章 96: Kakashi and the Will of Fire (1)
Walking on the dark and damp wooden corridor, the intersections at both ends were engulfed in thick darkness.
This corridor is suspended above the bottomless abyss, and below is the bottomless darkness.
And this corridor is just one of countless criss-crossing corridors.
Orochimaru walked steadily towards the darkness of the corridor, until the end, he pushed open a door and walked in.
In the room, there are already people waiting for his arrival.
"Danzo, why come to me at this time?"
Orochimaru asked the people sitting in the room.
Nominally, he is a new member of 'Roots' and exists as Danzo's deputy, but in fact, he is the nail that his teacher Sarutobi Hiruzen drove into 'Roots'.
Used to monitor and limit Danzo's aggressive actions.
Therefore, when he joins the 'root', he has no freedom restrictions, nor is he planted with a spell, his name is also reserved, and he will not live like a machine like those 'root' members.
"Look at this first."
Danzo didn't care about Orochimaru's way of referring to himself as an equal. In fact, he didn't have the ability to force Orochimaru to do something that the other party didn't like.
Danzo, who was sitting there, threw a document on the desktop in front of Orochimaru.
Orochimaru sat down, looked at Danzo suspiciously, but couldn't see what the other party wanted to do, so he looked away, picked up the document on the desktop, and opened it for reading.
Just seeing the name of the plan on the paper, Orochimaru's face changed slightly.
—Wood Style cultivation plan. ( I will cultivate because it means create, practice, training etc. Sometimes line feel weird because of changing cultivation to other words )
"This is a newly established research project in the village. The purpose is to cultivate ninjas who can inherit the first Hokage's Wood Style. I hope to get your assistance."
Danzo's voice was low, while carefully observing Orochimaru's ever-changing expression.
"Is it to deal with the tail beast?"
Orochimaru regained his composure, and quickly understood the intention.
Wood Style, like Sharingan, has the ability to restrain tailed beasts.
But since the first Hokage passed away, Wood Style has disappeared from the ninja world, and no second Wood Style ninja has appeared so far.
Sharingan has been handed down very well, but that is the exclusive ability of the Uchiha clan.
And Danzo, the leader of the 'root', is the most senior executive who rejects the entire Uchiha clan.
Unable to control Sharingan, cultivating Wooden Ninja is also a way out, and it is easier to control in your hands.
"It's not all for the tailed beast, but also for deterring some ninjas with bad intentions in the village. For this, we must rely on the power of Wood Style."
Danzo also secretly stated that he has not yet relaxed his vigilance against the Uchiha clan, and when necessary, he will take some extreme measures to limit the growth of this ninja clan.
"Really? What an interesting project."
Orochimaru had a smile on his face, and his voice was hoarse and magnetic.
"The village sacrificed many excellent ninjas in the last ninja war. I don't know when the next ninja war will come. This is also for the sake of the future of the village. The power of Wood Style, which calms the troubled times, will become a sharper blade than White Fang."
"I see."
Sakumo's death really hurt Konoha's muscles and bones. Konoha White Fang, who was in charge of sabotaging the enemy's rear during the war, is a huge threat for all countries that cannot be underestimated.
Now a sharp weapon that can replace Konoha White Fang is needed to deter the nations and stabilize Konoha's defense.
"Does Tsunade know about this?"
If you want to cultivate a wooden ninja, you must use the remains of the first Hokage to extract the necessary cellular energy from the remains.
This kind of practice of desecrating the remains of the dead, with Tsunade's character, is absolutely impossible to agree to, and she will even make a big fuss in high-level meetings.
This is especially the remains of her grandfather.
"Of course it is impossible to let her know. If she knows, things will become very troublesome."
Danzo's face remained unchanged, and he didn't know what he was thinking.
"In other words, Sarutobi-sensei has acquiesced to this plan, is that the case?"
Orochimaru pondered for a moment.
Without Hiruzen's acquiescence, he wouldn't believe that Danzo would have the guts to touch Wood Style.
Besides, the power of the roots alone is not enough to study the power of Wood Style.
"You can understand so quickly, you are truly the most talented ninja among the sainin. Your mind and knowledge, as well as your understanding of ninjutsu, have a very powerful role in promoting this plan."
Danzo expressed his appreciation for Orochimaru's talent without hesitation.
"It seems that Sarutobi-sensei put me in the root, not just for me to monitor you. I understand, since it is something that is beneficial to the village, I will continue to do it."
The second Hokage Senju Tobirama, whom he admires the most, developed so many forbidden techniques based on human experiments and opened up many schools of ninjutsu, which have benefited many Konoha ninjas so far.
