The next day.
Hokage Building, in the conference room.
"Hokage-sama, both Advisor-samas, these are my compiled thoughts. Please take a look."
"Hmm."
Hiruzen Sarutobi took it.
After a careful read, he nodded repeatedly, very surprised: "Excellent! This is very well-developed. Did you come up with it yourself?!"
"This subordinate organized the remaining materials from the Root Organization and, based on the Anbu and the information you provided, compiled these ideas."
Masahiko answered truthfully.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, "To come up with such a successful plan based solely on information is remarkable!"
Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado remained silent.
However.
Homura Mitokado's face was full of smiles, clearly showing his appreciation.
But Utatane Koharu... her brows were tightly furrowed, as if she had some objections.
Hiruzen Sarutobi read carefully.
The document integrated and analyzed Konoha's current intelligence network, proposing a bold future vision—
It suggested establishing a powerful intelligence network core centered on the Yamanaka Clan's abilities, with Ninja beasts and Summoning beasts serving as transmission hubs.
Additionally, Ninja would undergo specialized training and cooperate through division of labor.
Infiltrators, messenger Ninja, and combat squads would work together to form a cohesive and powerful intelligence system.
Besides that... "What does'strengthening the training of the Will of Fire' mean?"
Homura Mitokado was somewhat curious.
Masahiko respectfully said, "This is an idea this subordinate got from the Guardian Shinobi."
"Oh?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi straightened up slightly, his interest piqued.
Masahiko said, "Those who operate in the shadows need a strong will even more. This subordinate believes... they should understand what they are fighting for."
He paused briefly, then added, "Those who don't understand what they're fighting for will be like the Guardian Shinobi, possessing great power but unable to unite or form a single cohesive force."
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Homura Mitokado exchanged glances, both nodding in agreement.
Whether this proposal could be implemented was another matter.
Judging from each point, Masahiko had indeed put thought into it and was truly suitable to lead the new Root Organization.
Utatane Koharu frowned and said, "Ninja should prioritize missions above all else... According to you, intelligence personnel can decide whether to act on their own?"
"We don't know the infiltrators' situations. In ordinary missions, we cannot rashly order them to act; they should be given autonomy..."
Masahiko refuted Utatane Koharu's statement.
Hiruzen Sarutobi cleared his throat and said, "Let's not talk in circles. We'll know once we try it."
Utatane Koharu opened her mouth, then looked at Homura Mitokado, and seeing that her old friend also offered no opinion, she dejectedly lowered her head.
She understood that everything was decided, and anything she said now would be useless... Time was like a wild donkey, once it started running, it wouldn't stop.
After the New Year, a month passed in the blink of an eye, and the Ninja Academy resumed classes.
Asuma and Might Guy had long since fully recovered.
After the turmoil, Konoha was in ruins awaiting reconstruction.
Kakashi's anticipated vacation never arrived; instead, he became even busier due to the disappearance of the Root Organization.
Fortunately, over the years, the Anbu and Root had already separated their functions.
In the Hokage Office.
"Danzo went to the Land of Rivers. This is the intelligence he sent."
Hiruzen Sarutobi handed it over.
Masahiko took it, and after a careful read, he handed it back.
"The Land of Rivers is crisscrossed by rivers and rich in resources. If it weren't situated between the three great nations, a Ninja village would have been established there long ago."
"It's not surprising to find people from the Hidden Rain Village here."
He replied.
Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "With Danzo gone, there's a gap in our intelligence network. We can't always rely on him. It's best to train replacements as quickly as possible to fill the void."
"Since the personnel are ready, the next step is just training and deployment."
Masahiko paused slightly at this point, "In the short term, this subordinate plans to use infiltration and intelligence gathering in the Land of Rivers as a new training ground."
"Alright, then I'll entrust the new Root to you!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded.
Using Danzo as a training target, other great nations and villages, except for Sunagakure, wouldn't overreact, and since both sides were secret allies, losses could be safely controlled.
Moreover.
For most Konoha Ninja currently, Danzo was indeed a Rogue Ninja.
He highly recognized Danzo's abilities.
If they could reach Danzo's level, it would definitely be enough to deal with others.
"What about the Ninja Academy?"
"This subordinate will also serve there and will not neglect the Academy's work."
"Ah, you've worked hard."
Hiruzen Sarutobi watched Masahiko leave, sighing inwardly—
There were truly few Ninja as capable and responsible as Masahiko nowadays!
...Konoha Ninja Academy.
Since the start of the semester, Uchiha Sasuke had been in a daze, lacking spirit, only showing intense fighting intent when he saw Sai.
Finally, during taijutsu class, Sasuke stood before Sai.
Sai politely bowed, "Sasuke-kun, is something wrong?"
"Fight me!"
Sasuke said with a serious expression.
Sai was silent for a moment, then said, "Sasuke-kun, that day I wasn't stronger; it was because you attracted their attention at the front, and I succeeded by surprise."
"If it's a frontal battle, I'm not your opponent. I concede."
Sai answered frankly.
"Do you think I'm after something as superficial as winning or losing?"
Sasuke held his head high, his face gloomy, "Are you insulting me?"
Beside them, Sakura Haruno wanted to interject, but Ino pulled her back.
Ino gently shook her head.
This was not the right time to get involved.
"Fight him."
A voice came from the side.
Masahiko appeared instantly, catching everyone off guard.
"I permit you to fight with all your might."
He smirked slightly.
Sai was silent for a moment, then bowed gently, "Yes, Sensei."
Sasuke also bowed to Masahiko.
A moment later, everyone cleared out.
Naruto shouted from outside, "Sasuke, beat him up!"
"Sasuke..."
One voice after another made the playground exceptionally noisy.
Sai took out his weapon and his Ninja tools—
Two special scrolls.
One was tucked into his waist, and the other was held in his hand.
After the two formed the Seal of Confrontation,
The next second, Sasuke instantly attacked.
Masahiko narrowed his eyes.
Sasuke's speed was faster than before!
"From the previous footage, he has unconsciously re-activated the power of the Sharingan... it's normal for his abilities to have improved."
"I wonder if he will fully master the Sharingan."
Being able to use the Sharingan and fully mastering it are indeed two different concepts.
Even a one-tomoe Sharingan possesses mysterious and unpredictable abilities.
Bang!
Sai swiftly retreated, his scroll flying up, while his other hand gripped an ink-filled brush, rapidly drawing on the scroll.
The next second, a tiger roared out from the scroll.
Yakumo's eyes immediately lit up.
This fighting style... was very mysterious!
Sasuke made a one-handed hand seal, gathering Chakra in his feet, instantly accelerating.
The moment the 'tiger' attacked him—
He crouched low, delivering a punch to Sai's lower body.
Sai used Body Flicker to retreat, and ink snakes flew out from his scroll, entangling Sasuke.
However.
Sasuke split into three, his figure moving back and forth between the three clones, and the 'ink snakes' turned into mere ink.
His speed wasn't particularly fast.
At least, Sai was able to see clearly and counter, but Sasuke's reaction speed was astonishingly fast, and... he hadn't even activated his Sharingan yet!
He constantly retreated, maintaining a certain distance, while using the Super Beast Scroll to entangle.
However.
Numerous shuriken flew out, heading straight for him.
Sai quickly dodged the Kunai and shuriken.
But the next second, a massive flame erupted, a wave of fire assaulting him, yet as he dodged, the fire wave lost its Chakra support and dissipated.
The next moment, Sasuke had already bypassed the snakes and tigers, rushing in front of him.
Clang!
Sai held his Kunai, blocking Sasuke's swift attack.
His eyes showed shock.
This guy... he's improved so quickly!