Taking the Blame

However, the deal with Danzo did not end there; a few days later, the two sides conducted another transaction at the border.

"Oh dear, I'm so sorry, I forgot to tell Advisor Danzō that the Wood Release test subject is incredibly fast, and his Earth Release speed is extremely high. We have to be careful." Ikura apologized to Danzo in a strange tone.

"You Iwa ninja dare to mock our Konoha? Aren't you afraid that Konoha will declare war on you?" Danzo his teeth.

That's right, as Yichen requested, Ikura deliberately didn't tell Danzo about the strange abilities of the White Zetsu clone. As a result, the White Zetsu clone escaped Root had only studied it for a short time.

Embarrassingly, Danzo had no idea how the White Zetsu clone had escaped.

"Advisor Danzō, what are you saying? We Iwa ninja and Konoha have always been very friendly. During the Fourth Shinobi War, we Iwa ninja were the only ninja village that didn't fight a major war with your Konoha. Didn't Advisor Danzō even use the same methods he planned to use against us on Sunagakure?"

"When you held the Joint Chunin Exams a while ago, our Iwagakure even sent people to participate, which shows that our two villages have been friendly for generations. Can't we talk things over?"

Danzo's face darkened further after hearing Ikura's words.

"Alright then, since Lord Danzō has lost one test subject, I'll give you another one." With that, Ikura didn't hesitate and tossed another test subject to Danzo.

After throwing it away, Ikura turned to leave.

Danzo his teeth and stopped him, asking, "I want all the information about this experimental subject."

There was no way around it; White Zetsu clone was too bizarre, and Danzo wasn't confident he could prevent him from escaping.

"Oh, so Advisor Danzō wants to make other deals? Alright, how about this, we'll make it cheaper this time, we'll only take one S-rank Ninjutsu."

"However, this time we'll choose our own Ninjutsu," Ikura said.

Danzo a deep breath and asked, "What does Iwagakure want?"

"The Eight Gates Technique!"

Despite Danzo's doubts about where Iwa ninja Eight Inner Gates, and despite Danzo reluctance to hand over this Forbidden Technique, his heart, driven by ambition, would still Danzo wildly every time he saw the White Zetsu clone in his subordinates' hands.

In the end, Danzo gave in.

In Sunagakure, the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, the Scorching Style User Pakura, the new generation genius Puppet Master Ryosuke, Rasa's disciple and confidant Baki, and Chiyo, who had not appeared for a long time, sat together in the Kazekage's Office, discussing the matter of the White Zetsu clone.

Chiyo looked at the information about the White Zetsu clone in her hand and asked, "This Wood Release experimental subject wasn't developed by the Iwa ninja?"

Rasa nodded and said, "That's right. If it was developed by Iwa ninja, they wouldn't tell us how to identify White Zetsu."

After receiving an affirmative reply, Chiyo said, "Let's conduct an inspection of the village according to the method provided by the Iwa ninja."

Rasa sighed and said, "We definitely have to investigate, but I doubt we'll find anything. Just yesterday, seven ninjas who worked in clerical positions in the village disappeared."

Pakura asked, "Are they all imposters from these experimental subjects?"

Rasa nodded. "If I'm not mistaken, yes, it seems the Iwagakure used this method to find a batch of test subjects, alerting them in the process."

Chiyo asked, "Then, can we determine who the owners of these experimental subjects are?"

Baki interjected, "It must be Konoha. Konoha has been researching the First Hokage's Wood Release for a long time. Only Konoha has the ability and the motive."

Rasa nodded and said, "Although there's no evidence, Konoha is indeed the most suspicious. Iwagakure and other ninja villages have all made transactions; we can check that first. The ninja village that hasn't conducted a large-scale investigation is the most suspicious."

Chiyo had no objections. Seeing that the matter was resolved, she said to Rasa, "Fourth Hokage, besides this, is there anything else you wanted to discuss with me?"

