificant, and his eyes became serious.
Chapter 54 Preparation and a New Beginning (Old Version)
At this moment, the tip-off system in his mind suddenly sounded an extremely special prompt tone without any warning! This prompt tone was different from any previous ones, with a kind of excitement… as if discovering a rare treasure (if mechanical sounds can have excitement)!
[Ding! Warning! Warning! High potential black material target detected – Orochimaru! ][Preliminary scan of target information (passively acquired, based on host observation): Name: Orochimaru.
Age: About 10-12 years old? Strength: Suspected to have reached the level of a Chunin.
Personality: Calm, rational, extremely curious, emotionally indifferent…][Special system reminder: Based on the in-depth analysis of the target’s mental fluctuations, chakra properties, and behavioral patterns (combined with the host’s subconscious database information), the system determines that this person has an extreme desire for “eternal life” and “forbidden knowledge” (especially in the fields of human body transformation and soul mysteries) deep in his heart! His way of thinking has initially revealed a tendency to ignore conventional ethics and morals! ][Value Assessment: Very High!!! This goal has huge and continuous potential to produce purple B-level, gold A-level, and even color S-level (legendary) black materials in the future! The forbidden knowledge and research results it possesses also have extremely high exchange value! ][Core suggestion of the system: The host should list this target as the highest priority! At all costs (under the premise of ensuring your own safety), try to establish a long-term, stable, and deep relationship with it! Gaining its trust and digging out its secrets will bring the host unimaginable huge rewards! ]A series of system prompts exploded in Shimura Aki’s mind like thunder!
High potential black material target
A target with extremely high potential for black material! Deep in his heart, he has an extreme desire for immortality and forbidden techniques! He disregards conventional ethics and morals! He will produce black material with great value in the future! It is recommended that you pay close attention and try to establish contact with him!
The system actually gave such a high, even unprecedented, evaluation and attention to the young Orochimaru!
Shimura Aki’s heart began beating faster involuntarily!
Of course, he knew Orochimaru’s future direction! The man who was obsessed with human experiments, developed countless forbidden techniques, used all means to pursue immortality, eventually defected from Konoha, and even wanted to destroy the village! His life was simply a walking “encyclopedia of black material”!
The core technologies he mastered, such as the Living Corpse Reincarnation and Impure World Reincarnation (although they were developed by the second generation, he carried them forward), various human body transformation technologies, and the research on curses and fairy arts… Any one of them is enough to cause a bloody storm in the ninja world, and is definitely a priceless “treasure” in the eyes of the system!
If…if I could really establish some kind of connection with Orochimaru, or even…cooperate with him?
That will bring immeasurable benefits to my future plans, whether it is improving my strength, acquiring resources, or… living better in this world!
Of course, dancing with snakes also involves huge risks.
Orochimaru has a cold and suspicious personality, and his mind is as deep as the sea. It is not easy to gain his trust, or even “fleece” him.
Chapter 55: The Second Stage: Emerging and Undercurrents (On the Eve of the First Ninja World War) (Old Version)
Once he realizes my true intentions or touches his bottom line, the consequences will be disastrous.
However, high risks often come with high rewards!
Since the system has given such a strong suggestion, it means that this path is worth a try!
Shimura Aki’s gaze once again turned to Orochimaru, who had finished the battle and was slowly moving towards the direction of the flag with his teammates.
His eyes flashed with excitement, solemnity, and… a hint of eagerness to try!
Orochimaru…you future “treasure boy”, I’ve got my eyes on you!
Just as Shimura Aki was secretly planning how to approach Orochimaru, the situation of the exercise was quietly changing.
As time went on, more and more teams were eliminated.
The area available for movement in the jungle became smaller and smaller, and the remaining teams began to gradually converge towards the central area where the flag was located.
Soon, Shimura Aki’s team inevitably encountered another team.
This is a team composed of three Genin who seem to be quite experienced. They cooperate very well and their offensive is quite fierce.
“What should we do? Should we fight?” Shimura Aki’s two temporary teammates seemed a little nervous and looked at him subconsciously.
Shimura Aki quickly assessed the strength of both sides.
The three opponents are all strong and they cooperate well.
On his side, although his strength has improved, the strength of his two teammates is relatively mediocre. The chances of winning in a head-on fight are slim. Even if he wins, he will probably have to pay a heavy price, which will affect the subsequent flag-grabbing mission.
“No hurry.”
Shimura Aki said calmly, “Their target is also the flag, there is no need for us to fight them to the death here.
Use the terrain to deal with them, find a chance to get rid of them, or… let them fight with other teams.”
He immediately formulated a strategy of avoiding battle and killing someone with a borrowed knife.
In the following battle, Shimura Aki fully demonstrated his combat wisdom far beyond his age and superb Sanshinjutsu.
He took advantage of the complex terrain and constantly created clones to confuse his opponents’ vision and interfere with their judgment.
He asked two teammates to launch a feint attack from the front to draw fire, while he himself moved around in the dark like a ghost, launching harassing attacks with shurikens or kunai from time to time, making the opponent very annoyed but unable to catch his real body.
His substitution skills were superb, and he could always avoid the opponent’s attack by a hair’s breadth at the most critical moment, making the opponent’s efforts come to naught.
Once, a ninja who was good at earth escape suddenly launched a surprise attack from underground. A sharp earth spear suddenly pierced out from under Shimura Aki’s feet! It was about to pierce him!
At this critical moment, Shimura Aki’s figure disappeared in an instant, leaving only a log pierced by the earth spear! His real body appeared silently behind a big tree more than ten meters away!
The timing of the substitution technique was so precise that the earth-style ninja couldn’t help but be stunned for a moment, his eyes full of disbelief.
What makes opponents even more troublesome is that Shimura Aki occasionally displays some… unexpected “support” abilities.
For example, when one of his teammates accidentally got his arm scratched by the opponent’s Fire Style Ninjutsu, Shimura Aki actually rushed to his teammate quickly during the battle, stretched out his palm, and a light green light appeared on his palm, covering his teammate’s wound!
The magic of palm!
Although it was only entry-level and the healing effect was limited, the warm and vital chakra still quickly reduced the burning pain in the teammate’s arm and restored his agility!
This sudden medical ninjutsu not only made his teammates grateful, but also stunned the three enemies on the opposite side!
A kid who looked only seven or eight years old, not only had perfected the Three Body Technique, but also had a terrifyingly calm fighting consciousness, and he even… even knew medical ninjutsu?! Is he still a human?! Which big family cultivated this monster?!
The opponent, who was originally very aggressive, couldn’t help but lose a lot of fighting spirit after seeing Shimura Aki’s endless tricks and calm and steady command.
Chapter 56: Re-evolution of the system (old version)
They found that it was almost impossible to get rid of this slippery team that could also heal teammates in a short period of time!
Just when the two sides were in a stalemate, a more intense fighting sound suddenly came from the other side of the jungle! It seemed that two more teams encountered each other and a large-scale conflict broke out!
“Let’s go!” Shimura Aki acted decisively, and when the other party’s attention was attracted by the sound, he immediately ordered a retreat!
He once again created several lifelike clones, which ran in the opposite direction to attract the opponent’s attention, while his real body, along with two teammates, used the breath-concealing technique to quietly escape into the dense bushes and quickly get rid of the opponent’s entanglement.
After escaping the pursuers safely, Shimura Aki did not immediately go to the location of the flag. Instead, he led the team and carefully sneaked in the direction where the battle was the most intense.
He wants to… reap the benefits!
Soon, they arrived at the edge of the battlefield.
I saw two powerful teams fighting each other in a fierce battle. The sounds of various ninjutsu and taijutsu colliding could be heard everywhere, and the scene was extremely intense.
Both sides had people injured and their chakra was almost exhausted.
Shimura Aki waited patiently, like the most cunning hunter, waiting for the moment when both sides would be defeated.
Finally, one of the teams was exposed due to exhaustion and injuries, and the other team seized the opportunity to defeat it in one fell swoop and make it lose its combat capability.
The winning team also paid a heavy price. Only the captain was still standing, but he was also panting and had very little chakra left.
“Go!” Shimura Aki shouted softly and rushed out like an arrow!
His two teammates followed closely behind!
By waiting for the enemy to tire themselves out and dealing with an enemy that is at the end of its strength, the outcome will naturally be a foregone conclusion.
The captain who had just won the victory was easily defeated by the sudden appearance of Shimura Aki’s team before he had time to catch his breath.
“Huh… finally… we’ve dealt with one team…” Shimura Aki’s two teammates were exhausted and panting, but their faces were full of excitement and admiration.
They discovered that following the eight-year-old “Young Master Qiu”, although the process was thrilling, it seemed that… they could always turn danger into safety, and even gain an advantage?
Shimura Aki ignored their excitement and scanned the battlefield with sharp eyes, while also secretly paying attention to the movements around him.
The exercise has come to an end, with fewer and fewer teams remaining and the competition becoming increasingly fierce.
At this moment, his gaze met again with an equally sharp gaze not far away!
Orochimaru and his only remaining teammate (the other seemed to have been eliminated in the previous battle) were standing under the shadow of a tree, staring at them coldly.
Apparently, Orochimaru also adopted a similar strategy, observing in secret and waiting for an opportunity.
He had seen the entire process of Shimura Aki’s team stalking the cicada while the oriole was behind!
When their eyes met, invisible sparks seemed to be created in the air!
Shimura Qiu’s heart trembled.
It seems that the final opponent is him!
The corner of Orochimaru’s mouth curled up into a cold, dangerous arc like a snake’s tongue.
He slowly raised his hand and made a provocative gesture of “come on!” towards Shimura Aki.
Shimura Aki’s eyes also became solemn.
He knew that the coming battle would be the most severe test he had faced since participating in this exercise!
He took a deep breath and said solemnly to the two teammates beside him: “Cheer up! The last enemy may be stronger than we thought!”
Then, he took the lead and rushed towards Orochimaru!
A battle for the last flag is about to begin between two equally calm and wise (or scheming) boys!
The final result of this exercise was actually not beyond Shimura Aki’s expectations.
Although he and his two temporary teammates tried their best and showed great strength and coordination, they were still one step behind and lost in the face of the evil-doer Orochimaru.
Orochimaru’s strength is indeed far beyond that of his peers.
Not only is he good at using ninjutsu, his taijutsu is strange and hard to defend, and his combat IQ is terrifyingly high! He can always predict Shimura Aki’s intentions in advance and make the most effective response.
Especially at the last moment, Orochimaru unexpectedly used an extremely rare snake venom that could temporarily paralyze the nerves (most likely prepared by himself and applied on the kunai), and successfully scratched Shimura Aki’s arm in a close combat!
Although Shimura Aki immediately used medical ninjutsu to detoxify and treat him, the brief paralysis still left him vulnerable, and Orochimaru seized the opportunity and “defeated” him in one fell swoop.
After the exercise, the supervising jonin declared Orochimaru’s team the winner.
Although Shimura Aki was a little unwilling (after all, he was only a little bit away from grabbing the flag), he had to admit that Orochimaru was indeed very strong! Even stronger than he expected!
However, this exercise also brought him huge gains.
Not only did he test his own strength in actual combat and accumulate valuable combat experience, but more importantly… he successfully attracted the attention of Orochimaru!
After the exercise, when everyone was preparing to leave, Orochimaru actually took the initiative to walk up to Shimura Aki.
“You are…very good.”
Orochimaru’s golden snake eyes looked Shimura Aki up and down, his tone was flat, and it was impossible to tell whether it was admiration or some other emotion.
“Your three-body technique, and that… ninjutsu that can quickly heal injuries, are both very interesting.”
Shimura Akira’s heart moved.
He immediately pretended to be flattered, bowed slightly and said, “Senior Orochimaru, thank you for your praise.
Your strength is truly eye-opening to me! Especially your understanding and application of ninjutsu, which is simply… unbelievable!” He used a slightly exaggerated word to express his “admiration”.
When Orochimaru heard the word “unbelievable”, the corners of his mouth seemed to curl up slightly. It was a faint smile that showed pride in his own wisdom and ability.
“Oh? You also study ninjutsu…?” There was a barely perceptible hint of interest in Orochimaru’s tone.
“I know a little bit, but I can’t say I’ve done research.”
Shimura Akira said modestly, then changed the subject, “However, I have always felt that the world of ninjutsu is vast and profound, full of infinite possibilities.
Chapter 57 Testing of New Abilities (Old Version)
For example… the nature of chakra changes. If we can perfectly fuse chakras of different natures together, will it produce a more powerful force? Or… if we can break through the limit of the amount of chakra in the human body, will we be able to perform ninjutsu that can destroy the world?”
He deliberately put forward some “theories” that sounded a bit “fantastic” but happened to hit Orochimaru’s interest.
Part of these theories came from his understanding of the plot of Naruto, and part came from the knowledge that was ahead of his time and was instilled by the system.
Sure enough, when Orochimaru heard these words, a very bright light flashed in his golden snake eyes! It was a kind of… excitement of finding a kindred spirit, or… the desire of finding an interesting research subject!
“Chakra property fusion…energy efficiency limit…” Orochimaru repeated these words in a low voice, his eyes became a little blurred, as if he was lost in some deep thought.
After a moment, he turned his gaze back to Shimura Aki, with a hint of scrutiny in his eyes, and also a hint of… recognition?
“You…are very thoughtful.”
Orochimaru said slowly, “Perhaps…we can find a time to have a good chat.”
Shimura Aki was overjoyed! It worked! The connection with Orochimaru was initially established!
He immediately suppressed his excitement, and showed just the right amount of surprise and honor on his face: “Really? That’s great! It’s my honor to receive guidance from Senior Orochimaru!”
“It’s not really about giving advice.”
Orochimaru said calmly, “It’s just… I am also somewhat interested in some of your ideas.”
After saying that, he didn’t say anything else. He just looked at Shimura Aki deeply, then turned around and slowly left with his only remaining teammate.
Looking at Orochimaru’s slightly aloof and cold back, Shimura Aki knew that he and this future one of the “Three Ninjas”, this future “mad scientist”, had initially established a…subtle connection.
Although this connection is still fragile and full of uncertainty.
But at least, he succeeded in leaving an impression in Orochimaru’s mind that he “had some ideas” and was “worth communicating.”
This is undoubtedly an excellent start for his future plans!
He believed that as long as he could continue to demonstrate enough “value” (whether it was strength, wisdom, or… unique insights into forbidden knowledge), he would be able to gradually deepen his connection with Orochimaru, and even… lead him in the direction he desired? (Although this was extremely difficult, it was worth a try).
This world is indeed full of “resources” and “opportunities” that can be utilized.
And he only needs to patiently explore, manage, and… control!
That encounter with the young Orochimaru on the training ground, and the special reminder from the system about the “super high potential black target” that followed, were like two huge rocks thrown into a calm lake, stirring up waves in Shimura Aki’s heart far more violent than any before.
In the few days after the exercise, Shimura Aki continued to carry out the cruel training of Owl step by step, accepted Tsunade’s somewhat reluctant “guidance”, and read the intelligence summaries that Danzo occasionally threw to him.
But deep in his heart, a profound reflection and re-positioning of future plans is quietly taking place.
He lay on the cold tatami in his room, his hands behind his head, looking through the window at the incomplete crescent moon in the night sky.
The moonlight was like water, sprinkling on his face, reflecting his face which was still a little immature, but the depths of his eyes were already filled with a depth and calculation that did not match his age.
Before, his actions were more out of…passive response and instinctive self-preservation.
When he first crossed over, his biggest goal was to survive, adapt to this strange world, and not be treated as a discarded pawn by his cheap father Danzo.
After the system was activated, his goal became to complete novice tasks, obtain rewards, and improve his strength so that he could better survive in this crisis-ridden world.
Whether it is grasping Tsunade’s secrets, taking advantage of Elder Koharu’s mysophobia, or exposing Kuroda’s corruption, he sees the system more as a tool to gain personal benefits and improve his personal abilities.
Although I have thought about helping Danzo, that idea was more like an “investment” behavior in order to gain more resources and attention.
His vision at that time was still limited to some minor “black materials” and “methods”.
The layout is still too small.
But the appearance of Orochimaru and the system’s almost “crazy” prompts suddenly woke him up!
He realized that what he had was not just a “golden finger” that could provide skill rewards and help him improve his personal strength.
The true potential of this whistleblower system goes far beyond this!
Insight into people’s hearts, uncover secrets, and warn of the future… This is simply the ultimate weapon tailor-made for this Naruto world full of conspiracies, lies, and calculations!
If you only use it to deal with some minor characters and acquire some basic skills, it is simply a waste of resources! It is a huge waste of the value of the system!
His eyes should not just stay on the petty gains in front of him.
He needs to have longer-term plans and bigger goals!
What is his core goal?
Shimura Aki asked himself silently in his heart.
The answer was actually very clear from the beginning, but it was previously obscured by the pressure of survival and the fear of the unknown.
Now, with the initial improvement of strength and the gradual adaptation to this world, the ambition buried deep in my heart began to grow uncontrollably like bamboo shoots breaking through the ground!
——Assisted his father Danzo Shimura and became the Fourth Hokage!
——And I will become the Fifth Hokage!
——And, to develop the Shimura clan into a top family that Konoha and even the entire ninja world cannot ignore! With a status and influence comparable to the Senju and Uchiha (at their peak)!
This is what he really wants to pursue! This is the grand blueprint that is worthy of his identity as a time traveler and the blessing of the system!
It is far from enough to rely solely on the previous minor scandals and methods.
To achieve such a grand goal, he needs a longer-term plan, stronger personal strength, and… broader and more reliable connections and influence!
He began to calmly analyze the current situation and the chips he had in his hands.
Chapter 58 Target: Konoha High Level (Old Version)
His father, Danzo, is his greatest help at present and an indispensable part of his future plans.
Danzo is ambitious and capable, and has the backing of the powerful intelligence and execution organization “Root”.
This is an advantage.
But Danzo’s disadvantages are equally obvious.
His style of doing things is too sinister and cruel, and can even be said to be unscrupulous.
This made him many enemies among Konoha’s high-ranking officials and gave him a very bad reputation.
Many people fear him, but few truly respect him, let alone support him.
Moreover, Danzo seems to… lack sufficient political skills and personal charm.
He is more like a conspirator and iron-blooded executor hiding behind the scenes, rather than a qualified leader who can unite people and gather strength.
This can be seen from the fact that he missed the position of Hokage several times.
If Danzo only relied on himself, it would be extremely difficult to become Hokage.
Maybe even… he will always be just a “Hokage candidate”.
And I might be the key to making up for Danzo’s shortcomings!
I can become the “yang side” of Danzo!
Use a gentler, smoother, and even more “open and aboveboard” way to deal with things that Danzo is not convenient to handle personally.
Use your own “wisdom” and “charm” (of course, disguise is often required) to unite those forces that can be united and to win the support of those centrists.
Use his “foresight” about the future (from past life memories and system prompts) to help Danzo avoid risks and seize opportunities.
At the same time, he must also build up a power that is entirely his own!
We can’t put all our hopes on Danzo.
After all, Danzo has a strong desire for control and his mind is deep and unpredictable.
If I were to completely depend on him, I would most likely end up becoming his pawn, or even be ruthlessly abandoned after he achieved his goal.
He must have his own power and trump cards that he can absolutely control!
The whistleblower system is the most powerful and secretive support in his hands!
He needs to use this system more effectively!
It’s not just about collecting some insignificant little secrets in exchange for some basic skills.
Instead, you should target those key figures who really hold the power! Dig out the “dirty information” that is fatal to them! Get their “weak point”! In this way, you can get higher-level system rewards, or even… directly intervene in the direction of some important events and make them develop in a direction that is beneficial to you!
He began to think about how to perfectly combine the system’s powerful ability to “see into people’s hearts and uncover secrets” with his father’s “Root” organization’s intelligence network throughout Konoha, and… the “special cooperative relationship” that might be established with Orochimaru in the future (for example, in forbidden technique research, intelligence sharing, etc.)!
If he can do this, he will have a super intelligence and control network that covers the entire Konoha and can even radiate to the entire ninja world, integrating intelligence gathering, digging up black material, intervening in events, and even… manipulating public opinion. It is his own unique…super intelligence and control network!
What a terrifying power that would be? !
Thinking of this, Shimura Aki’s breathing became a little rapid, and his eyes flashed with unprecedented ambition and light!
He seemed to have seen that in the near future, he would be like a chess player hidden behind the scenes, gently moving the chess pieces on the board, and inadvertently affecting the fate of countless people and changing the entire world pattern!
Of course, he also knew that this was not something that could be achieved overnight.
This requires a long time, careful planning, and… cautiousness at every step.
But at least, he already has a clear direction and goal.
A grand chess game spanning decades slowly took shape in his mind.
The first and most basic step: continue to improve your personal strength madly!
No matter how many strategies and tricks he has, in this ninja world where strength is respected, without strong enough personal force to support him, everything is just a castle in the air and vulnerable!
He must improve his strength to at least the level of a jonin as soon as possible! Only when he reaches this level, he will have the basic ability to protect himself and the qualifications to participate in the magnificent events in the future (such as the Third Ninja World War, the Nine-Tails Rebellion, the Uchiha Clan Extermination, etc.) instead of just wandering around in some minor events like now.
To do this, he needs to train harder, use the system rewards more effectively, and even… strive for and learn more powerful ninjutsu and forbidden techniques at all costs!
The second step is to deepen the relationship with those “potential stocks” and transform them into your future helpers, or… at least controllable collaborators!
Tsunade, the future Fifth Hokage, the pinnacle of medical ninjutsu, and the princess of the Senju clan.
The relationship with her must continue to be maintained and deepened.
Although that “little secret” handle is useful, it cannot be used often.
He needs to take a longer-term perspective to manage this relationship.
Perhaps… through joint progress in the medical field, or by “helping out” at certain critical moments, he could gradually change Tsunade’s impression of him, and transform her from “forced cooperation” to “active trust”?
Orochimaru, a mad scientist who is evaluated by the system as a “super high potential black material target”.
The connection with him is even more important! The forbidden techniques and core technologies he possesses are of inestimable value to Shimura Aki’s future strength and power development! We must find a way to get closer to him, gain his trust (even if it is a trust of mutual benefit), and establish a certain degree of “strategic partnership” with him! Of course, when dancing with a snake, we must always be vigilant to prevent backlash.
Jiraiya? Although this future “lecherous sage” seems unreliable, his intelligence capabilities (all over the ninja world), connections (such as Myoboku Mountain), and sense of responsibility at critical moments are not without value.
Maybe… I could try to establish some “inappropriate” friendship with him?
The third step is to gradually infiltrate the power core of Konoha and pave the way for his father Danzo to ascend to the throne. At the same time, in the process, he must constantly enhance his own voice and influence and lay the foundation for his future path to becoming the “fifth generation”.
This requires him to participate more actively in the affairs of “Root”, demonstrate his abilities, gain Danzo’s trust, and gradually gain access to the core power of “Root”.
Chapter 59 Clues of Survivors (Old Version)
It is not just a “plug-in” that can provide skill rewards, but more like a “super intelligence analyzer” and “destiny navigator” that can see into people’s hearts, reveal secrets, and even predict the future to some extent!
From the initial accurate positioning of Tsunade’s secret, to the later hint that there might be a deeper secret behind Utatane Koharu’s cleanliness, to this time’s warning to Orochimaru’s “high potential black material target”…
Every time, the system demonstrates its powerful capabilities in information collection and analysis!
In this world of Naruto full of conspiracy, lies and calculations, mastering information is equivalent to mastering the initiative! Mastering the secrets of others is equivalent to mastering the weapon to control others!
The [Disclosure System] is the sharpest and most secretive weapon in his hands!
He even had a hunch that as his strength improved and he continued to unlock the system’s functions, this system might be able to display more and more incredible functions in the future! For example… directly intervening in the direction of certain events? Even… modifying the memory or cognition of certain people? (Of course, this was just his guess, the system had not yet demonstrated this ability).
No matter what, he must firmly grasp this system in his own hands, make good use of it, and maximize its value!
It will be the strongest helper for achieving his core goals – the fourth generation of Danzo, the fifth generation of the protagonist, and the expansion of the Shimura family! No other!
He needs to continue to explore more functions of the system, such as the “System Mall” that has just been unlocked but is still empty. What good things can he redeem?
He also needs to be more proactive in completing the tasks issued by the system, collecting higher quality “black material”, and obtaining more “disclosure points” in order to upgrade the system and unlock more powerful capabilities!
There was a determined and fiery light flashing in Shimura Akira’s eyes.
Phase One is just the beginning.
The road ahead is still long and difficult.
But he was ready.
For the ambition in his heart and to control his own destiny, he will create his own…storm in this magnificent world of Naruto!
After a comprehensive review and assessment of his own strengths and system potential, Shimura Aki began to turn his attention to another equally crucial aspect – interpersonal relationships.
In this intricate ninja world full of conflicts of interest and emotional ties, no one can truly fight alone.
If you want to achieve your grand goal, it is far from enough to rely solely on personal strength and system assistance.
He must learn to manage and utilize various interpersonal relationships and keep those potential “resources” and “help” firmly in his own hands.
He carefully sorted out the several important interpersonal relationships he had established since he traveled through time.
First, there’s Tsunade.
This line can be said to be the first “important” relationship that he took the initiative to establish and successfully established after coming to this world.
Although the cause was not very glorious and it was “forced cooperation” achieved by knowing each other’s “little secrets”, after this period of “guidance” and being “guided”, as well as some deliberate “interaction” and “influence”, the relationship between them seemed to have quietly changed from the initial pure coercion and disgust to a more subtle and complex form.
Tsunade still loves him (the love here refers more to the appreciation of his talent and a certain expectation for his growth) and hates him (hates that he has found something on her and hates that he is as cunning as a fox).
But that kind of pure hostility has dissipated a lot.
She began to view her “guidance” of him as a long-term “investment”, and even subconsciously protected him at times.
This is undoubtedly a positive signal.
Shimura Aki knew that Tsunade’s line had huge room for operation in the future.
She is not only the future Fifth Hokage, but also the princess of the Senju clan, possessing abundant resources and connections.
If he could truly transform her into his “ally”, or at least… a “partner” who could be used for his own benefit, it would bring immeasurable help to his future plans.
Of course, this requires time, patience, and more sophisticated means.
We can no longer rely solely on that “little secret”. If you use it too much, it will become ineffective and may even cause a backlash.
He needs to find new opportunities and new common interests to maintain and deepen this relationship.
Secondly, there is his father, Danzo Shimura.
This line is his most important and most dangerous reliance in this world.
The relationship between him and Danzo is essentially one of mutual exploitation and calculation.
Danzo viewed him as his successor, a tool and pawn to realize his own ambitions, and trained and invested in him.
He used the resources and platform provided by Danzo to quickly improve his strength and accumulate capital.
At present, this mutually beneficial relationship is still stable.
Danzo’s “expectations” for him are constantly increasing, and he is willing to invest more attention and resources in him.
This is an important way for him to gain strength and power.
