Naruto: The Strongest

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Shuuzawa's words left everyone in stunned silence. Yet, no one could refute him. 

The more they thought about it, the more unsettling it became—because everything he said made perfect sense! 

From a ninja's perspective, things were entirely different from the village's standpoint. 

A ninja only needed to focus on battle, while the village had far more to consider.

Yuugao still found it hard to believe as she was left behind to keep watch. 

However, after Pakura fell into silence, Shuuzawa and Shisui stepped outside. 

"Were you lying to her?" Shisui hesitated for a while before finally asking curiously.

"No. I already said that it was all just my speculation." Shuuzawa shrugged nonchalantly. 

"But I do think things will unfold in that direction. Sunagakure can't afford to drag this out for too long." 

"War isn't just about manpower; it's also about finances. I've heard that the Fourth Kazekage has to mine gold himself." 

"Do you know what that means, senpai?"

"It means the Daimyō has cut Sunagakure's financial support?" 

Shisui, despite being a Uchiha and occasionally a bit slow on certain matters, still understood some things. 

"That's right. Otherwise, they wouldn't be in such a dire situation."

Shuuzawa nodded as he looked at the land bathed in silver moonlight. 

Turning back with a smile, he continued, "The harsh environment of the Land of Wind forces them to purchase large amounts of supplies, which costs money." 

"Training ninja costs money. And war, even more so. That's why, they'll likely do exactly what you said, resolve one conflict quickly, and then focus all their efforts on Iwagakure to keep the Third Tsuchikage from acting recklessly!"

How does he think of so many things? Back in Konoha, Shuuzawa had already shut him down once. 

Although Shisui hadn't taken it personally, it had still felt unpleasant. 

But thinking back, didn't Shuuzawa already understand things that others, even the clan elders, had completely misunderstood? 

Even the Hokage's true intentions? "Shuuzawa-kun, where exactly did you receive your training?"

Shisui, now filled with admiration, couldn't suppress his curiosity any longer. 

But then, realizing something, he quickly added, "If it's inconvenient to say, you don't have to tell me." 

"Then I won't." Shuuzawa nodded decisively. Shisui, having been in the Anbu for a while, knew better than to press for answers.

"Alright, then what do we do next?" Shisui didn't dwell on it. Being in the Anbu, he understood that some things shouldn't be asked. 

He quickly changed the topic. "Even if your guess is correct, we still lack concrete evidence." 

"No rush. Pakura probably doesn't know much either. Just to be safe, senpai, you should try to get some information yourself."

Shuuzawa stroked his chin. Technically, Shisui was the team leader, but he was somewhat unreliable. 

That was exactly what Shuuzawa wanted. He needed someone to issue orders and take the fall if things went south. 

As for everything else, he could handle it himself.

As for Pakura, Shuuzawa already had an idea, though it wasn't fully formed yet. 

Still, she might prove valuable. "Senpai, it's best to keep Pakura alive. She might be even more useful later." 

"Understood." Shisui nodded seriously. "If things really unfold as you predict, then she must not die. She could be the key to peace!"

Shuuzawa pursed his lips. Now, he somewhat understood why Shisui had been naïve enough to reveal the Mangekyō's secret to Danzo. 

This guy was just too trusting. But Shuuzawa didn't explain further. Instead, he casually waved his hand and walked away. 

"I'll leave it to you, senpai. I'm heading out to check the surroundings and see if I can find a water source."

"Take care, and be careful." Shisui nodded, now placing complete trust in Shuuzawa. 

After giving a simple reminder, he turned and walked back inside. 

Meanwhile, Shuuzawa wandered through the ruined village that Sasori had likely massacred.

At the same time, he opened his system interface.

[Mission Completed: Obtain useful intelligence from Sunagakure and Kirigakure ninja.]

[Mission Rating: C]

"..."

Looking at the interface, Shuuzawa was puzzled. 

He had sensed the system's notification earlier but hadn't checked it until now. 

Now that he did, it seemed the system had just handed him a huge win. 

Weren't those 'intelligence reports' just his speculations' stated as facts?

"This system really is a 'doesn't matter how you do it, as long as you get it done' kind of thing." Shuuzawa smirked. 

Since his intel was entirely accurate, it made sense that it counted as mission completion. 

This only strengthened his confidence in his upcoming plans. If everything went well, Danzo-sama would soon make a name for himself in Sunagakure.

[Reward Obtained: 1 Free Attribute Point]

[Due to causing an unpredictable influence, special reward received.]

