The jonin assembly hall was silent.
The jonin seated in the back rows barely dared to move their heads. They were afraid even the friction of their collars might make a sound. Instead, they only shifted their eyes, quietly observing the powerful figures seated in the front rows.
Before the meeting, they had already heard plenty of rumors.
At first, Orochimaru was said to be the next advisor. Later, it was rumored that the ANBU commander would take the position.
If either of those two became advisor, no one among the jonin would question it.
But for some reason, neither candidate had succeeded. Otherwise, the matter would never have been brought before the jonin assembly.
The position of Foreign Affairs Advisor was extremely dangerous.
The advisor frequently traveled between nations and sometimes even visited the other four great ninja villages.
If one's strength was insufficient, assassination on the road was a real possibility.
Advisor Mitokado Homura had been a seasoned Kage-level ninja, yet even he had died.
If an ordinary jonin faced a rogue ninja like Uchiha Madara, they might be killed instantly.
The clan heads sat motionless, gazes lowered, avoiding eye contact with the leadership on the platform.
Senju Miraki, the head of the Senju clan, rarely spoke during jonin assemblies.
Tsunade had no interest in becoming some kind of foreign affairs advisor.
Uchiha Kagen wore a stern expression, showing no intention of participating. His peripheral vision quietly monitored the other figures in the first row.
The leaders of the Hyuga clan, the Akimichi clan, the Yamanaka clan, and others remained silent.
In the midst of the heavy silence, Hatake Sakumo stood.
It was expected.
And inevitable.
"I frequently carry out missions in the Land of Grass and the Land of Rivers," Sakumo said calmly. "I am familiar with both nations.
"The village has been suffering under the threat of rogue ninja recently.
"I am willing to take the position of Foreign Affairs Advisor to help relieve the village's burden."
Yako thought to himself that he had finally pushed Sarutobi Hiruzen to the point where no one else remained.
After so many years…
It hadn't been easy.
Now Hatake Sakumo had volunteered. The question was how the leadership would respond.
To put it bluntly—whether it was Yellow Dog or Hatake Sakumo—
If Yako didn't nod in approval, no one would sit in the Foreign Affairs Advisor's chair.
Nara Shikakaku spoke.
"Very well, Sakumo-san. The jonin assembly will recommend you to the Hokage for consideration.
"Does anyone else wish to be nominated as Foreign Affairs Advisor?"
The jonin glanced toward the platform—specifically toward Yellow Dog, the ANBU commander.
Yellow Dog said nothing.
As for Orochimaru, he remained completely indifferent.
Seeing that no one else stood, Shikakaku concluded,
"All shinobi assigned missions in the Land of Grass, the Land of Rain, or the Land of Rivers must remain vigilant.
"You may encounter Uchiha Madara or his subordinates at any time."
Some jonin inwardly scoffed.
What difference did caution make?
It wasn't as if being careful guaranteed survival.
If escape alone were enough, Advisor Mitokado Homura would not have died.
The jonin assembly ended.
Yako followed behind Yellow Dog as they left the meeting hall.
Orochimaru, who had silently observed the entire meeting, suddenly approached them.
Yako felt a jolt of alarm.
Orochimaru wouldn't start saying something unnecessary… would he?
In his hoarse voice, Orochimaru said,
"Yellow Dog… I already withdrew from the advisor competition.
"So why did you back out at the last moment?"
Yellow Dog paused briefly before continuing forward.
"Everyone carries different responsibilities," he said casually. "I have my own responsibilities. I cannot act freely."
Orochimaru waited a moment.
When he saw that Yellow Dog had no intention of reclaiming the Five Elements Great Barrage scroll, he simply ignored him and left the Hokage Building.
Yako quietly let out a breath of relief.
Orochimaru wasn't the type to stir trouble out of boredom.
Two days later, the jonin assembly was convened again.
This time, the jonin were not irritated by the extra meeting.
On the contrary—they were eager.
Sure enough.
Hatake Sakumo entered the meeting hall wearing the ceremonial robes of an advisor, walking behind the other high officials.
