Yes, every notable ninja in the vilge was registered and ated for.

  They typically held crucial positions aoo busy to personally pursue missing-nin. Otherwise, if the Hokage or the Police Chief were to personally intervene, what rogue ninja could possibly resist?

  That's why effective measures against rogue ninja from other vilges were rare. If truly powerful shinobi existed, they were likely already deployed by their vilges for military purposes.

  It was a matter of cost-effectiveness. Eliminating rogue ninja wasn't the issue; the resources used for such pursuits were better spent on strategic military es. If Konoha had the strength to hunt down Kage-level missing-nin, that power would be reserved for war.

  Deploying Kage-level shinobi when they had nothier to do? Who could guaraher major vilges wouldn’t seize the opportunity for a sneak attack?

  It all boiled down to a ck of trust. The chasm between ninja had practically bee an AT Field. Only by ung the Human Instrumentality Project could this seemingly insurmountable problem be solved.

  Gojo Kaigetsu smirked. “Who said we ck such resources?”

  “Hmm?” The assembled leaders looked up expetly, awaiting his expnation.

  “Due to the sensitive nature of [The Avengers Initiative], the specifics of the roster only be handled by the Fourth Hokage and myself. Disclosing it now isn’t appropriate. However, rest assured, acc to my projes, Konoha currently has access to at least five Avengers.”

  “Excellent!”

  “It’s getting te… I’ll clude with two final points.”

  “Elder Danzo’s death has saddened us all, but Root and our embassy in Kirigakure ot remain leaderless. Nara Shikaku, you will depart for Kirigakure first thing tomorrow m to oversee Konoha’s operations there.”

  “As for the new Root leader…” Gojo Kaigetsu paused for dramatic effect. “I will annouhat tomorrow.”

  “Meeting adjourned!”

  With a dismissive wave, like a ninja ending a chapter abruptly, Gojo Kaigetsu dismissed the group, including Nara Shikaku, whose expressions were as sour as if they'd just bitten into a spoiled Soldier Pill.

  Of course, this didn’t include Minato and Fugaku. Like trusted readers privy to spojo Kaigetsu’s inner circle always knew more than the general public.

  Minato and Fugaku eagerly approached. "Kaigetsu-kun," Minato asked, his eyes shining with curiosity, "are there really hidden super ninjas in Konoha?"

  Gojo Kaigetsu smiled mysteriously. “Why do you think I authorized the special military operation against Yugakure and reassigned Orochimaru-seo the secret research facility?”

  Yugakure? Hidan?

  Orochimaru? Research? Human Experimentation?

  Minato’s mind raced. “You mean… you had Orochimaru duct human experiments on Hidan of Yugakure? But that kid, acc to Hiashi’s report, is just a in with a peculiar Jutsu. He doesn’t seem like ‘super ninja’ material.”

  “You’re right, but that’s the beauty of ninja sce. That’s Orochimaru’s… specialty.”

  Before leaving for the meeting, Orochimaru had submitted a progress report. The experiments on Hidan were progressing smoothly. While the [Wood Release] chakra within him could currently only produce small saplings, it showed growth potential.

  Though it would never reach Hashirama’s level… perhaps half that. But against ordinary ninja, it would be more than enough.

  Hidan was now an adaptable living on. Any nature transformation could be impnted within him. In a single night, Orochimaru had imbued him with all five basiature transformations. Acc to Orochimaru, the five natures were stantly destroying Hidan’s body, but his regeive abilities were tinuously repairing it.

  The process was agonizing, but it unlocked potential far beyond that of an ordinary ninja.

  While not a true powerhouse yet, with the five nature transformations iing within him, Hidan was already terrifyingly strong, at least Special Jonin level.

  Lag materials, Orochimaru had immediately requested additional resources from Gojo Kaigetsu.

  Once he had [Kekkei Genka to impnt, Hidan would bee an all-around on!

  From the photos Orochimaru had sent, Hidan’s foul mouth was stitched shut with chakra threads, and his eyes were vat, clearly uhe influence of genjutsu and ninja sce.