[Scorch Release Experience and Insight]

"Scorch Release Experience and Insight?" Shuuzawa frowned slightly. But after a closer look, he immediately understood what this reward meant.

He couldn't obtain a Kekkei Genkai naturally, but bloodline abilities were categorized into two types in the ninja world. 

The first was extremely rare and embedded within the user's lineage—such as the Uchiha's Sharingan, the Hyuga's Byakugan, the Kaguya's Shikotsumyaku, or the Senju's extraordinary physical constitution. 

These were inherited from the Ōtsutsuki or were mutations from the Chakra Fruit.

The second type was Kekkei Genkai, which was formed through chakra fusion and could be artificially created. 

Shuuzawa had long considered this path since it was only available to him. 

Now, he had received a reward that aligned perfectly with his ambitions.

This reward contained Pakura's insights and experiences while using Scorch Release. 

Such knowledge would be invaluable in helping him refine his fusion process.

"This is an incredible reward." Shuuzawa's eyes gleamed. 

With this, he could significantly shorten the time required for fusion and drastically improve his efficiency. 

It was a proven formula—something he could replicate without issue.

"But I still need more resources." Even though he was excited, Shuuzawa knew there were still things he needed to do. 

Calming his thoughts, he retrieved a scroll and quickly recorded some information. 

Forming a few hand seals, he sent the scroll away. His gaze then shifted toward the distance.

"Hurry up and come. I'm waiting for you." Shuuzawa muttered. 

The technique he had just used was something he acquired after completing a certain Root mission—one that involved wiping out an entire family.

The other person capable of using this technique was the future mastermind—one of the great behind-the-scenes figures of the ninja world, a classic case of redemption—the one who had tricked him during his time in Root.

Yakushi Kabuto.

Although Kabuto had once backstabbed Shuuzawa in Root—leading to a long history of 'friendly' sparring sessions where Shuuzawa made sure to go all out—he still shared some camaraderie with him. 

Both were orphans from the same institution, and Kabuto held some guilt over his past actions. Their relationship remained manageable.

More importantly, Shuuzawa recognized Kabuto's potential. That's why he had shared this technique with him. 

It allowed them to exchange information about what he learned in Konoha regarding Nonō Yakushi, and it also helped strengthen their connection.

Now, this technique might prove even more useful than before.

The moonlight was hazy, and the wind howled as sand swirled through the air. 

In the vast, endless desert, a small Sunagakure squad moved silently under cover of night toward a dilapidated village. 

"Seriously, this place is nothing but desolation." 

Though the Sunagakure patrol unit remained vigilant, one couldn't help but whisper complaints. 

"Less talking, more focus," their captain interrupted sternly. 

"Besides, we're searching for Lady Pakura. Do you have any idea how much she's done for us?" 

"Alright, Captain, I get it. It's just…" The Sunagakure ninja didn't dare argue back but instinctively glanced at the bespectacled boy behind them. 

The boy looked about eleven or twelve, frail and scholarly in appearance, which irritated the Sunagakure ninja. 

"I just don't understand why we must listen to this kid and come out here." 

"Sorry, it's just that I thought this place was a possibility, so I suggested it." 

The boy awkwardly scratched the back of his head, his face filled with apology.

"And if we do find any trace of Lady Pakura, our records will—" 

"Enough, keep quiet." The captain shook his head, glancing at the boy before continuing. 

"This place may be remote, but it's an ideal hiding spot. We just need to find clues. The rest is up to the Anbu, understood?" 

"Yes, sir!" the Sunagakure ninjas responded in unison. But just as their voices fell, the ground beneath them surged! The desert suddenly turned into quicksand, swallowing several of them before they could react.

"Damn it, ambush!" The captain instantly drew his blade, but an overwhelming sense of danger flooded his mind in that split second. 

A chilling presence made his hair stand on end! He attempted to weave hand signs in the blink of an eye—but a cold flash of steel had already swept past! 

He felt an icy sensation at his neck. "So fast…" That was the last thought to echo before his vision faded. 

Just before his consciousness slipped away, he caught sight of spikes rising from the ground, impaling all his teammates—except for one.

"So, you're going by Hideyoshi now, Kabuto? If I kill you, will it just be written off as an accident?" 

From the shadows, Shuuzawa stepped forward, glancing at the corpses before turning his teasing gaze to Kabuto. 

"Don't joke around, Shuuzawa." Kabuto sighed, adjusting his glasses with a forced chuckle. 

His childhood friend hadn't changed one bit. Back in their training days, Shuuzawa had never held back when sparring. 

