Chapter 416: Return to Konoha
After Hanzo's defeat, the name Ninja Master Sosuke spread through the shinobi world at a terrifying speed.
The shock this incident caused far exceeded anything before it.
Kakuzu was not weak, but his reputation across the whole shinobi world was ordinary. Only certain powerful figures, or shinobi involved in the black market, had even heard of him.
Hanzo was different.
Shinobi from small and great villages alike, along with rogue ninja from countless lands, all knew the name Hanzo the Salamander.
Even among civilians, Hanzo was famous, a genuinely awe inspiring figure, the kind of legend ordinary people talked about in hushed voices.
So the news that Hanzo led his forces into battle and suffered defeat against Ninja Master Sosuke and the Shinobi Sect spread like wildfire. In the current chaotic era, it was a major event that shook the entire world.
Still, the speed of its spread was not only because Hanzo was famous.
Someone was also fanning the flames from the shadows.
Mugetsu was slightly surprised when he heard the news had already swept through the shinobi world, because he had never instructed the Shinobi Sect to spread it.
As for the Rain ninja, it was even less likely they would publicize it. After the news broke, Amegakure even issued a denial, insisting their leader Hanzo had not acted, much less been defeated.
Of course, that denial had little effect.
If anything, it made the rumor feel even more real.
Amegakure only spoke, yet took no immediate action, as if they were wary of something.
On top of that, the circulating reports included far too many details, even naming the exact location of the battle. Shinobi who investigated found clear traces of an intense clash between top tier combatants.
With everything taken together, Hanzo's defeat was effectively confirmed.
Ninja Master Sosuke was recognized as a top tier expert, and a terrifying Fire Release specialist.
Mugetsu suspected Danzo was behind it, using the news to intensify the conflict between the Shinobi Sect and Amegakure.
But Mugetsu did not dwell on it.
If the Shinobi Sect wanted to grow and spread its ideology, conflict with Amegakure was inevitable anyway. And this incident was not without benefit. Their reputation had been established, and shinobi who agreed with the Shinobi Sect's beliefs would now come to them on their own.
Iwagakure, Tsuchikage Building.
Kitsuchi personally delivered the intelligence he gathered in the valley to Onoki.
"Lord Tsuchikage," Kitsuchi asked after Onoki finished reading, "Hanzo wants to cooperate with us to eliminate the Shinobi Sect. Should we work with him?"
"Although Hanzo cannot defeat Sosuke, it will not be easy for Sosuke to defeat Hanzo either."
Kitsuchi had watched the entire battle. He understood their strengths clearly.
In raw power, Mugetsu was far stronger, to the point he could suppress Hanzo's Water Release with Fire Release.
But Mugetsu had no clean answer to Ibuse's poisonous mist. Combined with Hanzo's extremely refined Water Instant Body Technique, finishing Hanzo was not simple.
Onoki shook his head and looked at Kitsuchi.
"Why should we cooperate to eliminate the Shinobi Sect?" Onoki asked. "What benefit does that bring to Iwagakure?"
"If the shinobi on the border were truly killed by the Shinobi Sect," Kitsuchi said, voicing his thoughts, "then we can cooperate with the Rain ninja. We cannot let our shinobi die for nothing. We must avenge them."
Kitsuchi would not act rashly before the matter was confirmed, but if it truly was the Shinobi Sect's doing, he would not let them off simply because Mugetsu was strong.
A hint of disappointment flickered across Onoki's face.
Caring for the village's shinobi was a good thing, but being a Kage required more than that.
"This was not done by the Shinobi Sect," Onoki said.
He rummaged through his desk and tossed a document toward Kitsuchi.
Kitsuchi read it and saw records of the Shinobi Sect's actions during their travels. Helping villagers, solving local troubles, driving off bandits, protecting the innocent.
"This is a force that yearns for genuine peace," Onoki explained. "They have no reason to kill the shinobi of a great village. That would bring disaster down on the Land of Rain."
In Onoki's mind, the only realistic way conflict could have happened was if Iwagakure shinobi attacked an Amegakure target and the Shinobi Sect happened to witness it.
But that was not within the mission scope of Iwagakure's operatives in the Land of Rain.
Iwagakure's true task there was to incite conflict between Konoha, Kumogakure, and Sunagakure.
Even if a clash did occur, based on the Shinobi Sect's behavior, Onoki did not believe they would slaughter every Iwagakure shinobi involved.
