Boom!
The explosion of the Explosive Tags kicked up a large cloud of smoke and dust.
"It's an ambush!"
At the border of the Land of Fire.
The flash of the explosion ripped through the dark night.
The constant burning flames reflected in Sakumo Hatake's cold eyes, causing a chill to flash in their depths.
Swish!
A silver-white light, like lightning, was extremely sharp, as if it could cut through the very air.
The speed was too fast for the naked eye to catch; only a flash of white light was seen before it vanished.
The instant the white light flashed past.
A Jonin from the Hidden Cloud Village froze mid-hand sign.
A faint red line appeared across his neck.
"Gulp..."
As the Jonin tried to speak, blood gushed out like a water gun, and his sight fixed upon the tall, straight figure in the distance.
"Damn it! It's Konohas White Fang!"
The Ninja of the Hidden Cloud Village were instantly shocked, and a hint of fear flashed in their eyes.
Although he wore a mask, Sakumo Hatake's silver-white hair and fierce swordsmanship allowed the Hidden Cloud Village Ninja to recognize him.
A famous reputation precedes him.
Sakumo Hatake, who had carved his name out during the Second Great Ninja War, was a name alone sufficient to inspire terror.
"Damn it! We must secure the scroll!"
"Everyone attack!"
An Elite Jonin from the Hidden Cloud Village gritted his teeth and issued orders to the Hidden Cloud Village elite squad.
They had thought they were just ambushing some small fry.
They never expected a great white shark to show up!
"Lightning Release: Ground Running!"
"Lightning Release: Lightning Snake!"
"Lightning Release: Lightning Pillar!"
The Hidden Cloud Village reacted very quickly. As an elite unit, they dared to launch an attack even when facing the White Fang.
In just one second.
Countless Ninjutsu struck toward Sakumo Hatake and his group.
Not only Ninjutsu, but also Kunai, shuriken, and even many Explosive Tags.
"Water Release: Water Wall!"
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
Boom!
A huge explosion rang out, and Sakumo Hatake and his group used the cover of the smoke and dust to evade the Hidden Cloud Village's attack.
"Captain! We ran into the Hidden Cloud Village's elite unit!"
A Konoha Ninja's face under his mask was extremely grim. No one expected them to be so unlucky as to run directly into the Hidden Cloud Village's elite unit.
"The enemy has twenty members: two Elite Jonin, three Jonin, ten Special Jonin, and five Elite Chunin!"
A Sensory Ninja spoke with a tone full of seriousness.
He looked at Sakumo Hatake with complicated eyes. If they were pinned down, there was a high probability that only Sakumo Hatake himself would survive... "Black Fox is seriously injured, if we don't..."
Sakumo Hatake's eyes were filled with conflict.
On one side was the mission, on the other were his comrades.
If he proceeded with the mission, all these people would die.
The Hidden Cloud Village elite unit, with their seamless coordination.
Even the White Fang himself wasn't confident he could protect his comrades.
"Abandon the mission! Retreat!"
"I'll cover the rear!"
A look of determination flashed in Sakumo Hatake's eyes.
He couldn't help but recall the scene from a year ago.
"My blade is meant for protecting my comrades!"
"Kaede, your teacher hasn't disappointed you, right?"
The White Fang chuckled softly, positioning himself directly in front of his three comrades, holding his White Fang Short Sword horizontally across his chest, his eyes bursting with brilliant light.
"Hurry and go!"
Swish!
The next second.
The White Fang also transformed into a silver streak, fiercely plunging into the Hidden Cloud Village elite squad... "Spring Breeze Turns into Rain!"
Inside Shimura Kaede's room, a gentle wind continuously swirled.
The invisible wind turned deep green, gradually thickening like a liquid.
Drip, drop!
The extremely dense wind transformed into droplets of dark green light, all drilling into Shimura Kaede's body.
"Holy cow! The effect is this powerful!"
Shimura Kaede's eyes lit up.
These dark green light droplets carried powerful vitality, continuously repairing Shimura Kaede's damaged wounds, and even filling and replenishing all the cells inside his body.
The excess energy was not wasted.
Instead, it remained inside Shimura Kaede's body, continuously nourishing him.
"If I use this once a day, won't I turn into a Sage Body?"
"As expected of a skill rewarded by System Dad, this effect is too strong!"
Shimura Kaede stood up. The fatigue from high-intensity Taijutsu training was completely swept away, and the muscle soreness vanished without a trace.
At this moment.
He felt his condition was better than ever before.
The skill Spring Breeze Turns into Rain was the reward the System gave Shimura Kaede after Might Duy's mission ended.
