Inside the Tsurugetsu Izakaya, Yōkō overheard the patrons' discussion.
"Have you heard? The first Jonin Commander meeting after the Great War still hasn't been convened."
"You're just a Chūnin, and you're worried about the Jonin Commander meeting?"
"Of course I'm worried! I don't dare shout about becoming Hokage like those young clan heads, but can't I at least say I'll become a Jonin someday?"
"By the time you become a Jonin, I'll be the battlefield commander-in-chief."
"Did you piss your brains out with that alcohol? I'm talking about the delayed Jonin Commander meeting, where did you go with that?"
"I heard the Jonin recommendations sent to the Hokage Building haven't been reviewed by the Third Hokage yet. Those Tokubetsu Jonin are so anxious, they probably wish they could visit the Hokage Building three times a day."
"No Tokubetsu Jonin is that desperate. Tokubetsu Jonin are experts, at least masters in some specific area."
Listening to the chatter, Yōkō thought to himself that the post-war Jonin recommendation matter had already become so urgent that even ordinary shinobi were discussing it.
—
Leaving the izakaya, Yōkō looked up at the night sky.
The full moon was like a silver platter; another new full moon night had arrived.
He was going to investigate a Tokubetsu Jonin from the Uchiha clan.
This Tokubetsu Jonin had been recommended for full Jonin by Uchiha Kane.
Additionally, the Fox Squadron was also responsible for investigating a Tokubetsu Jonin from the Senju clan, and a civilian Tokubetsu Jonin recommended by Hatake Sakumo.
Yellow Dog had given a strict order: they must find fault, pick bones from an egg, and stop their Jonin recommendations.
Putting on his fox mask in a corner of the alley, Yōkō waited for the Hippo Squad's report tonight.
The silver light of the full moon shone on Yōkō's fox mask.
Yōkō pondered how to increase his strength.
During the war, he had to be extremely cautious, not daring to use the system's death opportunities lightly.
Now it was peacetime, mission frequency was lower, his strength had increased considerably, and he wasn't as easy to kill.
What he needed to do now was to systematically improve his strength.
Hard training?
Hard training was out of the question. Yōkō had crossed over to enjoy life. Occasionally practicing for a fresh experience was one thing, but grueling training? No.
His free time was already full with Kyōi, Yuka, Purple Cat... full of loopholes, too busy to handle, how could he possibly do hard training.
Using the system to improve was the most suitable method for him.
In the last mission, he had improved the Earth Release: Earth-Style Rising Spears from the Iwa-nin, raising the jutsu from 'Proficient' to 'Mastery'.
After reaching Mastery, the casting speed had improved fundamentally, requiring only one hand seal to release.
To deal with various unexpected situations, Yōkō planned to use this post-war period to acquire all five chakra natures, obtaining at least one mastered jutsu for each nature.
For example, his Absolute Defense: Copper Light was weak against Lightning Release. If he had a single-seal or seal-less Wind Release jutsu to counter Lightning Release, he wouldn't be so afraid of being targeted.
Lightning Release was a plasma jet stream; Wind Release could disrupt Lightning Release jutsu.
Earth Release: Earth-Style Rising Spears already met the requirement.
For Water Release, the Water Release: Water Gun Technique was seal-less, the Water Body Flicker required one seal, but his currently most powerful jutsu, the Water Cutting Wave, required five seals.
In the entire shinobi world, the only person confirmed to have mastered the Water Cutting Wave was Sarutobi Hiruzen. Orochimaru liked to study jutsu, so he might know it too.
What if...
Try it on Sarutobi Hiruzen?
Yōkō noted this idea in his mind. Find an opportunity to have Sarutobi Hiruzen kill him with the Water Cutting Wave; perhaps he could draw a Mastery level Water Release: Water Cutting Wave.
Wind was his third nature, and his jutsu weren't as smooth as Earth and Water Release.
He didn't need Wind Release's killing power, he just needed Wind Release to ensure he had sufficient counter-attack capability when facing Lightning Release users.
His currently relatively proficient Wind Release jutsu was the Great Breakthrough.
