Team Seven's Movements

Hokage Office Building.

Hiruzen Sarutobi watched as Maruboshi Kosuke and Team Seven left Konoha one after another. He waved a hand to shut off the crystal ball on his desk, pinched the bridge of his nose, and said, "Why did no one tell me that someone from the Land of Waves came to the village to issue a mission?"

"Please forgive us, Lord Hokage!"

"We've been investigating Shisui Uchiha's old records recently..."

An ANBU ninja slowly emerged from the shadows, dropped to one knee before the desk, and explained in a low voice, "Besides, Umino Iruka was on duty at the Mission Assignment Office. That citizen from the Land of Waves merely issued an ordinary C-rank escort mission..."

"That wasn't an ordinary mission!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, clasped his hands on the desk, and stared at the mission file. "I wonder if Kosuke can complete it..."

Trade between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water was a major business. Yet such enormous profits were controlled by a single maritime merchant, something the Konoha Elders had long been dissatisfied with.

Moreover, the Land of Waves was the island nation closest to the Land of Fire. No matter what, they could not allow the great maritime merchant controlling the Land of Waves to slowly side with Kirigakure.

It was only because no one from the Land of Waves had ever stepped forward. Now, by chance, someone within the Land of Waves wanted to build a bridge leading to the Land of Fire. Wasn't that a sign that they wanted to draw closer to Konoha?

Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes and looked at another mission beside him. It was a C-rank mission to recover goods from Bandits. The two missions appeared unrelated, but Team Seven was the ninja team closest to the Land of Waves.

Lowering his voice, Hiruzen Sarutobi murmured, "With Kakashi's intelligence, he should understand the importance of the Land of Waves, right?"

In reality, it was exactly as he had expected.

Kakashi Hatake had come from the ANBU and had long been exposed to Konoha's darker underbelly. As a result, he possessed a broad perspective that his peers lacked.

The mission Kakashi had accepted for Team Seven also had a destination near the Land of Waves, making it convenient for him to investigate information about the Land of Waves in private.

However, there was another matter Hiruzen Sarutobi had not anticipated...

In the dark underground base behind Konoha, a figure sped through the corridors. The airflow kicked up by his body stirred the candle flames, casting a vicious shadow.

"Sir, we've just received word that Kakashi has led Team Seven out of Konoha and accepted a C-rank mission!"

The masked ninja raised his head and looked at the superior he respected most. He continued in a deep voice, "Their target is a group of wandering samurai under our control..."

"Hmm?"

The one-eyed old man turned around in surprise. After hearing his subordinate's report, a smile crept onto his lips. "They were merely pawns I placed casually to restrain those foolish merchant pigs. I never expected them to serve a purpose on the board as well..."

The ninja beneath the animal mask asked in confusion, "But with the strength of those wandering samurai, they won't be able to defeat Kakashi Hatake, will they?"

"Hmph..."

Shimura Danzō snorted, his mood turning sour. "Because of him, this old man lost an important subordinate back then!"

That subordinate had been the only surviving Wood Release test subject!

Even though his power was far inferior to that of the First Hokage, he still possessed overwhelming strength against other ninja. His name alone showed just how highly Danzō valued him!

Kinoe!

Back then, in order to ambush Kakashi and obtain his Sharingan, Shimura Danzō had sent Kinoe to carry out the mission. Unfortunately, Hiruzen Sarutobi discovered it, and the old man personally came to take Kinoe away from Root!

Wasn't that just stealing the fruit of someone else's labor?!

Shimura Danzō's expression gradually turned solemn as he gripped the ninja sword in his hand. "Perfect. I can use this chance to eliminate every unstable factor threatening Konoha in one stroke!"

"Monkey has been sending ANBU to investigate Shisui Uchiha's old records lately. He has no time to watch Root. Send out several squads in full force!"

"I'll stay here to create an alibi. We must also remain cautious. Those ANBU may still trace what happened to Shisui back to me!"

