Chapter 315: Kakashi Is the Ultimate Winner
The Konoha Special Operations Unit—
was the group of shinobi led by Sarutobi Asuma.
Most of them were civilians who had never attended the ninja academy, so they weren't wrapped in the ideology of the Will of Fire, nor did they have blind loyalty to the Hokage.
Asuma's interpretation of the Will of Fire clashed deeply with Hiruzen Sarutobi's.
Neither side was willing to back down, but they hadn't openly broken ties either.
To maintain the legitimacy of the Hokage, Hiruzen himself had designated the unit led by Asuma as the Konoha Special Operations Unit.
"Is that true?"
Akimichi Torifu, who had just been on the verge of compromising in despair, froze. He looked excitedly toward the far end of the room.
There stood a man, properly wearing a Konoha forehead protector, dressed in a tight black combat suit,
his face tight with suppressed anger, yet calm and silent.
The Hokage Tower's conference room had large lattice windows. Harsh sunlight streamed in, illuminating most of those present.
But due to his status, Asuma had been seated in a dim corner untouched by the light, easily overlooked.
Yet when he stood—
he somehow became the center of attention, as if possessed of an invisible gravity that drew every eye.
"The Konoha Special Ops Unit is willing to offer 400,000 contribution points to purchase both Resurrection Coins," Asuma said,
ignoring the Hokage's dark expression and turning to Torifu.
"One of them will go to the Akimichi clan to revive Choza."
A hero who died protecting Konoha—
He wouldn't stand by and watch that hero's chance at resurrection be turned into a bargaining chip for the Hokage to suppress the clans.
That would be a disgrace to the Will of Fire.
"Sarutobi Asuma, do you realize what you're saying?"
Hiruzen's brows furrowed.
He dropped all formalities and directly used Asuma's full name.
"I do."
Asuma's gaze was steady.
"I'm willing to spend 400,000 family contribution points to purchase two Resurrection Coins."
Though the Special Ops Unit wasn't as large as the Hokage's faction-backed forces,
they included elite players like Tsunade and Naruto Uzumaki, and had amassed a considerable amount of contribution points.
"There are only two coins. And you want both?"
Shimura Tano's voice was cold,
his tone accusatory. "Does your Special Ops Unit think being strong means it can disregard all the clans?"
He was attempting to frame Asuma as antagonizing the entire shinobi elite.
It also implied that the Ops Unit often refused the Hokage's orders because of their strength.
"You're deliberately misleading everyone."
Asuma replied coolly, "Is the Special Ops Unit not part of Konoha?"
While many in his unit were civilians or civilian-born shinobi,
it also included clan members who stood by him.
He despised political manipulation,
but his years wandering as a bodyguard had given him more than enough understanding of politics.
He stared straight at the Shimura patriarch.
"Besides, I said clearly—one of the coins is for Torifu-sama to revive a Konoha hero. The Special Ops Unit only wants one coin."
"You're the one twisting things to incite conflict between the clans and our unit.
Are you trying to divide Konoha?"
His tone sharpened—
and Hiruzen's frown deepened.
His plan to absorb more Akimichi shinobi into the Shadow Division had been set in motion—
but Asuma had just ruined everything.
Hiruzen stared hard at his son, his displeasure clear.
Other heirs, like Shimura Tano, understood his intent and gladly took the blame to help expand the Shadow Division.
But his own son stabbed him in the back.
It made his chest burn with frustration.
And yet—
He couldn't act rashly.
He had already promised Torifu a Resurrection Coin to show Hokage compassion for heroes of Konoha.
He couldn't go back on it now.
"In that case, one coin will go to Torifu to revive Lord Choza."
He maintained his smile,
but added, "As for the second coin, it should be discussed by all clan leaders and elite shinobi.
We can't make such a hasty decision and just hand it to the Special Ops Unit."
As soon as he finished—
Many clan heads nodded in agreement, some casting unfriendly glances at Asuma.
200,000 contribution points per coin was painful, but most clans could afford it.
No one wanted to just give away such a rare item.
That coin was a life.
The Hyūga clan head spoke next. His pure Byakugan fixed on Asuma.
"Though it's not officially for the Ops Unit, Torifu-sama receiving a coin is thanks to Asuma's intervention.
So it's indirectly occupied the Ops Unit's claim.
The second coin should not be eligible for them."
Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't offend Asuma.
But the Hyūga desperately needed a Resurrection Coin.
Their long-standing clan, built on a rigid main-branch and elder hierarchy,
had been nearly wiped out when Hyūga Neji rebelled during the fall of Konoha.
The system barely remained in name.
To be honest,
he didn't entirely hate Neji for betraying the clan.
After all, the boy was his nephew—the most talented Hyūga in centuries.
He had high hopes for Neji.
He had tried to mold him into a shield for the main house.
But he had failed to see the resentment boiling in Neji's heart.
Now—
Even as clan head, he wasn't sure whether the clan's rigid system, born in the Warring States Era, was right or wrong.
Either way…
Whether Neji was traitor, enemy, or reformer didn't matter anymore.
The Hyūga were now divided. Time would tell whose path was correct.
Still—
A shadow of worry crossed his eyes.
His nephew was still too young.
Even as a traitor, he was family.
Neji might be powerful, but he was inexperienced.
He didn't trust the boy to navigate the firestorm that was Orochimaru's political game.
The best solution?
Revive Hiashi—send him to the Fire Empire to aid and guide Neji.
After all,
Hiashi had died shielding Konoha during the Cloud War.
The clan leader knew his brother's strength and cunning—equal to his own.
"He's right. If the Ops Unit helped Torifu, they shouldn't compete again."
"Agreed."
The clan heads quickly voiced support—
blocking the Special Ops from vying for the second coin.
They understood—
If the well-funded Ops Unit got involved, the rest of them had no chance.
So, they united.
At that critical moment—
Torifu cleared his throat and said quietly:
"According to game intel, the player who contributed most to killing the Grand Forest boss [Minotaur King Sauta]…
was Special Ops member Hatake Kakashi."
"By rule, when a Konoha player kills a boss solo, the loot does not go to the clan.
In team hunts, the highest-contributing player gets first pick of the loot,
and must pay only 20% of its value in points."
In other words—
There was no need for a vote.
If Kakashi wanted it, the coin belonged to the Special Ops.
Hiruzen's face turned ashen,
his fists clenched beneath the table.
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Franklin1