Chapter 495: ANBU Training Settlement
Hokage Building.
Inside the high level conference room, four of Konoha's top brass were discussing the war on the Land of Grass front.
"This Hidden Grass Village actually dares to interfere in Konoha's war. They are far too bold," Danzo said, his expression dark. "We should immediately mobilize our shinobi forces, attack Hidden Grass Village, and teach them a profound lesson."
In Danzo's eyes, a minor village joining a conflict between the Five Great Nations was the clearest sign they did not know their place. They needed to be hit hard.
"Danzo, the frontline intelligence did not confirm Hidden Grass Village's involvement. It is only suspected," Hiruzen said, shaking his head.
Mobilizing forces without certainty would make Konoha look tyrannical, and Konoha's current situation did not allow that kind of move.
Hiruzen could not send out most of the village's shinobi. If Kirigakure or any other village seized the opportunity to press in with a large army, Konoha would have no one left to hold the line.
"Concrete evidence is only a matter of time," Danzo insisted. "What we need right now is a strong stance."
He tapped the table, emphasizing each word.
"If Konoha does not respond decisively, then today it is Hidden Grass, tomorrow it will be Amegakure and Takigakure. Konoha's prestige as the foremost shinobi village will be gone."
Hiruzen rubbed his brow.
Danzo was not completely wrong. Prestige mattered. The Five Great Villages did not maintain their position by being gentle.
But Danzo was also inflating the danger. Even if Hidden Grass truly was involved, it was likely because Iwagakure had offered benefits. Other villages would not provoke Konoha for no reason.
"Then, Danzo," Hiruzen said flatly, "you can take Root and attack Hidden Grass Village."
Danzo went silent.
Many Root shinobi were already tied up in battlefield intelligence. There were not many Root operatives left in Konoha. Otherwise, with Danzo's cautious nature, he would have sent at least one person to monitor Yamato's daily life.
Hidden Grass was not one of the Five Great Villages, but it was still one of the stronger minor villages. It was not something Danzo could handle with a handful of Root members.
"Bring Orochimaru back to Konoha, then have Mugetsu come with me," Danzo said after a brief pause. "I will lead Root to attack Hidden Grass Village."
With Danzo, Orochimaru, and Mugetsu working together, even if a thousand Grass shinobi surrounded them, they could break through easily.
"Bring Orochimaru back?" Hiruzen stared at him. "Then who deals with Kumogakure?"
It sounded like Danzo was daydreaming.
And asking for Orochimaru and Mugetsu as assistants, one would think Danzo was planning to counterattack one of the Five Great Villages.
"How about letting Minato investigate?" Homura interjected, trying to mediate. "Minato is also on the Land of Grass battlefield. He is fast, and he is strong enough."
Homura largely agreed with Hiruzen. Danzo's ideas were too radical and too likely to create bigger problems.
"Sending Minato to investigate is a waste of time," Danzo replied. "It would be more appropriate for him to interrogate the Hidden Grass leader directly."
Danzo believed the others were being too soft.
Konoha was the strongest village. Kumogakure and Iwagakure were fellow giants, so caution made sense there. But Hidden Grass? A minor village daring to provoke Konoha?
They needed to be crushed.
"Right now, our forces on the Land of Grass front and Iwagakure's army have reached a delicate balance," Hiruzen said, this time reluctantly agreeing with Danzo. "Minato leaving could break that balance."
He did not accept Danzo's extreme solution, but he also did not think sending Minato away was wise.
Hiruzen thought for a moment, then landed on a better candidate.
"It could be Mugetsu."
Mugetsu's second phase of ANBU training was nearing its end. Ending a little early would not matter.
If Mugetsu led an elite squad to investigate Hidden Grass Village, then the moment they confirmed Hidden Grass was colluding with Iwagakure, they could act immediately.
Even if Konoha's intelligence was wrong and Hidden Grass truly was uninvolved, the squad led by Mugetsu could still serve as a surprise blade against Iwagakure.
