Chapter 131: Kyohiko’s Steady Hand in Konoha

Konoha, ANBU Base. Shikaku Nara had just left the meeting room and headed straight for the intelligence division. Ever since Konoha underwent its leadership change, the intelligence division had fallen entirely under his control. However, as Kyohiko carefully reviewed the reports, he couldn’t help but frown. "Shikaku-senpai, it seems we’re still missing some personnel, aren’t we?" The numbers didn’t add up—both in manpower and intelligence. Kyohiko set the documents aside and looked at Shikaku. Shikaku nodded. "Yes. Some are former members of the Root organization. Aburame Tatsuma had their records, but now they’re under the Third Hokage’s control." "The Third Hokage, huh?" Kyohiko thought of Yakushi Nonō. Previously, Tsunade had demanded her transfer, but the Third had refused. It seemed Sarutobi Hiruzen had quietly reassembled these individuals into a new iteration of Root. He said nothing, simply placing the file to the side. Having only recently assumed power, his own strength and position were still unstable. There was no need to rush. Patience was key. "Shikaku-senpai, I’ll leave the intelligence division in your hands." "Understood." A faint smile crossed Shikaku’s face. "Don’t stress over it. The intelligence division has always been my responsibility. Just focus on your own tasks." "Right. I’ve already prepared the list." Kyohiko glanced at the names in his hand, running through them in his mind to ensure no one had been overlooked. Aside from the usual ANBU candidates from the Aburame and Nara clans, there were also a few promising individuals Kyohiko had personally selected for training—such as Might Guy, Iwashi Tatami, and Morino Ibiki. "How do you plan to train them?" Shikaku skimmed through the reports while asking, intending to offer advice if needed. Though Kyohiko was undoubtedly talented and sharp, his youth might mean there were gaps in his experience. "First, a test to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. Then, assign them specialized roles based on their aptitudes." The ANBU—short for "Special Assassination and Tactical Squad"—wasn’t solely composed of combat specialists. Some excelled in sealing techniques, barrier creation, interrogation, and more. Take Morino Ibiki, for example—a natural for interrogation and torture. Shikaku was momentarily stunned. He had expected to offer guidance, but Kyohiko’s approach left him at a loss. Aptitude-based training? That wasn’t how things had been done before. He pondered for a moment—this method seemed similar to the education tiering system that had been implemented recently. Come to think of it, from the education reforms up until now, Kyohiko had been the driving force behind these changes. And now, the ANBU training structure appeared to follow the same logic. He exhaled in relief and chuckled. "Seems like I don’t need to worry about you at all, Kyohiko." "If we come across anyone with talent for intelligence or interrogation, I’d appreciate your guidance, Shikaku-senpai." "Of course." The more difficult individuals had already been purged by the Third Hokage. Those remaining were all loyalists, making Kyohiko’s job much smoother. Once the list was finalized, the ANBU swiftly mobilized. "By the way," Shikaku added as they wrapped up, "since you’re currently the acting ANBU captain, have you thought about your mask and codename?" "My mask?" Kyohiko considered for a moment. "What designs are still available?" "Follow me." Shikaku led him to a storage room filled with masks and uniforms. After scanning the options, Kyohiko’s gaze settled on one adorned with a kirin motif. "This one." The next day, outside the village. Bam! Bam! Bam! In just a few short exchanges, Kakashi and Might Guy had already clashed multiple times—sword against nunchaku, steel against steel—until finally, with a loud clang, their weapons locked. Kakashi, gripping his blade one-handed, faced off against Guy’s nunchaku, lightning and water chakra swirling along the edge. Splash! Water sprayed as electricity coursed through Guy’s body—but the second segment of the nunchaku whipped around, striking Kakashi’s forearm. Thud! Both fighters disengaged, putting distance between them. A glint of admiration flashed in Kakashi’s eye. "Guy, congratulations. You’ve finally found a weapon that suits you." "Heh, all thanks to Master Chen’s help." Guy retracted his nunchaku with a grin. He’d taken a liking to the weapon the moment he saw it at the smithy, but with no one in the village proficient in its use, he’d sought out Chen Baojun—a recommendation from his father. After some intensive training, he’d mastered