Addressing the Uchiha issue requires consideration both within the clan and outside it, but joining the training team is not necessarily required for the latter.
Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't insist that Shisui join the training team, merely suggesting that he is a suitable candidate.
As Shisui's teacher, he couldn't solve all of Shisui's difficulties but could certainly shield him from some hardships.
"Teacher Mokgetsu, I'm joining!" Shisui replied earnestly.
After careful consideration, Shisui decided to seize this rare opportunity.
This was an advantage that all Uchiha ninjas other than him and Obito lacked.
Mokgetsu was the head of this new department, and as long as they achieve merit in this department, they would surely reap the deserved rewards.
Other Uchiha found it very difficult to join such a confidential department, let alone be heavily relied upon.
"Alright, I'll notify you when it's time to report to the training team," Mokgetsu nodded.
Thanks to Shimura Danzo, although the training team is a newly established department, it already has its independent base—the former Root Base.
Sarutobi Hiruzen kept his promise, and besides some secret documents useless to the training team, all other Root assets were ceded to the training team.
Although currently besides Shisui who hasn't joined, there are only two people in the training team, the resources are indeed abundant.
Shisui expressed his gratitude to Mokgetsu and began cultivation.
After cultivation time, Mokgetsu did not return to his home in the main city district but instead went to Yamato's side.
"Teacher Mokgetsu?" Yamato looked at Mokgetsu with confusion.
"I wanted to visit your home today; is Yamato unwelcome?" Mokgetsu smiled, looking at Yamato.
"Of course, you're welcome," Yamato quickly explained, feeling a bit touched.
Mokgetsu was always able to detect his emotions promptly and provide comfort.
Yamato was residing in a house previously arranged by Shimura Danzo, belonging to the outskirts of the outskirts.
Fortunately, the place where Mokgetsu and the others cultivated was quite remote, so Yamato's home was actually closest to their usual cultivation site.
Upon entering Yamato's home, Mokgetsu headed toward the kitchen.
If a disciple isn't happy, you obviously have to let them taste some delicious food that can change their mood.
Yamato waved his hand, showing he didn't want to trouble Mokgetsu, but in the end, was persuaded by Mokgetsu, obediently sitting at the table waiting for the meal.
"Do you want to go to school?" After placing the last dish on the dining table, Mokgetsu asked.
Typically, Ninja Academy starts enrollment at five or six years old, and Yamato was already eight, should have gone to Ninja Academy long ago if not for his special identity.
Mokgetsu had wanted to send Yamato to school early, but there was no way to explain it on Shimura Danzo's side, thus it couldn't be executed.
"Is it to Ninja Academy?" Yamato restrained himself from looking at the enticing dishes, answering.
This was a meal cooked by Mokgetsu, he felt Mokgetsu should eat first.
"Yes, graduating from Ninja Academy means you're officially a Konoha ninja," Mokgetsu noticed Yamato's intention, and picked up a piece of meat, placing it in his bowl.
Strictly speaking, Yamato was sort of a black-market account, his identity was arranged by Shimura Danzo.
Yamato's previous identity as a Root Ninja wasn't registered in the Root member directory, he was a ninja only recognized by Shimura Danzo, not a true Konoha ninja.
Of course, with Shimura Danzo's power, arranging a ninja identity for Yamato wasn't difficult, just that Yamato's strength was too weak, Shimura Danzo worried about being discovered by Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"How long to study before becoming a ninja at Ninja Academy?" Yamato also picked up a piece of meat, chewing happily after mixing it with a bit of rice.
"Fast track could be a month or even two weeks, slower up to six years, I personally recommend staying for more than two years," Mokgetsu considered and said.
Among his disciples, Yamato was relatively pitiful, first captured as an experimental subject for the deadly Hashirama Cells experiment.
Struggling to survive, losing memory, he was picked up by Shimura Danzo, and long-term PUA by Shimura Danzo, indoctrinating his twisted ideology.
