Shimura Danzo continued, "Hiruzen, this is exactly when we need more people. Root needs talent. With a crisis upon us, Root has to expand so we can take on the vital tasks of monitoring the village, rooting out spies, and carrying out secret missions!"
Back when the village was at peace, Hiruzen Sarutobi had given Danzo an independent mobile unit within Anbu, but kept its numbers under control. Now Shimura Danzo was using this opportunity to ask Hiruzen Sarutobi to expand his ranks.
But the situation was indeed thorny. Konoha was surrounded by enemies on all sides.
After so many years of peace and recovery, the fertile land of the Land of Fire had never stopped attracting the covetous eyes of other villages.
Hanzo of the Salamander's move could very well ignite the ambitions of every ninja village, especially Sunagakure.
Sunagakure loved causing trouble for Konoha.
At this, Hiruzen Sarutobi lightly tapped his fingers on the desk, his face betraying his hesitation.
As Shimura Danzo's close friend, he naturally understood what was on his mind.
Shimura Danzo had always been bitter about what happened back then. He believed that he had lost to Hiruzen Sarutobi by just one step, and that was why Senju Tobirama had passed the Hokage Position to him.
Over the years, Shimura Danzo had considered himself no less capable than anyone else, and his obsession with power had only grown. He had often found excuses to demand more authority and expand his ranks, but Hiruzen had always held him back.
But the situation was indeed dire, and Root's ability to carry out covert operations could prove extremely useful.
After a moment's thought, he finally nodded. "All right. But Root's expansion comes with two conditions. First, anyone recruited must volunteer. No one is to be forced into service. Second, all of Root's operations must be reported to me and placed under Anbu's supervision. You are not to act on your own."
A hint of joy flashed in Shimura Danzo's eyes, gone almost before it appeared. He immediately nodded. "No problem. I'll strictly follow both conditions."
As soon as he finished speaking, Utatane Koharu stood up, her brows furrowed. "Hiruzen, Hanzo of the Salamander is especially skilled with poison, making him a formidable threat in a large-scale war. If we can't find a way to counter him, we'll suffer heavy losses."
"I've already considered that." Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. "Tsunade can handle things at the Medical Department. Make sure she develops an antidote as soon as possible."
As the Konoha High Command, they quickly analyzed the situation and reached a unanimous conclusion.
The war had begun!
"Knock, knock, knock!" Someone rapped on the door.
The Konoha F4 frowned.
"Come in," Hiruzen Sarutobi said.
An Anbu member opened the door and entered.
"Lord Hokage, the Ninja Academy has submitted this report. They're unable to make a decision on their own," the Anbu member said, kneeling on one knee and holding out a document with both hands. "Most of the students at the Ninja Academy have applied for early graduation. They've asked for your decision."
Hiruzen Sarutobi took the document and skimmed it. His eyebrows rose slightly. "..."
"Hiruzen, what is it?" Utatane Koharu asked, puzzled.
Hiruzen Sarutobi handed the document to the others.
"Notify all members of the Konoha High Command and the jonin. We're holding a Konoha meeting."
"Everyone currently out on a mission is to return to the village immediately and await assignment!"
The Konoha leadership meeting began soon after.
They discussed not only Konoha's situation, but also the report submitted by the Ninja Academy.
Bai Lin knew nothing about any of this.
Afternoon.
An empty clearing in the hills behind Konoha.
"Eight Inner Gates, Gate of Life, open!"
A thunderous shout shattered the stillness of the hills. Pale green Chakra erupted from Might Duy's body, and his bulging muscles stretched his green jumpsuit taut, outlining every contour.
His figure vanished from where he stood, crossing more than ten meters in an instant.
His opponent, Bai Lin, frowned. He wasn't shocked by Might Duy's strength. Rather, he thought Duy's speed had already surpassed that of most Chunin, yet still fell short of a jonin's.
The Eight Inner Gates' main drawback was the strain they placed on the body. More than anything, the technique relied on physical strength.
To put it in terms from another world, if becoming a ninja depended on talent, then the Eight Inner Gates were the equivalent of natural aptitude in martial arts.
That aptitude could rapidly improve one's physique and offered a high ceiling.
Might Duy didn't seem to have a particular talent for it. Even later on, his normal combat ability would at most be around that of an average Chunin. (This is based on Might Guy's normal strength, as well as the comparison between their Gate of Death.)
Bai Lin flashed forward and drove a side kick into Might Duy's waist.
The blow caught Duy in the side, sending him flying. He slammed hard into the ground.
"Boss, you're a genius!" Might Duy got back to his feet. He didn't look badly hurt, and his eyes gleamed with fervor.
"Boss, don't let your guard down. I can open the fourth gate now—the Gate of Pain."
"I'll grow stronger one step at a time. I'll become a ninja worthy of everyone's respect!"
"Eight Inner Gates, Gate of Pain, open!"
Might Duy roared. His Chakra surged, and his pale green aura churned and deepened to a dark green.
The eruption of Chakra from his body pressed down on the ground with a force far beyond that of the Gate of Life, shaking fine cracks into the earth.
The Gate of Life could further increase power and speed, but it also placed a heavy strain on the body.
Bai Lin had wanted to stop him before he opened the Gate of Pain, but the words died on his lips.
He knew that the Gate of Pain was about as far as Might Duy could go. It would be difficult for him to open the next gate.
But the strength Bai Lin had displayed had clearly stirred in Duy an obsessive desire to win.
Might Duy didn't consider himself a genius. Others often mocked him, saying he had no talent as a ninja.
So he spent most of his time training desperately in Taijutsu. He wasn't a genius, but he firmly believed that "hard work can make up for anything."
The Eight Inner Gates were his only hope, his weapon against the idea that talent was everything, and the embodiment of his longing for recognition.
Now, as the agony of opening the Gate of Pain spread along his meridians, his muscles strained beneath the pain. Yet there was not a hint of retreat in his eyes, only a fervor that would burn everything to ash.
"Boss! Take this!"
Might Duy roared and pushed off the ground. His body became a blurred streak as he drove his fist straight at Bai Lin's face.
With Sasuke Uchiha's abilities equipped, Bai Lin naturally wasn't afraid. He might not be good at genjutsu, but his speed far surpassed that of an ordinary jonin.
If he added Lightning Release Chakra on top of that, Might Duy would have to open at least two more gates just to match his speed.
Bai Lin knew the Eight Inner Gates couldn't be kept open for long, or they would cause too much damage to the body. He decided to end the fight quickly.
He moved faster than Duy, appearing right in front of him. He dipped low to dodge Duy's punch and landed a precise, heavy blow to his abdomen.
"Thud!"
The muffled impact made the air tremble. The dark green Chakra aura scattered in an instant, like a punctured balloon.
Might Duy's eyes widened. A large mouthful of blood sprayed from his mouth, and his body flew backward like a broken kite, crashing into a rock more than ten meters away with a dull thud.
"That's enough. We'll stop here."
"Guy, you may not be a genius,"
"but I recognize how hard you've worked!"
"I, Bai Lin, declare you a 'hardworking genius'!"