Regarding the rumors about Hatake Sakumo, Sarutobi Hiruzen said:
"Slashing through dozens of Tailed Beast Balls with one strike is indeed false, but it's very talkable.
Tailed Beasts are legendary disaster-level giant beasts. The villagers neither understand Tailed Beasts nor Hatake Sakumo.
Linking Tailed Beasts and Hatake Sakumo together has promoted Hatake Sakumo's fame among the Konoha villagers.
Fox, arrange for your squad to secretly spread rumors that the Two-Tails Jinchūriki, Ryūjin, defeated Hatake Sakumo.
Say that he was driven away by Ryūjin. We cannot let the rumors about Hatake Sakumo spiral out of control."
"Yes!"
Yōkō thought to himself, would the villagers believe rumors of Hatake Sakumo's failure spread at this point?
In the villagers' hearts, comparing Hatake Sakumo to legendary beings like Tailed Beasts was itself an endorsement of him.
"Have your subordinates handle the rumor matter. Fox, there's another task." Sarutobi Hiruzen said:
"You will accompany Orochimaru to the Land of Lightning tomorrow to gather intelligence on the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, B."
"Yes!"
Leaders were always like this. Once you got a job, it was yours from then on, never reassigned.
Because Yōkō obtained intelligence on Kumogakure's Jinchūriki at the Land of Earth outpost fortress, he was now unlucky; all missions related to Kumogakure's Jinchūriki were his.
In the original story, Orochimaru once caused the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki B to run amok; could it be this time?
Orochimaru, seeking eternal life and fearing death, had maxed out his survival skills. In battles he could survive, Yōkō...
Coincidentally, Yōkō was also very afraid of death and had maxed out his survival skills.
Danzo suddenly spoke: "Root will also send someone. Let Hei go along."
Yōkō acted very confused: "Isn't Lord Orochimaru a Root ninja himself?"
Danzo's pupils slowly moved, gradually turning to look at Yōkō.
Yōkō quickly lowered his head; he had been a bit rash.
Had Orochimaru left Root without him knowing?
Or had Orochimaru returned to Sarutobi Hiruzen's side, becoming distant from Danzo?
The identity of Root's Kō was important, but compared to the position of Fourth Hokage, it was worthless.
Sarutobi Hiruzen said: "Fox, Orochimaru is still Root's Kō. But let Hei accompany you as well."
Yōkō left the Hokage's office.
After returning to the Anbu, Yōkō found his three squad leaders and said to them:
"Recently, strange rumors praising Hatake Sakumo have appeared in the village. These rumors have spread too widely.
The three squads are to secretly spread new rumors in various places.
Say that Hatake Sakumo was defeated by Kumogakure's Two-Tails Jinchūriki, Ryūjin, and that it was Hatake Sakumo who fled in the end."
The three squad leaders accepted the order and left.
Yōkō thought to himself, the seeds of prestige had been slowly planted. Trying to counter them with rumors now was already too late.
He entered Yellow Dog's office.
Seeing Fox wasn't holding a mission scroll, Yellow Dog knew he wasn't here to report on a task. "What is it, Fox?"
"Chief, I saw in our Anbu intelligence that Root's Tei and Bo died?"
"Yes, both of them are dead." Yellow Dog put down the pen in his hand, his tone serious:
"There is a Fire Release master who has been targeting Konoha since the war ended.
Shimura Sumi and Sarutobi Yutaka, two elites on the verge of promotion to Jōnin, died at the hands of that Fire Release master.
Root's Tei and Bo also died by that person's hand.
The remaining Root ninja, the Golden Eagle squad, are putting all their effort into searching for intelligence on that person, but unfortunately, they have found nothing.
Tei and Bo were two skilled members of Root. Tei could have even been competent for the position of Anbu squad leader, replacing Lynx.
Who would have thought Tei would die just like that."
The Golden Eagle squad leader was a Hyūga clan Jōnin. So, he was the one following up on the subsequent investigation. This reminded Yōkō to be careful of Golden Eagle during future actions.
As for why Tei died, there was now one more reason: What level was Tei, to think he could be an Anbu squad leader?
"Another thing, Chief. I've been assigned a mission to investigate intelligence on the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki B. The round trip will take at least a month."
"Hmm, I'll see the mission scroll from the Hokage's Office. Understood."
The Hatake Household.
Kakashi rushed home excitedly.
"Dad! The neighbors are all praising you! They say you can fight Tailed Beasts. Dad, what are Tailed Beasts?"
Hatake Sakumo's expression was complex; he didn't know who was building momentum for him. He explained to Kakashi:
"Tailed Beasts are aggregates of chakra, immortal disaster-level giant beasts.
If the neighbors praise me again later, just say it's all rumors, not to be believed, and that I'm not that powerful."
"Okay." Kakashi agreed verbally but was secretly happy in his heart.
He wouldn't go denying those rumors. His father was the most powerful ninja in all of Konoha.
Not long after, Yamashiro-dera and others arrived at Hatake Sakumo's home.
Hatake Sakumo asked them: "The Third Hokage summoned me and asked me about the rumors. It wasn't you spreading them, was it?"
They all denied it.
They wouldn't do such a thing; it was easy to leave evidence, and the village was just looking for an excuse to deal with them.
Gekkō Sō said: "Sakumo, I think the rumors are quite good. Although they don't match the facts and are exaggerated, the villagers in the village are very interested in this topic. Your recognition has instantly increased a lot."
Yamashiro-dera nodded repeatedly: "Indeed. Even my civilian neighbors, who know nothing about ninja besides the Hokage, have heard the name Konoha's White Fang."
Hatake Sakumo sighed and said: "The village was already wary of me. I'm just afraid the village doesn't want to see these rumors."
Gekkō Sō said: "Once rumors spread, they can't be taken back. The Hokage Building can control ninja, but can it control what ordinary villagers talk about?"
Before leaving the village, Yōkō came to the orphanage one last time and used his telescope to check the day's menu at the orphanage.
"Huh? Root's Ki and Kō are about to leave the village for the Land of Iron?"
Yakushi Nonō's intelligence was crucial; more information on Root members.
Danzo's subordinates, no matter how few, were never too few.
You, Danzo, always hide behind the scenes, letting your loyal subordinates test the waters for you.
By killing enough of your loyal subordinates, you will eventually be forced to step onto the stage yourself one day, and then there will be a chance to deal with Danzo.
That night, Yōkō relayed the message about Ki and Kō heading to the Land of Iron to Yūka via the Stone Panda.
In the scroll, he cautioned Yūka that since Root's Tei and Bo had been assassinated, they would certainly be on guard, so the preliminary reconnaissance needed to be even more careful.
The next morning, Orochimaru, Yōkō, and Root's Hei left the village together.
Just after leaving the village, Hei said: "Lord Orochimaru, once we enter the Land of Lightning, I will immediately contact the spy for you. The spy will bring the latest intelligence on B."
Orochimaru didn't say anything. Instead, he turned to Yōkō and said: "Fox, regarding this mission, do you have any tactics?"
Yōkō was very surprised. Why was Orochimaru suddenly valuing him so much? And even asking for his opinion?
***
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(End of Chapter)