Kabuto sometimes genuinely wondered if he'd be beaten to death in the training field. 

Of course, he never let himself take the hits without resistance.

It was just that Shuuzawa's growth had been unnervingly fast. Now, he seemed even more terrifying. 

In mere moments, he had wiped out so many people. Still, Kabuto had trained for years, sharpening his espionage skills. 

He quickly regained his composure. "What are you even doing in Sunagakure…? No, never mind. I shouldn't ask. I'm sure you have your own mission. What do you need from me?" 

"I need your help with something." Shuuzawa deactivated his Cursed Seal. 

After spending so much time in Root, eliminating enemies quickly had become second nature to him. "And I doubt you'll refuse me."

"…" Kabuto fell silent for a moment. He wanted to point out that Shuuzawa had just violated protocol. 

But as his gaze swept over the corpses and memories of Root resurfaced, he instinctively adjusted his glasses before speaking. 

"Fine. Just tell me what you need. I can only promise to do my best." 

"I need you to investigate something." Shuuzawa nodded and got straight to the point. 

"It's about Sunagakure's policies—particularly anything regarding Pakura." 

"Pakura…" Kabuto's face immediately changed, turning pale at the mention of her name. "Damn it… Don't tell me you people killed her?"

"She's only captured. Not dead yet," Shuuzawa shrugged before explaining. 

"We plan to interrogate her for information, but I suspect Sunagakure might be planning to sell her out. I need more intel to confirm it." 

He shared his previous suspicions as he spoke, and Kabuto listened intently. By the time he finished, Kabuto's expression had grown even more serious. 

If everything Shuuzawa said was true, this intelligence was explosive! 

What truly shocked him, however, was that Shuuzawa had pieced all of this together himself. Just how much had he grown?

"I need time to think this through." Kabuto understood the weight of this information. Then, a realization struck him. 

If this succeeded, there would be rewards. Perhaps he could return to Konoha. Perhaps… he could see his caretaker again. 

But his current disguise limited him. "Damn it. I'm only posing as a Genin." 

"A Genin? That's too much of a handicap." Shuuzawa frowned in thought before speaking quietly. 

"If I create some chaos, would that give you an opening?"

"Unless the Kazekage leaves his office, it won't work," Kabuto answered without hesitation but shook his head. 

"I need time to plan. Don't act rashly, and don't expose yourself. Sunagakure's Anbu are already on the move. You're not in a good position either." 

He sighed before his gaze turned resolute. "And… I want in. I don't just want to relay your information—I want to be part of this mission."

"This could be my chance. My chance to return to Konoha and see the orphanage director again. Please, Shuuzawa, give me this opportunity."

With that, Kabuto bowed deeply. Such an act was against Root's rules, but for the sake of seeing Nonō Yakushi again, he was willing to risk everything. 

Shuuzawa watched, and a thought suddenly flashed through his mind. This could be an opportunity for him, too. 

At this point, Kabuto still had some trust in Danzō—or at least in Konoha's higher-ups. That trust had yet to be shattered. 

But if Shuuzawa acted now, perhaps he could break that illusion beforehand. 

Looking at Kabuto, Shuuzawa suddenly touched his shoulder and spoke in a low voice. 

"There's something I need to tell you. The director… left Konoha a long time ago."

"…What?" Kabuto froze before his face twisted in shock. 

"What are you talking about?" 

"You probably don't know this, but I'm with the Anbu now—not Root." Shuuzawa shook his head, his tone steady. 

"I still have restrictions, and I'm not allowed near the orphanage. But I have more freedom than before." 

"I did some digging and discovered that the director isn't there anymore. The messages you've been receiving—they're probably fake."

"T-That's impossible…" Kabuto was utterly stunned. 

He had never even considered such a possibility. If the director wasn't in Konoha, and the information he received was fabricated, then where was she? 

What was going on? "Do you remember why Danzō came to the orphanage back then?" Shuuzawa continued, his voice low. 

Kabuto's mind raced, and then—realization struck. "You're saying the director…" 

"There's a very high chance." Shuuzawa sighed, feigning helplessness. 

"She was too kind. I suspect she tried to trade herself for our freedom, but things didn't go as she hoped. Danzō…" He trailed off, watching Kabuto's expression darken.

He firmly gripped Kabuto's shoulder and spoke again. "Of course, this is just my theory." 

"But I have no reason to lie to you. We both came from the orphanage. You deserve to know the truth." 

"Like you said, if this mission succeeds, you might be able to return. That way, you can investigate for yourself."

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