S-Rank Ninjutsu

Byakuya's task now was to play the hand he'd been dealt well.

He wasn't one to blame others for his misfortunes.

Besides, with the Fate Grid, his strength would only keep growing. Sooner or later, he'd be able to take his fate into his own hands.

Of course, winning Hiroya over was just one small step forward.

Because he'd seen through Hiroya's greedy nature, Byakuya had tempted him with profit.

There were no eternal friends, only eternal interests.

If he showed enough strength, someone like Hiroya would wag his tail and beg like a lapdog.

Sitting in Hiroya's office chair, Byakuya found it quite comfortable. Hiroya certainly knew how to enjoy himself.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps in the hallway.

Byakuya picked up a rag and pretended to wipe down the desk.

"Principal? I have something to report."

"Sorry, the principal had to step out."

"Oh, it's Byakuya."

The newcomer was Izumi Orange, with her baby face. She smiled warmly as always. "Byakuya, you've been missing again lately. Don't tell me you've fallen ill?"

"Teacher Izumi Orange, you guessed right. Something went wrong while I was training in ninjutsu, and I caught a cold. I stayed home to rest for a while." Byakuya kept a straight face and made it sound convincing.

With her hands behind her back, Izumi Orange sauntered over to him. "Ah, Byakuya, you've gotten taller."

"Have I?"

"My eyes are always sharp. Just like when I first met you, I knew you'd make something of yourself one day."

"I'll take that as a good omen, Teacher Izumi Orange."

"Oh, Byakuya, don't be so cold. You're breaking my warm-hearted teacher's heart," Izumi Orange said coyly.

Byakuya tapped his head, as if suddenly remembering something. "I almost forgot. Teacher Izumi Orange once said she was Lord Hokage's spy, planted beside Vice Principal Hiroya to gather intelligence."

Izumi Orange's expression changed drastically. "I never said that! Senkaku Byakuya, don't you dare slander me!"

"Whether it's true or not, Hiroya can decide for himself. But, Teacher Izumi Orange, guess who he'll believe: me or you?"

"Hmph! I'm not talking to you. You're always teasing people."

"Would you like to get barbecue with me, Teacher Izumi Orange?"

"No, thanks. I'm not hungry."

Izumi Orange fled in a panic.

Byakuya waited a little longer, dropped the rag, and returned to the warehouse.

He pulled out a bamboo chair and reclined on it. A peaceful life really is the best. Better a dog in times of peace than a person in times of chaos. Too bad peace in Konoha is just an empty promise. Why do those people always want to fight and kill?

These past few days, the Fate Grid's timed missions had slightly improved his Taijutsu talent and sensory ability.

He brought up the Fate Grid Panel.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence, Perseverance Leads to Success

Time limit: 2 days: Practice Shadow Clone Technique (50/50)

Reward: Ninjutsu talent slightly increased]

Hiroya stood before Shimura Danzō, his knees trembling.

The four scrolls containing Sealing Jutsu had been decoded.

After reading the intelligence, Danzō's expression darkened, as if a storm were brewing.

Yakushi Nonō, standing beside him, said quietly, "Lord Danzō, should we send someone—"

"No. The situation in Sunagakure is far from good. Rasa isn't a fool. He won't act so hastily."

The intelligence in the scrolls didn't mention a Sunagakure attack on Konoha, but it did detail Sunagakure's troop movements.

A considerable number of Sunagakure Ninja were stationed in the Land of Rivers. The three Sunagakure Ninja Byakuya had killed were couriers returning to Sunagakure to report on their unit's situation.

According to the intelligence, shortages of supplies had left some Sunagakure Ninja in the Land of Rivers demoralized. They were clamoring to return to their village.

"What else did he say?" Danzō asked coldly.

Hiroya dropped to his knees and stammered, "He... he said he had important intelligence worth as much as an S-Rank Ninjutsu."

"Heh." Danzō let out another low chuckle. "I understand."

Now he was certain that Senkaku Byakuya was a cautious little fox who kept his tail tucked away.

This intelligence was especially valuable, forcing Senkaku Byakuya to use it as a bargaining chip in a deal with him.

Overall, Senkaku Byakuya had handled things well. He knew to share the benefits instead of making himself a target. Just look at Hiroya's expression. The fool had probably already become his willing lackey.

The methods were always the same: threats and rewards. Someone like Hiroya would go wherever the wind blew, as long as it benefited him.

"Go bring him here."

"Yes."

Hiroya backed out of the room. Only after he'd gone a long way did he dare break into a run, hurrying away from Root's underground base.

Shimura Danzō took a detailed report on Senkaku Byakuya from his desk drawer.

