Talent System In The Naruto Universe

"The priority is to find them first."

After a brief thought, Tsunade said, "I'll take charge of this matter."

She had already spent three days at the main camp, mainly treating the wounded.

Although healing the injured was important, she had no intention of letting Danzo have things his way.

Now that these 1,000 Kumogakure ninjas had opened up a new battlefield, it was only natural for her to handle it.

"Tsunade, your mission is—"

Danzo immediately spoke up, but he was quickly interrupted.

"You have no right to dictate my mission."

Tsunade said calmly, "I am the Deputy Commander."

"Tsunade!"

Danzo was furious. "You'll regret this!"

Many people exchanged subtle glances.

Something about this conversation felt strangely familiar to them.

Danzo himself also realized it.

His lips twitched as he turned to Orochimaru.

"Tsunade, take your team and investigate."

Orochimaru paused for a moment, glanced at Danzo, and then added, "Danzo, you'll be in charge of support."

Upon hearing this, Danzo was secretly pleased.

"Support"? More like surveillance.

Of course.

Keeping Tsunade confined to the main camp forever was unrealistic. The only way to control her now was to manipulate mission assignments.

"Understood."

Tsunade didn't mind at all.

"Now, let's assign personnel."

Orochimaru remained composed.

---

One Hour Later

The Jōnin meeting concluded, and everyone exited the main tent.

"Lady Tsunade."

Hyūga Hizashi stepped forward and asked, "When do we depart?"

"Right now."

Tsunade ordered, "Go gather the team."

"Yes."

Hyūga Hizashi responded immediately.

Tsunade's strategy was simple: Find the Kumogakure force first, then decide the next move.

She selected tracking-type ninjas, such as those from the Hyūga, Aburame, and Inuzuka clans.

"Lady Tsunade."

Aburame Shibi arrived with a group of white-cloaked ninjas.

Hanekawa glanced at them and felt that their appearance was completely out of place.

After all, most Konoha ninjas wore standard Konoha flak jackets.

But the Aburame clan's secret techniques required them to wear tight-fitting white cloaks, which allowed them to conceal more insects.

"Woof! Woof! Woof!"

A large black dog, nearly half the height of a human, ran over to Hanekawa, wagging its tail enthusiastically.

"Kuromaru, it's been a while."

Hanekawa reached out and patted the dog's head.

"I didn't expect you to remember its name."

A voice came from behind the dog. Inuzuka Tsume stepped forward.

She was Inuzuka Kiba's mother.

Hanekawa had previously done supply escort missions with Inuzuka Tsume and her team.

"How could I forget such a distinctive dog?"

Hanekawa chuckled.

"If you like dogs, I can give you one."

Inuzuka Tsume smiled warmly.

Hanekawa's status was skyrocketing, and even the Hyūga clan wanted to maintain good relations with him. Naturally, the Inuzuka clan wasn't an exception.

"No need."

Hanekawa shook his head. "I'm not an Inuzuka ninja. Following me would only waste its potential."

He rarely used summoning beasts.

Besides, Inuzuka clan's dogs were mainly used for tracking. For combat, they required specific secret techniques, like the famous Fang Over Fang.

Seeing his response, Inuzuka Tsume didn't insist.

After all, she couldn't teach Hanekawa the Inuzuka clan's secret techniques.

"Lady Tsunade, everyone is assembled."

Hyūga Hizashi reported, "We have a total of 30 squads, each equipped with sensor or tracking ninjas."

"Our mission is to find the Kumogakure force, not engage them."

Tsunade reminded, "Once you locate them, inform me immediately."

"Yes!"

Hyūga Hizashi, Aburame Shibi, and the others responded in unison.

"We'll split into multiple groups. Stay safe."

Tsunade waved her hand. "Move out!"

---

The 30 ninja squads set off in different directions.

Tsunade took one last glance at Danzo in the distance before leaving the camp.

"There are eight ninjas tailing us from the shadows."

Hanekawa closed his eyes and spoke.

Though Root members were all highly skilled and well-hidden, he had a cheat ability—

His Mind's Eye with 100% accuracy, making them completely visible to him.

"Find a way to lose them."

Tsunade frowned slightly.

She disliked being tracked—especially by people who were more foes than allies.

With Danzo's personality, he might even leak their location to Kumogakure, setting them up for an ambush.

"Move further ahead. I'll stay behind to block them."

Hanekawa paused and added, "You all go ahead. Later, Sensei, you can use Reverse Summoning with Katsuyu to bring me back."

"They are still Konoha ninjas—don't kill them."

Tsunade hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"I understand."

Hanekawa nodded. "I'll just use jutsu to trap them temporarily."