  Such a tragic sight… Gojo Kaigetsu couldn’t help but pare him to Deadpool.

  Give Hidan Kimimaro’s [Shikotsumyaku], bone bdes erupting from his fingers… and there you have it, a shinobi Deadpool!

  “Hidan has been transformed by Orochimaru into a ninja absolutely loyal to Konoha. He will join the Avengers Initiative uhe ame ‘Deadpool.’ Trust me, his power will be… impressive.”

  “Deadpool? What a strange name,” Minato muttered, still skeptical.

  Transf a in into a ninja capable of taking on Kage or evee Jonin-level oppos in a matter of days seemed impossible.

  If such a feat were onpce, what would be the point of arduous ninja training?!

  Of course, if Minato khe price—stant physical destru and regeion coupled with mind trol—he might have a different perspective.

  “And the other three?” Minato pressed.

  “The other three?” Gojo Kaigetsu repeated.

  “an, Homender, Bzing Fury, The Deep, and Professor Paradox.”

  “???” Minato and Fugaku exged gnces. What kind of ames were these? pared to the Anbu’s straightforward naming ventions, Gojo Kaigetsu’s were far too etric.

  Havily fought Yugito Nii, Fugaku was sensitive to the word "Cat" and offered an expnation. "an likely refers to the Two-Tails Jinchuriki. Matatabi’s form does resemble a cat.”

  “As for the others… I have no idea.”

  Minato added his thoughts. “Bzing Fury probably refers to Pakura of Sunagakure. And Professor… perhaps that’s the Third Hokage.”

  Minato frowhe only one in the vilge who could be called "Professor" was his teacher’s teacher! A sixty-year-old retiree returning to active duty? Was Konoha implementing a deyed retirement policy? The Third Hokage’s involvement was a sensitive matter. Even iirement, if his participation were exposed, it could lead to political issues.

  Sihree of the five Avengers were poached from other vilges, it wasn't a major .

  “Wouldn’t revealing Pakura and Yugito Nii’s identities be too risky?” Minato asked.

  “As long as there are no withere’s no risk of exposure,” Gojo Kaigetsu reassured him. “The Avengers Initiative will only be mobilized when absolute secrecy is guaranteed. Normally, these two will act as my personal guard.”

  “So, the Third Hokage has already agreed?”

  Gojo Kaigetsu shook his head. “Not yet. I finalized the Avengers Initiative tonight. But I sehe Third Hokage’s… enthusiasm. He’ll probably approach me soon, asking to join.”

  Minato houghtfully.

  So, it seemed only Homender and The Deep were reliable.

  “Who are Homender and The Deep?” Minato and Fugaku asked simultaneously.

  “That's cssified information!” Gojo Kaigetsu decred, ending their curiosity before leaving.

  It had been several days, and he'd almost fotten about Kisame, brought back by Tsunade from Tanzaku Quarters and currently imprisoned in the Military Police Force headquarters. Now that the Avengers Initiative was in motion, it was time to put certain pns into a.

  Leaving the Hokage Tojo Kaigetsu blended into Konoha’s bustling night market. Shouldering the vilge’s security, the Anbu worked tirelessly. However, thanks to Gojo Kaigetsu’s reforms, they now had scheduled days off and shift rotations – which basically meant rescheduling a day off ten years into the future due to workload.

  Kakashi, as a squad leader, didn’t have his holidays rescheduled. Tonight, he got off work early and was likely at home, immersed in “Icha Icha Paradise.”

  Gojo Kaigetsu soon arrived at Kakashi’s apartment and knocked lightly.

  Knock—

  The door opened immediately, revealing Kakashi’s typically impassive face.

  “Gojo-sama… I’m off duty tonight.”

  “Oh, did I interrupt your evening, Kakashi? My apologies. I’m just here to retrieve something,” Gojo Kaigetsu said casually, rubbing his hands together.

  “Retrieve something?” Kakashi blinked, fused. His spartan apartment, furnished in minimalist Anbu style, tained little besides the banned books and foot massage coupons he bought with his Anbu and Police Force sary. What could Gojo possibly want?

