Chapter 111 — Stepping Into the Spotlight
"Do you really not understand how important this intelligence is?"
"Before, there was a risk to his life. Now his injuries have already been treated. I believe that if Yamaguchi Masasuke were given the choice himself, he would make the same decision."
Standing on the moral high ground, Danzō spoke with absolute confidence. Even Taichi could not refute him—because he knew Danzō was right. Not only Yamaguchi Masasuke, but even Taichi himself would have made the same choice under these circumstances.
Seeing no one respond—not even Matsushita Taichi—Danzō's lips curled upward. His rigid face twisted into a chilling smile. He waved a hand behind him, and a Root operative stepped forward, passing Danzō and moving toward Yamaguchi Masasuke.
Just as the operative was about to pass Taichi, Taichi stepped forward and blocked his path.
"Lord Danzō," Taichi said calmly, "leave this to me. I am the medical ninja here."
"Oh?" Danzō looked at him with interest. But the moment he realized Taichi's intent—to keep Root from acting—his expression darkened. "Fine. I only care about the results."
With a flick of his hand, he summoned the Root operative back. From beginning to end, the man hadn't uttered a single word.
Taichi didn't hesitate. He moved immediately to Yamaguchi's bedside. He genuinely feared that if Danzō changed his mind and used genjutsu directly, the consequences would be unpredictable—who knew what kind of hidden mental safeguards Danzō might implant in his captain's mind?
Placing his hands on Yamaguchi's acupoints, Taichi shaped his Yang-attribute chakra into needle-thin streams, stimulating the points with precise, controlled pulses.
Moments later, Yamaguchi Masasuke's eyelids began to tremble. His eyeballs rolled beneath them, and his body started to convulse, the sudden movement drawing everyone's attention.
"What's happening? Nothing's going wrong, is it?" Koharu Utatane asked anxiously, turning toward Director Fujita. Among the advisors, she was clearly the most concerned about Yamaguchi's safety.
Fujita carefully observed Yamaguchi's condition, then finally let out a breath. "He's fine. He's just dreaming. He'll wake up soon."
Sure enough, her words had barely fallen when Yamaguchi suddenly snapped his eyes open and jolted upright.
But the burst of energy was short-lived.
Overwhelming weakness and dizziness crashed down on him immediately, and he collapsed back onto the bed, lacking even the strength to sit up.
An intense itching sensation surged from his right waist, accompanied by sharp pain—the sudden movement had strained the newly regenerated tissue.
Only then did he truly regain full awareness.
The haze in his eyes sharpened into a blade as his gaze locked onto the nearest figure. When he recognized Taichi, the sharpness softened at once.
"Taichi… why are you here?" His voice was weak—so faint that only Taichi's sharp hearing caught it clearly. "Go… find the Hokage. I have… something important to report."
"Don't worry," Taichi whispered, leaning close to his ear. "The Hokage is already here. All three elders are here as well."
"You can speak freely."
After finishing his words, Taichi stepped aside and yielded his place to the Hokage. He then left the treatment room together with Director Fujita.
This kind of intelligence was not something he was qualified to hear yet.
"Hokage-sama…"
Yamaguchi Masasuke's voice was hoarse and weak, but his gaze—locked firmly onto the Hokage standing by his bedside—was unwavering.
"Sunagakure and Iwagakure… have already held secret talks to form an alliance. The signing date is set for December 10th."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's brow furrowed deeply. His voice was heavy as he asked,
"Are you certain? Do you know the terms of their agreement?"
Yamaguchi forced himself to stay conscious, enduring the intense itching from his waist as he continued,
"A three-year offensive and defensive alliance. They will open border corridors, allowing each other's troops to move through border cities."
He struggled to lift his hand, only then realizing it was empty. Seeing this, Hiruzen handed him the scroll Fujita had given him earlier.
"Are you looking for this?"
"Yes."
Yamaguchi exhaled in relief. Taking the scroll, he exhausted what little strength he had left to release the seal.
