Konoha Village, Hokage Office Building.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk, brows furrowed, listening to Pakkun's report.
"...That's how it is. The five of them, including Kakashi, were all captured. That wolf king is too strong. Kakashi's Lightning Release is nothing before it, and his Sharingan couldn't keep up with its speed."
Pakkun crouched on the table, his tone heavy.
"It asked me to deliver a message to you—if you want to save them, go talk to it in person. If you send another squad, it will..."
"It will what?"
"It will hang their heads at the entrance of the forest."
The office fell into a deathly silence.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's pipe hung in mid-air, smoke curling upwards, but no one reached for it.
A moment later, a low voice sounded from the shadows in the corner.
"Hiruzen, let me take the Root Ninja."
Danzo Shimura walked out from the shadows, leaning on his cane, a cold light flickering in his single eye.
"It's just a wolf. How strong could it possibly be? Root has plenty of ways to deal with such things."
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly shook his head.
"No."
"Why not?" Danzo's voice rose a few notches. "Kakashi, Kurenai Yuhi, the little princess of the Hyuga Clan, the children of the Inuzuka Clan and Aburame Clan, plus those dozen or so Chunin—they are all in its hands. The longer we drag this out, the greater the variables!"
"It is precisely because they are in its hands that we cannot act rashly."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up, his gaze calm yet firm.
"That wolf had Pakkun deliver a message saying it wants to talk in person, which means it is willing to negotiate."
"If we send Root to surround and suppress it and provoke it—"
"None of those captives will survive."
Danzo's single eye narrowed slightly.
"Hiruzen, you are too soft."
"The dignity of Konoha cannot be destroyed by a beast."
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly stood up.
He walked to the window, back to Danzo, his voice low and powerful.
"Danzo."
"I am the Hokage."
Danzo's pupils contracted slightly.
He slammed his cane heavily against the floor.
"Hiruzen—"
He turned and walked toward the door, pulled it open, and stopped.
Turning his face to the side, his single eye was filled with malice.
"You will regret this."
The door slammed shut.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood by the window, watching the darkening sky outside, and took a deep drag of his pipe.
"Regret?"
"Perhaps."
But he knew better—
Some things are more important than momentary toughness.
— —
Night deep.
Beneath Konoha Village, the Root Ninja base.
Dim lights flickered along the sides of the corridor, illuminating face after face devoid of expression.
Danzo Shimura sat in the main seat, his single eye slightly closed, fingers tapping gently on the armrest.
Below, twelve Root Ninja knelt on one knee, waiting for orders.
"You have all seen the intelligence on that wolf."
Danzo opened his eyes, his voice low and cold.
"A giant silver-white wolf, capable of manipulating lightning, with strength far exceeding a Jonin, and able to speak human language with high intelligence."
"Such an existence is a rare treasure in the entire Ninja World."
He paused.
"If we can make it the summoning beast of the Shimura Clan—"
"The strength of our lineage will surpass any other clan."
A Root Ninja below looked up: "Lord Danzo, that wolf is too strong. Kakashi and the others had no power to fight back. How should we capture it?"
A cold arc curled at the corner of Danzo's mouth.
"No matter how strong it is, it is still a beast."
"Beasts have the weaknesses of beasts."
He stood up, walked to the map hanging on the wall, and pointed his finger at the location of Yufu Forest.
"I have already formulated a plan."
"You twelve shall be divided into three groups."
"The first group will carry the large sealing barrier scroll. After locating the wolf, you will immediately deploy the barrier to lock down its range of movement."
"The second group is responsible for performing the sealing jutsu. Once the barrier traps it, immediately launch the'Spirit Sealing Barrier'—that is a sealing jutsu specifically used to suppress summoning beasts; it can even temporarily suppress a Tailed Beast."
"The third group is responsible for containment and cover. If that wolf has other Ninja Wolves subordinates, you will block them."
He turned around, a look of certainty flickering in his single eye.
"Remember—I want it alive."
"As long as you bring it back to Root, I have plenty of ways to make it submit."
"Lord Danzo is wise!"
Twelve Root Ninja responded in unison.
Danzo nodded in satisfaction.
"Depart."
"Remember, keep this from the Third Hokage. This operation is to be executed independently by Root."
"Yes!"
Twelve figures vanished into the night.
Danzo stood before the map, looking in the direction of Yufu Forest, and muttered: "Hiruzen, you will regret this."
"Once I have subdued that wolf—"
"The position of Hokage in Konoha should also change hands."
— —
The next day.
Wolf Valley, Beast King Hall.
Morning light spilled in through the hall doors, shining on Zhang ye's silver-white fur, casting a soft luster.
He was lying on the stone platform, eyes narrowed in feigned sleep, but his consciousness was immersed in the system panel.
[Current Wolf Pack Members: 150] [Chunin Level: 3] [Special Jonin Level: 0] [Genin Level: 147]
"Nineteen chakra amplification pills; let the three, including Great Remnant, break through to Special Jonin first!"
"Sixteen left..."
"There are over thirty elite Genin now, I still need to find twenty ordinary Genin Ninja Wolves and cultivate them intensively, hoping to have them break through to Chunin."
"This way, I can use the sixteen chakra amplification pills to have them break through to Special Jonin and complete the mission in one go!"
"Hmm, this way I can't assign them any missions for a while; I must have them focus on refining Chakra!"
He muttered, making plans.
Just at this moment—
[Ding—New mission Triggered] [mission Name: The Arrival of Root] [mission Background: The leader of Konoha's Root organization, Danzo Shimura, covets the host's strength and intends to make the host the exclusive summoning beast of the Shimura Clan. He has dispatched twelve Root Ninja, carrying a large sealing barrier and sealing jutsu, to secretly infiltrate Yufu Forest, attempting to capture the host.] [mission Objective: Repel or annihilate the attacking Root Ninja] [mission Requirements: Choose one of the following methods to complete—] [Option One: Annihilate the attacking enemies? Rewards: 2000 EXP, 2000 Points, Racial Ninjutsu · Lightning Release · Lightning Step] [Option Two: Capture the Root Ninja. Rewards: 2000 EXP, 2000 Points, Beginner Physique Enhancement opportunity * 5] [Option Three: Release some Ninja to return and deliver a warning to Danzo. Rewards: 2000 EXP, 2000 Points, chakra amplification pill * 10]
Zhang ye's eyes snapped open.
Lightning danced within his golden pupils.
"Danzo Shimura?"
A cold arc slowly curled at the corner of his mouth.
"Want to make me your summoning beast?"
"And you brought a barrier and sealing jutsu?"
He slowly stood up, his four-meter-long silver-white body rising from the stone platform, blue arcs of electricity crackling around him.
"Interesting."
He licked his lips.
As for those sealing barriers and sealing jutsu, he didn't care at all.
Sealing barriers and sealing jutsu are indeed strong, but they have to be able to see him first.
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