"Let Mugetsu lead a jonin squad to investigate Hidden Grass Village," Hiruzen decided. "If anything unusual is found, they can strike Hidden Grass immediately, or reinforce Jiraiya's forces to help him seize an advantage."
Danzo was about to object, but the moment he heard Hiruzen had chosen Mugetsu, his expression shifted smoothly.
"Compared to Minato, Mugetsu is more suitable for this mission."
Danzo believed Mugetsu would complete it perfectly. In Danzo's eyes, Mugetsu was a shinobi who had inherited Root's will.
"Hayate Mugetsu… indeed a good choice," Homura said, stroking his goatee and nodding.
Compared to Minato, who was carrying crucial responsibilities at the front, Mugetsu being in Konoha made him more suitable.
And as one of the strongest in Konoha's new generation, Mugetsu's ability was no less than Minato's.
Seeing everyone agree, Koharu also nodded along.
As for the specific team composition, Hiruzen did not discuss it further. There were not many jonin in the village right now, and the choices were limited anyway.
When the messenger shinobi Hiruzen dispatched arrived, Mugetsu was still lecturing.
"Lord Mugetsu," the messenger said, "the Third Hokage has an important mission for you. Please go to the Hokage office immediately. Training can end early."
"I understand," Mugetsu replied at once.
He turned to the ANBU trainees, announced the end of the session, then headed to the Hokage Building with the messenger.
Thump.
Mugetsu did not barge in. He knocked first.
"Enter."
After hearing Hiruzen's voice, Mugetsu pushed the door open and stepped inside.
"Lord Third Hokage," Mugetsu asked directly, "what mission requires ending training early?"
Since Hiruzen had used the word important, it was not exaggeration. And given the timing, Mugetsu was certain it related to the war.
"It concerns the Land of Grass front," Hiruzen said, wasting no words. "I need you to lead a team to Hidden Grass Village and investigate whether Hidden Grass is assisting Iwagakure in attacking our forces."
He handed Mugetsu the mission scroll with the full details.
"In recent months, Iwagakure has sent reinforcements and intensified their assault on our defensive forces in the Land of Grass. Our intelligence shinobi have also discovered that some 'Iwagakure shinobi' are suspected to be Grass shinobi in disguise."
Hiruzen's expression hardened.
"That defensive line is extremely important. If it breaks, the flames of war are very likely to burn back into the Land of Fire, and even reach Konoha."
Konoha was fighting on multiple fronts, but only Kirigakure had successfully invaded the Land of Fire so far. The other enemies had been held outside, contained in the smaller surrounding nations.
"This mission will include you, six jonin, and one genin," Hiruzen continued. "The jonin are Kakashi, Shisui, Obito, Rin, Nara Suzaku, and Shibi Aburame. The genin is Kosuke Maruboshi."
It sounded daunting, but four of those jonin were Mugetsu's own disciples, so it was not much different from the missions Mugetsu usually ran.
"Even though Kosuke is a genin, you can treat him as a jonin," Hiruzen added. "He has the strength and qualifications, but due to certain experiences in his early years, he refuses promotion and has remained a genin to this day."
Hiruzen made the point clearly.
Otherwise, sending a genin on such a crucial mission would make no sense.
"I did not send anyone specifically to notify your disciples," Hiruzen said. "The others are waiting at Training Ground 16."
"I will investigate the truth and complete the mission as quickly as possible," Mugetsu replied without delay.
He turned and headed straight for the South Border Forest to notify his disciples.
[System: Under your guidance, the shinobi in the special training have improved in the Darkness Breathing Technique and chakra nature transformation. Overall strength has increased.]
[System: Reward: Chakra +1800, Breathing Technique Experience Scroll x2, Chakra Nature Transformation Experience Scroll x1]
While moving, Mugetsu glanced at the panel.