With his long experience stirring trouble, Onoki judged it was far more likely another force killed the Iwagakure shinobi and framed the Shinobi Sect.
Onoki could not determine who, because ever since the news of Sosuke's so called sage art inheritance spread, countless eyes had locked onto the Shinobi Sect and Sosuke.
That attention only intensified after Sosuke defeated Kakuzu.
"From their reputation, that does seem likely," Kitsuchi said after a moment, "but all evidence still points toward someone inside the Shinobi Sect. Perhaps it was the personal act of certain members."
"Then continue investigating in the Land of Rain," Onoki sighed. "Do not get involved for now."
If Kitsuchi had argued that the Shinobi Sect had frightening potential and could threaten Iwagakure in the future, Onoki would not have been so disappointed.
Kitsuchi's thinking was simply too honest.
Kitsuchi bowed respectfully and left the Tsuchikage's office.
"There are too few capable people in the village," Onoki thought as he watched Kitsuchi's back.
After a long recovery, Iwagakure's shinobi forces had rebuilt well. Their combat ready numbers already exceeded ten thousand.
What worried Onoki was that Iwagakure still lacked a successor he felt satisfied with.
Kitsuchi was strong, but too straightforward, unsuitable to become Tsuchikage.
Others had personalities better suited for the seat, but they lacked the strength to command respect.
Land of Lightning, Raikage Office.
"What exactly is this inheritance Sosuke possesses?" the Third Raikage muttered after reading the report. "Is it the Sage of Six Paths' ninjutsu?"
Amegakure was not strong, but the Third Raikage still acknowledged Hanzo's strength. Anyone who could defeat Hanzo was not ordinary.
Kumogakure believed in the Sage of Six Paths. They had descendants tied to that bloodline, and even possessed legendary ninja tools.
"Lord Raikage," Dodai asked, "should we use our forces in the Land of Rain to investigate Sosuke's sage inheritance?"
"Not for now," the Third Raikage refused.
He was interested, but with wars igniting everywhere, it was not worth spending manpower and resources on this. Sosuke was not a soft target. Dealing with him would require real effort.
Land of Fire, Konoha.
With a gloomy expression, Danzo pushed open the door and entered the Hokage's office without knocking.
"Hiruzen, I was right, wasn't I?" Danzo said immediately. "This Ninja Master Sosuke cannot be underestimated. In such a short time, he's made a name this big. We must"
"Danzo," Hiruzen interrupted, "why did you come in without knocking?"
The escalating war already gave Hiruzen a headache. He decided to reprimand Danzo and force him to behave.
"Hiruzen, that isn't important. Haven't you seen what I gave you" Danzo tried to continue, but Hiruzen cut him off again.
"Call me by my title during work," Hiruzen said, his tone firm.
Danzo's face darkened. After a moment, he forced the word out.
"Sandaime."
He did not want to, but Hiruzen was being overly strict. If he refused, the conversation would end right there.
"You are Konoha's Hokage assistant," Hiruzen said, removing his pipe and exhaling a puff of smoke. "Do not be so hasty in matters."
"Hiruzen, I'm doing this for the village," Danzo emphasized.
"You're rushing again," Hiruzen said, tapping the desk twice with a finger.
"Sandaime, how can I not be urgent when it concerns the village's future?" Danzo asked, his voice low and tense.
"Village's future?" Hiruzen did not agree. "That's an exaggeration. Even if Sosuke can defeat Hanzo, his Shinobi Sect is only an organization of fewer than a hundred people."
Hiruzen acknowledged Sosuke as a top tier expert, but he did not think Sosuke could truly threaten Konoha.
One person's strength was still only one person. It was difficult for a single shinobi to change the outcome of a war.
In Hiruzen's experience, Hanzo was actually more troublesome in warfare than Sosuke, simply because Hanzo's poisonous mist was so difficult to counter.
Danzo hesitated.
There was intelligence he could not reveal without exposing Root's unauthorized operations.
"Compared to the Land of Rain," Hiruzen continued, his expression turning serious, "focus more on the Hidden Mist. Our frontline shinobi report that Kirigakure is increasing deployments and intensifying its invasion of the eastern coast. An invasion of our territory cannot be tolerated."
The Fire Daimyo did not provide Konoha that kind of funding every year for nothing.
Now was the time to act.
