Chapter 110: Hiruzen Sarutobi - Oh No, Now It's My Turn!
[Main Quest: Advance to Sequence 5 - Dream Walker (Completed)]
[Find the Spirit World's human-headed bird demon, sign a contract with it, then take one of its tail feathers and consume the potion while experiencing intense emotions of joy or anger; OR use alternative methods to remain consciously awake within a dream state]
[Reward: Creeping Hunger]
[Main Quest: Advance to Sequence 4 - Manipulator]
[In a specific setting containing at least 10,000 people, consume the advancement potion amidst a massive resonance of collective emotions.]
[Reward: Groselle's Travels]
After successfully completing his initial advancement, Uchiha Kazuki closed his eyes and mentally savored the integration of the potion's mystical knowledge.
Since the potion formula at the Hypnotist stage had been thoroughly digested through proper acting, there was no dangerous spiritual backlash or loss of control—just minor instability during the initial moments of advancement.
However, it wasn't a significant problem, and the fluctuations would naturally subside after a short adjustment period.
"As expected from the advancement mechanics, all my lower-sequence abilities have been substantially enhanced."
Uchiha Kazuki, having fully absorbed the mystical knowledge contained within the potion, quickly mastered the new core ability of the Dream Walker pathway: "The guidance and direct manipulation of dreams, modifying them at fundamentally deeper psychological levels, thereby influencing the target's mental and spiritual state. It's considerably gentler, more covert, and far less noticeable than direct hypnosis."
But compared to these incremental enhancements, he was far more interested in the signature core ability unique to Dream Walkers.
The power to make his physical body ethereal and intangible—transforming like a dream sprite. This ability not only allowed direct entry into another person's dreamscape, but also granted the capability to instantly flash and teleport from one individual's dream directly into another's.
"Excellent. With the Dream Walker abilities combined with the Hermes Brass Candlestick's dream-weaving properties, I can now achieve forced hypnosis and then instantly teleport away to safety before anyone can respond."
Adding yet another powerful survival technique to his arsenal, Uchiha Kazuki felt quite satisfied with the results. Overall, these new capabilities would dramatically assist his future strategic plans.
"Perhaps... the timeline for certain plans can be moved forward somewhat."
He sat calmly at the small table, casually extinguishing the mystical candlestick's flame and carefully resealing it within his storage scroll, muttering thoughtfully to himself: "The demigod advancement ritual draws one step closer to feasibility."
The Land of Fire - Konohagakure
Having been away on her extended espionage mission for far too long, Yakushi Nono was desperately eager to return home. She rushed back toward the village almost without stopping for rest or sleep.
As a deep-cover spy operative who typically spent extended periods on external assignments, her sudden return to the village naturally triggered a series of thorough security investigations and debriefings.
Yakushi Nono was immediately escorted to a secure interrogation room and monitored by several ANBU operatives while the critical intelligence she carried was expedited directly to the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had been in an exceptionally good mood lately, contentedly puffing on his tobacco pipe while casually 'monitoring village safety' through his crystal ball scrying technique—which happened to be focused on the women's public bathhouse at that particular moment.
As the Hokage, it was absolutely his sacred duty to remain vigilant and responsible for all his villagers' wellbeing. Monitoring their safety through any means available was only natural and proper leadership!
Just as he was thoroughly engrossed in his... security observations... there came a firm knock at his office door.
Hiruzen Sarutobi skillfully concealed the crystal ball with practiced efficiency, loosely clenched his fist and coughed lightly twice to clear his throat. After his elevated heart rate subsided slightly, he responded with perfectly composed dignity: "Enter."
His assistant, who had been patiently waiting outside for some time, pushed open the door and stepped inside. Displaying no reaction whatsoever to the Hokage's flushed complexion, he professionally handed over the sealed scroll: "Hokage-sama, this contains priority intelligence transmitted by the operative codenamed 'Shrine Maiden,' commissioned directly by Agent 'Owl.'"
"Oh?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi raised one eyebrow curiously, then seemed to recall something and smiled with elder satisfaction: "Heh, that young man must have finally encountered some serious difficulties he couldn't handle alone."
"He's still quite young and inexperienced, after all. Although he possesses considerable talent and perhaps excessive confidence, he still requires proper guidance and mentorship."
He accepted the intelligence scroll, slowly unrolling it while his weathered face adopted the knowing expression of a wise senior. He continued with an indulgent smile: "It's actually beneficial that he encountered significant challenges. Only through harsh tempering and adversity can raw talent transform into a truly polished gem!"
With that philosophical observation, Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled warmly and looked down to begin reading the mission report.
One line... two lines... three lines passed rapidly before his eyes.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's pleased smile abruptly vanished. His expression completely froze, instantly stiffening into a rictus of absolute horror.
