Chapter 116: Homecoming Makoto Single-Handedly Roasts Konoha
[However, Ōnoki still needed to solve one problem: when exactly had you defected to Iwagakure, and how did he not know about it? Ōnoki didn't like being a scapegoat, so he mobilized the entire village to find a trace of you.]
[On your end, you had actually already encountered Iwagakure search parties. But with a sensory expert like Kurenai Yūhi and your Flying Thunder God Technique, no one could catch you when you wanted to hide.]
[During this time, you also tried to find any possible traces of Zetsu. With the commotion you had caused, the other party would likely come to gather intelligence on you. Regrettably, you did not discover Zetsu's presence, which made you realize you still lacked the means to find him.]
Seeing this, Makoto sighed. His simulated self was indeed cautious enough. He had just finished his duel with Danzō after leaving Konoha, and the next second, he was already thinking about Obito and the Akatsuki. But this was something he had to consider. After the real Chūnin Exams, he would likely be leaving Konoha to develop on his own. It seemed that in order to find Zetsu, he would have to rely on the sensory abilities of Sage Mode.
[As time went on, the signs of Anko's pregnancy became more and more obvious. Your spiritual trauma has basically recovered. It is time to meet with Ōnoki and lay your cards on the table. You signal to Anko, who drops her disguise, and you are immediately discovered by Iwagakure ninja.]
Makoto looked at the text, not particularly concerned about the outcome of this trip to Iwa, because the moment Anko gave birth would be the end of the simulation. No matter how hard he tried, it was impossible for him to establish a firm foothold in Iwagakure within a year, let alone learn Ōnoki's ultimate technique, Dust Release. What's more, he was still missing the Wind Release chakra nature affinity required for it.
The rest would be left to fate. In any case, he had already obtained the intelligence he wanted most.
[You are quickly brought outside Iwagakure, where Ōnoki is waiting for you. To your surprise, the three of you are not subjected to any searches or inspections. Ōnoki simply sets up a table and begins to chat with you.]
[Ōnoki tells you that he doesn't mind you using Iwa as a shield. Iwagakure is happy to take the blame for any black pot that makes Konoha lose face. However, as the price for staying in Iwa, you need to tell him what you are thinking.]
[Are you going to join Iwagakure, and will the two kunoichi with you also join? After you join, will you seek revenge on Konoha? If a war breaks out between the two villages in the future, how much effort will you contribute?]
Makoto marveled. This was Ōnoki, conducting an interview with the three of them directly. If this had been Danzō, he would have definitely subjected them to a full internal and external physical and mental examination, and finally, read all three of their memories before he could rest easy. And not only would Danzō do that, Hiruzen Sarutobi would probably agree to it, claiming he didn't know and that it was all the fault of the "Darkness of Shinobi."
Of course, Makoto knew that if he "joined" Iwagakure, he would definitely be thoroughly inspected. But the difference between being told upfront and not was the difference between a gentleman's bearing and a villain's treachery.
[You reply to Ōnoki that the three of you can indeed join Iwagakure. When facing enemies outside of Konoha, you can go all out. If facing Konoha, you will not harm people you know, because you were forced out by Danzō and do not hold a deep hatred for the village itself.]
[This condition was one the three of you had slowly discussed and agreed upon during your month of rough living on the run, and it did not exceed Ōnoki's expectations. Ōnoki then makes a request: if Iwa and Konoha go to war in the future, you may be responsible for the assassination of Konoha's upper management.]
[You don't have to kill them, but you must show the attitude of killing them, and you must dare to capture and harm those you are familiar with. The pressure is now on you, but after a moment's hesitation, you choose to agree. After all, you feel no pressure about harming Konoha's upper management.]
[After some discussion, Ōnoki agrees to let you join, but you must first pass a one-month observation period. The three of you readily agree and follow him back to Iwagakure, where you are placed in a detached building.]
