By the time the Sand ninjas delivered the intelligence to Chiyo, it was already night.
Rewinding to the afternoon.
Konoha. The Ninja Academy, which had entered its vacation period, should have been empty.
But at this moment, a certain classroom was full of people.
They weren't students who hadn't graduated yet, but mostly all-rounder Jonin wearing green flak jackets.
The remaining ones without flak jackets were also all-rounder Jonin, just like Gojo Yoru, who didn't like wearing them.
For example, the Sannin, who took time out of their busy schedules to return for the Jonin Meeting, rarely didn't wear flak jackets or combat armor today.
On the podium, Sarutobi Hiruzen and the two elders sat at a long table, discussing various topics with the Jonin.
Most of these topics were related to the war.
"I have a proposal..."
After another topic ended, Tsunade suddenly stood up. Under everyone's gaze, she said, "I hope to reform the current training system of the Ninja Academy."
Hearing this, everyone's eyes flashed.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, wearing the Hokage hat, said with a serious expression, "Please state your idea, Jonin Tsunade."
"I hope the Ninja Academy can reduce some unnecessary courses and add some elective courses, so that every enrolled student can quickly know their Chakra attributes, cultivate and discover talents based on their interests, and establish clubs where they can have common topics to discuss freely, learn from each other, and grow competitively..."
Tsunade slowly recounted the reform ideas she had perfected after consulting Gojo Yoru multiple times over the past few months.
The Jonin present who came from ordinary backgrounds and relied entirely on talent and hard work to sit here had their eyes growing brighter and brighter.
Orochimaru and Jiraiya looked at Tsunade in surprise, as if knowing this childhood friend for the first time.
What a forward-thinking idea, and it could give students from ordinary and ninja families a chance to get closer to the children of ninja clans.
Only the Jonin from ninja clans who came to represent their patriarchs at this meeting looked a bit ugly.
If Tsunade weren't the granddaughter of the First Hokage and the representative of the Senju of the Forest, they would definitely hold a grudge against her.
The elective course reform proposed by Tsunade was simply trying to break the monopoly of ninja clans on departments.
These ninja clans could always control important positions in these departments because of their Kekkei Genkai and Hiden techniques, innate specialized skills.
Only individual geniuses among commoners were qualified to squeeze into this circle.
And now, Tsunade wanted to help those commoners discover their talents and cultivate their specialized skills right at the Ninja Academy.
It might not affect the status of these ninja clans in the short term, but the long term was uncertain.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at Tsunade, his face expressionless, but his heart filled with surprise.
Tsunade's proposal was simply enlightening to him.
Although this reform would also affect the rule of Sarutobi Hiruzen's and the Council of Elders' families, it could further consolidate his position as Hokage and allow Konoha's civilian ninjas to rise rapidly.
He could also insert some exceptionally talented seedlings into certain departments, slowly forming factions to divide the power of those ninja clans.
If another Ninja World War broke out, he wouldn't need to look at the faces of those ninja clans anymore.
Sarutobi Hiruzen made a decision instantly.
But on the surface, his expression and gaze remained unchanged.
After Tsunade finished speaking, Sarutobi Hiruzen scanned the classroom and asked, "What do you all think?"
"I agree with Tsunade-sama's proposal."
A young man with silver-white long hair wearing a green flak jacket stood up and said.
As the first person to agree, he successfully attracted Tsunade's gaze.
But Tsunade only glanced at him, smiled, and withdrew her gaze.
No one was more confident in this proposal than her, especially on today's occasion. Even if Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted to protect the interests of the ninja clans, he couldn't stop it at all.
"Seconded."
"Seconded."
"I agree too."
"..."
Including Jiraiya and Orochimaru, Jonin raised their hands to vote one by one.
Today's Jonin Meeting mainly discussed matters related to the war. Tsunade's proposal was purely unexpected.
The patriarchs of ninja clans not participating in the war only sent a representative Jonin.
There were only a few ninja clans in Konoha, and the number of Jonin they occupied barely exceeded double digits.
Because the representatives of the Council of Elders' families were all at that long table.
The rest of the Jonin came from ordinary and ninja families.
They knew very well how hard their journey was; becoming Konoha's higher-ups relied entirely on talent and luck.
But their good talent didn't mean their descendants would also have excellent talent.
Once Tsunade's proposal passed, the beneficiaries would be their descendants. How could these Jonin object?
