Beginning the Research

"Everything I have done was for Konoha!"

Danzo spoke with a straight face, utterly self-righteous. There was not the slightest trace of guilt on his face, and even Sarutobi Hiruzen, standing nearby, found himself wondering whether Danzo had some unspeakable hardship that had driven him to do this.

"No matter the reason, Root has no mission to target Land of Fire nobles, and it never will."

Suppressing the anger in his heart, Namikaze Minato said to Danzo, "On that point alone, I can suspend all of Root’s operations. Elder Danzo, I assigned you to track down rogue ninja, not target Land of Fire companies."

"Danzo, you went too far this time."

"That’s right, Danzo. Your actions will plunge the newly developing Konoha back into chaos."

After reading Kaminari Kaede’s mission report, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu also spoke to Danzo with displeasure. It would have been one thing if Danzo’s actions had gone undiscovered, but now not only did other ninja know about it, even those Land of Fire nobles knew. How was Konoha supposed to explain this?

Faced with their accusations, Danzo offered no lengthy explanation. Instead, he took two photographs from his robes and placed them on the table.

"This is why I acted against the Uzumaki Company. It was also under orders from the Fourth Hokage."

A puzzled expression appeared on Namikaze Minato’s face. However, once he picked up the two photographs, he understood what Danzo meant.

One photograph showed Orochimaru, while the other showed Uzumaki Ayaka.

The only thing the two had in common was the nearly identical wristwatch on their wrists.

"I had Root investigate the Wristwatches worn by Orochimaru and Uzumaki Ayaka. No one in the Ninja World sells such Wristwatches. They were definitely made by the Uzumaki Company itself. Given the Uzumaki Company’s ability to manufacture computers, they are fully capable of making such Wristwatches."

"I do not know when Orochimaru began colluding with the Uzumaki Company, but that man is extremely cunning. Root has only found traces of Orochimaru in Bear Country. As for Hyuga Mirai, he seems not to have appeared in the Ninja World at all."

"Therefore, I believe that if we want to track down those two rogue ninja, Orochimaru and Hyuga Mirai, we can only open a breach through the Uzumaki Company."

After hearing Danzo’s words, not only Namikaze Minato but even Sarutobi Hiruzen fell into thought.

They knew Root’s capabilities. If even Root could not uncover any information, then sending out the entire Anbu would likely produce the same result.

Under such circumstances, if they wanted to locate Orochimaru and Hyuga Mirai, the Uzumaki Company was probably their only target.

"Even so, Elder Danzo, Root’s methods are too extreme. I will not allow Root to use such methods to pursue rogue ninja. If this continues, more than half the nobles of the Land of Fire will soon view Konoha as an enemy."

Namikaze Minato looked solemnly at Danzo. "From now on, all of Root’s missions must be reviewed by me. Otherwise, Root members may not leave Konoha."

"Fourth Hokage, you—"

Danzo immediately grew anxious upon hearing that. How was this any different from binding his hands and feet? Root had grown so powerful and become the nightmare of other countries precisely because of its ruthless methods and style of operation.

Now Namikaze Minato wanted to place restrictions on Root. Would that not make it no different from the Anbu? Would it still be Danzo’s Root?

"Cough." Seeing that Danzo wanted to speak, Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly coughed and interrupted him. "Danzo, listen to Minato. Root went too far this time. Do not forget that Minato is the Hokage."

"Hiruzen, you—"

"That’s right, Danzo. Even if your intentions were good, your methods were too radical. If this continues, Konoha truly will face a boycott from the Land of Fire nobles because of Root."

Mitokado Homura also spoke up, and Utatane Koharu clearly shared the same view.

First the Finance Minister, then the companies of three noble families. Danzo was becoming increasingly bold. If he was not restrained, he would cause a major disaster sooner or later.

Seeing that no one supported him, Danzo knew this was no longer something he could resist.

"However, if you perform well, I believe Minato will return Root’s authority to you."

Utatane Koharu interjected from the side. She felt Namikaze Minato was too young and needed guidance from seniors like them. Moreover, Root was an indispensable part of Konoha. Danzo had used Root to eliminate many enemies for Konoha. Root could be restrained, but it could not be abolished.

"Just as Advisor Utatane said, if Elder Danzo does not use such extreme methods to complete missions, then Root’s leadership will remain in Elder Danzo’s hands."

After settling Danzo’s matter, Sarutobi Hiruzen asked, "Minato, how do you intend to handle this?"

"I will explain things properly to those three nobles."

