Although bowing to a mere green-skinned toad made her feel somewhat displeased.
"It's fine, no need to be so formal, little girl."
To Fukasaku Sage, who had lived for over eight hundred years, Asami Shinsui was indeed still just an unripe little girl.
"Shinsui, Fukasaku Sage will cooperate with your hospital's pharmaceutical research department to study that poison."
"Understood, Lord Hokage, I'm truly grateful. With Fukasaku Sage's help, I think we'll be able to uncover its secrets very soon."
Asami Shinsui answered seriously.
Hiruzen very much appreciated Asami Shinsui's steady, humble, and unarrogant personality.
It was precisely because of such a calm mindset that she could endure the tedious hospital administration and drug research work.
After that, Asami Shinsui took Fukasaku Sage and left the office.
Not long after, Kakashi, dressed in Anbu uniform, walked into the office. He placed a stack of documents on the Third Hokage's desk and began his report.
"Lord Hokage, after joint screening by me and Squad Leader Shikaku, we've more or less settled on the personnel for the new Security Team. These are the people to be prepared initially; more will be added later."
Hiruzen quickly skimmed through it, gained a rough understanding, and nodded in approval.
The efficiency of Kakashi and Shikaku's work was much faster than he had imagined, and although the Ninjas they had selected were not particularly strong, their Ninja Techniques and personalities were all very suitable for mediating various internal disputes within the village.
He really was getting old. Hiruzen sighed in his heart.
But then he thought, with outstanding Ninjas like Kakashi and Shikaku still in the village, it was time to let them stand on their own.
As for Tsunade… Hiruzen still felt somewhat regretful. According to Jiraiya's report, Tsunade's emotional state seemed unstable. Though he didn't know what had happened, Hiruzen believed Tsunade would not betray Konoha, nor would she betray the First Hokage's will—that alone was enough.
The inauguration of the Fifth Hokage would simply have to be postponed.
With Kakashi and Shikaku's assistance, he could still temporarily suppress Danzo's Root.
As for the Hyuga Clan… with Hiashi managing it on his behalf, there should be no problem. He just didn't know who within the Main Family was secretly cooperating with Danzo. Those conservative Main Clan Elders of the Hyuga were the most likely.
But as long as the Main Family kept firm control over the relatives of the Branch Family members, then Hyuga Ayane of the Land of Demons would not be able to carry out her plan to sow division within the Hyuga Clan of Konoha.
Not only he, the Hokage, but the Hyuga Main Family as well would not allow the same tragedy to happen twice.
After all, the Hyuga Main Family and Hyuga Ayane from the Land of Demons had irreconcilable contradictions and conflicts.
"Just proceed according to your and Shikaku's plan. Get the Security Team established as quickly as possible."
"Yes."
Kakashi nodded in acceptance.
"Any movements from Danzo's side?"
Hiruzen asked again.
Kakashi replied, "Recently Root's comings and goings in the village have become more guarded, and they haven't stirred up anything. But I feel something's off—they seem to be conducting research on the power of the Tailed Beast."
At this point, a trace of gravity appeared in Kakashi's eyes.
"Back during the Nine-tailed rampage, Ninjas from Root took the opportunity to collect some of the Nine-tailed Chakra… I don't know what Root is using that Nine-tailed Chakra for, but it's certainly for researching some kind of forbidden subject."
Just like the secret Wood Style experiments in the past.
"So… should we move to stop them?"
"It's not suitable to clash with Root right now. For the moment, just investigate in what direction Root is applying its Tailed Beast research, and how far their study of Tailed Beast Chakra has progressed."
"Yes."
Kakashi nodded. Just as he was about to turn and leave, Hiruzen's voice sounded again:
"Wait, Kakashi, there's one more matter I need you to handle."
"Please speak, Lord Hokage."
Hiruzen fell silent for a moment, then said slowly, "According to intelligence, there are personnel hidden inside Konoha Hospital who were originally left behind by Chiba Hakushi. This time, I granted Konoha Hospital greater autonomy to research that unknown, highly toxic substance precisely to use this opportunity to force those spies in the hospital to reveal themselves."
"Is this intelligence reliable?"
"The intel comes from Root. Although Danzo and I differ in our political views, he wouldn't play games with me over this kind of matter. Moreover, Chiba Hakushi previously served as Tsunade's deputy, and he trained many Medical Ninjas at the Ninja School… I'm worried that among those people, some may have long since been won over by Chiba Hakushi."
"Understood."
"I'm counting on you, Kakashi."
Hiruzen looked at Kakashi with earnest seriousness.
"Leave it to me. I'll send people to investigate the hospital and ferret out the rats hiding inside."
Kakashi nodded, then left the office.
◎
Root Base.
In the dim room, only a few candles were burning, casting a faint light.
"Investigating Root's Tailed Beast Chakra research—that's the order the Third gave you, Kakashi?"
With a slightly cool tone, Deputy Commander of Root, Aburame Ryuma, fell into brief contemplation.
Kakashi nodded and said, "That's right. The Third has begun to suspect that Lord Danzo is using Tailed Beast Chakra to have people conduct forbidden research."
Aburame Ryuma let out a disdainful chuckle and replied, "You're overthinking it, Kakashi. Unlike Orochimaru, we don't use people from our own village as test subjects during the experimental stage. Even if the investigation reaches here, at most it'll be the same as in the past—some painless, harmless reprimand. Besides, the Third no longer has the resolve to move against Root right now."