It was an overwhelming victory!
Seeing the vast majority of Jonin vote in favor, a smile finally appeared on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face: "Since everyone chooses to agree, this old man will also adopt the opinion to reform the Ninja Academy's training system and implement it as soon as possible."
"Does anyone have other topics or proposals?"
By the time the Jonin Meeting ended, it was already dusk.
Jonin walked out of the Ninja Academy as if school was out.
Some Jonin didn't linger in the village, preparing to rush back to the border today.
As commanders, the Sannin walked slowly towards the izakaya.
This attitude was completely opposite to a few months ago.
Because... Tsunade had developed the antidote formula.
Taking advantage of the probing period and tug-of-war in these few months, Konoha had established several production lines and manufactured a large amount of antidote.
Although it couldn't cover the three battle lines yet, the battle line responsible for confronting the Land of Rain already had several bottles of antidote per person.
Unless Hanzo the Salamander went to other battle lines to ally with the Land of Wind and Land of Earth, or fought against these two countries and the Land of Fire simultaneously, attacking the border base no longer held the nearly invincible strategic deterrence of a few months ago.
From the beginning of the year until now, the war had lasted for more than eight months.
With the efforts of reconnaissance teams and Anbu, the fact that the Salamander needed five minutes to refill its poison gas was no longer a secret known only to Sunagakure.
Hanzo the Salamander had lost the power to fight a country alone.
No longer needing to flee upon seeing the Demigod of the Ninja World, the Sannin could finally breathe a sigh of relief, handing over the task of maintaining the border base's operation to the command team.
This allowed them to return to attend the Jonin Meeting.
"Where's the Yoru kid?"
Walking on the way to the izakaya, the Sannin happened to pass by Gojo Yoru's house.
Glancing at the small Western-style house with no lights on and no Chakra fluctuations, Tsunade, who originally wanted to invite him to dinner to celebrate, looked at Orochimaru beside her.
Looking closely, one would find that Tsunade's appearance now had changed slightly compared to a few months ago.
A few months ago, Tsunade either wore combat armor heavier than a green flak jacket or just a white shirt.
Her light blonde long hair was often tied into a large ponytail.
Now, Tsunade still wore a white shirt but had a dark blue cardigan over it, and her hairstyle had become long and straight.
Her address for Gojo Yoru also changed from "Gojo brat" to "Yoru brat," and now to "Yoru," just like Orochimaru.
Clearly, after months of consultation, their relationship had become that of acquaintances.
But the biggest change was a faint blue-purple rhombus mark on Tsunade's forehead, the embryonic form of the soon-to-be-completed Yin Seal.
Tsunade only started cultivating the Yin Seal in these few months with Gojo Yoru's suggestion and help.
In less than four months, relying on the Senju Clan's massive Chakra, the knowledge of a medical sage, and the experience provided by Gojo Yoru, Tsunade surpassed Gojo Yoru's year of effort.
Once Tsunade completely mastered the Yin Seal, her appearance would be fixed at this most beautiful stage for girls, possessing the lingering charm of youth and the first bloom of maturity, for decades to come.
Because... in the original work, Tsunade hadn't cultivated the Yin Seal even after the Second Great Ninja War ended.
By the time she mastered it, she had long passed this golden blooming period.
Hearing Tsunade's question, Orochimaru smiled faintly: "He went on a secret mission a few days ago after sending us back."
"What mission?"
Tsunade and Jiraiya looked at Orochimaru curiously.
"I said it's a secret, how would I know?" Orochimaru was rarely rendered speechless but gave a vague answer, "Sarutobi-sensei hinted that if this mission is perfectly successful, it will be a Super S-rank mission merit, allowing him to exchange for a technique from the Scroll of Seals or the Forbidden Jutsu library. If not, it's just a very ordinary B-rank mission."
"Super S-rank mission?"
Both widened their eyes, and Jiraiya said in disbelief: "He's only a Tokubetsu Jonin. Sarutobi-sensei sent him on a mission of this level? Does he want him to infiltrate a major ninja village to assassinate a Kage, or assassinate a Jinchuriki and commander?"
Just as S-rank Ninjutsu were recognized as the highest level, but techniques like the Flying Thunder God Technique and Spirit Transformation Technique were also known as Super S-rank Ninjutsu...
S-rank missions also had missions that, while still classified as S-rank, were actually known as Super S-rank.
