Starting from the roots of Konoha, they were the masterminds behind the scenes.

Chapter 9 Sakumo Hatake! (Please read further, vote, and give monthly tickets!)

After leaving Danzo, Hoshino Hide and Inuzuka Ryo reunited and said, "You can take the secret technique information back with you, but absolutely do not divulge it to anyone else."

Sarutobi Atsushi and the other two nodded quickly, "Understood!"

Xingxia Xiu immediately waved his hand: "Disband!"

Sarutobi Atsushi and the other two nodded, then each used the Body Flicker Technique to leave.

Hoshino returned to his residence, changed his clothes, but had no desire to go out for a stroll. Instead, he took out the sealing technique information he had just obtained.

"Did the Sky Ninja steal Konoha's sealing technique data for the Zero-Tails?"

"We were planning this so early?"

Hoshinobi Hideaki pondered to himself, "The Sky Ninja Village, I remember it was destroyed by Konoha during the Second Shinobi World War. Is this the trigger for the theft of secret techniques?"

He also remembered that the remnants of the Kongin had attempted to assassinate Danzo several times.

"Shennong... daring to utter that name is courting death!"

With a soft hum, Xingxia Xiu began to immerse herself in the information on sealing techniques.

Naoya Tsuchiya stole a lot of information, such as the basic Fire Sealing Seal, the Five Elements Seal, the Four Symbols Seal of the Uzumaki Clan, and the legendary Inner Four Symbols Seal that sealed a bridge.

These materials are relatively detailed and complete.

More often than not, there are incomplete information on sealing techniques, some of which don't even have a name.

However, judging from the information, it is clearly a sealing technique targeting tailed beasts.

These incomplete documents were probably left behind when Konoha was researching the technique to seal the Nine-Tails.

When Xingxia Xiu finally pulled his head out of these documents, it was already five in the morning.

"Zero-Tail Void, I remember it was a monster formed from dark chakra. Mentally speaking, it's even more dangerous than the nine tailed beasts."

After thinking it over, Xingxia Xiu put the matter aside for the time being, packed up the materials, changed his clothes, and went out to train.

The most basic physical training and martial arts training are habits we already have.

Now, Xingxia Xiu has even heavier cultivation tasks.

Needless to say, Wood Release and Rasengan training will help him improve his control over chakra.

On the contrary, the Wind Release technique, which he was originally good at, was relegated to the very end.

Breakfast was simply made up with military ration pills.

Xingxia Xiu cultivated from morning until noon before returning to the Root Base for lunch.

Before he could even finish eating and burp, Nakamura reappeared: "A, Lord Danzo summons you!"

Hoshino immediately wiped his mouth and appeared in front of Danzo at top speed, then knelt on one knee: "Lord Danzo!"

Danzo nodded slightly, then said in a deep voice, "According to the Anbu's investigation, some members of the border defense forces colluded with the Sky Ninja to sell the border defense deployment map."

"There is no conclusive evidence at the moment, only suspicions about the candidates."

"A, you lead a team to find out who betrayed the village's information."

After Danzo finished speaking, Shimura Daichi, who was standing to the side, handed Hoshishita Hide a stack of documents.

Hoshita Hide reached out and took it, then shouted, "Lord Danzo, rest assured, I will definitely find the pests that are eating away at Konoha."

Danzo said calmly, "The current head of the border defense forces is Hatake Sakumo. Go, depart immediately!"

Xingxia Xiu's eyelids twitched, but his voice remained firm: "Understood!"

……

5 minute later.

Hoshino led his squad away from the Root base and headed northeast after leaving Konoha Village.

On the way, Sarutobi asked, "Captain, what is this mission?"

Hoshino Hideyoshi said, "Find the traitor within the border defense forces who leaked border defense information to the Sky Ninja."

"Current intelligence indicates there are three suspects."

"On the string is Yuma, on the road is Takuya, and on the road is Akabawang."

Do you know these three people?

Aburame Tobi said, "Captain, I know Akabane Nozomi."

"I was in the same class as him at the ninja academy."

"He is a gentle person, was very popular in school, and worked very hard. He is now a Chunin."

Xingxia Xiu nodded slightly.

He had already memorized the information about the three people.

Aside from the one about Aburame Hii, this guy named Akabane Nozomi is also an orphan who is skilled in Fire Release and Earth Release.

He is indeed very popular; not only his colleagues, but also other people who know him speak highly of him.

Xingxia Xiu was suspicious of this guy from the first glance.

For no other reason than that this guy's evaluation seemed too good.

The latest novel is first published here!

During the investigation by the secret service, no one spoke ill of him.

Add to that his orphan status, and wow, he looks every bit like a spy.

As for the other two, they seem unremarkable based on the information provided.

None of the three, including Sarutobi Atsushi, recognized them.

Hoshino Hide then gave a brief overview of their intelligence, and said, "Our public identity this time is that of the Dark Division. Our stated purpose is to assess the three of them in preparation for selection into the Dark Division."

Sarutobi Atsushi hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Captain, isn't this reason hard to believe?"

"After all, based on intelligence, these three people are not qualified to join the Dark Division."

Indeed, all three targets this time were ordinary Chunin, not particularly outstanding.

The Anbu, especially the Anbu directly under the Hokage, are at least elite Chunin.

Hoshino asked noncommittally, "So, do you know anyone in the northeastern border defense forces who is qualified to join the Dark Division?"

Sarutobi Atsushi immediately nodded: "Yes, Mimura Yomaki is currently a Special Jonin. As far as I know, he will become a Jonin after he completes the required number of missions."

Inuzuka Ryo said, "Our Inuzuka clan has one member, Inuzuka Owl, a Chunin."

Aburame Hiichi then added, "There is one member of the Aburame clan, Aburame Shisei, a Chunin."

Xingxia Xiu nodded: "Very good, then let's add the three of them."

The rest of the journey was uneventful.

As evening fell, Xingxia Xiu and her three companions arrived at the border defense forces' headquarters.

Leaving Sarutobi Atsushi and the other two outside, Hoshino Hide entered Hatake Sakumo's tent alone.

At their first meeting, Hatake Sakumo gave Hoshishita Hide a gentle feeling, unlike his ruthless and fierce nickname.

"Lord Sakumo, I have come on Lord Danzo's orders to assess the situation of these six individuals for potential selection as members of the Anbu."

As he spoke, Hoshino Hide took out Danzo's warrant, which was just a piece of paper.

Sakumo Hatake took it, examined it, and nodded, saying, "No problem."

"However, mobilizing six people at once might impact the frontline defenses."

Xingxia Xiu immediately replied, "Three people at a time is sufficient."

Sakumo Hatake immediately agreed: "That would be best. May I ask which six people are involved? I need some time to make arrangements."

Hoshino Hide announced the names of the six people, then said, "The first group to be tested will be Kushigami Yuuma, Michigami Takuya, and Akabane Nozomi. Thank you, Sakumo-sama!"

He was very polite to a strongman like Hatake Sakumo.

Aside from not wanting to antagonize Sakumo Hatake, there's no need to make a fuss right now.

Of course, the most important thing is that we can't win.

(End of this chapter)