hotmtlnovel Chapter 516 Ripples
Chapter 516 Ripples
Chapter 516 Ripples
"You're getting involved in important village affairs now, Green."
"We'd like to help too, could we talk to Naruto?"
While the name "Green Sunflower" might sound unfamiliar, its actual meaning is quite clear.
He had already mentally prepared himself the moment the ninja school transfers ended. Those people hiding in the shadows of the secret service would come knocking sooner or later; the only question was when and how.
To make yourself more useful than a corpse, the way is to provide greater value to those who want to kill you while you are alive.
Alternatively, it could make those who can protect him willing to invest more resources in him.
Neither the former nor the latter actually developed as expected after he returned to the Joint Affairs Bureau.
The latter, after a conversation, aside from occasionally casting a discreet glance at him when he interacted with Naruto, did not engage in any further substantial involvement.
This can hardly be called an accident, after all, whether as a member of the Uchiha clan or as a member of the director's office, his brother Itachi had already made his decision, which was to be transferred to the Ninja Academy for a week.
It's a bit of a pipe dream to expect that the younger brother could persuade the assistant or even the bureau chief.
Green Aoi didn't expect Sasuke to do anything more. As long as that second son of the Uchiha clan no longer became a disadvantage for her, that would already be the greatest benefit.
On the contrary, as long as you connect with people who can make you valuable and showcase yourself, even if there is interference from higher-level forces, your efforts will not be in vain, and that is the greatest significance.
As for individuals, as long as they don't fixate on where they can achieve their future, there are actually many paths to take.
When faced with those words, Green Sunflower replied, "It's really unfortunate, he won't be coming over for a while."
"
"Naruto will not appear in the secret service until the matter of the badge name is settled."
The people from Yasaka probably clicked their tongues and said, "How unlucky! It's rare for me to have some free time these days."
"Could we use another reason to call him over?"
"For example, regarding this matter, there have been other developments, etc."
Green Sunflower initially agreed, saying, "Of course, that's a valid way to put it."
"But we just said goodbye, and using this reason would easily arouse suspicion."
"Naruto made this decision because someone else was helping him, and that person must have sensed it."
Yasaka seemed to be pondering, or perhaps troubled: "Is waiting all we can do?"
During this brief interval, other people were also watching from different positions.
Some of them may be regular employees, while others may not.
This is a place where there are not many people coming and going between the new and old buildings.
The green-haired Chunin said frankly, "I've been thinking about this too. It's not easy to get to know Naruto properly, it would be a shame not to make good use of this relationship."
"Thinking about it carefully, it's not entirely impossible, but it would be too dangerous for me to persuade Naruto to leave the village myself."
"During this time, I also met someone who, although not very smart, is a very good friend of Naruto's teacher and recently wants to try his luck in joining the secret service."
"Having him relay the message is an option."
Yasaka frowned: "Is this stupid guy alright?"
"He's someone who knows how to hide his true self to some extent."
Yasaka stopped frowning and smiled again: "Then let's ask him for help. If all of us work together, we can actually help quite a bit, Midori."
Green Sunflower then suggested, "Speaking of which, if everyone could help push forward with the badge name issue recently, it would make things easier for them."
"It doesn't need to be too conspicuous, as long as each office has its own preferred opinion."
Yasaka patted him on the shoulder: "We can definitely do this."
us----
After that sentence, everyone on the road seemed to continue doing their own thing.
Green Sunflower knew it was safe.
But on his way back to the village after the relocation was completed, he couldn't help but think about it.
Is Yasaka dead, has he joined the other side, or is the other side just temporarily using his face?
He couldn't confirm any of these things, but there was one thing he was certain of.
If he reports it, he definitely won't run into the truly key people.
In the evening, Green Sunflower knocked on the door of Shui Mu's apartment.
"green?"
"Mizuki."
After letting him in, Shui Mu asked, "Has there been any progress?"
Mizuki didn't put on any unnecessary pretense in front of Green Sunflower.
This was actually a tacit understanding that the two confirmed on their very first meeting. They were the same kind of people.
