Chapter 642

Chapter 642: Iruka’s Helplessness, Hiruzen’s Doubts, & Orochimaru’s Expectations

“I’m concerned that he might…” remarked Iruka.

“I am aware of your concerns…” Kuroto nodded.

“Then why…?”  Iruka inquired…

“You don’t have to worry about that,” Kuroto said calmly, “I have my plans…”

“But to display the test results on the notice board outside the academy, won’t it…” Iluka was still a little irritated.

Kuroto locked his gaze on Iruka, then sighed and asked, “Answer me, Iruka… You have learned the three basic Ninjutsu, and you have been teaching them to other children for quite a while… How long do you think it takes a beginner to learn one of the three basic ninjutsu?”

“This… One month, I guess?” Iruka tentatively said after a little pause.

“If someone can’t learn one of the ‘three basic ninjutsu’ in a week, it means they don’t have any ninjutsu talent!” Kuroto said, shaking his head.

This criterion is actually somewhat ambiguous. If Orochimaru’s standards are to be followed, anyone who cannot acquire one of the “three basic ninjutsu” in a single day can be labeled as an idiot who has no qualifications to become a shinobi or Kunoichi at all!

Furthermore, geniuses like Sasuke, Neji, and Kimimaro may learn the three basic Ninjutsu in as little as a few hours.

Kuroto gave trainees a full two weeks of time, which is more than enough to learn one of the three basic ninjutsu techniques… Within two weeks, even children from a civilian background who had never been exposed to any type of ninjutsu and knowledge should have mastered one of the three basic ninjutsu… Even so, if someone still fails to learn even one ninjutsu, they clearly do not have a ninjutsu talent… This is an undeniable reality.

“You mean Rock Lee has no skill for ninjutsu?” Iluka asked, his expression darkening, “Do you want him to be kicked out of the ninja academy?”

“I indicated a while back that I have plans for him…” Kuroto shook his head, “True, he’s a ninjutsu failure, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to throw him out. Rock Lee is a unique breed of genius… Rock Lee, even if he failed and finished last, is still a very gifted child in my opinion; it’s only that his talent is different from that of his contemporaries…”

“But… won’t doing this… be too harsh for him?” Iruka wondered, relieved that Kuroto had no plans to remove Rock Lee.

Kuroto cast a glance out the window “Warmth and sheltered shinobi are not tolerated in today’s Ninja world… If someone wants to be great, he must bear everything and march forward with his heart full of it!”

Iruka sighed and walked away… He’s powerless… Kuroto is the principal, and he can’t refuse the principal’s orders… therefore he’ll have to follow them…

Kuroto set the grade book aside and got a copy of the test data from his desk drawer, which he continued to review attentively after Iruka had departed.

Kuroto was not idle during Danzo’s recovery after the transformation operation… He was concentrating on cell fusion experiments and the Earth Chakra Nature Clone.

The experiment’s outcome was also the same this time… Because Kuroto’s and Deidara’s cells are incompatible, the success rate of the fusion is extremely low…

Despite that he was able to get a large number of eligible samples thanks to his superior technology… of which he selected the most active ones and began to produce ten Earth Chakra Nature clones with the support of ten Nutrition Tanks.

And the test data in his grasp right now comes from the ten Earth Chakra Nature Clones.

The development of these ten clones appears to be normal, with no deformity or mutation, according to the statistics. As a result, Kuroto has a hard time deciding which clone to develop and train further.

“I think I’ll have to wait a while to decide which of these ten clones is the best… The clone with the best overall stats will be picked, however, it will take some time to choose that clone…”

Even with updated technology, clone culture will still take two months, thus Kuroto predicts that Danzo should have a result before this batch of Earth Chakra Nature clones develops…

…

Hokage Building, Elder Hiruzen’s office.

“Are you sure of it?” the former Hokage asked Kakashi, holding his tobacco pipe in his hand.

“According to my investigation, Danzo-sama has transferred over a thousand shinobi,” Kakashi said, nodding, “And practically all of them have left the village in stealth.”

Elder Hiruzen’s brows furrowed, “Did you manage to figure out where they were going?”

“Unfortunately no, I haven’t tracked that as of yet,” Kakashi said with a shake of his head.

“Danzo has mobilized over a thousand Shinobi at once… what precisely is he trying to do?” Sarutobi Hiruzen was concerned.

The news that Danzo surreptitiously mobilized over a thousand Konoha Shinobi may be kept from the rest of the world, but not from Elder Hiruzen, who has ruled Konoha for decades… But the problem is, even if Sarutobi Hiruzen has deduced this, he is stumped as to why Danzo did what he did.

“According to the feedback I’ve gotten, more and more Shinobi are being ordered by Danzo-sama…” Kakashi said, concerned, “In fact, a large number of Iryo-nin have lately been relocated from Konoha.”

Sandaime pondered for a moment before muttering, “Does he… intend to start a war?”

It doesn’t take over a thousand shinobi to start a war with a small country, so this option is indeed possible, especially with Danzo’s personality…

However, due to the existence of the Akatsuki Organization and the Amatsukami Organization, nearly all Shinobi Villages have signed a covenant stating that no war will be started until the threat posed by these two organizations is eradicated.

As a result, Hiruzen is quite concerned… He doesn’t want Danzo to make a mistake that will make Konoha seem bad…

“What should I do now?” Kakashi inquired hurriedly.

“We need to find out where the ninja Danzo surreptitiously transferred went and what they’re doing!” Hiruzen instructed, pausing for a moment before adding, “You should also pay attention to your own safety!”

“Understood!” Kakashi gave a quick nod before disappearing from Elder Hiruzen’s office.

Whoosh…!

Elder Hiruzen got up from his seat and strolled back and forth in the office after Kakashi had departed. The more he considered it, the more concerned he was. “Go and convene all the members of the Advisory Board for an emergency meeting!” he commanded the Anbu Guards after some thought.

…

Inside an active Volcanic Cave in the northern portion of the Land of Fire.

Orochimaru smiled from the corner of his mouth as he stood atop a cliff, gazing at the massive volcanic cave that smelt like burning sulfur.

The volcanic cave in front of him is undoubtedly the location where Danzo will perform the ‘Kekkei Genkai Absorption Ritual,’ and hundreds of Shinobi from ‘Root’ are currently busy making various preparations here.

According to the plan, these Root Shinobi are constructing a ritual altar in the cave’s center. Fortifying the cave’s walls, and, a sophisticated chakra transmission line is set up for the chakra transmission array.

Orochimaru was ecstatic when he saw this scenario and smiled to himself “Will the Ninja world change as a result of what’s going to happen tonight? Hey, it’s something I’m really looking forward to!”

Orochimaru was enthusiastic about the approaching ‘Kekkei Genkai Absorption ceremony,’ and why wouldn’t he be, after all, he has put in just as much effort as Kuroto.

If he were, to be honest, Orochimaru has no regrets, even if the person undergoing the rite is Shimura Danzo, whom he despises. Every cell in his body is ecstatic at the prospect of taking part in a “God Creation Project” of this magnitude!

Orochimaru has always despised the idea that a person’s bloodline determines the upper limit of their strength… What he despises, even more, is the fragility of human existence… Orochimaru has a deep desire to break free from the two cages that imprison all humans in this shinobi world… And now such things are about to happen right in front of his eyes, something he has always wished for is about to become a reality… tonight!

He’s curious to see how the Shinobi World will evolve from here…

He’s curious as to what will happen if this ceremony is successful.