The Third Raikage's Weakness

Danzo suddenly began to entertain other thoughts.

He took a sealing scroll from his drawer, spread it open, and retrieved the intelligence he had gathered regarding the various abilities of the Third Raikage. He sealed the information inside and tossed it to the somewhat caught-off-guard Falcon.

"This is another mission for Shuten-doji. Order him to analyze the weaknesses of the Third Raikage. The reward is..."

Danzo paused.

Senkaku Byakuya possessed both Lightning and Water chakra natures, as well as the Storm Release Kekkei Genkai. Although he had requested Senju Tobirama's Water Release: Water Formation Wall, he remained fragile in terms of defense.

No one understood Senju Tobirama's version of the Water Release: Water Formation Wall better than he did; it was indeed a formidable ninjutsu, but it required a massive expenditure of chakra.

This meant that whenever the user cast this technique while facing a multi-person siege, they would become constrained, forced to constantly account for their remaining chakra reserves.

After all, Master Tobirama belonged to the Senju Clan, much like the members of the Uzumaki Clan, and was born with vast chakra reserves.

It was precisely because of this that all the ninjutsu he developed required an abundance of chakra as a prerequisite to unleash their full potential.

Senkaku Byakuya was merely the son of a civilian ninja; even if he had learned the Water Release: Water Formation Wall, he would never be as comfortable with it as Senju Tobirama.

Not everyone possessed the talent of Namikaze Minato.

That Namikaze Minato could master the Flying Thunder God Technique had exceeded both his and Sarutobi Hiruzen's expectations.

"Root has previously collected intelligence on the 'Lightning Release Armor' passed down through generations in Kumogakure. The reward for him shall be that information."

Falcon immediately knelt on one knee: "Understood. Should I still have Principal Hiroya deliver it?"

"Mm."

"If Lord Danzo has no other orders, this subordinate will take her leave."

"Go."

"Wait!"

Falcon hurriedly stopped and respectfully awaited the command: "Deliver this mission to Shuten-doji yourself. If he can identify the weaknesses of the Third Raikage, he may choose other rewards as well."

"Yes."

The door closed.

Danzo remained alone in the room.

Assigning this task regarding the Third Raikage's weaknesses to Senkaku Byakuya was a test of his ability to synthesize various pieces of intelligence.

Falcon quietly returned to the Ninja Academy, removed her mask, and changed her clothes. Seeming to be in a good mood, she hummed a little tune as she headed toward the warehouse.

However, she found Senkaku Byakuya in front of the warehouse, using Water Release to create a puddle and mopping the floor.

"Student Byakuya, what are you doing?" she asked coquettishly, her hands behind her back.

"Cleaning up. I'm about to get sick again."

"Oh, right. Student Byakuya always asks for leave whenever he gets sick."

"I can't risk infecting the students; they are the future of Konoha."

"Student Byakuya is truly kind-hearted. I like that so much."

Byakuya found a stool and handed it to Izumi Orange: "What do you want with me?"

"I recall that Student Byakuya possesses both Lightning and Water chakra natures?"

"My training is insufficient; I must work harder."

Izumi Orange nodded, deeply agreeing: "That is indeed true. Do you know of Kumogakure in the Land of Lightning?"

"How could I not?"

"Kumogakure has a secret technique called the Lightning Release Armor, and they have developed various Nintaijutsu through it. It is quite formidable."

Lightning Release Armor?

Byakuya preferred to call it the Lightning Release Chakra Mode.

"Speak plainly. I don't like beating around the bush," Byakuya said.

Izumi Orange tossed him the sealing scroll: "Inside is intelligence on the various abilities of the Third Raikage. Find his weaknesses."

Byakuya, of course, knew the Third Raikage's weakness; the fact that he eventually died to a swarm of Iwagakure Ninja confirmed exactly what that weakness was.

Seeing Byakuya holding the scroll without seeming moved, she added, "I almost forgot to mention, the reward is intelligence regarding the Lightning Release Armor. Perhaps one day, Student Byakuya will be able to learn this incredibly powerful Kumogakure secret technique."

"Teacher Izumi Orange, I don't know how to use sealing techniques."

"..."

She had thought he was just being difficult, but it turned out he simply didn't know how to use the sealing technique.

"Give it to me."

"Oh."

Izumi Orange used an unsealing technique: "You could also choose a different reward, such as a sealing technique?"

