Konoha's Status Bar Ninja

As soon as Hajime stepped out of the tent, Ryo and Yakushi Nonō appeared.

They had been lying in ambush behind the tent earlier, planning to attack from the rear to rescue the hostage.

"Let's go. Sweep the surrounding area of any remaining Sky Ninja."

While speaking, Hajime quickly formed hand seals, and with a puff, three shadow clones appeared and scattered in different directions.

The pursuit continued.

Inside the tent, Tsunade was treating the injured medical-nin with healing techniques while slowly pulling the ninja blade out of her.

After healing the wound, she looked at the bloodstained blade beside her. She hesitated for a moment, then reached out and picked it up.

That guy's methods had been ruthless and brutal—but it had been to save someone.

…

On the other side, when Hajime led his group back to meet Danzo, the sky had already turned dark.

In the shadows, far from the campfires, Danzo spoke:

"Tell me your thoughts."

"Yes,," Hajime answered respectfully.

"Root can maintain internal secrecy, but we can't keep things hidden externally."

"Many Sky Ninja escaped today—some are bound to head toward the Hidden Cloud Village."

"With the way I used Wood Release in such a large-scale battle, that information won't stay secret for long."

Danzo nodded slightly.

Hajime continued, "Right now, it wouldn't benefit you, Lord Danzo, to show any rift with the Third Hokage. Since the intel will inevitably be exposed, it's better if you take the initiative and recommend me to the Third Hokage yourself."

"…Hmm?"

Danzo's gaze sharpened like a blade.

Hajime pressed on, "I could serve as your spy by his side."

"Additionally, I might be able to draw in Tsunade and make her one of your supporters for when you vie to become the Fourth Hokage."

Danzo raised a brow. "Oh?"

"Win over Tsunade?"

"What's your plan?"

Hajime replied calmly, "If I form a union with Tsunade, then the prestige of the Senju clan—passed down from the First and Second Hokage—will all stand behind you, Lord Danzo."

A union?

Danzo looked at Hajime with a rare expression of surprise.

That was something he had never considered before.

But…

Danzo thought about Tsunade's personality, then asked, "Are you confident?"

Hajime responded, "I carry the cells of the First Hokage. That alone gives me a natural advantage when it comes to attracting Tsunade."

Danzo fell silent, weighing the feasibility of the idea.

Winning over Tsunade was uncertain.

But placing Hajime by Hiruzen Sarutobi's side as a spy—that was a viable plan.

The only real problem was Hajime's loyalty.

Danzo knew his old friend Hiruzen all too well—and had to admit, the man possessed a powerful charisma.

Just then, Hajime added, "If you, Lord Danzo, want to walk from the darkness of Root into the light of the Hokage's seat, then you need a bridge—and I can be that bridge for you."

Danzo was deeply stirred by those words.

He looked at Hajime, who remained respectfully silent, and began to ponder.

If he sent Hajime out, how could he keep him in check?

Or more precisely—

When the time came, how could he eliminate him cleanly and bury any secrets that couldn't see the light of day?

In that moment, countless schemes and plots flashed through Danzo's mind.

But he gave no direct response. Instead, in a deep voice, he said, "I'll make the arrangements. Wood Release remains a secret. For you, that's still your trump card."

Hajime nodded immediately. "Understood."

…

Separated from Danzo, Hajime returned to Ryo and Nonō's side, silently watching the flickering campfire as he pondered to himself.

Danzo was a man with a dark and scheming mind. He might not currently have the overt ambition to become Hokage—or perhaps, that ambition was simply buried deep in his heart.

But Hajime was certain: Danzo would definitely be tempted by the suggestion.

He kept provoking Danzo, which was essentially stirring up internal conflict within Konoha.

But how else was he supposed to rise in power if Konoha remained stable?

"If once isn't enough, then twice. If twice isn't enough, then three times. Sooner or later, I'll awaken that hidden ambition in your heart and make it burn…"

Lowering his gaze, Hajime concealed the glint of darkness in his eyes.

Shaking off the chaotic thoughts, he shifted his focus back to his training.

He needed to further develop both Wood Release and the power from Hashirama's cells. While reaching the level of Hashirama Senju was impossible, becoming a high-level jōnin—or even Kage-class—was within reach.

Especially those techniques used by White Zetsu. If he could reproduce them, it would be a huge boost.

Then there was Wind Release.

The prototype of Blade Storm was already forming. The next step was refining it—adding more wind blades, increasing control, and improving shape transformation.

Also important was integrating Vacuum Blade techniques into his ninja sword—combining both shape and nature transformations.

Then there was the fully developed Wind Release: Rasenshuriken.

And finally—Wind Body Flicker.

Hajime mentally organized his priorities.

Right now, Wood Release and Wind Release were his most important techniques.

But beyond that, he began to think seriously about chakra reserves.

Even though his current chakra levels could be described as "chakra-ton-class," he was still nowhere near the levels of Hashirama, Madara, or Naruto.

"Whether it's the Zero-Tails, other tailed beasts, or the Dragon Vein(Ryūmyaku)—if I want to make use of them, I need sealing techniques."

"The Torii Seal Gate requires Sage Mode…"

"And besides those options, the Samehada sword is also a strong candidate."

Although Hajime could now absorb chakra with Wood Release, it didn't increase his own chakra cap.

This trait of Wood Release was mainly useful for prolonging combat, not for expanding his inner reserves.

"And without relying on my status panel, the only real path to becoming unbeatable… might be becoming the Jinchūriki of the Ten-Tails."

"As for the status panel… there's just too much uncertainty. I can't count on it."

Hajime sighed to himself.

Thinking of the status system led him to reflect on his Steel Body.

If he could permanently solidify that status, his survivability would skyrocket.

Even if Lightning Release countered it, not all lightning techniques could break through that defense.

Earth Release–style hardening techniques like Diamond Armor still weren't enough.

Steel Release… what a shame.

Shaking his head, Hajime drew his ninja blade, channeling Wind Release chakra into it. A thin layer of wind chakra coated the blade, and he began experimenting with different shape transformations.

Serrated edges… circular flow…

The night passed quietly.

The next morning, Hajime and the others headed north under Danzo's command.

The scattered Sky Ninja no longer posed a threat—Jiraiya and the others had enough manpower to finish the cleanup.

The real concern was to the north. The previous night, Sakumo Hatake had already sent in intelligence: the Hidden Cloud forces were moving south.

Though the scale wasn't large, they couldn't be underestimated. So Danzo personally led a team to intercept.

Following Danzo, Hajime couldn't help but feel a bit of admiration.

Danzo really had changed. Now, when something happened, he actually showed up himself.

Two hours later—

With the sound of air being torn apart, masked Root ninjas descended on the frontline where Konoha and the Cloud Ninja were locked in a standoff.

Just at that moment, a small skirmish was breaking out between the two sides.

The moment Hajime landed, one figure immediately caught his eye.

Even in broad daylight, the white light radiating from him was dazzling.

"So fast!"

Hajime couldn't help but be shocked.

This speed… far beyond his own.

It was Sakumo Hatake!

His charging figure was unstoppable—none of the Cloud Ninja could stand in his way.

Until—

Hajime narrowed his eyes. "That's Lava Release… from Dodai of the Cloud!"

The Rubber-Style ninja blocked Sakumo's charge.

The short sword of the fearsome White Fang was halted by rubber.

(End of Chapter)

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