In this village, there are indeed many things that cannot be seen.
And most of these hidden secrets have roots behind the scenes.
The executor of Konoha's darkness.
"Where do I find the 'material'?"
"Don't worry about this. Volunteers from the village have been screened in advance, and they will cooperate with the experiment at that time."
"This way I don't have to worry about it."
Orochimaru nodded, expressing his understanding.
"The experiment will start next week. I need to check the information first and make sufficient preparations."
After Orochimaru finished speaking, he took the plan and left the Roots meeting room.
Walking out of the conference room, Orochimaru looked at the road ahead that was eroded by darkness, then glanced down at the Wood Style plan brought out of the conference room, and murmured to himself:
"Wood Style... I don't know how many people will be sacrificed this time..."
Life is really too fragile and too cheap.
After expressing his emotions, he raised his head and looked forward, and Orochimaru stepped forward into the darkness without hesitation.
•••
October.
The weather is getting colder.
In the forest, a group of four people were running in it.
"Hey, Kakashi, slow down!"
A Konoha ninja wearing a Chunin uniform yelled at Kakashi who was running at the front.
I hope Kakashi can listen to my words.
Kakashi just glanced back, the Chunin teammate who yelled at him was carrying a wounded ninja on his back, panting, obviously dragged down by the wounded behind him.
Kakashi stopped, and said indifferently: "Throw him away, the three of us will continue to complete the task."
"Wh-what? What did you say?"
The Chunin looked at Kakashi with an immature face in disbelief.
Didn't expect to hear such words from Kakashi's mouth.
Although he talked too much before, this time he really touched the bottom line of this Chunin.
"Completing the mission is the rule of the ninja, and the ninja is only a tool to complete the mission. Since he is a burden, he can't form a combat power, and he will only drag the three of us, so don't worry about it, just leave him here. Or... kill him."
Kakashi took out a kunai and threw it at Chunin's feet, letting him make a decision.
His father, Sakumo, chose a companion in the mission, so he would be slandered by rumors, and the suicide also proved his father's guilty conscience and fragility.
So, what he has to do now is to choose the mission.
A companion who has been seriously injured in the mission, unable to provide combat, or even drags his teammates down, abandons it in advance and chooses the mission. This is what Kakashi thinks is the right path now.
"Kakashi, do you know what you are talking about? You are also a Konoha ninja, how can you say such a thing?"
The Chunin reacted and roared angrily.
"Are you really a ninja? You should go back to the ninja school for your naive thoughts. Don't forget that completing the mission is the path that a ninja should really choose."
Kakashi stared at the Chunin coldly.
"You brat!"
The Chunin are already gnashing their teeth.
Kakashi just glanced at him indifferently, without answering, turned around, with White Fang dagger on his back, and walked forward alone.
"Captain, look at that guy, he said such a thing! It's so annoying! What a genius!"
Chunin said dissatisfied.
"Okay, Kakashi is not malicious, the important thing is to complete the task."
Jonin Captain shook his head helplessly. In theory, Kakashi's suggestion is indeed the best choice.
But he couldn't feel sorry for giving up his companion's life so easily.
"Captain, replace Kakashi when you go back. This kind of guy is just a black sheep in our team."
The Chunin is still aggrieved.
"I will mention it to Hokage-sama."
"Captain, you have mentioned it to Hokage-sama many times, but Kakashi just won't change. He is really not suitable for development in our team. Give him up, this kind of person is not suitable to be a companion."
Chunin said helplessly.
Jōnin captain Moran, under the pleading eyes of this Chunin, finally hesitated for a moment and nodded.
"Okay, after I go back, I will apply for a transfer order from Hokage-sama to transfer Kakashi to another team."
"Hurry up, I don't feel safe at all as a companion with this kind of guy."
Chunin with a wounded guy on his back, Kakashi's indifferent attitude towards his teammates really made him endure to the extreme.
Even if you are a Chunin with ordinary strength, it is better than this kind of ruthless genius Chunin.
•••
Transfer order.
Sitting in the office, Hiruzen felt a headache for a moment when he saw the application for transfer from a certain Jōnin in his hand.
I hope to transfer Hatake Kakashi to another team. The reason is that Kakashi can't coordinate his teammates and doesn't know how to work as a team.
After reading the transfer order application, Hiruzen took out a transfer order application form in a similar format from the drawer. Without exception, the applicants were all from the teams that Kakashi had been in.
But each time the stay is not long, one of the teams, in which Kakashi only stayed for a few days, was led by the jonin which got eliminated, thinking that his team would drag down such a talented chunin, and hoped that Kakashi would develop in other Jonin teams.