Rasa said, "Ryosuke is already Elite Jonin. There aren't many ninjas in the village who can guide him. I hope that Chiyo- senpai can take him out to broaden his horizons."

Rasa shared the same thought as Yichen. This was the situation in Kawakita back then. During a time of peace in the Ninja World, there were few life-or-death crises, making it difficult for ninjas to Wind Release: Breakthrough their limits.

Going out to challenge some strong opponents and see a different side of life than the village is also a good option.

Chiyo thought about it carefully and finally agreed. Although she kept saying that she was too old and retired, she was indeed the most suitable person to be Ryosuke's protector.

As a top-tier expert of her type, Chiyo could also offer guidance when appropriate.

In Kirigakure, a group of advisors, high-ranking officials, and the Fourth Mizukage Karatachi Yagura, were looking at the White Zetsu clone they had obtained from the Iwa ninja.

"Alright, I'll arrange for someone to study this Wood Release test subject. You may all leave now," said Karatachi Yagura looked like a baby, to the group of advisors.

"Fourth generation..." Someone wanted to say something to Karatachi Yagura, but only saw Karatachi Yagura's indifferent eyes.

"Sigh," the advisors sighed inwardly. Since becoming Jinchuriki, Karatachi Yagura's personality had changed drastically.

The wise and cheerful Karatachi Yagura was gone, replaced by the dictatorial and insane Fourth Mizukage before me.

After a while, an advisor said, "Fourth Hokage, what should we do about investigating the ninjas and civilians within the village?"

"You can make the arrangements." After saying that, Karatachi Yagura once again emphasized that the meeting was adjourned.

The Advisor Group members had no choice but to leave.

After the advisors left, Karatachi Yagura walked to the White Zetsu clone, released its seal, and asked, "What happened?"

The White Zetsu clone replied, "Obito, the Iwa ninja have figured out our abilities and captured all our clones in the Iwagakure."

"Another Iwa ninja? And that Yichen again." Karatachi Yagura, controlled by Obito, exuded a murderous aura as he gritted his teeth and said.

Obito didn't care about losing a few White Zetsu clone, but Yichen trading the White Zetsu clone to several Great Ninja Village was practically putting him in the open, how could he not hate him?

"Obito, withdraw the clones you've placed in other ninja villages," the White Zetsu clone said.

"After all your clones in Iwagakure lost contact, I withdrew the other clones," Obito said calmly.

Meanwhile, the numerous advisors and high-ranking officials who had left the Mizukage's Office discussed the situation in the Ninja World as they walked.

"Since the Iwa ninja provided the identification method, these things shouldn't have been made by the Iwa ninja."

So, who's the mastermind behind this? It seems obvious, doesn't it?

"Konoha?" an advisor whispered.

Yichen made a deal with the three kingdoms of Wind, Water, and Lightning, and successfully diverted everyone's attention to Konoha.

In addition, Yichen also wanted to make a deal with Orochimaru, but Orochimaru's whereabouts were unpredictable after joining Akatsuki Organization, and Yichen had no way to contact him, so this matter had to be put on hold for the time being.

However, there's no way to contact him. No problem, Yichen guesses that Orochimaru will probably return to Konoha at this time and cooperate with the Cloud ninja to obtain the Byakugan.

Yichen also planned to go to Konoha. Whether he could meet Orochimaru and make a deal was not the main point; the main point was the Hyuga Clan.

Yichen wasn't interested in the Hyuga Clan, but Yichen was very interested in Neji Hyuga of the Hyuga Clan.

For no other reason than that Neji Hyuga is a rare genius in the Ninja World. A genius without any particularly strong cheat codes.

The Ninja World has never lacked geniuses, especially Konoha. Among these many geniuses, Neji Hyuga was just an inconspicuous one. Logically speaking, Yichen shouldn't value Neji Hyuga, but in Yichen's eyes, Neji Hyuga's talent was different from other Konoha geniuses.

Yichen categorizes geniuses into three types: bloodline geniuses, geniuses specializing in one subject but lacking in another, and basic geniuses.

