By midday the next day, Hajime Hoshita led his team back to the Root headquarters to report to Danzō, including the matter of recruiting Akabane Nozomi.
Danzō, already familiar with Akabane's profile, nodded slightly after hearing the details. "He's certainly well-suited to be a sleeper agent."
"However, sending him into ANBU might be even more appropriate."
"Alpha, once he returns to Konoha, you'll be responsible for training him to meet the minimum qualifications required to join ANBU."
Cunning old fox…
Hajime thought to himself, but responded immediately, "Understood!"
Danzō then said, "Go. Hand those two over to the Interrogation Division."
Root was still expanding and lacked specialized interrogation ninjas, so turning them over to ANBU's Interrogation Division was the most effective choice.
Hajime accepted the order. After returning, he had Sarutobi Toku and the others escort the prisoners to Interrogation, while he quickly finished his lunch and then sought out a secluded spot near the Root base to resume his Mokuton training.
He had already become fairly proficient in Wood Locking Wall. As for his second Wood Release jutsu, Hajime chose Wood Clone.
This clone technique was even harder to distinguish than regular shadow clones—even the Sharingan would struggle.
Moreover, mastering the Wood Clone allowed for easier, faster, and more covert use of the Body Replacement Technique. It greatly enhanced his safety—an efficient and versatile combination.
He spent the entire afternoon training and successfully mastered both the Wood Clone and using it to perform the Body Replacement Technique.
Progress was far faster than with Wood Locking Wall, since he already had a solid foundation in clone and substitution techniques.
Back at his residence in the Root base, Hajime took out the scroll of secret Mokuton techniques. After skimming through it, he made his decision:
"The next jutsu: The Cutting Technique."
This was a Wood Release jutsu that appeared incredibly brutal in visual effect.
Hajime remembered that among known Wood Release users, only Uchiha Obito had ever used it—not even Yamato.
Of course, that might've been a matter of differing combat styles, not Yamato's inability to learn it.
But Hajime liked the technique—it could be used in both close combat and ranged attacks.
"Tonight, I'll set aside my Rasengan training and focus on mastering this technique first."
He memorized the hand seal sequence and carefully read through the annotations left behind by Hashirama Senju before putting away the scroll and heading off to eat.
He originally thought about going out for a stroll but ended up dismissing the idea.
Improving his strength was more important. Tomorrow, he had a mission to capture that female Sky Ninja.
After dinner, Hajime went back out again to continue his training.
…
Hokage Building – Hokage's Office
"Stealing sealed techniques, gathering intelligence on our border defenses—these Sky Ninja are overly ambitious. Their next target might even be a tailed beast," Danzō growled, his voice cold and filled with killing intent.
"Hiruzen, we absolutely cannot tolerate them any longer. My suggestion is to deploy troops immediately and crush the Sky Ninja Village!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. "That would indeed be the most direct, effective, and ideal solution."
"But all the great ninja villages are currently building up their military forces. After the destruction of the Uzumaki Clan, Iwagakure and Kumogakure have both secured their own Jinchūriki."
"And more importantly—Hanzo of the Land of Rain has been stirring lately as well."
Danzō's eyes narrowed, his gaze frosty. "That guy Hanzo seems to be coveting the Land of Rivers and the Land of Grass. He has the title 'Half-God of the Shinobi'—does he really think the Five Great Nations will tolerate his ambitions?"
Hiruzen didn't directly answer. "Compared to the Sky Ninja Village, Hanzo poses a greater threat to us."
"The current situation in the ninja world is tense. This is not the right time to launch a full-scale invasion of the Sky Ninja Village."
"Once we capture that female ninja, I'll send envoys to hold the Sky Ninja accountable. That should curb their ambitions for the time being."
"But Root can begin preparations for the eventual annihilation of their village."
Danzō nodded and didn't press the matter further.
He knew full well that now wasn't the right time for large-scale military action against the Sky Ninja.
The ninja world seemed peaceful on the surface—but in reality, it was seething beneath.
All the great villages were expanding their armies, all waiting for the right moment to strike. Whoever moved first would likely become the target of the rest.