It covered every detail of Byakuya's current situation and even included an assessment of whether he was worth cultivating.

Shimura Danzō handed the report to Yakushi Nonō. "The little fox likes to wear the Shuten-doji Mask. From now on, his codename in Root will be Shuten-doji."

"Yes."

"Last time, Shuten-doji asked for Lord Tobirama's Water Release: Water Formation Wall. Since he now has intelligence worth as much as an S-Rank Ninjutsu, it seems he'll ask for one of Lord Tobirama's S-Rank techniques."

Yakushi Nonō said doubtfully, "An S-Rank Ninjutsu? With his current strength..."

"He successfully carried out the mission to eliminate Sunagakure's spy, then fought Pakura in the forest of the Land of Rivers and managed to return to Konoha safely. Shuten-doji's strength has surpassed my expectations."

"Understood."

Shimura Danzō turned to stare at her and abruptly asked, "Do you know how you're better than Aburame Tatsuma?"

"I don't, sir."

"You have more self-awareness than he does. You don't ask questions you shouldn't."

Yakushi Nonō quickly lowered her head even further.

When Byakuya entered Root's underground base and arrived in the room where Shimura Danzō received visitors, the two of them were alone.

Shimura Danzō looked at the Demon King Shuten-doji Mask covering Byakuya's face but didn't ask him to remove it. Instead, he pointed to a document on the desk.

It was an application form he'd written himself: "Application for an Outside Member of the Anbu Training Department."

"With this application you willingly wrote, you can only be part of Root while you're in Konoha. Do you regret it?"

"I do."

"What do you regret?"

"Not having enough strength to refuse to fill out this application."

Danzō said coldly, "Ninjas from famous clans can refuse to join Root without worrying about the consequences. You can't. You're a civilian with no backing, and right now, you don't have the strength to refuse me either."

"Yes."

"Your codename in Root will be Shuten-doji. You'll take orders directly from me, while Vice Principal Hiroya will continue to relay your missions. Other than when there's intelligence worth as much as an S-Rank Ninjutsu, you and I won't need to meet."

"I'll obey."

"Tell me about what happened to you in the Land of Rivers."

Byakuya left nothing out: eliminating the spy San-Dan-Kun, fighting Pakura, running into Sunagakure and Iwagakure Ninja who were chasing each other, and encountering the Azure-Black Serpent. He even told Shimura Danzō about his Kekkei Genkai, Storm Release.

There was no need to hide any of it. Pakura wasn't dead, and with Root's intelligence network, they'd find out sooner or later.

Perhaps Danzō already knew about his fight with Pakura.

But he didn't breathe a word about his talent or Fate Grid.

Shimura Danzō furrowed his brow. "This intelligence is indeed worth as much as an S-Rank Ninjutsu. If you were in my position, what would you do?"

"After Iwagakure's defeat, I'd form an alliance with Sunagakure."

"An alliance is just a worthless scrap of paper. Sunagakure could learn the truth about Konoha's rear and turn around to attack us."

"But even a temporary alliance would be enough to ease the pressure on the front lines."

After a moment, Shimura Danzō nodded.

If they didn't form an alliance, would Sunagakure abandon the idea of attacking Konoha? No.

The Land of Wind was barren, while the Land of Fire was rich. People pursued their own interests. That was a fundamental conflict.

Of course, they both knew Iwagakure would certainly be defeated. Byakuya had the advantage of seeing the future, while Danzō had learned Sunagakure's greatest trump card from the intelligence sent back by his spies.

One-Tail Shukaku.

That old man who seemed ancient beyond belief had apparently become the perfect One-Tail Jinchuriki.

"What Ninjutsu do you want?"

Byakuya slowly replied, "Lord Senju Tobirama's Water Release: Water Severing Wave."

He really wanted the Flying Thunder God Technique. But after thinking it over, he'd chosen Water Release: Water Severing Wave instead.

What he lacked most right now was a powerful offensive technique.

After a long pause,

Shimura Danzō stopped staring at Byakuya and said, "I'll give you Water Release: Water Severing Wave. I'll also give you the Flying Thunder God Technique, which made Namikaze Minato famous."

From his perspective, Senkaku Byakuya was a child with a clean background who had proven his worth. He was worth investing resources in.

Byakuya wasn't happy. Instead, he asked, "What price do I have to pay?"

Danzō turned his back to him and looked up at the calligraphy on the wall, which bore the words "Wind Forest Fire Mountain." "Your parents died for Konoha. I hope you'll have the conviction to die for Konoha too."

That was the exact opposite of Byakuya's Way of Survival!