Hokage's Personal Guard, Countering the Flying Thunder God

Konoha.

In front of the Hokage Office Building.

Yakushi Nonō took a deep breath, feeling a mix of apprehension and anticipation.

She has been back in Konoha for three days...

But the series of events that occurred and that she witnessed still shocked even this top-notch spy.

He remained hidden in Iwagakure for more than two years.

Returning to Konoha feels like entering a completely different village!

Not only has the area increased significantly and the internal commerce become exceptionally prosperous, but the village has also introduced various subsidy policies and even reformed its high-level systems.

If you're wondering how Yakushi Nonō knew...

This skilled informant, the Wandering Miko, did not deliberately inquire about it.

Because it was at Hiruzen Sarutobi's behest.

Led by the Administrative Department and Military Police Force, a group of ninjas set up several bulletin boards in prominent locations to publicize the village's reforms, including Pension, subsidies for orphans and the elderly, improved Ninjutsu, and the Konoha Committee Member.

The purpose is to help villagers and ninjas understand the village's policies more intuitively, and to prevent situations where people meet the requirements but don't know how to apply, thus avoiding financial redundancy and waste.

It also includes historical stories about the achievements of the First and Second generations...

Yakushi Nonō circled the Inner Ring of Konoha, becoming increasingly engrossed in her observation.

This is the Konoha she had imagined!

In the Shinobi World, she can be considered a person with a very unique personality.

The darkness at the Root her being didn't corrupt Nonō; instead, it fostered in her a yearning for hope and peace...

So she abruptly withdrew from Root and opened a small Orphanage in the Land of Land of Fire, without any financial gain involved, simply to find peace of mind.

However, because of this, Danzo marked Nonō, believing her to be unreliable.

That's how the old-school leaders of Hidden Village are...

No matter what achievements you have made in the past, if you disobey, you will be considered a dangerous person to be dealt with, unless you have extremely strong military power as a means of uniting the people.

For example, this is the case between Roshi and Ōnoki.

"Even now, I'm still a little dazed..." Nonō murmured to herself.

"The village actually agreed to my evacuation request from Iwagakure. I thought Danzo would let me stay in Iwagakure, let the enemy discover my identity, and then get rid of me."

"They even sent people to pick me up, and I had a smooth journey..."

"Judging from the changes in the village and the praise from the villagers and ninjas, it must be that the Lord Third carried out sweeping reforms." Although the bulletin board did not mention Hiruzen Sarutobi's deeds, this was at the Hokage's special request.

However, the enthusiastic discussion and promotion from everyone was undeniable...

What a humble and pragmatic Hokage!

Reputation is something that accumulates slowly and then experiences explosive growth...

Yakushi Nonō calmed herself down and stepped into the Hokage Office Building. After reporting her purpose to the Anbu, she was led to a conference room. Hiruzen Sarutobi was listening to Uchiha Isshin's report.

"Lord Hokage, this is what our Military Police Force is thinking..."

"Retain one-third of the original force, and reassign the rest of the ninjas to regular ranks..."

Isshin repeated Senju Tobirama's plan word for word, subtly observing Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression.

This is the first step the Uchiha took to test the Hokage's true feelings...

"Nonō's here? Please have a seat." Hiruzen Sarutobi waved and said to Isshin:

"A great idea. This is based on the concept of Patrol Force, creating a three-dimensional security system that combines scent, biological information, and Dōjutsu..." "The Uchiha Clan has worked diligently in the village for so many years; it's time they got some fresh air."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Isshin with a smile.

He knew, of course, that Uchiha was now making most of the decisions within the Senju Tobirama.

So you only need to go through it briefly, and if there aren't any major problems, just stamp it.

"If we hadn't resurrected Teacher Tobirama, just figuring out the Uchiha Clan's intentions would have been a huge headache..."

"Political Chain of Suspicion are difficult to verify. Even if you cut open each other's stomachs to show each other how many bowls of noodles you had, you'll still suspect there are other stand-ins..."

"But if the other side's leader is one of our own, then it's a completely different story..."

In the game where you conquer the Uchiha Clan, Hiruzen and his disciples work together to unlock a hacked version.

Uchiha Isshin was slightly taken aback.

Lord Hokage really that easy to talk to? Doesn't he even have the slightest thought of questioning me?

