Chapter 193: Chūnin Exams
Ōnoki and the others thought about Ishiro's method and all felt it was highly feasible and worth a try.
Saka then added to Ishiro's idea, "Ishiro, you know the true origin of the Byakugan, so your thinking is a bit narrow. But others don't know! We can also make contact with rogue ninjas to completely muddy the waters, making it impossible for anyone to see the truth."
Everyone unanimously agreed with Saka's suggestion. Finally, Ōnoki made the decision, "Alright, Saka will be responsible for contacting the Uchiha clan, and Saka will also handle the matter of luring other ninja villages. Ishiro, your Intelligence Department will be handed over to Saka for now, let him take unified command."
"Yes." Ishiro agreed very readily. He felt guilty; he hadn't been in the village for so long and hadn't provided any leadership to the Intelligence Department himself.
Afraid that Ōnoki would bring up his delayed return again, Ishiro quickly said, "Lord Tsuchikage, there's one more thing. I discovered a secret base near Uzushiogakure. However, this base is surrounded by a powerful seal."
"I studied it for a day and concluded that with my current level, I am far from being able to break this sealing jutsu."
Ōnoki was astonished and blurted out, "Even with your level of sealing jutsu, it's still far from enough?"
It wasn't surprising Ōnoki was shocked. Ishiro was one of the few in Iwagakure with the highest level of skill in sealing jutsus. If Ishiro couldn't break it, and was "far from" being able to, it meant others wouldn't fare any better.
"Can you guess what that base was used for?" Saka asked. He actually didn't want Ishiro to risk tampering with that seal. Iwagakure's current development momentum was good; there was no need to take risks.
Ishiro shook his head and said, "I can't guess. I can't even determine the function of that seal. Actually, if not for the S-rank ninjutsu 'Mind's Eye,' I wouldn't have discovered that seal either."
Ōnoki thought for a moment and said, "The situation in the ninja world hasn't stabilized yet. It's not suitable for us to make large moves. Let's put this matter aside for now."
Ishiro nodded. To be honest, facing that SS-rank seal, he also felt unsure. Who knew what was inside?
Ishiro then took out the ninjutsu scroll he had obtained from Ōiwa Takefumi and said, "This was obtained by a rogue ninja named Ōiwa Takefumi from the ruins of Uzushiogakure. It records a ninjutsu for concealing chakra fluctuations and a passive anti-sensory ninjutsu."
"I felt it would be useful to the village, so I exchanged it from Ōiwa Takefumi. Also, this Ōiwa Takefumi has good talent; he already has Jōnin-level chakra in his twenties."
"Even better, according to him, his three-year-old son, Ōiwa Hōnori, has talent even surpassing his own and possesses both Wind and Fire affinities. I have already extended an invitation to them on behalf of the village."
Ōnoki nodded and said, "You did well. Since his son's talent is better, perhaps he can become an Elite Jōnin after being trained by the village."
The matter of Ōiwa Takefumi and his son was passed over with just a sentence. Then, everyone began to circulate and read the scroll Ishiro had presented.
After reading the scroll, Saka said, "This ninjutsu for concealing chakra fluctuations is extraordinary! If our spies can also learn this ninjutsu, their infiltration success rate will increase significantly."
Ishiro was an amateur in this aspect; Saka, who had managed the Intelligence Department for many years, was the expert.
It turned out that for a ninja spy to infiltrate another ninja village, it was, well, very difficult in some ways, yet simple in others.
All major ninja villages had defensive barriers capable of detecting chakra reactions. Infiltrating through other channels was not easy; one could only enter through the main gate of the ninja village.
However, there were ninjas conducting inspections at the village's main gate, and these ninjas were often very sensitive to chakra. It was very difficult for ninjas from other countries to slip through.
But there were ways to deal with this situation. The best method was to deplete all the chakra in one's body and enter through the main gate disguised as an ordinary person.
Although many other details could still expose a ninja's identity – for example, the Cloud ninja Ishiro had previously interrogated with genjutsu in the Interrogation Department was identified as a spy because he was found to possess certain ninja characteristics – these could all be avoided. Makeup and disguise were commonplace for ninjas.
Only one thing was very troublesome: the village's sensory barrier not only monitored the surroundings of the village but also periodically monitored the interior of the village.
Once an unfamiliar chakra fluctuation was detected inside the village, the possibility of a spy being exposed would greatly increase.
However, ninjas couldn't operate completely without relying on chakra. Truthfully, without the powerful tool of chakra, ninjas were only slightly stronger than ordinary people.
But this chakra fluctuation concealment ninjutsu Ishiro had obtained solved this problem very well. It could allow spies to use ninjutsu while reducing the possibility of being discovered.
Ishiro hadn't thought of it this way before. Now, hearing Saka's words, he also felt it made sense. In that case, this ninjutsu was actually more helpful to the village than the anti-sensory ninjutsu.
Ōnoki was also quite amazed by Ishiro's luck. Under Ishiro's influence, Iwagakure's foundation was becoming more and more complete.