it. "Having a dedicated weapon means you can adapt to more combat scenarios instead of being at a disadvantage in certain environments." Kakashi fully approved of Guy’s choice. Though nunchaku weren’t ideal for nature transformation, Guy had never excelled in elemental techniques to begin with. Simply using it as an extension of his taijutsu—with just enough lightning chakra to enhance his strikes—was more than sufficient. He was about to offer further encouragement when he suddenly sensed a presence. Kakashi’s head snapped toward the nearby treeline. "Who’s there?" "Hatake Kakashi, follow me to the Forest of Death. You have a special assignment." "Understood!" Similar scenes played out across the village. Eventually, over a dozen figures gathered in the Forest of Death. Kakashi, now wearing an ANBU mask and uniform, scanned the group. Everyone was similarly outfitted. Still, based on certain mannerisms and traits, he could identify a few. The one on the left with the senbon in his mouth—that’s probably Iwashi Tatami. Black Blade—Tatami Iwashi. Next to him... Shikaku Nara? They’re back in the village? Kakashi’s mind raced. This wasn’t a mission. It was a selection process. For the ANBU? His grip tightened around his sword, bracing for potential surprises. But then— Whoosh! A figure materialized before them. Clad in ANBU attire, their face concealed behind a kirin-patterned mask. "Five enemy squads are hidden within these woods. Your objective is to locate them, extract any intelligence they possess, and neutralize the threat." "Begin." With that, the figure vanished. Kakashi had a strong suspicion— He knew this person. Despite the altered voice and physique—likely via a transformation technique—this was almost certainly Kyohiko. Kyohiko... and the ANBU. Now it made sense. This was an ANBU recruitment trial. "Tsunade, you dragged us here just to watch Kyohiko handpick these kids for the ANBU?" Utatane Koharu scoffed. Mitokado Homura frowned. The ANBU was currently under Kyohiko’s temporary command. Normally, the more someone did, the more mistakes they made. Kyohiko should have been given time to adjust before being subjected to scrutiny. Yet Tsunade had arranged this demonstration anyway. Her trust in Kyohiko ran deep. Homura sighed inwardly before addressing his old comrade. "Koharu, let’s just watch for now." Koharu fell silent but didn’t argue further. Though she held reservations about Tsunade and Kyohiko, she still wanted what was best for Konoha. But— What could possibly be achieved in just one day? She settled in, observing. Through the crystal ball, they witnessed the events unfolding in the Forest of Death. Gradually, Koharu noticed something peculiar. These shinobi... weren’t performing at ANBU level. They were more like— "They’re among the most talented genin of this generation," Tsunade clarified. Genin? Koharu’s eyes widened. She straightened in her seat, her earlier indifference gone. Genin. Training them from scratch? Did Kyohiko truly have what it took? Before long, the scene shifted to show the candidates already forming teams and collaborating. One eight-person squad—led by Kakashi—quickly captured an "infiltrator." "Any Yamanaka clansmen here?" Kakashi asked quietly. The group shook their heads. After a brief pause, he tried again. "Anyone skilled in interrogation or torture?" Still no response. But then— A few seconds later, a young man stepped forward. "I can try. I’ve been practicing some specialized genjutsu recently—it might work for extraction." "Good. You handle the interrogation. Three of you, come with me to search the area for clues." Kakashi acted decisively. The team split up immediately. The volunteer formed hand seals, then pressed his palm against the captive’s forehead, rendering them unconscious. "I’ll need a completely dark space. Also—" After a moment of initial hesitation, his thoughts steadied, and he began working methodically. "That boy has the makings of an interrogation specialist." Homura spoke up, his tone laced with surprise. The genin remained remarkably composed, expertly leveraging the environment and atmosphere to manipulate the captive’s emotions and judgment. Had this been a trained interrogator, Homura wouldn’t have been impressed. But judging by the others’ performances, the only standout so far was Kakashi. The rest were, frankly, mediocre. Which meant— These truly were just above-average genin. A few might qualify as chūnin, but nothing more. Certainly not professionally trained. Yet here one was, displaying innate talent for interrogation. No training. Just raw instinct. A coincidence? Homura wondered. "Keep watching," Tsunade said, shifting