"You... why don't you want to hold a meeting to discuss this? Perhaps you could also ask the Assistant Minister for his opinion..." Isshin said, almost as if possessed. This was going too smoothly; it always felt somewhat unreal.

Did he misread Hokage before?

Actually, they've never had any issues with the Uchiha...

Perhaps they thought the Uchiha were quite happy with their work in the Police Force, so there was no need to transfer them.

Uchiha Isshin couldn't help but think to himself:

"No wonder the Lord Hokage always says that he inherited the spirit of the First!"

He even felt a pang of guilt.

"If we hold large meetings for everything, the village's efficiency will suffer..." Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a smile.

"The Committee Member leading the reform of the Police Force are naturally you and Fugaku, and the success of the Patrol Force also proves that other ninjas are interested in similar work."

"In our Konoha Committee System, when making decisions, the main body is still me and the relevant Committee Member who discuss and approve them. After approval, the decisions are publicized and announced to the whole village."

"If substantial problems are discovered during the subsequent implementation process, other Committee Member can immediately request a meeting to discuss and modify the decision. After all, Konoha is a military unit."

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't want Mountains of Documents and Seas of Meetings; efficiency was always his top priority.

There are corresponding oversight mechanisms to identify and address his shortcomings, and Committee Member are willing to raise questions without hesitation...

In the Shinobi World, they are already far ahead.

"Isshin, you need to study the system more. Isn't your Police Force responsible for propaganda? It's inappropriate for you to say something like that!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Isshin a slight critique.

"Lord Hokage, I was wrong. I will definitely study harder when I get back, and take Fugaku with me!"

I was told off.

But Isshin down, Yixin was overjoyed.

This shows that Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't treat him as a mere decoration.

They truly regarded him as a high-ranking member of the village, a "Konoha Committee Member" who could actually participate in village affairs.

"As for Danzo, the area he's in charge of has nothing to do with your Uchiha, so it's not his place to speak."

"The Uchiha have reasonable requests, just raise them. Of course, I can't guarantee that every request will be approved..." Hiruzen Sarutobi joked, "After all, I am the Hokage."

Isshin laughed too, "How could that be, Lord Hokage... We Uchiha wouldn't cause trouble for the village."

"I support the reform of the Police Force."

"However, we must pay attention to the hierarchical allocation of personnel combat capabilities. For the lack of practical combat experience caused by work, we must conduct systematic training exercises, and establish a corresponding rotation system."

"For new members, the veteran Uchiha members should mentor and guide them, helping them to quickly become familiar with the work."

Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly said:

"The selection criteria and the internal salary system of the Police Force also need to be clearly defined and made public. You can discuss this with the Administrative Department. I will have Orochimaru follow up on the matter."

He Isshin on writing Hiruzen Sarutobi's instructions.

Upon hearing Orochimaru's name, a thought suddenly struck him.

Is this also a form of "mentoring and passing on knowledge"?

This seems to be letting Orochimaru familiarize himself with the duties of the Hokage...

Logically speaking, Orochimaru is the Committee Member in charge of scientific research, and these matters are not within his purview.

But Hokage has spoken, that's fine with me.

Hiruzen Sarutobi in Isshin's subtle facial expressions.

Isshin guessed half of it...

As long as he remains in power, given the current situation, Orochimaru won't be in a hurry to become Hokage.

However, Orochimaru was quite eager to seize power similar to that of the Hokage's assistant.

Orochimaru had long Danzo resentment towards Danzo, who had once bossed him around and now constantly monitored his research funding...

I've been wanting to take Danzo for ages!

Actively participating in village affairs and building one's own network of contacts is a crucial step.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was also happy to see this happen.

Appropriate internal friction can be equivalent to mutual monitoring, as long as the intensity is controlled...

It's impossible to get everyone to work together.

"Now that the Uchiha have rejoined the mission lineup, you need to do a good job of managing them. Since you've decided to leave the Police Force, try to team up with other ninjas more often..."

"This will help change some ninjas' stereotypes about the Uchiha Clan."

"But we must be careful, most of the Uchiha ninjas haven't been on a mission in a long time. Although the orders from the Land of Fire Nobles for missions are in high demand, we still need to complete them with high quality and quantity."

This is one of the advantages of making a big cake.

The sales of the Sage Pill were booming, with Nobles and customers lining up in long queues to place orders in Konoha.

In the past, simply freeing the Uchiha from the Police Force...