Thus Mokgetsu hopes Yamato can have a joyful campus life.
Given Yamato's current strength, attending Ninja Academy was a complete dimensional reduction attack, pure novel protagonist.
Upon hearing the number six years, Yamato's eyes widened slightly, his life only comprised just over one and a half cycles of six years.
"Teacher Mokgetsu, do I have hope to become a Wood Release ninja like the First Hokage?" Yamato asked abruptly without answering a previous question.
"It's very difficult, almost impossible," Mokgetsu answered as politely as possible.
Senju Hashirama's monstrosity wasn't the Wood Release, it was that terrifying chakra.
Ordinary Tailed Beasts chakra was already fearfully unattainable for ordinary ninjas, compared to Nine-tails, ordinary Tailed Beasts chakra was far inferior.
But compared to Senju Hashirama, even Nine-tails had to yield, Senju Hashirama's chakra amount was terrifying beyond measure.
"So there's still a slight possibility? I want to become a ninja like the First Hokage who can protect the village and prevent wars," Yamato said resolutely.
"I want to go to the Ninja Academy and graduate as fast as possible to become a ninja, and when the time comes, please be stricter with my training, Teacher Mokgetsu!"
Shimura Danzo's death saddened him somewhat, but what made Yamato more uneasy was the future, if Mokgetsu were to sacrifice like Shimura Danzo...
He wanted more strength, the power to protect the people and things he cared about.
Mokgetsu showed a bit of helpless expression, sometimes maturity wasn't always a good thing, why were they so responsible one after another, children under ten should just enjoy life.
"Even if you want to become a ninja like the First Hokage, it's not something that can be accomplished overnight, at least you should study for a year in the Ninja Academy," Mokgetsu tapped Yamato with his index and middle fingers.
...
Land of Hot Water, Konoha Ninja Corps Base.
"Just died like that, what a pity." Orochimaru laid down the materials, the long-term expressionless face showed slight fluctuation.
He received the news of Shimura Danzo's demise, not only with Konoha's official announcement, but also some information circulating in the Ninja World.
"The experiment has to be suspended..." Orochimaru sighed softly.
He wasn't saddened by Shimura Danzo's death, just as Shimura Danzo viewed him as merely an experimental tool, Orochimaru similarly only saw Shimura Danzo as a useful partner, and not a companion like Jiraiya and Tsunade.
What worried Orochimaru was whether his experiments could continue smoothly, and whether his collaboration with Shimura Danzo had been exposed.
They had done too many transgressive things together, once exposed, not only competing for Hokage, it would be Sarutobi Hiruzen showing old favor to spare him.
Orochimaru intended to return to Konoha to eliminate information that might expose him, Hidden Cloud's sudden action thwarted his purpose.
Changing commanders before a battle was a major taboo, without suitable justification, Konoha's higher-ups wouldn't allow him to return at this time.
After realizing the difficulty of returning to Konoha, Orochimaru simply didn't apply, as it couldn't have been approved anyway.
Orochimaru now sincerely hoped Shimura Danzo had properly handled traces, as exposure meant he had only the path of defection.
Orochimaru didn't sit idly, he actively sought ways to contact his subordinates in Konoha, wanting to understand Konoha's situation, assess the impact of Shimura Danzo's death on Konoha.
He wasn't greedy for power in Konoha, whether authority or money, they were merely means to an end, he didn't covet power and money themselves.
Yet to give up everything in Konoha, Orochimaru didn't bear it either, he had worked many years for the current results, defecting meant starting from scratch, wasting a long time again.
Human energy is always limited, even a genius like Orochimaru.
When he focused on matters related to Shimura Danzo and his own situations, the affairs with The Hidden Cloud Village, he didn't have much energy left to analyze further.
Thus, the Hidden Cloud ninja squad quietly boarded a boat, arriving in the Land of Rice Fields, beginning their operation.