They all use the facade of being a good person as a disguise.
"The secretariat has recently seen a lot of outsiders, and in order to maintain control, the village will definitely recruit more of its own people."
"However, since you didn't get into the Ninja Academy, your future development in the Secretariat might be quite promising."
A dark look appeared on Shui Mu's face, which then turned into a cold smile.
He understood. Green Sunflower was taking the opportunity to put him in a superior position.
"You too, Green."
"You're more experienced than me, yet you can't even be promoted to Special Jonin. The village probably doesn't really respect you."
""
"What they like are always fools like Iruka."
3
Green Sunflower said, "That's why we've come here to stick together and keep warm."
He sat cross-legged.
"Now a group of people are extending olive branches. It's an opportunity, Tsinghua University."
Shuimu stared at him for a long time.
No matter how well you hide your resentment, it will always leak out through the cracks.
Green Sunflower knew what the other party was weighing, and also knew that her previous words of suppression actually made these words seem more credible.
"What kind of person?" Mizuki finally asked.
"If I could confirm their identities, I wouldn't be here with you now. I've considered betraying them, but reporting them without knowing their background won't get me anything more."
Shui Mu was well aware of this. People like them, without sufficient value, would not be able to change the village's attitude towards them with just one report.
As for recognition and bonuses, those are not things he wants at all.
"They will demonstrate their strength in the next two days and push to finalize the matter of the badge name."
"This requires a considerable number of people in offices outside of Konoha to accomplish."
"If they really have that ability, they'll have a good future if they go there."
Shui Mu then nodded: "What should I do?"
Green Aoi told him to find an opportunity to show his face in front of Naruto in the next couple of days. Afterwards, she would tell him just how much of a commotion the other party was making within the secret service.
After saying this, the green-haired chunin didn't say anything more.
Shui Mu was not a well-behaved person; he knew that from their first meeting. This person's resentment was more deeply hidden than his own, and more easily ignited.
The next day, after Green Sunflower returned to the Joint Affairs Bureau, she originally planned to observe how those people were causing a stir.
However, the moment he stepped into the building, he realized that the whispers all around him were referring to something else entirely.
The ninjas from the five great ninja villages gathered in twos and threes in the corridor, the atmosphere quite different from usual. There were no loud arguments, nor did anyone bang on the table. They simply spoke in hushed tones, occasionally exchanging a cold, hard glance.
This doesn't seem like a conflict arising from a name difference. Arguments of that magnitude involve emotions, fluctuations, with some trying to mediate and others observing coldly.
This cold, distant atmosphere was something Green Aoi had only experienced during times of war. He grabbed a familiar-looking Konoha ninja and asked in a low voice, "What happened?"
The other person glanced around and lowered their voice to almost a whisper.
"The village made a deal with Kumogakure before. It was about the tailed beast chakra, and they used it for research. Sunagakure, Kirigakure, and Iwagakure somehow got wind of it."
Green Sunflower made her expression as solemn as the other person's.
"Really?"
"Who knows? Anyway, the news has spread."
It's an open secret in the ninja world that Akatsuki Kai coveted the tailed beast's chakra.
Under these circumstances, it would be hypocritical for the major ninja villages to claim they were completely indifferent. However, actually putting research on the agenda and reaching a private deal was another matter entirely.
No matter how well they understand that Konoha has a geographical advantage and will inevitably gain more, it doesn't mean that the other three families can calmly accept two of them secretly joining forces.
The Joint Affairs Bureau is no longer just the joint affairs bureau of the five great ninja villages.
Were those messages unexpected variables, or the first step for the Yasaka people to demonstrate their power?
Green Sunflower withdrew her gaze and walked towards her department.
Today, the secretariat—no, not just the secretariat, but also those important figures outside the secretariat—will probably have a big argument about it.
"We haven't heard of this."
In the small conference room, Wenya was the first to make a move.
"Or is it that nothing of the sort happened? Chief Kakashi, you're not going to tell us that this is just some silly misunderstanding."
Bi also expressed her dissatisfaction: "Kigakure can accept sacrifices and compromises in order to fight a common enemy."