Is this the fourth time...or the fifth?
At this moment, there was a knock on the office door.
Hiruzen shouted to the outside: "Come in."
Konoha Shinobi came in after knocking on the door outside, and bowed respectfully to Hiruzen: "Lord Hokage."
Hiruzen put Kakashi's information on the front, and the Jōnin consciously stepped forward to pick it up and read it.
"What do you think of Kakashi?"
"genius."
The name Jōnin only has these words of evaluation.
"I remember that a teammate in your team died. I want Kakashi to join your team. What do you think?"
After Hiruzen finished speaking, Jōnin's face immediately changed, and then he calmed down and said, "Lord Hokage, I'm not strong enough to teach such a genius. Arranging him in my team will only bury this genius. You'd better let him develop in another team."
He knows Kakashi's name.
Especially among the Jonin leading the team recently, there has been some unfavorable talks about Kakashi.
He had heard of such things.
Although his team does need to be supplemented, if Kakashi is added in, it may cause the entire team to fall apart, let alone teamwork.
Hiruzen didn't force it, and let the name bear it.
Then, another jounin came in, and Hiruzen also asked the same question. This jounin also politely refused with a slightly changed face, saying that he was incompetent and unable to teach such an outstandingly talented chunin.
Next, the Jonin who was ordered by Hiruzen are all similar euphemisms.
Their opinions are very unified, saying that they have no chance with a genius like Kakashi, and they have no ability to teach this kind of Konoha to graduate at the youngest age and become a ninja.
Obviously, they may have exchanged some opinions with each other, and they are unwilling to accept this kind of person who disrupts teamwork. Even if they are geniuses, they will unequivocally push them out.
"Lord Hokage, I am willing to accept Kakashi, but if he disobeys the order and destroys the teamwork, I will remove him from the team."
It wasn't until the 21st Jonin came that he finally found Konoha Jonin who was willing to accept Kakashi.
But the other party put forward such a prerequisite.
If Kakashi obeys orders and does not destroy the relationship between the teams, he is willing to accept such a genius Chunin, join his team, and carry out missions together.
Hiruzen smiled and said, "Don't worry, Kakashi will obey your orders, Jonin."
Konoha jounin smiled bitterly.
Of course he knew that Kakashi would obey the orders of his Jōnin.
In fact, the rest of the ninjas were not excluded because Kakashi didn't obey orders, but because Kakashi always destroyed the team relationship and caused the relationship between colleagues to deteriorate. This is why many ninjas are unwilling to accept such geniuses.
As for a jonin, maintaining a good team relationship is a very crucial part.
Kakashi broke this agreement, so he was naturally not welcomed by others.
"I also hope that he can keep his own place in my team."
I don't expect Kakashi to make any contribution in the team, as long as he can not destroy the team relationship, thank God.
After listening to Hiruzen, he had no choice but to nod his head, agreeing to the Hokage request.
"To be honest, Lord Hokage, I don't think Kakashi is suitable for performing tasks in a regular team. He is more suitable for places like Anbu and Roots."
Before leaving, the Jōnin said a heartfelt statement.
Hiruzen is considering the suggestion of this Jōnin. Leaving aside Anbu, the power of Roots has been growing over the years.
If Kakashi is arranged at the root, it is equivalent to giving Danzo a sharp weapon.
In this kind of matter, Hiruzen can distinguish clearly.
I can rely on the roots of Danzo, but the premise is that the strength of the roots will not exceed my expectations.
And Kakashi's talent is really too good.
Enrolled at the age of four, graduated at the age of five, and became a Chunin at the age of six. Even if he became a Jonin at the age of ten, Hiruzen would not be too surprised.
Such a sharp weapon must not fall into the hands of Danzo, to strengthen the power of the roots.
As for joining Anbu... Although Kakashi's talent is indeed shocking, it is not yet the lowest level of Anbu.
Moreover, Anbu is not an educational institution, and there will be no one to teach Kakashi how to fight and practice ninjutsu, which is not conducive to Kakashi's growth at this stage.
But... the regular Jōnin squad is very repulsive to Kakashi and unwilling to accept him.
Hiruzen was troubled by this.
Regular teams do not accept him.
He is not eligible for Anbu.
He can't be given to the Roots.
Do you want him to be the captain? It is estimated that teammates will die in the task soon.
Kakashi, who takes mission as his first priority, can definitely do this kind of thing now.
Never has a Chunin ever given Hiruzen such a headache. I don't know where to arrange it, so I can only work like this first, and observe for a while before talking.