Especially Konoha—rich and powerful, and already envied by the other villages.
Just like the destruction of Uzushiogakure and the Land of Whirlpools—multiple villages had conspired together, and even Konoha had been powerless to stop it.
…
Hajime trained nonstop through the night until around one in the late night before finally returning to the Root base to rest. Yet by six a.m., he was already up again for his routine training.
Ever since receiving Hashirama's cells, his physical constitution had improved, unlocking further potential. Daily physical conditioning and taijutsu training were absolutely necessary.
9:00 a.m.
After breakfast, Hajime left Konoha with Sarutobi Toku and the others, heading to the location previously specified by Naoya Tsuchiya for the exchange.
At their speed, it only took them about two hours to reach their destination.
"This really is a beautiful spot," Hajime commented from atop a tree, watching as numerous women splashed and played in the lake below. Couples snuggled affectionately by the shore.
Wait—
His gaze caught a figure that seemed oddly familiar.
Though the distance made the face hard to see, the silhouette—and more importantly, that unmistakably pervy aura—left no doubt.
Jiraiya.
"So this guy had these habits even at this age?"
But then again, with the Third Hokage and his telescope jutsu… Hajime could only think: Like master, like student.
Descending from the treetop, Hajime headed toward the meeting point, having already transformed into Naoya Tsuchiya.
As for Toku and the others, they had shed their Root gear and now looked like regular civilians out enjoying a day out.
…
On the lakeshore, behind a large boulder, Jiraiya was happily indulging in his "research" when he suddenly frowned and looked up.
He felt like someone was watching him.
His eyes scanned the surroundings, but he saw nothing. With a shrug, he leaned back in and focused even more intently on the ladies frolicking in the water.
Meanwhile, on the opposite bank, hidden within the forest, Hajime had found the treehouse Naoya Tsuchiya had mentioned.
"Pretty cozy setup…"
Inside the hollowed-out treehouse, it felt like a tiny, well-kept home.
Hajime could tell from the traces left behind that Naoya hadn't only come here for exchanges with Hayami Mari—he'd been visiting regularly.
And really, that made sense. Only a woman's long-term tenderness could erode Naoya's heart like that—it wasn't just a debt of gratitude.
In fact, even that so-called life-saving incident might have been nothing more than a scripted act by the Sky Ninja.
But all that didn't matter now.
Hajime sat on a wooden bench, back to the door, waiting quietly.
About ten minutes later, his ears twitched slightly—he heard faint movement.
She's here!
Sure enough, the wooden door of the treehouse creaked open shortly after, and a graceful figure stepped inside.
"Naoya!"
As Hajime turned to face her, Hayami Mari was just about to leap into his arms—only to freeze, her expression changing instantly.
"You're not Naoya!"
With a burst of chakra, she leapt back.
"Sharp instincts…"
With a sigh, Hajime released a surge of powerful chakra. The treehouse exploded into splinters as he dashed forward to pursue her.
The two clashed in midair, fists and kicks flying. Boosted by his immense chakra, Hajime's strength was overwhelming. Within moments, he landed a brutal kick that sent Hayami Mari crashing into the trunk of a massive tree with a loud thud—her body nearly crumpled from the impact.
As Hajime descended and returned to his original appearance, he raised his hand—sharp wooden spikes shot out.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Four wooden spikes pierced into Hayami Mari's limbs. The intense pain contorted her once-beautiful face into a grimace of agony.
Hajime showed no mercy for her beauty. Without hesitation, he raised a foot and dislocated her jaw, in case she was hiding poison or a senbon in her mouth.
Only after taking these precautions did Hajime pull out a flare and launch it into the sky.
The signal flare burst in the air. Toku and the others immediately moved to regroup with him.
At the same time…
Back on the lakeshore, behind the same large boulder, Jiraiya looked up at the flare bursting in the sky, raising an eyebrow.
He instantly recognized it as a Konoha signal flare.
And not just any signal—it was a secondary-level distress call.
"Well, looks like the show's over. What a shame…"
With a sigh, Jiraiya got up.
(End of Chapter)