Such missions were more dangerous than S-rank missions, not only endangering the executor's life but potentially involving the ninja village or even the entire country. Usually, only Kage and Kage candidates had the ability to execute and complete them.
"I said, only perfect success counts as a Super S-rank mission; it's not as serious as you say." Orochimaru was full of confidence in Gojo Yoru. "Besides, with his ability and personality, are you still worried something will happen to him?"
"Haha... true. That kid is so cautious; he absolutely won't touch anything he's not confident about." Jiraiya scratched the back of his head and laughed loudly.
Tsunade put her hands in her coat pockets, a beautiful smile appearing on her face.
...
Early morning.
The Land of Rain was still covered by dark clouds, with rain falling in many areas.
Next door in the Land of Rivers, it was dead silent at night; even the forest animals had entered a sleeping state.
Today was August 16th, with a full moon hanging high.
Moonlight spread like a silvery-white curtain over the dense vegetation and mountains.
Swish swish swish...
Black blurs flew through the mountains.
The sound of breaking air was minimal, Chakra control astonishingly precise, like ghosts merging into the darkness.
After an unknown amount of time, these figures successively merged into the darkness, as if hiding using the Hiding Technique or disappearing into thin air.
Inside a mountain, there was an artificially excavated cave, currently lit by dim lights.
Inside stood more than fifty ninjas wearing Anbu attire and animal masks; it was unclear if they were real Anbu or fake.
Among these Anbu was Ebizo without any disguise.
As all Anbu members returned, a member who was obviously the captain knelt on one knee to report: "Ebizo-sama, after three hours of investigation, it is confirmed that there are no traces of artificially excavated caves or barriers in the mountains and underground within a twenty-kilometer radius of that area."
"No one within twenty kilometers?" Ebizo finally changed his expression, his eyes filled with disbelief. "Could it be that someone in the Hyuga Clan has broken through the limit recorded in intelligence for long-range vision and can see beyond twenty kilometers? Or is it really just a coincidence?"
The ninjas he brought were the elite of the elite.
There were dark lines he had cultivated for years, high-level combatants whose intelligence hadn't been exposed in the war yet, and Anbu members directly under the Kazekage.
Everyone either possessed powerful combat power or special abilities, being top-notch in their respective fields.
With their joint investigation, even barrier experts, Earth Body Flicker experts, and even Transparent Release ninjas would have nowhere to hide.
If even they couldn't find a problem, it meant there really was no problem.
The more there were no problems, the more suspicious Ebizo became.
Thus, cautious as he was, he thought for a moment and suddenly spoke: "Shinta, Hik, use Earth Body Flicker to infiltrate there, then have Shadow Clones use the Unsealing Technique to open the two super-large scrolls to check if there are strategic materials inside and if there are Flying Thunder God formulas."
"If there are no problems, bring those two scrolls back and notify us."
"During this process, remember not to expose your main bodies, and do not make contact with that squad. Their scent might have already been marked; maybe even barriers can't isolate it."
Ebizo thought of the Aburame Clan.
That clan possessed an endangered insect called the Bikochu, which had a sense of smell a thousand times stronger than ninja dogs and could track any specific scent it had come into contact with.
If Konoha used that kind of insect, they must have already captured the scent of that ninja squad and could know their location even from twenty kilometers away.
"Yes."
The Anbu named Shinta and Hik bowed respectfully, then slowly sank into the ground.
When their heads completely disappeared into the ground, the Anbu sitting cross-legged in the four corners of the cave maintaining hand seals suddenly changed a seal, restoring it in less than a second.
About an hour and a half later, an Anbu maintaining the barrier suddenly spoke: "Ebizo-sama, they're back."
"How is it?"
"Chakra aura and intensity haven't changed; it's Shinta and Hik's main bodies."
"Let them in."
"Yes."
As the hand seals changed again, Shinta and Hik's figures soon emerged from the ground.
On their backs, hanging at their waists, were super-large scrolls standing upright, almost as tall as them.
Shinta said excitedly: "Ebizo-sama, the scrolls indeed contain strategic weapons. According to the Shadow Clone inspection, there are no Flying Thunder God formulas on the supplies inside."
Hearing this, a smile appeared on Ebizo's face: "Very good..."
Before he could say the next words, a voice reached his ears.
"Indeed very good. I didn't expect it to be you, old schemer!"