Moving up the mission quotas of other ninjas is a troublesome problem.

"Rest assured, the Uchiha clan members will certainly uphold the Ninja Code!"

He patted his Isshin and assured, "If we can't even complete the mission, the honor of the Uchiha Clan should be thrown into the sewers..." Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned almost imperceptibly.

He strongly disliked the Ninja Code.

It's not just because of past life experiences; the key is that this is a mine planted by the Will of Fire.

In theory, the Ninja Code is a great tool for governance, with its strong inertia and coercion, allowing for low-cost control of ninjas... But Konoha is about the Will of Fire.

After enjoying the benefits of the Will of Fire in motivating ninjas and unleashing their talents.

This means accepting the risk of conflicting with the Ninja Code.

If the two clash, Hiruzen Sarutobi must handle the situation properly; otherwise, the Will of Fire turning into destructive propaganda would be more despairing than having no faith at all in the first place.

"Very good, Isshin..."

"I expect the Uchiha Clan to bring a better reputation to Konoha."

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't rush to bring up the issue.

Heavy inertia means that simply talking without White Fang can lead to misunderstandings.

Take Isshin for example; his promise to Hiruzen Sarutobi signifies his agreement with the Ninja Code.

Unless a specific event occurs that makes everyone aware of the problem, no one will feel the need for change.

In the present situation, conservative ninjas might not realize that this is protection for them; instead, many conservative groups would see it as self-destruction...

Only by making the conflict concrete can he, Hokage, have a stage to perform and build consensus among everyone.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was slightly disappointed, as this was ultimately a low-probability event, and it might take a long time...

The Lord Hokage desires a conflict so that he can forge his Will of Fire even stronger through that clash...

"Definitely, Lord Hokage!" Isshin loudly assured him.

"Let me introduce you. This is Yakushi Nonō, the future Director of the village's Orphanage. The Uchiha is providing funding for the Orphanage; you two should go and discuss that..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled.

Isshin blinked:

"Lord Hokage Uchiha, just name a price! You're transferring the Kirigakure's most valuable treasure to the Uchiha clan, and the clan members all think I can't offer a meager price, otherwise it would be impolite..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in satisfaction.

Isshin is a sensible person and knows how to respond to his words.

It points out that the source of the funds is the Hokage, not the Uchiha.

Yakushi Nonō was both surprised and delighted.

They haven't even had a chance to talk to the Lord Hokage yet, and they've already prepared additional funding for the Orphanage?

It was actually the Lord Hokage who traded a national treasure given to him by Kirigakure with the Uchiha Clan!

I'm so sorry...

That's amazing!

"That's enough. Let's help set up the framework of the Orphanage first. Next year, the village's Sage Pill project will be further expanded, and then special funds will be allocated to the Orphanage."

Hiruzen Sarutobi his hand:

"Even though the Uchiha Clan is a powerful clan, they probably don't have much surplus food... You don't know the cost of firewood and rice until you're in charge of the household!"

Uchiha Isshin nodded in deep agreement. "Thank you for your understanding Lord Hokage- sama!"

When he asked his tribesmen how much they should pay the village for the "Dōenmaru"...

Obito shouted "Ten billion!" and Ichishin 'Isshin went black.

Do you think money just falls from the sky or appears out of thin air with your Dōjutsu?

But because of this, Isshin also realized that the village's wealth had now reached a point where it could completely overwhelm the powerful clans...

The 3 billion yuan subsidy was allocated without hesitation or delay.

"Nonō, I know about your situation."

"He served in Root and made significant contributions to the village, but left Root due to disagreements with Danzo. He then opened Orphanage in the Land of Land of Fire, and later, under Danzo from Danzo who threatened him with financial support, he infiltrated Iwagakure for the village..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took out a small booklet.

This is the framework and outline of "Earth Release: Added-Weight Rock Technique" that Nonō compiled through various channels in Iwagakure. Although it is Five Elements Release, its practicality and strategic significance are extremely great, no less than that of a regular Kekkei Genkai.

It is a secret technique passed down through the Tsuchikage of Iwagakure.

"Yes, Lord Hokage..." Nonō lowered her head, her voice clearly lacking confidence.

"Please punish me!"

When she left Root, Danzo did not approve it, so things became very tense between them.

This is why Danzo murderous intent towards her.

If it weren't for Nonō's exceptional skills, Danzo might have already made his move.