the crystal ball’s focus to another group—Yamashiro Aoba’s squad. She recognized Aoba mainly because Kyohiko had recently pushed for expanding Konoha’s messenger bird network—and had specifically recommended him. The scene showed a skirmish. Crows swarmed through the trees like extra eyes, tracking their target. Behind the fluttering shadows— Ninja Art: Senbon Rain! A barrage of needles shot forward like a downpour. The fleeing shinobi whirled around, slamming his hands together to erect an earthen wall. But then— The crows surged in a dark wave, obscuring his vision. As he formed seals for a fire jutsu— Shing! A blade cut through the flock, flashing toward his throat. The figure dissolved into smoke, leaving behind a scroll. "Flawless coordination. Are they a pre-established team?" Koharu asked, reluctantly impressed. Even she had to admit—for genin and chūnin, these kids were exceptional. Tsunade shook her head. "Only two of them are. The senbon user isn’t." "But their teamwork is seamless," Homura noted approvingly. Tsunade smirked. "All four were personally selected by Kyohiko for ANBU training." Koharu fell silent. At this point, even she had to concede—Kyohiko’s eye for talent was frighteningly sharp. Homura, however, knew more. "These candidates have worked closely with Kyohiko before. It’s natural they’d understand each other’s strengths." "Morino Ibiki and Kyohiko were merely classmates. They never even spoke." Tsunade’s icy glare silenced him. "The purpose of this drill is to identify their aptitudes and tailor their training accordingly. That’s why it covers every aspect of ANBU operations." "Real talent should be recognized early. That’s the point of a training division—not to serve as a breeding ground for Root, like Danzō did." Her tone was frigid as she stared the advisors down. "Elders, I know you and Danzō were comrades. I understand your attachment. But times have changed. Your methods are obsolete." "I respect your contributions to Konoha. But before exercising your advisory privileges—do your research." Her words were polite. And utterly merciless. Koharu’s face darkened. Homura, however, remained calm. He studied the crystal ball, then stood. "Kyohiko’s judgment and planning are beyond our expectations. He’ll grow into the role." "Let’s go." He didn’t argue. Facts spoke for themselves. Kyohiko’s vision had surpassed their assumptions—and Danzō was a stain they couldn’t erase. On ANBU matters, they had no ground to stand on. Staying would only humiliate them further. Koharu bristled, but once outside, she sighed. "That boy is... remarkable. Perhaps the ANBU will thrive under him." "Yes. Danzō, however—" Homura exhaled heavily. "Old friend, Tsunade was harsh, but right about one thing. We must adapt—not cling to outdated ideals." Koharu said nothing. Only when they reached a secluded spot did she finally speak. "Tsunade’s drafting a new medical-nin policy. I’m undecided on whether to support it." "What policy?" "Maintaining the current medical system while introducing combat-medic hybrids. Lower requirements, weaker healing—but more viable for standard squads." She frowned. "I’m not being stubborn. But won’t this dilute our pool of dedicated medics?" "Perhaps... that’s not your concern." Homura paused, choosing his words carefully. Koharu stared. "Have you given up? If we don’t guide them, who will?" "No. I suspect Kyohiko and Tsunade have contingencies we haven’t considered. We should observe before judging." His voice grew grave. "Think. The Academy. Medical corps. ANBU. All incorporate tiered training. This isn’t random—it’s a comprehensive overhaul." Koharu froze. After a long silence, she whispered, "You’re saying... Kyohiko engineered all this?" "I wasn’t certain before. Now I am. Tsunade and Jiraiya don’t think this systematically." Homura knew them too well. They were brilliant—but within limits. These reforms? They defied conventional frameworks entirely. Lately, Homura had pondered— Old ways versus new. Which serves Konoha better? The answer was clear. The Academy’s results alone proved it. Students were more driven, more proactive. In the past, truancy was rampant. Now? They fought for every second of study, terrified of falling behind. Commoners trained relentlessly. Clan heirs doubled their efforts. A self-sustaining cycle of progress. Koharu absorbed his words, then gazed out the window. Outside, squads of shinobi jogged along Konoha’s perimeter—a path now unofficially dubbed "The Path of Youth." What was once mocked had become aspiration. All striving to emulate Might Dai. Homura’s voice was barely audible. "Perhaps Tsunade was right. We should learn to keep up."