  “What do you need? I doubt there’s anything in my apartment of io you,” Kakashi asked.

  What indeed?

  “Kakashi,” Gojo Kaigetsu began mysteriously, “do you want a Mangekyō Sharingan?”

  “Huh?”

  “Student dist. Your eye, plus 500,000 ryō.” Gojo Kaigetsu extended his hand, being with his fingers.

  “Huh?” Kakashi stared, dumbfounded. Was this some kind of joke?

  He couldn't believe Gojo Kaigetsu was asking for his Sharingan. How could he tinue w in the Anbu without it? Besides, it was Obito’s final gift, the source of his strength as a ninja. Even Gojo-sama couldn’t just…

  “If you give me your Sharingan, submit a medical leave request for a work-reted injury, and I’ll authorize a week’s vacation for you,” Gojo Kaigetsu added, raising a finger. “Paid leave, of course.”

  “It’s… not about the vacation…” Kakashi stammered, still reeling.

  “Two weeks.”

  “I’m… not that easily swayed.”

  “Three weeks.”

  “My Konoha training and the bonds of friendship wouldn’t allow it…”

  “One month.”

  “Gojo-sama, you truly uand me,” Kakashi finally relented with a grin. He wasn’t usually so easily persuaded. If anyone else had asked, he would have refused. Only the Uchiha Head, his sensei, or the Hokage could make such a request.

  But Advisojo’s loyalty was beyond questiorusting his Sharingan to him erfectly fine! And a month’s vacation? How much Icha Icha could he read in a month?! Operation: Icha Icha pletion, activate!

  Kakashi lifted his headband, revealing his Sharingan. “May I ask what you fojo-sama?”

  “It’s a secret. You’ll find out soon enough.”

  “Store it in an opaque tainer. I have a weak stomach; I ’t hahe sight of blood.”

  “…As you wish, Gojo-sama.”

  Kakashi winced as he carefully removed his Sharingan, pg it in a small box and handing it to Gojo Kaigetsu, who had turned away. A pang of sadness echoed in his heart. This was Obito’s final gift…

  You’d five me, wouldn’t you, Obito… if you were here.

  Gojo Kaigetsu weighed the box, pocketing it. “I won’t disturb you any longer, Kakashi. Enjoy your vacation.”

  ‘Soon, your vacation will be anything but a vacation.’ He left that thought unsaid. Ohis hot-sable Sharingan was impnted in Obito, stimuted with his chakra, and therieved, Kakashi could retire from the Anbu and bee a full-time Avenger.

  An Avenger with vengean his heart and people to protect—how could he rest?

  Gojo Kaigetsu, with the [Sharingan] in hand, headed for the underground boratory. Not just the Sharingan, he’d alsed for Konoha’s other Kekkei Genkai to be delivered to Orochimaru. Given Orochimaru’s enthusiasm, there might be results tonight.

  “[Kamu… such a versatile ability.” Even a single eye, developed to its fullest potential, could make its wielder one of the stro in the shinobi world.

  “If I remember correctly, besides transferring the user to the Kamui dimension, the left eye also targets within its focal point to the Kamui dimension.” Its destructive power was eveer than the right eye, capable of remotely removing parts of a target’s body.

  Perfect for a sneak attack. And because it directly maniputed space, even defensive ninjutsu like [Truth-Seeking Balls] couldn’t block it. Theoretically, even a single Mangekyō Sharingan could ma [Susanoo] with suffit ocur power. Though, as far as he knew, only Shisui had achieved such a feat. Still, the possibility was tempting.

  The thought of two Susanoo rampaging through Konoha made Gojo Kaigetsu giddy.

  As for the hot-s, he’d asked Kakashi, who hadn't experiehe power beyond the normal Sharingan. Whether due to insuffit chakra or the need for Obito’s “key,” Gojo Kaigetsu wasn’t sure. But ohis Sharingan evolved, the Anbu would lose Kakashi, gaining Homender instead.

