Chapter 134 - 34

Chapter 34: Assessment Passed, Special Guidance SquadNaruto's combat power had undoubtedly reached the level of a Special Jonin, and there were almost no obvious weaknesses...Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep puff from his pipe and exhaled slowly; amidst the swirling smoke, his furrowed brow gradually relaxed.It could not continue! If the fight went on, Kakashiand Might Guy would have to resort to more dangerous techniques, and the situation on the field would become difficult to control."Alright, that's enough."As his voice fell, the three people in the arena stopped almost simultaneously.Kakashi and Might Guy stepped back, their Chakraslowly calming down, but the gravity and shock in their eyes had not yet fully dissipated.The "Underworld Armor" surrounding Naruto also dissolved like a receding tide; the heavy wooden armor turned into specks of green fluorescent light, merging with the golden Chakra cloak on his body along with the great sword and shield, before vanishing together.He panted slightly, sweat beading on his forehead; clearly, this brand-new form consumed a massive amount of energy, but his azure eyes remained bright, looking toward the observation room high above with a hint of anticipation.The training ground was a mess, crisscrossed with gullies, wet with un-dried water, and the walls were cracked, but at this moment, no one paid any attention to these details.All eyes were focused on Hiruzen Sarutobi, waiting for his final verdict and for him to set a clear tone regarding the earth-shattering "Wood ReleaseReappearance" event.Hiruzen Sarutobi was silent for a moment, the embers in his pipe flickering.He spoke slowly, his voice clearly echoing throughout the arena via the amplification device: "Very good, Naruto. You have displayed power, potential, and will that far exceed your peers, and even far exceed many veteran Ninja."His gaze swept over the three Ninja below, lingering for a long time, especially on Naruto."In light of your performance, and..."He paused, his tone deepening, "The special nature you have displayed. The Ninja Academy curriculum is indeed no longer suitable for you...""However, power is not everything.""A qualified Ninja needs to master more than just destructive power; there is also intelligence gathering, mission execution, teamwork, tactical strategy, and more precise control and application of one's own power..."He looked at Kakashi and Might Guy: "Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy.""Here!"The two immediately stood at attention."Effective immediately, you two will form a Special Guidance Squad, with Naruto Uzumaki as the third member.Your task, first and foremost, is to serve as his guiding Jonin, helping him make up for deficiencies in basic Ninja literacy, especially in the diversity of Ninjutsu, tactical thinking, and mission execution standards.""Secondly, lead him on missions of appropriate difficulty to further hone his skills through practice!"Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was steady and powerful, brooking no doubt."Yes!" Kakashi and Might Guy responded in unison.A flash of realization crossed Kakashi's eyes, while Might Guy remained fired up: "Rest assured, Hokage-sama! I will definitely pass on the flames of youth and the mysteries of the Ninja to Naruto!""As for you, Naruto."Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze returned to the boy, "You will begin operating as a 'Konoha Special Mobile Squad Reserve Member'! Remember, you are first and foremost Naruto Uzumaki, a Ninja of Konoha. During missions, you must obey the captain's orders and strictly adhere to the Ninja code. I hope you will not live up to this talent of yours, nor will you fail... our expectations of you.""Yes! Third Hokage-sama! I will definitely work hard!"Naruto straightened his back and answered loudly, his eyes filled with excitement and determination.He knew that he was one step closer to the goal in his heart!Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slightly, then turned his gaze to the people in the observation room with their varied expressions, especially Danzo Shimura, whose face was shifting between gloom and brightness.He said slowly: "Naruto's situation is classified as top-secret for Konoha, codenamed 'Forest'. Knowledge of this is limited to those present today. Any unauthorized inquiry, contact, or research without the approval of the Hokage Office will be considered a betrayal of Konoha and will be severely punished."Hiruzen Sarutobi's words caused the expressions of those present to change, especially Danzo, who could not help but want to retort.What kind of joke is this? How could he let the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki who awakened Wood Releaseleave the Village!How could this... not be allowed!After seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi's subtle gaze, Danzo's mind raced—The Village has been wanting to purge spies recently but lacked an excuse; the major clans are united, making it difficult to move against the Uchiha...If something were to happen to the Jinchuriki while outside...Only those present know this news, so the clans present would all be implicated!Danzo looked left and right, sizing up the expressions of the clan heads present, seeing the heat and disappointment that had not yet faded from their eyes.He looked back at the three people talking in the center of the arena.Kakashi is skilled in Ninjutsu and gathering/analyzing intelligence, while Might Guyhas Taijutsu, especially that ultimate technique of his father's, not to mention the loyalty of these two.With Kakashi and Might Guy, plus Naruto's own combat power, there should be no problem with self-preservation.No, given Hiruzen's personality, he would definitely arrange backup!Is it... Jiraiya, who is outside the Village? Or perhaps... Tsunade?That's it, Jiraiya has always been searching for the so-called Child of Prophecy, and Tsunade has psychological issues and wanders about, but once they learn that the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki has awakened Wood Release, they will definitely come to investigate!What a masterful way to fish, Hiruzen!Not only can he have an excuse to purge the Village, but he can also make Naruto lose favor with non-Hokage-affiliated clans, and even force Jiraiya and Tsunade to return to the Village to facilitate the succession of the Hokage position...But will the Jinchuriki be attacked?Thinking of this, the joy originally on Danzo's face quickly faded.Hiruzen, you bastard!No wonder you specifically looked at me; this is implying my Root... making me take the blame for you again, while you go and farm Naruto's favor!But, that's not bad either~Danzo's mind began to stir, and a more insidious and bold plan began to quietly take shape.Perhaps, could he contact that rogue "partner"?Or perhaps, could he borrow the hand of an "external enemy"? He needed to achieve his goal, distance himself from the blame, and profit from it...It might not be impossible to turn a fake act into reality!Danzo's gaze became firm; after all, considering Naruto's age...If he were really allowed to continue growing, his own position would be in danger; it would be best to make him fall under his control, or die outside...Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped looking at Danzo; he believed his old comrade understood the stakes, and at least for a short time, he wouldn't act recklessly in the open.He waved his hand, and an Anbu appeared silently, handing a scroll to Kakashi below."This is your squad's first official mission."Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "A C-rank mission: escort the bridge-building expert, Mr. Tazuna, back to the Land of Waves, and assist him in completing the construction of the bridge, while fending off any potential interference."