•••
Konoha Village, in the meatball shop.
Shiraishi asked Kakashi to eat meatballs here.
"Kakashi, it's really rare to see you now. How are you doing? I heard people say that you seem to have conflicts with your colleagues recently."
Shiraishi held a bunch of meatballs in his hand, took a bite, and smiled at Kakashi who was sitting opposite.
On Kakashi's body, Shiraishi felt a very cold and numb breath, and his eyes lost the light they should have.
How should I put it, Shiraishi has only seen this kind of look in the eyes of root ninjas before.
No name, no future, no life, in his eyes, it seems that there are only tasks.
Like a machine, it starts to operate according to the established procedures.
"It's okay, it's just that there are a few more burdens in the task."
Kakashi did not eat the meatball in front of him, but said in a cold tone.
"They are your teammates, don't say that about them, teamwork is very important in missions."
Shiraishi sighed.
Sure enough, Sakumo's death hit him too hard.
He is still struggling with the question of which is more important, the mission or the companion.
There is no standard answer to this question from beginning to end.
Kakashi in this state really made Shiraishi very worried.
"I can't cooperate with them at all. They care too much about things that don't matter, and are often disturbed by external information. The ninja only needs to complete the task."
Kakashi said so.
"Have you heard of the barrel principle?"
"I don't want to listen to your long speeches here, and now you are just a Chunin, so you don't have the qualifications to preach to me. If you want to preach to me, wait until you become a Jonin."
"..."
This invisibly hit Shiraishi's sore spot.
"Furthermore, if they can continue to fight, I will naturally help them, but if they cannot form combat power, it is only natural to give up. As a ninja, the most important thing is to complete the task. When necessary, give up your companions, and no one can make irresponsible remarks to me."
Kakashi continued to speak in an incomparably cold tone.
"Do you really think so?"
"The person who chose the companion is dead. I don't want to repeat the mistake of that person."
"..."
Reasonable and well-founded, Shiraishi was unable to defend himself.
"But your colleagues hate you, don't they?"
"This has nothing to do with you, I'm just following the rules that a ninja should follow."
Kakashi said so.
"Yeah?"
Shiraishi knows that it is impossible to dissuade Kakashi's thinking that is on the verge of collapse.
Take out a bag from the ninja bag, put it in front of Kakashi and he said: "This is my special military food pill, and some antidote, you can use it. Since you choose the mission first, you must protect yourself. Because once you are injured in the mission and lose the ability to fight and move, your companions will also abandon you."
Kakashi was slightly taken aback, looked up at Shiraishi, but didn't take the bag that stored the food Pills and antidotes on the table.
"Why? Isn't this the path you choose yourself? It's a completely different path from Sakumo-Sensei. Now is not the time to hesitate."
Shiraishi looked at Kakashi calmly and smiled slightly.
Kakashi silently put away the bag and said softly, "Thank you."
"You're welcome, this is what I should do. After all, I watched you grow up. Now that Sakumo-Sensei is gone, I will take care of you with all my heart. If it is not possible, I will ask Ruri let you join her team to perform tasks."
"No, this is too much trouble for you, I will take care of myself."
Kakashi shook his head, rejecting Shiraishi's proposal.
Shiraishi didn't speak, just ate the meatballs quietly.
"If there is nothing else, I will go to practice."
Kakashi stood up from his seat, and when he was about leave, Shiraishi's voice sounded from behind:
"Kakashi, do you think Sakumo-Sensei made a wrong choice at that time?"
"Yes, he made the wrong choice that why I choose took a different path from him."
After finishing speaking, without waiting for Shiraishi to speak again, Kakashi walked out of the meatball shop with an indifferent expression on his face.
When he uttered these words, he already denied the path taken by his father Sakumo.
A wrong path.
And what he is going to take now is the path that a ninja should take.
"It seems that the psychological problem is more serious than I imagined, this unlovable little brat. He and Mr. Sakumo are totally different. Are they really father and son? When Mr. Sakumo was at Konoha Hospital, he didn't make a mistake, right?"
Watching Kakashi's figure disappear from his eyes, Shiraishi muttered while eating the meatball.
Although Kakashi was not very likable before, he would never say such slanderous words with a cold face.
But it's almost time, the time before he questioned the will of fire.
In other words, after experiencing these things, his heart may have begun to shake.
The indifference on his face is just a disguise.
What caused Kakashi's contradictory thinking is inseparable from the current Konoha environment.
A boring and twisted village.
週次パワーステータス
-- 推薦
ランキング 
-- 推薦
チケット