"This is… Sunagakure's defensive deployment map facing Iwagakure. I took it from an Iwa ninja. That's how I was injured."
Hiruzen accepted the scroll. A quick glance told him it was most likely genuine—and verifying it would be simple enough with reconnaissance.
At that moment, Yamaguchi seemed to have reached his limit. As soon as the scroll left his hands, his eyes closed again and he slipped back into unconsciousness.
"Hiruzen, what do you think?"
Danzō stepped forward, cold light flashing in his eyes.
"Sunagakure intends to betray its alliance with us."
"Let's return to the office first," Hiruzen said grimly. "This isn't the place to discuss it."
Inside the treatment room, Taichi and Director Fujita had deliberately stepped out while the intelligence was discussed.
"Taichi," Fujita said after a moment, eyes full of expectation,
"Have you ever considered working at Konoha Hospital? With your medical skill, you could easily be a department head."
She was completely convinced after today. Anyone who could wield the Living Tissue Regeneration Technique so fluently would only elevate the hospital's overall strength.
"Director, you're joking." Taichi smiled helplessly.
"Look at me—I'm still a kid. Making me a department head would only cause trouble. Besides, I'd rather be like Teacher Tsunade and serve Konoha on the battlefield."
"…I see."
Fujita looked him over carefully. Despite his height and physique, Taichi was still clearly young. A child in a director's chair would struggle to earn trust—especially in a hospital setting.
"Then… would you be willing to help at the hospital when you're free?" she asked instead.
"We're severely understaffed—especially when it comes to high-level medical ninja."
"Of course." Taichi agreed readily.
"As long as the director and the Hokage approve, I'll come whenever I can. I also need real cases to sharpen my skills."
"Good. I'll handle the paperwork."
She said it quickly, as if afraid he might change his mind.
Just then, the treatment room doors opened. The Hokage emerged with the three senior advisors.
"Taichi," Hiruzen said,
"Masasuke has lost consciousness again. Go check on him. We'll leave the rest to you."
"Understood."
Watching the Hokage and the elders depart in haste, Taichi's expression grew thoughtful. Whatever intelligence Yamaguchi had brought back—it couldn't be good.
Inside the room, Taichi confirmed what he already knew: Yamaguchi had merely collapsed from exhaustion. The earlier awakening had been deliberately brief—just enough to deliver the intelligence without further endangering his life.
After ensuring everything was stable, Taichi returned home.
A hot shower washed away the smell of disinfectant. Lying in bed, exhaustion finally caught up to him.
Today had been impressive—but utterly draining.
That operation had confirmed something important:
The Living Tissue Regeneration Technique could, in fact, be performed solo—provided one possessed enough chakra and sufficient mastery.
As his thoughts drifted, Taichi fell into deep sleep.
---
Hokage Office — Late Night
The atmosphere was tense.
"The alliance is inevitable," Hiruzen said at last. "We need a response—quickly."
"What about Kumogakure?" Koharu suggested.
"They've never gotten along with Iwagakure."
"They're too greedy," Homura countered.
"They may turn on us instead."
"Mist?" Koharu tried again.
"Internal chaos," Danzō scoffed. "Useless."
"Then… strike first?" Homura said quietly.
The room went silent.
"We don't start wars," Hiruzen said firmly.
"But…"
Danzō's eyes gleamed.
"They sign in eight days. That's our window."
"…Assassination?" Koharu gasped.
"No evidence. No attribution."
Danzō smiled thinly.
"And only Sunagakure's envoy dies."
Hiruzen closed his eyes—then nodded.
"It's risky… but effective."
"I'll have Root—"
"No," Hiruzen cut him off.
"Root monitors the borders."
He paused.
"Hatake Sakumo. Namikaze Minato. Hyūga Hizashi. Matsushita Taichi."
Silence fell.
"…Taichi?" Koharu asked.
"He's our lifeline," Hiruzen replied calmly.
"And you all saw what he can do."
No one argued.
Behind them, Danzō's fingers crushed against his cane—knuckles white with fury.
A new piece had entered the board.