Training ended slightly early, but the difference was small, so the reward still triggered normally. Only the base chakra reward might be a little lower.
Because Mugetsu spent more lecture time on Darkness Breathing than on nature transformation and ninjutsu, the breathing related rewards were heavier.
Mugetsu opened his status and checked the proficiency of his two bloodline limits.
[System: Skills: Ice Release (proficient 2720/3000), Wood Release (proficient 2050/3000)]
Mugetsu originally planned to push Ice Release into master through routine lecture rewards and his own training, but his schedule change left it a little short.
As for Wood Release, he used the newly obtained Chakra Nature Transformation Experience Scroll on it.
A surge of Wood Release training experience poured into Mugetsu's mind. His Wood Release proficiency jumped instantly, surpassing Ice Release and advancing to master.
[System: Skills: Wood Release (master 50/15000)]
As for the two Breathing Technique Experience Scrolls, Mugetsu did not use them. His developed Yang Release Breathing had already reached master, and he had mastered Yang Release Breathing Chakra Mode. He did not need system assistance there.
When Mugetsu arrived at the South Border Forest, his disciples were still training.
"Except for Yamato and Guy, everyone stop," Mugetsu called out. "There is an urgent mission."
"A mission?" Obito asked, curious. "What rank?"
He was not opposed to missions. It had been months since he returned from the front, and he had rested long enough. It was time to move again.
"An S Rank war mission."
Obito's eyes lit up.
Last time on the battlefield, he had been overshadowed by Shisui and Guy. This time, Guy was not going, and Obito had already mastered the Armament Haki Secret Technique and grown stronger.
It was the perfect chance to make a name for himself.
"Are we going to do a beheading mission on an enemy leader?" Obito could not help asking.
Kakashi looked toward Mugetsu.
Obito always asked things like that, but this time, Kakashi had to admit the setup felt like one of Obito's high stakes fantasies.
Urgent summons. S Rank war mission. Mugetsu leading.
The signs were too obvious. This was not a normal task.
"No," Mugetsu said, denying it. "Other shinobi are involved. Come with me to Training Ground 16 first. I will explain once everyone is present."
Obito swallowed the rest of his questions and followed immediately.
When Mugetsu and his disciples arrived at the training ground, three shinobi were already waiting.
Mugetsu had not met them personally, but their distinctive appearance made their identities clear.
The middle aged man carrying an iron pot had to be Kosuke Maruboshi.
The one dressed in black with sunglasses was likely Shibi of the Aburame clan.
The last one needed no guessing at all.
Nara Suzaku.
Mugetsu used appraisal and read their panels.
[System: Name: Kosuke Maruboshi]
[System: Chakra: 32000]
[System: Skills: Water Release chakra nature transformation (master), Yin Release (master), Water Dragon Bullet Technique (master)...]
[System: Name: Shibi Aburame]
[System: Chakra: 28000]
[System: Skills: Insect Secret Technique (master), Secret Technique: Parasitic Destruction Insect (master)...]
[System: Name: Nara Suzaku]
[System: Chakra: 15000]
[System: Skills: Shadow Secret Technique (master)...]
Kosuke and Shibi's numbers were elite even among jonin. Suzaku's panel was not outstanding, but the Nara techniques could decide battles at critical moments.
"Captain Mugetsu," Suzaku greeted first, "I am Nara Suzaku. I will be executing this mission with you."
As a Konoha jonin, he naturally knew of Mugetsu's reputation.
Even if he did not, Mugetsu was easy to identify. In a group of five, the only adult standing at the center while four young jonin followed behind was obviously the leader.
"Shibi Aburame," Shibi said, concise and traditional, just like most Aburame shinobi.
Kosuke smiled kindly. "Hello, Captain Mugetsu. I am Genin Kosuke Maruboshi."
Even though Kosuke was the most senior in age, he did not act superior at all. His posture was deferential, as if Mugetsu were the elder.
"Uncle pot back, how are you still a genin at your age?" Obito blurted out, eyes wide.
