Mission logs—used to record and register task information, as well as their completion status.
Some tasks were privately commissioned.
Others were issued officially.
The contents varied widely, from finding lost cats and dogs to missions that could destroy entire nations.
They were also the primary source of income for ninja.
To put it bluntly, the number of missions and the amount of payment directly determined a ninja's quality of life.
And the Mission Hall was the central place where these tasks were accepted.
Inside the Mission Hall, the crowd was first shocked by Jiraiya's respectful address toward an eight-year-old boy. Then, hearing his request, their expressions turned to disbelief.
After all, while the mission logs weren't exactly classified treasures, they weren't something just anyone could browse.
And hearing talk about ninja being "tools of the system" only fueled their dissatisfaction, turning into open ridicule.
"Kid, even if Lord Jiraiya respects you, you'd better watch your words," one ninja said coldly.
"Yeah, I read those logs every few days. There's no damn 'answer' in them!"
"That's right. Stop spouting nonsense. Even if Lord Jiraiya respects you, we'll throw you out of Konoha if you go too far!"
kagero simply smiled faintly under the hostile gazes, showing not the slightest hint of fear.
Jiraiya, however, grew serious.
As expected… ninja cannot accept such a statement. It directly challenges their pride and arrogance.
Uchiha Madara: "I've been wondering if this was just nonsense. If there's no answer after reading those logs, I'll smash that damn screen myself!"
Fourth Raikage: "Ridiculous! How could we ninja be tools? Absolute nonsense. This kagero is outrageous!"
Senju Hashirama: "The answer to this question is finally about to be revealed… I'm a bit excited."
Senju Tobirama: "Big brother, what are you excited about?"
Senju Hashirama: "Uh… I don't know. I just have this feeling, hahaha."
Hyūga Hiashi: "Ninja are proud warriors. How could we possibly be tools? This kagero is asking for trouble! And when will this damned projection end?!"
Gaara: "Tools… we're finally going to get a clear answer…"
Hidan: "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Who could control me?!"
Naruto: "Ninja… tools? No way! The answer's in the mission logs? Where? Where?!"
Sasuke Uchiha: "If you don't understand, then just watch quietly. Don't expose your lack of intelligence in front of everyone."
Danzo: "Interesting… very interesting."
As someone who operated in the shadows, Danzo found the idea of ninja as tools highly convincing.
Not only because he treated ninja as tools himself—
But because he had already glimpsed part of the truth.
Nagato: "The mystery is finally about to be revealed. I also want to know why such a statement exists."
Konan remained silent, her expression serious.
In her mind, she kept accepting and rejecting the idea again and again.
The same went for everyone else.
After all—no one wanted to believe they were merely tools.
kagero flipped through the selected mission logs in front of all the ninja.
The only sound in the hall was the turning of pages.
The surrounding ninja watched him with anger, while Jiraiya silently stood guard at his side.
If not for Jiraiya, they would have thrown kagero out long ago.
As time passed, more and more people gathered in the hall.
Finally, kagero closed the last log, shut his eyes for a moment, and let out a slow breath.
"Jiraiya, I think I have the answer."
"kagero-sensei, please enlighten me," Jiraiya said, bowing slightly.
The surrounding ninja frowned, waiting.
"Kid, if you can't give a proper answer, don't blame me for throwing you out!" one of them warned, arms crossed.
"I won't allow anyone to insult ninja—even if Lord Jiraiya respects you!"
"I don't know how you fooled Lord Jiraiya, but you won't fool all of us!"
kagero ignored their anger and pointed at the logs.
"About 9% of these missions involve finding lost pets."
"Escort and protection missions account for 21%."
"Assassination missions targeting other nations' ninja make up 25%."
"Intelligence-gathering missions account for 27%."
"Then there are missions that destabilize other countries and spread fear—about 9%."
"And even suppression missions against internal unrest—another 9%."
"A small portion of these are issued by civilians or merchants. Some are even posted by ninja themselves."
"But the majority—come from the Daimyō and government authorities."
"These missions continuously generate hatred. And those issuing them… have shifted from openly official forces to hidden powers behind the scenes."
"I can now confirm—someone is controlling the ninja population by issuing a large number of missions, backed by substantial rewards."
"And those people—are the noble class led by the Daimyō!!!"
kagero's conclusion struck like a thunderclap.
In the hearts of many, the Daimyō held a status no less than the Kage.
For some ninja, their respect for the Daimyō even surpassed their respect for the Five Kage themselves.