It only requires consuming some Chakra to summon a gust of wind; it is an extremely powerful Healing Technique that can treat external and internal injuries, and even provide nourishment at the cellular level.
Moreover, this technique is large-scale.
The more Chakra consumed, the more significant the range and effect of the healing.
This instantly compensated for Shimura Kaede's lack of Medical Techniques. With this skill, Shimura Kaede could become a walking Healer.
In the future, he would likely be a powerful Healer, not inferior to Tsunade.
"Wait, can I treat Dad's injury?"
Shimura Kaede's eyes brightened. His current good life was all thanks to Danzo.
At this moment, he no longer wanted Danzo to die.
"If I'm here, Second Pillar won't have to take Dad out for a walk, right?"
Shimura Kaede acted immediately.
As for the excuse, he already thought of it: a genius needs no explanation!
Over the past year.
Relying on Danzo's influence, Shimura Kaede could not only casually read and learn various Ninjutsu.
Shimura Kaede also managed to obtain many hidden books.
This included many medical books and scrolls, and even quite a few Medical Ninjutsu.
Furthermore.
If Shimura Kaede asked, Danzo could probably even obtain the Scroll of Seals for him.
"Uncle Ryoma!"
Swish!
The next second.
A figure appeared directly in front of Shimura Kaede.
"Where is Father?"
Aburame Ryoma looked at the excited Shimura Kaede before him with complicated eyes.
"The Young Master's talent is truly too great."
In the few years he had served as Shimura Kaede's guard, Aburame Ryoma felt his worldview was somewhat shattered.
Wind Release Ninjutsu? He could master it in minutes!
Chakra reserves?
At four years old, they were already comparable to a Jonin!
Even Swordsmanship was practiced with great proficiency.
There were also Ninjutsu that were researched and developed from time to time, which even Aburame Ryoma couldn't help but be astonished by.
"That Ninjutsu just now, was it a Healing Technique?"
"It seems there are no Wind Release-related Healing Ninjutsu in the Ninja World, right?"
Isn't a Healing Technique supposed to be a Yang Release Ninjutsu like the Mystic Palm Technique?
How did it become a Wind Release Ninjutsu when the Young Master performed it?
"Creating a Medical Ninjutsu at only four years old, the Young Master's talent is truly terrifying!"
A gleam flashed in Aburame Ryoma's eyes; he absolutely must protect Young Master Kaede.
Young Master Kaede's future might not be inferior to the First Generation Lord, who is called the God of Shinobi, right?!
"Uncle Ryoma, where is Father?"
Aburame Ryoma collected his thoughts and quickly whispered.
"Lord Danzo should be working at Root at this time!"
"That early?"
Shimura Kaede checked the time. It was only eight in the morning, and he didn't expect his father to already be at work.
This really confirms that saying.
The ambition of villains is truly too strong.
Over the past few years, Shimura Kaede had truly understood Danzo's work ethic; not only did he treat his office like home.
He often lived in his office.
Even when he went home, it was late at night, and he would head to Root first thing the next morning.
He was practically a Model Worker; a Ninja workhorse was no different.
Compared to his own father, Hiruzen Sarutobi's work enthusiasm was much lower; he even had time to sneak peeks into the Women's Bathhouse when he was bored.
"No wonder my dad looks down on the Third Hokage. I wouldn't be happy either."
Working hard day and night, doing all the dirty and tiring work, only to be constantly suppressed by a slacking boss—who would be okay with that?
"Let's go, then. I'll go find Father."
After Shimura Kaede finished washing up, he ate a simple breakfast and put on the new clothes prepared by the Maid.
Taking small steps with his short legs, he headed towards Root.
"The White Fang abandoned the mission to protect his comrades?"
"And now he's being questioned by the two Elders?!"
Inside the Root office.
Danzo looked at the document in his hand, his face filled with disbelief.
"Is the White Fang an idiot?!"
The intelligence for this mission was collected by Root, so its importance went without saying, even including the Hidden Cloud Village's defenses and a list of high-ranking officials.
He abandoned the mission for a few Common Ninja?!
And he was even questioned by the Elders?!
"Damn it!"
A cold glint flashed in Danzo's eyes. He then stood up immediately, rushing towards the Hokage Office Building.
"I must protect Sakumo Hatake!"
Sakumo Hatake was currently his son's teacher, and Danzo was counting on him to help his son become Hokage later on. He couldn't let Sakumo Hatake bear the stigma of abandoning a mission right now.
A Ninja's first principle is to prioritize the mission.
It had been this way for many years.
If Sakumo Hatake were branded with the reputation of arbitrarily abandoning missions, it would be a devastating blow to his prestige.