The Third Raikage's Weakness

Danzo suddenly had another idea.

He took a sealing scroll from the drawer and spread it open, then found the intelligence Root had gathered on the Third Raikage's various abilities. He sealed it inside and tossed it to Falcon, who was caught off guard.

"This is another mission for Shuten-doji. Have him analyze the Third Raikage's weaknesses. The reward is..."

Danzo paused.

Senkaku Byakuya possessed both Lightning and Water chakra natures, as well as the Kekkei Genkai Storm Release. Although he had requested Senju Tobirama's Water Release: Water Formation Wall, his defensive abilities were still weak.

No one understood Senju Tobirama's version of Water Release: Water Formation Wall better than Danzo. It was indeed a powerful jutsu, but it consumed a great deal of chakra.

As a result, once its user performed the jutsu while also facing attacks from multiple opponents, he would be left struggling to respond, forced to consider how much chakra he had left.

Teacher Tobirama belonged to the Senju Clan, after all. Like members of the Uzumaki Clan, he had enormous reserves of chakra from birth.

That was precisely why, for every jutsu he developed, having enough chakra was a prerequisite for unleashing its full power.

Senkaku Byakuya was merely the son of a civilian shinobi. Even if he learned Water Release: Water Formation Wall, he wouldn't be able to use it as effortlessly as Senju Tobirama.

Not everyone had Namikaze Minato's talent.

That Namikaze Minato had learned the Flying Thunder God Technique had surprised both Danzo and Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Root once gathered intelligence on the 'Lightning Release Armor' passed down through the generations in Kumogakure. That intelligence will be his reward."

Falcon immediately dropped to one knee. "Understood. Should I have Principal Hiroya pass it along?"

"Yes."

"If Lord Danzo has no further orders, I'll take my leave."

"Go."

"Wait!"

Falcon hurriedly stopped and listened respectfully for his orders. "Tell Shuten-doji about this mission yourself. If he identifies the Third Raikage's weakness, he can choose a different reward."

"Yes."

The door closed.

Danzo sat alone in the room.

This mission to identify the Third Raikage's weaknesses was a test of Senkaku Byakuya's ability to analyze and synthesize 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 for the warehouse.

But when she saw Senkaku Byakuya outside the warehouse, he had used Water Release to make a puddle and was mopping the floor.

"Byakuya, what are you doing?" she asked sweetly, her hands clasped behind her back.

"Cleaning. I'm going to get sick again."

"Oh, right. You always take time off when you get sick, Byakuya."

"I can't infect the students. They're the future of Konoha."

"You're so kind, Byakuya. I like that."

Byakuya found a stool and offered it to Izumi Orange. "What do you need?"

"If I remember right, you have both Lightning and Water chakra natures?"

"I haven't trained enough. I still need to work hard."

Izumi Orange nodded emphatically. "That's true. Do you know about Kumogakure, in the Land of Lightning?"

"How could I not?"

"Kumogakure has a secret technique called Lightning Release Armor. They developed all sorts of Nintaijutsu from it. It's really powerful."

Lightning Release Armor?

Byakuya preferred to call it Lightning Release Chakra Mode.

"Get to the point. I don't like beating around the bush," Byakuya said.

Izumi Orange tossed him a sealing scroll. "Inside is intelligence on the Third Raikage's various abilities. Find his weakness."

Of course Byakuya knew the Third Raikage's weakness. The fact that he ultimately died after being surrounded by Iwa shinobi proved exactly what his weakness was.

She saw Byakuya holding the scroll without seeming interested. "I almost forgot to mention the reward. It's intelligence on Lightning Release Armor. Maybe one day you'll learn this powerful secret technique from Kumogakure, too."

"Teacher Izumi Orange, I don't know Sealing Jutsu."

"..."

She had thought he was waiting for her to offer something before agreeing. It turned out he simply didn't know Sealing Jutsu.

"Give it to me."

"Oh."

Izumi Orange used an unsealing jutsu. "You can choose a different reward, too. Sealing Jutsu, for example?"