Chapter 33: The Ones Who Control Ninja Are the Noble Class Led by the Daimyō
Mission logs—used to record and register task information, as well as their completion status.
Some tasks were privately commissioned.
Others were issued officially.
The contents varied widely, from finding lost cats and dogs to missions that could destroy entire nations.
They were also the primary source of income for ninja.
To put it bluntly, the number of missions and the amount of payment directly determined a ninja's quality of life.
And the Mission Hall was the central place where these tasks were accepted.
Inside the Mission Hall, the crowd was first shocked by Jiraiya's respectful address toward an eight-year-old boy. Then, hearing his request, their expressions turned to disbelief.
After all, while the mission logs weren't exactly classified treasures, they weren't something just anyone could browse.
And hearing talk about ninja being "tools of the system" only fueled their dissatisfaction, turning into open ridicule.
"Kid, even if Lord Jiraiya respects you, you'd better watch your words," one ninja said coldly.
"Yeah, I read those logs every few days. There's no damn 'answer' in them!"
"That's right. Stop spouting nonsense. Even if Lord Jiraiya respects you, we'll throw you out of Konoha if you go too far!"
kagero simply smiled faintly under the hostile gazes, showing not the slightest hint of fear.
Jiraiya, however, grew serious.
As expected… ninja cannot accept such a statement. It directly challenges their pride and arrogance.
Uchiha Madara: "I've been wondering if this was just nonsense. If there's no answer after reading those logs, I'll smash that damn screen myself!"
Fourth Raikage: "Ridiculous! How could we ninja be tools? Absolute nonsense. This kagero is outrageous!"
Senju Hashirama: "The answer to this question is finally about to be revealed… I'm a bit excited."
Senju Tobirama: "Big brother, what are you excited about?"
Senju Hashirama: "Uh… I don't know. I just have this feeling, hahaha."
Hyūga Hiashi: "Ninja are proud warriors. How could we possibly be tools? This kagero is asking for trouble! And when will this damned projection end?!"
Gaara: "Tools… we're finally going to get a clear answer…"
Hidan: "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Who could control me?!"
Naruto: "Ninja… tools? No way! The answer's in the mission logs? Where? Where?!"
Sasuke Uchiha: "If you don't understand, then just watch quietly. Don't expose your lack of intelligence in front of everyone."
Danzo: "Interesting… very interesting."
As someone who operated in the shadows, Danzo found the idea of ninja as tools highly convincing.
Not only because he treated ninja as tools himself—
But because he had already glimpsed part of the truth.
Nagato: "The mystery is finally about to be revealed. I also want to know why such a statement exists."
Konan remained silent, her expression serious.
In her mind, she kept accepting and rejecting the idea again and again.
The same went for everyone else.
After all—no one wanted to believe they were merely tools.
kagero flipped through the selected mission logs in front of all the ninja.
The only sound in the hall was the turning of pages.
The surrounding ninja watched him with anger, while Jiraiya silently stood guard at his side.
If not for Jiraiya, they would have thrown kagero out long ago.
As time passed, more and more people gathered in the hall.
Finally, kagero closed the last log, shut his eyes for a moment, and let out a slow breath.
"Jiraiya, I think I have the answer."
"kagero-sensei, please enlighten me," Jiraiya said, bowing slightly.
The surrounding ninja frowned, waiting.
"Kid, if you can't give a proper answer, don't blame me for throwing you out!" one of them warned, arms crossed.
"I won't allow anyone to insult ninja—even if Lord Jiraiya respects you!"
"I don't know how you fooled Lord Jiraiya, but you won't fool all of us!"
kagero ignored their anger and pointed at the logs.
"About 9% of these missions involve finding lost pets."
"Escort and protection missions account for 21%."
"Assassination missions targeting other nations' ninja make up 25%."
"Intelligence-gathering missions account for 27%."
"Then there are missions that destabilize other countries and spread fear—about 9%."
"And even suppression missions against internal unrest—another 9%."
"A small portion of these are issued by civilians or merchants. Some are even posted by ninja themselves."
"But the majority—come from the Daimyō and government authorities."
"These missions continuously generate hatred. And those issuing them… have shifted from openly official forces to hidden powers behind the scenes."
"I can now confirm—someone is controlling the ninja population by issuing a large number of missions, backed by substantial rewards."
"And those people—are the noble class led by the Daimyō!!!"
kagero's conclusion struck like a thunderclap.
In the hearts of many, the Daimyō held a status no less than the Kage.
For some ninja, their respect for the Daimyō even surpassed their respect for the Five Kage themselves.