But Shimura Akiya is clearly aware that this relationship is based on “values”.
Once he lost his usefulness or showed any signs of being out of control, Danzo would abandon him without hesitation.
Therefore, while constantly demonstrating his own “value”, he must also always be wary of Danzo’s control and suspicion, gradually cultivate his own strength, and prepare for possible “showdown” or “independence” in the future.
This line is like walking on thin ice, and every step must be taken with caution.
Then, it’s Utane Koharu.
Through his skillful handling of the last “anti-corruption incident”, he successfully established an initial “favorable impression” from Elder Xiaochun that he was “delicate in mind, keen in observation, sensible in behavior, and still had integrity”.
Although this kind of goodwill was still shallow and far from trust, at least he left a relatively positive impression in the mind of this senior advisor of Konoha.
This line may play an unexpected “surprise weapon” role in the future power game among Konoha’s top leaders.
For example, at certain critical moments, Elder Koharu might make some decisions that are favorable to him or Danzo because of her “good impression” of him? Or, when Danzo clashes with other senior officials, she might choose to remain neutral, or even… secretly give some support?
Chapter 60: The Truth Comes Out After Drinking (Old Version)
Of course, all this is just speculation.
He needs to continue looking for opportunities to further deepen this “good” relationship with Elder Xiaochun without exposing his own intentions.
Finally, there is Orochimaru, who I just met for the first time.
This line is currently just a “foreshadowing” full of unknowns and temptations.
The system’s evaluation of Orochimaru as an “extremely high potential black material target” and the slight “interest” Orochimaru showed in him both foreshadowed a wonderful story that might happen between them in the future.
Shimura Aki knows the value of Orochimaru.
The forbidden techniques, core technologies, and persistent exploration of the mysteries of life that he possesses are of immeasurable appeal to Shimura Aki’s future strength improvement, power development, and even… the achievement of certain “special goals” (such as extending life? Gaining more powerful strength?).
If he could establish a certain degree of “cooperative relationship” with Orochimaru (even if it was a cooperation of mutual benefit and gain for each other’s needs), it would definitely be a great help to him!
Of course, dealing with an extremely dangerous person like Orochimaru also requires great cost and high risk.
If you are not careful, he might devour you without leaving even a bone.
But Shimura Aki has never been one to shy away from risks.
He believes that risks and opportunities coexist!
He has decided to make Orochimaru one of his key “conqueror” targets in the future!
In addition to these main lines of interpersonal relationships, there are also some potential relationships that can be developed.
For example, Kenta, the servant of the Sarutobi family who obeys his orders, although of low status, may be able to provide some unexpected information at critical moments.
For example, if he can successfully persuade one or two of the potential young members of the “Root” organization whom he is secretly observing, they can become his right-hand men in the future.
In his mind, Shimura Aki silently placed these interpersonal relationships one by one, like chess pieces on a chessboard, analyzing their respective characteristics, values, and weaknesses that could be exploited.
He deeply realized that if he wanted to gain a foothold and develop in this world, he not only needed strong personal strength, but also a carefully woven and intricate network of interpersonal relationships! This network would become a strong support for him to obtain information, integrate resources, and achieve his goals!
Maintaining and developing these interpersonal relationships will be something he will need to devote a lot of effort and wisdom to for a long time in the future.
Just as Shimura Aki was sorting out his interpersonal relationships and thinking deeply about future plans, his system for revealing information also quietly underwent some new changes due to a series of previous “efforts”.
After a period of “accumulation”, the value representing “black material points” on Shimura Aki’s system panel is finally no longer a pitiful zero.
——Tsunade’s C+ grade black material “Heroes’ Stories: Three Houses, Snow and Moon”, although it was not directly awarded points as a novice mission reward, the system seemed to have recognized its value in the subsequent evaluation and gave it a not-so-small “start-up capital”.
——He also received some points for exposing the D-rank (system rating, although he felt it should be higher) corruption scandal of Chunin Kuroda.
——There are also some “white”-level little secrets about the Shimura family’s servants or other insignificant little people that he collected through daily observation and system scanning (such as laziness, hiding food, talking bad about people behind their backs, etc.). Although the value of each one is extremely low, they accumulate over time and contribute a few insignificant points.
Adding all the facts together, his “black material points” finally reached a value that the system considered suitable for “initial upgrade”.
【Ding! It is detected that the host’s current black material points have reached the primary upgrade threshold.
Do you want to consume all current points to upgrade the system to a primary level? 】
The system prompt sounded in his mind.
“Basic system upgrade?” Shimura Aki’s mind moved.
He had long been dissatisfied with the simple system panel and limited functions.
Now that he finally has the chance to upgrade, he naturally won’t let it go!
“What changes will there be in the system after the upgrade?” he asked cautiously.
[Ding! The primary system upgrade will mainly improve the following functions:]【1. Expanded scanning range: The initial scanning range will be significantly improved and is no longer limited to close contact or long-term observation.
【2. Improved scanning accuracy: For non-powerful targets, the accuracy and completeness of the information obtained by scanning will be improved.
[3. Enhanced insight into black material: The system’s sensitivity to potential “black material” and its ability to assess its value will be slightly improved.
[4. The types of goods in the system mall have been initially expanded: more basic types of redeemable goods will be unlocked (requires consumption of explosive points).
[Note: Higher-level system functions, such as graph analysis, event deduction, directional search, etc., need to be unlocked in subsequent higher-level upgrades.
Scanning range expanded! Scanning accuracy improved! Black material insight enhanced! Mall products expanded!
Every change made Shimura Aki feel very excited! Especially the expansion of the scanning range, which meant that his efficiency in obtaining black material would be greatly improved! He no longer had to take risks to get close to the target or spend a lot of time observing it as before!
“Okay! I choose to upgrade!” Shimura Aki made the decision without hesitation.
[Ding! Received host’s command.
Start consuming black material points…points consumed…system primary upgrade begins…】
As the system prompt sounded, Shimura Aki felt as if his consciousness was enveloped by a gentle energy.
The crude translucent system panel in his mind began to flash bright white light!
The light lasted for about ten seconds and then gradually dissipated.
When the system panel stabilized again, Shimura Aki discovered that it seemed… that there had not been much change in appearance, and it was still so simple.
It’s just that the fonts on the panel seem to have become a little clearer and more standardized?
【Ding! System primary upgrade completed! 】
[Current system level: Primary (Lv.1)][Scanning range: Increased to the edge area covered by the host’s normal perception ability.
[Scanning accuracy: For targets of Chunin and below, clearer information can be obtained; for targets of Jonin and above, the information obtained is still vague or limited.
Chapter 61 Confirmation and Upgrade of Black Material (Old Version)
[Black material insight: increased by 15%.
[System Mall: New product categories added – Basic Ninja Tools, Basic Medicinal Materials, Basic Sealing Technique Knowledge (fragmented).
Shimura Aki carefully read the upgraded system instructions, his heart full of anticipation.
The most significant change is the expansion of the scanning range! “The edge area that the host’s normal perception can cover”… This range is huge! For a trained ninja, the normal perception range is at least tens of meters or even hundreds of meters! This means that as long as the target appears in his field of vision or perception range, he may scan it!
Moreover, the scanning accuracy has also been improved, and clearer information can be obtained for targets of Chunin and below! This will provide great convenience for his subsequent investigation of Mitomonen and Utatane Koharu (mainly the people around them)!
The black material insight is improved by 15%. Although this may not sound like much, it may play a key role in discovering those deeply hidden secrets.
The system mall was finally no longer an empty shelf! Although the new additions were only some basic ninja tools, basic medicinal materials, and basic sealing techniques knowledge (fragmented), it at least showed that as long as he could earn enough explosive points, he could exchange for real good things from the system!
Shimura Aki couldn’t wait to test the upgraded system functions.
He walked to the window and looked at a Konoha ninja who looked like an ordinary Chunin who was patrolling the street in the distance.
The ninja was at least seventy or eighty meters away from him.
In the past, the system would never be able to scan at this distance and level of unfamiliarity.
But now…
Shimura Akira concentrated and silently said in his mind: “System, scan the patrolling Chunin ahead.”
[Ding! Scan command detected, target: unknown Chunin (distance 78 meters).
Target strength assessment: Early Chunin stage.
Mental resistance: Average.
Scan risk: Low.
Confirm the scan.
It really works!
As the scan progressed, some vague information about that Chunin began to appear in Shimura Aki’s mind intermittently.
“Name: Hiroshi Saeki.
Age: 27.
Chakra attributes: fire, earth.
Ninjutsu: Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique, Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall… Personal Habit: Likes to chew hay roots while on patrol… Recent worries: Not enough money for my daughter’s tuition…”
Although the information is still not particularly detailed, and a lot of it is just basic data and harmless little secrets, it is already a huge improvement compared to the state before the upgrade when almost nothing was scanned out!
Moreover, among these information, there was also a “potential black material clue” that made Shimura Aki’s eyes light up:
“…Suspected of having improper financial dealings with the owner of the weapons store (involving kickbacks for purchasing a small amount of low-quality ninja tools)…”
Although it is only “suspected” and the level is estimated not to be too high, it is enough to prove that the upgraded system’s ability to discover “black material clues” has indeed been improved!
“That’s great!” Shimura Aki clenched his fists excitedly.
This means that his efficiency in obtaining black material will be increased exponentially! He no longer needs to go to great lengths to create opportunities and get close to the target before he can scan it, as he did before!
Now, as long as he walks on the streets of Konoha, every person he sees may become a potential source of “black material” for him!
His gaze involuntarily turned once again to the core power area of ​​Konoha Village – the Hokage Building, and… the residences of the two advisors, Mito Kado En and Utane Koharu!
Previously, due to the limitations of his strength and system functions, his investigation into these two “big fishes” had been slow, and he could only rely on some peripheral intelligence and groundless speculation.
But now, with the upgraded system, he is confident that he can dig deeper into the secrets that may be hidden in them!
Especially Mitomon En!
Compared to Utane Koharu’s “cleanliness obsession” quirk (although it is also very useful, it is just a personal habit after all), Shimura Aki hopes to find the “real black material” on Mito Kado En… which is more lethal, deeper, and more related to power struggles and interest disputes!
Because, based on the fragmentary information he obtained from Danzo, as well as his own analysis and judgment, Mitomon En, this seemingly serious and rigid conservative advisor who emphasizes rules and traditions, is probably… not as simple and “clean” as he appears on the surface!
The secret missions he had participated in in his early years…his secret connections with certain fallen families…his “special” decisions during the Ninja World Wars…and the complex and subtle competitive relationship between him and his father, Danzo…
These may hide unknown secrets!
Shimura Aki decided to focus his main attention on Mitomon En from now on!
Of course, directly scanning Mitomon En himself is still extremely risky.
Although the system has been upgraded, facing a strong person of this level, rashly scanning it would be tantamount to seeking death.
Therefore, his strategy is still to start from the outside.
Use the upgraded system to scan those who have had contact with Mitomon Yan or know some of his early experiences! For example, his former teammates (if they are still alive)? His students? Or… some insiders in his family?
At the same time, he also needs to go deeper into the scattered information about Mitomon En collected by the “Root” organization.
Although most of the information has been screened and processed, by combining it with the new clues scanned by the system for analysis, perhaps some overlooked clues can be discovered!
“Mito Kado En…what kind of secrets are hidden in you?” A cold arc appeared at the corner of Shimura Aki’s mouth, and his eyes flashed with the excitement of a hunter discovering his prey.
A more secretive and in-depth “dig up black material” operation targeting Konoha’s senior advisors is about to be quietly launched under his planning!
He knew that this would be a more difficult and dangerous challenge.
But in order to realize his own ambitions and to gain more powerful strength, he… has no hesitation!
The improved scanning capability brought by the system upgrade is like giving Shimura Aki, the cheetah lurking in the shadows, a pair of sharper eyes.
He began to use the system more frequently and more boldly (of course, on the premise of ensuring safety) to spy on the various secrets hidden beneath the seemingly peaceful Konoha Village.
Chapter 62: New Issues, Old Confrontations (Old Version)
He set his main “hunting” target firmly on Mitomon En, a senior advisor of Konoha.
Compared to Utane Koharu’s relatively “superficial” weakness of cleanliness, Shimura Aki is more eager to dig out the deeper, more “lethal” black material of Mito Kado En, which can even directly affect his political status!
Because, judging from the various information he currently has, the character of Mitomon En is far more complicated than he appears.
On the surface, he is a conservative elder who is serious, law-abiding, and emphasizes tradition and order.
In various high-level meetings, he always spoke carefully, quoted classics, and put on an attitude of “everything is for the overall interests of Konoha.”
But Shimura Aki always felt that beneath his serious mask, there was something unknown hidden.
Perhaps it was some mistakes he made when he was young? Perhaps it was some shady conflicts of interest? Or perhaps… some dark past events that were completely contrary to his current “glorious image”?
If he wants to directly scan Mitomon En himself and obtain these core secrets, it is still a pipe dream with Shimura Aki’s current strength and system level, and the risk is too high to bear.
Therefore, he adopted a strategy of “saving the country by taking a roundabout way”.
He began to take advantage of his access to fringe intelligence from the Root organization, as well as… the archival materials about Konoha’s history and high-level figures that he could occasionally “accidentally” flip through in his father Danzo’s study (of course, most of these materials were public or processed, and he had no access to core secrets), combined with the upgraded system’s enhanced “scanning” and “information correlation analysis” capabilities, and began to conduct a carpet-style “investigation” and “digging” into Mito Kado En’s past experiences.
He focused on some important missions that Mitomon En participated in in his early years, especially those related to war or involving major decisions and sacrifices.
Because, the more extreme and chaotic the environment is, the more easily human weaknesses and hidden secrets will be exposed.
Since Danzo was satisfied with his “growing talents and loyalty” and also intended to cultivate his ability to handle intelligence and analyze situations, after Shimura Aki made a “legitimate request” to consult some “archives about Konoha’s early construction and war history in order to better understand the Will of Fire and the development of the village”, Danzo thought for a moment and agreed.
Of course, the access permissions Danzo granted him were extremely limited.
He can only access some relatively public copies of archives, or those that have been strictly screened and desensitized.
He would never be able to see the real core secrets, such as top-secret documents involving assassination, treason, or power struggles within the upper echelons.
But even so, for Shimura Aki, who has a whistleblower system, these seemingly ordinary archival materials are like puzzles waiting to be solved, full of infinite possibilities.
He spent a lot of time hiding in his room or in the corner of Danzo’s study, carefully reading those yellowed scrolls and documents that exuded the scent of old ink.
He not only reads the written records, but also combines the system to focus on analyzing and linking the people, time, place, events mentioned in the archives, as well as… those “suspicious points” that are deliberately blurred or glossed over between the lines.
Just when he was about to be overwhelmed by these boring and complicated files and was about to lose his patience, a sealed file about an important strategic mission code-named “Iron Wall” carried out by Konoha during the First Ninja World War caught his attention.
This file records a crucial blocking battle that took place on the border between the Fire Kingdom and the Iron Kingdom.
At that time, Konoha was facing attacks from enemies from multiple directions, and the situation was extremely serious.
The purpose of this “Iron Wall” mission is to withstand the enemy’s fierce attack at all costs on the most critical border defense line of the Iron Kingdom, and to buy precious time for the mobilization and counterattack of Konoha’s main forces.
The leader of the mission was none other than the young Sarutobi Hiruzen!
His teammates were all famous figures in Konoha in the future – Shimura Danzo, Mito Kado En, Utatane Koharu, and several other elite jonin who performed well in the war! It can be said that this was almost the most luxurious lineup among the young generation of Konoha at that time!
The archives record in detail the mission’s background, objectives, the deployment of both sides’ forces, the brutal course of the battle, and… the final result.
The result was… Konoha successfully completed the blocking mission, but at a heavy price! Almost everyone in the elite team that participated in the mission was injured, and even several powerful jonin died on the spot! Even the leader of the team, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was seriously injured!
There doesn’t seem to be anything special about the records in this file.
War is inherently cruel and sacrifice is inevitable.
However, Shimura Aki, with his extraordinary intuition and system-assisted analysis, smelled a hint of…unusual smell!
The doubts mainly focus on the description of Mitomon En’s performance during a key combat phase of the mission.
According to the mission records, at the critical moment when the battle was most intense and Konoha’s defense line was about to be breached, Mito Kado En was responsible for guarding a relatively weak but strategically extremely important pass on the flank of the entire defense line.
If this pass is lost, the enemy will be able to outflank us from the flank and the entire Konoha defense line will collapse!
However, the description in the archives of how Mitomon En withstood the pressure and defended the pass seemed unusually… vague and brief.
Only a few words were used, some clichéd phrases like “Mitomon Enjojonin remained calm in the face of danger, commanded the situation with confidence, successfully repelled several fierce attacks from the enemy, and ensured the safety of the flank.”
Compared to the detailed description of key battle details such as Sarutobi Hiruzen fighting bloody battles on the front line, or Danzo using surprise troops to break out of the siege, this record about Mito Kado En is simply like… it has been deliberately simplified and whitewashed!
Moreover, Shimura Aki noticed a detail.
In the post-war casualty report, although the pass that Mitomon En was in charge of was finally defended, the casualty rate of his ninjas was significantly higher than that of other defense areas! There were even some records of “non-combat casualties”, with the reasons marked as “missing” or “accidental”!
This is so abnormal!
An experienced jonin, in such an important strategic position, his ninjas suffered heavy casualties, and even “disappeared” and “accidentally” occurred, and the records of how he commanded the battle were so vague…
There is definitely something fishy going on here!
Shimura Aki immediately input these doubts into the system, and combined with the information provided in the archives, such as the battlefield situation map at the time, the approximate comparison of the enemy and our forces, and the strength assessment of the participants, he allowed the system to conduct focused analysis and deduction.
Chapter 63 A “Good Will” Visit (Old Version)
We are currently conducting an in-depth analysis of the relevant records about Mitomon En in the “Iron Wall” mission file…】
[Data integration in progress… battlefield situation simulation in progress… personnel behavior logic deduction in progress…]After a period of calculation, the system came up with a conclusion that made Shimura Akito shudder with fear!
[System speculation: Based on comprehensive analysis of existing information, the target person Mitomon Yan, during the critical battle phase of the “Iron Wall” mission, has the following highly likely behaviors (probability from high to low):][1. Cowardice/Command errors: When faced with an unexpectedly fierce attack from the enemy, Mito Kadokawa may fail to effectively organize the defense due to misjudgment or personal cowardice, resulting in a major crisis in the area under his charge, and may even lead to a breach in the defense line or an unauthorized retreat in a short period of time.
The high casualty rate and “non-combat attrition” among the ninjas under his command may be directly related to this.
[2. Preserving Strength/Passively Avoiding Battle: Mitomon En may not have gone all out in the battle in order to preserve his own strength or the power of his family, and may even have deliberately avoided direct conflict with the enemy’s main force, causing his friendly forces to bear greater pressure.
[3. Internal conflicts/blaming others: It is not ruled out that there were conflicts within the team at that time. Mitomon En may have taken advantage of the chaotic battlefield situation and done something that harmed the interests of his companions or even blamed others in order to cover up his own mistakes or seek personal gain.
[Conclusion: Regardless of the specific situation, the vague treatment of Mitomon En’s combat performance in the archives, as well as the abnormal casualties of his ninjas, strongly suggest that he had hidden “tainted” behavior in this mission that could have a serious negative impact on his reputation and political career! ]Deserting from the battlefield?! Wrong decision?! Preserving strength?! Or even… blaming others?!
Looking at the speculations given by the system, Shimura Aki’s breathing couldn’t help but quicken!
If…if any of these possibilities can be confirmed, it will be a heavy piece of black material that is enough to shake Mitomon En’s political position and may even ruin his reputation!
A “hero” who is afraid of death in a crucial battle, or who causes the tragic sacrifice of his companions due to personal mistakes, will have his halo shattered in an instant! The image of “steady and reliable” and “taking the overall situation into consideration” that he has worked hard to build among the Konoha high-level officials for many years will also completely collapse!
This… this is simply like finding a huge treasure!
Shimura Aki’s eyes instantly burst into a fiery light! He seemed to have seen the scene where he could use this black material to successfully control Mitomon En and use him for his own purposes, and even… help his father Danzo to completely overthrow this political enemy!
“System, what is the temporary level of this black material?” He asked, suppressing his excitement.
【Ding! Based on the indirectness and ambiguity of the current evidence, this black material is temporarily rated as: Purple Level B (highly suspected, to be confirmed).
If we can find conclusive direct evidence to confirm its core content, the black material level will be highly likely to be upgraded to Gold A level, or even… higher! 】
B-level (to be confirmed)! Once confirmed, the value is immeasurable!
Shimura Aki’s heart was pounding! He knew that this time, he might have really caught the tail of a “big fish”!
He immediately put all his energy and resources (mainly the information access rights obtained from the system and the “root”) into the in-depth investigation of this “Iron Wall” mission!
He needs to find more supporting materials to verify the system’s speculation!
He began to frantically review all the archival materials related to the mission.
Not only the records of Konoha, but they even tried to use some special channels of “Root” to find the records of the enemy side (mainly the troops of Iwagakure Village and Kumogakure Village) about that battle or the confessions of prisoners (if any).
He also tried to find other survivors of the mission.
In addition to the three senior leaders Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzo, and Koharu, there were also several elite jonin who participated in the mission.
Although most of them died in the war, maybe… there were still one or two who survived by chance, and for some reason, left the power core of Konoha and lived in seclusion in some inconspicuous corner? If we can find them and get some of the real situation from them, it will be of great value!
Of course, all of this must be done in extreme secrecy! No one must be aware of his true intentions! Especially Mitomon Yan himself must not be allowed to know that someone is investigating his past that may not be glorious!
This is an extremely difficult and dangerous task.
Every time I check the files and every time I look for clues, it is like dancing on the edge of a knife.
He had to be careful not to leave any traces.
After a period of hard work, although he still did not find the “ironclad evidence” that could be conclusive (such as a confession written by Mitomon En himself, or direct testimony from a key figure), more and more indirect evidence and circumstantial evidence, like pieces of a puzzle, gradually came together, making the system’s initial speculation become clearer and closer to the truth!
For example, he discovered in a dusty post-war material consumption report that the consumption of ammunition and medical supplies in the defense zone in charge of Mito Kado En was significantly lower than that of other defense zones of the same size. This was in sharp contrast to the high casualty rate of the ninjas under his command, and seemed to confirm the possibility that he was “passively avoiding war and preserving strength.”
For another example, by analyzing several briefings about the battle from different sources (some of which were even from the enemy), he found that the flank pass that Mitomon Yan was in charge of did have a defensive vacuum during a certain period of time, and the enemy almost took advantage of it! But there was no mention of this in the archives!
There are also some scattered rumors that are hard to tell whether they are true or false, saying that after the battle ended, Mitomon En was severely reprimanded by the Second Hokage Tobirama for his poor command, and was almost dismissed…
Although these are not enough to constitute direct evidence, they are enough to make Shimura Aki 70% to 80% sure about Mitomon En’s “dark history”!
He knew that he had a very intimidating…ace card in his hand!
The next step is to wait for a suitable opportunity to play this trump card…!
The opportunity did not make him wait too long.
Chapter 64: Yan’s cold sweat and “rethinking” (old version)
About half a month later, Konoha’s top leaders held an important meeting to adjust border defense deployment and reallocate strategic resources.
This kind of meeting, which involves the core interests of the village and the redistribution of power, has always been a battlefield for competition among various forces.
The meeting was held in the conference room on the top floor of the Hokage Building.
Sitting around the long oval conference table were some of the most powerful people in Konoha Village.
The first one is naturally the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen.
He was wearing the Hokage’s divine robe and had a calm expression, but there was a barely perceptible hint of fatigue and solemnity in his eyes.
Obviously, the recent events in and outside the village have made him very worried.
On his left and right sat two Hokage advisors – Mito Kado En and Utane Koharu.
Mizuto Menen still had a serious and rigid look on his face. There was a cup of tea in front of him, and he would take a sip from time to time.
Utane Koharu seemed relatively relaxed, with a faint smile on her face, but her eyes kept scanning other people’s faces, obviously observing their reactions.
On the other side of the conference table sat Danzo Shimura.
He was wearing a dark kimono, his face expressionless, and his one eye as sharp as an eagle’s, giving people a great sense of oppression.
Shimura Aki, as Danzo’s “assistant” (mainly responsible for recording the key points of the meeting and serving tea and water, which was specially arranged by Danzo in order to make him familiar with the high-level operations as soon as possible), sat on a small stool not far from Danzo, with his head down, holding a pen and paper in his hand, pretending to take notes seriously.
But his eyes hidden under his bangs were quietly observing everyone in the conference room and the subtle atmosphere between them.
After the meeting began, the first issue discussed was the issue of the northern border defense line bordering the Cloud Village in the Land of Lightning.
Recently, the military activities of the Hidden Cloud Village in that area have become quite frequent and seem to be provocative.
“…I think we must strengthen the defenses on the northern border, especially the strategic fortress of Thunder Canyon. We must send at least one squadron of troops, and give priority to replenishing the latest weapons and equipment and medical supplies!” Danzo spoke first, his tone firm and unquestionable.
Shimura Akira’s heart moved slightly.
Thunder Canyon? He had some impression of this place.
It seems to be an important stronghold of the “Root” organization on the northern border, and also a key piece in some of Danzo’s future plans.
It seems that my father wants to take this opportunity to legitimately strengthen his power there.
“Danzo, your proposal is a bit too hasty.”
Mitomon En put down his teacup and spoke slowly, his voice steady and full of authority that could not be refuted, “At present, the actions of the Hidden Cloud Village are only small-scale tests, and there is no clear sign of war.
Our Konoha has just experienced a war and has a lot of work to do. Our finances and military forces are quite tight.
If too many resources are invested in the northern border, it will inevitably affect the defense of other areas and even slow down the reconstruction of the village.”
He paused, glanced at Sarutobi Hiruzen, and continued, “Moreover, Thunder Canyon is in a strategic location, easy to defend but difficult to attack.
Our existing military strength, combined with the fortress’s defensive fortifications, is sufficient to deal with general provocations.
There is no need to make such a large additional investment.
I suggest that we strengthen intelligence reconnaissance appropriately and keep a close eye on the movements of the Hidden Cloud Village, but it is not appropriate to increase troops and materials on a large scale for the time being.”
Mizutomon En’s words made sense and seemed more prudent from the perspective of the village’s overall strategy and finances.
After listening to this, Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned slightly and fell into deep thought.
He knew that Danzo had selfish motives in his proposal, but he also understood that the importance of the northern border could not be ignored.
And Mizuto Menyan’s concerns are indeed practical problems.
For a moment, he was a little bit difficult to decide.
Utane Koharu was holding a teacup on the side, not expressing her opinion immediately, as if she was observing the development of the situation.