His pupils instinctively began to constrict, approaching the size of pinholes.
His expression also changed from joy to horror.
But whether it was the pupils or the expression change, the process was so slow.
Like... space-time freezing.
Then in Ebizo's vision, the cave barely lit by dim lights suddenly had black lines appear, faintly surrounded by black electric arcs.
These lines also curved like electric arcs, spreading in all directions.
Like an artist holding a pencil, drawing barely connectable wavy lines on a motionless cartoon character.
Only these wavy lines all had black electric arc effects added.
The lines spread to the end of Ebizo's vision, which was also the end of one side of the cave, before stopping.
There, a figure stood at some point, surrounded by wisps of black electric arcs, holding a katana that was black in both hilt and blade.
This katana was also surrounded by black electric arcs, as if covered by black Lightning Release nature transformation.
The figure turned around, facing Ebizo.
The turning speed was normal. Ebizo's vision began to tilt left and right, gradually invaded by darkness.
Before his vision blurred and was invaded by darkness, Ebizo saw that the Anbu on his left and right, where the black lines had just passed, had separated from their bodies. The cut surfaces were smooth and straight, with no blood spurting yet.
As if... not physically cut, but decomposed by the power of rules.
Before his consciousness completely dissipated, Ebizo didn't think of his sister but had a sudden realization.
So... it wasn't space-time freezing, but his neural reflex speed was too slow, and the opponent's speed was too fast, causing him to be minced before his expression could even change.
Like him, there were the surrounding Anbu.
Too late to think and analyze what that power was, Ebizo's soul went to the Pure Land.
With him, there were exactly fifty Anbu members standing in two rows around him, occupying most of the cave's space.
Looking at Ebizo-sama and their companions turning into minced meat in the next second after reporting good news, the four Anbu sitting cross-legged in the four corners of the cave, responsible for maintaining the barrier, were the only ones present who completed their expression changes.
But their reaction was similarly not very good.
Or rather, they were scared silly.
When four kunai enlarged in their vision, they finally recovered their senses, but it was too late.
Swish—
A black flash and a wisp of black electric arc flashed past their eyes.
The heads of the four Anbu fell to the ground almost simultaneously, rolling a few times.
If their masks were removed, one would find their expressions still in the previous state of shock.
Looking at the minced corpses all over the ground, Gojo Yoru held the bloodless Chakra blade, a smile of excitement gradually appearing on his face. Combined with the surrounding black electric arcs, he looked like a grinning murderous demon.
"Damn, that felt so good! Waiting for half a day wasn't in vain!"
Gojo Yoru suddenly cursed, swinging the Chakra blade in his hand forcefully a few times.
If not for the minced corpses all over the ground, he would have wanted to dance around on the spot to release his excitement.
No choice, the slashing felt too good!
Using the Dimensional Slash in a narrow space packed with people was an opportunity hard to come by.
Since developing the Dimensional Slash, Gojo Yoru didn't know how many times he had dreamed of this, and now the dream finally became reality.
And these guys, all wearing animal masks, seemed to be Anbu experts. The lineup was even more luxurious than in Gojo Yoru's dreams.
Just now, using intangibility and Earth Body Flicker to secretly follow the two Anbu members and confirming it was full of experts, Gojo Yoru didn't hesitate at all. He directly unsealed the Space-Time Yin Seal, not only using intangibility and Dimensional Slash but also merging Space-Time Chakra with Lightning Release Chakra, increasing his soundless speed to the extreme.
This pleasure of using his strongest state to instantly kill a group of experts made Gojo Yoru tremble with excitement.
Especially since he had been tailing that squad of Tokubetsu Jonin from the Land of Fire to the Land of Rivers since daytime. If not for the supplies being "marked," and having told Sarutobi Hiruzen his plan before departure, receiving his approval and encouragement, as well as being able to request support at any time to minimize losses even if an accident occurred, Gojo Yoru wouldn't have dared to be so bold.
Even so, it brought considerable pressure to Gojo Yoru.
Fortunately, the plan went very smoothly, and that squad finally put the supplies in the secret base.
During the stakeout, Gojo Yoru teleported away countless times to recover Space-Time Chakra, his emotions accumulating every moment.
Now, this ultimate slash, swung out with Gojo Yoru's long-accumulated emotions, brought double pleasure, making him feel that the affairs between men and women in his previous life seemed like nothing in comparison.
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