Even Dai, who was promoted late, had not stayed genin that long. Kosuke looked far older than Dai.
Obito rarely saw someone past twenty who was not at least a chunin.
"Haha," Kosuke laughed, waving it off. "I cannot help it. My ability is insufficient. I cannot compare to you talented young people."
He recognized Kakashi standing beside Obito, and Kakashi's current momentum in Konoha already surpassed the legend of the White Fang.
"That should not be the case," Obito muttered, scratching his head in confusion. "Is something wrong?"
Then Obito patted his chest, full of confidence.
"That is fine too. You will definitely get promoted after we finish this mission. It is an S Rank war mission. Uncle pot back, as long as you do what Teacher Mugetsu says, we will win for sure."
Kosuke only smiled.
If he wanted promotion, he could have been a jonin long ago. Not long ago, he had rejected the Third Hokage's offer again.
"It does not matter what happens to a shinobi like me, who has no future," Kosuke said with a chuckle, gently advising Obito. "Pay more attention to your own path."
Kosuke did not want promotion, but he also did not want a helpful junior to fall into the same kind of regret.
Obito puffed out his chest. "I am already a Konoha jonin..."
"He is Obito," Kakashi cut in smoothly, forcing the introduction to end before Obito could start his usual speech. "And I am Kakashi."
Obito glared at Kakashi. Could he not finish a sentence for once?
But Mugetsu began speaking, so Obito could only swallow the complaint and quietly file Kakashi's behavior away for later revenge.
Shisui and Rin also gave their brief introductions.
"The first investigation we need to conduct is this," Mugetsu said, repeating the mission details Hiruzen had given him, then handing out the scroll for everyone to read.
The mission itself was not complicated.
Its essence was simple.
Weaken Iwagakure's power on the Land of Grass front.
If Hidden Grass Village truly was supporting Iwagakure, Mugetsu's team would strike Hidden Grass, make them pay a price, and strip them of the ability to assist.
The ideal result was to kill a wave of Grass shinobi, capture high ranking Hidden Grass officials, then pressure them through logic and leverage into signing a peace agreement and paying compensation.
That would flip Hidden Grass from aiding Iwagakure to aiding Konoha.
Even if they hated Konoha and worked half heartedly, it was still better than them strengthening Iwagakure.
If Hidden Grass truly was innocent and framed, then Mugetsu's team would become a hidden blade on the battlefield, waiting for a moment to create an advantage for Konoha.
The ideal outcome would be joining a large clash from the side and eliminating Iwagakure's jonin and chunin in a single decisive sweep.
The scroll kept mentioning Hidden Grass, but the real target was Iwagakure.
The goal was to help Konoha seize the advantage.
"Move out," Mugetsu said once the details were clear.
He led the team out of Konoha and headed toward the Land of Grass.
They traveled until evening, then Mugetsu ordered a stop for rest and food.
Shinobi were not ordinary people, but they still needed meals. Hunger could still dull reaction and reduce combat performance.
"I will cook," Kosuke volunteered.
His cooking skill was decent, and he took on the chore naturally.
After all, he was the only genin on the team. Doing more work felt reasonable.
Obito's eyes widened.
He stared at Kosuke like Kosuke had just declared war.
The best part of missions was eating Mugetsu's cooking.
In Konoha, getting a free meal from Mugetsu was not easy.
Even though Mugetsu welcomed them often, Obito and the others always felt uncomfortable. Mugetsu already took care of them so much. How could they trouble him at home too?
Noticing Obito's stare, Kosuke smiled.
"It might sound like self praise, but my cooking is pretty good."
He thought Obito was worried the food would be bad.
Obito went stiff.
He wanted to say, if it is only pretty good, do not cook. Let the god tier chef handle it.
But he could not say that. Would he not be ordering Mugetsu around?
That felt like a crime.
"I will help," Mugetsu said, nodding.
