That Technique and the Death of the Crow Ghost

"That is how it happened!"

In the Hokage office, Hatake Sakumo respectfully reported the events that had transpired that night.

"The corpse was destroyed by an explosive tag, making it impossible to confirm if the deceased was the ninja who ambushed Might Duy and the others."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff from his pipe, exhaled a cloud of smoke, and said slowly, "Sakumo, given this style of operation, do you think it was the Uchiha clan?"

Hatake Sakumo narrowed his eyes and said, "Lord Hokage, if the Uchiha clan wanted to make a move on Houka, they could have done it within their own compound. There was no need to strike outside, and if they wanted to destroy the evidence, they could have done a much more perfect job."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath and smiled, "Indeed. In other words, the one who truly wants to make a move on Houka is someone else!"

A name appeared in his mind.

Shimura Danzō!

"The Root... is it?" Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up, walked to the window, and looked outside.

Konoha was completely blanketed in white snow; as far as the eye could see, it was pure and flawless, beautiful enough to be intoxicating.

But beneath this whiteness, how much darkness was hidden?

As the head of the Anbu, Hatake Sakumo was, of course, aware of the existence of the Root.

"Lord Hokage, the Root has infiltrated the Uchiha clan with a jōnin, but his status within the Uchiha clan is definitely not high. We can notify the Uchiha clan and have them eliminate this ninja," Hatake Sakumo said calmly. "His existence will continue to threaten Houka's safety."

Hiruzen Sarutobi, however, shook his head and said, "No, I do not approve of doing that."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff from his pipe before continuing, "I know Danzō. If he wants to kill someone, he never shows mercy. The fact that the ninja chose not to kill Houka indicates that Danzō has no murderous intent. He wants to recruit this child! Therefore, Houka is safe."

Hatake Sakumo nodded, understanding the Third Hokage's meaning.

Stand by and wait!

Knock, knock!

Suddenly, there was a knock on the office door.

"It's so late, who could it be?" Hiruzen Sarutobi sat back in his chair and said, "Come in."

The door opened, and a very young ninja walked in with a spirited air. He had brilliant golden hair, azure blue eyes, and a smile on his face, looking heroic and extraordinary.

"Haha, Minato, you've returned!" Seeing the person, a look of joy immediately appeared on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face.

"Lord Hokage!"

The person who had arrived was none other than Minato Namikaze, the Yellow Flash from the original records, the Fourth Hokage of Konoha, and also Naruto's father.

"Lord Hatake!"

Minato Namikaze was very polite, smiling as he greeted the two people in the office.

"How is it? Is the border line still safe?" Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe cheerfully.

Minato Namikaze had been trained by Jiraiya and was considered the Third Hokage's grand-student. As the saying goes, affection skips a generation, so there was no need to mention how much Hiruzen Sarutobi favored Minato Namikaze.

"I dealt with some enemy ninjas; for now, it should be safe." Minato Namikaze possessed the charisma of a leader, and his words carried a naturally convincing authority.

"How is the training for that technique coming along?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked with a smile.

Minato Namikaze scratched his head and gave a gentle smile, "Lord Hokage, it's going quite smoothly. I think I will be able to master it soon, but I want to improve it a little!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Hatake Sakumo exchanged glances, their faces showing shock.

That technique had been created by the Second Hokage; mastering it was already as difficult as ascending to heaven, yet Minato Namikaze wanted to improve it?!

"Is that true?" As the White Fang of Konoha, a figure who shook the ninja world, Hatake Sakumo felt a sense of tension at this moment.

Minato Namikaze said modestly, "Perhaps I am just well-suited for this technique."

"Hahahaha..." Hiruzen Sarutobi burst into hearty laughter.

"Minato, you really are..." Hatake Sakumo shook his head with a wry smile, not knowing what else to say.

"Minato, go back and get some rest first," Hiruzen Sarutobi waved his hand with a smile.

"Then, I shall take my leave."

Once Minato Namikaze had left, Hatake Sakumo finally couldn't help but say, "Jiraiya's eye for talent truly makes me envious."

"I didn't expect it either."

Jiraiya's reputation as a lecher had gradually spread throughout Konoha—peeping into women's baths, reading adult novels—he really did all sorts of outrageous things, yet he had managed to take on such an outstanding disciple as Minato Namikaze, which truly left them speechless.

"By the way, where has that guy Jiraiya run off to?" Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned; his three disciples were becoming less and less reassuring.

"Lord Jiraiya has gone to Mount Myōboku, saying he is going to train in the Sage Art," Hatake Sakumo replied.

"Sage Art?" Hiruzen Sarutobi looked stunned.

He had heard the Second Hokage speak of this Sage Art. It was a terrifying secret technique that absorbed natural energy. Its power was immense, and those without top-tier talent couldn't even reach the entry level; ordinary people who forced themselves to train in it could even die!

"He really doesn't let one rest easy."

On the other side, in a medical room within one of Konoha's secret underground bases, a Medical Ninja was treating the critically wounded Crow Ghost.

After leaving the river, Crow Ghost had come straight here, but his injuries were too severe and he had delayed for over an hour, so he had collapsed the moment he arrived and had yet to regain consciousness.

Danzo stood to the side, watching coldly without saying a word.

"Lord Danzo, Crow Ghost's injuries were caused by Taijutsu and are truly horrific. Nearly half of his internal organs have been shattered, and the rest have sustained varying degrees of damage. He will need organ transplants to survive." The Medical Ninja looked up, revealing long golden hair and round-rimmed glasses; it was none other than Yakushi Nonō!

"Is that so? Injuries caused by Taijutsu... could he have run into someone from the Hyuga Clan?" Danzo narrowed his eyes in thought. Given Crow Ghost's strength, for someone to inflict such terrifying injuries, it must have been an elite Jonin from the Hyuga Clan!

He needed to focus his energy on dealing with the Uchiha, and he absolutely could not afford to fight a two-front war and offend the Hyuga Clan as well.

"In that case, give up on him," Danzo said coldly. "Gouge out his eyes!"

Danzo decided to abandon Crow Ghost, fearing that if he learned certain 'intelligence' from him, it might go against his original intentions and change his decision to annihilate the Uchiha.

Yakushi Nonō shuddered, hesitating for a long moment before reluctantly stopping the treatment. Before Crow Ghost drew his final breath, she removed his eyes and placed them into a test tube filled with a strange, pale green liquid.

This liquid could preserve the vitality of these Three-Tomoe Sharingan for a long time.

Danzo looked at the Sharingan with greed, but ultimately resisted the temptation and ordered, "Put them away for now."

"Yes, Lord Danzo!" Yakushi Nonō replied.

"I am already aware of the situation at the border. Minato Namikaze is truly worthy of being Jiraiya's student to have pacified the area so quickly. In that case, we will have to find a different place to collect orphans." Danzo turned and left. "Oh, and destroy this corpse. Do not leave any traces behind!"

"Yes, Lord Danzo!" Yakushi Nonō said.

When will days like these ever end!

Yakushi Nonō gritted her teeth, looking at the body on the hospital bed as it gradually grew cold, and fell into deep thought.