He suddenly felt overwhelming darkness engulf his vision as both his blood pressure and heart rate skyrocketed dangerously!
Noticing the dramatic change in the Hokage's expression, his assistant wondered with growing concern: "Judging by this extreme reaction, could something truly catastrophic have occurred? It can't possibly be that Uchiha Kazuki actually died during his mission in the Land of Water, could it?"
"I... I..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi stammered incoherently, completely failing to finish any sentence. His entire face flushed crimson while veins bulged prominently across his forehead and temples.
"Hokage-sama, please calm yourself!"
The assistant's heart pounded with genuine alarm, genuinely fearing the elderly Hokage might literally choke on his overwhelming rage and suffer a fatal stroke right there in his office.
"AHHHHH—!"
Finally, Hiruzen Sarutobi could no longer contain his explosive fury. Roaring incoherently, he lurched to his feet and violently slammed the offensive scroll down onto his desk with tremendous force.
Startled badly by the sudden explosive outburst, the assistant stared at the Hokage with a genuinely puzzled and concerned expression, unconsciously shrinking backward while cautiously asking: "Hokage-sama... has something catastrophically serious happened to Uchiha Kazuki during his mission in the Land of Water?"
"Him?! Something happened to him?!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi glared at his assistant with wild eyes, trembling violently with barely restrained rage. His beard bristled like an angry cat's fur while veins continued bulging dangerously across his forehead as he roared: "What absolute nonsense! He's perfectly fine! Completely and utterly fine! Better than fine, actually!"
The assistant, having been inexplicably subjected to this furious tirade and sprayed with considerable amounts of spittle, could only discretely wipe the moisture from his masked face while feeling even more confused than before.
If Uchiha Kazuki was completely fine and unharmed, then why was the Hokage reacting with such apocalyptic fury?
"Just read it yourself!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi practically foamed at the mouth, violently throwing the scroll directly at his subordinate's face.
The assistant hastily caught the flying scroll, quickly scanning through its contents before immediately feeling his own blood pressure surge catastrophically—as if someone had struck him squarely on the back of his head with a sledgehammer. His vision blurred severely as he swallowed with difficulty, stammering in absolute disbelief: "He... he actually... assassinated the Mizukage himself?!"
He had been so incredibly naive!
Before actually reading this mission report, he'd genuinely wondered what possible information could have triggered such an extreme reaction from the normally composed Hokage.
But after reading the report in its entirety, he could only internally scream: Well executed! No wait—not well executed! Absolutely insane!
What made it exponentially worse was that at the very end of the detailed mission report, Uchiha Kazuki had specifically and explicitly mentioned that he'd acted entirely at the Hokage's direct request and authorization. To prevent Kirigakure and Iwagakure from successfully forming their military alliance, he had 'reluctantly' resorted to this extremely aggressive tactic, thereby solving the strategic problem at its absolute root cause.
The assistant carefully set down the scroll, his eyelids twitching uncontrollably beneath his ANBU mask.
Well... how could one even phrase this diplomatically? Technically, one couldn't definitively say Kazuki had done anything explicitly wrong. After all, he genuinely had solved the Kirigakure alliance problem at its fundamental 'root'—by eliminating the root entirely.
"I told him to cause a significant disturbance and make a scene, NOT to assassinate the sitting Mizukage!!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed his fist down on the desk repeatedly, roaring as he desperately demanded answers: "Tell me honestly—what was that boy possibly thinking?! Is that how he interpreted my strategic guidance?! HUH?!"
The assistant remained diplomatically silent for an extended moment, his face twitching violently beneath his porcelain mask, before finally responding carefully: "Hokage-sama... to be completely honest, although his methods were admittedly rather... excessive...
Uchiha Kazuki did technically follow your explicit instructions and successfully carried out the core mission objective. As for the Mizukage's death... that was merely an unfortunate tactical accident during mission execution."
"Strictly followed my orders?! Is THAT how you interpret 'following orders'?!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi clutched dramatically at his chest, slumping heavily back into his chair like a completely deflated balloon. His eyes stared vacantly at the ceiling while he spoke with profound bitterness: "I only instructed him to make a significant scene and teach Kirigakure a harsh lesson! I absolutely never intended for him to actually assassinate their Kage!"
My intentions and strategic guidance were completely reasonable and measured! But my subordinate executed them catastrophically wrong! How could anyone possibly blame me for this outcome?!
But realistically... even if I stood up right now and loudly proclaimed to everyone that I, Hiruzen Sarutobi, never wanted or authorized the Mizukage's assassination... who would actually believe me at this point?
Wait... hold on a moment. Why does this entire situation feel so strangely familiar?
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression froze in sudden horrified realization, then his eyes widened as understanding dawned: "This is exactly what I do to Danzō all the time!"
[End of Chapter 110]
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