Chapter 203: 203. Chapter 200: Shimu's Revival

203. Chapter 200: Shimu's Revival

"Lord Hokage, the Root's slots are very limited, and Tuan Zang suddenly recruiting so many people is rather odd; I wonder what he intends to do."

Everyone ultimately did not state outright that Tuan Zang harbored rebellious intent, but the meaning was quite clear.

Tuan Zang's eyes widened, and he instinctively looked at Shisui, whose furrowed brows seemed to have taken it in.

"Everything I do is for Konoha; the great lord has already begun targeting Konoha, the nobles have started training ninjas, and my Root needs to eliminate these forces that threaten Konoha. If we lack manpower, what can we use to protect Konoha?"

Moreover, the people I'm recruiting now are all Chunin; we can't keep the same quota as before, can we?

"If it must be so, I ask the Hokage to supplement the manpower for me!"

Shisui let out a light hiss, nodded likewise, and gave the appearance of approving Tuan Zang.

"The advice from Tuan Zang's consultant makes sense; the Third Hokage also said that the Root's power is indispensable. So, if you are willing to help the Root replenish its manpower, I will have all the people recruited by Tuan Zang's consultant return."

What a joke. They have finally been freed from Tuan Zang's threat and are filling the Root's fire pit for him; who would be willing to help him? Moreover, Tuan Zang wants either Jonin or prodigies from each clan—who would let the Root bleed so much?

Seeing the crowd silent, Tuan Zang puffed his chest and smiled, continuing: "What? You are unwilling to sacrifice yourselves for Konoha?"

No one responded, which made Tuan Zang even more smug, stating plainly: "Hokage, I teach ninjutsu and recruit members for Konoha's future. Only when the Root becomes strong can we eradicate dangers outside the Village while they are still budding. I hope the Hokage can expand the Root's organization and allocate additional funds."

Shisui raised an eyebrow, turned his head toward Tuan Zang, but before he could speak he was interrupted by a series of admonishing voices.

"Lord Hokage, no. The Root is merely a part of the secret division; whatever needs to be done can be handled by the secret division. If the secret division lacks manpower, it can be expanded; there's no need to enlist the Root's help!"

Finally someone realized that the Root is ultimately just a part of the secret division, with no reason to bypass the secret division to expand the Root.

Damn it! Tuan Zang gave the person a careful glance, noting his appearance and name.

"Hokage, regardless of how you look at it, strengthening Konoha is the top priority. I have not forced anyone, nor have I done anything harmful to Konoha. Yet they constantly block Konoha's advancement. In my view, among these people there are likely enemy nation spies. Let me handle this matter!"

"Tuan Zang, stop slandering others!"

Seeing that Tuan Zang still intended to strike them, the others no longer held back; both sides tore into each other right in front of Shisui.

Shisui pursed his lips, then slowly sat down, quietly watching the quarrel, finding the feeling especially odd.

At this moment in the office, aside from a few Chunin in the corners, none of the standing ninjas supported Tuan Zang.

This unity caused Shisui's gaze to shift slightly.

After an indeterminate time, Tuan Zang's breathing grew a bit rapid; arguing with everyone single‑handedly was hopeless.

"Hmph, I'm too lazy to argue with you. The coercion and framing have already been proven. I only hope the Hokage can handle it impartially. As for everything else, my actions are all for Konoha, so there's no need to explain to you!"

Tuan Zang knew he couldn't win the argument, because his black material was too abundant to withstand scrutiny. Fortunately, the secret division and Police Department were under Shisui's control, and Shisui seemed to be fairly trusted by the Third Hokage.

Given that, he saw no need to waste words with them; he could act directly.

"Lord Hokage!"

"Enough."

Seeing that time was near, Shisui spoke up, commanding the crowd.

"I understand this matter now. The Root does not force ninjas to join, but it is also wrong for the Root to expand wildly without my permission. So, I will allow the Root to additionally expand a Chunin battalion, and I will not tolerate any framing!"

"What about the funds?"

Nice try! Shisui ignored Tuan Zang, merely waved his hand for the crowd to leave. As for the spread of ninjutsu, they said nothing; Shisui simply pretended it never happened and let them fight among themselves.

Both sides, each with their own thoughts, left the Hokage Tower.

"Hmph, there are many spies in the Village lately; I've encountered quite a few myself. Everyone, be careful!"

Tuan Zang was disgusted by these people; seeing the Root members in place, he couldn't help but grit his teeth and say something.

The crowd merely gave cold stares, remaining silent. Though they wanted to kill Tuan Zang, the one who spoke first would inevitably be remembered with resentment, which is unfavorable for covert action.