"I will look for ingredients," Kakashi said. He did not like eating for free.
"Me too," Obito added quickly. He wanted to find something he liked nearby.
In the end, Mugetsu's disciples all went hunting for ingredients, while Mugetsu and Kosuke prepared camp. Suzaku and Shibi stayed alert around them.
They were still within the Land of Fire, so enemy shinobi were unlikely, but experienced jonin never gave the enemy a chance.
Kakashi came back with several fresh fish. Shisui brought mushrooms. Everyone returned with something.
As they processed the food together, Kosuke noticed Mugetsu's skill and gradually handed over the lead, shifting from Mugetsu helping him to him assisting Mugetsu.
Obito nodded in satisfaction.
Lie down and get carried. Sometimes doing more just means making more mistakes.
Soon, a pot of steaming, fragrant fish soup was ready.
Even Shibi, the most silent among them, looked faintly moved. He quietly picked up a bowl and took his place in line.
The soup was rich and clean, warm enough to sink into the bones.
As Kosuke drank, his expression softened, as if he had been tossed into an underwater world and given a kind of freedom he did not deserve.
"After eating Captain Mugetsu's cooking," Kosuke sighed, "I am afraid no one will want to eat anyone else's food again."
He finally understood Obito's earlier stare.
Obito had wanted Mugetsu's cooking, but he had been too embarrassed to say it.
"Indeed," Suzaku agreed, honestly impressed.
He had not expected the young powerhouse Mugetsu to also be this good at cooking.
Obito and the others did not respond. They were too busy eating.
They had learned through experience that talking while eating Mugetsu's food caused a serious problem.
You would look up, and the pot would be empty.
Only after Obito finished did he lean back with a satisfied expression.
"Of course," Obito declared proudly, "Teacher Mugetsu's cooking is unmatched."
"Amazing," Shibi said simply.
After dinner, the team continued toward the Land of Grass.
…
"How much chakra does this box need before it opens?" Yokogawa Tsutomu frowned, staring at the huge container as it devoured corpse after corpse with no sign of changing.
To open the Paradise Box, Yokogawa Tsutomu had sacrificed every collected shinobi corpse. He had even ordered Grass shinobi to release chakra directly for it to absorb.
Months had passed.
It still had not opened.
The premise of his gamble was that the box would open. If it did not, everything was wasted.
"The more chakra it absorbs, the more it proves its extraordinary nature," Shu said, trying to steady him. "Perhaps the Paradise Box truly has the power to grant wishes."
They had already sacrificed too much.
This road had no return.
Either Grass Core opened the box and led the Land of Grass to rise again, or they failed, the village weakened severely, and Grass Flower seized control.
There was no middle path.
They could not simply stop. Ending their cooperation with Iwagakure was not something they could do lightly. Iwagakure was not a village you could offend and walk away from.
"I do not expect it to let Grass shinobi rule the world," Yokogawa Tsutomu said, still refusing to believe the legend, "but at least do not waste the chakra it has absorbed."
His expectation was simple.
Even if the box only returned the absorbed chakra to him, that would be enough.
With that amount of chakra, combined with his own ninjutsu, Hidden Grass could forge a "true god."
"If it really could grant wishes," Yokogawa Tsutomu asked suddenly, looking at Shu with interest, "what would you wish for?"
Shu had been the brightest genius of Hidden Grass in his youth. Yokogawa Tsutomu had always train him as the next leader of Grass Core.
"To have Hidden Grass Village rule the shinobi world," Shu answered without hesitation.
"Not eternal life?" Yokogawa Tsutomu pressed. "Not becoming the strongest?"
Strength was everything for a shinobi. Without it, every mission was a walk along the edge of death.
And life span, Yokogawa Tsutomu believed, was something anyone would want to extend.
So if people were offered one wish, those two seemed the most common.
Shu looked puzzled.
"Leader, did you not say the Paradise Box could not possibly grant wishes like that?"