Sarutobi Hiruzen addressed the assembled jonin.
"The rogue ninja Uchiha Madara and his subordinates have thrown Konoha into turmoil.
"The village has suffered tremendous losses.
"In order to deal with this threat, I have decided to appoint Hatake Sakumo as Konoha's Foreign Affairs Advisor.
"Sakumo will rotate between the four vassal nations of the Land of Fire—including the Land of Grass and the Land of Rivers—stationing himself in their capitals.
"He will deter rogue ninja and maintain Konoha's authority."
Yako understood the Hokage's hidden meaning.
Appointing Hatake Sakumo had been a last resort.
But Hiruzen did not particularly like him.
Sakumo would rarely return to the village. Instead, he would be sent constantly between nations, traveling and stationed abroad.
Out of sight.
Out of mind.
It was much like the order Danzo had once given Yako—sending him to the Land of Rain to investigate the impossible task of finding Uchiha Madara.
The jonin were intelligent.
They understood the Hokage's intentions immediately.
They exchanged glances, whispering quietly to trusted companions nearby.
If Sakumo was constantly stationed abroad, traveling between nations…
Then he would constantly face the threat of rogue ninja attacks.
Yako thought to himself:
As long as I don't do anything reckless, Hatake Sakumo can keep this advisor position indefinitely.
The only question troubling him was whether to stage a performance.
Perhaps while Sakumo was stationed in a certain nation's capital…
He could appear under the identity of Sarutobi Kanosuke—or perhaps the smaller persona of Spiral Zetsu—and challenge him.
But if he did…
How could he make the battle convincing?
If Sakumo became advisor and Uchiha Madara's faction suddenly went quiet…
Wouldn't that look suspicious?
Balancing the scale of such a staged battle would be tricky.
Still—
With Hatake Sakumo now serving as Foreign Affairs Advisor, the oppressive atmosphere hanging over Konoha began to ease.
Not completely.
But noticeably.
Everyone trusted the combat power of the White Fang.
That night, Yako was reviewing reports inside the ANBU headquarters when he suddenly sensed contract chakra.
After performing a summoning, he saw Pakkun appear.
"Fox," Pakkun said, "Sakumo wants to see you."
Yako opened Konoha's defense scroll and said,
"Tower 21 along the wall has no Hyuga sentries tonight.
"About 1.2 kilometers below it is a park.
"I'll wait there for Sakumo-sama."
Pakkun snorted.
"Being the ANBU deputy commander is convenient. You know Konoha's defenses inside and out."
"I worked very hard to become deputy commander," Yako replied calmly.
"Just as Sakumo-sama worked hard to become advisor."
"He didn't work that hard," Pakkun muttered.
"I thought his nomination would be rejected again like before. Even Sakumo himself was shocked. He still hasn't fully processed it."
Yako smiled faintly.
If Hatake Sakumo hadn't worked that hard…
Then someone else had carried the burden for him—working twice as hard in the shadows.
Half an hour later, two figures appeared deep inside the quiet midnight park.
Hatake Sakumo.
And Yako.
"Sorry, Fox," Sakumo said.
"Contacting you like this is dangerous.
"But I wasn't prepared to become Foreign Affairs Advisor. I had no choice but to ask for your help.
"I heard ANBU has been searching for Uchiha Madara and his followers.
"I received some intelligence from the Third Hokage… but it still feels incomplete."
Yako had already prepared.
He handed Sakumo a scroll.
"This is the intelligence I've compiled on Uchiha Madara and his subordinates."
"Uchiha Madara is extremely dangerous. He possesses both the Sharingan and Wood Release.
"His weapons are the Uchiha war fan and a long-handled scythe."
"He has many subordinates.
"The most numerous are the White Zetsu, who possess a silent reconnaissance technique known as Mayfly."
"As for Spiral Zetsu—his form is a hollow shell of spiraling Wood Release armor.