Byakuya picked through the intelligence, examining it carefully.

As expected of the Root organization; they had even managed to collect intelligence on the Third Raikage's Hell Stab: One-Finger Nukite.

It was mostly regarding the Lightning Release Armor.

However, the intelligence from Root was incomplete, partially inaccurate, and based on flawed judgments.

He knew far more than they did, as if he were viewing the world from a god's perspective.

"It's simple. The Raikage is strong in solo combat, so we swarm him, wear him down, and exhaust him. In any case, he lacks large-scale area-of-effect attacks."

"Huh?"

Izumi Orange looked particularly confused, even a bit dizzy.

What did he mean by "swarm him"?

That was the Raikage—could he really be so easily surrounded and attacked?!

And what did "wear him down" mean? Did student Byakuya mean piling up corpses to bury him?

"Byakuya, uh, could you explain that in more detail?"

"If we talk here, what if a teacher comes to request a ninjutsu?"

"It's fine, I can sense them in advance."

"So Teacher Izumi Orange has excellent sensory abilities."

"Please, student Byakuya, enlighten me."

When it came to the Raikage of Kumogakure, she was exceptionally excited. If she could kill him by exploiting his weaknesses, that would be marvelous!

At this very moment, Senkaku Byakuya was already thinking about what rewards he should demand from the Root organization.

As for the Lightning Release Armor, that was a secret technique of Kumogakure; how could it be obtained so easily?

Even if one were lucky enough to obtain and master it, there would always be a day when it had to be used. Once Kumogakure found out, they would absolutely spare no cost to kill you.

Such a hot potato was something Byakuya only dared to think about in his heart.

However, if the Lightning Release Chakra Mode were truly placed before him, he wouldn't mind "referencing it" reluctantly.

He wanted information on the Three Great Sage Regions more.

Because he truly possessed the talent to learn Sage Mode!!

"First, the more powerful a technique is, the more chakra it consumes, right?" Byakuya asked.

Izumi Orange nodded like a chick pecking at rice: "Yes, yes, yes."

"Are the Third Raikage's Hell Stab and Lightning Release Armor powerful?"

"You mean both techniques are extremely chakra-intensive? Yes, yes, student Byakuya is right."

Izumi Orange cooperated by putting on an "Ah, so that's how it is" expression, even though it was common knowledge.

"Then find an opportunity to force the Raikage into a situation where he has to fight alone, use a numerical advantage to drag him down, and exhaust him to death."

"May I ask, student Byakuya, how one would force the powerful Third Raikage of Kumogakure into a situation where he must fight alone?"

She emphasized the word "Raikage" heavily.

Byakuya smiled: "I heard Kumogakure and Iwagakure have gone to war? That is a problem for the Tsuchikage to consider, not us."

Izumi Orange stood up abruptly, staring at the smiling Senkaku Byakuya in astonishment.

"What? Does Teacher Izumi Orange think so too?"

She couldn't help but sigh with deep emotion: "Student Byakuya has the potential to become a politician."

"Not at all. I don't want information on the Lightning Release Armor; tell him I want information on the Three Great Sage Regions."

"The Three Great Sage Regions?"

"Just report it like that, and he will understand."

"Alright. Student Byakuya, I'll treat you to barbecue tonight to thank you."

Although he didn't understand why Izumi Orange wanted to thank him, Byakuya smoothly declined: "I'm sick and need to prepare enough medicine."

"I won't disturb you then."

She hurried back to report the mission.

The two maintained a tacit understanding, never exposing each other's true identities.

Teacher Izumi Orange, that old bastard Danzo isn't asking me for the Raikage's weakness; he's testing my ability to synthesize intelligence.

Heh, to be honest, even if it weren't the Raikage, if anyone else faced an encirclement of ten thousand ninjas, they would die. Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara excluded.

Senkaku Byakuya pulled up his Fate Grid Panel.

Perseverance Leads to Success, Heaven Rewards Diligence
Time limit: 6 days: Release chakra from the tip of your index finger to create one hundred non-dispersing water droplets on the surface of the water, and maintain them for thirty seconds (61/100)
Reward: Improved chakra control

He continued to practice using the puddle created earlier by Water Release: Water Wave.

He had to finish the task quickly and develop new Storm Release ninjutsu so he would have an extra trump card when facing Pakura.