Chapter 96: Leaf Style
Sasuke and his team returned to their defense zone. Passing through the city gate, they found Hayabusa and Sengoku apathetic, completely different from their euphoric state that morning.
"Hey, why the long faces? Did your wives cheat on you?" Sasuke joked.
"Go to hell, we're not even married," they replied.
"We were so happy to get credit for an A-rank mission," Hayabusa sighed, "but we didn't expect to get into such big trouble."
It turned out that, after the arrest, they found the smuggling ledger, which implicated Mitokado Takashi and the Hokage's nephew, Kagejiro. Now, the two guards feared they had offended the clan of a Village Elder and that of the Third Hokage himself. They felt their future was bleak.
"Sasuke, you don't understand," Sengoku said. "Even if the Third Hokage is generous, there are many people in Konoha who want to advance at others' expense. And Elder Mitokado..."
"Sengoku, be careful!" Sasuke quickly interrupted him.
Both knew they had said too much and changed the subject. Sasuke, seeing they weren't in the mood, exchanged a few more jokes and headed to the defense zone. In less than an hour, he met Torifune for a simple handover of command.
However, Torifune didn't leave. He stayed for another big dinner. Afterward, Maru took Sasuke aside to teach him one last ninjutsu. It was the S-rank illusionary sword technique: Konoha-Ryū: Yanagi (Leaf Style: Willow).
It was a move that combined genjutsu and kenjutsu without the need for hand seals. In combat, you cast an illusion that trapped the enemy in a whirlwind of dancing leaves. While they were helpless, you attacked from a blind spot. A deadly, almost unavoidable blow.
"Sasuke, I didn't expect your talent for illusion to be so high," Maru said, very surprised. "As long as you practice quick drawing, you'll practically master this technique." His ninjutsu talent was already rare, but this was another level. 'Entrusting him with Lord Tobirama's inheritance was the right decision,' he thought.
"Yes," Sasuke nodded, deeply moved. His talent for illusion must have been due to the increase in his mental strength after reincarnation. It wasn't until he received Kon's notes that he realized his potential.
After teaching him, Maru and his team finally left. Sasuke, as the new captain, began patrolling and meeting with the ten squads under his command. Only three of them had some combat power; the other seven were pure cannon fodder. Of the three competent ones, the strongest was the "Bingzu" Squad, organized by Root. The other two were the "Die" Squad and Ebihiko's.
"Sasuke, how did you become a special jonin, and even my direct superior?" Ebihiko complained, feeling that he wouldn't be able to have as much fun as before.
"Luck, it's pure luck," Sasuke replied. "Well, Dichlorvos No. 6. My housewarming gift. All teams will get one."
"No, I want a double," Ebihiko demanded, appealing to their friendship.
"Okay, double it is," Sasuke sighed, and threw him two bottles.
Looking at his friend's back, Ebihiko felt a blow to his confidence. His brothers had already gotten rich, and he was still in the same place.
"Captain, this is great!" one of his men said. "Sasuke-sama is now our leader, and he's your friend. That means we have a protector in high places!"
Ebihiko thought about it and realized it was very reasonable. With a special jonin as an ally, at least someone would speak up for them if they suffered any injustice. Thinking about this, he felt his "little book" was fragrant again, so he happily pulled out his "Will of Fire" and started reading.
Sasuke took half a day to patrol the entire area. Instead of accepting "gifts" from his new subordinates, he gave them poison. It wasn't about being distant, but because the area was dangerous, and with Ebizo as a threat, it was better to forge good relationships. Besides, he had enough poison, and this would increase the combat power of the entire area.
His plan worked. Only two days later, a Sunagakure puppet team raided the "Bingzu" squad's defense zone, which was exactly the area Sasuke was responsible for before.
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