Naruto: My setting is above yours.

"Perhaps this is the truly perfect Sage Mode!"

Xuanma smiled slightly.

The only pity is that it's impossible to use this to evolve into a normal immortal.

The settings must be changed!

As for Tsunade's betrayal, Genma let it slide for the sake of the character's established traits.

Back in his study, Xuanma continued to ponder the art of traveling in darkness.

The day passed quickly.

The following day, after more than half a month, they resumed their missions, and even more frequently than before.

This might be related to his promotion to Chunin.

Time passed by day by day.

In November, Yamashiro Aoba applied for and passed the Chunin Exams again, becoming a Chunin.

Others who applied at the same time included Obito Uchiha and Genma Shiranui.

However, only a few people, such as Yamashiro Aoba, Shiranui Genma, Might Guy, Sarutobi Asuma, and Yuhi Kurenai, became Chunin.

The 45 years of Konoha passed by peacefully as these missions were carried out.

……

"You're getting more and more handsome!"

After washing up in the morning, Xuanma looked at himself in the mirror and felt slightly smug.

At 160cm tall, he's definitely a handsome young man, only a tiny bit shorter than the readers.

Standing next to Tsunade, he was only a few centimeters shorter.

Whose child is 10 years old and 160cm tall?

The answer is the Yu Feng family!

"Hey, he's handsome, but do you have to stare at him for so long?"

Father Yu Fenglan was also standing at the door.

He had actually been worried about his son being much taller than his peers.

After all, he himself is only 175 cm tall, which is not considered tall, while his wife Ritsuka is 162 cm tall.

“My dear Lord Lan Ye, jealousy is not a good quality. You need to face the fact that you have a very outstanding son.”

Xuanma chuckled and then gave up his seat.

Even when facing her son, she couldn't help but feel envious and jealous. Yu Fenglan uttered a vicious curse: "Xuanma Chunin, pride is not a good quality. You're developing too fast now. Be careful you don't stop growing later."

Genma smiled and said, "Don't worry, that kind of thing can't happen to me."

His rapid growth is related to the Wood Release Chakra Mode; the transformation of his physique greatly promoted his development.

If it really prevents me from growing taller in the future, I can simply spend some money to modify the settings.

After breakfast, Xuanma put on his armor vest, slung his backpack over his shoulder, waved goodbye to his parents, and left.

The main gate of Konoha Village.

Sakumo Hatake's first words immediately made Genma and the other two stand at attention: "The mission has changed; it's been upgraded from a B-rank mission to an A-rank!"

Chapter 54 Intelligence

"Mr. Sakumo, has something urgent happened?"

"Silent asked worriedly."

It's rare for a mission to change suddenly, let alone be upgraded from B-level to A-level, which greatly increases the danger.

Hatake Sakumo nodded: "The Sand Village of the Land of Wind has been making some big moves lately, with many ninja teams infiltrating the Land of Fire. There have been some frictions before, but they were relatively restrained. However, their actions have become more aggressive in the last two days, so the village needs to prepare for war."

Yamashiro Aoba exclaimed in surprise, "Is Sunagakure going to start a war?"

Sakumo Hatake said, "It's not impossible. Let's go!"

As the team set off, Xuanma sighed inwardly: What was bound to happen has finally happened!

The Third Kazekage must have been killed by Sasori of the Red Sand, what a pity.

He had no chance to get involved in this matter; as a Chunin who had just graduated, he wasn't qualified to cause trouble on his own.

Sending a clone would be too far.

If you've mastered the Flying Thunder God technique, it's easy to use.

After leaving the village and speeding up, Yamashiro Aoba asked, "What would happen if Sunagakure really started a war?"

Genma said, "There will be a Ninja World War!"

Shizune asked worriedly, "Why did Sunagakure launch a war?"

Yamashiro Aoba thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps it's because of hatred?"

"The hatred accumulated from the previous Fourth Shinobi World War?"

Upon hearing this, Xuanma said, "Hatred can never be the core element driving war; it will only be a side effect, an excuse."

"If war breaks out, it will definitely be driven by self-interest."

"For example, if Sunagakure wants to attack the Land of Fire, it must be for the Land of Fire's wealth."

