Naruto: The Hyuga Mastermind

Chapter 91: A Unit to Hunt the Kage?

If the Root ninja's performance had surprised Shikaku, then Dai's explosive power led him to reconsider Konoha's promotion system.

True versatility… no ninja could fully achieve it. Skills like sensory perception or medical ninjutsu required incredibly high thresholds.

Team-based missions were designed to compensate for individual weaknesses.

A genin who relied solely on taijutsu would normally be a liability on the battlefield, a weak point for enemies to exploit. But if someone was this strong…

Shikaku cast a complex glance at Dai, then shifted his gaze to the astonished audience before turning to Rasa. "Dai has remained a genin in Konoha for decades, but today will be the day the village reevaluates him."

Within Konoha, Dai was something of a minor celebrity. His iconic green jumpsuit had long been his trademark.

Even villagers who didn't know Dai personally could recognize the green jumpsuit. However, in their minds, he was nothing more than an obnoxious genin. After today, though, that image would change forever.

'Nara Shikaku, head of the Nara Clan and Konoha's Jonin Commander.'

Recalling the details he had on Shikaku, Rasa nodded, his expression becoming more complex. "Konoha's foundation truly runs deep."

For a genin to make even him feel threatened was truly incredible. Shikaku had no reason to lie about something like this.

It looked like some kind of enhancement-based forbidden technique.

If Konoha ever made it widely available…

An unsettling image flashed through Rasa's mind: a squad of ninjas, all clad in green jumpsuits, bodies steaming with blue chakra vapor, charging at him. He furrowed his brow.

He continued watching Dai's matches, seeing him advance through round after round. His opponents, while technically genin, were all clearly jonin-level in skill. Even so, they were defeated one after another.

Turning his gaze, Rasa focused on another female ninja who had participated earlier.

"I think I saw that ninja near the gates of Konoha before. Isn't she one of Haneda's subordinates?"

Her face was somewhat familiar, though he couldn't quite recall where he'd seen her.

"That's correct," Shikaku replied, his gaze toward her tinged with complexity.

Unlike the seven Root ninja who were participating, she possessed exceptional potential.

Her mastery of Wind and Fire Release was refined, her jutsu executed with ease. She even used advanced Wind Release techniques likely passed down by Danzo himself.

One of Danzo's close confidants?

No wonder Haneda had decided to keep her under his direct supervision.

If she could combine her elemental affinities into a new Kekkei Genkai, her strength might reach even greater heights.

Baki, standing nearby, clicked his tongue in disbelief. "Calling her a genin seems a bit of a stretch."

It was understandable for the green-jumpsuited man, who relied solely on taijutsu, to remain a genin. But this woman? How could she have been held back?

He suspected that even his own strength wouldn't match hers.

"Every household has its struggles," Shikaku replied nonchalantly to Baki's questioning gaze. "At least for now, she is a genin."

"The winner will likely be one of those two," Rasa remarked, still unable to place where he had seen the female ninja before. Gathering his thoughts, he turned to leave the arena.

He didn't want to watch any further.

Setting aside the man named Dai, Sunagakure's younger generation couldn't even compare to the other female ninja's potential.

To make matters worse, the previous jinchuriki of the One-Tail was dead, and they still hadn't found a suitable replacement as a vessel for the beast.

He had been foolish to think Sunagakure could compete with Konoha in these areas. Konoha had always been a cradle for prodigies and powerful ninjas. How could it lack capable fighters?

As for the apparent absence of young geniuses in this exam, it was likely because the war with Kirigakure had ended, and the most talented young ninjas had already been promoted to chunin.

Rasa turned his gaze to Yakumaru. "Yakumaru-san, please show me more of Konoha."

"Of course."

…

"Was the sole reason we were brought here to serve as stepping stones?"

At the edge of the arena, Kuriarare Kushimaru, his pale complexion shadowed with anger, glared at his companions who had either lost to the female ninja or fallen to Dai. "Are we really going to let him treat us like tools?"

"What's there to complain about? We've been given another chance at life," Raiga Kurosaki responded coolly.

"Hmph, and you call him a tool? If anyone here is a tool, it's you!" Fuguki Suikazan sneered, his expression equally dark. "We're not like you. We haven't sunk so low as to fully pledge allegiance to him."

"We've always been tools," Raiga replied with a cold laugh. "We were tools before, and we're tools now. The only thing that's changed is who's holding the reins."

"Or are you planning to return to the village? With your current appearance?"

At those words, Fuguki Suikazan fell silent.

Their appearances, bodies, and even chakra signatures were significantly altered. Given that the ninja world had already spread news of their deaths, returning to Kirigakure would only result in immediate exile or execution before they even got close to the Mizukage.

Kirigakure was no longer a place they could call home.

"He's right. We have no choice," Juzo murmured, looking up at the sky. "Without following Hyuga Fuji, there's nowhere else for us to go."

They didn't have the strength to resist, nor the backing to do so. If they betrayed Hyuga Fuji, even his subordinates could wipe them out.

Their only option was to serve him wholeheartedly.

Though Fuguki Suikazan clenched his fists in frustration, looking around at the others, he saw that even Kushimaru, who had initially resisted, was silent. Memories of their earlier fights flashed in his mind, and he slowly relaxed his grip.

"What's the name of this new spy unit he's establishing?"

"IN," Juzo replied calmly. "It's primarily a spy division. There's no fixed number of members, but it has eight standing squads dedicated to infiltration and extraction."

"Thirty-two members… half the size of the ANBU?"

Fuguki Suikazan let out a cold laugh, though it wasn't clear what he was mocking. "Are we being assigned to those squads?"

"Yes," Juzo said, glancing at Raiga. "But not in the way you're thinking. He won't be joining the unit directly. The six of us will be divided under two team leaders."

Fuguki frowned.

He had thought the six of them, plus the Sunagakure ninja, would serve as the eight squad captains. To think they were only members. So who were the squad leaders?

"Yashiro Mikura (Pakura's new name) will be leading the fourth squad," Black Hoe Leech added, seemingly reading his thoughts.

Hearing this, Fuguki's lips went dry.

Despite being stripped of their tools and techniques—such as Kushimaru's sword the female ninja had managed to defeat them in direct combat.

While Fuguki believed he wouldn't lose under ideal conditions, the current reality was far from ideal.

If all eight squad leaders were on par with Yashiro's strength, combining their skills with those of their members…

Could this really be just a spy unit?

Or was it… a Kage assassination force?

Fuguki's gaze drifted toward the audience seating.

He'd heard whispers of tensions between the Fourth Kazekage and Yashiro…

Meanwhile, as Rasa walked out of the arena, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

(Chapter End)