“Hmph! Inappropriate?” Danzo sneered, staring at Mitomon En with sharp eyes, “En, you are too soft-hearted! Do you have to wait until the iron hooves of the Hidden Cloud Village break through the Thunder Canyon and threaten the heartland of the Land of Fire before you think it is appropriate?! War is never prepared until the enemy comes knocking on your door! Prepare for a rainy day and prevent trouble before it happens, this is the best policy!”
“I’m not saying we should not be prepared, but we should allocate resources appropriately based on the actual situation.”
Mitomon En refused to back down and confronted Danzo, “Thunder Canyon is certainly important, but which of the Mist Village in the east and the Sand Village in the south doesn’t require our efforts to guard against? If we concentrate our limited resources on one point, how will we respond if problems arise in other places?!”
The two of them argued back and forth, the argument became more and more intense, and the atmosphere in the meeting room became tense.
Shimura Aki lowered his head and quickly wrote on the paper with the pen in his hand, but his mind was not on the writing at all.
He knew that the opportunity…had come!
This is a perfect opportunity to play the “trump card” in your hand regarding Mitomon En!
He took a deep breath, quickly calculating the wording and timing in his mind.
Just when the argument between Danzo and Mito Kado En reached a stalemate, Sarutobi Hiruzen also looked troubled, not knowing how to make a decision.
Shimura Aki stood up, picked up the teapot on the table, walked slowly to Mito Kado En’s side, and prepared to refill his tea.
This was part of his job as an “assistant” and would not arouse anyone’s suspicion.
He bent down and carefully poured the tea into Mitomon En’s exquisite teacup with a green bamboo pattern painted on it.
The hot steam from the tea rises, carrying a faint fragrance.
Just as he stood up and prepared to leave, he seemed to suddenly remember something, or perhaps he was touched by the argument between the two about war and sacrifice. In a voice so low that only Mitomon En could hear it clearly, with a bit of childish emotion and… a hint of subtle meaning, he whispered:
“Elder Yan, when I was sorting out some old archives about the village’s history, I came across some records about the ‘Iron Country Border Encounter’ during the First Ninja World War…”
“Iron Country Border Encounter”!
These seven words, like seven invisible sharp blades, instantly pierced into Mizuto Menyan’s heart!
His hand holding the teacup trembled violently, and the hot tea almost spilled out of the cup!
His pupils suddenly contracted when he heard these words!
Chapter 65: Another “reversal” of the topic (old version)
The serious expression on his face that had never changed for thousands of years also showed an extremely subtle, but absolutely unconcealable…crack!
Shimura Akira seemed to be completely unaware of Mitokado En’s abnormality, and continued in that calm and slightly “innocent” tone: “…That battle was really brutal…The archives say that the warriors of Konoha paid a huge sacrifice to hold the line…I heard that many decisions on the battlefield at that time…were very testing of the commander’s wisdom, courage, and…humanity.”
When he said this, his voice was lowered even lower, and his eyes seemed to inadvertently meet Mitomon En’s gaze, which was slightly flustered due to shock.
Those eyes were crystal clear, carrying the purity unique to children and… a hint of “understanding”?
Then, he gave Mito Kado En an extremely “innocent” and “friendly” smile, as if he was just narrating an insignificant historical story that he had read in a book.
After saying that, he took the teapot and stepped aside as if nothing had happened. He sat back on his stool and lowered his head to continue “taking careful notes”, as if what he had just said was really just something he said casually.
But because of his seemingly “careless” words, the atmosphere in the conference room suddenly became… weird!
Danzo still had no expression on his face, but there was a barely perceptible gleam in the depths of his eyes.
He glanced at his son, then at Mitomon En, whose expression was obviously not right, and seemed to understand something in his heart.
Utane Koharu also frowned slightly. She was keenly aware of Mito Kado En’s loss of composure, as well as some… unusual meaning hidden in Shimura Aki’s words just now.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, on the other hand, looked back and forth between Shimura Aki and Mito Kado En with a deep gaze, as if he was weighing something.
As for the center of the incident, Mizuto Menen, his heart was already in turmoil at this moment!
The Iron Country Border Encounter! That kid… How did he know that?! And… How much did he know?!
The past event that was buried deep in his memory and which he was most reluctant to mention in his life, reappeared in his mind like a nightmare!
That brutal battle…the defense on the verge of collapse…the companions who died in front of his eyes…and…the decision he made at that critical moment of life and death…which might not have been glorious!
Almost no one knew about this incident except for a few people who were present at the time (most of them died in the battle) and the Second Hokage, Tobirama, who later participated in the investigation (although Tobirama was strict, he ultimately took the overall situation into consideration and suppressed the matter, and only gave him internal punishment)!
This little brat… where on earth did he know this? !
Could it be Danzo?! Did Danzo find out something and deliberately let his son speak out at this time to put pressure on himself?!
Mitomon Yan’s heart instantly sank to the bottom! He felt a bone-chilling chill rushing from the soles of his feet straight to his head!
He didn’t dare to gamble! He absolutely didn’t dare to gamble on the consequences of this matter being completely uncovered! Once that past event was made public, the image of “steady and reliable” and “taking the overall situation into consideration” that he had painstakingly cultivated for decades would completely collapse! His position and reputation in the upper echelons of Konoha would also suffer a devastating blow! He might even… be nailed to the pillar of shame in Konoha’s history!
He suddenly raised his head and looked at Shimura Aki who was still lowering his head to “record seriously”. His eyes were full of surprise, anger, and… a trace of deep fear and… an imperceptible panic!
This kid… he was definitely not just talking nonsense! He was warning me! He was hinting to me that he had something on me!
Thinking back to the time when this child “behaved” in front of Koharu Utatane…
Mizutomon Yan suddenly felt a chill down his spine!
This little brat from the Shimura family… who is he?! How could he be so scheming?!
He looked at Danzo across from him again.
Danzo still had no expression on his face, but in his one eye, there seemed to be a hint of… mockery and complacency?
Mizuto Menyan’s heart was growing heavier.
He knew that today, he was probably… doomed! He was doomed by this father and son!
The atmosphere in the conference room fell into an eerie silence because of this sudden change.
Everyone’s eyes fell on Mizuto Menen intentionally or unintentionally, waiting for his reaction.
Mizuto Menen’s hand holding the teacup was still trembling slightly.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil in his heart.
He knew that he had to make a choice now.
Should he continue to insist on his own opinion, fight Danzo to the end, and then take the risk of having his shameful past completely exposed?
Or… choose to compromise, give in temporarily, and preserve your reputation and status?
This is a difficult decision.
But…he didn’t seem to have much choice.
Silence lasted for about ten seconds.
Every second seemed as long as a century to Mizuto Menen.
Finally, he slowly put down the teacup in his hand, making a soft “click” sound, breaking the silence in the conference room.
He raised his head, and his face returned to that serious and rigid expression, as if the previous gaffe had never happened.
However, his voice was slightly hoarse and… tired.
“Ahem…” He cleared his throat, his eyes swept across everyone present, and finally landed on Sarutobi Hiruzen’s face, and said slowly: “Hokage-sama, regarding Danzo’s proposal just now to strengthen the defense of Thunder Canyon Fortress…”
He paused, as if weighing his words.
Then, in a tone that surprised everyone, he continued, “…I…just thought about it carefully…”
“…Although in the short term, this will indeed put some pressure on the village’s finances and military deployment.
But…” He changed the subject, “…in the long run, ensuring the absolute security of the northern border is indeed… crucial to Konoha’s future strategic development.
The threat from the Hidden Cloud Village should not be underestimated.”
“So…” He took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind, “…I personally think that Danzo’s proposal is… feasible in general.
I……
Chapter 66 Consultant’s “Swing” (Old Version)
It can be supported conditionally.”
When these words were spoken, everyone in the room was shocked!
Even Danzo, who had always had a blank expression on his face, had a flash of disbelief and surprise in his eyes!
Mitomon En… this old guy who always had his own opinion and was always against me, actually… changed his mind?! And he even said that he supported my proposal?!
Is this… is this sun rising from the west? !
Utane Koharu also had an incredible look on her face. She looked at Mito Kado En, then at Shimura Aki, who still had his head down, as if he had heard nothing. Her eyes were full of confusion and inquiry.
And Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned deeply.
He keenly felt that Mitomon Yan’s sudden change was definitely not normal! Something must have happened that he didn’t know about! And this thing was probably… related to the seemingly “inadvertent” words of Shimura Akira just now!
This kid from the Shimura family…what did he say to Yan? !
The atmosphere in the conference room became even more weird and… turbulent because of Mitomon En’s dramatic change.
Only Shimura Aki still kept his head down, but at the corner of his mouth, where no one could notice, a smile of victory appeared.
A seemingly casual “reminder” made this stubborn Hokage advisor make such a huge concession!
It seems that the “dirty information” about the “Iron Country Border Encounter” has a far greater deterrent effect on him than he imagined!
B-level (to be confirmed) black material can have such an effect! What if it is A-level or even S-level?
Shimura Aki has a deeper understanding of the power of the whistleblower system and… the dark side of human nature.
And he also looks forward to digging out more and more explosive “black material” in the future to pry open the world’s… lever of power!
Mito Kado En’s sudden “turn” was like dropping a depth charge on the calm surface of the conference room, and the ripples it caused took a long time to subside.
Everyone present, except the instigator Shimura Akira and Danzo who might have guessed some of the inside story, was confused and puzzled as to why the Hokage advisor, who was always known for his stubbornness and adherence to principles, would make such a 180-degree turn.
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned, and his deep gaze moved back and forth between Mito Kado En and Shimura Akira.
He was keenly aware that Yan’s previous loss of composure and his current statement that clearly went against his usual position were definitely related to the boy from the Shimura family who had kept his head down and seemed harmless!
What did that child whisper when he was refilling Yan’s tea just now? How could it cause Yan’s attitude to change so drastically?
Hiruzen’s mind was filled with questions and… a hint of uneasiness.
He felt that there seemed to be some factors from the dark that he could not control, which were quietly affecting the power structure of Konoha’s top leaders.
Utane Koharu also had a look of confusion on her face.
She knew better than Hiruzen that Shimura Akira was “not simple”.
Last time in the warehouse, the child influenced her judgment in a subtle and silent way.
This time, he used the same trick again, did he say something to Yan? Yan, this stubborn old man, is much harder to deal with than himself! What kind of magic does this kid have?
And after the initial surprise, Danzo couldn’t help but raise the corners of his mouth slightly, forming an arc full of pride and relief that only he could detect.
Although he didn’t know what method Qiu used to make Mitomon Yan, his old enemy, suddenly “surrender”, he didn’t care about the process! He only cared about the result!
As a result, Yan backed off! His seemingly difficult proposal actually took a turn for the better because of his son’s words!
Good! Great! You are worthy of being my son!
Danzo immediately seized this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and struck while the iron was hot!
He cleared his throat, breaking the strange silence in the conference room, and said in a somewhat “sincere” tone: “Yan, you can consider the problem from the perspective of the long-term development of the village. You are very understanding. I am… very pleased.”
He deliberately emphasized the four words “deeply understanding and righteous”, which was not only to “thank” Mitomon Yan for his “support”, but also to quietly put a high hat on him, making him unable to back down and unable to regret easily.
Then, he turned to Sarutobi Hiruzen and his tone became more resolute: “Hokage-sama, since Advisor Yan also thinks that my proposal is feasible, then for the peace of the northern border and for Konoha’s future strategic initiative, I think we should not hesitate any longer!”
As Mizuto Menen listened to Danzo’s words, his face turned pale and blue, and his heart was filled with humiliation and depression.
What a bullshit “being well-informed and righteous” thing! Your son has a hold on me, so I have no choice but to compromise!
But what could he say? Would he be caught admitting in public that he had a past he couldn’t bear to look back on? That would only make his death even more miserable!
He could only swallow his anger and resentment, and nodded with difficulty to Sarutobi Hiruzen, indicating that he agreed with Danzo’s statement.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Mito Kado En’s obviously insincere expression, and his doubts deepened.
But he knew that now was not the time to get to the bottom of it.
Since Yan has expressed his support, and Danzo’s proposal itself is not entirely unreasonable (although the timing and input are questionable), if he forcefully opposes it, it will appear to be arbitrary and detrimental to the unity of the top leaders.
“Hmm…” Sarutobi Hiruzen pondered for a moment, and finally said slowly: “In this case… the proposal to strengthen the defense of Thunder Canyon Fortress can be passed in principle.”
He still left room for maneuver, using words like “in principle” and “can”, obviously wanting to exercise control over the subsequent specific implementation details.
“However,” he changed the subject, his eyes sweeping across Danzo and Mito Kado En, “the specific troop mobilization plan, material supply standards, and related budgets must be strictly reviewed by the Armament Department and the Ministry of Finance, and a detailed implementation plan and risk assessment report must be submitted to me.
We must not affect the overall strategic balance and financial stability of the village by strengthening the defense of one point.”
These words not only agreed to the proposal, but also drew a red line for both Danzo and Mito Kado En.
Danzo heard this, and a hint of barely perceptible displeasure flashed in his eyes (he would rather be able to decide these details completely independently), but on the surface he immediately nodded and said, “Of course, Hokage.
Chapter 67: Shimura Aki’s “Merit Book” (Old Version)
Everything will be done according to the rules.”
He knew that achieving this result was already a pleasant surprise.
As for the subsequent details, he has plenty of ways to “operate” them.
In this way, a high-level meeting that could have reached a deadlock or even triggered a fierce conflict reached a “consensus” in an unexpected way because of Shimura Aki’s seemingly “inadvertent” “reminders.”
Danzo’s important proposal was finally passed.
The result of this meeting, like a stone thrown into a lake, continued to cause subsequent ripples within the small circle of Konoha’s high-level officials.
The most direct impact was that Danzo’s voice in subsequent high-level meetings increased significantly.
In the past, when discussing some important issues, Mito Kado En and Utane Koharu would usually maintain a relatively consistent position with Sarutobi Hiruzen, forming a “two to one” or “three to one” (if Hiruzen’s position was clear) situation, effectively balancing Danzo’s more radical proposals or those with obvious personal intentions.
But now, things have changed subtly.
Mitomon En’s attitude became… ambiguous.
On some issues that did not involve core principles and major interests, he would occasionally echo Danzo’s views, or simply choose to remain silent, no longer opposing them as clearly as before.
For example, when discussing whether to increase the budget for certain “special intelligence gathering projects” of the “Root” organization, Mitomon En would always be the first to jump out and refute it with reasons such as “excessive expenditure”, “unclear purpose” and “possible diplomatic risks”.
But now, he just frowned and remained silent. In the end, with Danzo’s insistence and Hiruzen’s “weighing”, the budget proposal was barely passed (although the amount was reduced).
For example, when discussing whether to conduct a “tax audit” on a family that had business dealings with the Shimura clan (which was obviously something Danzo wanted to find fault with), in the past Mito Kado En would definitely intervene on the grounds of “maintaining business order in the village” and “avoiding cracking down on normal business activities.”
But now, he just said lightly, “Everything should be done according to the rules,” and said no more.
Although this change in attitude may seem to have little impact on individual events, when accumulated, it has significantly reduced the resistance that Danzo encountered when promoting some of his own policy proposals.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Utane Koharu naturally also noticed this change in Mito Kado En.
They were all full of doubts and worries, but they didn’t dare to question them face to face.
After all, Mitokado En always had some plausible reasons for his “turnaround”, and he did not completely turn to Danzo, but only relaxed on some “minor details”.
But even so, the disruption of this delicate balance of power resulted in a small but very significant increase in the power of Shimura’s faction (or Danzo personally) among the Konoha high-level officials.
Danzo was naturally well aware of this and was happy to see it happen.
He felt like he was one step closer to that highest position.
After the high-level meeting, Danzo deliberately left Shimura Aki alone.
The study was still dark and depressing.
Danzo sat behind the desk, his single eye staring at his son in front of him like the abyss, his eyes full of scrutiny and… a hint of excitement that was difficult to conceal.
“Qiu,” he spoke slowly, his voice low but with an uncontrollable excitement, “What did you say to Mitomon Yan… at the meeting today?”
He was so curious! What kind of words could make that stubborn old man, who had been stubborn for decades, make such a dramatic change on such an important issue?
Shimura Aki had expected his father to ask this question.
He lowered his head, with an expression that was both smug and a little “embarrassed” on his face, and his tone was also a little ambiguous:
“Father, actually… I didn’t say anything special.”
He scratched his head, pretending to try to recall: “It’s just… I saw Elder Yan and my father arguing fiercely, and I was worried about my father… Then, when I was refilling Elder Yan’s tea, I suddenly remembered that when I was sorting out some old files about the First Shinobi World War, I seemed to have seen some records about the ‘Iron Country Border Encounter’…”
He roughly repeated what he had said to Mitomon En in the conference room before, but deliberately omitted the most crucial and suggestive part, and only emphasized that he “spoke from his feelings” and “mentioned it unintentionally.”
“…At that time, I just felt that the battle was too brutal, and so many companions died. As a commander, you must be under a lot of pressure, and there must be many… um… unforgettable memories, right? So… I just mentioned it casually, hoping to… I hope to remind Elder Yan of some past events, and maybe… maybe it can make him understand better your painstaking efforts to prepare for the safety of the village?”
His explanation is full of loopholes and is far-fetched.
What does it mean that “recalling the past will help me understand my father’s painstaking efforts”? This logic does not make sense!
But this is exactly the effect that Shimura Aki wanted! He wanted Danzo to feel that he had used a “powerful” method that might even have a bit of “luck” to influence Mitomon En, instead of directly telling him that he had the other party’s dirty laundry.
This is because once Danzo knew that he had the ability to dig up and use this level of black material, then while he would be delighted, he would also inevitably have a deeper fear and guard against his own abilities.
They may even try to take control of this ability into their own hands.
This is not what Shimura Aki wants.
He needs to maintain a certain sense of mystery, so that Danzo will feel that he is “unfathomable” and “loves and fears” him, so that he can gain the maximum autonomy and operating space.
Sure enough, after listening to Shimura Aki’s vague explanation, Danzo showed a hint of doubt in his eyes (he certainly didn’t believe it completely), but he didn’t continue to ask.
Because he cares more about the results!
As a result, Mitomon En really “changed his mind” because of his son’s words! His important proposal was also passed smoothly because of this!
That’s enough!
As for what means his son used…
Chapter 68: Family Honor (Old Version)
…is it a coincidence? Is it luck? Or…is there really some unknown “secret skill” or “talent”?
None of this matters!
What’s more important is that his son, Shimura Aki, has the ability to influence Konoha’s high-ranking officials like Mitomon En! He has the ability to provide him with unexpected assistance at critical moments!
This ability, even more than the ninjutsu talent and intelligence analysis skills he had demonstrated before, made Danzo feel even more shocked and… ecstatic!
“Good…very good…very good!” Danzo said “good” three times in a row, his voice full of uncontrollable excitement! He even stood up from his seat, walked to Shimura Aki, stretched out his bandaged hand, and patted his son’s shoulder heavily!
“Qiu! You did a great job! It far exceeded my expectations!” His one eye flashed with an almost fanatical light, “I was right about you! In the future, you will definitely accomplish something earth-shattering! You may even be more capable than me!”
This heartfelt praise was the most explicit and hopeful thing Danzo had ever said to Shimura Aki!
Shimura Akira was secretly delighted, but immediately showed an expression of being flattered on his face, and quickly bowed and said, “Father, thank you for the compliment! I am just… just lucky.
It is my honor to share my father’s worries!”
“No! This is not luck!” Danzo denied categorically, his tone full of unquestionable affirmation, “This is your ability! Your wisdom! Qiu, you must remember that in this world, strength is important, but sometimes, wisdom and means are more deadly than pure force! And more… useful!”
He looked at his son deeply, his eyes full of expectation: “It seems that it is time for you to get in touch with more…real core things.
You should also be qualified to participate in higher-level… games.”
Shimura Akira’s heart sank, knowing that his father was going to promote him further and give him greater power and…responsibility.
This is both an opportunity and a challenge.
But he had already prepared for it.
The subtle change in Mitokado En’s attitude towards Danzo during several high-level meetings, as well as Utane Koharu’s occasional and unusual “admiration” for Shimura Aki, naturally did not escape Sarutobi Hiruzen’s penetrating eyes.
As the Third Hokage who has been immersed in Konoha’s political arena for decades, Hiruzen’s insight into human nature and political sensitivity have already reached the level of perfection.
He was keenly aware that the mentality and stance of his two old friends and advisors, with whom he had worked for many years, seemed to be unconsciously influenced by some factors that he was unaware of.
Especially Mitomon En.
Although this old guy is usually a bit stubborn and rigid, he always has a firm stand on major principles and does not waver easily.
The political differences between him and Danzo have been going on for a long time. Many times, he was even an important force to check Danzo’s ambitions.
But recently, Yan’s attitude seems to be a little… wavering? He even makes some puzzling “concessions” on some key issues?
Then I think of the fact that recently, Koharu Utatane has occasionally mentioned some of the “advantages” of Danzo’s son, Shimura Aki, such as “detailed thoughts” and “strong observation skills”…
A growing sense of uneasiness rose within Hiruzen.
He had a hunch that all these changes were inextricably linked to the eight-year-old boy – Shimura Aki!
What did this child do? Or…what did Danzo do through this child?
Hiruzen didn’t believe that a mere eight-year-old child could have such deep scheming and means to influence two experienced Hokage advisors.
He was more inclined to believe that behind all this, it was all Danzo who was manipulating and planning! Shimura Aki was probably just a chess piece that Danzo pushed to the front, a tool to confuse the sight or convey some secret information!
However, if this is true, then Danzo’s methods are too… clever and hidden! How could he make Yan and Xiaochun, two old foxes, fall into his trap without knowing it?
No! We must find out!
Sarutobi Hiruzen could not tolerate such a thing happening under his nose that he could not control! He had to find out what Danzo was doing! What role did Shimura Aki play in this?
He immediately secretly summoned his most trusted dark captain and issued new instructions.
“Increase the surveillance of Shimura Danzo and his son Shimura Aki!” His voice was low and serious, with unquestionable majesty, “I need to know all the details of their recent activities, who they have contacted, what they have said, and what they have done! Especially… how did Danzo influence Mito Kado En! Also, what secrets are hidden in the contact between Shimura Aki and Tsunade and Koharu!”
“Remember, the action must be kept secret! Don’t alert the enemy! Especially don’t let Danzo find out!” Hiruzen’s eyes became sharp, “I want to see what tricks this father and son are playing!”
“Yes! Lord Hokage!” The dark captain took the order again and disappeared into the shadows.
A tighter and deeper investigation network began to quietly cover Shimura Danzo and his son Shimura Akira.
However, the initial results of the Anbu’s investigation made Sarutobi Hiruzen even more confused and…uneasy.
The report shows that Shimura Aki’s daily activities do not seem to be particularly abnormal.
Most of the time, he was undergoing the harsh training of the Root Ninja codenamed “Owl”, or learning medical ninjutsu and three-body technique under Tsunade’s “guidance”.
Occasionally he would follow Danzo to attend some high-level meetings or “wander” around the village.
His contact with Tsunade and Koharu also did exist.
But on the surface, everything seems to be “normal”.
With Tsunade, it was mainly about exchanging ninjutsu (although Tsunade’s attitude was always awkward), and with Koharu, it was just “chance encounters” and brief conversations in some public places.
The Anbu did not find any clear evidence that Danzo directly interfered with these contacts, nor did they find any clues about what specific means Danzo used to influence Mito Kado En.
As for Shimura Aki himself, the report’s evaluation of him is also full of contradictions.
On the one hand, he behaves like a normal, hard-working eight-year-old, respectful and polite to his elders, and… fairly friendly to his peers (like Tsunade)?
But on the other hand, in some unintentional moments, he showed “alertness”, “calmness” and “scheming” that were seriously inconsistent with his age.
He always seems to say the “right” words and do the “right” things, thus unknowingly influencing the people around him.
This contradiction and disharmony made Sarutobi Hiruzen feel… a creepy chill.
If all of this was really done by an eight-year-old child… then this child’s mind is too… evil, isn’t it?!
If Danzo was really behind all this… then his methods were too… brilliant and terrifying! He could actually train and use a child to such an extent!
No matter which possibility it is, it is not good news for Sarutobi Hiruzen.
He felt as if he was…gradually losing control of the situation.
An unknown force coming from the dark is quietly eroding the balance of power that he has worked so hard to build.
And that child named Shimura Akira is the key node of this unknown force?
Sarutobi Hiruzen’s frown deepened.
He knew that he had to find out the truth as soon as possible.
Otherwise, the future of Konoha will be worrying!
He decided that maybe…it was time to “touch” the child himself.
Some things can only be seen more clearly face to face.
The Anbu’s investigation into Shimura Danzo and Shimura Akira was like a stone thrown into a deep pool. Although it caused some ripples, it failed to get to the bottom of the matter.
The ambiguity and contradictions in the investigation results made the sense of uneasiness in Sarutobi Hiruzen’s heart grow and spread rapidly like a vine.
If all this was really planned and promoted by Shimura Aki, an eight-year-old child…
Hiruzen sat on the chair in the Hokage’s office that symbolized supreme power, his fingers tapping the table unconsciously, his eyes as deep as the sea before a storm.
A child whose intelligence, methods, and even… to some extent, his insight into and use of human hearts are far beyond his age…
Plus the ambitious and unscrupulous father behind him…
What kind of impact will this father-son combination have on Konoha in the future?
Hiruzen couldn’t imagine.
He has always focused his main energy on guarding against Danzo himself, trying to limit the power of the “Root” to a controllable range.
But he seemed to… ignore this seemingly insignificant “variable” around Danzo.
Now it seems that the power of this “variable” may be much greater than he expected! Maybe it is even more difficult to deal with than Danzo himself?
Because of children, it is easier for people to let down their guard.
Because of “naivety”, it is easier to become a weapon of disguise.
Hiruzen realized that Danzo’s power seemed to be rising quietly in an unexpected way in a place he had not noticed.
And his control over the entire situation seemed to…really be loosening a little.
This feeling made him very uncomfortable and also gave him a strong sense of crisis.
The balance of power in Konoha was the result of his painstaking efforts over the years.
This balance was an important cornerstone for Konoha Village to quickly recover and maintain relative stability after the First Ninja World War.
He would not allow anyone to easily break this balance! Even his former teammate, Shimura Danzo!
Something must be done!
A fierce look flashed in Hiruzen’s eyes.
Maybe… it’s time to give Danzo a warning? To make him curb his ever-expanding ambitions, to make him understand that it’s not his turn to have the final say in Konoha Village!
At the same time, we must also conduct a more in-depth assessment and… necessary “guidance” on the “variable” Shimura Aki.
If this child really has such outstanding talent, then instead of letting him become a sharp hidden weapon in Danzo’s hands, why not… find a way to lead him to a path that is more “bright” and more “in line with Konoha’s interests”?
Of course, this is difficult.
Danzo’s desire to control his son should never be underestimated.
Moreover, judging from the current situation, Shimura Aki does not seem to be a good person who can be easily “guided”.
