Long Time No See

When he got home, Shiraishi Yoshijo took out a map and began studying it closely.

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He immediately ruled out the Five Great Nations and began looking at the smaller countries, hoping to find one that suited them.

If he wanted to take his clan members away, of course he had to take responsibility for their lives afterward.

But after examining the whole map, Shiraishi Yoshijo felt troubled.

It wasn't that there were no suitable countries. On the contrary, there were too many.

Besides the Five Great Nations, there were more than thirty smaller countries in the entire Shinobi World.

That was a lot more than he remembered from Naruto. He figured quite a few countries would disappear in the Shinobi World Wars to come.

More than ten of them had no ninja villages.

Those were the countries Shiraishi Yoshijo paid closest attention to.

After studying the map for a while longer, he put it away and began to think carefully.

Taking his clan members away now was definitely unrealistic.

They had yet to experience any real pain and were still immersed in a beautiful dream of peace.

The right time to take them away would come only when their dream shattered and they began to face reality.

Until then, he needed to lull the Konoha High Command into complacency and draw as much nourishment from Konoha as he could.

He would definitely take part in the Second Shinobi World War.

When the time came, he would gather as much dirt on Danzo as possible and use it to convince his clan members.

There was also the matter of people dying on the battlefield.

He was the clan head in name, but he had little real control over his clan members. Their ties to him were mostly rooted in the bonds they'd shared in the past.

He'd once thought that was fine. But now he had to gather the clan members scattered throughout the various families.

That would make them easier to manage, and more importantly, help him identify a few traitors to send to their deaths.

At the thought, Shiraishi Yoshijo gave a wry smile.

Actually, there weren't any traitors. After all, the biggest traitor was himself.

He'd spent the past few years interacting with those clan members and could clearly feel that many of them no longer cared much about the clan.

This was especially true of the younger generation. They might respect him a great deal, but he figured they already thought of themselves as Konoha shinobi.

Humans were remarkably susceptible to assimilation.

Especially when faced with something like the Will of Fire, a brainwashing illusion that was practically a cheat. They were all but powerless to resist.

Shiraishi Yoshijo sighed.

How had a selfish guy like him come up with the idea of taking his clan members away? It was so unlike him.

He left the map behind and walked over to a reclining chair in the courtyard.

Warm sunlight fell on him as Shiraishi Yoshijo took out a cigarette and lit it.

After finishing it, he casually tossed the butt onto the ground, covered his face with one hand, and let out a heavy sigh.

The next day, someone in Anbu told Shiraishi Yoshijo that the Third Hokage wanted to see him.

When he arrived at the Hokage Office, the increasingly imposing Third Hokage was reprimanding Jiraiya.

Orochimaru and Tsunade stood to one side, looking rather sheepish.

Over the past few years, the Sannin had become increasingly famous in Konoha, and all three had now been promoted to jōnin.

Shiraishi Yoshijo hadn't sought them out since the underground training ground.

Or rather, he didn't like those three and always found himself subconsciously keeping his distance.

When Shiraishi Yoshijo entered wearing a butterfly mask, the Third Hokage stopped reprimanding Jiraiya.

"Lord Hokage, what did you want to see me about?"

When they saw an Anbu member walk in, Jiraiya sensibly moved to stand with Orochimaru and Tsunade.

Because Shiraishi Yoshijo was wearing a mask, they didn't recognize him.

They probably didn't know he was in Anbu, either.

The Third Hokage wouldn't have told them about it himself.

"Take off your mask. Orochimaru and the others know you well."

At his words, the three grew curious about the Anbu member's identity and turned to look at him.

When Shiraishi Yoshijo removed his mask, all three looked surprised.

Orochimaru said, "Long time no see, Yoshijo. I'd thought you were dead."

Shiraishi Yoshijo raised an eyebrow and glanced at Orochimaru, but didn't respond.

Tsunade looked annoyed. "Tch, you're just as cold as ever."

The Third Hokage's brow furrowed slightly at Shiraishi Yoshijo's cool attitude.

"Yoshijo, you've been in Anbu for five years. Have you thought about leaving?"

Shiraishi Yoshijo had already guessed why the Third Hokage had called him in.

"I am getting a little tired."

"Is that so? Then which department would you like to work in after leaving Anbu?"

Shiraishi Yoshijo hadn't considered that yet. He hesitated before replying, "Which department would you like me to join, Lord Hokage?"

"I'd like you to become a jōnin instructor. Would you be willing?"

After speaking, the Third Hokage took out three files and handed them to him.

Shiraishi Yoshijo took them and looked through them. They were the records of three newly graduated kids.

One of them was familiar—he was a member of Shiraishi Yoshijo's clan.

Shiraishi Yoshijo fell silent for a moment, then handed the files back to the Third Hokage.

"Lord Hokage, I think I'll pass. I'd rather keep working at the hospital."

The Third Hokage paused, looking puzzled.

He'd deliberately chosen these three kids and thought Shiraishi Yoshijo would surely agree. Instead, he was turned down.

"All right, I understand. As it happens, the Medical Team captain has stepped down. You already have a nominal position with the Medical Team, so go and take over as captain."

Captain of the Medical Team?

Before Shiraishi Yoshijo could even think it over, Tsunade stepped forward and shouted, "Master, I disagree!"

Shiraishi Yoshijo had no idea what was going on.

He did technically have a position with the Medical Team. The Third Hokage had once told him to visit the hospital whenever he had no missions, but he'd hardly ever gone.

He was busy. How could he find time to treat patients at the hospital? So he knew absolutely nothing about the Medical Team as it stood.

"Tsunade, Yoshijo's medical skills are far beyond what you can imagine. He's saved many lives in Anbu. In terms of experience, he's far more qualified than you."

Hearing the Third Hokage's words, Shiraishi Yoshijo seemed to understand.

Tsunade wanted to be the Medical Team captain?

He didn't know how good her medical skills were now, but he had absolute confidence in his own.

"Understood, Lord Hokage. I'll start working with the Medical Team tomorrow."

With that, Shiraishi Yoshijo turned and left.

Once the door to the Hokage Office closed, Tsunade continued her furious protest. "Do you know how obnoxious Shiraishi Yoshijo is? And I don't believe his medical skills are better than mine!"

The Third Hokage's expression darkened.

"Tsunade, don't be so willful. When it comes to Medical Ninjutsu, no one in Konoha can compare to Yoshijo—not even you."

Orochimaru grew interested. "Oh? I've never heard of him. How strong is he now?"

"A few days ago, he fought Hanzo of the Salamander."

Jiraiya exclaimed in surprise, "You mean Hanzo of the Salamander from the Land of Rain? He's already that strong?"

The Third Hokage nodded, his head aching. "That was only the strength he showed. Sakumo says he's definitely holding back."

Tsunade asked, "Holding back? Why would he do that?"

A glint of amusement flashed in Orochimaru's eyes as he recalled their chance encounter at the Memorial Stone.

"I don't know. In any case, don't pick a fight with him. Tsunade, if you don't want to work under him, then leave the Medical Team."

A vein bulged on Tsunade's forehead. She wasn't the type to give up easily.