Why Go Through So Much Trouble to Issue a Mission? Why Not Just Find Hiruzen Sarutobi and Explain?

As the team got closer to the coast, there were fewer and fewer traces of people around, and the nearby villages appeared quite dilapidated.

"Huh? Why is it like this here?"

Looking at the dilapidated scene around him, Naruto couldn't help but ask in confusion.

"This place was once a port belonging to the Land of Fire to the Land of Whirlpools, which can be considered proof of the treaty."

Kenzaburo adjusted his glasses and spoke.

"Professor, should we go over there?" Hagoromo glanced at the coastline of the Land of Whirlpools shrouded in mist, then turned to Kenzaburo.

"No need. My purpose in coming here is actually to find a location in this area."

Kenzaburo shook his head and pointed to a village not far away, saying, "That's actually a village that the Land of Whirlpools established back then."

Hagoromo looked over, realizing he really didn't know the details, though he did know that the Land of Fire had given the Land of Whirlpools a location.

But why would the Land of Whirlpools build a village in this location?

This is almost unfathomable.

"Advance in battle formation from now on."

Hagoromo adjusted the bandage on her wrist and looked at Hinata, saying, "Hinata, keep your Byakugan active. Naruto Sasuke, keep watch on both sides."

"As for the professor, he can follow behind me."

Kenzaburo quickly nodded in response, "No problem, I'll follow your instructions."

Naruto and Sasuke exchanged a glance, then nodded earnestly and said, "Yes, teacher!"

With that, they each stood beside Kenzaburo, and the group headed towards their destination with wary expressions.

Hmm--

The sea breeze howled as it swept across the dilapidated buildings.

As you enter the village, a musty smell gradually fills the air, and the location itself shrouds the entire village in a thin mist.

Upon reaching the center of the village, Kenzaburo quickened his pace, bypassing Hagoromo, and surveyed the scene before him.

His eyes revealed the fervent enthusiasm unique to scholars.

Hagoromo made a gesture, Hinata nodded before continuing to observe her surroundings.

Sasuke and Naruto moved to Kenzaburo's side, their positions perfectly blocking the blind spot Kenzaburo had exposed.

Kenzaburo, ignoring everything around him, took out a ruler and notebook from his worn-out leather bag, bent down, and began to brush away the sand covering the stone tablet in front of him.

"Yes! This is it!"

"Finally found it!"

Muttering to himself, Kenzaburo's hands didn't stop moving as he began to carefully measure the stone tablet in front of him.

He opened the notebook in his hand, revealing the densely packed text inside, and began to compare them one by one.

He kept muttering to himself, which left Naruto completely baffled.

What's in front of Naruto is just a rock; even if it has writing on it, there's no need to be so fascinated by it, right?

However, Hagoromo's gaze remained fixed on Kenzaburo in front of her.

This guy, while keeping records, always seems to be calculating something.

However, Hagoromo did not make any unusual moves, but simply instructed Sasuke and Naruto to stay close to Kenzaburo, no matter what he was doing.

At least they're all here, unless Kenzaburo in front of them is a highly skilled ninja.

Just as they were about to reach a boulder, Hinata Hagoromo Hagoromo.

Seeing her teacher's gaze, Hinata whispered, "Teacher, the area of rocks ahead seems to be... empty underneath."

Hagoromo raised an eyebrow. So, this is what Kenzaburo was looking for?

Kenzaburo also arrived at the location Hinata had mentioned, and his eyes suddenly lit up as he looked at the boulder beneath his feet.

"This is it..."

"The professor is referring to the secret chamber hidden beneath this place?" Hagoromo walked slowly to Kenzaburo's side and asked.

Kenzaburo was taken aback, and a look of panic involuntarily appeared on his face.

He had indeed forgotten that Hagoromo and the others were beside him; he had been so engrossed in his thoughts that he had blurted it out unconsciously.

He quickly forced a smile and said, "Yes, I found it. I can enter myself now, sir."

"The secret room below is my next research area; it needs to be kept confidential."

Hagoromo Yi shook her head. Had this guy really gone mad from studying so much?

Or do you feel that using the name of a powerful figure would make you hesitant to act rashly?

"Teacher, this is somewhat similar to the markings on the weapons carried by the group of people we encountered before."

Sasuke, and it was precisely because it was broken that Sasuke observe that it resembled a mark that had been deliberately erased.

After taking Hagoromo and glancing at it, Hagoromo looked directly at Kenzaburo in front of him and said:

"Professor, what's going on?"

Kenzaburo stared at the seashell in Hagoromo's hand, his face turning deathly pale. He murmured, "They found this place first?"

"No, this level of weathering suggests it's from a very long time ago."

Hagoromo frowned. He had initially thought that the group was the same one as Kenzaburo in front of him.

Based on the current situation, is that not the case?

"Professor, I think you need to give us a clearer explanation, otherwise Konoha has the right to abandon this mission directly."

"What exactly do you want with this secret room?"

Kenzaburo gripped the worn-out leather bag tightly, his expression constantly shifting.

After a long while, he finally looked up at Hagoromo and said, "Lord Sawada, you are a disciple of the Third Hokage."

Can I trust you?

Hagoromo raised an eyebrow. So that's why Kenzaburo had that expression when he first heard his name?

"The ninjas of Konoha, I think they deserve your trust, Professor?"

Hagoromo countered with a question, after all, he had commissioned the daimyo to issue this kind of mission to Konoha.

Doesn't that already show that Kenzaburo believes in Konoha?

"No, it's different. I believe in the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi."

To this, Kenzaburo unexpectedly shook his head and said something else entirely.

Konoha wasn't someone he trusted, but the old man was?

"Ah, I can guarantee that, and this mission was personally assigned to me by the Third Hokage." Hagoromo didn't dwell on it too much.

He said it in a solemn tone.

"I know that I used the Daimyo's name to commission Konoha to take on this mission so that the Third Hokage would notice something amiss."

"In that case, he will definitely send someone he trusts to carry out this mission."

Kenzaburo nodded and explained why he needed to issue the mission through the daimyo's name.

Hagoromo rubbed her temples. What kind of situation is this?

This guy in front of me could even guess the old man's reaction and response clearly. But what if Kenzaburo was someone Hiruzen Sarutobi knew?

At least, it wouldn't have to be like this now.

Why go through all this trouble to issue a quest? Why not just find Hiruzen Sarutobi and explain?