  Kakashi’s bat intelligence was exceptional; aside from low chakra reserves, the left eye erfect for him. Giving it to Minato? Minato’s chakra was already barely enough for the [Flying Thunder God]. Adding Kamui might not be effective. It was better suited for Naruto, or someoh massive reserves like Tsunade.

  He soon arrived at Orochimaru’s b. Orochimaru was excitedly Hidan, whose body was hooked up to various maes, needles iing colorful liquids.

  “Oh, it’s Gojo~” Orochimaru didn’t even look up, his hands scribbling notes.

  Gojo Kaigetsu noticed that Hidan’s body was being transparent.

  “Is that… [Hiding in Mist Jutsu]? Did the transpnt succeed?” He reized it as Hayate Gekko’s Kekkei Genkai.

  Though useful for cealing oneself, it was a retively weak Kekkei Genkai. Effective against weaker ninja, but a mere parlor trick against stronger oppos. Still, for intimidation purposes, it was quite effective.

  Orochimaru didn't respond verbally, choosing to demonstrate instead. He pressed a button, and Hidan, still on the bed, began f hand seals, showg a variety of basiature transformations.

  And then, to Gojo Kaigetsu’s surprise, the flesh between Hidan’s fingers split, revealing bone spurs.

  “Did you extract Kimimaro’s Kekkei Genkai too?”

  “A trivial matter,” Orochimaru said smugly. “I, Orochimaru, need no guidan my pursuits.”

  “How long until ‘Deadpool’ is ready for deployment?”

  “The genjutsu trol isn’t fully stable yet. Remote trol via ninja sce might ck flexibility. Impnting higher-level jutsu also takes time. However, a simple appearance showg his abilities shouldn’t be a problem.”

  To ensure trol over Hidan, they had agreed on a dual-trol system—genjutsu and ninja sce, preventing sarios where the Byakugan might dispel the genjutsu. The impntation of nature transformations was just the first step. Cursed seals, senjutsu chakra, Tailed Beast chakra, and even Kekkei Tōta were all possibilities. However, these were on another level—like jumping from elementary math to uy calculus. If Orochimaru succeeded, Hidan would bee Konoha’s ultimate guardian!

  “Orochimaru-sensei, I’ll leave Hidan’s development to you. I have something else…” Gojo Kaigetsu pced the box oable, opening it to reveal the Sharingan.

  Orochimaru’s eyes widened. “A Sharingan?”

  “Uchiha Obito’s left eye. Impnt it, stimute it with his chakra, and try to evolve it into a Mangekyō Sharingan.”

  “Does Kakashi know?”

  “Of course not. I traded it for a month's paid vacation.”

  Truly ruthless.

  If Kakashi knew about this, who knows how he might react. The bonds of friendship in Konoha were a force to be reed with.

  Orochimaru took the Sharingan, his fareadable, tossing the box aside and walking towards Obito’s restrained body. He imphe eye without hesitation.

  “Be careful, Orochimaru-sensei. If that eye evolves, it has the power to space,” Gojo Kaigetsu warned.

  “How do you know so much?” Orochimaru asked, his snake-like eyes narrowed. “His chakra is sealed; even if it evolves, he ’t use any space-time ninjutsu.” He then performed a series of plex procedures that Gojo Kaigetsu couldn’t prehend.

  “Done. He’s unscious. As for when it evolves, I ’t say.” To prevent Obito from esg, Orochimaru had kept him severely weakened.

  “O thing… Orochimaru-sensei.”

  “Danzo is dead.”

  Orochimaru’s hands froze mid-experiment.

  “Danzo… dead? Who did it?” He forced his voiain calm. Though they had no personal e, they’d been partners in forbidden research.

  “Unknown. On the way back to Konoha, he and eleven Root ninja were decapitated. Their bodies are missing.”

  “Missing?” Orochimaru’s tone shifted.

  “Yes, only their heads were found.”

  “Are you ied in taking over Root?”

  “Me? Lead Root? I colborated with Danzo. You’re not worried I might use it to escape?”

  “The Sage of Six Paths is watg.”

  Gojo Kaigetsu smiled enigmatically. Orochimaru, once he chose a path, was rarely swayed. Talk no Jutsu was the only exception.