Both sides departed under that atmosphere.

Shisui ordered the secret division to strengthen surveillance and the Police Department to increase patrols.

Back at the Root base, Tuan Zang was somewhat angry, but he also knew that without the Hokage's backing the Root's strength couldn't act, so he summoned Xiao and asked: "Although the Hokage agreed to expand the Root, a single battalion's structure is far insufficient. Those guys will keep watching us; we probably can't expand on a large scale."

If we cannot achieve a numerical advantage, recruiting these Chunin would be meaningless.

Xiao thought for a moment and said, "Lord Tuan Zang, as long as we keep it covert, developing Root members like we develop spies, those people will find it hard to know the Root's situation."

Tuan Zang shook his head, replying, "Too slow. Since those guys have already started moving, they won't give me much time to prepare."

Don't be fooled by his long talk; he knows his life is entirely in Shisui's grasp. As long as Shisui has designs on him, he could spend the rest of his life in the Police Department, or even be sent early to accompany Xiao Chun—nothing is certain.

That feeling gave him some fear.

"This"

Xiao also realized, and after a moment of thought he shook his head helplessly, "I currently have no other solution; please allow me to go back and contemplate."

"... Go."

Tuan Zang wore a grim face; not expecting that Xiao also had no solution, he instantly lost hope, though he didn't trouble Xiao. After Xiao left, he fell into turmoil again.

'It seems I still have to cooperate with that guy.'

However, the man who had lost hope received good news from Xiao the next day.

"Lord Tuan Zang, I have devised a plan. The Chunin are not strong enough and the Root's tasks are quite difficult, so losses are unavoidable. If we increase mission frequency, the loss numbers will rise, and the only way to replenish manpower is continuous recruitment; even the Hokage would have no objection."

"You mean feigning death?"

"Exactly!"

Tuan Zang's eyes lit up; feigning death is perfectly suitable for the Root.

Joining the Root means abandoning one's past; from then on, Konoha will have no record of the person, and their death and return will not disturb anyone.

"Hahaha, very good, you're excellent—let's do it!"

Tuan Zang let out a light laugh, very satisfied with the method.

"I happen to have some missions here; this time you will lead the team."

"Understood. I don't know what the mission is, but I will go prepare immediately."

"Rain Country!"

Rain Hidden Village.

The years‑long, unending downpour, as usual, blankets this land.

On a tall building entwined with metal pipes, Xiao Nan, dressed in a black‑base, red‑clouded robe, stands in the rain. Below, at the entrance to Rain Hidden Village, carts laden with grain are being laboriously pushed by a group of burly men in white raincoats.

Ninjas constantly come and go on both sides; they ignore the convoy, darting through as if on a mission, all observed by the convoy's owner.

Up high, Xiao Nan lifts her head, letting rainwater slide down her clean cheek, a hint of bewilderment flashing in her eyes.

"War is about to start again; when will this land finally calm down and bear such beautiful flowers and fruits?"

No one knows her thoughts; the only response the land offers is cold rain, not a brilliant rainbow.

In early February of the fifty‑second year of Leaf, Tuan Zang sent Root members to the Rain Country on a mission, where they were ambushed by a powerful enemy and suffered heavy losses.

Mid‑month, spies outside Rain Hidden Village sent intelligence, and Rain Hidden Village ninjas began large‑scale activity within the country.

Later in the month, spy activity traces were found in the village; ANBU, Police Department, and Root launched a full‑scale hunt.

In early March, three Ninja Clan ninjas were ambushed by spies on the road to the Hui lands, one of whom was the person who had questioned Root's expansion motives at the Hokage building that day.

The atmosphere in the village shifted.

On March third, Tuan Zang had a notice posted in front of the Ninja Academy, openly mentioning ninjutsu propagation, promoting Root, and exaggerating achievements.

On the fifth, Root suffered heavy losses again while on a mission in the Rain Country, continuing to replenish personnel.

Thereafter, reinforcements arrived almost weekly, becoming increasingly unchecked.

In late March, a massive battle erupted in the north‑western forest of Leaf, killing and wounding over ten ninjas; fortunately, ANBU arrived in time to rescue Tuan Zang's consultant and several village ninjas who had been caught in the crossfire.

"Hokage, Tuan Zang has again submitted personnel losses; this time it's still a Rain Country mission,"

In the Hokage's office, Nara Suzaku, as usual, brought the documents and handed them to Shisui.

Shisui furrowed his brows and, instinctively, asked, "Wasn't he told to abandon the Rain Hidden Village mission? Why is this still the excuse?"

Using the same excuse repeatedly inevitably causes problems; Shisui was starting to feel overwhelmed and could only let Tuan Zang make a replacement.

