Chapter 349: Kakashi's Awakening
When Ishiro uttered the words "kill Hiruzen Sarutobi," a jolt went through Kakashi. He finally understood why Ishiro had been guiding his thoughts in this direction all along.
Ishiro was more ruthless than he had imagined. This was no longer simple sowing of discord; this was instigation, an enticement to betray Konoha.
However, Ishiro didn't give Kakashi much time to ponder, continuing, "The second direction is to completely eliminate the Uchiha clan's dissatisfaction with the Konoha leadership."
"This must be done in two steps. First, you need to get rid of the Uchiha's pro-war faction. Because these people are ambitious, their dissatisfaction with the Konoha leadership isn't just about unfair treatment; it's also wrapped up in their own ambitions."
"Second, after the Uchiha's ambitious members are gone, you have to persuade the Konoha leadership not to take advantage of the Uchiha's weakened state to strike. Instead, you must get the leadership to start reforming the Uchiha clan."
"That so-called Military Police Force must be abolished. The Uchiha cannot live together as a clan; it would be best if they could disperse into Konoha like the Senju."
"However, there are two problems with this method. First, killing the Uchiha's pro-war faction will inevitably cause the neutral and pro-peace factions to develop hatred for the Konoha leadership, in turn transforming them into a new pro-war faction. Fortunately, this is a problem that you should be able to solve without too much difficulty if you think about it when you get back."
"Second, it's the same problem again. The Konoha leadership will not act according to your wishes. Without killing Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Konoha leadership will not let the Uchiha clan off the hook."
Kakashi's breath caught.
Originally, when he heard Ishiro talk about eliminating the Uchiha's pro-war faction, Kakashi had been very tempted. If doing so could solve the problem, then although there would be sacrifices, he could accept it. He believed Fugaku Uchiha could accept it too. Perhaps this was the way to solve the problem with the smallest price.
But Ishiro's statement that the Konoha leadership would take the opportunity to strike immediately extinguished Kakashi's hopes. That's right. The root of the Uchiha's problem lay with the Konoha leadership; it was the leadership that had been suppressing the ninja clans all along.
"What about the third method?" Kakashi asked, his voice bitter.
"The third one!" Ishiro revealed a strange smile that sent a chill down Kakashi's spine.
"When there is internal conflict, create an external one. With the right propaganda, you can divert attention and shift the conflict."
Kakashi's eyes lit up.
Seeing this, Ishiro said, "Hehe, don't get happy too soon. I know this trick, and so does Hiruzen Sarutobi. He's used it many times, like when he tricked the Uchiha clan into joining the war last time."
"So, if you want to find a certain hidden village to act as this common enemy, it's probably impossible. No one in the Uchiha clan will believe it anymore. The incident where Hiruzen Sarutobi sat by and watched the Uchiha and the Mist ninja wear each other down has completely exhausted his credibility."
"However..."
"However what?" Kakashi asked subconsciously.
"However, you can create a new enemy. A ninja who is an enemy of both Konoha and the Uchiha clan," Ishiro said. "For example... yourself!"
Kakashi stared at Ishiro in a daze. What does he mean?
"Kill all of the Uchiha's pro-war faction, then defect from Konoha. Before you defect, you can discuss it with Tsunade. Have her negotiate with Hiruzen Sarutobi. As long as Hiruzen dares to make a move against the Uchiha clan, you will become a true rogue ninja."
"Conversely, you could pretend to defect and just go live somewhere else. For example, go be a spy in the Dark Akatsuki. Or, come be a spy in Iwagakure."
"The Dark Akatsuki is recruiting rogue ninja. If you go, they should take you in. If you are even stronger when you defect, the possibility of them accepting you will be even higher."
"As for our Iwagakure, you are welcome anytime!"
Kakashi looked at Ishiro in disbelief. "You... you actually want me to become a rogue ninja? To defect to Iwagakure?"
Ishiro said, "I'm not forcing you. How you choose is your own business! I have only provided you with three options."
Kakashi's mind was in turmoil at this moment, completely unable to calm down.
He made a final struggle. "Danzō is also against the Uchiha clan. Without Danzō, could the Fifth persuade the Third?"
Ishiro replied ruthlessly, "Kakashi, you don't understand the relationship between Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō. They are, in fact, one and the same. From the moment Hiruzen became Hokage and Danzō became the darkness, there was no longer a person named Danzō in Konoha."
"Everything Danzō does is what Hiruzen needs done but cannot do openly. He is the manifestation of the will of Hiruzen's dark side."
"You are still too young. In fact, all the other great hidden villages in the ninja world can see this. The clan heads of your Konoha are also well aware of it. If you don't believe me, go back and ask Shikaizumi Nara."
Kakashi closed his eyes in pain.
Seeing this, Ishiro said, "Your perspective is too narrow. Let me take you up into the sky for some fresh air. If you look at this world from a different angle, you might have different thoughts."
"Flying? With the Light/Heavy Boulder Technique?" Kakashi thought for a moment and nodded.
