Chapter 24: High-Level Dispute

Yakushi Kabuto, like a venomous snake lurking in the dark night.

Asuma, on the other hand, was like a raging, burning flame; even the raindrops falling onto his body were instantly evaporated.

But clearly, the flame was heavily wounded, and its life force was constantly weakening.

Pop.

Asuma tilted his head back and downed a bottle of Recovery Potion.

The wounds on his waist and abdomen healed slowly at a speed visible to the naked eye, his cells metabolizing at an extremely rapid rate, evaporating into faint white smoke.

"The Captain is truly generous; although a bottle of Recovery Potion isn't expensive, one must pay extra Reward Points for certification to use it in reality."

Although a smile still lingered on the corners of Yakushi Kabuto's mouth, his expression turned serious.

He could not allow Asuma to recover.

Crescent Moon Slash.

His figure suddenly vanished, and immediately after, a bright silver arc of the moon tore through the curtain of rain, the moon blade slashing toward the flame-covered enemy.

Even the surrounding curtain of rain was blasted apart by the moonlight.

This was Yakushi Kabuto's strongest technique, a Blue Potential skill dropped by chance while hunting Ghost Soldiers.

Since learning it, he had never displayed it in front of anyone.

Ash Pile Burning.

Asuma spat out ash and smoke, a spark flickered, and the area covered by the smoke instantly exploded into flames.

He wanted to block the incoming Crescent Moon Slash.

However,

the B-rank Ninjutsu Ash Pile Burning was torn apart as easily as thin paper, having no effect whatsoever on the incoming Crescent Moon Slash.

Bang!

The Crescent Moon Slash and the flaming twin blades collided, emitting a dull thud.

The flame energy and the moonlight produced a violent shockwave.

Yakushi Kabuto was sent flying backward, hitting the roadside railing before climbing up, his body covered in scorched wounds.

Asuma was also struck by the moon slash, which broke his prized Chakra Blade and left a long, narrow wound across half his body.

Both sides suffered.

But Yakushi Kabuto's wounds healed as rapidly as if he had consumed a Recovery Potion.

Healing Jutsu: Injury Destruction.

A Medical Ninjutsu that was extremely difficult to master, the cost of which was a massive consumption of chakra.

"Captain, don't struggle anymore."

Yakushi Kabuto spat out a mouthful of blood and laughed: "In a ninja's battle, gathering intelligence is the primary element. I know you like the back of my hand, but you don't even know my true strength; how could you possibly defeat me?"

He had fallen into a trap!

Asuma sat on the ground, leaning against a lamppost, blood constantly dripping from the corner of his mouth.

Just a moment ago, he had hesitated for an instant.

Why would Yakushi Kabuto, who used stealth and surprise attacks as his means of offense, suddenly use a head-on skill like Crescent Moon Slash?

He had intended to use Ash Pile Burning as cover, but he had still underestimated the power of the Crescent Moon Slash.

It was actually a Blue Potential skill!

He had thought that even if it were an exchange of injuries, he was the one with the advantage while in Konohagakure, and he could hold out until the Konoha ninja arrived.

Just as Yakushi Kabuto said, he hadn't expected the opponent to be a Medical Ninja!

A Medical Ninja with combat capabilities was rare enough, and to be able to master such a high-difficulty, rapid-healing Ninjutsu...

The obscure Yakushi Kabuto before him was undoubtedly a genius.

Asuma smiled bitterly: "Yakushi Kabuto, a wanderer adopted by an orphanage, raised in the village since childhood—how could such a genius go unnoticed by the village?"

"That should be credited to Lord Danzou; if not for him, I would never have been able to come into contact with Lord Sasori."

"Is it Shimura Danzo?"

Anger flashed in Asuma's eyes; through these few words and clues, he had already roughly guessed a certain possibility.

Yakushi Kabuto was very likely a former member of Root.

Shimura Danzo had actually hidden such an important matter, even daring to conceal the ninja files requested by the Hokage.

Yakushi Kabuto looked down at Asuma from above, his smile unchanged: "Be killed by me, or hand over the Ghost Banner."