[You are free to move about and can even familiarize yourselves with the village environment accompanied by Iwa ninja, but you cannot leave their sight and must subject yourselves to questioning and supplemental intelligence briefings at any time. You still choose to accept all of this.]
Seeing this, Makoto let out a breath. Defecting from Konoha and joining Iwa had succeeded just like that. The whole process and difficulty were much simpler than he had anticipated. But he knew this was only because of the benefits his sufficient strength and his youth brought. With the ninjutsu he now possessed, he was a guaranteed Kage-level powerhouse in the future—an enhanced version of the Yellow Flash.
Plus, he had brought two strong kunoichi with him, one of whom was already pregnant. If his child was born in Iwagakure, as long as the village and his child formed a strong enough bond, then he would be 100% rooted there. This was what a truly clear-headed old politician would do. When a straightforward strategy could solve the problem, why must one use conspiracies and tricks?
[The three of you slowly acclimate to life in Iwa. At the same time, you continue your research and study of spiritual energy, trying to minimize the damage you would suffer when facing powerful genjutsu in the future. After your defection to Iwa is confirmed, Hiruzen Sarutobi is so angry he coughs up blood.]
[Danzō, furthermore, locks himself completely within Root headquarters, refusing to meet or communicate with anyone, and applies sealing jutsu to everything around him, terrified that you might assassinate him at any moment. This also leads to Hiruzen only being able to speak to him from a distance, making him even more dissatisfied with Danzō.]
[To display its national strength, Konoha decides to hold the joint Chūnin Exams with the Sand Village as scheduled. Upon learning this, you receive your first mission in Iwagakure: to return to Konoha and investigate the exam.]
[You know very well that this is Ōnoki's probe and test of you. You have Kurenai help you look after Anko, and then return to Konoha alone. When you appear brazenly in the village, everyone is shocked by your boldness, and the alarms are sounded to capture you.]
[Hiruzen personally leads a team. Kakashi, Guy, and numerous other Jōnin surround you. You even see the girls you are familiar with, who are looking at you with sad eyes. Facing this formation, you open your mouth and ask: "Hokage, your son is dead. Why aren't you even a little angry?"]
The real Makoto couldn't help but laugh out loud. He was truly curious about this question. In any case, he just couldn't understand Hiruzen's tolerance for Danzō. Tolerating this guy who had tried to assassinate him and continuing to work with him was one thing. But now that Danzō was clearly a liability, why was he still protecting him? Danzō had killed Asuma this time!
[Hiruzen refutes your words, placing the blame for Asuma's death on your head, and leads the team to attack you. After a great battle, they are shocked to discover that this is just one of your shadow clones.]
[The next second, a new shadow clone of yours arrives. Still greeting everyone as if he were just coming home, showing no aggression, but merely ridiculing Hiruzen and counting off Danzō's deeds.]
[The Uchiha clan massacre; stealing Shisui Uchiha's Sharingan; grafting Sharingan and Hashirama cells to create his arm; the failed assassination of the Third Hokage, and this time, killing Asuma; instructing Orochimaru to conduct human experiments and then forcing him to defect; designing a plot to force Sakumo Hatake to suicide because he was too successful; colluding with the Cloud Village to attack the Hyūga clan because they were not subservient enough...]
[Much of what you say has no hard proof and even falls into the realm of Konoha conspiracy theories. But Danzō has done so much that these conspiracy theories have fertile ground to grow. Hiruzen tries again and again to interrupt you, but how can the number of times he attacks compare to the number of your shadow clones?]
[You have casually placed dozens of Flying Thunder God marks throughout Konoha. Every time a shadow clone returns, it can easily place a few more. Unless Konoha seals every inch of land, no one can stop you from coming home.]
Makoto laughed loudly. "Homecoming" Makoto had actually become a reality! Only this time, he wasn't just "coming home" to deal with Danzō, but to roast all of Konoha along with him! Just thinking of himself standing on the street, verbally assaulting all of Konoha's upper management, he felt utterly refreshed.
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