Reward

They had no idea that Li Yi had already fought the Third Raikage. He had even killed three members of the Raikage Guard. But Li Yi's techniques still couldn't hurt the Third Raikage. Otherwise, he would have made sure to kill him and avenge Kagami Uchiha.

It had taken only two days for the great shinobi villages to hear the news: the Third Raikage had personally gone after Li Yi, but in the end, Li Yi had still gotten away with ease—and killed three members of the Raikage Guard.

Information about Li Yi's techniques had also leaked. The Third Raikage had never intended to keep it secret. He wanted Li Yi's abilities exposed.

Li Yi could not only fly, but also possessed a unique Kekkei Genkai that could amplify the power of Fire Style. He also carried a long blade that could emit flames, as well as a Mangekyō Sharingan.

That was the information about Li Yi that had been leaked so far!

Danzo had received the news, too. Looking it over, he was stunned. Had Li Yi really grown this powerful? He could fly! How many shinobi dreamed of flying? After all, being able to fly meant a great deal.

As for the rest, a Kekkei Genkai that amplified Fire Style was also worth taking seriously.

"Lord Danzo, Li Yi has already fought the Third Raikage and walked away unscathed. That's wonderful! I'm sure Yamanaka Ao will find him soon. Then we'll be able to reinforce the battlefield in the Land of Rivers!" Lufeng exclaimed happily. The battlefield in the Land of Rivers was desperately short of high-level fighters.

Danzo nodded. That was indeed the case.

And Li Yi was soon found by Yamanaka Ao and his team. Ao led a squad of trackers and scouts that included members of the Hyuuga, Inuzuka, and Aburame Clans, all of whom were skilled at tracking and reconnaissance. Ao himself was also a sensor.

"Senior Li Yi, Lord Danzo has ordered you to return to camp at once!" Yamanaka Ao said, holding out a scroll.

Li Yi took the scroll, glanced at it, then destroyed it. "All right. Let's head back!"

He returned to the Konoha camp with Yamanaka Ao and the others. They didn't ask about the young man accompanying him; they simply continued on toward the camp.

Once inside, Li Yi took Kato Taka to a tent. "Wait here, Kato Taka. Don't wander off."

Kato Taka nodded, and Li Yi went to see Danzo.

When Li Yi entered Danzo's tent, Danzo smiled. "Li Yi, it's been a long time!"

"Yes, Lord Danzo. It has," Li Yi replied. Nearly a year had passed since he left the Konoha camp. He had spent that time operating in the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Moon, without returning to camp. Whenever he had the chance, he left coded messages in various places.

"I never expected you to improve so quickly. If Kagami could see you now, he'd be proud," Danzo said with a sigh.

Li Yi said nothing. Danzo continued, "With Lord Hokage's approval, Li Yi, your outstanding service has earned you a promotion to Anbu squad captain. In addition, Lord Hokage says you may choose one technique from the Scroll of Sealing to study. Here's the list."

As he spoke, Danzo handed Li Yi a sheet of paper from his desk.

Li Yi's eyes lit up. The Scroll of Sealing was full of treasures. He looked over the list, then couldn't help feeling speechless.

He suspected Sarutobi Hiruzen was taking advantage of the fact that he had never seen the Scroll of Sealing.

The Dead Demon Consuming Seal and Impure World Reincarnation weren't on the list at all. In other words, Sarutobi Hiruzen had no intention of letting him learn either technique. The Flying Thunder God Slash, however, was listed.

"Lord Danzo, I choose this one: the Second's Flying Thunder God Slash," Li Yi said at once.

Danzo nodded, then paused to consider. "Li Yi, this technique is extremely difficult to learn. It requires a body suited to space-time techniques. Are you sure you don't want to reconsider?"

In Danzo's view, almost nobody could learn the Flying Thunder God Slash. It was too difficult, with requirements that were far too demanding. A person needed not only exceptional insight but also the right physique. Otherwise, the Second wouldn't have classified it as a forbidden technique.

"No need, Lord Danzo. I want to give it a try," Li Yi insisted.

Li Yi hesitated, then asked, "Lord Danzo, may I ask something? If the Flying Thunder God Slash is a forbidden technique, how can you tell whether someone is suited to it? If someone had the right physique but missed out on such a powerful technique, wouldn't that mean Konoha lost a chance to grow stronger? The technique might even be lost."

Danzo smiled. "We do have a test, actually, and it's already been given to everyone. If someone has an affinity for space, their Body Flicker Technique will be especially powerful. Only then will they qualify to study the Flying Thunder God Slash."

Li Yi understood. No wonder. It seemed he'd worried for nothing. Of course, that was how things worked now; it might not be the case later. Uchiha Shisui's Body Flicker Technique was famously powerful, yet nobody had offered him the Flying Thunder God Slash. So in the end, it still came down to what the Third Hokage wanted.

But none of that mattered to Li Yi. Being able to learn it now was enough.

As for having an affinity for space, Li Yi thought he probably did. He was a transmigrator, after all. Surely he'd brought some kind of space-related physique with him. Otherwise, how had he crossed worlds?

Once he mastered it, this would be another technique that could save his life.

And even if he couldn't use it in the end, he wouldn't regret trying. At least he'd given it his best shot.

After that, Danzo called over a shinobi. The shinobi bit his finger and performed the Summoning Technique, then sent Danzo's message back.

As Li Yi was about to leave, Danzo said, "Wait a moment. Lord Hokage will have the technique copied out and sent over. By the way, I heard you brought a young man back?"

"Right. I met him in the Land of Hot Water. He used to be a member of the Land of Fire's nobility, from the Kato Clan. We got along, so I brought him with me to teach him."

Danzo gave a dismissive "Oh" and lost interest. He had thought the young man might be some kind of rare talent, but apparently not. His sensor had already assessed the young man: he was only as strong as an ordinary Genin.

Since Danzo had brought it up, Li Yi took the opportunity to ask him to give the young man Genin status. Danzo had no objections. In wartime, everything was kept simple.

The matter was easily settled, and Li Yi received a Konoha Headband.

"By the way, the reason I called you back was to send you to the battlefield in the Land of Rivers. The Second Kazekage, Shamon, has joined the fighting. You'll need to hold him off so we can drive the Sand Shinobi back and free up more forces to fight Kumogakure," Danzo said gravely.