  “Hmph, the Sage is indeed watg…” Orochimaru waved his hand. “I’ll take over Root. But I 't leave the b. Send a Root operative here.”

  Gojo Kaigetsu nodded a. Orochimaru was left alohe silence broken only by the hum of maes.

  He stroked his , deep in thought. He hadn’t been ed, but Gojo Kaigetsu’s words sparked a thought—the missing bodies of Danzo and his Root ninja.

  It reminded him of an old acquaintance… if that person were still alive, they might be colleg powerful corpses for experiments as well.

  “Could it be you?”

  Orochimaru walked over to his bookshelf, retrieving a notebook taining jutsu that might enhahe Edo Tensei. If Edo Tensei couldn't be improved directly, perhaps another jutsu could offer a solution. His gaze stopped at a certairy. “This might be the answer… but it’s inplete.”

  In Kumogakure,

  “Elder Advisor, the exge has firmed the bounty is plete.”

  The advisor’s subordinate bowed deeply, avoiding his bloodshot eyes. The pain of losing his grandson was still raw.

  In his grief, he’d handed over a billion ryō to the Kumogakure tact at the underground exge, issuing a bounty for the assassination of a Konoha elder. Frankly, at this critical juncture, a billion ryō wasn’t much. Even if successful, the assassin would face Konoha’s wrath.

  Elder Advisor hadn't expected ao take the bounty. But it had been cimed almost immediately. And the assassin had succeeded, eliminating the infamous Danzo Shimura!

  That was Danzo Shimura! Kumogakure had sidered assassinating him, but he was alrotected by Root Jōnin. He was among the hardest targets in the ninja world. Killing him would require at least a Kage-level ninja, maybe more for a assassination. A, he was dead.

  Elder Advisor shuddered. Even someone like Danzo could be eliminated. What about him? Life had bee a odity with a price tag.

  Despite his fear, he was also relieved. Such a terrifying ninja was his ally!

  “Good riddance!”

  “Konoha, you killed my grandson! I will have my revenge!” he growled.

  “Butler! How much is left in the at?”

  “Elder Advisor… only 300 million ryō.”

  “300 million? Too little!” He smmed the table. “I’ve dedicated my life to Kumogakure! How there be only 300 millio?!”

  The butler hesitated, wanting to remind him that service didn’t guarantee wealth.

  But Elder Advisor had tasted blood. If money could eliminate Konoha’s elite, he would… single-handedly issue bounties for all of them! That ignorant A wanted him to ehis?

  “How much are we allog to the southerories?”

  “1.3 billion ryō, as budgeted.”

  “Give them 300 million. Use the remaining 1 billion for bounties.”

  “Elder Advisor, if the Raikage finds out…” The butler trembled. The southern ninja had been causing trouble, and A had already allocated 1.3 billion ryō from the vilge’s tight budget. Now, before even reag them, 1 billion would be diverted?

  This… though not treason, was more damaging than any rogue ninja!

  The butler shuddered, the sequences beyond his prehension.

  “A? He’s too soft. Besides, he's preoccupied.”

  “His… downfall has begun.”

  Elder Advisor tossed a report onto the table, sneering.

  “I’ve been w why Samui hasn’t sent any intel about Konoha’s special military operation. Turns out… Samui has betrayed Kumogakure.”

  “Because of Samui’s inpetence, our ninja died in Kusagakure… my grandson died!!”

  He gred at the report, his eyes bzing. It detailed "Konoha: War Ninja," including the headband inscription. The secret was out. The discrepan the inscriptions was a matter he could exploit. He would use it to attack his political rival, A. After all, it was A who sent Samui to Konoha.

  Once he trolled Kumogakure, he would have his revenge on Konoha, to avenge his grandson!

  He wouldn’t ehis! Though, for the vilge’s sake, he wouldn't decre war on Konoha just yet. But adjusting the budget, redug the southern allocation, and using the funds to issue another bounty… that was within his power. With enough mohe heads of those in Konoha were just a matter of numbers.

  “Let the hunt for those terrified Konoha ninja begin!”

  <><><><>

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