"Saka will be responsible for how this ninjutsu is distributed. Are there any other matters?" Ōnoki's first half of the sentence was an instruction to Saka; the second half was a question for Ishiro.
Ishiro scratched his head and said, "Actually, there is something. When Ikura and I were talking about the Daimyō just now, I had an idea."
"While Konoha isn't completely at peace yet, we can take the opportunity to expand our village's influence."
"We can jointly host a Chūnin Exam with Sunagakure, Amegakure, Kusagakure, and other ninja villages."
Mei's eyes lit up upon hearing this. "That's a good idea, and highly feasible too. Judging by the attitude shown by the Daimyō of the Land of Wind, the possibility of Sunagakure participating in this joint Chūnin Exam is not low. This is indeed a good way to expand the village's influence."
Ikura also expressed his approval and added, "We can also communicate with Kumogakure and try to bring them in. We can even spread rumors that our several villages are preparing to form an alliance and woo the Uchiha together."
Ishiro was speechless. He felt Ikura had been corrupted by him and was now becoming more and more like an advisor such as Danzō, his words filled with schemes.
Ōnoki looked at Ishiro and asked, "You'll be responsible for this, how about it?"
Ishiro was startled and said, "Better let Ikura do it. He happens to be in charge of the Ninja Academy. Hmm, he also has experience organizing Chūnin selections. This matter concerns the village's prestige, after all. Having a ninja with Kage-level strength like him lead it will also have a certain deterrent effect on other countries."
"I can go to the capital to discuss it with the Daimyō; the Daimyō wants to see me anyway. Moreover, I also want to invite the Akatsuki Organization to participate in the selection. I'll have to make a trip for that personally too."
Ishiro quickly made excuses to decline.
Ōnoki glared at Ishiro again, knowing this fellow wanted to slack off again and was also thinking of going out to roam. So he said, "Then Ikura will be responsible for this matter. However, this time you go out, you are not allowed to stay outside for too long. Otherwise, you'll be directly grounded next time."
Ikura glanced at Ishiro with some resentment. Ishiro, however, nodded repeatedly, assuring him again and again that he wouldn't take too long.
At this moment, Ishiro somewhat understood the future Deidara. The world was so big; it was normal to want to go out and see it.
Right, speaking of which, had Deidara been born yet? Ishiro calculated the time; probably not yet.
Compared to the original story, the current Third Great Ninja War had broken out several years earlier. Because of Ishiro's intervention, the war had lost its process of repeated back-and-forth struggles, and its duration was also shorter.
So the current time was much earlier compared to the original story. He didn't know if Itachi Uchiha had been born yet; even if not, it was probably a matter of this year or the next.
And Deidara, who was even younger than Itachi Uchiha, probably hadn't been born yet.
Hmm? Thinking of this, Ishiro suddenly remembered something: Obito Uchiha turning to the dark side.
The current Obito Uchiha was much younger than he was at the time of the Kannabi Bridge battle in the original story. So Madara Uchiha definitely hadn't made his move on Obito yet.
Thinking of this, Ishiro broke out in a cold sweat. He had actually gotten such an important timeline wrong; this could be fatal.
Fortunately, he discovered it in time. It seemed he would have to pay more attention to intelligence concerning Obito Uchiha in the future.
The meeting ended. All the high-ranking officials, except for Ishiro, were assigned many tasks. They had many things to be busy with, so after exchanging a few words, they dispersed.
As for Ishiro, having been away from the village for over ten days, he also had many accumulated matters to attend to.
Of the departments he was in charge of, apart from the Intelligence Department which was temporarily assigned to Saka, he had to visit the other departments. Especially Han, the Jinchūriki; Ishiro had promised to take him out of his residence for walks from time to time, and he couldn't go back on his word.
Additionally, the training of his three new disciples also needed more attention.
The Intelligence Department was to be handed over to Saka. Ishiro just went to the Intelligence Department to inform the person in charge, and that was it.
As for the Medical Department, Ishiro also went to take a look. The Medical Department was still busy with their medical ninja training. Some of those currently participating in the training were already attending their second course.
Ishiro also listened in for a bit and felt that he was indeed not suited to be a medical ninja. Because the theoretical knowledge in it was starting to increase, and Ishiro wasn't very interested in this area.
He still had a whole bunch of problems to deal with in his own training system; he really didn't have time to learn a completely new field.
When Ishiro found Nakata Hajime, the person in charge, he noticed that Nakata Hajime already had four or five young followers with him.
Recalling, Ishiro realized that many of the medical ninjas he had just seen in the Medical Department also had several to a dozen children following them.
"Senior Nakata Hajime, are these all your disciples around you?" Ishiro remembered his own three disciples, whom he usually also brought along like this.
Nakata Hajime was very excited to see Ishiro and quickly ran over, saying, "Lord Advisor, you haven't been to the Medical Department for a long time."
"These students are not my disciples, but students from the Ninja Academy who were found to have a certain talent for medical ninjutsu."
"After discussing with Advisor Ikura, I arranged for them to intern with me and other medical ninjas for a period. This can both increase their experience and cultivate their interest in becoming medical ninjas."
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