Just as he stepped out of the Hokage Building, Yamanaka Shinno quietly tapped into the sensory barrier covering all of Konoha, locking onto Nara Shikaku, who was working at the mission reception office.
Seeing that the distance between them was less than 500 meters, he immediately used the Mind Transmission Technique to link their consciousness.
"Shikaku, I just accepted a mission! Guess where I'm going?"
Shikaku froze for a moment, hearing Shinno's voice laced with gritted teeth echo in his mind.
"Not guessing. Goodbye."
Without hesitation, Shikaku put down his pen and quickly formed hand seals, using the Nara Clan's Shadow Imitation Jutsu to envelop himself in a dense shadow, attempting to sever the mental link.
Both the Nara Clan's shadow techniques and the Yamanaka Clan's mental techniques were derivatives of Yin Release, each with its own strengths. However, at their core, they were variations of the same nature and could easily interfere with one another.
But...
"Take another guess. Why hasn't the link been severed?"
Shikaku's face twitched.
The difference in mental strength was too great. He couldn't block Shinno's Mind Transmission Technique!
No worries.
He had a backup plan.
Glancing at a rarely used secure room near the mission reception area, he grabbed a stack of documents and prepared to slip inside. With the additional protection of an anti-perception barrier and his own shadow techniques, he figured he'd be safe.
"I heard that on Adofu Street, there are two geishas as famous as top courtesans. Their names are Iwayama Momoko and Yanagi Sakura, right?"
Oh no. Shinno had a backup plan too!
Shikaku covered his face with one hand and slumped into his chair in defeat.
Adofu Street was less than forty kilometers from Konoha, a bustling entertainment district within Senju Post Town. Because Konoha had strict internal regulations prohibiting pleasure districts and casinos, the available entertainment options for shinobi were quite limited.
Adofu Street, however, was situated along a major trade route, naturally fostering the development of such businesses.
He had only visited a few times in his younger days, purely out of curiosity, alongside Inoichi and Choza. Just drinking and listening to music—nothing more.
But would Yoshino believe that if he told her?
That bastard Shinno was actually blackmailing him with this!
What about their brotherly bond?
What about their mutual understanding as men?
Did Shinno not realize he could march straight to Kushina and snitch on him?
"...I really tried! But the Hokage has his own plans. What was I supposed to do?"
"I've been assigned to infiltrate Kumogakure, assist in an assassination of high-ranking officials, and incite conflict between the militant faction and other villages. Why me?!"
Shinno ignored Shikaku's grumbling. He genuinely couldn't understand—while he had demonstrated some level of skill, weren't these kinds of covert missions usually left to ROOT?
"Lately, Lord Danzo and the Hokage's relationship has improved significantly. Many ROOT missions have been reassigned."
"What does that mean? Just a coincidence?"
"When was the last time you saw Lord Danzo?"
"About ten days ago, when I went to Konoha Hospital with Tsunade."
"Danzo proposed to the Hokage that you should join ROOT, with the same status as Orochimaru. The Hokage didn't outright refuse—he said he'd consider it."
"That's insane."
Shinno's expression darkened.
He couldn't wrap his head around what Danzo was trying to do.
It made sense that Danzo would want to smooth things over with the Hokage—after all, he was trying to mitigate the effects of his [Ruthless Schemer] curse mark. He needed manpower to investigate the remnants of the Warring States era and to ensure his own safety.
But recruiting him into ROOT?
With the same status as Orochimaru?
Orochimaru didn't even have the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal! Even if he never became Hokage, he was still in line to inherit ROOT's leadership.
Meanwhile, Shinno had repeatedly clashed with Danzo. On top of that, he was now the boyfriend of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and a firm supporter of the Hokage's faction.
This was practically Danzo handing the Hokage a reason to rein him in.
"Honestly, I think this might be a test—a power struggle between the Hokage and Danzo. And you... well, you're strong, but you lack political influence, making you the perfect test subject."
Shikaku finally laid out his theory.
He had witnessed countless power plays between the Hokage and his advisor.
This time, Danzo's proposal served multiple purposes: First, it was a show of goodwill to the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, signaling that he supported their clans rising in influence. Second, it was an attempt to win over more of the shinobi clans. Third, it was a test to see if the Hokage would loosen his grip on the Jinchuriki's control now that there was another Uzumaki in the village. And fourth, it was a maneuver to expand ROOT's power and manpower.
On the other hand, the Hokage's response was equally intriguing.
He hadn't outright rejected the proposal.
Previously, whenever missions to the Land of Iron came up, he had always chosen someone else over Shinno. Yet now, he seemed willing to entertain the idea of Shinno joining ROOT?
Was this an attempt to reclaim authority over ROOT and prevent its further expansion?
Or was he trying to gauge Danzo's true intentions?
It couldn't be that he actually wanted Shinno in ROOT, right?
Shinno was the future husband of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!
"...So basically, I'm strong enough to be a pawn, and as long as I don't die, they'll just keep using me? Are either of these guys decent human beings?!"
Grumbling, Shinno cut off the Mind Transmission.
He quickly checked his ninja tools and sealing scrolls.
Regardless of whatever schemes the Hokage and Danzo were plotting, neither of them seemed to be targeting him directly or planning to use him as a sacrificial pawn.
Still, the situation was annoying.
Couldn't they just sit in a room and hash things out?
Or, better yet, settle things with a good old-fashioned knife fight?
Why did they have to drag him into it?
Shinno took a deep breath, suppressing his irritation.
He silently made a decision—on this mission, he would push himself to surpass even Kage-level strength.
In the face of absolute power, all schemes and politics were meaningless.
Recalling the details of his mission scroll and his planned rendezvous with Yakushi Nono, his eyes gleamed with determination.
...
Five days from now, at midnight.
For a standard shinobi, the journey from Konoha to Kumogakure would take about four days at full speed. To account for potential delays, they'd normally leave a day earlier.
But he had something better—a flying summon, Pidgeot.
With Pidgeot's speed and endurance, he could take a detour through the Land of Iron and still reach Kumogakure on time.
If he could locate Uchiha Madara, that would be ideal.
If not, he could always return after the mission and lie in wait at the Mountain Graveyard.
It would be a hassle.
But if he could obtain the 'Sage Body' from Madara, it would be more than worth it.
And when he returned...
Kukukuku~
He'd love to see what those two were really up to.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
+100 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo