The Most Powerful Men

Kaedeji had remained utterly calm from beginning to end. Even after becoming an object of pity, his heart had not stirred in the slightest.

"When part of my palm was cut off, I lost quite a bit of blood... The wound could also expose me to more germs. If I'm unlucky, I might come down with another illness."

These were the things running through Kaedeji's mind instead.

As for being unable to form hand seals... what a joke. In his eyes, it did not even count as a problem.

Corpse Manipulation essentially used his Chakra as a medium to inflict the Zombie Virus upon a target. Even if he could not form all sorts of flashy hand seals, it would not hinder him from continuously displaying his strength.

If there was any impact, it might affect his ability to develop other Chakra natures and master the corresponding ninjutsu. But why should he go to such lengths to learn ninjutsu of different natures?

He could simply preserve zombies with different Chakra natures, then have specific zombies perform specific ninjutsu whenever needed.

Most importantly, Kaedeji had long planned to replace this native body. This Earthling body of his was ultimately destined to be sealed away permanently.

Losing two fingers? Losing the ability to develop more ninjutsu? Becoming someone others pitied?

None of that mattered.

"Without realizing it, I've become qualified to receive the concern of a ninja on Yakushi Nonō's level... That's an incredible improvement."

Kaedeji silently mused before saying to Yakushi Nonō, "Director, your injuries are more serious than mine. You should hurry back and rest. Obtaining valuable intelligence from a Great Ninja Village like Sunagakure must have cost you dearly. A meritorious contributor like you is the one who truly deserves better treatment."

Yakushi Nonō said, "The village also has several human experimentation projects, and Root is one of the departments leading them. I can go speak with Danzō..."

"Director, this isn't something I should be hearing, and you don't need to go that far. As an outstanding ninja, I have already prepared myself mentally to face my fate. I don't feel depressed or hopeless over this. I was an ordinary person to begin with, and I never displayed much talent in all those past years," Kaedeji interrupted.

Yakushi Nonō fell silent for a moment, then said firmly, "You may not want it, but Root cannot simply give you nothing. This mission was originally issued by Aburame Ryoma, and it should have been Root's mission. Yet you were dragged into it."

What an excessively compassionate person. Who would have thought someone like this was a top-tier spy... Still, this was indeed an unexpected gain.

At this point in time, many of Konoha's human experimentation projects were only just beginning. It was only after the Second Great Ninja War ended, when every village began preparing for the Third Great Ninja War, that all manner of dangerous experimental projects would be launched on a large scale.

Sunagakure's Human Puppets, Konoha's First Hokage's Cells transplantation experiments, and Kumogakure's Heavenly Transfer Technique all received unprecedented attention during the peaceful period between the Second Great Ninja War and the Third Great Ninja War, all in order to rapidly enhance their villages' military strength.

Kaedeji did not expect to obtain First Hokage's Cells in one step, but this was at least a breakthrough.

With the special talent he had displayed and his dealings with corpses, he was destined never to become a little sun like Minato Namikaze, praised and worshipped by the entire village. Perhaps after the Second Great Ninja War ended, his particular traits would make him more likely to be selected to participate in various forbidden experiments.

As long as he did not end up as disposable material lying on the operating table, it was fine.

"The most perfect body would naturally be one cultivated from First Hokage's Cells. But it would be impossible for me to obtain First Hokage's Cells and cultivate a compatible body on my own. I need to plan this carefully."

Kaedeji planned to go back and rest. His favorite form of exercise was sleeping.

"There's one more thing. This is also why I stayed behind to speak with you alone. Chiyo's grandson, the talented young man known as Sasori of the Red Sands, seems to be very interested in you. He did not hesitate to sell Sunagakure's confidential intelligence in exchange for some ordinary information about you. He probably has some kind of plan, so be careful."

Only after carefully warning him did Yakushi Nonō sway away with her weakened body.

"Sasori of the Red Sands... That is only natural. He, who pursues eternal art, will get along well with me. My Jutsu can help him speed up the completion of his Human Puppet secret technique."

Kaedeji nodded. There was also a matter of vital importance that he needed to begin with Sasori of the Red Sands. At present, only Sasori of the Red Sands could help him accomplish it.

Not long afterward, the details of this mission gradually reached the hands of Konoha's higher-ups. The results were simply too stunning: Sunagakure's deployment maps had been brought back, along with Large Amounts Of intelligence on supplies. If Konoha made good use of it, it would be Enough To establish an even greater strategic advantage.

Sunagakure had practically been stripped bare. The only reason it had not already been completely stripped bare was because Chiyo's inescapable poison was still holding things together.

But it would not hold for much longer.

Konoha, Hokage Building.

Two of Konoha's most powerful men, who controlled the vast majority of the military forces of the superpower known as the Land of Fire, were discussing matters at that very moment.

Generally speaking, a minor figure like Kaedeji would not even be qualified to catch a distant glimpse of these two, even if he was a Chunin, unless he had achieved some special merit.

A Chunin? Hah. The two of them controlled tens of thousands of ninja across the country. If there were not ten thousand Chunin, there were at least eight thousand. How could they possibly pay attention to them all?

Only those of impeccable background or exceptional talent were qualified to have their names noticed.

And that was only having their names seen. Having these two remember one's name was another impossibly high threshold. As for being personally named by them, transferred to another position, or cultivated by them—that would be like smoke rising from one's ancestral graves, Enough To shock the entire clan and earn congratulations from countless relatives and friends.

Being received by these two? No need to say more. The ancestral graves would probably be on fire.

The Third Hokage had not gone to the front lines. Instead, he sat in his office, puffing away amid clouds of smoke as he carefully read the documents in his hands.

"Is that so? What an excellent ninja. Yakushi Nonō has never disappointed anyone. But Danzō, your Means of driving her are too crude. You always like to use threats."

The Third Hokage was extremely satisfied, though he was not truly displeased with Danzō's methods.

This was how he and Danzō governed Konoha. All matters of righteousness and glory were borne solely by the sacred and inviolable Third Hokage, while all darkness and ugliness were shouldered by the even uglier Shimura Danzō.

Everyone would praise the Third Hokage as wise and mighty, a man without political blemish. Whenever Danzō was mentioned, there would only be wariness and curses.

The Third Hokage greatly enjoyed this style of governance. Though Danzō's little schemes sometimes gave him headaches, it did not matter. They would not affect the bigger picture.

Danzō opened his eyes and said coldly, "Ninja should carry out missions. The village has not withheld her compensation. Taking payment and doing the job is a ninja's duty. Miko withdrew from Root, and unless I threaten her, she refuses to carry out my missions. That is the problem. Someone like her should be treated with the cruelest methods. She is an unqualified ninja."

"Completing missions is enough to qualify her. But I won't argue with you about this. You Should Not interfere with the War Orphans. Yakushi Nonō will be in charge of them, and make sure the corresponding financial subsidies are paid on time," the Third Hokage said, taking a puff from his pipe.

Danzō snorted coldly and cursed inwardly.

"However, a talent has emerged among the War Orphans. That was something I never expected." The Third Hokage pulled a dossier from the stack of documents.