He could find a way to go to the Land of Wind and find a Suna-nin skilled in the Great Breakthrough.
As for Fire and Lightning natures, he didn't have them yet.
These two natures were relatively easy to acquire. After gaining the natures, he could slowly develop at least one mastered jutsu.
What level came after 'Mastery' for jutsu, Yōkō didn't know yet, but it should at least be seal-less execution, right?
Yōkō turned his head; a figure subsequently appeared beside him.
Hippo said: "Captain, we have gathered sufficient intelligence on the target.
Uchiha Mahiru, Uchiha clan Tokubetsu Jonin.
He performed outstandingly on the Land of Whirlpools battlefield, once having the achievement of single-handedly holding off a Kiri-nin squadron alone.
He has cumulatively killed over 30 Kiri-nin and is a very powerful Fire Release user.
The deputy commander of the Land of Whirlpools war, Uchiha clan head Uchiha Kane, recommended Uchiha Mahiru for promotion to Jonin.
His strength and mission record are sufficient to become a Jonin.
It's hard to attack him based on his combat achievements and mission record.
However, I found out that Uchiha Mahiru is the responsible Jonin for the Konoha Military Police Force's interrogation department.
I believe we can find a breakthrough point in his interrogation cases, find a stain to attack him, and keep him too busy to deal with us."
Yōkō thought for a moment and said: "Slowly searching for past mistakes in interrogation cases wastes too much time.
The Jonin Commander meeting can be delayed for a month, two months, but definitely not for three months.
We must learn to share our superiors' burdens. Hippo, do you have a better method?"
"Yes!" Hippo said: "It's just a bit... unethical."
Yōkō said: "Unethical? Everything we do is for the Hokage-sama. Can acting for the Hokage-sama be called unethical?
This is sacrifice!
Sacrificing our moral bottom line, enduring the condemnation of our conscience, isn't that also a form of sacrifice?
Tell me, let me see how unethical it is."
Hippo said: "Captain, Root holds quite a few spies from other villages. To have them transmit false information, we don't clear them all out.
I suggest finding a spy from another shinobi village, setting up a case, and having the Military Police Force arrest that spy.
When Uchiha Mahiru interrogates the spy, make the spy die suddenly.
We know it's a spy, but ordinary villagers don't.
At that time, we can create public opinion, saying the Uchiha Military Police Force used excessive force and killed a Konoha villager. This both eliminates the spy and frames Uchiha Mahiru."
Yōkō couldn't help but take another look at Hippo. No wonder Yellow Dog valued this former squadron leader; he was truly unscrupulous.
Seeing the captain look at him, Hippo thought his plan wasn't perfect enough and quickly added:
"Captain, my Akimichi clan has secret medicines. I guarantee the spy will die suddenly within two days of entering the Military Police Force.
I'm confident the Military Police Force absolutely won't be able to detect our Akimichi clan's secret medicine.
After the spy dies suddenly, his body will have blue and purple patches, just like he was beaten to death."
Yōkō nodded repeatedly.
Who would have thought? The chubby, seemingly harmless Akimichi clan actually researched such harmful secret medicines.
Seeing the captain's agreement, Hippo continued:
"Captain, the Senju Tokubetsu Jonin we are investigating is a medical ninja from Konoha Hospital.
I'll get two spies, have the target 'medically kill' the spies, create a medical dispute, leave them unable to argue, and won't our mission be finished quickly?"
Yōkō couldn't help but ask: "The Military Police Force can't discover your secret medicine, I believe that. But can't the Senju medical ninja discover your secret medicine either?"
"I won't use medicine. I'll use some lipids to make the spy die of a heart attack or stroke. Who could possibly detect that?"
The Akimichi clan was skilled at body control and developing secret medicines. Who would have thought they were so adept at causing unexpected deaths?
Truly a clan that had developed their bodies to the extreme.
Lipids weren't even considered poison; they simply couldn't be traced.
Yōkō nodded repeatedly: "Go ahead and do it boldly, Hippo. I believe in you.
After this mission is over, I'll apply for a separate S-rank mission credit for you.
How did I not realize before... you're quite the talent."
***
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(Chapter end)