But, no matter what, you have to try it.
The future of Konoha cannot be lost!
Sarutobi Hiruzen began to silently figure out in his mind how he could effectively strike a blow against Danzo and test the true strength of Shimura Aki without causing a large-scale conflict, and… try his best to transform this potential “threat” into a “power” that could be used for his own benefit.
A silent game centered around power, checks and balances, and future heirs is about to quietly begin at the highest level of Konoha.
Just when Sarutobi Hiruzen became alert to Shimura Aki’s “activity” and began to plan to “make a show of force”, Shimura Aki himself was completely unaware that he had become the focus of the Hokage’s attention.
He was still immersed in the joy brought by the system upgrade and increased strength, and was actively thinking about how to use the existing resources in his hands more effectively to achieve those longer-term goals.
The experience of successfully using the gossip of Kenta, a servant of the Sarutobi family, as an introduction and eventually overthrowing the Chunin Kuroda through the line of Koharu Utatane, made him deeply realize the great value that those seemingly insignificant little people can play in intelligence gathering.
These people may have little power or low status, but they are often at the end of information transmission or have access to the unknown private lives of some senior figures.
They are like the “ears” and “eyes” scattered in every corner of Konoha Village, able to hear and see many gossips that are difficult to obtain through official channels and are full of “human touch” and “the smell of fireworks”.
To ordinary people, these gossips may be just topics of conversation after dinner, but in the eyes of Shimura Aki, who has a whistleblower system, they may contain clues to the real “black material”!
For example, an adult has been sighing and feeling down lately? — This may be due to family conflicts, work pressure, or even… the anxiety of having some unspeakable secret discovered?
For example, two jonin who usually have a good relationship suddenly had a fierce quarrel recently? ——This may involve conflicts of interest, emotional entanglements, or even… infighting between factions?
For example, a certain elder who is highly respected actually has some “special hobbies” in private that are seriously inconsistent with his status? This is simply “black material” that is delivered to the door!
Shimura Aki realized that if he could effectively collect and integrate the “gossip” information scattered among the people, and then use the system to screen and dig deeper, his efficiency in obtaining “black material” would be improved exponentially!
So, he began to consciously and quietly weave his own… peripheral intelligence network within the scope of his ability.
His targets were mainly the servants and domestic servants of the big families.
These people are well-informed and relatively easy to be “bribed” and “exploited”.
He used his identity as “Son of Danzo Shimura”, which was quite useful at certain times.
Chapter 69: Hokage’s Doubts Deepen (Old Version)
At least it can make those at the bottom feel in awe and not dare to offend them easily.
He also made use of some of the “resources” at his disposal.
For example, the pocket money he got from Danzo (although it was not much, it was already a considerable sum for a servant), and some effective medicines that he secretly “prepared” himself (occasionally “rewarded” to informants who performed well, which would make them grateful).
He would select servants who seemed to be smart, tight-lipped (at least on the surface), and a little greedy, and take the initiative to contact them.
Sometimes, he would pretend to be “innocently curious” and ask them some “interesting things” about their master or other high-ranking people.
Sometimes, he would deliberately reveal in front of them some irrelevant but “inside”-sounding information that he had heard from his father (such as the direction of a policy adjustment or the preliminary arrangement of a task) in exchange for more core intelligence in their hands, or to enhance their “status” and “voice” in their respective small circles, so that they would be more willing to serve him.
He would also give some “small favors” in the form of money or items from time to time to win people’s hearts.
Of course, when necessary, he would also use some of the other party’s “little tricks” scanned by the system to quietly “knock” and “warn” them, letting them know that he is not so easy to fool and that they’d better be obedient.
Use both kindness and severity, and both soft and hard approaches.
Gradually, he developed several relatively reliable “informants” in the Shimura family, the Senju family, and even… through Kenta, among some servants and servants of the Sarutobi family.
These people became the outermost tentacles of his intelligence network.
They were responsible for collecting all kinds of “gossip” for him.
“Master Qiu, have you heard? The little grandson of Elder Yan of Mitomon has recently caused trouble in the Ninja School again, and Elder Yan is very angry!”
“Master Qiu, I’ll tell you a secret. Elder Tsunetomo Koharu seems to have been asking around for an extremely rare white moss that is said to have fallen from the moon. He says it’s a holy object that can completely purify the soul.”
“Master Qiu, this is terrible! I heard Aunt Wang in the kitchen say that she saw Miss Tsunade and Master Jiraiya sneaking to the back hills last night. I don’t know what bad things they did!”
“Master Qiu, do you know? Our master (Sarutobi Hiruzen) seems to be sighing alone in the study room recently, as if… as if he is worried about Master Danzo’s affairs?”
These news are varied and difficult to distinguish between true and false. Most of them are just groundless rumors.
Shimura Aki doesn’t completely believe the gossip.
But he will record this information one by one, and then classify, organize, compare and analyze it.
He will filter out clues that may contain hidden “value”.
For example, Elder Mitomon En is troubled by the issue of his grandson’s education? Does this reflect some conflicts within his family? Or… his way of educating the next generation is different from the mainstream concept of the village?
Is Elder Koharu Utatane looking for a “holy object that can purify the soul”? Is this related to her abnormal cleanliness? What kind of stories and fears are hidden behind her cleanliness?
Tsunade and Jiraiya secretly went to the back mountain? (This… Shimura Aki said that it is probably not a good thing, but maybe it can be used as a small handle to control Jiraiya in the future?)
Is Sarutobi Hiruzen worried about Danzo? Does this mean that some of his father’s recent actions have aroused the Hokage’s vigilance and dissatisfaction? Is the power struggle between them about to escalate?
These are all clues worth further exploration!
He will then use the upgraded system to conduct targeted “scanning” and “analysis” of these clues.
Of course, it is still impossible to directly scan targets such as Mito Kado En, Utatane Koharu, and Sarutobi Hiruzen.
But he can scan the people related to the clues, or look up relevant materials, trying to find more circumstantial evidence and related information.
For example, regarding the matter of Mito Kado En’s grandson, he could try to scan the grandson himself who caused the trouble, or the teacher who was responsible for teaching him in the ninja school, to see if he could find some more interesting “material”.
Regarding Koharu Utatane’s search for the “holy object”, he could look up some ancient records about “moss on the moon” (if any exist), or scan some medicinal herb merchants or collectors who might have access to such information.
In this way, Shimura Aki initially established a small intelligence network, which was still very simple and crude, but was constantly extending and expanding.
This network has himself as the core, servants and maids who have been bribed or controlled by him as peripheral tentacles, and is supplemented by the whistleblower system, a powerful information processing and analysis center.
He was like a hardworking and cunning little spider. He began to quietly and bit by bit weave his own…intelligence network in the huge and complex jungle of Konoha Village.
This network is still very fragile and its coverage is still very limited.
But Shimura Aki believes that as long as he can continue to invest energy and resources, as long as he can cleverly utilize every “node” and “clue”, this network will one day become extremely powerful and extremely deadly!
It will become his sharpest weapon to understand people’s hearts, control situations, and realize his ambitions!
Just as Shimura Aki was secretly weaving his own intelligence network and accumulating strength for the next “trouble”, something happened to Tsunade that surprised him a little, but upon closer thought it made sense.
The cause was a small gathering within the Senju clan.
This kind of gathering is usually to celebrate a festival, or to commemorate an important family ancestor, or… to show the elders in the family the “growth” and “progress” of the younger generation.
This time, the theme of the rally seems to be related to the latter.
Tsunade, as the most dazzling genius among the younger generation of the Senju clan (at least on the surface), naturally attracted much attention.
But she seems to have recently been under some “pressure” from the elders in the tribe.
After all, she had been criticized by her elders for being addicted to some “bad hobbies” (such as gambling, although she is not so blatant now, but the signs have already been revealed) and for her “too bold” character in certain occasions.
Chapter 70: The Powerlessness of the Dark Department (Old Version)
In addition, she recently “accepted” a “foreign” disciple – Shimura Akira (although she was forced to do so), and this matter caused some discussion within the Senju clan.
Some people think that she is not doing her job properly, some people think that she does not distinguish between inside and outside, and some people even suspect that she was “cheated” by the boy from the Shimura family.
These pressures and discussions made Tsunade, who was always arrogant, feel very uncomfortable.
She desperately needs an opportunity to prove her “ability” and to regain some of the “face” she lost because of that damn secret!
So she came up with a plan.
She decided to specially arrange for Shimura Aki to give a “report performance on medical ninjutsu and basic physical skills” at this clan gathering!
The reason is to show off one’s “teaching achievements” during this period!
When Tsunade told Shimura Akira about this decision, Shimura Akira couldn’t help but twitch the corners of his mouth.
A performance report? In front of so many old antiques from the Senju family? Is this princess trying to make a fool of herself? Or is she trying to take revenge on herself?
But on second thought, this doesn’t seem to be a bad thing?
If he could show enough talent and strength in front of the elders of the Senju family, he would not only be able to further consolidate his “cooperation” relationship with Tsunade (making her more face-saving), but also leave an impression of a “potential stock” within the Senju clan.
Perhaps this can provide some unexpected help for your future development?
After all, although the Senju clan no longer has the glory of the first generation, its influence in Konoha Village cannot be underestimated.
“Okay, Sister Tsunade, since you said so, I will definitely behave well and not embarrass you!” Shimura Aki immediately put on a “well-behaved and sensible” expression and promised solemnly.
Tsunade looked at him and felt that it was a little unreal, but she couldn’t tell what was wrong.
She snorted coldly, which was considered as her agreement.
So, at a gathering of the Senju clan a few days later, under the watchful eyes of all the Senju clan members, Shimura Aki, a boy from the “enemy camp” Shimura clan, gave a “report performance” that amazed everyone (including Tsunade herself).
The first thing he demonstrated was medical ninjutsu.
He first skillfully bandaged and stopped the bleeding of an injured bird (prop), his movements were gentle and precise, and his chakra was controlled just right.
Then, he used the Palm Fairy Technique on the spot for a young Senju ninja (Thor) whose arm was “accidentally” scratched by a kunai!
I saw a soft and steady emerald green light appearing on his small palm, covering the wound.
Under everyone’s astonished gaze, the wound that was still bleeding began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye! In just a few dozen seconds, only a shallow red mark remained!
This precise and efficient Palm Immortal Technique immediately drew exclamations and praises from all the Thousand Hands elders present!
“Hiss! This… is this the Palm Immortal Technique? How old is this child? He has already mastered it to this extent?!”
“The chakra control is very stable! And the healing effect is immediate! Incredible! Incredible!”
“Tsunade, this girl has good vision! She can actually teach such a talented disciple!”
Hearing these praises, although Tsunade still tried hard to maintain a reserved expression of “this is all because of my good teaching” on the surface, the slightly upturned corners of her mouth and the hard-to-conceal pride in her eyes still exposed her true thoughts.
Humph! You are still useful, little brat! At least you didn’t embarrass me!
Next, Shimura Aki demonstrated basic physical skills.
Although his physical style is more inclined towards the concise, efficient and deadly combat style of Owl, it is different from the bold and powerful style of the Senju clan.
However, his solid basic skills, agile movements, and reaction speed and combat awareness that far surpassed his peers still impressed the Thousand Hands people present!
He was seen moving around the field, punching and kicking with great force, sometimes dodging like a monkey, sometimes attacking like a cheetah! Every move was clean and neat, full of power and… a hint of ferocity that was inconsistent with his age!
He even had a brief “sparring match” with a young Senju clan boy who was a few years older than him and whose strength had reached the pinnacle of Genin.
Although in the end due to the difference in strength and experience, Shimura Aki “lost” half a move.
But the calmness, composure, and endless adaptability he displayed in battle made everyone look at him with admiration!
“This kid’s taijutsu… his style is a bit wild, but his basic skills are very solid! His reactions are also very fast!”
“At such a young age, he has such a calm fighting spirit. He will become a great man in the future!”
“Tsunade, where did you find this little monster? When did the Shimura family produce such a character?”
Faced with the questions and praises from the elders of the clan, the resentment and dissatisfaction in Tsunade’s heart caused by her secret being known seemed to… have dissipated a lot?
She straightened her chest, and a hint of pride appeared on her face that only she could detect.
“Humph, of course! Don’t you see who taught you that?” She said with pretended disdain, but the pride in her tone could not be concealed.
After the performance, Shimura Aki respectfully bowed and thanked the Senju elders present. He was humble and polite, neither servile nor arrogant, which won him a lot of praise.
This “report performance” was undoubtedly very successful.
Shimura Aki not only successfully established his “presence” and “favorability” within the Senju clan, but also made these elder family members of Konoha express their affirmation of the talent and potential of this “outsider” child.
More importantly, the relationship between him and Tsunade was subtly… eased because of this “shared glory” (although the cause was very tricky).
Although Tsunade still didn’t treat him well and would scold and criticize him at every turn, but underneath that stern exterior, there seemed to be… a hint of… an inexplicable “recognition” and “different regard”?
At least, when she “guides” Shimura Aki in the future, she will have less of that pure “forced to cope” feeling, right?
Shimura Aki looked at Tsunade, who was obviously very proud but trying to pretend to be reserved, and laughed in his heart.
This future fifth Hokage seems…
Chapter 71 Balanced Means (Old Version)
It’s not that difficult to get along with.
As long as you can find her “itchy spot” and… make her see enough “value” and “hope” in you.
What he is best at is finding other people’s “itchy spots” and… creating “value”!
Although Shimura Aki’s small “report performance” within the Senju clan was not large in scale and the participants were limited to some members of the Senju main family, the chain reaction it triggered afterwards far exceeded Shimura Aki’s initial expectations.
The most direct and significant reaction came from his father, Danzo Shimura.
When Danzo learned about his son’s “outstanding performance” at the rally through his spies in the Senju family (yes, even for an allied family, Danzo was never lacking in defense and infiltration) – not only did his medical ninjutsu and physical skills astound everyone and win unanimous praise from the old stubborn people in the Senju family, but more importantly, it also indirectly earned a lot of “face” for the Shimura clan (after all, it was an “outsider” disciple who shined in the Senju family, which in itself showed that the child of the Shimura family had a promising future, and it also indirectly proved the vision and ability of “teacher” Tsunade), Danzo’s mood could only be described as “delighted”!
He sat on the large chair in the study, which symbolized power and conspiracy, and listened to the detailed report of the situation at that time by his “Root” members. Although his face still maintained the unchanging icy expression, the gleam in his one eye and the occasional, almost imperceptible curve at the corner of his mouth clearly exposed his extreme satisfaction and… a hint of pride as a father?
“Well…well done.”
After listening to the report, he just made a faint comment, and it was impossible to tell whether he was happy or angry in his voice.
But those who are familiar with him know that getting a “good” evaluation from Danzo is already a high praise!
In Danzo’s heart, the “value assessment” of his son Shimura Aki has been raised to a higher level again!
He originally just hoped that Qiu could get in touch with Tsunade and learn something useful from her, and by the way… maybe he could use Tsunade’s identity to gain some convenience for himself.
But he never expected that Qiu could do so “excellently”! Not only did he learn real skills (from the report, Qiu’s medical ninjutsu and physical skills improved rapidly, which was not an exaggeration), but he could also, in turn, earn back such a big face for Shimura Danzo and the entire Shimura clan in front of the Senju clan!
This is simply… a pleasant surprise!
Danzo even began to feel that this “connection” between Aki and Tsunade was so successful! So valuable! This was not only a channel to learn skills, but also an important strategic channel that could infiltrate and influence the Senju clan in a clever way, and even win the support of the Senju clan at a critical moment in the future!
And all the “credit” should be attributed to his “smart” and “resourceful” son!
“It seems that our previous investment in Qiu was too conservative.”
Danzo thought to himself, “Such a promising talent must be given more resources and opportunities so that he can grow faster and become my sharpest blade, and the true Kirin of the Shimura clan!”
So, in the following days, Shimura Aki clearly felt that his father’s “care” for him had reached a new level.
First, there is an imbalance in cultivation resources.
In the past, although Danzo would provide some basic training resources, it was more of a “routine”.
Now, he began to proactively and purposefully provide Shimura Aki with higher quality resources.
For example, he would select some special military ration pills and chakra recovery potions with better effects and fewer side effects from the secret warehouse of the “Root” organization, and give them to Shimura Aki for him to use during extreme training.
He would also give Shimura Aki some rare scrolls about the changes in the nature of chakra or some rare auxiliary ninjutsu collected within the Shimura clan to “reference” (of course, the core secret techniques would still not be easily taught).
Even in the equipment of ninja tools, Danzo seemed more “generous”.
He specially had someone make a set of special black tights for Shimura Aki that was lighter, tougher, and more conducive to performing assassination techniques. It was also equipped with kunai and shuriken made of special alloys, which were far sharper and more concealed than ordinary standard ninja tools.
These were “generous treatments” that Shimura Aki had never dared to imagine before.
Secondly, the right to participate in some low-level tasks.
Danzo began to consciously let Shimura Aki participate in some low-level missions that were undertaken by the “Root” organization, which were lower-risk but could actually exercise his abilities.
Most of these tasks are about intelligence gathering, target surveillance, or some material escort (of course, under secret protection).
Although Shimura Aki plays more of a role of “observer” and “learner” in the mission, he will not be asked to perform any dangerous actions.
However, this personal experience gave him a more intuitive and profound understanding of the “Root” organization’s operating style, mission procedures, and the cruel reality of the ninja world.
For example, at one point, he followed a team to spy on a Konoha merchant who was suspected of colluding with an outside village.
He saw with his own eyes how the members of “Root” used various covert means to monitor the target’s every move around the clock without blind spots, how they analyzed valuable information from the garbage discarded by the target, and how they did not hesitate to “secretly arrest” and “interrogate” the target when necessary (he did not see the interrogation process, but just hearing the screams coming from the next room was enough to make him tremble with fear).
These experiences, like the cold reality, constantly impacted his soul that came from the peaceful world, and also made him more deeply understand the “Law of Darkness” believed by his father Danzo.
Finally, and most importantly, Danzo specifically instructed the “Root” instructor Owl to carry out targeted strengthening when training Shimura Aki.
“Owl,” Danzo called Owl to him alone and said in a serious tone, “Akira has made great progress recently, but it is still far from enough.
From today on, his training content will include some more combat-oriented confrontation projects, as well as more complex intelligence analysis and emergency response drills. “
“I need him to grow up as quickly as possible, not only to have the skills to kill the enemy, but also to have the ability to think independently, make correct judgments in complex situations, and ultimately complete the mission!
Chapter 72: The Confusion and Desire of Genius (Old Version)
“There was a gleam of hope in Danzo’s one eye, “Do you understand?”
Xiao still looked cold and respectful, but Shimura Aki keenly felt that from that day on, Xiao’s training of him became more… harsh and “abnormal”!
Xiao began to set up various difficult simulated combat scenarios more frequently, requiring Shimura Aki to complete various seemingly impossible tasks under extremely unfavorable conditions.
He also began to instill in Shimura Aki some basic theories and techniques on intelligence analysis, psychological games, and leading team operations.
They would even bring out some real cases from within the “Root” organization (of course, they would also be desensitized) and ask Shimura Aki to analyze and review them to find out the key points and things that can be learned from them.
This all-round, high-intensity “cramming” training made Shimura Aki feel like a piece of stubborn iron thrown into a forge, being tempered and refined, gradually revealing its sharp edge.
Although the process was full of pain and suffering, every time he broke through his limits and completed a challenge, he could clearly feel his own growth and transformation.
He knew that his father was making every effort to make him what he wanted him to be.
And he must seize this opportunity to absorb as much nutrients as possible from his father and “roots” to accumulate more capital for his future rise!
In order to further test the learning results of Shimura Aki during this period, especially under the “special training” of Owl, to what extent his skills honed in the dark have reached, Danzo suddenly announced one day that he would conduct a primary internal trial of the “Root” organization on Shimura Aki.
This news made Shimura Aki feel a little nervous.
The Root Trial? He had heard that the Root selection and trial were known for their cruelty and high elimination rate! Although his father said it was a “primary” trial, it was probably not going to be easy.
The trial was held in an abandoned base of the Root organization deep underground in Konoha Village.
This stronghold was once a secret communication station in the early days of “Root”. It was later abandoned for some reason, but the internal passages and room structures are still well preserved. The terrain is quite complex, and… it is said that there are still some traps that were set up in the past and have not yet been removed.
The content of the trial is to simulate a simple intelligence stealing and transmission mission.
Shimura Aki needs to sneak into this abandoned base alone within the specified time, find a specific scroll hidden in a room in the deepest part of the base (which contains a piece of false information), then evacuate safely with the scroll without being discovered (or in other words, be discovered as little as possible), and hand the scroll to the designated contact person.
Inside the stronghold, there will be some “guards” and “patrols” played by lower-level members of the “root”, who will do everything possible to prevent the trial-takers from completing the mission.
At the same time, some of the original traps inside the stronghold will be reactivated, increasing the difficulty and danger of the trial.
“Akira,” Danzo personally brought Shimura Akira to the entrance of the eerie and damp underground base before the trial began, and said in a calm tone, “This trial is not only a test of your personal abilities, but also an assessment of whether you have the basic qualities to become a member of the Root.”
“Remember, in the darkness, only those who are the most alert, calmest, and most able to take advantage of the environment can survive and complete the mission.”
His single eye stared at Shimura Aki like the abyss, “Don’t let me down.”
“Yes, father! I will do my best!” Shimura Aki took a deep breath and said with a firm look in his eyes.
Then, without saying anything else, he turned around and walked into the bottomless darkness.
The interior of the underground base was just as the legend said, dark, damp, and filled with a depressing atmosphere.
The air was filled with a faint smell of mold and…rust? (Maybe it was a psychological effect).
The narrow passage twists and turns like a maze, and many places have only dim lights or are even completely dark.
Shimura Aki immediately used the [Breath Concealing Technique (Mastered)] to its full potential, suppressing his breath, heartbeat, and even chakra fluctuations to the lowest level, and sneaked silently in the darkness like a real ghost.
The stealth skills he learned from Xiao and the occasional prompts from the system about the best paths and potential dangers all played a huge role at this moment.
He skillfully avoided one pressure-sensing trap after another laid on the ground, and also discovered several tiny tripwires hidden in the cracks of the walls.
Soon, he encountered the first wave of “enemies” – two masked “Root” members patrolling back and forth in a narrow passage.
Shimura Aki did not choose to force his way in.
He carefully observed the surrounding environment and found that there was a beam at the top of the passage, about three meters above the ground.
He retreated to the corner silently, then took a deep breath, concentrated the chakra at the soles of his feet, pushed off the ground hard, and attached his body to the wall like a gecko. Then, with a few light somersaults, he climbed up the beam silently, like a black cat, lurking in the dark shadows.
Two patrolling “Root” members walked under the beam, unaware that there was a person hiding above their heads.
After they walked away, Shimura Aki quietly descended from the beam and continued moving forward.
The journey ahead is full of various challenges.
He had encountered secret doors disguised as part of a wall and triggered mechanisms that released paralyzing gas.
He also had a small skirmish with several members of the Root who were acting as “guards”.
In these battles, Shimura Aki fully demonstrated his calmness and ruthlessness far beyond his age.
He did not choose to engage in a protracted fight with the enemy. Instead, he used his superb three-body technique and flexible physical skills to constantly engage with the enemy, looking for an opportunity to kill with one blow.
Once, he was forced into a corner by a powerful “guard”.
He was about to be stabbed by the opponent’s kunai!
At this critical moment, he suddenly advanced instead of retreating, crouched down suddenly, and narrowly avoided the opponent’s attack, while at the same time hitting the opponent’s ribs hard with his elbow!
The “guard” groaned, and his movements stiffened for a moment!
Chapter 73 Secret Experiment (Old Version)
Shimura Aki seized the opportunity and wrapped his body around the opponent like a venomous snake, locking his arm around the opponent’s throat at a tricky angle! Although he did not really kill him, the fierce murderous aura and precise skills still chilled the heart of the “Root” member who was acting as a guard. He subconsciously stopped resisting and signaled that he was “out”.
Although some small mistakes were made during the whole process, such as once I almost triggered a chain trap due to my unfamiliarity with the terrain, and another time I was almost double-teamed by two “guards” because of my overconfidence.
But relying on his superb breath-concealing technique, flexible physical skills, cool head, and the occasional key hints from the system, he was always able to resolve crises without any danger, and eventually successfully infiltrated the deepest part of the base and found the room where the target scroll was hidden.
There was one last “line of defense” in the room – a “Root” member who was obviously stronger than the previous “Guards” was standing next to the scroll, ready for battle.
Shimura Aki knew that this might be the last test of this trial.
He did not rush to take action, but first used the breath-concealing technique to hide himself perfectly in the shadows of the room, carefully observing the opponent’s position, breathing, and possible range of vigilance.
Then, he quietly took out several tiny steel needles soaked in paralyzing poison from his ninja tool bag (this was specially prepared for him by Xiao, the poison was not strong, but it was enough to affect his movements in a short period of time).
He held his breath, waiting for the best time to strike.
Finally, the “guard” became a little lax due to his long-term vigilance, and his body swayed slightly.
Shimura Aki moved his wrist slightly, and several steel needles shot out silently like ghosts, accurately hitting several key acupoints on the neck and wrist of the “guard”!
“Huh?!” The “guard” groaned, and felt his body going numb, and his movements instantly became slow!
Just as he tried to resist, Shimura Aki’s figure jumped out from the shadows like a ghost, and the kunai in his hand, with a hint of cold light, was accurately pressed against his throat!
“You… lost.”
Shimura Aki’s voice was a little cold and indifferent, which was inconsistent with his age.
The Root member who acted as the last guard felt a chill in his heart when he saw the sharp kunai against his throat and the boy’s cold and calm black eyes.
He knew that if this was a real battle, he would probably… be dead.
He nodded with difficulty, indicating that he gave up.
Only then did Shimura Aki retract his kunai, calmly picked up the target scroll on the table, turned around, blended into the darkness again, and quietly left the abandoned stronghold.
When he showed up at the designated meeting place with the scroll and handed it to Owl who had been waiting there, there was no expression on Owl’s face hidden under the owl mask.
But his deep eyes stayed on Shimura Aki for a long time, and there seemed to be… a hint of imperceptible… recognition?
Danzo, who had already watched the entire trial process through the secretly set up monitoring equipment, showed an undisguised smile of satisfaction on his face.
Although he made some minor mistakes in the process and seemed a little immature, overall, Qiu’s performance had far exceeded his expectations!
A cool head, decisive actions, superb skills, and… that ruthlessness at the critical moment!
This child…has really grown up!
This trial was not only a comprehensive test of Shimura Aki’s personal abilities, but also gave him a more intuitive and profound experience of the “Root” organization’s style of work, mission mode, and its cruel and efficient operating mechanism.
He knew that he was one step closer to truly integrating into that dark world.
Just as Shimura Aki’s strength and mind were growing rapidly under Danzo’s “careful training”, and he began to gradually get involved in the marginal affairs of “Root”, accumulating strength for his future “grand plans”.
