The strength of a shinobi village and that of its nation could be said to be closely intertwined.
After the Third Shinobi World War, Kumogakure had unquestionably become the strongest village in the shinobi world, and the Land of Lightning's support had naturally been indispensable to that rise.
Tanaka Qinghai was much like the retired Shinhiko Kōzuki. Though he held no official position, many powerful, high-ranking officials in the Land of Lightning had been his students.
The guards available to such a great noble would naturally outnumber those of every previous target, and might even surpass those of Maeda Shin in the Land of Wind.
"After the assassinations in the Land of Wind, the Land of Water, and the Land of Earth, the nobles of the Land of Lightning are certain to pay greater attention to their safety. Your first three missions have proven that your adaptability and strength fully meet the standards of a jōnin. For your final mission, you may choose one jōnin to accompany you. There will be no assessment on this mission. You will be partners of equal standing."
Considering the difficulty of assassinating Tanaka Qinghai, the Third Hokage had dispensed with the examiner-and-candidate arrangement, turning this S-rank mission into a regular assignment.
"You have one day to consider your teammate. As long as the person you choose is in the village, you may take him with you. That includes members of your Uchiha Clan."
Danzo had been unusually docile lately, but the Third Hokage knew he was not a man who would sit back and await his doom. The quieter Danzo's side became, the greater the danger to Madara Uchiha. Thus, for this most dangerous mission, the Third Hokage had also given Madara Uchiha the greatest possible freedom.
"Yes."
After saying goodbye to the Third