After another half-hour of travel, the group had moved far from the Konoha camp.

Hanekawa decided it was time and came to a stop.

Tsunade and the others didn't wait for him and continued moving forward.

"Come out."

Hanekawa turned around and spoke.

But no one responded. More than half of the eight Root ninjas in the shadows split off, intending to pursue Tsunade and the others.

"It won't be that easy."

Hanekawa clapped his hands onto the ground.

Earth Release: Tectonic Core!

With a loud rumble, the ground trembled.

A massive square section of land suddenly rose upward, lifting five Root members into the air.

Their figures were instantly exposed to Hanekawa's eyes, preventing them from pursuing Tsunade's group.

"Restrain him first."

As soon as the words fell, the shadows nearby suddenly came to life, lunging toward Hanekawa.

"The Nara Clan?"

Hanekawa quickly formed hand seals.

A wall of water surged up on all sides, encasing him like a cylinder.

With his shadow blocked, the Nara Clan Root member lost control over him.

At the same time, Hanekawa sensed an invisible mental pulse passing through the water wall—

The Yamanaka Clan's Mind-Body Switch Jutsu!

Realizing this, Hanekawa instantly vanished, dodging the mental attack.

Reappearing in mid-air, he immediately spotted the Yamanaka ninja frozen in place.

When Mind-Body Switch fails, the user's spirit cannot return immediately, leaving them paralyzed for a short time.

Water Release: Water Whip!

Hanekawa formed hand seals, summoning a whip of flowing water.

The water whip coiled tightly around the Yamanaka ninja, binding him completely.

"First one down."

Hanekawa murmured to himself.

Suddenly, searing heat filled the air.

A fire dragon roared toward him!

Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!

Standing on the water wall, Hanekawa spat out a giant water dragon.

The water dragon extinguished the fire dragon and continued rushing toward the Root ninja.

His expression changed—he hadn't expected Hanekawa's Water Release to be this powerful.

In desperation, he used Body Flicker to escape.

Earth Release: Falling Lid!

Hanekawa formed more seals.

Above the fleeing Root ninja, the air distorted—

A massive green pot lid descended from the sky!

Even with Body Flicker, the ninja couldn't escape in time and was trapped beneath it.

"Second one down."

Hanekawa nodded slightly.

The wind howled.

A fire dragon, now massively enhanced by wind, surged toward him.

Hanekawa turned and spotted two Root ninjas working together.

Meanwhile, the shadow from before was creeping up the water wall.

The moment the fire dragon struck the water wall, Hanekawa leapt into the ground, vanishing completely.

"Be careful! He disappeared!"

One Root ninja shouted in warning.

But the next second—

"Ah!"

A startled cry rang out.

From beneath one ninja's feet, two hands suddenly shot up, grabbing his legs!

Before he could react, he was yanked underground, leaving only his head exposed.

Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!

The Root ninja struggled, preparing to escape—

Only to see Hanekawa's fist descending toward him.

A heavy blow landed.

Dizziness struck, and he lost consciousness.

"Third one down."

Hanekawa looked down—

His shadow had been caught!

His body froze in place.

A flash of steel.

A Root ninja appeared instantly, driving his ninja blade straight into Hanekawa's chest—

But no blood flowed.

Hanekawa's body had turned into a human-shaped rock.

The Root ninja instinctively tried to pull his blade free—

But it wouldn't budge.

At that moment—

A puddle of water at his feet suddenly rose up, taking Hanekawa's form!

Water Release: Great Water Arm!

Hanekawa's arm swelled in size, then he punched down with immense force!

The Root ninja was sent flying, crashing hard onto the ground—his fate uncertain.

"Fourth one down."

Hanekawa noticed another shadow creeping toward him.

He lifted his gaze to the Nara Clan ninja controlling it.

Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!

Hanekawa clapped his hands together.

The ground beneath the Nara ninja suddenly turned into a deep, muddy swamp!

His body wobbled and began sinking, forcing him to release his jutsu.

Earth Release: Rock Fist!

Hanekawa appeared before him in an instant—delivering a powerful punch.

The Nara ninja sank completely into the swamp, unable to move.

"Fifth one down."

Hanekawa turned to the three remaining Root ninjas.

He formed seals again.

Water Release: Exploding Water Wave!

Leaping into the air, Hanekawa unleashed a massive torrent of water from his mouth—

A lake-sized flood poured down like a raging storm!

The three Root ninjas reacted quickly but couldn't completely avoid the impact.

Water Release: Hidden Mist Jutsu!

Thick mist rose around them, cutting off their visibility.

Then—

Hanekawa opened his mouth again.

Water Release: Heavenly Weep!

