Ninjutsu Talent, Sunagakure, Rasa

The wilderness was damp and biting with cold. As this was his first time out on a mission, Byakuya lacked experience, and with no one to remind him, he had failed to bring a camping tent.

However, he was in high spirits; he had actually managed to scavenge a space-time ninjutsu summoning scroll from the enemy.

Chewing on a slightly sweet Military Ration Pill, he felt his stamina recover by about half. He sprinted through the plains, looking for a place to take temporary shelter.

He intended to rest until tomorrow, and once his stamina was fully restored, he would go find the remaining enemies.

As it turned out, the intelligence for this Root mission he had accepted was deeply flawed. These were no mere wandering ninja; they were clearly bounty hunters from the Bounty Exchange.

The difficulty of the mission had increased several times over.

The map he had seized only marked the rear facilities in detail. As for the rest, it only showed simplified towns, forests, and roads. Where he currently stood, there was nothing but mountains and trees.

Passing through a forest, he peered out under the faint moonlight to see a village nestled among the mountains, wisps of smoke rising from its chimneys.

Before arriving at the village, he hid the Shuten-doji mask inside his trench coat, then knocked on a door.

After stating his purpose and offering five hundred ryo for room and board, the family gladly invited Byakuya in.

He ate a meal of unappetizing hot food, but kept his guard up, not daring to fall into a deep sleep. He drifted in and out of consciousness until he heard a rooster crow.

He rose and headed straight for the Military Ration Pill research base.

His stamina had not yet fully recovered to its peak, but it was close enough, and the same went for his chakra.

He pulled up his Fate Grid panel.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence: The persistent shall succeed.

Time limit: 3 days. Practice Storm Release ninjutsu (0/50).

Reward: Minor increase in ninjutsu talent.]

He had been hoping for a Fate Grid mission that would improve his ninjutsu talent, and here it was, right on cue.

But now was not the time to practice Storm Release. He had to complete the Root mission that the old fox Hiroya had handed him; after all, he truly needed the resources of "Konoha's Root."

Constantly adjusting his speed based on his stamina, Byakuya cast aside all distractions and headed straight for the Military Ration Pill research base.

However, at the Ninja Tool Research Branch, two Root ninja wearing animal masks had arrived.

They crouched beside the corpses of the bounty hunters, which had been mangled beyond recognition by explosive tags.

"The identification tags and Bounty Exchange mission scrolls for these two Anteater Bounty Group ninja have been taken."

"Let's check inside the laboratory."

The two scouted the area but found nothing of note. Even the signs of combat outside the basement were unremarkable; it was just ninja testing each other with shadow clones.

"Including the two Anteater Bounty Group ninja we killed at the Military Ration Pill research base, all four chunin who infiltrated the rear of the Land of Fire are now dead. Let's return and report to our superiors."

"Who do you think killed them at the Ninja Tool Research Branch?"

"That is none of our concern."

"My apologies."

The Root ninja wearing the bird mask stared at the one in the raccoon mask, who had lowered his head: "No names, no emotions, no past, and no future. There is only the mission."

The two then set off without delay to return to Konoha.

The task they had just completed was merely a side job, handled while on their way to their next assignment on the front lines between Konoha and Kumogakure—that was where the real test lay.

These two nameless Root ninja were among those tasked with tracking the movements of the Two-Tails jinchūriki, Yugito.

Root knew very little about Yugito, possessing only intelligence regarding the brutal training she had undergone in Kumogakure. However, based on other reports, they deduced that Kumogakure intended to deploy their jinchūriki on the battlefield.

The reason they suspected the Two-Tails rather than the Eight-Tails was that Root did not believe Kumogakure's Eight-Tails jinchūriki could control the Eight-Tails' terrifying power.

Regardless of whether this assessment was true or false, it required the deployment of significant manpower for reconnaissance.

The two trekked back to the village, ignoring the Konoha ninja guarding the gate, and arrived at the underground Root base to report to Aburame Tatsuma.

After listening, Aburame Tatsuma nodded: "You should also depart."

"Understood."

"Dismissed."

Aburame Tatsuma remained silent for a moment before finding Shimura Danzō. He bowed his head: "Danzō-sama, among the peripheral personnel managed by Hiroya, there appears to be a talent worth cultivating."

He concisely recounted the situation regarding the killing of the bounty hunters, along with his own analysis.

"Danzō-sama, we are currently in need of capable people. He has the strength to kill two chunin and is capable of completing some of the organization's missions."

Shimura Danzō narrowed his eyes, lost in thought. After a long while, he said slowly: "Have Hiroya come here."

"Understood."

Vice-Principal Hiroya rushed over as fast as he could to receive his orders.

"To whom did you assign the mission regarding the wandering ninja?" Danzō asked.

Hiroya was struck with terror, thinking to himself, Could it be that Byakuya messed up? If he drags me down with him, what should I do? How can I shift the blame?

"Speak."

"I handed it over to Senkaku Byakuya, the good-for-nothing son of Senkaku Tetsuji."

"Oh? You aren't lying to this old man? You truly handed it to Senkaku Byakuya?"

Hiroya was on the verge of tears, kowtowing as he said, "Lord Danzō, even if you gave me the courage of a hundred bears, I wouldn't dare lie to you. The mission to purge the rogue ninjas was truly and certainly given to Senkaku Byakuya."

"I see. You are dismissed."

"Ah?! Yes, as you command."

Hiroya's heart was in his throat, and he left trembling with fear.

Aburame Tatsuma flipped through Byakuya's detailed file: "To be able to kill two Chūnin—given the level he has displayed, it sounds like a pipe dream."

"Senkaku Byakuya... he just graduated from the Ninja Academy. One mission proves nothing. Perhaps the bounty ninjas were careless, or perhaps he just got lucky. Let us observe him further."

"My lord, why are you willing to show such patience toward this brat?"

Danzō said slowly, "If his strength were truly as recorded in the file, he would already be a corpse."

"This subordinate does not understand what you mean."

Danzō walked toward the door, intending to see Sarutobi Hiruzen to discuss the matter of the Kumogakure Jinchūriki. Konoha was facing unimaginable war pressure, and they had to unite. "You do not need to understand my meaning; you only need to complete the tasks I assign you."

Aburame Tatsuma hurriedly knelt on one knee. "This subordinate knows his error."

"Lord Danzō, the latest intelligence from Sunagakure."

Yakushi Nonō, who had light blonde hair and wore round-rimmed glasses, hurried over and handed the intelligence to Shimura Danzō.

He broke the seal on the intelligence.

Shimura Danzō scanned it quickly, then read it again, word for word.

"Although the Third Kazekage has vanished, Sunagakure is not yet destined to fall."

He placed the intelligence into Yakushi Nonō's hands and said, "Even though Sunagakure has stabilized its situation, in order to shift internal pressure, they may well be considering opening an external battlefield. Order the spies lurking in Sunagakure not to expose themselves and to continue gathering valuable intelligence."

"As you command."

Danzō's figure gradually disappeared into the corridor.

Aburame Tatsuma stood beside Yakushi Nonō and looked at the contents of the intelligence.

"Rasa of Sunagakure—it is actually he who has stepped up. I recall that he also mastered the Third Kazekage's Kekkei Genkai, Magnet Release."

"And there is Pakura; this person is also not to be underestimated. She possesses the rare Scorch Release."