However, Ishiro did not use the Light/Heavy Boulder Technique. Instead, he formed a platform with his Porcelain Release to carry Kakashi, while he himself used the Light/Heavy Boulder Technique. It was a joke to think otherwise; Ishiro was a long-range fighter, and Kakashi was a ninja from an enemy nation. If Ishiro were to use the Light/Heavy Boulder Technique to carry him, even if Ishiro was willing, the Iwagakure leadership would throw a fit.
Sitting on the porcelain platform, Kakashi flew higher and higher. As he watched Iwagakure shrink below him, the tightness in his chest indeed dissipated somewhat.
"Don't keep staring at our village. Look around you, look into the distance," Ishiro reminded him.
Kakashi raised his head and looked into the distance. Feeling the wind on his face and seeing the endless expanse of the earth, Kakashi felt much more comfortable. Looking at the distant sky, Kakashi's whole body relaxed, silently feeling the breeze.
A long time passed.
"Indeed, stepping outside of one's original frame of reference to look at a problem gives a completely different feeling. Perhaps I have been too narrow-minded in the past. Perhaps I really should seek answers from a perspective that transcends the cage of Konoha," Kakashi murmured to himself.
Witnessing this scene, Ishiro let out a silent, triumphant laugh. Kakashi has become a Quasi-Kage.
A Konoha genius had become a Quasi-Kage under the brainwashing of him, the Tsuchikage.
If Hiruzen Sarutobi found out about this, would he kill Kakashi immediately, or would he hesitate before killing him?
Ishiro wasn't worried that Kakashi would change his mind again after returning to Konoha. Something like a Ninja Way wasn't something that could be changed so easily. In the original story, before Neji changed his Ninja Way, he was a top-tier genius. After changing his Ninja Way, he was a genius of the Hyuga Clan. If Kakashi were to be re-brainwashed by Hiruzen, he would basically be crippled as a ninja. If he wasn't re-brainwashed, then Kakashi would be the sharpest blade hidden in the depths of Konoha. A blade that not even Ishiro knew when it would strike, or where it would strike.
A long while later, Kakashi came to his senses. The Kakashi of this moment was no longer lost; his eyes held only determination.
"Congratulations. After witnessing the strength of the Tsuchikage and Ikura, you have solidified your resolve to become stronger and have become a Quasi-Kage," Ishiro said.
Kakashi was taken aback, then nodded. He understood. Ishiro was creating a cover story for him. He did indeed need a plausible reason. And a story conceived by a world-renowned teacher like Ishiro would certainly be more credible.
"Thanks," Kakashi said.
"Do whatever you want to do. You don't need to feel any gratitude towards me or Iwagakure. If you hadn't come to find me today, it would have meant you still clung to that Will of Fire nonsense. In that case, I can tell you clearly, you would not have had the chance to return to Konoha alive."
"Hiruzen and the others think I would be concerned about the Tsuchikage's reputation and wouldn't harm members of your delegation. But I feel that it's very necessary to eliminate an enemy who has an eighty percent chance of becoming a Kage in the future."
"So, if you join our Iwagakure in the future, I will accept you. But if you do not plan to defect and join Iwagakure, then there is no relationship between us."
"My guidance to you was just to plant a nail in Konoha. As for whether this nail will be useful, I don't care. Nor can I control it."
After speaking, Ishiro brought Kakashi back down to the ground.
...
Having dealt with the Kakashi matter, Ishiro was in high spirits. The two of them returned to the finals arena together.
After Ikura had returned to the arena, he had created two shadow clones to impersonate Ishiro and Kakashi. Now that the two had returned, Ikura had the shadow clones leave their seats and swap places with them backstage.
Although the finals were not yet over and would still take a day or two, for Ishiro, the business of this joint Chunin Exam was already concluded.
The Monkey Clan was destroyed, Kakashi was brainwashed, and a large number of Iwa ninja had gained combat experience by sparring with Konoha and Suna ninja.
Rasa had given him everything he had promised, with only the treaty for deeper cooperation remaining. Ishiro and Rasa had already reached a preliminary agreement on this, and Ishiro didn't need to worry about the subsequent detailed negotiations; there were specialists who would push it forward.
All Ishiro needed to do was wait. Wait for the results of the impending clash between Rasa and Konoha. It would be best if a Kage or two died. If not, he would be happy even if a batch of elites died.
With the mindset of a spectator who loves to stir up trouble, Ishiro cast his gaze to the south. "What a pity I can't watch the battle unfold live and get first-hand intelligence."
It wasn't that Ishiro hadn't thought about tailing Rasa, but Rasa was clearly on his guard. For Ishiro to still think about following him would be to doubt Rasa's intelligence.
...
The scene shifts to Rasa and his party. Rasa had not brought many people to the Land of Earth, only three elite Anbu squads—a dozen or so people. Including the recently rescued Pakura, there were only fourteen of them.
The fourteen of them were moving quickly along the shortest route back to Sunagakure.
"Pakura, how is your body feeling now?" Rasa asked Pakura as they moved swiftly.
Pakura kept her head down, not daring to look at Rasa, and said in a small voice, "Although the seal has been released, my chakra hasn't recovered. At most, I can only exert the strength of a jonin right now."
Rasa nodded. "It's not your fault you lost to the Tsuchikage. Pull yourself together. The road ahead is not safe. You are the target, so be careful."
Pakura was startled and quickly adjusted her demeanor. "Yes."
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