Asuma was just about to speak when he heard Yakushi Kabuto's follow-up.

"If you die, given the current attitude of the village's upper echelons, the Konoha Squad will likely be disbanded in an instant."

These words struck Asuma's sore spot.

The more he understood the immense potential of the Samsara Game, the more he felt grief and indignation at the current attitude of the Konoha upper echelons.

But Asuma could not just watch as Konohagakure missed this opportunity for change.

He had indeed come prepared.

Asuma couldn't even manage to take his opponent down with him, so he could only pull out the Ghost Banner and hurl it violently into the distance.

This was to lure Yakushi Kabuto away.

"The Captain still doesn't trust me. I said I wouldn't kill you, so I certainly won't break my word."

Yakushi Kabuto flashed away quickly and picked up the Ghost Banner from the ground.

He then smiled at Asuma and fled without looking back.

"Hoo..."

Asuma sat there panting, and after a long while, he stood up and staggered out of the range of the Illusion Barrier set up by Yakushi Kabuto.

Very quickly, members of the Anbu appeared.

"Yakushi Kabuto has defected and stolen Purple Equipment worth one billion; report to Lord Hokage immediately and dispatch a pursuit team."

"Someone has defected?!"

The Anbu had intended to ask about Asuma's injuries and the specific situation, but upon hearing that someone had defected, they quickly went to report to the Hokage.

In an era of peace, an incident like a defection is extremely serious.

In the office of the Hokage Building,

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked grave; he had not expected such a thing to happen.

With a face full of anger, he looked at Shimura Danzo to the side and asked, "Why was Yakushi Kabuto's status in Root concealed?"

Danzou's gaze flickered slightly, then he said stiffly, "Root members are also ninja of the village and are absolutely loyal to the village; there was no need to conceal it. It is just that there is no necessary connection between the Samsara Game and Root status, so I thought there was no need to report it."

"Because of your concealment, the village has suffered a huge loss!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a headache; although he was hesitant in his attitude toward the Samsara Game, something clearly worth one billion had been stolen.

It was not just an economic loss, but also the face of the strongest Ninja Village.

"The one who caused the loss is not me, but your good son!"

Shimura Danzo did not show weakness and said, "If it weren't for your indulgence, letting Asuma throw large amounts of the village's funds into a strange game, today's loss would never have happened."

"Danzou!"

"Hiruzen!"

Their gazes locked, and neither was willing to back down.

Hiruzen Sarutobi kept a dark expression and said, "Regarding the Samsara Game, you are also clear about Asuma's report; it involves multiple Ninja Villages and the mysterious game merchant behind it. At a time like this, do not engage in petty tricks behind the scenes."

Hearing this, Shimura Danzo's expression also looked unpleasant, and he replied, "Hiruzen, even you do not love Konoha more than I do; everything I do is for the sake of the village."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was noncommittal, and after a long while, he suddenly said, "Danzou, I have decided to increase funding support for Samsara Game missions."

In just half a month, the posture displayed by the Samsara Game had become impossible for the Shadow of this largest Ninja Village to ignore.

He was gradually coming to agree with his son's words.

This included Hyuga Neji, who had changed tremendously, as well as Uzumaki Naruto; in half a month's time, their strength had already undergone earth-shaking changes.

Danzou suddenly widened his single eye, poked his cane against the floor, and after a dull thud, said, "Hiruzen, are you serious?"

"With peace year after year, the Daimyo constantly finds excuses to cut the village's military budget every year, and you actually want to throw money into a strange game? Have you gone mad?"

"Mist Ninja Village and Cloud Ninja Village have already made their moves; if Konoha takes no action, it will only fall behind others."

"They are merely two defeated opponents; what is there to fear?"

"This is the decision of myself and the two advisors; Danzou, you have no right to refuse."

Seeing his old friend put on the airs of the Hokage, Danzou was furious, but he had no choice and could only say bitterly, "Hiruzen, you will regret this!"

"Danzou, I am the Hokage!"

Bang.

As the office door was slammed shut, the argument between the two came to an end.

(End of this chapter)