"But the united front still exists, and two sides are acting in secret. This is something that Wuyin cannot ignore."
Kakashi was about to speak when Tsuchikage's voice rang out first.
"This is merely an exchange of chakra between Konoha and Kumogakure regarding the jinchūriki belonging to their respective villages. It does not involve other villages."
Chief Hatake turned his head, looking at Tsuchida with only one eye. This wasn't an explanation. It was clearly adding fuel to the fire. Didn't this man, known for his cunning, understand that?
Bi's face flushed red. He braced himself on the table to stand up, his chair scraping against the floor with a piercing screech.
"How can you guarantee that you haven't involved any of our village's spirit mediums?!"
He stood up, his voice echoing throughout the conference room.
"Or would Konoha and Kumogakure be willing to share their experimental progress now? Let us all see just how far you've come!"
Wen Ya's expression was also serious: "What's the difference between doing something like this and Akatsuki? Is the point of keeping Han here at the secret service just to have his tailed beast extracted and die after you've made enough progress?"
"Representative Maki," Wenya turned to the person who had remained silent, "is Sunagakure also among them?"
Maki then said, "It's not Sunagakure."
Bi gave a short laugh and shifted her gaze to Kakashi: "So, it's a matter between Konoha and Kumogakure. It was something they agreed upon privately, without telling us three."
Kakashi looked around at everyone present.
Besides the representatives from the five great ninja villages, there was also a member like Yura, who was second in rank, present. This was not a completely private meeting, nor was it entirely public. They could discuss many things, but they couldn't lay everything bare.
Tsuchikage's abrupt confession just now made his meaning quite clear. Kumogakure believed that Konoha held more of the results, and rather than hiding them, they wanted to use the pressure of making them public to pry open a crack in the water.
But Kakashi had no intention of turning against him.
"Gentlemen, this is indeed true."
He spoke in a flat tone, as if confirming a perfectly ordinary fact.
"But as Mr. Tsuchida said, the cooperation between Konoha and Kumogakure was only to find out the secret of Akatsuki's pursuit of the Tailed Beasts."
"Given the sensitivity of the content, we both agree that this is not a topic suitable for public discussion."
Tsuchitai said, "That's exactly right, which is why this misunderstanding has occurred. Kumogakure is willing to share the results they have achieved."
Then, everyone's eyes fell on Kakashi.
He nodded.
"Konoha is also willing to make a public statement regarding the progress made in the last exchange."
Bi suppressed her anger, but was still displeased: "After something like this has happened, it's impossible for us to pretend that the problem doesn't exist."
"All research on the Tailed Beasts should be open and transparent."
Tsuchikage said, "We agree with that. Since Akatsuki is working together to seize the Tailed Beasts, they must not be hiding the truth about them. We cannot fall behind them."
Kakashi asked, "So, what are your opinions?"
Wenya said, "Iwagakure is willing to let Han cooperate by releasing some of his chakra."
Bi also said, "Kirigakure is also willing to hand over the Six-Tails' chakra."
Maki said, "In that case, Sunagakure shares the same opinion."
Tsuchikage stated, "Kumogakure is also willing to cooperate regarding the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails."
Director Hatake's eyes crinkled into a smile.
"Since that's the case, Konoha is naturally willing."
The atmosphere in the meeting room eased a little, but it didn't completely relax.
Someone suggested that each village should keep a backup of the Tailed Beast chakra, but Kakashi did not agree.
"Doing so would only make your villages targets for Akatsuki again. The purpose of joint custody is to reduce the risk of each village being attacked individually."
The final solution was simple: first, gather all the existing Jinchuriki, extract a portion of their chakra, and seal it away.
As for how to fairly share technological achievements, the five major ninja villages will formulate separate rules and establish a joint research group for supervision.
When the meeting adjourned, Machi was the last to leave.
"Sunagakure was unaware that things would turn out this way."
He offered an explanation.
Kakashi gathered the documents on the table to one side and simply nodded upon hearing this.
"I understand. Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Machi."