Shisui said as he took the intelligence, and his complexion changed when he saw the masked ninja mentioned on it.

"Wait, this isn't really a loss, is it?"

He knew that the so‑called loss was merely an excuse for Tuan Zang to secretly raise troops, but the appearance of the masked ninja made him feel a bit uneasy.

At that moment, Shisui suddenly recalled that Yan Shifan had once said that Kakuzu had appeared in Rain Hidden Village, so Obito should also be in Rain Hidden Village.

"This is a Rain Country mission and has nothing to do with Rain Hidden Village."

Nara Suzaku began to explain, but Shisui hurriedly cut in, "Tell Tuan Zang that all Rain Country‑related missions are suspended, and any losses caused by the Rain Country will not be replenished!"

"?"

Shisui's uncharacteristic reaction made Nara Suzaku pause, and after a moment she replied, "Yes!"

"Also, disclose my response."

The Hokage's attitude toward Tuan Zang is crucial; Shisui's several endorsements had already strained the ninja clans.

And this matter might involve Obito, so Shisui intends to warn Tuan Zang that he must not let Tuan Zang unintentionally affect the ninjas he dispatched.

"Yes."

Nara Suzaku acted swiftly, and that day the ninja clans learned that Shisui had rejected Tuan Zang's reinforcement request.

Before Tuan Zang could react, that night the Shizumi clan lands erupted in raging flames!

Because the Shizumi clan territory was sparsely populated and Tuan Zang had long stayed at the Root base, the fire missed the optimal extinguishing window; by the time the Police Department and ANBU reported to Shisui, a large swath of the Shizumi clan territory had already been burned.

Especially Tuan Zang's residence, which turned to ash! "Those guys!"

Back in his study, after dealing with the fire, Shisui returned home to complain to Sima Yi.

He hadn't expected these guys to be so reckless; the conflict had escalated to this point and was already affecting the surrounding villagers.

"It seems Tuan Zang's side really can't afford any laxity,"

Sima Yi smiled and said, "Tuan Zang has always been a lone minister; you should not suppress him, but rather give him more support."

Shisui blushed; judging by the outcome, he also realized his mistake.

"It really involves Obito and threw me off balance,"

"Obito is indeed a troublemaker, but since he's linked to Rain Hidden Village, we could try to pressure the village; it would be best if he revealed himself."

"Unfortunately, you have too many matters now, and Leaf's strength is too scattered; it's still not the right time."

"Grandfather's words, I'll handle it as soon as possible,"

Shisui finished speaking, turned around, and left, intending to find a way to strengthen Tuan Zang.

The next day, Tuan Zang, who had been staying at the Root base, rarely showed his face with people.

He was also shocked by these people's ruthlessness; they even sent men to storm the clan lands—was this to annihilate his Shizumi clan?

Tuan Zang trembled with anger, and if he didn't want to reveal his strength, he wished he could send men to wipe out these families.

His appearance also drew everyone's attention.

Benefiting from the Owl's guidance, Tuan Zang, though again at a disadvantage, remained unflustered.

He directly ordered a sign to be placed in the Shizumi clan lands, reading: "Revitalize Shizumi, restore the clan."

He then sent people throughout Leaf to proclaim that the Shizumi clan would accept ninjas willing to join; anyone who joins the Shizumi clan and changes their surname will receive ninjutsu and monetary rewards, and those who contribute to the clan will even get a chance for personal instruction from Tuan Zang himself—ninjutsu, money, master guidance! Coupled with Tuan Zang's relentless propagation of ninjutsu, his prestige among the common folk kept rising.

"As for changing surnames?"

"Commoners have no surnames; to gain a Shizumi name for free is actually an honor!"

Thus, with multiple approaches, every ninja who had ever received Tuan Zang's ninjutsu was stirred up.

But the ninja clans were outraged to the extreme; this wasn't a revival of a family, it was clearly recruitment for soldiers! They were declaring war! "Hokage, if you don't stop Tuan Zang, Leaf truly faces extinction!"

Without waiting for Shisui's summons, these people gathered together, crying mournfully and pleading for Shisui's intervention.

In response, the Uchiha, Hyuga, and Uram families—those with blood‑line inheritance—remained silent.

As Hyuga ninjas joined ANBU, the blood‑line families in the village fully aligned with Shisui; Shisui's will became their will.

But the people who gathered to complain clearly had not realized that the village's ninjas had already split into three tiers.

"These are the deeds of Danzo's advisor, and they do not violate the Leaf Village's laws; all actions are reasonable and legal, so what reason do I have to stop him?" (End of chapter)