Byakuya picked through the intelligence and examined it closely.

As expected of the Root Organization. They had even gathered intelligence on the Third Raikage's Hell Stab: One-Finger Nukite.

Most of it concerned Lightning Release Armor.

But Root's intelligence was incomplete. Some of it was inaccurate, and some of its conclusions were wrong.

It still wasn't as good as what he knew from having a bird's-eye view.

"Simple. The Raikage is strong in a one-on-one fight, so gang up on him and wear him down. He doesn't have any wide-area attacks, anyway."

"Huh?"

Izumi Orange looked completely confused, even a little dazed.

What did he mean by "gang up on him"?

He was the Raikage. Did Byakuya think they could surround him so easily?!

And what did "wear him down" mean? Was Byakuya suggesting they pile up bodies?

"Byakuya, um, could you explain in more detail?"

"What if a teacher comes by to request a jutsu while we're talking here?"

"It's fine. I can sense them coming ahead of time."

"So Teacher Izumi Orange has excellent sensory abilities."

"Please enlighten me, Byakuya."

The subject was the Raikage of Kumogakure, and she was especially excited. If they could kill him by exploiting his weakness, that would be wonderful!

By now, Senkaku Byakuya had already decided what reward to request from the Root Organization.

Lightning Release Armor? That was a secret technique belonging to Kumogakure. How could he possibly get his hands on it so easily?

Even if he got lucky, obtained it, and learned it, sooner or later he'd have to use it. Once Kumogakure found out, they'd stop at nothing to kill him.

Byakuya only entertained that dangerous prospect in his mind.

Still, if Lightning Release Chakra Mode really were placed right in front of him, he could reluctantly "study it for reference."

What he wanted more was intelligence on the Three Great Sage Regions.

Because he really did have a talent for learning Senjutsu!!

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

Izumi Orange nodded like a pecking chicken. "Right, right."

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

"You mean both jutsu consume a lot of chakra? Right, right, you're right, Byakuya."

Izumi Orange put on an expression that said, "Ah, so that's how it works," though it was common knowledge.

"Then find an opportunity to force the Raikage into a situation where he has to fight alone. Use your numbers to wear him down and kill him."

"Byakuya, how do you suggest we force the powerful Third 'Raikage' of Kumogakure into a situation where he has to fight alone?"

She put heavy emphasis on "Raikage."

Byakuya smiled. "I heard Kumogakure and Iwagakure are at war. That's a problem for the Tsuchikage to consider, not us."

Izumi Orange sprang to her feet, staring wide-eyed at the smiling Senkaku Byakuya.

"What? Do you think so too, Teacher Izumi Orange?"

She couldn't help sighing in admiration. "Byakuya, you have the makings of a politician."

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

"The Three Great Sage Regions?"

"Just report it that way. He'll understand."

"Okay. Byakuya, let me treat you to barbecue tonight to thank you."

Although Byakuya didn't understand why Izumi Orange was thanking him, he smoothly turned her down. "I'm sick. I need to stock up on medicine."

"I won't keep you any longer."

She hurried back to report.

Neither of them had the slightest intention of exposing the other's identity.

"Teacher Izumi Orange, that old fox Danzo wasn't asking me about the Raikage's weakness. He was testing my ability to analyze intelligence.

"Heh. Honestly, it wouldn't matter if it were the Raikage or anyone else. If they were surrounded by tens of thousands of shinobi, they'd die. That is, unless they were Senju Hashirama or Uchiha Madara."

Senkaku Byakuya opened the Fate Grid Panel.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence, Perseverance Leads to Success

Time limit: 6 days. Release chakra from the tip of your index finger and form one hundred water droplets on the surface without letting them spread, then maintain them for thirty seconds (61/100)

Reward: Improved chakra control]

He continued training with the puddle he had created using Water Release: Water Wave in front of the warehouse.

He needed to finish the task quickly and develop a new Storm Release jutsu, so he'd have another trump card when facing Pakura.