Another high-ranking advisor to the Leaf Village, Mito Kado En, was living a somewhat… disturbed life.
Ever since Shimura Aki’s seemingly “inadvertent” words at the last high-level meeting “exposed” the long-buried secret in his heart, Elder Yan felt as if someone had strangled him by the throat and could not sleep or eat.
The ignominious past of the “Iron Country Border Encounter” lingered in his mind like an indelible nightmare.
He didn’t know how the kid from the Shimura family knew about this matter? How many details did he know? Did he have any solid evidence in his hands?
These questions, like poisonous thorns, pierced deeply into his heart, making him restless and as if a thorn in his back was in his side.
He tried many times to find out some information about Shimura Aki from Danzo or through other channels, trying to find out the background of that brat and the real intention of his words.
But Danzo was cunning and always pretended to be completely ignorant of the matter. He would either avoid the question or test whether Yan had any “special opinions” about his son.
As for Shimura Aki himself, in his subsequent “chance encounters” with Mito Kado En, he behaved even more “innocently”, as if the words he had said in the conference room before were really just the unintentional sighs of a child and he had not remembered them at all.
This watertight performance made Mizuto Menyan even more wary and unpredictable.
He was afraid that if he showed too much concern or took any extreme action, he would end up making things worse and the past event that was enough to ruin his life would be made public!
Under the torture of such tremendous psychological pressure and uncertainty, Mizuto Menyan seemed a little… listless and worried for a period of time afterwards.
As a result, his attitude in high-level meetings has also changed more significantly.
He no longer confronted Danzo on everything and argued with him based on reason as he did before.
Instead, they became more…cautious and “cooperative”.
On some less important issues, he would even take the initiative to agree with Danzo’s opinions, or simply choose to abstain and no longer make any opposing remarks.
It seems that he wants to send a signal to Danzo and…that mysterious kid in this way: “I will no longer be your enemy, please let me go”?
Chapter 74: Systematic Acquisition (Old Version)
Naturally, this change could not escape the eyes of other senior executives.
Danzo was happy about this and even a little proud of it.
Utane Koharu, on the other hand, was becoming increasingly confused and… wary.
She vaguely felt that Yan’s abnormal behavior was related to Shimura Aki.
What kind of leverage does this little brat have over Yan? How powerful is he?
And Sarutobi Hiruzen was even more worried.
He felt that the balance of power among Konoha’s high-ranking officials was tilting in a direction he did not want to see because of this kid from the Shimura family.
In sharp contrast to Mitomon En’s “restlessness” is Utane Koharu’s “growing attention and affection” for Shimura Aki.
Ever since the “anti-corruption incident”, Elder Koharu has had a very deep and good impression of Shimura Aki, the person who “provided clues”.
She believes that this child is not only observant and thoughtful, but also possesses a sense of integrity and responsibility that is not in line with his age! This is really precious in today’s utilitarian and impetuous ninja world!
Especially in her opinion, there are too many “evil tendencies” and “dirty behaviors” in Konoha Village that she cannot stand (such as the shady activities of Danzo’s “Root” organization, the arrogance of certain families, the increasingly corrupt discipline of some ninjas, etc.).
The appearance of Shimura Aki made her seem to see a glimmer of hope… to remove these “dirt” and restore Konoha’s “righteousness”?
Although this hope, placed on an eight-year-old boy, and Danzo’s son, sounds a bit ridiculous.
But Elder Xiaochun inexplicably developed a feeling of joy towards this child…similar to “discovering a talented person” and…a desire to cultivate him?
So, on some appropriate occasions later, she began to take the initiative to have some brief exchanges with Shimura Aki.
Sometimes, she would ask about Shimura Aki’s study and training progress with concern as an elder.
“Akira, how is your learning of medical ninjutsu from Tsunade going lately? Have you encountered any difficulties?”
“I heard that Danzo hired a very good taijutsu instructor for you? Is the training hard? You should combine work and rest and don’t hurt your body.”
Sometimes, she would act like a patient and encouraging mentor, instilling in Shimura Aki some of the “correct” principles of conduct and…political ideas that she believed were “correct”?
“Akira, you must remember that as a Konoha ninja, the most important thing is to be just, abide by the rules, and safeguard the interests and honor of the village.
We must not be like some people who, in order to achieve their personal goals, use any means necessary, even damaging the foundation of the village.”
(Her words were clearly a reference to Danzo.
“Power is a double-edged sword.
Those who hold power must be more respectful and strict with themselves, so as not to be corrupted by power and truly contribute to the village.”
“The future of Konoha needs young people like you who have talent, brains, and… a ‘clean’ heart.”
In the face of Elder Koharu’s sudden “care” and “teachings”, Shimura Aki naturally behaved very humbly and was eager to learn, and listened attentively.
He would answer Elder Xiaochun’s questions seriously, accept her “guidance” humbly, and from time to time put forward some “profound insights” that made her feel that “this child is teachable.”
For example, when talking about “justice”, he would say: “Elder Xiaochun, I believe that true justice is not only about punishing evil and promoting good, but more importantly, it is about establishing a set of fair and just rules so that everyone can get the rights and respect they deserve within the framework of the rules.”
When it comes to “power”, he would say: “With great power comes great responsibility.
Those who hold power should always put the interests of the village above their own interests and accept supervision from everyone to avoid abusing their power.”
These answers that sounded “politically correct” and impeccable made Utatane Koharu feel more and more that this child… was simply a rough diamond that had not been polished! With a little guidance, he would become a great talent in the future! He might even become an important force to fight against the “evil tendencies” in the village!
Her “attention” to Shimura Aki also increased sharply because of this! She even began to take the initiative to provide some convenience and help to Shimura Aki in some small matters that did not involve core interests.
For example, when Shimura Aki asked to consult some non-confidential files about Konoha’s early history or certain specific ninjutsu, Elder Koharu would use his authority to open the door for him.
For example, when Shimura Aki was “preparing” certain medicines for injuries and needed some common medicinal materials that were not easy to obtain, Elder Koharu would help him get them through his own channels.
She seemed to…really regard Shimura Aki as a “junior” worth training, a “family member” who could be relied on in the future?
Shimura Aki was naturally happy to see this happen and went along with it.
While enjoying the convenience provided by Elder Xiaochun, he continued to play the image of an “upright and motivated young man” in front of her, further consolidating and enhancing this hard-earned “good impression”.
He knew that although the storyline of Utatane Koharu did not seem to bring direct improvement in strength or gains in black material like Tsunade or Orochimaru,
But as one of the core figures of Konoha’s top leadership, the role she can play in future political games should not be underestimated!
The “emotional investment” and “image building” invested in her now may bring unexpectedly rich returns in the future!
Regarding the slight increase in Shimura Danzo’s power (mainly due to the “cooperation” of Mito Kado En), as well as the various “abnormalities” and “activity” shown by Shimura Aki recently, Sarutobi Hiruzen did not immediately take drastic repressive measures after the Anbu’s initial investigation yielded no results.
He knew that Danzo was like a spring. The harder you pressed him, the harder he would bounce back.
Without solid evidence and without absolute certainty of winning with one blow, if he had no time to break off completely with Danzo, it would likely cause violent turmoil within Konoha, which was something he absolutely did not want to see.
Moreover, he still had some… doubts and… inexplicable “expectations” about the child Shimura Aki?
He always felt that there seemed to be something hidden in this child…
Chapter 75 Common “Interests” (Old Version)
…something different from Danzo’s pure darkness and paranoia?
Therefore, he finally chose a relatively “safe” and “conservative” approach – cold treatment.
He did not continue to have the Anbu conduct that kind of close, alarm-provoking investigation on Shimura Aki.
Instead, the investigation level was readjusted back to the original levels of “routine attention” and “information summary”.
But this doesn’t mean he let his guard down.
On the contrary, he secretly increased the frequency and depth of monitoring of Danzo himself and the core movements of the “Root” organization.
He had to ensure that he could grasp any unusual movements of Danzo at the first possible moment so that he could respond in time.
At the same time, he also began to consciously promote and train some outstanding talents who were truly loyal to the “Will of Fire” and loyal to him as the Hokage in ninja schools and among the younger generation of ninjas.
He hopes that through this method, a “new force” that can balance Danzo’s power can be formed in the future.
As for Shimura Aki…
Sarutobi Hiruzen decided to temporarily classify him as a special subject who “needs long-term observation and evaluation.”
He will continue to pay attention to the child’s growth and movements, but will not easily make conclusions about him or intervene in him prematurely.
He wanted to see where this child, who was highly expected by Danzo and seemed to be hiding many secrets, would go in the future.
Will he become the second Danzo? Or…will he forge his own unique path?
Sarutobi Hiruzen held a pipe in his mouth, looking at the ever-changing sky outside the window, his eyes distant and complex.
The future of Konoha is just like the clouds in the sky, full of unknowns and… variables.
Sarutobi Hiruzen’s “cold treatment” may not be a bad thing for Shimura Aki.
At least in the short term, he doesn’t have to worry about direct pressure and interference from the Hokage and can have a more relaxed environment to continue implementing his plans.
He continued to carry out high-intensity training step by step, and under the cruel training of Owl and Tsunade’s awkward “guidance”, his strength steadily improved.
At the same time, he also used his initially established peripheral intelligence network and upgraded system scanning capabilities to continue searching for potential “black material” and “opportunities” in every corner of Konoha Village.
The days passed one by one in this intense and fulfilling rhythm.
About a month later, in order to promote exchanges between young ninjas of different grades and backgrounds and enhance their practical experience and teamwork skills, Konoha Village held a small-scale “Ninjutsu Exchange Seminar” at the central training ground of the Ninja School.
This kind of activity is nominally a “seminar”, but in reality it is more like a small “competition” and “talent show”.
The young men of each family, as well as those outstanding civilian talents in the ninja school, will seize this opportunity to show their strength and potential as much as possible in front of their elders and peers in order to gain more attention and resources.
Naturally, Shimura Aki was also “invited” to participate in this event.
Given his current “fame” in the village (especially in high-level circles) and his identity as “son of Danzo Shimura”, the organizers would naturally not exclude him.
On the day of the seminar, the exercise field was crowded and bustling.
Shimura Aki, wearing his specially made black suit, stood quietly at the edge of the crowd. He did not make any noise like his peers who were eager to show off, but silently observed the situation on the field.
His eyes quickly locked onto a familiar figure.
Orochimaru.
Today, he seemed even more… gloomy and aloof than during the last jungle exercise.
He was still standing alone in the corner, with his hands in his pockets, his long black hair covering half of his face, his golden snake eyes, like two cold ambers, casually glancing at his peers around him who were a little noisy due to excitement, with a barely perceptible hint of… disdain and… boredom in his eyes?
It seemed… to him, these were just some boring children’s games.
It seems that the “academic discussion” between him and I about the “essence of ninjutsu” and “the limit of chakra” after the last exercise did leave some impression on him.
Otherwise, with Orochimaru’s arrogant and aloof personality, it is impossible for him to take the initiative to come and talk to me.
At this moment, Orochimaru seemed to have noticed Shimura Aki’s gaze.
He slowly turned his head, and his golden snake eyes accurately met Shimura Aki’s gaze.
This time, his eyes were less scrutinizing and wary than when they first met, and more like… a vague “interest”?
He actually… took the initiative to walk towards Shimura Aki!
This action surprised some of the young ninjas around who noticed this scene.
After all, Orochimaru is a well-known “weirdo” in the ninja school. He never actively communicates with others, let alone takes the initiative to find a boy who is younger than him and from the “enemy camp” (in the eyes of many people, the Shimura family is not on good terms with the Sarutobi family).
Tsunade and Jiraiya naturally also saw this scene.
Tsunade frowned slightly, her eyes flashing with a hint of vigilance and… dissatisfaction? (She always felt that the way Orochimaru looked at Shimura Aki was a bit like looking at an interesting experiment, which made her very uncomfortable).
Jiraiya, on the other hand, had a look of gossip and gloating on his face, and he was grinning, ready to watch the show.
Orochimaru walked up to Shimura Akira and stopped.
He was much taller than Shimura Aki. He lowered his head slightly, looking down at him with his golden snake eyes, and a very faint, almost imperceptible curve appeared at the corner of his mouth.
“Shimura…Akira, right?” His voice, like him, had a unique, slightly hoarse and cold texture, as if a snake was spitting out its tongue in the dark.
“Your performance in the last exercise was… quite interesting.”
“Orochimaru-senpai.”
Shimura Aki bowed slightly, his posture humble, but his eyes were calm and confident, without the slightest trace of cowardice.
“You flatter me.
Compared with my predecessors, I am still far behind.”
“Hehe…” Orochimaru chuckled with an ambiguous tone, and his golden snake eyes flashed with an unfathomable light.
“What you said last time… about the fusion of chakra properties and the ‘idea’ of the limit of energy efficiency…
Chapter 76 The Clash of Theories (Old Version)
…After I went back, I thought about it carefully and felt that…it was not completely a fantasy.”
Here it comes! Shimura Aki was delighted.
It seems that the “baits” I threw out last time successfully aroused the interest of this “big fish”!
“Thank you for the compliment, senior.
Those are just some immature and superficial opinions of the younger generation, and should not be taken seriously. “
Shimura Aki remained humble on the surface, but he was thinking quickly in his heart how to guide the topic and further deepen the “academic discussion” with Orochimaru.
“Asami?” Orochimaru’s lips curled up again with a playful arc, “I think that some of your ‘asami’ are more profound than many so-called ‘senior ninjas’ in their understanding of ninjutsu.”
He paused, his eyes became sharper and more focused, as if he wanted to see through Shimura Aki’s inner heart: “For example, what do you think is the essence of chakra? Is it just a combination of spiritual energy and physical energy? Then, what are spiritual energy and physical energy? How do they interact with each other and eventually transform into the kind of ‘power’ that can interfere with reality and create miracles? Is it possible to further improve the conversion efficiency? What if the conversion efficiency can be increased to 100%, or even… beyond 100%? “
Orochimaru asked a series of questions like a string of cannonballs, each of which directly pointed to the core of ninjutsu and chakra theory! Moreover, some of the ideas contained in them have already faintly exceeded the scope of the current mainstream cognition of the ninja world, with a kind of extreme desire to explore the unknown and a certain degree of “madness”!
Shimura Aki was secretly shocked when he heard these questions.
As expected of Orochimaru! Even in his childhood, his obsession with ninjutsu and his spirit of exploration were already so… eye-catching! If these questions were heard by those conservative ninjas, they would probably denounce him as a “heretic”, right?
But for Shimura Aki, who has system knowledge and memories of his past life, these questions are not completely unanswerable! He can even give some insights that even Orochimaru finds “surprising”!
He pondered for a moment, organized his words, and then slowly spoke. His voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard by Orochimaru:
“Senior Orochimaru, regarding the nature of chakra, I do have some…immature ideas.”
He deliberately kept the question in suspense, and succeeded in causing Orochimaru’s golden snake eyes to flash with a stronger interest.
“I think that the so-called spiritual energy and physical energy may be just two ‘manifestations’ of chakra in the human body, or in other words, the two ‘basic particles’ that make up chakra.
The essence of chakra may be a more original and purer… cosmic energy? Just like sunlight, air, and water, it is present throughout the world. It’s just that we ninjas have learned how to absorb this energy from ourselves and the outside world through special training methods, and transform it into a form that we can use.”
This statement borrows some settings about “spiritual energy of heaven and earth” from previous fantasy novels, and combines some concepts about natural energy and magic in the Naruto world. It sounds… like it makes sense?
“As for the interaction between spiritual energy and physical energy…” Shimura Aki continued, with a hint of “exploration” in his tone, “I guess, maybe… it has something to do with some special areas in our brains and some special structures in our body cells? For example, spiritual energy may rely more on the activity intensity and connection complexity of brain neurons, while physical energy is related to the mitochondrial activity of cells and the patency of the meridian system? The conversion between the two may involve some kind of complex process… similar to ‘bioelectrochemical reaction’?”
These terms, such as “neurons”, “mitochondria”, and “bioelectrochemical reactions”, are unheard of by people of this era.
But Shimura Aki spoke seriously, as if it was really a well-thought-out academic discussion.
Sure enough, when Orochimaru heard these “new” words, his eyebrows raised slightly, and a hint of confusion flashed in his eyes, but more of it was… excitement and curiosity!
“Neurons? Mitochondria? Bioelectrochemical reactions?” He repeated these words in a low voice, his golden snake pupils flashing with a gleam of curiosity. “What… are these? Where did you hear about them?”
“Uh…” Shimura Akira pretended to hesitate for a moment, then said vaguely, “It was… I saw it on a very old, incomplete scroll… The scroll seemed to be left by an ancient school that has been lost. It records some… very strange theories. I only understand the basics and don’t understand a lot of them.”
Of course, he could not admit that this was knowledge from his previous life, and could only attribute it to some non-existent “ancient scroll”.
“An incomplete scroll of an ancient school?” Orochimaru’s eyes lit up even more! For someone like him who was obsessed with studying unknown things, words like “ancient”, “incomplete”, and “lost” were simply full of fatal attraction!
“That scroll… is it still there?” He looked at Shimura Aki with almost longing eyes.
“Uh… that… I’m sorry, Senior,” Shimura Akira showed a “difficult” expression on his face, “that scroll… is very precious, and… seems to involve some… secrets that are not convenient to disclose, so… I can’t show it to others easily.”
He was trying to whet Orochimaru’s appetite! He was also testing Orochimaru’s bottom line!
When Orochimaru heard this, a hint of imperceptible disappointment flashed across his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.
He knew that something like this involving “secrets” could not be obtained easily.
“All right.”
He nodded, and did not continue to pursue the topic of the questionnaire, but brought the topic back to the previous discussion, “So, regarding the issue of… chakra conversion efficiency that you mentioned, what do you think? Is it possible… to greatly improve this efficiency through some method, such as… modifying the body structure, or… stimulating mental potential?”
His words have already vaguely revealed some of his…rudimentary ideas for future human experiments!
Shimura Aki’s heart moved, knowing that this was a key “entry point”!
He pretended to ponder for a moment, then said in a tone of “uncertainty” and “bold guess”: “The senior’s idea… is indeed very… inspiring.
I think… theoretically, this possibility does exist.”
“For example… we know that the refinement of chakra requires the consumption of physical and mental energy.
If… we can find a way to reduce this consumption, or… draw these two energies from the outside world more efficiently, can we increase the total amount of chakra and the recovery speed to a certain extent?”
“For example… Senior, you just mentioned ‘transforming the body structure’… If we can strengthen the organs or tissues related to chakra generation and storage (for example, assuming there is an organ similar to a ‘chakra core’), or… optimize the meridian system in our body so that it can conduct chakra more smoothly and efficiently, then… can we also indirectly improve the efficiency of chakra use?”
“As for ‘stimulating spiritual potential’… I think this may involve a deeper level… such as… the soul? Or consciousness? If we can find a way to stimulate this potential, perhaps… we can really create a miracle?”
Shimura Aki’s remarks were based half on his understanding of the plot of Naruto (such as Hashirama’s cells, Sage Mode, and even some forbidden techniques involving the soul), and half on his own “reasonable speculation” and “bold imagination.”
He did not give any specific answers or methods, but only proposed some “possibilities” and “directions.”
But these “possibilities” and “directions” were like a bright lamp lit in the darkness, instantly illuminating Orochimaru’s heart full of curiosity and desire to explore!
“Strengthen organs… optimize meridians… soul… consciousness…” Orochimaru murmured these words in a low voice, and his golden snake eyes flashed with a light that was almost obsessive and fanatical! He felt as if he had opened a door to a brand new unknown world!
The way he looked at Shimura Aki also became…even more different!
It is no longer just the initial “a little interesting”, nor the later “some ideas”, but… an appreciation and… desire that is almost like “finding a confidant”!
He longed to gain more “inspiration” and “enlightenment” from this young boy whose thoughts were so “avant-garde” and “bold”!
“Shimura Aki…” Orochimaru’s voice seemed to tremble with excitement. “You…what you said…is very reasonable! Very worth studying!”
He paused, and said in a tone that was somewhat solemn and… expectant: “In the future… can we discuss these issues together more often like we did today? I… I have a lot of ideas that I want to share with you.”
Shimura Aki was overjoyed again! It worked! The connection with Orochimaru was no longer just a “connection”, but… a special connection based on “academic discussion” and “common interests” had been initially established!
“Of course! Senior!” He immediately responded in an equally “eager” tone, “Being able to discuss the secrets of ninjutsu with you is something I have always dreamed of! I also hope to learn more valuable knowledge from you!”
The two of them smiled at each other, and there was a bit of… “tacit understanding” in their smiles that only they could understand.
Although their purposes are different.
Orochimaru wanted to get “inspiration” from Shimura Aki to satisfy his curiosity.
And Shimura Aki wanted to gradually deepen his relationship with Orochimaru through this kind of “academic exchange” and lay a solid foundation for obtaining his “black material” and “technology” in the future.
But at least at this moment, they reached a…temporary “consensus” because of their common pursuit of the “unknown” and “power”.
This “re-contact” at the Ninjutsu exchange seminar was undoubtedly extremely successful.
Shimura Aki not only further consolidated his “special status” in Orochimaru’s heart, but also opened a door for deeper “cooperation” between the two in the future.
He believed that as long as he could continue to come up with some “novel theories” and “bold conjectures” that would interest Orochimaru (of course, these must be carefully packaged and disguised so as not to expose the existence of the system), he would be able to hang the “big fish” Orochimaru firmly on his hook!
It was late at night and everything was quiet.
Shimura Aki sat cross-legged in his room. Instead of practicing chakra or physical skills as usual, he immersed his consciousness in his mind and opened the long-lost [Disclosure System] panel.
He needed to make a comprehensive summary and…prospect of the first phase of operations.
[Ding! The system detects that the host has completed the initial layout and strength accumulation of the first phase, and now summarizes and evaluates the first phase of actions:]Clear lines of text began to appear on the panel, as if playing a condensed movie of his experiences since traveling through time.
[1. System activation and novice tasks:][Successfully activated the [Revelation System] and initially mastered the basic functions of the system.][Successfully obtain and use the C+ level black material of the target character ‘Tsunade’ (“Heroes’ Stories: Wind, Flowers, Snow and Moon”) through the novice mission, and achieve the following results:][1. Obtain the system’s core rewards: [Chakra Refining Technique (Mastery)], [Medical Ninjutsu (Entry Level)], laying a solid foundation for the host’s strength improvement.
[2. Established a special connection with the target person ‘Tsunade’ based on “handle” and “forced guidance”, creating conditions for the subsequent development and utilization of this personal connection.
[Comprehensive evaluation of novice tasks: excellent.][2. Strength improvement and initial layout:][Pass the follow-up task (exposing a small corruption case) and successfully obtain the reward: [Breath Concealment Technique (Mastery)], which further enhances the host’s stealth, reconnaissance and self-protection capabilities.
[Under the harsh training of the “Root” instructor Owl and Tsunade’s “forced” guidance, the host’s taijutsu, three-body technique application skills, and understanding of actual combat have all been significantly improved, far exceeding the level of his peers.
[Through a series of carefully planned “performances”, he successfully raised his status and expectations in the heart of his father, Danzo Shimura, and gained more training resources and the opportunity to get in touch with the marginal affairs of the “Root” organization.
[By taking advantage of Koharu Utane’s weakness of “cleanliness” and cleverly “providing clues”, a small-scale “anti-corruption” incident was indirectly facilitated, and a good impression of “meticulous mind, keen observation, measured behavior, and integrity” was initially established in Koharu Utane’s mind, laying the groundwork for winning support in the subsequent high-level game.
[By using Mito Kado En’s “suspected black material” (the encounter at the Iron Country border) at a high-level meeting, he successfully “shocked the enemy” and forced him to make concessions on key issues, indirectly gaining political benefits for his father Danzo and further consolidating his own value in Danzo’s heart.
【Through his performance in joint exercises and ninjutsu exchange seminars, as well as targeted “academic discussions”, he successfully established initial contact with the future key figure ‘Orochimaru’, creating opportunities for subsequent forbidden technique research, intelligence cooperation, and “black material” mining.
[Initially established a peripheral intelligence network around itself, which was simple but had certain potential (mainly composed of bribed or controlled servants and domestic servants).
Chapter 77: The Edge of the Laboratory (Old Version)
[Comprehensive evaluation of the first phase: good.]The host successfully utilized the system and his own wisdom to complete the initial accumulation of strength and the initial layout of interpersonal relationships in a short period of time, laying a solid foundation for subsequent development.
Looking at the series of summaries given by the system, Shimura Aki’s heart was filled with emotion.
In just a few months, he grew from a weak time traveler who knew nothing about this world and could die at any time, to a small player with considerable strength and who had a few “chess pieces” and “layouts” of his own on the huge chessboard of Konoha Village.
All of this is inseparable from the help of the incredible plug-in [Leak System], and also inseparable from his own calmness, calculation and… determination to do whatever it takes, which are beyond his age.
[Ding! The first phase goal has been basically achieved.
Systematic outlook on the challenges and opportunities that may arise in the next stage:
Just as Shimura Aki was feeling overwhelmed with emotion, the text on the system panel changed again.
【Challenge 1: Bottleneck of strength.
Although the host’s current strength is far beyond that of his peers, there is still a huge gap between him and the real strong ones (such as Jonin and Kage level).
As you reach higher and higher levels, the enemies and challenges you encounter will become stronger and stronger.
How to quickly and safely break through the strength bottleneck will be the primary challenge facing the host.
[Challenge 2: Deepening and controlling relationships.
Most of the interpersonal relationships that the host has currently established are still in the initial and unstable stage (such as the “forced” relationship with Tsunade, the “exploratory” relationship with Orochimaru, the “shallow affection” with Koharu, etc.).
How to further deepen these relationships and keep them firmly in one’s own hands so that they can truly be used for one’s own benefit, rather than being used or betrayed by the other party, will test the host’s wisdom and means.
[Challenge three: Danzo’s expectations and control.
As the host demonstrates increasingly powerful abilities and value, father Danzo’s expectations of the host will inevitably become higher and higher, but this may also increase his control and suspicion of the host.
How to meet Danzo’s expectations and gain his support while maintaining one’s own independence and autonomy and avoiding becoming a pure tool will be the key to the long-term game between the host and Danzo.
[Challenge 4: The shadow of war.
According to the system’s comprehensive analysis of the current situation in the Ninja World (combined with historical data and potential conflict points), the full outbreak of the First Ninja World War is imminent! War means chaos, death, and… a reshuffle of power! This is both a huge crisis and… a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! 】
[Opportunity 1: Merit in war.]In the upcoming war, if the host can seize the opportunity and make enough merits, he will be able to quickly improve his status and reputation in the village and obtain more resources and power.
[Opportunity 2: “Dark material” in the chaos.]During wartime, information is confused and people’s minds are unstable, which makes it easier for all kinds of unexpected “black material” and “secrets” to emerge.