"However, something seems off about this."

Silently asked, "Why?"

Genma explained, "If Sunagakure decides to wage war against Konoha, they should concentrate their forces for a surprise attack, instead of continuing like this for a while without a clear intention. This will cause them to lose the initiative gained by taking the initiative in launching the war."

Yamashiro Aoba listened thoughtfully, then asked Hatake Sakumo, "Sakumo-sensei, is that so?"

Sakumo Hatake nodded: "Genma's analysis is indeed very logical."

"However, regardless of Sunagakure's intentions, we must be prepared, just in case."

"Therefore, this mission is very dangerous, and everyone must be vigilant."

"As for the true purpose of Sunagakure... that's a matter for the intelligence department; they will investigate it thoroughly."

Xuanma and the other two nodded in agreement.

It was a little after 3 p.m.

Sakumo's squad arrived outside a small town called Kazamino.

"Black Horse!"

Sakumo Hatake opened his mouth.

Xuanma nodded: "Understood!"

The senses spread rapidly, quickly enveloping the town.

"I did not sense any ninja activity."

Xuanma withdrew his senses.

Sakumo Hatake nodded, then led his team around the town, and stopped after crossing the field outside the town and entering the forest.

They took out a map, spread it out, and the team gathered together. Hatake Sakumo pointed to the town of Kazamino marked on the map and said, "Our mission is to guard this place and drive away any Sand Village ninjas that appear."

"Although the main focus is on defending the southwest, it cannot be ruled out that some Sunagakure ninjas have already infiltrated before we arrived here, so we also need to keep an eye on Kazamino behind us."

"If the Sand Ninjas appear and a battle breaks out, it absolutely cannot take place within the town."

Xuanma and the other two nodded in unison.

Sakumo Hatake then gave a clear order: "Genma, you have relatively abundant chakra, send out a clone to monitor what's behind us."

Upon hearing this, Xuanma immediately formed a hand seal and created a clone. The clone then used a transformation technique to transform into an eagle and soar into the sky.

The town of Kazamino is surrounded by flat terrain, consisting of fields and barren wasteland, making it ideal for surveillance by eagles.

"Teacher, why don't we set up some clones to monitor this forest as well? This would be more efficient than small-group patrols, and the whole team could react quickly if anything happened."

Xuanma suggested.

After a slight hesitation, Hatake Sakumo nodded: "Okay, but we'll still split into two groups. When you're resting, Aoba and I will be in charge."

Xuanma naturally agreed. Besides, he wasn't made of iron and couldn't monitor continuously for 24 hours. After all, the fatigue of the clone would accumulate and be fed back to the main body.

He formed a hand seal and created nine clones that scattered outwards, while the team rested on the spot.

Meanwhile, Xuanma's nine clones scattered throughout the forest.

It might transform into a snake coiled around a tree, or into a bird... The eight clones are scattered throughout the vast forest.

The remaining clone transformed into a falcon and flew towards the Land of Rivers.

Currently, apart from Sasori of the Red Sand, no one knows that the Third Kazekage is dead. Genma missed the turning point of the Third Kazekage's death, but perhaps he can do something now and try to reap some rewards from the established storyline.

He was starting to panic because there hadn't been any recorded transactions for so long!

After sitting down to rest in the woods, Yamashiro Aoba started a conversation: "Genma, you said before that Sunagakure wasn't in a position to start a war, so why is that?"

Genma looked at Hatake Sakumo: "Teacher, did Sunagakure only send a ninja squad to the Land of Fire?"

Sakumo Hatake said, "According to current intelligence, that's not the case."

Xuanma pretended to ponder: "This behavior looks like a headless fly, as if it's looking for something?"

Shizune blinked: "Looking for a rogue ninja who took something important or information with him?"

Yamashiro Aoba pondered, "That sounds like a very reasonable guess."

"However, what kind of information or things could cause such a commotion in Sunagakure?"

Xuanma shook his head.

He knew, but he couldn't say.

Hatake Sakumo said, "With such a big commotion, the intelligence departments of all the major ninja villages are probably all on the move. Sunagakure shouldn't be able to hold out for long."