Chapter 122: Rin Nohara Follows

“I understand, old man.”

Jiraiya was somewhat reluctant, but he knew which matters were urgent and which were not. It was obvious that the old man was paving the way for his disciple. Although Jiraiya was no longer in Konoha, he was not cut off from information; from time to time, he still received news from the village.

Konoha currently had two exceptionally gifted ninja. The more famous of the two was Nawaki of the Senju clan. He had inherited the power of Wood Release, possessed an enormous chakra reserve, and had extraordinary regenerative abilities. He had practically made it onto the kill lists of every shinobi village.

None of them wanted to see another Senju Hashirama suppress the entire shinobi world, so they kept sending reconnaissance teams into Konoha to gather intelligence. Even if several squads of ninja were lost, it would still be worth it if they could kill Nawaki.

Fortunately, Orochimaru had taught Nawaki very well. After witnessing Nawaki throw his life away once and rescuing him, Orochimaru had shown him no mercy in training. Nawaki’s vigilance was now so keen that it was almost as if he possessed the Byakugan.

The second most famous was Minato Namikaze. He completed missions with astonishing frequency. In little more than half a year, he had completed more than thirty A-rank missions without a single failure. During his battles with ninja from other countries, information about his Flying Thunder God Technique had already been leaked.

One had inherited the First Hokage’s Wood Release, while the other had inherited the Second Hokage’s Flying Thunder God Technique. The leaders of every other village regarded the two of them as targets that had to be eliminated.

Nawaki’s bounty at the underground exchange had already reached seventy million ryo, while Minato’s stood at forty million.

After sending Jiraiya away, Hiruzen Sarutobi silently lit another pipe. He no longer had any intention of resting.

These truly were troubled times. Hiruzen picked up the latest report from the intelligence department. Uzumaki Kushina had spent the entire afternoon in Kahn’s house and had not left until evening, when she finally returned home.

“We need to think of a solution, but Tsunade has to be sent to the front line. With Jiraiya’s cooperation, we should be able to deal with Iwagakure. Kumogakure also seems to be showing signs of unrest. Once they can no longer sit still, we’ll send Tsunade out.”

After making up his mind, Hiruzen moved on to the next report.

The situation surrounding Sakumo Hatake had grown increasingly serious in recent days. The ninja whom Sakumo had rescued had even publicly denounced him while drunk. Although the Uchiha Police Force had begun suppressing this trend, the ANBU had repeatedly obstructed them.

Hiruzen could not help feeling irritated when he saw that. Danzo was once again borrowing the name of the ANBU to do as he pleased.

“Tomorrow, I have to make him rein himself in. Sakumo has already given up his position, and we’ll still need him once the war begins. There’s no need to hound him so relentlessly...

“But why is the Uchiha Police Force involving itself in Sakumo Hatake’s affairs? The other clans are turning a blind eye, yet the Uchiha have chosen to interfere. Could Sakumo have some connection with the Uchiha?

Hiruzen suddenly understood Danzo’s actions a little better. If Sakumo Hatake truly had some alliance with the Uchiha clan, then he had to be suppressed. Ever since Kagami Uchiha’s death, the clan’s new leader had become even more centered on the interests of the family.

As for the Uchiha’s new clan head, Fugaku Uchiha, he was the son of Hamada Uchiha. He would probably inherit Hamada’s ideals. Otherwise, Hamada would have handed the clan leadership to Kagami back then.

Troubled times indeed.”

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed heavily in his heart. Still, there was a solution. As long as he remained Hokage for another ten years, Konoha would continue to flourish under his rule.

....................................

Early the following morning, a sound resembling a silenced gunshot came from inside Kahn’s house. A moment later, he Apparated out of Konoha.

“Apparition really is convenient. Next, I can try incorporating it into combat. Unless my opponent knows how to counter the spell, dealing with this kind of spatial magic will be extremely difficult.”

Kahn considered the matter silently. Every night, he went elsewhere to rest, then returned to Konoha at daybreak. If something urgent arose, he could also Apparate directly to wherever he was needed.

His magical power was vast enough to carry him to any place in the world and back. More importantly, he could absorb natural energy to increase his maximum magical reserves. This was an ability that neither wizards nor divine creatures possessed. Only Kahn, who carried the genes of the Venom symbiote, the phoenix, and the fire dragon, along with Hashirama’s cells, could accomplish such a feat.

“Next, I just have to wait for Shinnō to perfect the super-soldier serum. But he isn’t yet the Shinnō of twenty years later. It will take him some time to complete it. Orochimaru doesn’t have the time either. Should I ask Tsunade for help?”

The super-soldier serum was of vital importance. It was the ultimate serum formula, and if Tsunade truly managed to decipher it, then the formula would no longer belong exclusively to him.

After considering the matter, Kahn abandoned the idea. Shinnō was his highest priority at present, so he could only provide him with more support. Whether experimental subjects or assistants, Kahn would do everything he could to satisfy his needs.

