Within Hokage Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi After Lin Ze left, the gentleness on his face gradually faded and became darker.
He knocked on the table, and a black shadow quietly appeared in the office Corner.
"Go and retrieve the detailed records of Aoda's mission, including the information of the mission issuer."
"Yes."
The black shadow responded and disappeared instantly.
Not long after, a task Scroll and a personnel file appeared on Hiruzen Sarutobi's desk.
He first picked up the task Scroll, and when he saw the word "raccoon dog" in the publisher's code name, his eyes narrowed slightly.
I opened the "raccoon dog" file again and browsed carefully.
The file is very clean, the resume is clear, and there are no problems.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi's intuition told him that there was something wrong with this "raccoon dog".
'This code name is very unfamiliar. I haven't paid much attention to it before... but it happened that he issued this separate mission when all members of the Lin Ze team were unable to perform the mission?'
Doubts arose in Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart. His many years of career as Hokage made him particularly sensitive to such "coincidences".
'Danzo... is it yours?'
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed in his heart, feeling tired and angry.
He understands Danzo's obsession with the safety of the village, but he will never tolerate this kind of internal strife.
Especially reaching into ANBU, this has touched his bottom line.
But just as he thought when he faced Lin Ze, Hiruzen Sarutobi made the same decision.
He called ANBU again.
"Keep an eye on the raccoon dog. If there is any unusual movement, report it to me immediately." Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered.
"Yes!"
"In addition, send a squad to Land of Grass Valley to investigate the situation on site and pay attention to concealment."
"Understood!"
ANBU followed the order and left.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat on the chair, took a deep breath of cigarette and exhaled slowly.
Amid the smoke, his gaze became profound.
'Lin Ze This kid... is even more extraordinary than I thought.'
It is not easy to escape from the siege of four Root elites, even if Iwa Shinobi disrupts the situation.
'I'm afraid his strength is more than what he shows.'
Hiruzen Sarutobi had a glimmer of light in his eyes.
But he didn't intend to delve into it.
As long as Lin Ze has a sense of belonging to Konoha and is willing to fight for Konoha, it doesn't hurt to have a little secret.
'After all, he is the young man I am most optimistic about after Minato and Kushina.'
Hiruzen Sarutobi thought of Lin Ze's performance in the Ninja Academy and his bond with Kurenai Yuhi, Asuma and others, and a smile appeared on his face.
'Bonds... are the best yoke.'
He believes that as long as Lin Ze is given enough trust and care, this child will definitely become a pillar of Konoha.
'As for Danzo...'
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes turned cold.
"The hand is stretched a little too long, it's time to trim it."
The office fell into silence again, with only the dots of Kakkō among Pipe flickering in and out of darkness.
Just as Lin Ze dragged his "scarred" body back to Orphanage.
Root Base deep.
Danzo was sitting behind his desk, listening to his subordinate's report expressionlessly.
"So, that kid came back alive?"
"Yes, Master Danzo. I just confirmed through the eye liner at the entrance of the village that Aoda has returned and went directly to Hokage Building."
Danzo's fingers tapped lightly on the table, a cold look flashed in his eyes.
'Four elites, including two Jōnin, couldn't defeat a seven-year-old brat...'
He was shocked and angry, but more importantly, he felt an unspeakable desire.
'This talent... this power... if I could use it...'
But soon, he suppressed this idea.
The most urgent task is to deal with the aftermath.
Danzo ordered coldly:
"Send someone to Land of Grass Valley immediately, and clear all traces that may point to Root before ANBU."
"Yes!"
"Also, let 'raccoon dog' be prepared, he may have been exposed."
Danzo Speaking of this, a trace of heartache flashed in his eyes.
"Raccoon Dog" is the chess piece that he inserted into ANBU at great cost. It has the highest status and is also the most useful.
This time, in order to capture Lin Ze alive, I had to use this card.
In his expectation, the situation should be that Lin Ze was successfully captured and brought back to Root. From then on, he wore a mask and became his tool. He was dead without evidence.
Moreover, the mission information released by "Raccoon Dog" is true and will not affect it.
But he never expected that Lin Ze could actually escape from an elite team. This trip not only failed to achieve its goal, but also lost manpower. It was like losing both his wife and his troops.
A week later, Hokage Office.
Lin Ze stood in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi again.
He had a very pleasant week, resting peacefully at Orphanage while continuing to develop Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon's abilities.
Hiruzen Sarutobi asked with a gentle tone and concern:
"How are you recovering from your injuries?"
"Thank you Lord Hokage for your concern. It's much better now."
Lin Ze answered respectfully, showing a little fear on his face.
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, his expression became serious:
"As for the attack on your last mission, the investigation has concluded."
"After investigation, it was found that the ANBU member 'raccoon dog' who issued the mission had long-term collusion with other Ninja Villages with the intention of undermining the internal stability of Konoha. He has confessed and is now in custody awaiting trial."
Lin Ze lowered his head and sneered in his heart.
'Sure enough, find a scapegoat to take all the blame. Whoever colluded with other Ninja Village must have been dealt with by Root long ago.'
As a time traveler, he knows very well the behavior of Danzo and the "root" department.
At this time, abandoning the car to save the handsome man is the most common operation.
Lin Ze showed an expression of "sudden Satori" and "indignation" on his face:
"So that's it! That traitor!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Lin Ze's reaction with satisfaction and continued:
"As for those Ninja who attacked you, after on-site investigation, they should be the forces from outside the village colluded with the 'raccoon dog'. Fortunately, Iwagakure's pursuers appeared in time, giving you a chance to escape."
He paused and his tone became more serious:
"This matter is over. The village will strengthen internal review to ensure that similar incidents will not happen again."
'That's it? Haha, that's putting it lightly.'
Lin Ze sneered in his heart, Danzo was unscathed, just lost a chess piece, and he, the victim, had to accept this result gratefully.
But on the surface, he looked grateful:
"Thank you Lord Hokage for upholding justice for me! I believe that under the leadership of Lord Hokage, Konoha will definitely get better and better!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded happily:
"It's good that you think so. Remember, Konoha is your home, and we will protect you."
After saying a few more caring words, Hiruzen Sarutobi let Lin Ze go back.
After walking out of Hokage Building, Lin Ze looked back with complicated eyes.
'Sure enough, being weak is the original sin... You know exactly who is behind it, but you have to cooperate with the performance.'
He remembered the various behaviors of Danzo and the connivance of Hiruzen Sarutobi in the original work.
'In the final analysis, in the eyes of these people, I am just an outsider after all. I have value, but I am not worthy of them really tearing my skin apart.'
'But it doesn't matter, it's just right.'
Lin Ze clenched his fist, feeling the surging power in his body.
Wait until he fully masters Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon and unlocks the more advanced Eight Gates Released Formation...
At that time, it will not be how Hiruzen Sarutobi and others choose to treat Lin Ze, but how Lin Ze chooses to treat Konoha.
Until then, it will be the real offensive and defensive type!