Chapter 34: Grouping Teams, Danzo’s Ploy
Notes:
Root is a branch of Konoha’s Anbu training subdivision.
Jinchuriki is referred to humans who have tailed beasts sealed within them and exhibit extraordinary powers due to the immense chakra reserves.
Once the examination was completed, the list of graduates and their specific scores were sent to the Hokage office. The next step was for Sarutobi Hiruzen to decide on the ninja team grouping with two of his advisors, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu.
Each team’s leader was also to be decided now. Weaker genin teams were usually led by chunin. Only those with great potential were eligible to be led by jonin teachers. Homura brought over a stack of report cards and began assigning teams according to each graduate’s specialty.
“Ino-Shika-Cho will be grouped in a team as usual,” Homura said while bunching three report cards and handing them to Koharu.
Koharu, in turn, matched it with a leader based on various considerations. Hiruzen sat deep in thought at his desk, taking puffs out of his cigarette as he looked at two report cards.
Homura glanced at him and asked, “Sarutobi-sama, how are you going to pair up the two geniuses who graduated early?” This question attracted Koharu’s attention as well. Hiruzen exhaled a smoke ring and mused, “Let’s just group both of them in one team.”
Homura said, “We would still need one more person.”
Hiruzen put his pipe down on the table and thought for a moment before instructing, “Just leave them as a pair for now. Kakashi and Tonan are almost at chunin level. Tonan might be a little weaker, but he’s already capable of subduing two chunin for a short period if he uses genjutsu with his Sharingan. His taijutsu and ninjutsu are weaker, but it compliments Kakashi well.”
Koharu nodded and thought for a moment, “Have you decided which leader to assign to them?” Hiruzen narrowed his eyes, seemingly mulling over this. Right at this moment, the office door was pushed open, and Shimura Danzo walked in. He asked, “Hiruzen, how is the division of this year’s genin teams coming along?”
Hirutobi frowned, and replied with another question, “Why do you want to know?”
Danzo walked up to Hiruzen and said with a self-assured expression, “As someone from Root who watches over Konoha, why can’t I care about the new graduates?”
Hiruzen gestured towards Homura and Koharu, and said, “It’s still work in progress.”
Danzo looked at the report cards in Homura and Koharu’s hands, then squinted at the two report cards in front of Hiruzen. He said meaningfully, “I heard both Kakashi and the Uchiha genius graduated early.”
Hiruzen calmly slipped the two report cards into the drawer and nodded, “Yes, I’ve decided to pair them into one team.”
Hiruzen’s actions annoyed Danzo but he asked in a solemn voice, “Has the leader been decided yet?”
“It’s still in consideration.”
“You don’t need to consider this anymore. I have a suitable candidate I can recommend.”
“Who?”
“A jonin from the Aburame clan — Aburame Ryosuke.”
Hiruzen was surprised. He thought about it for a moment. Ryosuke was a veteran jonin. He was indeed more than capable of leading Kakashi and Tonan. But Hiruzen had the nagging feeling that something was off about Danzo, so he immediately shook his head and refused, “I don’t think it’ll work out.”
Danzo grunted, “Why not? Kakashi would have inherited the White Fang’s sword technique, and he’s outstanding in ninjutsu. On the other hand, that Uchiha kid has awakened the Sharingan and is more than proficient in genjutsu. The two of them hardly have any shortcomings as a team but they are missing the most important member — a medical-nin.”
Hiruzen froze at his words. No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t figure out when had Ryosuke ever displayed any medical ninjutsu talent. So, he suspiciously stared at Danzo and asked, “And Ryosuke knows medical ninjutsu?”
Danzo replied, “The latest bug he hatched is very special. Not only can it detoxify poison, but it can also create a special agent that can be used to salvage a life.”
Hiruzen picked up his pipe for another smoke after hearing this. The smoke that floated up seemed to waft into his eyes as he narrowed them. Ryosuke’s details came to his mind.
This jonin from the Aburame clan had been almost invisible. But he seemed to be a cousin of Aburame Torune from Root. Even though Ryosuke was not a Root member, all signs indicated he had been pulled onto Danzo’s side.
But if he didn’t want Ryosuke, who should he consider? What was the greatest thing this two-man team lacked?
Kakashi had the White Fang to guide him, so there didn’t seem to be any leader needed to help him. As for Tonan, with the three tomoe Sharingan, even if his taijutsu and ninjutsu were lagging, with his dynamic vision, his taijutsu would gradually grow beyond his peers. And, with the Sharingan, he would eventually excel in ninjutsu too.
At present, they shouldn’t evaluate the two from the strength but the character aspect. Tonan had experienced too many upheavals in his life, and he couldn’t keep an eye on him all the time. He had to have a sunny and cheerful person who represented the Will of Fire to lead him before he goes astray.
Suddenly, a sunny, smiling face came to Hiruzen’s mind.
“It’s decided.”
Hiruzen decisively rejected Danzo, and said, “No, I have a candidate in mind.”
Danzo, who thought that victory was at hand, couldn’t hold it any longer. He slammed the table in anger and questioned Hiruzen, “What do you mean by that? Do you think I harbor ulterior motives?”
Both Homura and Koharu tried to persuade him.
“Danzo, calm down.”
“It’s better to sit and discuss than getting agitated.”
Hiruzen waved his hand and said with a determined face, “Enough, I’ve already decided for Namikaze Minato to lead this team.”
Danzo froze for a moment before asking in disbelief, “Namikaze Minato? The Nine-Tails’ jinchuriki’s boyfriend? What are you thinking, Hiruzen? That brat has only just been promoted to a jonin. Are you planning to ruin the two geniuses?”
Hiruzen was already annoyed at this moment, so his face cooled instantly. Putting his pipe aside, he said, “Watch your attitude. I’m the Hokage here.”
Danzo intensely stared at Hiruzen, but Hiruzen wouldn’t budge. The two were in a deadlock for a few seconds before, with an extremely bitter grimace, Danzo scoffed and said, “You’ll regret this.”
He walked out of the Hokage office in anger and headed to Root. As soon as he arrived, the anger disappeared from his face, returning to a calm look, and he muttered to himself, “What genjutsu did that evil little brat cast on you to make you so defensive against me? And what ill intentions could I even have? Everything I do is for Konoha’s sake.”
He asked Root’s leader, Aburame Ryohei, who was next to him, “How are the experiments progressing at Orochimaru’s side?”
“Not very good. The last pair of Sharingan was destroyed.”
“What did Orochimaru say?”
“He said that it was because the energy contained in the Sharingan was insufficient to counteract the exuberant life force in the cells. He suggested you find more Sharingan for him, preferably of higher quality.”
“I see. Isn’t that cousin of yours willing to join Root? Go and recruit him now. Once you’re done, bring him to me. I have a task for him. If he does a good job, he’ll be welcomed here. If not…”