“The search for the next world is ready as well. Perhaps I should return and make some preparations. I can’t abandon the shinobi world just yet. Once the time comes, I can always return from time to time to check on things.”

Kahn’s mind was clear after waking that morning, and he thought through many matters concerning the development of the shinobi world. He and Orochimaru shared the same objective but followed different paths. Kahn controlled ordinary people, while Orochimaru controlled the ninja.

Natsukawa continued expanding into industry, while Kawakawa focused on the media—from newspapers to radio, then television and eventually the internet. Kahn had only one demand: from that point onward, there could be only one person in the shinobi world who was allowed to speak freely.

That person would be him.

Even if Orochimaru eventually lost patience with being Hokage, he could at least help Kahn block the power of Konoha itself. Konoha was still extremely powerful at this point in time. Of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, six were from Konoha.

When he thought of the daimyo of the Land of Fire, Kahn suddenly came up with a plan for Sakumo Hatake. If everything went as he expected, all three sides would be satisfied. Hiruzen Sarutobi would probably be the only one unhappy with the arrangement. But if the daimyo was willing to reimburse Konoha’s expenses, Hiruzen might agree after all.

Ding!

Just as Kahn was lost in thought, the doorbell suddenly rang.

“Who would come over this early?”

Kahn cast an Iron Armor Charm on himself. Anyone ringing the bell at this hour was certainly not a close acquaintance. People like Tsunade and Kushina had long since developed the habit of simply opening the door and walking in. Before answering it, Kahn checked the surveillance monitor and was surprised by the person standing outside.

He went to the door and opened it, pretending not to recognize the visitor.

“Whom are you looking for?”

“Hello. I’m Rin Nohara, a second-year student at the Ninja Academy. Are you the Honored Minister of Publicity for the Land of Fire?”

The visitor was indeed Rin Nohara, the girl upon whom Kahn had placed the sage-art curse mark. Upon seeing him, she bowed politely before asking her question with due respect.

Kahn nodded.

“That’s me. Miss Nohara, what brings you here?”

“It’s about Kakashi Hatake. That day, I went to the head of the Leaf News Agency, and he told me about Mr. Hatake...”

Rin was rather straightforward, so she began explaining the matter. Yet deep in her heart, she also felt puzzled. This should have been her first time meeting this noble minister, so why did he seem so familiar? It was almost as if she had known him for a very long time.

“So that’s what this is about. I was planning to visit the Hatake residence today anyway. You can return to your studies with peace of mind, Miss Nohara. This matter shouldn’t affect Kakashi Hatake.”

After hearing her out, Kahn answered her. He could not help sighing inwardly at the girl’s infatuation. People in the shinobi world really did mature early. Falling desperately in love at twelve or thirteen seemed to be considered perfectly normal.

“Um... Honored Minister, may I go with you?”

Rin felt embarrassed by the request. Given his status, the fact that he had been willing to meet her and explain matters was already remarkable. Yet she had now gone so far as to ask to accompany him.

She wanted to take back her words and unconsciously shrank half a step backward.

“You may. If you have time now, then come with me.”

Kahn considered it briefly. Bringing Rin along might make it easier to persuade Sakumo Hatake, so he agreed to her request.

He pulled the door shut, then waved to the still-dazed Rin, signaling for her to catch up.

Rin had no time to think further and hurried after him. She felt somewhat relieved. Fortunately, this noble minister was easy to speak with and far kinder than the village’s Police Force. More than that, he gave her an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

............................

“Mr. Hatake.”

Kahn and Rin arrived at the Hatake residence. After ringing the bell several times without receiving a response, Kahn called out softly from outside.

“Could it be that no one is home?” Rin guessed.

Kahn shook his head.

“Sakumo Hatake has been temporarily relieved of his duties. If he isn’t at home now, where else would he be?”

After waiting a little longer and still receiving no answer, Kahn pushed open the unlocked door and walked inside.

Rin grew slightly anxious.

“Honored Minister, isn’t this...?”

They were trespassing in someone else’s home. If Kakashi found out, he would surely come to dislike her.

“We’re acting out of urgency. It’s not as though we intend to steal anything. We can apologize afterward.”

With that, Kahn walked farther into the house.

Rin looked around from outside. In the end, curiosity and anxiety won out, and she followed him inside on tiptoe. Once she entered, she even remembered to close the door behind her.

The two of them proceeded one after the other toward the reception room beside the courtyard. Kahn intended to begin searching there. If no one was present, he would return at another time.

When he slid open the door to the reception room, Kahn felt slightly relieved. Sakumo Hatake was sitting at the round table inside. For a moment, Kahn had even feared that Sakumo might have taken his own life.

Yet Sakumo’s condition was clearly poor.

The last time Kahn had seen him was during the explosion of the barrier. Even in the darkness, Sakumo had seemed like a drawn blade, poised to cut down any enemy emerging from the shadows.

Now, however, he had become a blunt knife. Forget killing someone—even lifting him seemed exhausting.

Kahn walked over and sat down opposite him.

“Mr. Hatake, how did Konoha’s White Fang end up in such a state?”