Why Not Turn the Dog Head into a Statue?

"Senior, is it really that good?"

In the passage leading to the underground secret vault of the Hokage Office Building.

Hyuga Makoto and Kakashi walked side by side, but even in this dim space, Kakashi was still reading Icha Icha Paradise.

The sight left even Hyuga Makoto somewhat speechless, but Kakashi paid it no mind.

"Jiraiya-sama's writing is truly excellent, and the story is gripping as well. You really bought a good book."

"I see."

Hyuga Makoto blinked and nodded seriously.

"I'm glad you like it, Senior. I'll buy a copy later and enjoy it myself!"

"..."

When Kakashi heard that, the hand holding the book trembled. He immediately put on a serious expression.

"Don't forget that we still have an important mission. Besides, the Hokage-sama opened the secret vault for you, so you need to work hard and learn. Focus your energy on the right things!"

"Yes, yes, yes..."

Hyuga Makoto rolled his eyes, but Kakashi did have a point. He really did need to study properly.

After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi was being exceptionally generous this time!

Perhaps he felt that, as a member of the Hyuga Clan, Hyuga Makoto's main talent lay in his clan's Gentle Fist.

It was difficult to judge exactly how accomplished he was when it came to "jutsu."

On top of that, Hyuga Makoto's various performances after joining the Anbu had been exceptionally impressive.

So he had simply opened the secret vault to Hyuga Makoto, including some forbidden jutsu!

"I wonder how much of what Tobirama Senju left behind is in here..."

Hyuga Makoto still felt a certain "reverence" for this Second Hokage, who had nothing but Water Release and forbidden jutsu.

Although this Second Hokage's "reputation score" throughout the Shinobi World would have belonged to the tier where not even a power bank could charge it back before Hyuga Makoto crossed over...

What he had left behind was genuinely very valuable to Hyuga Makoto!

Especially the jutsu without Chakra nature requirements, which were exactly what he needed most right now.

"Besides that, the secret arts of those Shinobi Clans are also very suitable for me."

Secret arts were indeed the foundation on which a Shinobi Clan stood, but they would still reveal some simple jutsu that did not involve their core secrets.

Although secret arts were not Kekkei Genkai, they were impossible to learn without a special "talent"!

For example, the secret arts of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans required a certain degree of control over Yin Release and Yang Release.

The Uzumaki Clan's Adamantine Sealing Chains were the same. They were not a Kekkei Genkai but a secret art, yet it seemed that only they could perform them.

"Just like before I crossed over, a handwritten manuscript on a 'Heavenly Tier Cultivation Method' only cost thirty yuan, but what use would it be after you got it..."

But these things were much easier for him now!

Even if he was only a "shoddy version," he was still technically an Otsutsuki...

"We're almost there."

As Hyuga Makoto pondered, Kakashi spoke up as well.

"Once we're inside, remember to form the hand seals and undo the seal, or there'll be serious trouble."

"I understand."

Hyuga Makoto nodded, then couldn't help muttering,

"The security here is really strict. There are seals and barriers everywhere."

"Of course. The security here is enough to keep even a fly from getting in."

Kakashi nodded with a smile, but Hyuga Makoto raised an eyebrow.

Not even a fly could get in?

Then how did Naruto get in...

He shook his head and couldn't be bothered to dwell on those questions. Instead, he looked at Kakashi curiously.

"Senior, aren't you going to take a look?"

"I'll pass."

Kakashi shook his head, his eyes still fixed on the book in his hands.

"I already know enough. There's no need to expand my repertoire further."

"That does make sense, considering you're the Copy Ninja."

Hyuga Makoto nodded, then suddenly revealed a mischievous smile.

"But speaking of which, Senior, your jutsu could actually use some modifications."

"Huh?"

"When I saw you use Earth Style: Earth Release Wall, I noticed it even had a dog head on it."

"That's my ninken..."

"I know. It's just that I have an immature idea."

"An idea?"

Kakashi became somewhat interested and asked curiously,

"Let's hear it. What kind of idea?"

"When I was at school, my teacher said that a ninja must use every possible means in battle."

Hyuga Makoto blinked, first giving himself a layer of Buff.

"Since you can make a dog head, Senior, couldn't you make something else?"

"You can, as long as your Chakra control is precise enough."

Kakashi nodded, but Hyuga Makoto's next words left him dumbfounded.

"If that's the case, why not make statues of people?"

"?"

"For example, when fighting shinobi from another village, Earth Style: Earth Release Wall suddenly appears, with their Kage carved into it..."

"Haah..."

"And Scorpion last time. If you had carved statues of his parents into the Earth Style: Earth Release Wall, then in that moment when he was distracted..."

"..."

"And there's more..."

"All right, stop talking. Go on in!"

Kakashi sucked in a sharp breath. He genuinely couldn't hold it together anymore.

Ninja battles really did call for every possible means, but wasn't this too underhanded?

For a moment, he truly felt that this kid resembled a certain One-Eyed Old Man!

However, as he watched Hyuga Makoto's back, Kakashi couldn't help rubbing his chin and falling into deep thought...

"Phew, finally done."

Inside the Hokage Office, Hiruzen Sarutobi only let out a faint sigh of relief after finishing the last document.

In these troubled times, his workload was much heavier than before.

The issue with Uchiha Itachi in particular had made him even more vigilant!

Even though he had asked Kakashi and Hyuga Makoto to form a special operations squad, he still went through the materials himself to see whether he had missed anything.

After all, because of what had happened with Uchiha Shisui, he truly had no intention of telling Danzo this time!

Even though he was indeed somewhat wary of Kotoamatsukami...

"Has it gotten this late already?"

He turned his head toward the window and saw the setting sun. Children who had just left school were playing all over the streets.

He liked this scene very much. After all, these children were Konoha's future.

"Still, Kakashi and Makoto have been gone for so long. Why haven't they come out yet?"

He held his pipe between his teeth and pondered for a moment before turning to the crystal ball on the desk.

Although he felt that Hyuga Makoto was somewhat "not applying himself to the proper things," expanding his abilities was still a good thing.

Besides, he had sent Kakashi along precisely so Kakashi could keep an eye on him, stopping Hyuga Makoto from reaching too far and, most importantly, from causing trouble.

But they had been gone for so long that he was beginning to find it strange.

"Let's see how they're doing."

As he pondered, he infused the crystal ball with Chakra, only to see Kakashi standing there in a daze.

Even with his mask on, Hiruzen could still see Kakashi's astonishment!

"What's going on?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was utterly baffled, but as he adjusted the crystal ball's angle, his expression grew somewhat strange.

He discovered that quite a few scrolls in the secret vault had been moved. Clearly, Hyuga Makoto had looked through them!

This made him rub his brow. He felt that Kakashi had been negligent.

He could tell that after Hyuga Makoto joined the Anbu, Kakashi's state of mind had also changed for the better, and that made him very happy.

He could imagine how close the two of them had become, but being close meant Kakashi should be stricter and take responsibility for Hyuga Makoto!

"Isn't this just letting him do whatever he wants..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi muttered inwardly, but when he adjusted the view toward Hyuga Makoto—

he suddenly froze as well!

"That's..."

In the room lit only by flickering candlelight, Hyuga Makoto was slowly rising to his feet.

Yet two strange markings had appeared on his fair face!

The two markings appeared on either side of his face, looking exceptionally conspicuous under the candlelight.

A layer of Chakra seemed to be faintly surging around his body. Even through the crystal ball, one could sense the power he was displaying at that moment!

"The Yin Seal? This..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was dumbfounded. He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something.

But in the end, he looked just like Kakashi...