Shimura Danzō swiftly devised a plan. Taking advantage of Team Seven's mission, he would replace the wandering samurai with a group of highly skilled wandering ninja.

He could use this opportunity to eliminate the hidden danger that was Kakashi Hatake. That white-haired ninja knew too much, even about the attempt to assassinate Hiruzen Sarutobi back then!

Furthermore, from Hiruzen Sarutobi's casual remarks, he had sensed that the man intended to list Kakashi Hatake as a Hokage candidate in the near future...

That was not a good sign!

Besides that, the little brats of Team Seven could also be put to good use.

If they could plant darkness loyal to Konoha within the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's mind, they might have a chance to turn him completely into a weapon for their own use!

There was another bonus as well. If Root ninja controlled Sasuke Uchiha, they could indirectly control that elusive Konoha S-rank Rogue Ninja, Itachi Uchiha!

The timing, terrain, and manpower were all in their favor. Such an opportunity was truly rare!

At Danzō's command, more than a dozen masked ninja rushed over and assembled before him, respectfully awaiting his orders.

"Fu, this matter is of great importance. You will personally lead the team. Your mission is to kill Kakashi Hatake, then bring Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha to our base outside the village. I will equip you with the strongest ninja in the organization. Do not disappoint me..."

Shimura Danzō stared at his trusted subordinate. Yamanaka Fu was an outstanding talent he had requested from the Yamanaka Clan, someone he had raised since childhood and who was utterly loyal to him.

Yamanaka Fu nodded. "Yes!"

"Then go! You don't have much time..."

The one-eyed old man waved his hand and watched his subordinates rapidly depart. A confident smile appeared on his lips, while a faint red gleam flickered beneath the bandages on his face.

The sky gradually darkened.

Team Seven had yet to notice the crisis about to descend upon them. Before nightfall, they had already set up camp in the wilderness.

Sakura Haruno stood beside the Guild Master, watching the three people by the river with great interest as Kakashi Hatake explained the basics of fishing. "First, bait the hook properly. Hang the bait at an angle on the hook, otherwise some little fish will secretly eat it..."

Sasuke Uchiha frowned and quietly offered another suggestion. "Sensei Kakashi, wouldn't it be faster to use your Lightning Release Ninjutsu?"

Kakashi Hatake lowered his head. "Camping in the wilderness is extremely dangerous. We could encounter enemies at any moment, so we can't casually waste the chakra in our bodies..."

"..."

Sasuke rolled his eyes and pointed at the teammate beside him.

Naruto Uzumaki was continuously compressing the Rasengan in his palm. Before long, he finally condensed its chakra into something the size of a marble. He flicked his finger, firing the marble-sized Rasengan into the river!

Plop!

After the soft sound of the marble hitting the water, the riverbed instantly began to churn, and a vortex gradually formed on the surface!

The large and small fish still swimming in the river had no time to react before their bodies were swept into the air by the spiraling current, raining down across the ground...

Naruto Uzumaki looked at his right hand and nodded to himself. "Hmm... I'll call it the Rasengan Bullet from now on!"

"Don't waste... chakra..."

Kakashi Hatake spoke the words, but his eyes involuntarily rolled upward as he blankly watched a fish fall onto his head.

Shimura Danzō: Monkey, what do you think of this plan of mine?

Hiruzen Sarutobi: Two words: brilliant. One word: perfect.

Shimura Danzō: Then do you think I can become Hokage?

Hiruzen Sarutobi: Danzō, you still haven't grasped the essence of being Hokage!

Shimura Danzō: What do you mean?

Hiruzen Sarutobi: Once you finish the job, I'll tell you what the essence of being Hokage is!

Shimura Danzō: ...Just you wait. Sooner or later, I'll make you acknowledge me!

Hiruzen Sarutobi: Heh heh. "Year after year, she presses down the golden thread, only to sew a wedding dress for another." How do you still have the nerve to want to become Hokage?