Danzo nodded on the surface, while relief spread quietly in his heart.
With this crisis, Hiruzen would have even less time to investigate Root. Danzo would not need to worry about his actions being discovered.
He could even use the chaos to expand Root further.
…
"This Hanzo really is something," Obito said, surprised by how much people were talking. "Sosuke's reputation exploded after beating him. Everyone's discussing it."
This time felt different from before.
Even some Konoha civilians were talking about Ninja Master Sosuke.
Kakashi glanced at Obito.
"What, do you want to challenge Hanzo too?"
With Obito's thought process, Kakashi felt that idea was not impossible.
"Of course not," Obito waved his hands quickly. "I just think if Teacher Mugetsu went, he'd definitely become famous across the entire shinobi world."
In truth, Obito did have the thought of challenging Hanzo.
Just not now.
He would wait until he felt strong enough.
"Do you think Teacher Mugetsu likes showing off as much as you do?" Kakashi replied, unimpressed. "Stop forcing your brain into his skull."
If Mugetsu wanted fame, he could have had it long ago.
Stopping Kumogakure's New A B Combo alone was enough to make someone famous throughout the shinobi world.
Kakashi was sure because Minato became famous from that exact achievement.
Mugetsu was simply too low key. He never publicized what he did.
"It's not about showing off," Obito insisted, looking toward Mugetsu. "I just think the title Ninja Master fits Teacher Mugetsu better."
"All the students you taught say you're amazing. Only someone strong and good at teaching deserves that title, right?"
Then Obito's eyes lit up.
"But stealing someone else's title isn't good. How about you become Great Ninja Master, Teacher Mugetsu? Sounds way more domineering."
Tap.
Mugetsu flicked Obito's forehead with perfect accuracy.
"Stop thinking about nonsense," Mugetsu said. "And for Fire Release: Great Fire Destruction, Shisui uses it far more skillfully than you."
Obito laughed awkwardly, completely unbothered.
You cannot criticize what does not exist.
In terms of learning speed, aside from Flame Breathing, Obito was behind Shisui in every technique.
So Obito never compared technique progress with Shisui. He only compared overall combat power.
"I'll demonstrate again," Mugetsu said. "Watch carefully."
He called Shisui over, then walked into an open space.
Mugetsu gathered a vast amount of chakra in his throat, transformed it into Fire Release in an instant, then exhaled a massive sheet of flames, powerful enough to resemble a sea of fire.
After the demonstration, Mugetsu explained the key points.
Then he explained again while repeating the technique in slow motion, showing the timing and control clearly.
Obito and Shisui watched with thoughtful expressions. After a short break, they began practicing immediately.
Mugetsu did not guide only them.
He evenly guided all disciples training in the Southern Border Forest.
After two months of accumulated training, with Mugetsu's teaching and adjustment, everyone felt unusually sharp today, and their progress was obvious.
At this moment, Mugetsu was his true body, having rushed back from the Land of Rain.
He was not a shadow clone.
The Enlightenment skill could be applied remotely through the system panel, but teaching could not.
Only Mugetsu himself could trigger the full effect.
It was an awkward situation that forced him to travel constantly between Konoha and the Land of Rain.
Fortunately, the improvement of the Yin Seal somewhat solved the shadow clone chakra problem, allowing clones to last longer.
Otherwise it would have been even worse, because in Konoha he had to teach disciples and handle Ninja Academy affairs, while in the Shinobi Sect he was still the leader, responsible for teaching classes and planning the organization's development.
To solve the problem of students attending lessons, Mugetsu began considering a new idea.
He wanted to develop a projection technique that would let people see each other from thousands of miles away, allowing disciples to attend his online classes.
Since the lessons would still be taught by his main body, the teaching skill should theoretically activate normally.
After training ended, Mugetsu looked at Shisui.
"Shisui, the Chunin Exams are about to begin," Mugetsu said. "Do you want to participate?"
This was different from the exams Obito had taken.
This Chunin Exam would be held solely by Konoha, not jointly with other villages.
In fact, independent exams were the norm now. Joint exams were rare.
Joint exams were used to show military strength and attract commissions, and Konoha's current situation was not suitable for a large scale spectacle.
Shisui thought for a moment, then nodded.
"Yes," he said. "Please."
Raising his rank would benefit him and harm nothing. A higher rank would also give him slightly more standing within the Uchiha clan.
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