"The Root has now been dismantled and merged into the Anbu..."

"I will find a way to address the problems caused by Danzo's past personal actions."

"The current Anbu has a clear entry and exit mechanism; everything is based on established rules."

Hiruzen Sarutobi reassured the slightly panicked Yakushi Nonō:

"The darkness that Root in the past was indeed unbearable. Although you disobeyed your orders to assist, according to the Will of Fire, it was Danzo who was at fault."

"It's also my fault as the Hokage supervisor. Thank you for your hard work, Nonō."

"Feel sorry."

Nonō stared blankly at Hiruzen Sarutobi. Even with her seasoned experience as Walking Miko, her eyes welled up slightly. Had the Hokage apologized to her?

"No, no, Lord Hokage, it's my fault..." Yakushi Nonō wiped her eyes and hurriedly said:

"I failed to demonstrate the patience expected of a ninja."

Isshin glanced at Nonō and snorted coldly.

Although Isshin deeply despised Danzo, hating his insidious methods and his designs on the Uchiha.

However, as a veteran ninja from the Sengoku period, Isshin was even more disgusted by the emotions displayed by Nonō.

Now that I have accepted the orders from higher-ups, I should no longer harbor any resentment. As a ninja, I must complete the mission I have been given, no matter what.

So much so that Isshin wanted to speak up and persuade Hiruzen Sarutobi...

However, by Isshin ignoring the Uchiha's demands, he was actually expressing his own inability to tolerate his situation, and those who seek to mediate are always hypocritical.

Seeing the tears in Nonō, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a pang of emotion.

Ninjas are actually a very easy group to manage.

The suffering and hardship they endured were far too numerous and varied...

Furthermore, their emotions have been suppressed by a long-standing Tool Theory mindset.

So much so that a little bit of human warmth and care can easily win their hearts.

"Nonō, from now on your Orphanage will be directly under the jurisdiction of the village, and you will need to form a close-knit whole with the village."

"I've heard you're very skilled in Medical Ninjutsu, and even better at teaching medical techniques..."

Yakushi Nonō quickly replied:

"Actually, I wouldn't call myself an expert, but I do have some experience in helping others master it."

Hiruzen Sarutobi laughed.

Whether it's expanding the production of Sage Pill or putting the Medical Scroll into production after successful research and development...

There is a need for more ninjas who have mastered Medical Ninjutsu to serve as specialized industrial workers.

While Hiruzen Sarutobi would instruct Orochimaru and Hiruko to break down these core technologies of Konoha into secret steps during the assembly process, the highest level of secrecy was that the person responsible for the secrecy remained the person responsible.

Orphans are the most suitable group by nature.

They have no clan ties, no initial faith, and no identity; they are blank slates of loyalty that can be freely painted with the colors of Hokage, and they are extremely fanatical about Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Konoha.

In some ways, they would be more suitable than the clansmen selected by the Ino-Shika-Cho.

"Nonō, the village's future needs a large, skilled population and ninjas who master Medical Ninjutsu."

"I need you to run this Orphanage well, so that the orphans can grow up safely and happily, and at the same time, to help some of the talented orphans master Medical Ninjutsu."

"Those without Medical Ninjutsu talent but with exceptional abilities can be added to the Konoha Ninja. As for those with average talent, I will communicate with the Daimyo to find them a job to make a living."

Nonō's eyes instantly lit up.

Is this the power of the Hokage?

With a few simple moves, he solved a problem that had baffled her for ages...

"Thank you, Lord Hokage!" Nonō bowed deeply.

"No, don't thank me yet."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone turned serious. "The village's resources are meant for the poor children who are loyal to Konoha and the Land of Fire, not for inviting wolves into the house."

"You need to understand this deeply, otherwise if problems arise, I won't be able to speak up for you."

Don't let compassion erode your sense of proportion and dull your keenness.

Yakushi Nonō took a deep breath and replied in a low voice:

"Please rest assured, Lord Hokage!"

"I was once known as the Wandering Miko. My eyes can spot any spy from Hidden Village, and I will never allow outside forces to destroy the village!" "I will always Education the children to be grateful for your kindness, to remember that Konoha is their only home, to remember their origins, and to firmly establish their loyalty to the village."

"If this point goes wrong, Nonō is willing to accept the death penalty!"

He stared at Nonō with Isshin astonishment.