The most typical example of a bloodline genius is Obito Uchiha. This Dead Last was terrible at Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, and combat intelligence, but he was the most suitable member of the Uchiha Clan to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Besides Obito, other ninjas like Kimimaro Kaguya and Yakumo Kurama are of this type. Their bloodline limit talent far surpasses that of other ninjas in their clan. Yakumo Kurama's physique doesn't even meet the lowest Genin standard.

The second type of genius: the genius who specializes in one subject. There are many geniuses in this category. For example, Yichen himself is a genius who specializes in one subject. Yichen's specialty is mental strength. Since there are no mental secret techniques in Iwa ninja, Yichen has essentially put his talent points into Chakra Control.

Besides Yichen, there are countless other geniuses like him. For example, from Might Duy to Might Guy to Rock Lee, they were all severely unbalanced in their specialties. They were good at nothing except Taijutsu, but their Taijutsu was far superior to that of other ninjas in the Ninja World.

For example, Minato Namikaze Minato Namikaze. Even without the Flying Thunder God Minato Namikaze would still be a genius, but with it, he became a legend. However, according to Yichen's classification, Minato Namikaze should be both a genius with specializations and a genius with a solid foundation.

If Minato Namikaze's example is inappropriate, then: the Second Hokage, who is skilled in Water Release; Sakura Haruno, who is skilled in Medical Ninjutsu and Chakra Enhanced Strength; and Kurenai Yūhi, who is skilled in Genjutsu, all qualify.

Moreover, most of Yichen's disciples are of this type, such as Kawakita, who is skilled in swordsmanship; Uchiyama Takuhiro, who is skilled in gravity manipulation; and Kawazoe Yura, who is skilled in Sealing Jutsu, etc.

However, it is very difficult for this type of ninja to reach the top. Someone like Kawakita was able to have Yichen the foundation for him in the early stages, Hanzo to guide him in the Hanzo -stages, and a large number of similar masters to spar with and guide him in the late stages.

Moreover, during the sparring session, they were protected by Yichen, Kage Level teacher who Banshō Ten'in.

At the very last moment, there was also the dedicated guidance of Mifune, a fellow master of his kind.

It was precisely because of these fortunate circumstances that Kawakita was able to achieve what he has at such a young age. Where do other ninjas get so many opportunities?

Apart from Kawakita, Yichen's other disciples, without very special opportunities, would at most Elite Jonin in this lifetime.

The third category of geniuses who truly have a good chance of reaching the Kage Level is: foundational geniuses. These geniuses are true geniuses; they have no weaknesses in theory, combat, or fundamentals. Their Taijutsu and Ninjutsu talents are unmatched by others.

Iwagakure also has such geniuses. Ikura can be considered one, and Wada Akio, who was in the same class as Uchiyama Takuhiro, can also be considered one, but neither of them are top-tier.

For example, Ikura was one of the entire Iwagakure Ikura the early stages, compared to his peers. But as Ikura progressed further and eventually reached the Kage Level, his comparisons were no longer limited to his peers, and at that point, his strength seemed ordinary.

Of the Three Kage-level Iwagakure, Ōnoki knows Dust Release, Yichen knows Light Release and Sage Mode. However, Ikura's powerful output only comes from Earth Release. Compared to other ninjas of the same level, Ikura seems rather ordinary.

Neji Hyuga was this kind of genius, and he was a genius far surpassing Ikura. Among all the known ninjas in the entire Ninja World, there was only one other genius who showed this kind of talent from a young age and could surpass Neji Hyuga. That person was Kakashi Hatake.

If Yichen were a few years older, he might have set his sights on Kakashi Hatake.

Kakashi Hatake has no weaknesses in any of the following areas: Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, Taijutsu, ranged combat, close combat, strategy, or tracking.

Kakashi's achievements were built on the premise that he wasted the most important decade or so of his development.

If Kakashi hadn't wasted those crucial years, his performance during the Fourth Shinobi War in the original story would have far surpassed that of the Five Kage.