"I do not believe it," Yokogawa Tsutomu replied with a smile, "but you do."
Shu thought for a moment, then looked at him seriously.
"Even if it could grant any wish, I would still make the same one."
"There are endless wars in the shinobi world. If one power ruled everything, wars should disappear, right?"
His voice grew quieter, heavier.
"Then my son could live in a world without war."
Yokogawa Tsutomu froze.
He expected an answer about loyalty to Hidden Grass.
He did not expect a father's wish.
Yokogawa Tsutomu smiled and patted Shu's shoulder.
"It seems you love your child very much. But do not spoil him. When training, you still need to be strict."
His eyes held expectation.
"I am looking forward to another genius appearing in Hidden Grass."
Yokogawa Tsutomu did not mind that Shu's answer had personal motives.
People could not be completely selfless.
Yokogawa Tsutomu himself was no exception. Beyond wanting Hidden Grass to rise, he wanted to strengthen his own power.
He wanted to become a top tier figure, the kind of person whose strength alone forced an entire village to be respected.
But as leader, he could not say that out loud. It would fracture unity.
"Leader," a Grass ANBU whispered as he approached, "people from Grass Flower are looking for you..."
"You watch this place," Yokogawa Tsutomu ordered Shu. "Do not let anything happen to the box."
He left the underground base and headed for the leader's building.
In the leader's office, Yokogawa Tsutomu pushed the door open and saw the Grass Flower leader sitting in the only chair.
When he saw Yokogawa Tsutomu enter, the Grass Flower leader opened his mouth to start, but Yokogawa Tsutomu cut him off.
"I am the leader," Yokogawa Tsutomu reminded him.
Grass Flower might be a major faction, but Yokogawa Tsutomu was still the leader of the entire village.
That was one rank higher.
"Who designed this office with only one chair?" the Grass Flower leader said stiffly, forced to stand.
"If Grass Flower saves more funds," Yokogawa Tsutomu replied with a smile as he sat down, "I will add another chair."
The Grass Flower leader glared at him.
Too good to be true.
The Grass ANBU at the door silently gave Yokogawa Tsutomu a thumbs up. No wonder he could sit in the leader's seat. He could dissolve tension with a few words.
"Yokogawa," the Grass Flower leader said, returning to the point, "what missions have the village shinobi been running recently? I have noticed fewer shinobi inside the village."
Yokogawa Tsutomu's expression did not change.
"There are missions every day. How would I remember them all? Check the records yourself."
He had already falsified the mission records. Grass Flower would not find anything.
The Grass Flower leader stared into Yokogawa Tsutomu's eyes, searching for a crack.
Yokogawa Tsutomu met the gaze calmly, looking completely innocent.
"Recently, war refugees have flooded into the village," the Grass Flower leader said, withdrawing his eyes at last. "It is better to dispatch more shinobi to maintain order in the village and the surrounding areas."
"Too many refugees is indeed a problem," Yokogawa Tsutomu nodded. "I will arrange people to handle it."
Before leaving, the Grass Flower leader could not help reminding him.
"Yokogawa, do not forget. The Land of Grass survived by playing both sides and protecting itself. Do not do anything risky."
Grass Core and Grass Flower were both Hidden Grass shinobi. They were not enemies. They only differed on how the village should move forward.
"What, Drag," Yokogawa Tsutomu joked, "are you trying to pull me into Grass Flower? I am the leader of Grass Core."
Then his smile sharpened slightly.
"How do we change anything without taking risks? Those great villages will not sit and watch us grow."
Drag turned and left the office, heading to investigate the mission records.
They were old rivals. Drag knew he could not change Yokogawa Tsutomu's mind with a few warnings.
Watching Drag back, Yokogawa Tsutomu pulled out his plan and checked it carefully, searching for flaws.
Aside from uncontrollable factors like the Paradise Box, he would do everything he could to make sure the plan proceeded without incident.
.....
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