If the host can keenly capture these opportunities, he will be able to obtain a large number of high-value revelation points and system rewards.
[Opportunity three: integration and rise of forces.]War is often the best time for old forces to decline and new forces to rise.
If the host can make clever plans and form alliances in this chaos, he may be able to lay a more solid foundation for his own and the Shimura clan’s future.
[System suggestion: The host should consolidate the existing strength as soon as possible and plan the direction of the next skill improvement in a targeted manner.
At the same time, pay close attention to changes in the situation in the ninja world and make full preparations for the upcoming war.
Find opportunities in crisis and rise in chaos! 】
The system’s “phase summary and outlook” contained a huge amount of information, which made Shimura Aki’s mood become solemn again.
Challenges are indeed everywhere.
The bottleneck of strength, the complexity of interpersonal relationships, Danzo’s control, and… the upcoming war! Each one is like a mountain pressing on his head.
But at the same time, the opportunities are equally tempting! The merits in the war, the scandals in the chaos, the integration of forces… all these have made him see the dawn of realizing his ambitions!
“The First Ninja World War… is it finally coming?” Shimura Aki whispered to himself, with a complex light flashing in his eyes.
He knew that the time of peace was coming to an end.
The days ahead will be even more cruel and more… exciting!
He must act quickly!
He once again turned his attention to the system panel and began to carefully sort out the skills he currently possessed and plan the next direction for improvement.
[Chakra Refining Technique (Mastery)]: This is his most core and basic skill at present.
Abundant and pure chakra is the fundamental guarantee for him to perform all ninjutsu, physical techniques, and even medical ninjutsu.
There is no need to deliberately improve this skill for the time being, just practice it step by step.
[Medical Ninjutsu (Introduction)]: With Tsunade’s guidance, his current medical level can already play a significant role in actual combat, at least he can protect himself and provide treatment for some less serious injuries.
But the “entry” level is obviously far from enough.
He needs a higher level of medical ninjutsu! Not only to save lives, but also for… research! For example, research on Hashirama’s cells? Research on human body transformation? All of these require extremely advanced medical knowledge as a foundation! This direction must continue to invest!
[Steeping Technique (Mastery)]: This skill is simply a magical skill! Whether it is stealth, reconnaissance, assassination, or hiding strength, it is very useful! The mastery level is already very strong. If it can be upgraded to the “Master” or even “Grandmaster” level, wouldn’t it really be possible to “pass through a sea of ​​flowers without getting a single leaf on you”? This is also very valuable!
[Taijutsu and Sanshinjutsu]: With the “double training” of Owl and Tsunade, he has laid a very solid foundation, far surpassing his peers.
But he is still far from being a true master of physical skills.
Although one is proficient in the Three Body Technique, its effectiveness will be greatly reduced when facing a truly strong opponent.
All of these need to be constantly honed and improved in actual combat.
So, what does he need to improve most next?
Shimura Qiu thought.
At present, he has certain abilities in support, stealth, and basic offense and defense.
But it seems that… there is a lack of a real, final decision…
Chapter 78: Secret Information of the “Root” Department (Old Version)
…Powerful attack method!
Whether it’s the assassination skills of the Owl Cult or the basic physical skills, they all seem a little weak when facing a truly strong person.
Medical ninjutsu is mainly used to save lives, while breath-retaining techniques are mainly used for auxiliary purposes.
He needs… a more destructive offensive ninjutsu!
For example, those powerful five-element escape techniques? Or… even more bizarre and difficult to guard against illusion techniques?
Illusion…Shimura Aki’s eyes lit up slightly.
He has an adult soul, and his mental strength is far superior to that of ordinary people. He should have a natural advantage in learning and performing illusions! Moreover, the attack methods of illusions are more covert and diverse, and can often put the enemy into a desperate situation without the enemy noticing! This is a perfect match for someone like him who likes to do things in secret!
Or… a more advanced medical ninjutsu, such as… the “creative regeneration” that Tsunade would become famous for in the future? Although that was too difficult, and it seemed to require the cooperation of the Yin Seal.
But at least, we can first develop towards more advanced offensive medical ninjutsu (such as chakra scalpel) or auxiliary medical ninjutsu (such as group treatment)?
He decided that in the next step of collecting “black material”, he would begin to consciously lean towards the skills he needed.
See if you can get corresponding system rewards by completing specific tasks or exposing specific black material.
Just as Shimura Aki was planning the future direction of his skill improvement, he keenly felt that the atmosphere in the village seemed… gradually becoming a little wrong.
There was an indescribable sense of tension and… solemnity in the air.
News of border frictions is coming more and more frequently through various channels.
Sometimes it’s with the Sand Village, sometimes it’s with the Iwagakure Village, and even the Takigakure Village, which has always been “peaceful to the world”, seems to be starting to become a little restless.
The number of Konoha’s high-level meetings has also increased significantly.
The expressions on the faces of his father Danzo and the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen also became increasingly solemn and tired.
Xiao’s training for him also became more cruel and… closer to actual combat.
The content of the training began to involve more about how to survive on the battlefield, how to conduct coordinated operations in a team, and how to complete espionage and decapitation missions in chaos.
The mission of the “Root” organization also began to shift on a large scale toward border intelligence gathering and infiltration behind enemy lines.
Although Shimura Aki was not involved in the core mission, he could clearly feel the tense atmosphere of impending storm from the marginal intelligence summaries he was able to see.
Even Tsunade, when “instructing” him in medical ninjutsu, would occasionally sigh and complain that the medical department’s supplies were beginning to run out and that there was a shortage of staff, as if they were preparing for a possible war.
All signs indicate that the time of peace is coming to an end.
The dark cloud of the First Ninja World War has begun to hang over the entire Konoha Village like a huge nightmare!
This made Shimura Aki feel an unprecedented sense of urgency!
war!
This is both a crisis and an opportunity!
He must improve his strength as much as possible before the war really breaks out! Try to gain a more advantageous position and more life-saving trump cards for himself and the Shimura family!
His eyes became more determined and sharp.
His era, perhaps… will truly begin with the upcoming baptism of blood and fire!
Shimura Aki sank his mind deep into his consciousness, and the familiar, slightly crude translucent system panel reappeared.
He noticed that in a corner of the panel, the value representing the “black material points” had reached a considerable number after a series of previous actions and accumulation.
“System, does my current black material points meet the conditions for system upgrade?” Shimura Aki muttered in his heart.
【Ding! It is detected that the host’s current black material points have reached the threshold required for the system’s primary upgrade.
】The cold mechanical voice responded quickly, [Host, are you sure to consume all the current black material points to upgrade the system? 】
“Confirm the upgrade!” Shimura Aki made the choice without hesitation.
He had long felt that the initial version of the system was insufficient.
The scanning range is too small, the degree of understanding of the target is too high, and the efficiency of obtaining black material is relatively low.
If you want to survive better in this crisis-ridden world and achieve the greater goals in your heart, a more powerful system is essential!
【Ding! Received host upgrade instruction.
Start consuming black material points…】
[Black material points are being consumed… 10%… 30%… 70%… 100%! ][Points consumed! ][System primary upgrade program started… Estimated upgrade time: three minutes…]As the system prompt sounded, Shimura Aki felt an extremely slight vibration deep in his brain, as if an electric current was passing through it.
This feeling was not uncomfortable, but rather a little refreshing and… comfortable? It was as if some invisible shackles had been broken, and some hidden ability was being activated.
The translucent system panel in his mind also began to flicker violently, emitting a platinum light that was brighter and more dazzling than ever before.
The light moved rhythmically like breathing, full of mystery and… an unknown sense of power.
Shimura Aki waited quietly, his heart full of anticipation.
He knew that every system upgrade meant a qualitative leap!
Three minutes seemed a long time in the anticipation.
Finally, when the dazzling platinum light gradually faded and the system panel regained stability, the cold mechanical prompt sounded again:
[Ding! The tip-off system version 1.0 has been successfully upgraded to version 1.5! ][The core functions of the system have been initially enhanced, and some new functions have been unlocked.
Please check the details by yourself.
Shimura Aki immediately turned his attention to the brand new system panel.
Sure enough, there have been some subtle changes to the appearance of the panel.
It is no longer the slightly rough and simple interface of the past, but has become more… refined and technological? Although it is still a translucent light blue tone, the borders and fonts have been optimized to a certain extent, making it look clearer and more pleasing to the eye.
More importantly, the information displayed on the panel has also changed significantly!
Chapter 79: “Unintentional” Lost (Old Version)
【Revelation System (Version: 1.5)】
[Host: Aki Shimura][Black Material Points: 0 (consumed after upgrading)]【Core functions：】
[1. Target Scan (Enhanced):][Scanning range: Expanded from the original ‘targets with close contact and a certain degree of understanding’ to ‘the edge area that can be covered by the host’s own normal perception ability’.
[Scanning accuracy: For targets with the strength of Chunin or below, and the host has basic knowledge (such as name, identity, or clear face), more detailed basic information, some personal habits, and potential “low-level black material clues” can be obtained.
For targets with the strength of Jonin or above, or targets that the host is completely unfamiliar with, information acquisition is still vague or limited, and mainly provides strength assessment and risk warnings.
[Special Tip: Actively scanning a target whose strength far exceeds that of the host still carries a high risk of being detected, so please use with caution! ]【2. Black material insight (enhanced):】
[The system’s sensitivity and ability to identify potential “black material” information has increased by 15%.
[It is possible to more accurately analyze and judge the potential value, relevance, and possible use of “black material” (a small amount of black material points are required for in-depth analysis).
【3. System Mall (preliminarily unlocked):】
[New product categories: Basic Ninja Tools (standard kunai, shuriken, etc.), Basic Medicinal Materials (hemostatic grass, detoxifying grass, etc.), Basic Sealing Technique Knowledge (fragmented chapters 1-3).
[Note: All product redemptions require black material points.
【4. Task system (regular operation):】
[The system will release various tasks from time to time based on the host’s current strength, environment, and potential opportunities.
Complete the task to get rich rewards.
Looking at these brand new system function descriptions, Shimura Aki’s heart was filled with irrepressible excitement!
The most significant change is indeed the expansion of the scanning range!
From the previous “close contact and certain understanding”, it has expanded to “the edge of one’s own perception ability”! This improvement is simply a world of difference!
For a ninja who has undergone the hellish training of Owl and has reached the mastery level of chakra control, his normal perception range can at least cover an area of ​​nearly 100 meters in radius! Even with a high degree of concentration, it can be extended further!
This means that from now on, as long as the target appears within his perception range, he will be able to conduct a preliminary scan on it! He no longer needs to go to great lengths to create an “encounter” or take the risk of sneaking into close range to obtain information as before!
Moreover, he could also conduct vague preliminary information exploration on targets that he had no direct contact with! This would be crucial for him to screen potential “black material” targets and avoid danger in advance!
He is also very satisfied with the improvement of his ability to see through scandals.
More accurate analysis of the potential value and relevance of black material means that he can more effectively utilize the “black material” resources in his hands and maximize his benefits!
Although the new products added to the system mall are still basic items, the option of “Basic Sealing Technique Knowledge (Fragments)” makes Shimura Aki’s eyes light up!
Sealing Technique! This is an extremely profound and powerful ninjutsu system in the Naruto world! Whether it is attack, defense, assistance, or… researching forbidden techniques (such as those related to the soul), it is inseparable from the support of sealing techniques! If you can master advanced sealing techniques, it will definitely be a great help!
Although it is only a fragment now, and needs to be exchanged for black material points, it at least shows that good things can really be produced in the system mall!
“A new hunting game… is about to begin!” A smile full of anticipation appeared on the corner of Shimura Aki’s mouth.
He couldn’t wait to test how powerful this upgraded version 1.5 system was!
In order to more intuitively feel the specific performance of the system after the upgrade, Shimura Aki did not choose to test it in a relatively familiar environment such as his home or the Shimura mansion, but instead turned his attention to a more “challenging” and “representative” place – the central training ground of the Konoha Ninja School.
This place is densely populated with a high turnover rate. There are both students with varying strengths and experienced instructors. It is an excellent place to test the system’s scanning range, scanning accuracy, and black material insight.
He still asked Shimura Aoi to “accompany” him.
The reason stated to the public is “to observe and learn, gain experience, and lay a solid foundation for entering the Ninja School in the future.”
This reason made sense, and Danzo had no objection.
Arriving at the edge of the training ground, Shimura Aki did not rush to get closer. Instead, he found a relatively secluded corner with a wide view and observed the situation in the field from a distance.
In the training ground, dozens of ninja school students who were about his age or slightly older were performing various basic sparring exercises.
Shuriken throwing, physical combat, the use of three-body techniques… although the movements are still a little immature, the youthful vigor and fighting spirit are overwhelming.
Next to the students, there were several instructors wearing Konoha Chunin uniforms, who were giving instructions from time to time or personally demonstrating.
Shimura Aki’s eyes swept over these instructors one by one.
He found that he had some impression of most of the instructors’ faces (from the original owner’s memory, or from having seen them from afar before), but there were one or two who were completely unfamiliar to him.
He decided to start with these instructors he was not familiar with to test the new capabilities of the system.
He focused his attention on one of the Chunin instructors who was of medium build, ordinary appearance, and looked to be around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, who was instructing the students in shuriken throwing.
The instructor was at least fifty meters away from him.
“System, scan the instructor in front who is instructing Shuriken.”
He muttered to himself.
[Ding! Scan command detected, target: unknown Chunin (distance 53 meters).
Target strength assessment: mid-Chunnin.
Scan risk: Very low.
The system’s feedback is almost instantaneous! Moreover, it directly provides strength assessment and risk warnings! This was absolutely impossible to do before!
Chapter 80 Orochimaru’s “Surprise” (Old Version)
As the scan progressed, some information about the instructor began to flow into Shimura Aki’s mind like a trickle.
“Name: Shan Zhongyuan.
Age: 26.
Family: Yamanaka clan (collateral branch).
Chakra attributes: wind, thunder.
Ninjutsu he is good at: Wind Style: Great Breakthrough, Yamanaka clan’s basic secret technique (Mastery of Heart Transformation Technique: Elementary)… Teaching characteristics: Patient and meticulous, but a little rigid, not good at adapting… Personal habits: I like to touch my nose when I am nervous…”
Although this information is not as detailed and in-depth as when scanning Tsunade or Kenta at close range, much of it is just basic data and surface features.
But it was enough for Shimura Aki to have a general understanding of the strength level, ability characteristics, and even some personality habits of this strange instructor in a short period of time!
For a ninja who needs to quickly judge the situation and analyze the opponent, this is simply a magical skill!
What surprised Shimura Aki even more was that after these basic information, the system also gave some “clues” that contained “black material”!
“… Recent financial situation: tight.
Reason: addicted to gambling, owed a lot of debts…”
“…dissatisfaction with the current working situation.
Main complaints: hard work, low pay, no hope of promotion…”
“…Private comments: I have complained to my friends many times after drinking about the unfairness of the Hokage high-level officials, and I think it is difficult for ordinary ninjas to make a name for themselves…”
Although these cannot be considered real “black material”, they are more like some personal negative emotions and bad habits.
However, the system keenly captured the possible “contradictions” and “dissatisfaction” from them! And behind these clues, it marked “Potential exploitable value: low” in light red font.
You can try to contact them to further explore their deep-seated demands or get hold of their substantive evidence.”
This… is simply telling him directly where to start!
Shimura Aki felt that his “eyes” had really become sharper and more… “vicious” than before!
It was as if the entire Konoha Village, in front of him, had gradually shed its shiny and bright outer layer, and began to reveal its unknown inner cracks and stains hidden in the shadows!
And these cracks and stains will become bargaining chips that he can use in the future!
He suppressed his excitement and continued to try to perform long-distance scans on several other instructors he was not familiar with.
The results are similar to the first one.
The system can provide feedback on the other party’s basic information and some potential “black material clues” in a very short time.
Although the level of detail of the information and the value of the clues will vary depending on the target’s strength, distance, and Shimura Aki’s level of knowledge of the target, overall, this “wide-net” style of initial information acquisition has made him very satisfied!
This means that he no longer needs to rely on luck to find “black material” targets in the future, like looking for a needle in a haystack! He can first use the system to conduct a large-scale preliminary screening to find those “suspicious” or “potential” targets, and then conduct targeted, more in-depth investigations and excavations!
Efficiency has been greatly improved!
After getting familiar with the new functions after the system upgrade and feeling the pleasure of “seeing through everything”, the ambition in Shimura Aki’s heart, like a flame poured with oil, burned again!
He was no longer satisfied with collecting negative information about the instructors of the ninja schools, or the small-time dirt on ordinary Chunins and Genins.
Those things are of too low value and can only provide limited help in helping him achieve his grand goals.
His attention must be turned back to those… those who truly stand at the top of the power pyramid!
Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, is still an existence that he cannot shake at present.
His strength is unfathomable, his scheming is unfathomable, and he is always protected by the Anbu.
Trying to dig up dirt on him is too risky and the timing is not right.
However, in his opinion, the two advisors around him – Mitomon En and Utane Koharu – still have great potential!
Last time, he only relied on some indirect evidence and systematic speculation, and through an “inadvertent” hint, he successfully planted a nail called “fear” in the heart of the consultant who was always known for his stubbornness and toughness, forcing him to make a “turn” in favor of his father Danzo on the key issues!
That success made Shimura Aki taste the sweetness of “controlling the top management”! It also made him realize more deeply that even a person like Mitomon En who is in a high position and seems impeccable may also hide unknown “stains” and “weaknesses” deep in his heart!
Moreover, although the last “hint” worked, it also left some hidden dangers.
For example, Mizutomon En will definitely be wary and suspicious of me, and may even secretly investigate me.
For example, he did not have any direct evidence of Mitomon En’s “dark history”.
Relying solely on suggestion and deterrence will have limited effects and will not last long.
Once Mito Kado En recovers or finds a way to counter him, his “trump card” may become ineffective.
So, he must…strike while the iron is hot!
Utilize the upgraded system to provide more in-depth and comprehensive care for Mitomon!
Or, find more solid evidence to thoroughly confirm the dark history of the “Iron Country Border Encounter” and make it a deadly trump card in your hand that you can play at any time!
Or, start from other aspects and dig out Mitomon Yan’s new and more deterrent weakness!
As long as he can completely control Mito Kado En, the Hokage advisor, in his own hands, or at least… make him dare not to be an enemy of his father Danzo anymore, then it will play an immeasurable role in promoting his father’s future path to power and the rise of the entire Shimura clan!
And he himself can also obtain a large amount of explosive points and generous system rewards from it!
Kill three birds with one stone! Why not? !
There was a cold and excited light in Shimura Aki’s eyes.
A new round of “hunting” has begun!
He once again focused his attention on Mitomon En’s forgotten story about the “Iron Country Border Encounter.”
He knew that the possibility of finding direct and conclusive evidence, such as a letter of apology written by Mitomon En himself or a secret testimony from a key figure, was extremely slim.
After all, it has been so many years since the incident, and the relevant evidence may have been destroyed or buried long ago.
However, the absence of direct evidence does not mean that there is no indirect evidence! It does not mean that there are no clues that can be used!
He once again used the authority given to him by Danzo to access the old archives sealed by the “Root” organization (after the last “anti-corruption incident”, Danzo trusted him more and the access authority was slightly relaxed), and began to conduct a more detailed and in-depth search and excavation of all records related to the “Iron Country Border Encounter”.
This time, he did not simply read and analyze the transcripts as he had done before.
Instead, the upgraded system scanning function is used to the extreme!
He spread out the yellowed, blurred scrolls and documents page by page, and then used the mind communication system to scan and analyze them word by word.
The upgraded system showed amazing efficiency and insight when processing these piles of old papers!
It will automatically highlight those details in the file that seem unreasonable, inconsistent, or unclear!
For example, in a record of the payment of pensions for casualties after the war, the system keenly discovered that the standard of pensions for the ninjas killed in the defense zone that Mitomon En was responsible for seemed to be…slightly higher than that of other defense zones? Moreover, the payment time was also slightly…a few days later than that of other defense zones? Was there something fishy going on? Was it to keep the secret? Or…something else was going on?
For example, in a fragmentary log of battlefield communication records at that time, the system captured an extremely vague communication record that seemed to be Mito Kado En’s request for a “tactical retreat” from his superiors (most likely Sarutobi Hiruzen or the headquarters at that time)! However, this record was completely erased in the official battle report! Does this mean that his request for “retreat” at that time was not approved? Or… he acted without authorization?
There are also some personal notes and diaries of fallen or retired ninjas (these are collected by the “Root” organization through various means). Although most of them are scattered and subjective descriptions, through systematic correlation analysis, they can occasionally confirm or supplement some details that were deliberately concealed in the archives!
For example, a veteran who was seriously injured in the battle and retired mentioned in his diary that at the most critical moment of the battle, their flank defense line seemed to be… in a state of chaos without a commander? This caused their friendly forces on the front battlefield to be under tremendous pressure?
These scattered clues, like pearls scattered in the dust of history, were linked together one by one by Shimura Aki with the help of the system, gradually outlining an outline… which, although still vague, is getting closer and closer to the truth!
I’m afraid that Mitomon En’s behavior in that battle… was more than just a “command error”!
It is very likely that, when facing tremendous pressure, he really did do some self-protective behavior that was detrimental to his companions and even to the interests of Konoha!
After the war, these actions were deliberately covered up and whitewashed by certain people (most likely the Second Hokage or Sarutobi Hiruzen) in order to maintain unity and stability among the top leaders!
“Interesting…it’s getting more and more interesting…” A cold smile appeared on the corner of Shimura Aki’s mouth.
He felt that he was getting closer and closer to the “truth” that would destroy Mito Menyan forever!
Just when his excavation of these old archives reached a bottleneck and it seemed that he could no longer find any more direct clues, an “accidental” analysis of the system brought him a new breakthrough!
While scanning a file about the post-war placement of personnel for the “Iron Wall” mission, the system suddenly highlighted a seemingly unremarkable name.
[Ding! Key related person clues detected! ][Name: Furukawa Nobuyuki.]His status at that time was: Konoha Chunin, belonging to the support team, and had participated in the flank pass defense of the “Iron Country Border Encounter”.
Status after the mission: right leg seriously injured, chakra meridians damaged, assessed as third-degree disability, retired early.
Current residence: Southern District of Konoha Village, civilian residential area, the specific address has been locked.
[System Analysis: This person was a direct combatant under Mito Kado En at the time, and he retired due to injury and did not participate in subsequent wars and power struggles. His memory and description of the details of the battle at that time may be more objective and authentic.
There is a high probability that we have direct eyewitness evidence of some key actions of Mitomon Yan in the battle! 】
A survivor! And a direct subordinate of Mitomon En! He was also retired due to injury and lived in poverty!
This… is a godsend!
Shimura Aki’s heart suddenly started beating violently!
If we can get some real information about the battle back then from this retired Chunin named “Furukawa Nobuyuki”, especially about Mito Kado En’s specific performance at the critical moment… then it will play a decisive role in confirming the “black material” against Mito Kado En!
He immediately decided that he must contact this person secretly as soon as possible!
Of course, visiting directly as the young master of the Shimura family would definitely arouse suspicion and might even alert the enemy.
He needed a disguise that was…more natural, less likely to arouse alarm.
He carefully studied the information about Furukawa Nobuyuki provided by the system.
After retiring, this person seemed to have been living in hardship, and his personality became somewhat withdrawn and… cynical? (The system analyzed the evaluation of the neighbors around his residence)
For such people, perhaps… “sympathy” and “nostalgia” are the best entry points?
Shimura Aki quickly formulated a contact plan.
He prepared some inexpensive but very practical comfort items, such as some commonly used medicines for injuries (which he prepared himself and were more effective than those on the market), some warm clothes, and… a few bottles of good wine (for people who are living in poverty and are depressed, wine is often the best comfort).
Then he chose a rainy night.
The dark night and the sound of dripping rain are most likely to evoke people’s deepest sorrow and…desire to talk.
He changed into ordinary civilian clothes and put on some simple disguise on his face (such as smearing mud on his cheeks and making his hair look more messy), making himself look like… a down-and-out boy whose family has fallen on hard times, but who is still full of yearning and respect for the ninja world?
He was alone, avoiding the guards of the Shimura family, and quietly came to the remote and dilapidated civilian residential area in the southern part of Konoha Village.
Following the system’s guidance, he quickly found Furukawa Nobuyuki’s low and damp wooden house.
There was only an extremely dim oil lamp on in the room. Through the tattered window paper, one could vaguely see a hunched figure sitting alone at the table, seemingly… drinking?
Shimura Aki took a deep breath, calmed himself, then raised his hand and gently knocked on the rotten wooden door.
“Boom boom boom…”
The knock on the door was particularly clear in the quiet rainy night.
The figure in the house paused slightly, and then a hoarse and alert voice came: “Who?!”
Chapter 81 The Serpent’s Temptation (Old Version)
“Excuse me… Is this the home of Senior Furukawa Nobuyuki?” Shimura Akira asked in a somewhat childish and… respectful tone, “Junior… Junior is a preparatory student of the Ninja School who is very interested in the history of war. I have long heard of Senior Furukawa’s heroic deeds at the border of the Iron Country. Today I have come… come to ask Senior about some past events, and… and brought some small gifts as a token of my respect.”
His voice was not loud, but his words were clear and his tone was sincere, full of admiration for the “war hero” and… a hint of imperceptible “sympathy”?
The silence in the room lasted for more than ten seconds.
Then, there was the sound of dragging footsteps and the creaking sound of the bolt being pulled open.
The wooden door slowly opened a crack.
An old and haggard face appeared behind the crack in the door.
It was a face full of traces of time and pain, with sparse and grey hair, cloudy and dim eyes, full of fatigue with the world and… a subtle vigilance.
His right leg seemed to have some difficulty and he was limping slightly.
He looked up and down at Shimura Aki who was standing in the rain, and the gifts of comfort he was holding in his hands, and frowned slightly.
“A candidate for the Ninja School? You’re looking for a useless person like me… to ask for advice on the past?” His voice was as hoarse as an old bellows. “Boy, did you… look for the wrong person?”
Shimura Akira immediately showed an expression of “humiliation and fear” and said quickly: “No, no! There is absolutely no mistake! Senior Koga, you fought bloody battles with enemies several times your size at the border of the Iron Country, held your ground, and made great contributions to Konoha! Although your deeds are not detailed in the official records, they are as dazzling as stars in the hearts of us younger generations who aspire to become true ninjas!”
His words were half compliment, half…test.
He wanted to see what Furukawa Nobuyuki’s attitude was towards the battle that year and the official “vagueness”.
Sure enough, when he heard the words “official records are vague”, an extremely complicated light flashed in Furukawa Nobuyuki’s turbid eyes.
There is anger, reluctance, sadness, and… a hint of deep helplessness and… fear?
He was silent for a moment, then slowly opened the wooden door.
“Come in, it’s raining heavily outside.”
His voice was still hoarse, but it seemed… lacking a bit of the initial vigilance and the coldness that kept people at a distance.