"Sometimes he attaches himself to a White Zetsu body. That White Zetsu possesses the Mangekyō Sharingan, with abilities known as Ame no Mihashira and Eternal Mangekyō: Island of Miasmic Collapse."
"Other times, he attaches himself to Sarutobi Kanosuke, who specializes in Fire Release and the Five Elements Great Barrage."
"Both Sarutobi Kanosuke and the White Zetsu rely on Spiral Zetsu's powerful Wood Release.
"So the two rarely appear at the same time."
Yako thought silently:
Of course they never appear together.
Because I can't split myself into two bodies.
Taking the scroll, Sakumo visibly relaxed.
"I will study this information carefully."
"Although I have become advisor, my authority is not as great as I imagined.
"I am not permitted to access the Scroll of Seals, which means I cannot learn the forbidden techniques used by rogue ninja.
"I also cannot command Konoha's intelligence network directly.
"I must first notify ANBU commander Yellow Dog before receiving updated information."
The Third Hokage wanted to use Hatake Sakumo—
But without granting him real power.
Instead, he simply gave him the title of advisor and sent him to confront terrifying rogue ninja.
Sakumo held the scroll firmly.
"I am fortunate we met during the war in the Land of Rivers.
"And fortunate that you can provide intelligence support.
"I will leave the village tomorrow for the capital of the Land of Rivers. The Third Hokage said the situation is urgent."
"You warned me a few days in advance that I could compete for the advisor position. That gave me time to prepare.
"Otherwise I would be completely lost right now.
"You are no longer the ANBU squad captain I first met in the Land of Rivers.
"I want to know your thoughts.
"Fox… I do not mean to doubt you.
"But you are already the deputy commander of ANBU.
"So why are you helping me?"
Through the gaps in the tree canopy, Yako looked toward the distant Hokage Rock.
Then he spoke slowly.
"Sakumo-sama…
"I am ANBU.
"I execute the Hokage's orders in the darkness. I am the black glove that protects the village."
"I have carried out missions that violated ninja morality.
"I have carried out missions that violated basic humanity."
"I am the Hokage's blade in the darkness."
"Not to boast… but I am the sharpest blade in ANBU."
"I have killed my own teammates to protect intelligence.
"I have watched teammates die coldly because the mission required it."
"But I was not born this extreme.
"There are some kinds of darkness… so deep that even I find them uncomfortable."
"Sakumo-sama…
"I believe Konoha is sick.
"If this continues, the village will grow weaker and weaker.
"Until one day the enemy reaches Hokage Rock… and everything beyond Konoha's walls becomes ruins."
"I hope Konoha can change."
"But I am only a blade in the darkness.
"I do not know what path Konoha should take."
"I know I am too extreme.
"Even among shinobi who kill without hesitation, I carry too much blood.
"I am not suitable—and not capable—of stepping into the light to change the village."
"Sakumo-sama…
"I do not even know if your way is correct.
"I simply want to see some change."
"Perhaps under your influence…
"Konoha's sickness may become a little less severe."
"That is all I think."
"Konoha needs sharp blades in the darkness.
"The nature of shinobi demands it."
"But Konoha also needs a future that is not so dark.
"Isn't that true?"
Hatake Sakumo nodded repeatedly.
He understood Fox's conflict and struggle.
Few people would dare trust someone with Fox's identity.
As Fox himself had said—he had not begun as a ruthless ANBU.
Living within darkness had given him a deeper understanding of it.
And because of that…
He hoped the village would not fall deeper into it.
"Fox," Sakumo said firmly.
"Believe me.
"I will make Konoha better.
"I will become Hokage.
"And I will change the village."
Just like in the original timeline, Hatake Sakumo moved forward with the firm goal of becoming Hokage.
"Sakumo-sama, when you arrive in the Land of Rivers, the rogue ninja will certainly be intimidated.
"For a while, they will not dare attack you."
"Thank you for the blessing. I hope so as well."
"Goodbye, Fox."
Watching Sakumo disappear into the darkness, Yako thought quietly:
You hope? When I say the rogue ninja won't attack you for a while…
Then they definitely won't.