"Leave this matter to me. And that unfamiliar female ninja—there has never been anyone like her in the Ninja World before. If she remains in the Land of Fire, she will also be trouble for Konoha," Sarutobi Hiruzen said slowly.

Namikaze Minato considered it for a moment, then nodded. "In that case, I’ll leave this matter to the Third Hokage."

At that moment, Namikaze Minato was thinking of returning home to ask Kushina about that fellow Uzumaki of hers.

As for the Uzumaki Company, Namikaze Minato intended to have the Anbu investigate it thoroughly. He remembered that Kushina’s clanswoman had once been someone Konoha wanted to win over. He had not expected her to be cooperating with Orochimaru. Their previous arrangements with the Uzumaki Company would have to be reviewed as well.

"Mirai-kun, I have had Kimimaro sent to you. And the Yuki Clan survivor you mentioned—that child does not seem like a ninja. But when he heard that you were the one who asked me to find him, he kept saying he wanted to meet you."

Orochimaru discussed several matters with Hyuga Mirai over a video call.

"Those subordinates of yours truly are the work of a creator. I once considered granting the power of Sage Art to my subordinates as well, but I never thought of modifying organs. Instead, I chose to use Curse Marks to help them adapt to Natural Energy."

"Curse Marks have their own advantages." Hyuga Mirai replied, "Organ modification requires extensive compatibility work in the early stages, while Curse Marks are highly adaptable. If you want to create many subordinates, Curse Marks are more reliable. By the way, how has their training been lately?"

Orochimaru laughed hoarsely. "Neither fast nor slow. In about another half year, they will be ready to be sent out to work."

Thanks to Natural Energy, those eight people adapted quickly to ninja training. However, their talent was ordinary and could not compare to geniuses, so their progress was not particularly fast.

Still, if they trained diligently, they could attain Jonin-level strength through Natural Energy. That was more than enough for running errands outside.

The two then discussed other matters. Orochimaru had lured back quite a few talented youths during this trip. The Research base was also under construction. He planned to establish a Ninja Village in the Land of Rice Fields and had already sent people to negotiate with the Land of Rice Fields Daimyo.

Kimimaro’s arrival was a good thing for Hyuga Mirai.

He could conduct deeper research into the Shikotsumyaku Kekkei Genkai. Over the past few days, Hyuga Mirai had also made some discoveries regarding "yin and yang" through his research.

Hyuga Mirai had always believed that Yin-Yang Power was the tangible manifestation of the body and soul. However, after the previous research, he felt that using the soul to represent "yin" was too imprecise. It should be the ocular power of the Byakugan.

Once this fusion with the Shikotsumyaku genes succeeded, Hyuga Mirai’s life would undergo an ascension. At that time, his physical energy would nourish his spiritual energy in return, thereby enhancing the Byakugan’s ocular power.

This had something in common with how he had previously nourished the Byakugan with Yang Release Chakra.

However, Hyuga Mirai felt that there was always a limit to the Byakugan’s ocular power. It was not that it could not improve further, but that it lacked a key and could not undergo an ascension like the body.

A few days later, Orochimaru had Kimimaro and Haku sent to Rōran. When Haku first met Hyuga Mirai, he was somewhat reserved. However, sensing warmth from Hyuga Mirai’s smile, Haku condensed an ice flower with Chakra and stepped forward to offer it to him.

"For me? Thank you, Haku."

The corners of Hyuga Mirai’s lips lifted slightly as he accepted the ice flower, then he placed it in Haku’s hair and said,

"You are the only one here suited to wear this ice flower. I hope to see your strength rise to the point where this ice flower never melts. My name is Hyuga Mirai."

"I will, Lord Mirai!"

Haku said with a smile.

After encountering Haku, Orochimaru had not valued him much. Haku’s personality was not suited to being a ninja, and aside from his Kekkei Genkai, there was nothing that caught Orochimaru’s interest. Thus, Orochimaru had not brainwashed Haku. He simply told him that he had been entrusted to find him.

Orochimaru valued Kimimaro greatly, so Kimimaro had nearly become Orochimaru’s image by now. However, Hyuga Mirai did not care whom Kimimaro was loyal to. Even if he followed Orochimaru’s orders, he would still work for Hyuga Mirai in the future.

Therefore, replacing Kimimaro’s eyes with Byakugan was not a loss. This was also one of the rare opportunities to fuse the Shikotsumyaku and Byakugan Kekkei Genkai.

Third chapter. This one counts for yesterday.

Today will still have at least three updates!