Shimura Aki was delighted, knowing that he had made the right bet!
This Furukawa Nobu, in his heart, really has some…unknown stories hidden! Some…truths about that forgotten war!
Carrying the gifts of comfort, he walked into the low and damp wooden house, ready to…listen to a story from the past that could change the fate of many people.
Carrying those inexpensive but thoughtful gifts, Shimura Aki walked into Furukawa Nobu’s low, damp wooden house filled with a musty smell and… a faint smell of herbs.
The furnishings in the house were extremely simple.
There was a tattered wooden table with a missing corner, two wobbly benches, a cold earthen stove that looked like it hadn’t been lit for a long time, some miscellaneous items piled in the corner, and an unpleasant smell.
The only thing that can make people feel a hint of “life” is probably the lonely wine jug on the table and the broken rough porcelain wine glass next to it.
Obviously, this retired Chunin, who once shed blood and broke his legs for Konoha, now lives a very…poor and unhappy life.
“Senior, excuse me for interrupting you.”
Shimura Aki gently placed the gifts in his hand on the dusty wooden table, then bowed respectfully to Furukawa Nobuyuki with a very humble attitude.
Furukawa Nobuyuki’s cloudy eyes looked up and down at the “uninvited guest” who had suddenly visited him with scrutiny and a hint of subtle vigilance.
He did not show any joy or gratitude for the gift brought by Shimura Aki. Instead, his brows furrowed even more.
“Boy, who are you? If you are being nice to me for no reason, you are either a traitor or a thief.
Tell me, what is your purpose in looking for a useless person like me? ” His voice was hoarse and stiff, full of distrust of strangers.
Years of hardship and the pain of being forgotten by the world had dulled his youthful vigor and made him more suspicious and sensitive.
Shimura Aki knew that for someone who was full of resentment and vigilance, any hypocritical courtesy or direct temptation would probably backfire.
He must open the situation in a more sincere way that can touch the other person’s heart.
He did not answer Furukawa Nobuyuki’s question immediately, but looked around the simple house first, with a hint of sympathy and…reluctance showing just the right amount on his face.
Then, he raised his head and said in a tone that was somewhat sad and respectful:
“Senior Koga, I am indeed a candidate for the Ninja School, and my name is Akira.
I have admired the heroic deeds of Konoha since I was a child, especially those seniors who fought bloody battles to protect the village during the First Ninja World War. “
He paused, his eyes became more sincere: “I know that you were seriously injured in the Iron Country Border Encounter, but you still insisted on fighting and made indelible contributions to Konoha.
Although… although due to some reasons, the deeds of the predecessors have not been spread as they should be, and even… the life of the predecessors now…”
He did not continue speaking, but his hesitant expression and the “regret” and “unfairness” that came from the heart in his eyes were more touching than any fancy words.
Sure enough, when Furukawa Nobuyuki heard Shimura Aki accurately describe the “Iron Country Border Encounter” and mentioned sensitive topics such as his “deeds have not been spread” and “life is difficult”, the expression on his wrinkled face changed slightly.
In his eyes, there flashed a trace of pain, resentment, and… a complex emotion of having his heart touched.
He was silent for a moment, then he slowly sighed, his voice full of vicissitudes and helplessness: “Humph… hero? Merit? Those… are just tricks to fool children.
In the end, he still ended up with a crippled body, barely surviving…”
His tone was filled with disappointment with reality and…complaints towards the Konoha high-level officials.
Shimura Aki captured this point keenly.
It’s okay to have complaints!
Chapter 82: Exchange of Intelligence and Resources (Old Version)
Complaints mean there is a breakthrough!
“Senior, please don’t say that!” Shimura Aki immediately said in a tone of “righteous indignation”, “In my heart, you are the real hero! Those who forget the heroic deeds of heroes and make them bleed and cry are the real… scum!”
His words were said with absolute certainty, full of the passion and… reckless “impulsiveness” peculiar to young people.
For the first time, Furukawa Nobuyuki’s cloudy eyes looked directly at the young boy in front of him.
He didn’t seem to expect that this seemingly weak child would actually say such “treasonous” words.
He looked at Shimura Aki carefully, as if trying to see something from his face.
Does this kid really think so? Or does he have other intentions?
“Boy,… aren’t you afraid that these words will get out and cause you trouble?” Furukawa Nobuyuki asked hoarsely, with a hint of temptation in his tone.
Shimura Akira straightened his small chest, with a resolute expression on his face: “I am just telling the truth! If we are afraid to tell the truth, then wouldn’t our Konoha’s Will of Fire become a joke?!”
His words were passionate and powerful, as if he was really a passionate young man full of justice and idealism!
Furukawa Nobuyuki looked at him, and the vigilance and suspicion in his eyes finally dissipated a lot.
Instead, there was a sense of…long-lost emotion and…an inexplicable sense of closeness?
Maybe… it was because no one had really cared about his past for too long? Maybe… he was moved by the “innocent” sense of justice in this child?
“Haha…” He suddenly let out a few dry laughs, which were full of bitterness and self-mockery. “The will of fire? Boy, when you truly experience the darkness of this world, you won’t talk about these things anymore…”
But he still pointed to the rickety bench next to him and said, “Sit down.
Since you are interested in those trivial things, I, an old man, will chat with you today. “
Shimura Akira was secretly delighted, knowing that he had successfully opened up Furukawa Nobuo’s defenses!
He thanked him respectfully and sat down on the bench.
He did not rush to turn the topic to Mito Kado En, but instead patiently listened to Furukawa Nobuyuki’s complaints and grumblings.
It seems that Furukawa Nobuyuki hasn’t found someone to talk to for a long time.
He began to talk endlessly about his difficult life after retirement, about the “harshness” of the village towards disabled veterans like them, and about how those high-ranking officials “forgot the cruelty of war and the sacrifices of the victims”…
His words were filled with dissatisfaction with reality, resentment towards Konoha’s high-level officials, and self-pity for his own tragic fate.
Shimura Aki remained patient throughout, listening attentively, occasionally agreeing with him to express his understanding and sympathy, or… guiding Furukawa Nobuyuki’s emotions just right, allowing him to vent out the resentment that had been pent up in his heart for many years.
He knew that only by making the other party completely relax their guard and regard him as a trustworthy “listener” could he extract the information he really wanted in subsequent conversations.
He also took the initiative to open the bottles of sake he had brought, filled a glass for Furukawa Nobuyuki, and poured a small glass for himself (just for show).
“Senior, although the past is sad, life must go on.
I offer you a toast, and wish you… a happier life in the future.”
He raised his glass and spoke sincerely.
Furukawa Nobuyuki looked at the clear wine in the glass, then looked at Shimura Akira’s “sincere” face, and the last trace of defense in his eyes completely collapsed.
He picked up the glass and drank it all in one gulp. The spicy wine slid down his throat, giving his weather-beaten face an abnormal blush.
“Good boy…you are thoughtful…” He put down the wine glass and let out a long sigh, as if he had let out all the pent-up anger over the years.
Wine is indeed the best key to start a conversation.
After a few glasses of warm sake, Furukawa Nobuyuki became noticeably excited and… talkative.
His words began to become somewhat incoherent and his thoughts were somewhat confused, but because of this, it was easier for him to reveal some of the “truths” that were usually hidden deep in his heart.
When Shimura Aki saw that the time was almost right, he “inadvertently” began to slowly lead the topic to the “Iron Country Border Encounter” that year.
“Senior, you just said… that the war back then was very cruel… I’m very curious, in a battle as brutal as the ‘Iron Country Border Encounter’, you… you must have experienced a lot of thrilling moments at that time, right?” He looked at Furukawa Nobuyuki with eyes full of curiosity and admiration, his tone carrying a hint of cautious tentativeness.
When mentioning the battle that changed his life, Furukawa Nobuyuki’s eyes instantly became complicated.
There was pain, fear, anger, and unwillingness…all these emotions intertwined together, making his face look somewhat hideous.
“That battle…that battle…” He took another big gulp of wine, his voice becoming even hoarser and trembling with excitement, “It was miserable! It was so miserable! It was simply…hell on earth!”
He began to recall intermittently the horror of the battle that year.
The number of enemies is several times theirs, and they are coming like a tide, and they can never kill them all!
The roar of ninjutsu, the collision of weapons, the screams of companions, the roar of enemies… intertwined together, deafening!
Blood dyed the ground red, and broken limbs were everywhere! The air was filled with a strong smell of blood and gunpowder, which was disgusting!
“We…our team is responsible for guarding a pass on the flank…” Furukawa Nobu’s eyes became a little blurry, as if he had returned to the battlefield of blood and fire. “The pass is not big, but the location is very important! Once the enemy breaks through, the entire defense line will be destroyed!”
“At that time… the one in charge of commanding us at that time was… Lord Mitomon En…” When he mentioned this name, there was an indescribable… complex emotion in his tone.
Shimura Aki’s heart skipped a beat! Here it comes! The key figure has appeared!
He did not interrupt, but silently filled another glass of wine for Furukawa Nobuyuki and motioned for him to continue.
“The enemy…the enemy is attacking fiercely! Wave after wave, not giving us a chance to breathe!
Chapter 83: Initial tacit understanding reached (old version)
“Koga Nobu’s voice became more and more excited, his bloodshot eyes widened, “Our people… fell one after another! My leg… was blown off by the enemy’s blasting talisman at that time!”
As he spoke, he beat his long-atrophied and deformed leg hard, with an expression of pain and regret on his face.
“At that time… the situation was so critical! It seemed that the pass was about to be lost! We… we all thought it was all over…”
His voice suddenly dropped, and there was a hint of fear and…confusion in his eyes?
“And then… then I saw… I saw it with my own eyes…” He seemed to be trying hard to recall something, and yet… he seemed afraid to recall something.
“What did you see, senior?” Shimura Aki asked softly and guidingly, his voice full of “concern” and “curiosity”.
Furukawa Nobuyuki suddenly raised his head and stared straight at Shimura Aki. His eyes were filled with…unbelievable anger and…a kind of despair of being betrayed!
“I saw… I saw Lord Mitokado En… He… When the enemy’s most violent wave of attacks came at him… He actually… He actually hesitated! He even… He even took half a step back!”
Furukawa Nobu’s voice became shrill and piercing because of his excitement! He used his intact hand to tightly grasp the corner of the table, and his knuckles turned white from the force!
“Because of his brief hesitation! Because of his damn retreat! A gap appeared in our flank defense line…instantly! Several…several brothers who were at the front…were hacked to death by the enemy…by the enemy…because of that gap! They didn’t even have time to scream!”
When he said this, his voice was choked and turbid tears flowed uncontrolledly down his wrinkled cheeks!
“If…if it weren’t for Captain Sarutobi and Lord Danzo who rushed over from the front in time and blocked the gap…our…our entire team would have been wiped out! Konoha’s defense…would have collapsed completely!”
As Furukawa Nobuyuki spoke, he pounded the table with his fists, making a dull “dong dong” sound, as if he wanted to vent all the anger and resentment that had been accumulated in his heart for many years!
Although he did not directly say words like “deserter” or “coward”, his description has vividly presented to Shimura Aki the scene where Mito Kado En hesitated and even retreated because of fear at the critical moment, causing a crisis in the defense line and the sacrifice of his companions!
This… is even more thrilling than a direct accusation! And… even more outrageous!
A huge wave was rising in Shimura Aki’s heart!
Although he had previously speculated through archive and system analysis that there might be problems with Mitomon Yan.
But he never expected that the truth would be… so unbearable!
A high-ranking figure who was praised as Konoha’s elder, Hokage’s advisor, and known for his steadiness and consideration for the overall situation, actually made such a… shameful mistake at a critical moment? !
This is not just a “command error”! This is simply… cowardice! It is a disguised form of desertion!
If this matter is confirmed and made public… then Mitomon En’s political career will be completely over! He will become the shame of the entire Konoha!
Shimura Aki suppressed the shock and… a hint of secret excitement in his heart, but his face showed an equally indignant and unbelievable expression.
“Senior… this… is this true? Elder Yan… how could he…” He asked in a trembling and “unbelievable” tone.
“Humph! It’s absolutely true!” Furukawa Nobuyuki took another sip of wine, his eyes filled with deep hatred, “I saw it with my own eyes! Several brothers also saw it at the time! But…but they all…died in the battle later…or…or became a cripple like me…no one dared to say it, and no one would believe it…”
He laughed bitterly, his voice full of despair and powerlessness.
Shimura Aki knew that what Furukawa Nobuyuki said was very likely true.
It is unlikely that an old soldier who broke his leg on the battlefield and lost all his glory and hope could make up such a detailed and logical lie under the influence of alcohol.
He immediately and silently activated the system’s “black material recording” function in his mind, and recorded everything that Furukawa Nobuyuki had just said, including his expression, tone, and those key details.
At the same time, he also began to ask Furukawa Nobuyuki repeatedly about some specific details of the battle at that time.
For example, when did Mitomon hesitate and retreat? How fierce was the enemy’s attack at that time? Who were the companions who died? How did Mitomon explain or cover up the incident afterwards? What was the attitude of the Second Hokage Tobirama or Sarutobi Hiruzen in dealing with the incident?
Due to the influence of alcohol and excitement, as well as his “trust” in his “intimate junior” Shimura Aki, Furukawa Nobuyuki told him almost everything he knew.
Although his memory may have some deviations and ambiguities due to the passage of time and emotional influences.
But some of the key details perfectly match the “suspicious points” that Shimura Aki had found in the archives before!
For example, the high casualty rate and “non-combat attrition” of the ninjas under Mitomon En…
For example, the abnormal consumption of ammunition and medical supplies in the defense zone he was responsible for…
For example, the erased communication record requesting a “tactical retreat”…
All the clues point to a chilling truth!
When Furukawa Nobuyuki finally said he was tired and fell asleep on the table, Shimura Aki quietly left the shabby cabin.
The rain outside was still falling, the cold rain hit his face but could not extinguish the burning fire in his heart.
He immediately checked the system panel.
[Ding! Received new important witness testimony.
We are comparing and analyzing the existing intelligence on the “Iron Country Border Encounter”…】
[Analysis completed.]The new testimony is highly consistent with many suspicious points in the archives, and the credibility rating is: high.
[Target person: Mitomon En.]Scandal: During the First Ninja World War, ‘Iron Country Border Encounter’, he was suspected of being cowardly and misleading in command, which led to a major crisis in the defense area he was responsible for and caused the deaths of many of his companions.
Chapter 84 The Passage of Time and the Subtle Changes of Emotions (Old Version)
[The black material level has been updated: from the original ‘purple B level (highly suspected, to be confirmed)’, to ‘purple B+ level (there are important witnesses, the core facts are basically confirmed)’! 】
[System prompt: This black material has extremely high political lethality! If more evidence can be found (such as testimonies from other survivors, or direct evidence admitted by Mitomon Yan himself), the level will be highly likely to be upgraded to Gold A level! Please use it with caution, and be careful to guard against the extreme countermeasures that the target person may take! ]B+ grade! There are important witnesses! The core facts are basically confirmed!
Although it is not yet “ironclad evidence”, it is still a little bit away from A-level (mainly because Furukawa Nobuyuki’s testimony is an isolated one, and he himself is currently in a low position and his words carry little weight).
But the weight of this piece of black material is much heavier than the previous simple “hint”!
If used properly, this would definitely be a super trump card that would make Mitomon Yan unable to sleep or eat, and even completely ruin his political future!
The corner of Shimura Aki’s mouth curled up into a cold and confident smile.
Mizutomon En…I’m afraid your good days…are coming to an end!
Just when Shimura Aki successfully obtained key testimony about Mito Kado En’s “dark history” from retired Chunin Furukawa Nobuyuki, and was thinking about how to use this “trump card” to maximize his benefits, the top leaders of Konoha Village were once again caught up in a fierce confrontation because of a new issue.
This time the topic is about “Reform of the Ninja Training System”.
As the shadow of the First Ninja World War draws closer, Konoha Village’s demand for qualified ninjas is growing.
How to train ninjas who can adapt to war more efficiently and quickly has become an important issue facing the top leaders.
The third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, prefers to maintain the existing, relatively stable ninja training system.
He emphasized the inheritance of the “Will of Fire”, focused on the solid training of the basic ninja abilities, and advocated the cultivation of “all-round” ninjas with comprehensive qualities who can adapt to various tasks.
He believes that ninjas are not just tools of war, but also the hope for the future of the village. Long-term development potential should not be sacrificed in pursuit of short-term combat effectiveness.
However, Shimura Danzo held a completely opposite opinion.
He believed that Hiruzen’s training method was too “gentle”, too inefficient, and the ninjas trained were too “weak” and could not adapt to the upcoming brutal war at all!
He advocated that a more brutal and competitive elimination mechanism must be introduced! Strict screening should be carried out from the lower grades of the Ninja School to eliminate those “wastes” with mediocre qualifications and weak wills as soon as possible!
At the same time, he also advocated for earlier “professional diversion”! According to each person’s talents and expertise, they should be assigned to different professional directions for targeted training.
For example, those who are good at physical skills will specialize in physical skills, those who are good at illusions will specialize in illusions, and those who are good at intelligence will specialize in intelligence… The goal is to cultivate more “tool-type” ninjas with outstanding abilities in specific fields in the shortest possible time! Everything is to improve Konoha’s immediate combat effectiveness as the highest goal! As for the “inheritance of the will of fire” and “the comprehensive development of ninjas”, in his opinion, they are all unrealistic empty talk!
These two completely different training concepts triggered a fierce collision at the high-level meeting!
Mito Kado En, as a representative of the conservatives, naturally stands firmly on the side of Sarutobi Hiruzen.
He believes that Danzo’s plan is too radical and cold-blooded, completely contrary to the spirit of humanitarianism, and also runs counter to the philosophy of “protecting companions” and “valuing life” that Konoha Village has always advocated! If Danzo’s plan is really followed, wouldn’t the ninja school become a “fighting arena” for training killing machines? This will seriously shake the foundation of Konoha and may even cause unrest in the village!
“Danzo! Your idea is too dangerous!” Mitomon En slammed the table during the meeting and shouted angrily, “Ninjas are human beings! They are not tools that can be consumed at will! We train warriors to protect the village, not emotionless killing machines! Your actions will only make Konoha lose the support of the people and eventually lead to destruction!”
Danzo sneered and retorted without showing any weakness: “Humph! Yan, you are still so naive! War is a life-and-death meat grinder! On the battlefield, only ninjas who can kill the enemy are qualified ninjas! As for human hearts and humanity, they are all vulnerable nonsense in the face of absolute strength! If we cannot train a sufficient number of elite forces that can be put into battle in a short period of time, then what awaits Konoha is real destruction!”
The two sides exchanged sharp words and refused to give an inch, and the atmosphere in the conference room fell into a stalemate again.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was caught in the middle and was in a dilemma.
He did not completely agree with Danzo’s extremely utilitarian and cold-blooded approach, but he also admitted that under the shadow of war, improving Konoha’s immediate combat effectiveness was indeed a top priority.
Utane Koharu watched silently from the side without expressing her opinion easily.
She seemed to be weighing the pros and cons of the two options.
At this moment, Shimura Aki knew that it was time for the “trump card” in his hand to come into play again.
This time, he couldn’t just give a simple “hint” like he did last time.
He needs to use a more direct and “deterrent” method to force Mitomon En… to make the “correct” choice again!
After the meeting was temporarily adjourned, Shimura Aki took the initiative to visit Mitomon En, carrying some “carefully compiled” notes, on the pretext that he had “some questions about the historical details of the First Ninja World War, and wanted to consult the experienced Elder En in order to prepare for writing some internal historical materials for our Shimura family.”
This reason sounded reasonable and was in line with his identity as a “studious and ambitious” young man. Although Mizuto Menyan was full of fear and disgust towards this boy, it was not easy for him to refuse him in person.
In Mito Kado En’s study room, which was decorated in a simple and elegant style, Shimura Aki first bowed and greeted him respectfully, and then began to “ask for advice humbly”.
The questions he asked were carefully designed.
On the surface, they are all about some battle details, personal deeds, or tactical applications of the war that year, and it really sounds like a preparation for writing historical materials.
Chapter 85: The deepening of the “investment” mentality (old version)
But in the process of “asking for advice”, he always managed to “inadvertently” lead the topic to some… more sensitive and subtle directions.
For example, he would ask: “Elder Yan, when I was sorting out the information, I found that the commander in the war has a very heavy responsibility! Sometimes, a small mistake in decision-making can lead to a reversal of the entire battle situation, and even… cause the sacrifice of a large number of innocent companions.
You say, isn’t that so? “
Or, he would say, “I’ve also seen some records saying that in some extremely cruel battlefield environments, some ninjas, unable to withstand the tremendous pressure, might exhibit… um… some behaviors that violate battlefield discipline? For example… retreating without permission? Or… passively avoiding battle? I wonder… was this kind of thing common back then? If it happened, what kind of punishment would they receive?”
As he said these words, he “accidentally” spread out the stack of “organized notes” in his hand on the coffee table in front of Mito Men Yan.
Among the spread-out notes, there were a few pages with extremely clear handwriting that contained excerpts of some…content.
——”According to the oral recollections of a retired veteran who participated in the ‘Iron Country Border Encounter’: the defensive situation at the flank pass was extremely tragic at the time, and the enemy’s offensive was like a tide… At the critical moment, our commander seemed to… have a brief command stagnation, and even… showed signs of retreating and avoiding… As a result, the defense line was torn apart for a time, and several comrades were killed on the spot…”
——”Other files show that after the battle, Commander Mitomon En was investigated and severely reprimanded by his superior (probably the Second Hokage) for this matter, and his command authority was almost revoked…”
Although these texts did not directly accuse Mito Kado En of being the commander who “deserted the battlefield”, nor did they mention the name “Furukawa Nobuyuki”, they only used vague words such as “the oral recollections of an old soldier”.
but!
When Mito Kado En saw these familiar words, especially those descriptions about “failure of flank defense”, “commander’s momentary hesitation leading to the sacrifice of comrades”, “reprimanded by superiors”, etc., his face instantly turned as pale as a deathly person!
The hand holding the teacup began to tremble violently and uncontrollably! The scalding hot tea spilled out and burned the back of his hand, but he seemed to be unaware of it!
On his forehead, beads of cold sweat oozed out one by one and slowly slid down his wrinkled cheeks!
He knows! He knows it all!
This kid… he didn’t just know about that! He also… he found a witness! He even… might have more solid evidence!
Those “memories of veterans” were definitely not groundless! Many of the details described there completely matched the unbearable past events in his memory!
It’s over! It’s completely over!
If these things were really submitted to the Hokage’s desk, or… were made public…
Then Mizuto Kado Yan’s lifelong reputation, the status and prestige he has painstakingly built up over decades, will all be… destroyed in an instant!
He didn’t even dare to imagine how his colleagues and juniors who once respected and trusted him would look at him after knowing the truth!
Fear! Unprecedented fear! Like an icy poisonous snake, it instantly grabbed his heart! It made it almost impossible for him to breathe!
He raised his head with forced calmness and looked at Shimura Aki who was still smiling innocently. His voice became hoarse and dry due to extreme nervousness and fear: “Aki…Aki-kun…you…where did you see these notes…from?”
Shimura Akira blinked his innocent big eyes, with just the right amount of “confusion” and “incomprehension” on his face: “Elder Yan, these are all compiled by me from some… um… relatively secret old family archives, and… some oral memories of my predecessors.
What’s wrong? Is there something wrong with these records?”
His expression of “I know nothing, I’m just a good kid who is serious about historical research” is simply at the level of an Oscar-winning actor!
Mizuto Menyan looked at his “pure and flawless” face, but his heart was filled with tremendous rage and…endless chill!
Problem? More than a problem! This was simply going to cost him his life!
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, wanting to explain, wanting to deny, wanting to threaten…
But in the end, he couldn’t utter a word.
Because he knew that in front of this little devil who held the fatal handle on him, any excuses and threats would seem so pale and powerless.
He could only… choose to compromise again.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm the turbulent emotions in his heart, and then said slowly in an extremely difficult and… humiliating tone: “Qiu Jun… do you… do you have any… opinions on the issue of reforming the ninja training system?”
He actually… took the initiative to ask an eight-year-old child for his “opinion” on high-level decisions?
This is more than just a compromise, this is simply… admitting defeat!
Zhicun Qiu sneered in his heart, but immediately showed an expression of “flattered” on his face: “Elder Yan, you think too highly of me! How can I be qualified to express my opinion on such an important matter concerning the future of the village? But…”
He changed the subject and his tone became “serious”: “…If I must say…I think…Sir Danzo’s proposal, although…sounds a bit cruel, but in the face of the upcoming war, perhaps…it is also a kind of…necessary ‘pain’? After all, only with a stronger strength can we better protect everything we cherish, right?”
His words seemed to be an “objective analysis”, but in fact he was clearly expressing his position – supporting Danzo!
After hearing what he said, Mizuto Menyan’s face became even uglier.
He knew that he no longer had any choice.
He closed his eyes and remained silent for a long time.
When he opened his eyes again, they were filled with exhaustion and… resignation.
“I see.”
He said in a hoarse voice, “Regarding the proposal to reform the ninja training system… I will… ‘carefully think’ about it again…”
Shimura Aki knew that he…had won again.
Moreover, this time, the victory was more thorough and more… beautiful!
Mitomon En’s words, “I’ll think about it carefully again,” which were full of humiliation and helplessness, seemed to have created an irreparable crack in the barrier of principles that he had built with his own hands and had been solid for decades.
Chapter 86: Request for Recommendation of Elite Jonin (Old Version)
And this rift completely collapsed when the meeting resumed the next day in a way that shocked everyone.
The next day’s high-level meeting was still held in the solemn conference room of the Hokage Building.
When the topic of “Reform of the Ninja Training System” came to discussion, everyone’s eyes fell on Mito Kado En, intentionally or unintentionally.
They all wanted to see what statement this consultant, who was always known for his stubbornness, would make after “a night of careful consideration.”
There was a hint of inquiry and worry in Sarutobi Hiruzen’s eyes. He hoped that Yan could stick to his position and not be easily swayed by Danzo’s radical remarks.
Utane Koharu had a calm look on her face, but her fingers were tapping the table inadvertently, and it was obvious that she was not calm inside either.
She always felt that Yan’s abnormal behavior yesterday was related to the little devil from the Shimura family.
Danzo, on the other hand, had a calm demeanor, with a barely perceptible glimmer of anticipation and…confidence in his one eye.
And Shimura Aki, still like a transparent person, sat in the corner, head down, “recording” seriously, as if he had no idea of ​​what was about to happen.
In this strange and tense atmosphere, Mizuto Menyan slowly stood up.
His face was still somewhat pale, and his eyes showed some fatigue and…struggle that were difficult to conceal.
But his tone was unexpectedly… calm?
“Ahem…” He cleared his throat first, as if to cough out the humiliation and unwillingness that was stuck in his throat, and then he slowly spoke, his voice slightly hoarse:
“Regarding Danzo’s proposal to reform the ninja training system… I have…thought it over carefully overnight…”
He paused here deliberately, his eyes sweeping over everyone present, especially Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo.
