Spiral Zetsu hurried toward the hollow tree.
"Madara-sama! I'm not a match for Hatake Sakumo!"
Uchiha Madara slowly turned his head.
Spiral Zetsu was missing half his body.
Even the White Zetsu fused inside him had lost half a shoulder and one arm.
Ordinary injuries were nothing. Spiral Zetsu and White Zetsu could regenerate on their own.
But this time was different.
Hatake Sakumo's White Fang had cut through them, leaving stubborn Lightning Release chakra embedded in the wound.
Madara casually waved his hand.
The Lightning Release chakra was erased.
Immediately, Spiral Zetsu and White Zetsu began regenerating. Their severed arms slowly grew back.
Spiral Zetsu spoke again.
"Madara-sama… Konoha is really too strong right now."
"With so many powerful ninja in that village… how will Nagato ever collect the tailed beasts?"
Madara slowly stood up.
"For Nagato's safety, we restricted the range of his activities."
"But such caution is harmful to the growth of the Rinnegan."
"It's time to sever a few of Konoha's limbs."
"That will make it easier for Nagato to capture the Nine-Tails."
Madara lowered his head slightly.
"Where is Hatake Sakumo?"
Spiral Zetsu replied,
"After severely injuring me, he hurried back to Konoha."
"It seems he has ideas about reforming Konoha's Guardian Ninja system."
"He intends to persuade Hiruzen Sarutobi."
Madara's expression remained calm.
"Perfect."
"Then we'll go to Konoha."
"It saves us the trouble of hunting targets in multiple places."
"Better to gather them all together."
Spiral Zetsu shouted excitedly,
"We must make sure Konoha cannot recover for decades!"
Madara stepped out of the tree hollow.
Rain poured down endlessly in the Land of Rain.
In the next moment—
he vanished with Body Flicker.
Hatake Sakumo, dressed in a Counselor's robe, arrived at the gates of Konoha.
After several months abroad, he had finally returned.
Inside the Hokage's office—
Danzo's face was extremely dark.
"Hiruzen."
"Hatake Sakumo wants to reform the Guardian Ninja system?"
"He proposes a rotating captain system, where each Guardian Ninja captain can serve no more than three years before being replaced."
Danzo slammed his palm onto the table.
"Isn't this directly targeting the Shimura clan?!"
"My clan has already endured countless attacks from Madara's rogue organization!"
"Aside from Shimura Kōhi, who else can I appoint as Guardian Ninja captain?!"
"Kōhi has served for years in the Land of Grass. He understands the territory better than anyone."
"How can he simply be replaced?"
"What exactly is Hatake Sakumo trying to do?!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi also looked troubled.
The Sarutobi clan had more manpower than the Shimura clan.
But the problem was different.
If Guardian Ninja captains rotated every three years—
the first few might be Sarutobi clan members.
But later Sakumo could begin mixing in other candidates.
Eventually anyone could become a Guardian Ninja captain.
The Sarutobi clan would lose its monopoly over several nations.
The position of Guardian Ninja captain for the Fire Daimyo was extremely lucrative.
With that authority, the captain could assign high-reward missions with low risk to members of his own clan.
Daimyo and nobles rarely understood the true difficulty of missions.
Many seemingly dangerous A-rank missions were actually quite manageable when led by elite Sarutobi ninja supported by secret-technique specialists.
Guardian Ninja captain positions across the Fire Country and four minor nations were among the most profitable posts in Konoha—second only to the advisors themselves.
Hiruzen lowered his head, staring at the scroll Sakumo had submitted.
Sakumo's stance was clear.
The Guardian Ninja system must be reformed.
He had even returned personally to Konoha to push the issue.
Currently—
The Sarutobi clan monopolized Guardian Ninja positions in the Fire Country, the Land of Hot Water, and the Land of Rivers.
The Shimura clan monopolized the Land of Grass.
The Ino-Shika-Cho alliance controlled the Land of Whirlpools.
If Sakumo's reform succeeded—
the interests of the Five Great Clans would be heavily damaged.
Danzo spoke again.
"We appointed Hatake Sakumo as advisor to use his strength against Madara's rogue organization."
"But instead of fighting rogue ninja—"
"He has turned around and started attacking us!"
A knock sounded at the door.
Nara Shikakaku entered the office.
The Ino-Shika-Cho alliance was also a target of this reform.
Their clans were large.
The Guardian Ninja captain position for the Land of Whirlpools brought them enormous wealth and resources.
Hiruzen asked,
"Shikakaku, you've always been thoughtful."
"What do you think about Sakumo's proposal?"
Shikaku looked troubled.
"Hokage-sama, Danzo-sama…"
"Advisor Sakumo has not forced the issue."
"For now the proposal has only been discussed among us."
"What worries me is what happens if this proposal spreads."
"The Guardian Ninja captain is the closest liaison to daimyo and nobles."
"They are the first to screen missions."
"Other ninja in the village inevitably envy that authority."
"Our clans have contributed the most to the village."
"Even if others had thoughts before, they dared not speak."
"The Sarutobi clan was already the third largest clan at Konoha's founding."
"When Lord Sasuke Sarutobi decided to join the village, Hashirama and Uchiha Madara personally went several kilometers outside the village to greet him."
"After forty years of development, the Sarutobi clan has become the largest clan in Konoha in both numbers and strength."
"It is entirely reasonable for them to hold several Guardian Ninja captain positions."
Hiruzen nodded repeatedly.
Shikakaku spoke very pleasantly.