Four water needles shot out with precision, striking the nearest Root ninja.

Two needles pierced each of his legs, causing him to lose balance and fall into the lake.

At that moment, another Root ninja formed hand seals.

A tornado whipped up before him, blowing away the dense mist.

But—

Hanekawa was already gone.

Water Release: Instant Water!

Suddenly, the water beneath the Root ninja's feet surged like a pair of hands, dragging him underwater.

A wave of suffocation and dizziness overwhelmed him. He struggled violently—until darkness consumed him.

The last Root ninja dashed toward Hanekawa like an arrow loosed from a bow.

Root operatives were all indoctrinated—they knew neither fear nor retreat, only the completion of Danzo Shimura's orders.

But for Hanekawa, this was an advantage.

Earlier, he had worried they might flee.

If all eight escaped together, chasing them down would have been difficult.

Yet they all stayed behind to fight him.

Water Release: Water Dragon Burst!

Standing firm, Hanekawa rapidly formed hand seals.

The water beneath him swirled, forming a vortex.

Just as the Root ninja closed in—

BOOM!

The vortex surged upward, transforming into a water dragon, launching the ninja high into the sky.

"Goodbye."

Hanekawa didn't linger. His body vanished.

He had stalled them long enough for Tsunade and the others to escape.

"At least my proficiency increased a little."

Throughout the battle, Hanekawa had only used Water Release and Earth Release—deliberately training his skills.

He needed to master Wood Release as soon as possible. That would be his greatest security.

Now that they were at war with Kumogakure, Hanekawa doubted the Cloud Village would let him roam freely. They'd come for him sooner or later.

His worst-case scenario?

Kumogakure could expose him as a spy.

At that point, Wood Release would be his trump card.

Even if he were outed as a spy, Konohagakure would have to protect him—they wouldn't let go of someone with Wood Release so easily.

Spy? Nonsense.

He was a Konoha shinobi from birth!

He could even reveal his mastery of the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, claiming he had stolen the technique—and people would believe him.

Of course, there was an even better option—

Capturing the Fourth Raikage alive and extracting the Lightning Chakra Mode training method from him.

Difficult? Absolutely.

But it was worth a shot.

Shaking off his thoughts, Hanekawa placed one hand on the ground.

Summoning Jutsu!

With a puff of smoke, Katsuyu appeared.

"Lady Katsuyu, please inform my sensei."

He wasted no words.

"Understood, Lord Hanekawa."

Katsuyu's voice remained as gentle as ever.

Then—she disappeared.

Hanekawa stood still, waiting.

A moment later—

He felt a summoning force calling him.

Without resistance, his vision shifted—

Tsunade and the others appeared before him.

"Hanekawa, are you okay?"

Kurenai Yuhi grabbed his hand, concern in her eyes.

"I'm fine."

Hanekawa shook his head.

"The eight Root ninjas are all incapacitated."

"Good."

Tsunade nodded in satisfaction.

"Now, we find Kumogakure's secret unit."

"Understood."

As they walked, Hanekawa activated Mind's Eye.

With his skill augmentation, his sensory ability had already surpassed Tsunade's, making him their squad's best scout.

Meanwhile, Rin Nohara used Spirit Transformation Jutsu to scan the surroundings—

But since her body couldn't move, Kurenai carried her.

Time passed.

For a week, they scoured the Land of Frost, facing multiple battles—all quickly resolved.

Then, on the morning of the second week, they finally found a clue.

An unexpected clash with a Kumogakure patrol squad led to a crucial discovery—

The 1,000 missing Cloud ninjas were stationed here.

"What are they doing in this place?"

Kurenai gazed at the Kumogakure base in the valley, puzzled.

"Not sure."

Tsunade frowned.

"It makes no sense to establish a base in such a remote location."

"If that's the case, let's investigate."

Hanekawa turned to Rin.

"Rin, can you check it out?"

"Go ahead."

Tsunade agreed.

To be fair—four people infiltrating a base of 1,000 was reckless.

But she trusted her own strength—and Hanekawa's.

If needed, they could always escape.

Rin formed hand seals, activating Spirit Transformation Jutsu.

Her soul left her body, drifting toward the Kumogakure base.

A barrier surrounded the area—but she slipped through effortlessly.

Then—

"So it really is you!"

A sudden voice echoed.

A one-eyed ninja appeared—

Dodai.

"What does he mean? Is this a trap?"

A bad feeling crept over Rin. She immediately retreated.

Dodai raised his hand.

The Cloud ninjas behind him rushed forward.

"After all this effort and manpower… we finally have Hanekawa."

Dodai exhaled, muttering to himself.

"I just hope that seal is still intact."

_

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