Sarutobi Hiruzen’s heart was slightly lifted.
The corners of Danzo’s mouth curved up in an imperceptible arc.
“…I think,” Mitomon En continued, his tone carrying a kind of… “enlightenment” as if he had gone through a fierce ideological struggle, “…Danzo’s plan, although…it sounds a bit radical, even…a bit inhumane in some aspects.
but……”
He suddenly changed the subject!
“…However, considering the increasingly tense situation in the ninja world, all the major ninja villages are preparing for war, and the dark cloud of war may once again loom over our Konoha at any time.
In this dire situation, we really need…some more efficient and faster methods to improve the village’s immediate combat effectiveness!”
“So…” He took a deep breath, as if he had made some extremely difficult decision, “…I think that although there are some risks in the reform plan proposed by Danzo, it is also…a kind of ‘beneficial attempt’ that can be carried out in special times!”
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire conference room fell into dead silence!
Everyone looked at Mizutomon En with an expression of disbelief!
Is this… is this still the same Elder Yan who slammed the table and angrily accused Danzo of “violating the spirit of humanity” and “shaking the foundation of Konoha” yesterday? !
This change in attitude… is it too fast?! It’s a 180-degree turn!
Sarutobi Hiruzen’s brows twisted into a frown in an instant! He couldn’t believe his ears! Yan… he actually… really supported Danzo’s radical plan?! What on earth was going on?!
Utane Koharu was also stunned. She opened her mouth and wanted to say something, but in the end it turned into an imperceptible sigh.
She knew that Yan… was probably really being controlled by something.
After hearing what Mitomon En said, Danzo’s one eye burst into an unprecedented brilliance! He almost couldn’t help laughing out loud!
It’s done! It’s done again!
Qiu…this child…is simply my lucky star!
Mitomon Yan seemed not to notice the astonished looks of the crowd, and continued in a “thoughtful” tone: “Of course, this plan is quite radical after all, and the risk is indeed too great to implement it directly and comprehensively.
My suggestion is… to conduct a small-scale pilot program in some classes of the Ninja School, or… within the Root organization (he glanced at Danzo intentionally).”
“We can observe for a while to see how the pilot works, and then decide whether to promote it further and…how to adjust and optimize it based on the actual situation.”
His words were flawless.
He not only “supported” Danzo’s plan, but also put forward some seemingly “safe” suggestions, such as “small-scale pilot” and “observe the effects”, as if he was really thinking about the village, rather than being coerced.
He also “actively” put forward some “constructive” additional opinions, trying to ease those overly cruel and inhumane clauses in the plan, such as “for those trainees who are eliminated in the elimination mechanism, they cannot be simply abandoned, but should be provided with the opportunity to transfer to other logistics or auxiliary departments so that they can also contribute to the village”, or “when carrying out professional diversion, the personal wishes of the trainees must be fully respected and cannot be completely forced” and so on.
On the one hand, these additional opinions did play a certain “easing” role, making Danzo’s plan look less “glaring”.
On the other hand, he was also trying to save some face for himself, showing that he was not completely subservient to Danzo, and was still “trying hard” and “upholding principles.”
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Mito Kado En’s “performance” and his heart was filled with disappointment and…anger!
He knew that Yan’s additional opinions were just insignificant tinkering! He had no objection to the core and most radical clauses!
How can he be called “careful”? He is clearly “playing it safe”! He is “deceiving himself”!
But now that things have come to this, Mitomon Yan has clearly expressed his “support” and has also put forward a seemingly “reasonable” “pilot plan.”
If I continue to forcefully oppose it, not only will it seem inhumane, but it may also really push Yan to Danzo’s side!
After weighing the pros and cons again and again, Sarutobi Hiruzen could only suppress his dissatisfaction and doubts, and said in a somewhat tired tone: “Since Yan also thinks it is worth a try… then… let’s do a small-scale pilot project as you said.
You and Danzo will be jointly responsible for formulating the specific pilot plan and evaluation criteria and submitting them to me for approval.
Chapter 87 Tsunade’s “Circle of Friends” (Old Version)
”
He kicked the “ball” back, also wanting to see what these two old guys could come up with.
In this way, a major reform issue regarding the ninja training system that might have been shelved due to huge differences was “conditionally passed” in an unexpected way because of Mito Kado En’s “reversal”.
As a result, Danzo’s forces successfully opened up a gap in the extremely important field of “ninja training” and gained some voice!
This opens an extremely convenient door for him to recruit and train large numbers of “Root” members who are loyal to him in the future, as well as to infiltrate his own ideas into the next generation of ninjas!
Because Mito Kado En was “forced” to choose to support or acquiesce to Danzo on several key issues, the balance of power in Konoha’s high-level meetings began to shift visibly.
In the past, the “three horses” of Sarutobi Hiruzen, Mito Kado En, and Utane Koharu, relying on years of tacit understanding and relatively consistent political stance (at least they were basically consistent in balancing Danzo), were able to basically suppress Danzo’s voice and form a relatively stable power structure.
Although Danzo controls the “Root” organization and makes many small moves in the dark, he is often in the embarrassing position of being in the minority in the high-level decision-making.
But now, Mitomon En’s “indecision” has completely broken this balance!
He was no longer the “hardcore ally” who stood firmly on the side of Hiruzen and the Will of Fire.
He began to become… like a fence-sitter, wavering between Danzo and Hiruzen with an ambiguous attitude.
This greatly reduced the resistance Danzo encountered when promoting some of his proposals that were previously difficult to pass, and even… gave him more room to maneuver!
For example, in the approval of the budget for the secret operations of the “Root” organization.
In the past, this budget has always been strictly scrutinized and cut by Yan and Xiaochun.
But now, Yan’s attitude has become much more “tolerant”. He only symbolically puts forward some insignificant “opinions” and no longer insists.
In the end, Danzo successfully obtained a budget for the Root that was nearly 30% more than before! This money will allow him to recruit more members, buy better equipment, and build a more secret intelligence base!
Another example is the personnel appointments and dismissals in some key departments, especially the personnel changes involving the dark side and intelligence system.
In the past, Yan and Xiaochun would firmly support Hiruzen’s selection to prevent Danzo from placing his own confidants in.
But now, Yan would occasionally say “I can consider” the candidates nominated by Danzo for some less important positions, or simply abstain from voting.
This caused Danzo’s influence in the Anbu and intelligence system to begin to quietly infiltrate and expand.
Danzo even began to try to interfere in some intelligence analysis and evaluation work that was originally handled by other departments (such as the Intelligence Analysis Room directly under the Hokage).
He would ask to participate in the interpretation of some important intelligence and decision-making recommendations on the grounds that “the root organization has more comprehensive and timely intelligence.”
In the past, such a request would definitely be met with a joint resistance from Yan and Xiaochun.
But now, Yan’s attitude has become a little “vague”. He only emphasized that “the final decision of the Hokage shall prevail” and did not express any clear opposition.
These seemingly small changes, when accumulated, have substantially increased Danzo’s voice and actual influence among Konoha’s high-level officials!
He felt that he was one step closer to his dream position! And all of this… seemed to be related to his “proud” son!
Danzo’s trust in his son Shimura Akira’s “ability” is no longer just “reliance” and “trust”, it can simply be said to be… somewhat “astonishing”!
Although he still didn’t know what specific method Qiu used to make Mitomon Yan, the old stubborn man who had fought with him for decades, obediently “surrender his head” (in his opinion, Yan’s current behavior was almost the same as surrendering his head), he still didn’t know what specific method Qiu used to make Mitomon Yan, the old stubborn man who had fought with him for decades, surrender his head obediently.
But he doesn’t care! He only cares about the results!
As a result, Yan, the biggest stumbling block, was temporarily removed! The resistance to his will being implemented at the top level was greatly reduced!
This… is simply a miracle!
And the one who created this miracle was his eight-year-old son!
Danzo began to bring Shimura Akira with him more frequently, allowing him to participate more deeply in the behind-the-scenes planning of some high-level games.
He no longer just had Cho sit in on meetings and read intelligence briefs.
Instead, he would actively seek Qiu’s opinions and suggestions before making some important decisions.
“Qiu, regarding this border conflict with the Sand Village, do you think we should take a tough stance, or… be patient for the time being and seek a diplomatic solution?”
“Hiruzen is planning to promote Sarutobi Asuma (assuming he has appeared) to the core team of Anbu. What do you think…how should we respond? Should we support him? Or…try to stop him?”
“Recently, there have been some rumors in the village that the Root organization is too cruel. Do you think… should we come forward to clarify, or… just ignore it and let them suspect it?”
Faced with his father’s questions involving the power struggles and complex situations among Konoha’s top leaders, Shimura Aki always remained calm and composed.
He would carefully analyze the pros and cons, weigh the gains and losses, and then give his own suggestions.
His advice often comes with a sophistication and precision that is inconsistent with his age.
For example, when dealing with the Sand Village, he would suggest: “Father, the Sand Village is currently in internal instability and economic difficulties. They are provoking border frictions, most likely to divert internal conflicts, or… to extort some benefits from us.
We should not engage in large-scale conflict with them, but we cannot show weakness either.
A strategy of “loose outside and tight inside” can be adopted. On the surface, diplomatic mediation should be strengthened to show willingness for peace. However, in border areas, elite forces should be secretly dispatched to be prepared for counterattack at any time.
At the same time, they can use the intelligence network of the Root to spread rumors that are unfavorable to them within the Sand Village and intensify its internal strife.”
When it comes to dealing with Asuma Sarutobi, he would advise: “Father, it would be difficult to stop Hiruzen from promoting his own son, and it would only intensify the conflict.
Why not… just go with the flow and show your support.
Chapter 88: The “Outlier” among the Elite Jonin (Old Version)
But at the same time, we also have to find a way to place our people around Asma.
Or… take advantage of some opportunities to make Asuma make some ‘small mistakes’, thereby affecting his image in Hiruzen’s mind, and giving us a reason to ‘legitimately’… ‘help’ him in the future?”
When it comes to dealing with rumors, he would advise: “Father, it is better to disperse the rumors about ‘roots’ than to block them.
Deliberate clarification will make you appear guilty.
Why not… just let them talk and guess.
The power in the darkness should remain mysterious and intimidating.
We can even… proactively spread some more ‘exaggerated’ rumors that are hard to tell whether they are true or false, to make them even more unpredictable and, therefore… even more fearful?”
These suggestions are often full of calculations and…scheming.
After hearing this, Danzo couldn’t help but be secretly shocked and… impressed!
This guy… is simply a natural born conspirator! He is even more… ruthless than when I was young! And he has more methods!
Danzo’s position in Shimura Akira’s heart has quietly changed.
From the initial “a potential successor”, he gradually transformed into an “indispensable assistant” and “trustworthy military advisor”!
He even began to feel that with Qiu by his side, his future path would be smoother and more…sure!
As Danzo’s voice in Konoha’s upper echelons increased and his personal influence quietly expanded, the status of the entire Shimura clan in the village also improved significantly, just like a rising tide that lifts all boats.
In the past, although the Shimura clan was considered one of the old families in Konoha, because of Danzo’s gloomy personality and the shady style of the “Root” organization, many other families kept their distance from them, and even complained about them in secret.
The ninjas of the Shimura family are often subjected to intentional or unintentional exclusion and… discrimination in the village?
But now, things are different!
When other families saw that even a senior advisor like Mitomon En was “giving way” to Danzo at the high-level meeting; when they saw that some of Danzo’s proposals that would have been impossible to pass in the past could now be implemented smoothly; when they felt that the tentacles of the “Root” organization seemed to be extending to every corner of the village in an unstoppable trend…
They began to realize that the Shimura clan… seemed to be on the rise! Danzo, the elder known for his iron fist, had a promising future…
As a result, some small and medium-sized families that had previously been indifferent or even hostile to the Shimura family began to change their attitudes and took the initiative to show goodwill to the Shimura family.
They would send people to deliver various valuable gifts, or invite important members of Danzo and the Shimura family to attend the banquet.
There are even some families that will actively send their talented young men to the Shimura family, hoping that they can become Danzo’s disciples and study there, or… more directly, hoping for the opportunity to join the mysterious and powerful “Root” organization!
In their view, this is undoubtedly a wise move to bet on the future and seek support!
The Shimura family’s ninjas also stood up straighter when walking in the village! When they were carrying out tasks, allocating resources, or even drinking in the tavern, they could clearly feel that the attitudes of the people around them had become more… respectful and friendly? (Although this respect and friendliness was more out of fear).
This made the Shimura family, who had always been somewhat depressed and inferior, feel an unprecedented… feeling of pride!
The cohesion within the family has therefore reached an unprecedented high!
They are even more supportive and admiring of Danzo, the patriarch who leads the family “to glory”!
I am also full of respect and…expectation for Shimura Aki, a young and promising young master who is said to be highly valued by the clan leader and has also made a name for himself outside (for example, he can make Princess Tsunade and advisor Utatane Koharu look at him differently)!
Looking at the prosperous and cohesive scene within the family, Danzo’s heart was filled with indescribable satisfaction and pride!
This is what he wants! This is what he pursues all his life!
Let the Shimura clan become the real top family in Konoha! Let the glory of the Shimura family shine throughout the ninja world!
And all this is just the beginning!
He believed that with his own decades of management and accumulation, and the assistance of his son, Shimura Akira, the “god-gifted genius”, the future of the Shimura clan would surely be… extremely brilliant!
Mito Kado En’s repeated “abnormal” performances in high-level meetings, as well as the visible expansion trend of Danzo’s forces, have caused the doubts and anxieties in Sarutobi Hiruzen’s heart to grow like weeds, and have reached a peak!
He knew Mitomon too well! This old friend who had studied with him under the Second Hokage and had gone through countless life and death trials together, although his character was sometimes stubborn and even a little pedantic, he would never easily waver or compromise on major issues of principle and in maintaining the overall interests and power balance of Konoha Village!
Unless… unless Danzo really caught him with something fatal that would force him to submit against his will!
This thought made Sarutobi Hiruzen feel a palpitation in his heart!
What methods did that guy Danzo use? ! What secrets did he know about Yan? !
And that Shimura Aki! That eight-year-old kid! What role did he play in all this? ! Is he really just a chess piece in Danzo’s hands? Or… does he have a terrifying mind and ability far beyond his age? !
The more Hiruzen thought about it, the more frightened he became, and the more uneasy he felt.
He felt that an undercurrent from the depths of darkness that he could not fully control was eroding the balance of power in Konoha that he had painstakingly built in a way that he could not predict! It might even threaten his position as Hokage!
No! This cannot go on any longer! We must find out the truth as soon as possible!
Sarutobi Hiruzen’s eyes became more solemn and…sharp than ever before!
He secretly summoned his most trusted dark captain again and issued an even more stern order!
“Whatever the cost! Find out for me! The real reason behind Mito Kado En’s change of attitude! And all the details of Shimura Danzo and his son Shimura Aki’s recent activities! Every person they came into contact with! Every word they said! Every thing they did! Don’t let it go!”
“I suspect that Danzo may have some fatal evidence against Yan! The focus of your investigation should be on Yan’s past experiences, and… whether Danzo and Qiu have taken any special actions against Yan recently!”
“Remember! The action must be kept secret! Danzo and Yan must not be notified! If you find anything, report it to me immediately!”
Hiruzen’s voice was filled with a hint of suppressed anger and… unquestionable determination!
He felt that a challenge to his authority as Hokage from within seemed to have… quietly begun!
And he must find the source hiding behind the scenes as soon as possible!
Otherwise, the future of Konoha will be in danger!
Sarutobi Hiruzen personally ordered the Anbu to launch a secret investigation into Shimura Danzo and his son Shimura Akira with unprecedented intensity and depth.
Dozens of experienced Anbu elites who are good at lurking, reconnaissance and tracking began to move around in every corner of Konoha Village like invisible ghosts.
They did not miss any clues related to Danzo and his son, trying to find out the real reason for Mito Kado En’s attitude change from their daily words and deeds, interpersonal interactions, and those seemingly inadvertent details, as well as… Danzo’s unknown conspiracy that might be quietly going on.
However, this time, they were facing two “prey” who were far more cunning and difficult to deal with than they had imagined.
Danzo Shimura, this old fox who has been immersed in the darkness of Konoha for decades, has long reached the level of being foolproof with his meticulous mind and cautious actions.
His “Root” organization is itself an extremely strict and efficient intelligence and execution agency independent of the Anbu.
It would be extremely difficult to find conclusive evidence from him or from within the “Root” organization without alerting him.
The Anbu ninjas tried their best but could only monitor some of Danzo’s public activities and some insignificant marginal affairs of the “Root” organization.
As for what kind of secret agreement he had reached with Mitomon En, or what kind of leverage he had on En, the Anbu had no way of finding out.
And Shimura Aki, this eight-year-old child, made those experienced ANBU elites feel unprecedentedly…difficult and powerless.
He was so… “normal”.
His daily activities didn’t seem much different from those of an ordinary, hard-working ninja apprentice.
He accepts Owl’s brutal training on time every day, regularly goes to Tsunade to “ask” for medical ninjutsu, occasionally goes to the library to look up information, or “wanders around” in the village.
The expressionless Shimura Aoi is always by his side, and they are almost inseparable.
The few times he had come into contact with Mitokado En, they were all in relatively public occasions, such as during the breaks in high-level meetings, or by chance encounters in the corridor of the Hokage Building.
The content of the conversations was all conducted under reasonable pretexts such as “asking elders about history” and “discussing experiences in ninjutsu”.
His words were respectful and his attitude was humble, and there was nothing unusual about him.
What is even more troubling for the Anbu is that, in these encounters, Danzo often provides “cover” and “support” behind the scenes, either overtly or covertly.
For example, Shimura Aki went to check the old files about the First Ninja World War with Danzo’s “special permission”.
He visited Mito Kado En under the pretext of “writing historical materials for the Shimura family.”
These reasons were all legitimate, making it impossible for the Anbu to find any suspicious points.
As for Mitomon En himself, he was extremely secretive about the matter and kept his mouth shut.
The Anbu also tried to extract some information from him through some clever indirect attacks or by placing some “spies” around him (such as some servants in his mansion).
But after all, Mito Kado En is a veteran figure who has been through many battles and has been immersed in the high-level positions of Konoha for decades. His vigilance and anti-reconnaissance capabilities are also extraordinary.
Faced with the temptations of the Anbu, he was either vague and knew nothing about the questions, or he simply kept silent and acted as if he had no comment.
He seemed determined to keep the secret that could bring him disgrace to himself.
The Anbu’s investigation came to a standstill.
Although they also noticed some clues.
For example, Shimura Aki did spend a lot of time looking through war archives from a specific period regarding the “Iron Country Border Encounter.”
For example, Mitomon Yan’s mood in recent times has indeed seemed a little abnormal. He often sighs and groans alone, feels uneasy, and even gets distracted during some unimportant meetings.
However, these are only indirect clues and cannot form a complete chain of evidence, let alone directly prove that Mizutomon En’s change of attitude at the high-level meeting must have a direct causal relationship with Shimura Aki’s “abnormal” behavior.
After all, who could prove that an eight-year-old child, just by reading some old files, could have the fatal handle that was enough to threaten a Hokage advisor? This really sounds a bit… unbelievable.
The captain of the dark department reported all the investigation results to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
After listening to this, Hiruzen was silent for a long time.
He felt a deep sense of powerlessness.
The opponent was more cunning and more sophisticated than he had imagined.
Or rather… more “unexpected”.
He still firmly believed that Mito Kado En’s transformation was definitely related to Danzo and his son.
But now, he couldn’t find any substantial evidence and couldn’t take effective action against them.
If Danzo or Shimura Aki were forced to undergo a more severe investigation or suppression, it might not only alert the enemy and make them more vigilant and secretive, but it might also cause turmoil and division among Konoha’s high-level officials due to the lack of solid evidence.
This was definitely not what he wanted to see.
It seems… it is no longer possible to eliminate this potential “lesion” immediately.
Sarutobi Hiruzen rubbed his tired brows, and a hint of helplessness and… a hint of imperceptible determination flashed in his eyes.
Since it cannot be eradicated immediately, we can only… take some other balancing measures to maintain the stability of the Konoha high-level ship.
He began to focus more attention and energy on another Hokage advisor – Utane Koharu.
Compared to Mito Kado En, whose attitude has obviously “wavered”, Utane Koharu’s position seems to be relatively firm.
Although she also showed some “admiration” for the boy Shimura Akira, it was more out of her expectation for his “potential talent” and her recognition of his “upright character” (disguised), and did not mean that she would easily side with Danzo in terms of core political stance.
Hiruzen decided to further strengthen his efforts to win over and gain trust from Utatane Koharu.
He began to consult Koharu more often on important decisions, granting her more power and autonomy in areas such as people’s livelihood, logistics, and the management of the ninja school.
He hoped that in this way, Koharu would feel that he valued and relied on her, so that she would stand more firmly on his side and jointly check and balance Danzo’s growing power.
Utatane Koharu naturally also felt the change in the Hokage’s attitude.
Although she did not fully understand Hiruzen’s intentions, she was happy to accept this “trust” and “re-employment”.
She was indeed dissatisfied with some of Danzo’s actions, believing that he acted too extreme and unscrupulous.
Chapter 89 Tracking the Underground Casino (Old Version)
If she could team up with the Hokage to contain Danzo to a certain extent, she would be willing to do so.
In addition to winning over Koharu, Sarutobi Hiruzen also began to consciously promote and cultivate some young and promising “new forces” among the middle and high-level leaders of Konoha who had no direct ties with the Danzo faction.
For example, the younger generation of elites of the Pig, Deer and Butterfly tribes.
These three families have always been the most loyal supporters of the Hokage and an important cornerstone for maintaining the stability of Konoha.
Promoting their children would not only enhance the strength of the Hokage line, but would also effectively dilute Danzo’s influence in certain departments.
For example, there are some talented ninjas who performed outstandingly in missions and are gifted, but they come from civilian backgrounds.
These people often have a purer belief in the “Will of Fire” and are more easily inspired by the personal charm of the Hokage.
Absorbing them into one’s own camp can inject new vitality into the Naruto series.
Among them, a young ninja named “Hatake Sakumo” particularly attracted Hiruzen’s attention.
This white-haired genius, known for his superb swordsmanship and cool head, although a bit aloof, performed perfectly in the mission and also maintained enough respect for the Hokage.
Hiruzen felt that maybe… he could become a sharp weapon to check and balance Danzo in the future?
Sarutobi Hiruzen is like an experienced chess player. When he is unable to capture his opponent’s key chess pieces directly, he begins to rebuild the balance on the chessboard by adjusting the positions of other chess pieces, and makes preparations for the more intense power transfer that may occur in the future.
He knew that the game with Danzo was far from over.
And the “variable” named Shimura Aki still shrouds his heart like a fog.
He could only… continue to observe, continue to wait, waiting for the opportunity to see the truth clearly and make a final decision.
While the Konoha high-ups were undercurrents and making their own calculations because of the flapping of the wings of Shimura Akira, this “little butterfly”, Shimura Akira himself devoted more of his energy to another thing he thought was more important – establishing a deeper “academic connection” with Orochimaru.
Ever since the last time at the Ninjutsu exchange seminar, when the two had a “friendly and in-depth” discussion on “cutting-edge topics” such as “the nature of chakra” and “the limits of energy efficiency”, Orochimaru seemed to really regard Shimura Aki as a “fellow traveler” who was worthy of communication (although the age gap was a bit large).
He began to occasionally take the initiative to find Shimura Aki, or through some secret channels (such as asking one of his inconspicuous followers to pass the message), invite Shimura Aki to some secluded place (such as an abandoned classroom in the Ninja School, or a small woods on the outskirts of the village) to continue their “academic seminars.”
Every “seminar” gave Shimura Aki a deeper understanding of Orochimaru, and also made him… more frightened!
Orochimaru’s talent in ninjutsu is indeed unrivaled among his peers, and he can be called a genius once in a lifetime! His understanding of ninjutsu has far exceeded the conventional scope, and is full of all kinds of wild imagination and… disturbing desire for exploration!
He is not only satisfied with learning and mastering existing ninjutsu, but is also eager to create and… change!
He would conduct a thorough analysis of the principles of each ninjutsu, trying to find the optimal path for energy conversion, as well as… possible “defects” and “room for improvement.”
He would have a strong interest in the inheritance and mutation rules of various bloodline limits, and would even propose some… such as “Is it possible to induce the awakening or… fusion of bloodline limits through artificial intervention?” This was absolutely a shocking “idea” at the time!
What makes Shimura Aki feel even more horrified is that Orochimaru shows an almost obsessive attention and…desire for the subject of “life”!
He seemed to feel deeply confused and uneasy about the fragility of life and the limits of strength.
He mentioned to Shimura Akira more than once that he had witnessed too many companions or seniors die easily due to injuries, old age, or some stupid accidents during his missions (which may be true or made up by him).
“Qiu Jun, don’t you think… life is too fragile and too… unfair?” Orochimaru’s golden snake eyes flashed with a cold and stubborn light, “We ninjas have gained power beyond ordinary people through hard training.
But even the most powerful ninja cannot escape the fate of birth, aging, sickness and death.
Is this… the end of our quest for power?”
“If…if there is a way to help us escape this fate, gain eternal life, and master the power to transcend life and death…how wonderful it would be…”
Whenever he spoke these words, his tone was filled with an almost crazy desire for “eternal life” and “ultimate power”!
This desire made Shimura Aki feel a chill in his heart.
He knew that this was the original driving force that would lead Orochimaru towards darkness in the future and conduct countless forbidden experiments!
And Orochimaru also seems to regard Shimura Aki as a “confidant” who can understand his “advanced thinking”.
Because, when Shimura Aki puts forward these “heretical” ideas, he always gives some… seemingly “echoing” and “expanding” insights.
For example, when Orochimaru mentioned that he was curious about the first Hokage, Hashirama Senju’s nearly immortal recovery ability and powerful vitality, Shimura Aki would “inadvertently” derive some “novel theories” about “cell activity”, “energy affinity” and even “life source energy” from the “ancient incomplete scroll”, which made Orochimaru fascinated and seemed to have found a new research direction.
For example, when Orochimaru was confused about the nature of the soul and reincarnation, Shimura Aki would “just right” reveal some “vague concepts” about “soul energy”, “spiritual imprints”, and even “different dimensional spaces” from the “lost secrets of the ancient school”, which made Orochimaru’s thinking suddenly clear, as if he had touched a higher level of mystery.
Of course, everything that Shimura Aki said was carefully packaged and strictly screened.
He had to satisfy Orochimaru’s thirst for knowledge and lure him to continue his in-depth “research” so as to create conditions for himself to obtain “dirt” and “technology” in the future; at the same time, he had to be careful not to reveal too much that was beyond the times or directly involved in the system’s secrets, so as not to arouse Orochimaru’s suspicion, or…