"Did I hear that right? Why do you want to start an infiltration mission this early?"
Now inside the room, Hayate was uncertain and suspicious about Yoichi's request. Business must be conducted seriously, any mission regarding the development of the village and information about opposing villages must be clearly discussed with careful consideration.
"We all understood that children like me were easily able to be implanted in a town or a hidden village along with proper training. In my opinion, it is time to slip sneakily as soon as possible..."
Hearing this, Hayate mused, "Hmmm... You are quite right but are you really prepared for this? This task is very dangerous with a lot of danger being exposed! It will do you no good when you are caught and tortured worse than death!"
Indicating his concerns, Hayate couldn't find any loopholes in Yoichi's statement. Throughout the period of the shinobi's rise to fame, children were one of the most effective yet repugnant ways to secretly access and pass through the meticulous eyes of an opposing clan or organization, enabling deep surveillance from the inside with little usage of resources.
Similarly, it was also a good way to leech the rival's resources, slowly depleting or passing on the methods and other valuable information back to the village. All in all, it was certainly an effective yet ruthless path.
But higher-ups weren't caring about the process, it's about the results.
Feeling the uneasiness in Hayate's eyes, Yoichi added, "In all honesty, I'm totally unable to unleash my potential here in Amegakure... The resources in these lands were actually nothing compared to the other major villages."
"For me to gain benefits, I must go now and do my best to incorporate with Konoha or another major village."
Hayate couldn't help but be nostalgic as he felt like his past self had made a different turn instead of forcefully intervening and killing officials rampantly.
This brat... Does he know he has a curse seal in his mind? Even if he tried to betray us, Hanzō was indeed wary and could easily activate the seal with just a mere tap of this child's head!
With a frowning face, Hayate began his thoughts in contemplation.
The complicated emotions swirled in his mind.
Both rational explanations of Yoichi were undoubtedly facts but the child's outstanding brilliance could spell disaster for himself.
The tallest tree catches the most wind.
Looking at the earnest eyes of the child, Hayate declared, "... Alright, I'll assign you and give you a crucial mission to infiltrate Konoha. But you need to remember that your loyalty will still be in Amegakure. Don't forget your allegiance."
After hearing the news, Yoichi was glad inwardly while his face remained impassive with a little excitement in his eyes. His significant goal could be achieved by cooperating with them for a long time.
Mother... Just wait for me! An itchy sensation in his heart surged wildly as if his former owner was delighted by the news.
"For now, rest up for 1 month and await further instructions. Konoha's security was still stronger even more so." Hayate added with severity in his face. "Since the death of both Senju Brothers, its stability is on the verge of internal conflicts. We'll have to create some shady campaigns before you can technically slip through Konoha's impenetrable shield."
Yoichi bowed slightly and kneeled, "Thank you so much for your grace, Hayate-sama. I swear that I'll be a great spy in Konoha with my heart and soul for Amegakure."
"Alright, enough of your flowery flattery. You may now leave." With a wave of his hand, Hayate urged the child.
In his eyes, Yoichi's attempt to betray the village was nothing more than a futile endeavor.
However, Hayate still entertained the child's rebellious ideas as if he wanted to see how Yoichi could get ahead in his path.
"Troublesome brat... What a headache." Hayate shook his head and began the write the details of the diversion, taking the child's request into a perfect infiltration mission.
...
...
...
It seems Hanzō carefully paid attention and selected his own troops among the survivors...
While walking in the hallway, Yoichi saw a bunch of children being thoroughly instructed by Hanzō on the stage. At a far distance, he also caught sight of Genji and the rest, who were taking deep musings among the children.
In the 78 participants of the trial, only 24 children managed to get back alive while the others were culled in the process. Including in that list was Haruhiko, who suddenly came into Yoichi's mind.
What's your dream, Hikari? For me, it's to become a great shinobi feared across the whole shinobi world!
"Don't worry, I'll get it for you..." Yoichi whispered as he walked slowly into a room that Hayate had allocated for him.
Soon, a small room unfolded before Yoichi's eyes. It's a 10 square meter room for a shinobi with no household or family, one of the few benefits with subsidies supported by Amegakure.
Opportunity waits for no one so Yoichi smeared ointment into his skin and began the refinement by using Heavenly Demon Posture movesets.
The searing sensation from his skin became itchy and excruciating but Yoichi was gritting his teeth with sheer resolve in his fiery eyes.
「Heavenly Demon Posture EXP +1」
「Heavenly Demon Posture EXP +1」
「Heavenly Demon Posture EXP +1」
...
...
...
"Hiruzen, we must retrieve that unregistered Uchiha alive or dead! This is for our safety and future!"
"Danzo! I refuse. Do you truly comprehend our current situation?! The people of Konoha suffered more than enough!"
In the Hokage's room, Danzo and Hiruzen began the numerous tirades without any form of resolution in the case of an unlisted Uchiha Member.
Over these past months, Danzo occasionally tried to seek out Hiruzen's approval but the Hokage remained stubborn as well, prioritizing the equilibrium among the clans instead of another conflict against the unruly and arrogant Uchiha Clan.
As for the news he received at Ishida's personal report, Hiruzen held the information at hand and didn't want to reveal such shocking news since it concerned the Uchiha.
On that matter, Danzo slightly agreed to hide the information but his mind was on how to retrieve the Sharingan against the Amegakure covertly.
From Danzo's perspective, if someone has it, then nobody should have it.
The mystical yet dangerous Sharingan held powerful abilities mustn't be in the hands of the opposing village, especially Amegakure.
"Hiruzen... Don't forget your promise to our Sensei! We must prioritize our village's best interests before it is gone!" Danzo angrily rebuked.
"Then, is this really good for our village? Don't forget, Mito-sama is still watching the Konoha with her keen eyes!" Hiruzen slammed his desk, feeling complicated about Mito.
Although he was in charge of the village, Mito Uzumaki's reputation and influence as the First Hokage's wife as well as the Jinchūriki of the Nine Tails carried a tremendous weight in the common people's hearts.
"Hmph! You'll regret it!" Danzo stormed out of the room and violently closed the door.
"Danzo..." Slumping on his chair, Hiruzen felt powerless against his friend's stubborn request. Along with the burdens of the position and his responsibilities as a Hokage, Hiruzen must do what's best for his village.
Yet the unsettling situation felt suffocating and uncomfortable.
Soon, Hiruzen began to concentrate on his paperwork and fulfill his duty.
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(Current Progress)
Still the same.
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I need to look for some inspiration for the dialogues and how dialogues reveal their personality and characteristics based on the Naruto Materials out there.
Thanks for reading the chapters and bookmarking the novel. See ya! XDD!