As time passed, Kusunoki Naraku's influence within ANBU expanded at a rapid pace.
By personally securing funding from the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, raising ANBU members , and upgrading and maintaining facilities and equipment, ANBU was completely revitalized.
As a result, in an extremely short period of time, Naraku firmly established his footing within ANBU and built a power base of his own.
As ANBU's Vice Captain, Naraku didn't need to go out on missions as frequently as regular members. Unless the task was especially important or dangerous, he rarely led operations personally.
The intense workload at the beginning had mainly been due to Naraku familiarizing himself with ANBU's operational structure and getting to know his subordinates. Once everything was on track, his schedule naturally became far more relaxed.
With matters in ANBU temporarily settled, Naraku shifted his attention back to the Medical Department—after all, he still concurrently held the position of Deputy Director there.
…
"Naraku, this is the detailed report on the Medical Emergency Unit's recent activities."
"Elders Homura Mitokado and Koharu have already begun arranging personnel to enter Konoha Hospital. For now, they've only taken positions in administrative departments, but there are clear signs that they're attempting to win over medical ninja."
"As for the Emergency Unit, Aoyagi Hachijō initially tried to get his hands on the medical funds, but failed. He was blocked by our people."
"We originally thought Hachijō would continue probing, but instead he shifted his focus to the Medical Research Laboratory. I believe he has accomplices inside the lab, but we haven't identified who yet."
After reading through the report, Kusunoki Naraku nodded in satisfaction, a smile appearing on his face.
"You did well. Keep it up."
"Yes, sir!"
"As for the laboratory…"
"Continue investigating quietly. Don't make any noise for now."
"Yes!"
Once his confidant finished reporting and departed, another figure soon appeared before Naraku.
It was Inuzuka Tsume of the Inuzuka clan—mother of Inuzuka Kiba, one of the Konoha Twelve.
Tsume was the head of the Animal Therapy and Rehabilitation Unit within the Medical Department. As the name implied, this unit specialized in treating ninja hounds and other summoned or partnered animals.
Naturally, its leadership had always been held by members of the Inuzuka clan—after all, they were experts when it came to working with ninken and other beasts.
This unit also had the lowest public presence within the Medical Department, even more inconspicuous than the Body Disposal Unit.
As such, Tsume didn't have much to report and soon took her leave.
Then came the third person to enter Naraku's office—
Kaguya Kabuto.
Head of the Body Disposal Unit.
In the original course of events, at this point in time Kabuto would still be following Orochimaru's orders—hiding within Konoha's Medical Department, studying medical ninjutsu while secretly gathering intelligence.
To avoid drawing attention, he would deliberately suppress his abilities and fail the Chūnin Exams seven times in a row.
Naraku, however, paid no heed to Orochimaru's plans.
He directly pulled Kabuto to his side and began cultivating him openly.
As a result, Kabuto had already become aJōnin of Konohagakure, while also serving as head of the Body Disposal Unit.
And Kabuto had repaid Naraku handsomely.
Not only did he work diligently under Naraku, contributing greatly to the Emergency Unit's growth, but—most importantly—he had supplied Naraku with a significant amount of intelligence regarding Shimura Danzō.
…
"Naraku."
Kabuto stood respectfully before him, presenting a stack of documents with both hands.
Naraku glanced through the materials, then spoke directly.
"Yashiro Aoyagi contacted you."
"Yes."
Kabuto didn't bother trying to hide it.
The person Hachijō sought out in the Medical Research Laboratory had indeed been him.
Naraku didn't press further. It was only natural—Kabuto was a triple agent, with ties to Kusunoki Naraku, Shimura Danzō, and Orochimaru.
After giving Kabuto a brief look, Naraku asked casually,
"Has Orochimaru-sensei contacted you recently?"
"We made contact a day ago. It was only an exchange of experimental data."
Naraku already knew that Orochimaru had begun laying the groundwork for the Konoha Crush plan. What he didn't know was how much Kabuto was aware of.
"From today onward, cut off contact with Orochimaru. No more laboratory data is to be sent to him."
"Yes."