Is this woman crazy?

He was just feeling wronged because of the mission, how did he suddenly become so resolute?

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and nodded, "Very good, Nonō..."

"You can apply to the Administrative Department to transfer some of the Ninja Academy's teaching materials there, so that we can align with Konoha ahead of time."

"If you need additional funding, just list your needs and details and contact me directly. I will approve it."

This is a smart person who can understand what is being said.

"This is your document Konoha Alternate Committee Member."

Hiruzen Sarutobi handed a page of appointment letter to Nonō: "Do a good job, I have high hopes for you... The Committee Member you'll be assisting is Tsunade, go and coordinate with her. In addition to the twenty Konoha Committee Member, Hiruzen Sarutobi also appointed ten alternates."

Its function is to fill in the gaps and prevent unexpected events from causing the Konoha Committee Member to be absent, thus bringing the system to a standstill.

And to assist Committee Member in their work and to attend meetings and offer suggestions.

For example, the Clan Head the major Ninja Clan serve as Committee Member, and they do not need to be alternates; their positions are essentially representative of their clans.

Besides Yakushi Nonō, Minato Kushina are also on the shortlist.

In addition, there were four Ninja Clan and three Commoner Ninja.

"Nonō, here is your Alternate Uniform." An Anbu handed over a piece of clothing.

It resembles the uniform of the Konoha Committee Member, but it only has a flame-shaped Haori on the shoulders and sleeves.

Nonō accepted it and bowed again. "Thank you, Lord Hokage!"

"Isshin, next you two can discuss the initial construction of the Orphanage..."

"We must satisfy both sides," Hiruzen Sarutobi to his feet.

"Yes, Lord Hokage!" Although Isshin had mixed feelings about Nonō, he didn't intend to haggle too much out of respect for Hiruzen Sarutobi. He would pay the full amount...

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned and went back to the Hokage Office, pondering the "Earth Release: Added-Weight Rock Technique".

Although Nonō only brought back a framework, the details were not fully filled in.

But for the "Professor of Ninjutsu," this wasn't difficult.

Hiruzen Sarutobi also planned to try to deduce "Earth Release: Light- Added-Weight Rock Technique" from "Earth Release: Light-Weight Rock Technique".

But this is relatively difficult.

They appear to be related in opposite directions, but they could also be independent branches of the same technique.

"I need to master the form changes of Boil Release and the Added-Weight Rock Technique first..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi could feel that the constraints on his physical strength were being gradually broken.

He is waiting to realize his potential.

Simply stimulating it with Lightning Release Chakra Mode isn't that efficient anymore.

If he could master "Earth Release: Added-Weight Rock Technique," Hiruzen Sarutobi planned to use it to create a domain-like gravity field.

It provides comprehensive stimulation to the strength of muscles, bones, fascia, and even internal organs.

Compared to external loads, the gravitational field provides uniform reinforcement without any blind spots.

Hiruzen Sarutobi also had his own little selfish motives.

If this move can be mastered to the point of instant casting, it will be incredibly effective against those who use the Flying Thunder God Technique.

The gravitational field is invisible and covers an entire area; even a user of the Flying Thunder God Technique who teleports in cannot dodge it, greatly increasing the cost of close combat...

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't intentionally target the Flying Thunder God Technique.

I just feel that it's understandable that the Hokage couldn't master the Flying Thunder God due to a lack of talent.

However, if even countermeasures cannot be taken, it's somewhat unsettling.

Even Senju Tobirama and Namikaze Minato stood firmly on his side.

From this perspective...

The sense of crisis among the Konoha Ninja Academy students, to some extent, stemmed from Hiruzen Sarutobi's "crooked" roots, creating a strange atmosphere of caution that spread from top to bottom.

"It's good for them to practice; the teacher is most likely going to make a move against Danzo..."

"Although he wouldn't do that to me, what if he suddenly challenges me to a spar? As a young boy requesting guidance from the Hokage, he'd eventually need to master the Flying Thunder God Technique again..."

"As the Hokage, if I can't completely suppress a young boy, no matter what kind of technique he has mastered, it would be too shameful," Hiruzen Sarutobi thought to himself.

As the rightful heir to Tobirama's will.

It was like using the Flying Thunder God Technique to deal with Izuna's First-Strike Kill...

Hiruzen Sarutobi knew this well.

Keeping something in reserve is never a bad idea!

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