Shikakaku continued,
"As for Danzo-sama…"
"Ordinary ninja may not understand his sacrifices."
"But we know clearly."
"Without Danzo-sama, Konoha could not have survived the countless threats lurking in the darkness."
Danzo nodded as well.
He had always supported Shikakaku serving as head of the Jonin Council.
Shikakaku continued calmly.
"As for the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance…"
"Though we are often spoken of as one, we are three separate clans."
"Our secret techniques contribute greatly to the village."
"I believe our position as Guardian Ninja captain of the Land of Whirlpools is entirely justified."
"Hokage-sama… Danzo-sama…"
"My suggestion is to stabilize Advisor Sakumo."
"This proposal should be resolved quietly among the leadership."
"Right here in this office."
"If the matter spreads throughout the village, unnecessary trouble will arise."
"There has never been a shortage of ambitious people in Konoha."
"I have even heard the phrase 'Upper Five Clans.'"
"Some ninja believe the current distribution of power is unfair."
Hiruzen nodded slowly.
"Immediately summon Hatake Sakumo to the Hokage's office."
"He must not interact with too many jonin."
"As Shikakaku suggested, this dispute must remain within this office."
"It cannot become a public debate."
"Have Yellow Dog monitor Sakumo's subordinates."
"Until Sakumo is persuaded, they are not allowed to return home."
"And investigate anyone who visits Sakumo's house."
Danzo added coldly,
"Hatake Sakumo abandoned his post and returned without orders."
"Unforgivable."
"I will send Root agents to the Land of Grass."
"They will kill several nobles."
"We will attribute the crime to rogue ninja and the Hidden Stone."
"And the blame will fall on Sakumo."
"As the foreign affairs advisor, how could he abandon his position?"
"He should be stationed where rogue ninja appear most frequently."
"This is dereliction of duty."
Shikakaku inwardly clicked his tongue.
Danzo's methods were as brutal as ever.
Killing a few nobles…
cruel—but effective.
Hatake Sakumo entered Konoha with Yamashiro and several others.
After Sakumo passed through the gates, one guard whispered to another,
"Ever since White Fang-sama became foreign affairs advisor, we haven't heard about rogue ninja causing trouble."
"You want to flatter him—why didn't you say that to his face?"
"Are you hoping I'll pass along your flattery?"
"I'm not flattering him!"
"I'm stating facts!"
At that moment—
Yellow Dog appeared behind them.
"Advisor Sakumo. Jonin Yamashiro."
"The Hokage is waiting for you at the Hokage Tower."
Yamashiro felt uneasy.
He didn't believe this was the right time to propose the Guardian Ninja rotation system.
But Sakumo insisted.
The idea itself wasn't bad.
The problem was the enormous power of the Upper Five Clans.
Acting rashly might fail—
and damage Sakumo's prestige.
For a politician, proposing a policy that fails to pass was a serious blow.
At the Hokage Tower—
Yellow Dog had Yamashiro and the other assistants wait on the second floor.
Sakumo alone went to the third floor.
Inside the Hokage's office—
he saw the village leadership gathered.
The Third Hokage smoking his pipe.
Utatane looking grave.
Danzo watching him coldly.
Shikakaku studying a scroll thoughtfully.
One person was missing.
Fox.
Sakumo hadn't seen Fox in a long time.
Recently there had been almost no reports of Fox carrying out missions.
Perhaps something had happened.
"Hokage-sama."
"I've returned."
Sakumo sat calmly beside Shikakaku.
Yellow Dog stood behind the Hokage.
Shikakaku cleared his throat.
"Advisor Sakumo…"
"I remember that during the Second Shinobi War, on the River Country battlefield, you promoted a Ninjutsu Assessment System."
"Any ninja who met certain mission standards could receive a ninjutsu from headquarters."
"You also proposed an evaluation system for ninja positions."
"You have always had many ideas."
"This time…"
"The Guardian Ninja rotation system is not wrong."
"But like your previous proposals—"
"The timing is not appropriate."
Sakumo looked directly at him.
"What reform would not be considered premature?"
"And when exactly would the timing be appropriate?"
Shikakaku answered calmly.
"The problem with awarding ninjutsu is espionage."
"If enemy spies obtain our techniques, they will counter them."
"That would increase casualty rates."
"The secrecy of ninjutsu inheritance is the core of every village."
"Until the spy problem is solved, the assessment system cannot be safely implemented."
"The Guardian Ninja rotation system faces the same issue."
"The village is under enormous pressure."
"Madara's rogue organization."
"The greed of other villages."
"We cannot afford internal instability."
"The priority must be dealing with rogue ninja."
"Until then, Guardian Ninja positions cannot change easily."
"What do you think?"
After hearing this—
Sakumo felt deeply disappointed.
Timing was only an excuse.
Shikakaku had avoided the real question.
Why were the Upper Five Clans allowed to monopolize the Guardian Ninja positions?
The Hokage's office remained locked in argument until late at night.
At the Tavern, Yako walked outside holding a bottle of alcohol.
The full moon hung like a silver plate.
Another full moon night.
Yako suddenly frowned toward the village wall.
A bad feeling crept into his chest.
His heartbeat accelerated.
BOOM.
A massive blade of light dozens of meters long smashed through Konoha's wall.
Susanoo.
A blue Susanoo—muscular, armorless—wielding twin serpent-shaped swords.
Uchiha Madara.
Yako's eyes swept across the horizon.
Four blue Susanoo giants smashed through Konoha's walls from four different directions.
Susanoo created by Wood Clone jutsu.