Naraku knew Kabuto would agree verbally while continuing to exchange information in secret—but issuing the order still mattered.
If this relationship were ever exposed in the future, Naraku needed plausible distance.
The Medical Research Laboratory had been personally established by Naraku. Its purpose was to develop new medical ninjutsu and serve as a controlled testing ground for Konoha's medical ninja.
Orochimaru had always held Naraku in high regard. Regretting that he hadn't taken Naraku with him when he defected, Orochimaru immediately took interest when he learned of the laboratory's creation.
Through Kabuto, Orochimaru obtained most of the lab's improved medical techniques and research成果.
If that were all, Naraku would've eliminated Kabuto long ago.
But in exchange, Orochimaru's own knowledge and research成果 also flowed back to Naraku through Kabuto.
This quiet exchange had become an unspoken understanding.
Both Naraku and Orochimaru benefited—yet neither would ever acknowledge it openly.
Now, however, Naraku personally severed that line.
One reason was that the Konoha Crush was imminent.
The other was that with the promotion system in place, Naraku no longer needed to gamble with fire by dealing with Orochimaru.
…
"You youngsters really have too many ideas. This old man can barely keep up."
The Third Hokage chuckled as he flipped through the documents Naraku had submitted.
"Dismantling the Medical Emergency Unit?"
Hiruzen's expression grew serious as he read. After reviewing it once, he closed his eyes in thought.
"It's a bit sudden. The Emergency Unit is deeply involved in village affairs right now. If we do this…"
"It's not sudden at all," Naraku replied calmly. "The Emergency Unit should've been dismantled long ago."
"Right now, it manages Konoha Hospital, the Research Laboratory, and numerous other medical institutions—while also handling all medical care for the village's ninja. The organization is bloated."
Naraku spread his hands, laying out his reasoning.
In truth, once the Emergency Unit began its rapid expansion, it should have been split.
But at the time, Naraku himself had been in charge—why would he weaken his own authority?
Now things were different.
For him, dismantling it was beneficial.
"First, we need to establish a new recuperation center to serve daimyō, nobles, and wealthy merchants—so they stop complaining about sharing facilities with civilians. It'll also eliminate security risks…"
"The Medical Research Laboratory should be relocated as well. Its current location is too crowded. Somewhere more secluded and quiet would be more appropriate…"
"Many ninja, due to identity or mission sensitivity, aren't suited for treatment in open hospitals. Security and confidentiality are just as important…"
"The medical-nin training institutions established by Tsunade-sama also need improvement. The village still lacks enough medical ninja…"
Naraku laid out his entire plan in one breath.
By the end, Hiruzen was staring wide-eyed, momentarily unsure how to respond.
"You're absolutely right. Let's proceed exactly as you've proposed."
Snapping back to his senses, Hiruzen let out a quiet sigh of relief and immediately approved the plan.
He might not understand medical systems as deeply as Naraku did—but decades as Hokage had given him keen judgment.
If Naraku's plan were fully implemented, the benefits to Konoha would be enormous.
Naturally, once the plan was completed, Naraku's prestige within the village would rise yet another level.
"Tsunade found herself an excellent student."
Hiruzen felt a hint of pride—after all, Kusunoki Naraku was also talent cultivated within the Hokage's own lineage.
"But that makes things troublesome…"
"By now, Naraku already fully meets the criteria to become Hokage."
Strength. Seniority. Prestige. Connections.
Kusunoki Naraku lacked nothing.
Hiruzen didn't even believe that he himself had possessed such conditions when he first took office.
And that was precisely why unease quietly surfaced in his heart.
If Naraku truly became Hokage—who would be able to restrain him?
The emergence of such thoughts meant only one thing:
Hiruzen Sarutobi had begun to feel threatened by Kusunoki Naraku.
If Naraku weren't Tsunade's student, and not part of the Hokage's faction, covert suppression would likely have already begun.
Hatake Sakumo's rise had once been terrifyingly rapid.
Shimura Danzō had intervened, pressuring him into suicide—
Did Hiruzen truly know nothing about it?
Perhaps.
Or perhaps, back then, Hatake Sakumo had also posed a threat to the Third Hokage himself.
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