He immediately sensed that something was amiss. Kawasaki wouldn't go through so much trouble for a thankless task.
The latest news made everything clear. Kawasaki's bid for the position of Fifth Hokage was all a scheme to bring down the Third.
Onoki had led Iwagakure for many years; there was no situation he hadn't seen. The structures of the Five Great Shinobi Villages were all more or less the same. He knew exactly how the Sarutobi clan, with its many Jōnin, operated.
This time, Kawasaki's actions had utterly destroyed the Third Hokage's reputation. Those old guards who had followed the Third would also be forced into early retirement because of this.
Onoki recalled Kawasaki's consistent behavior over the years and began to suspect his true intentions. He was likely preparing to achieve the Uchiha clan's independence, all while avoiding direct confrontation with Konoha.
The possibility was very high.
If so, his next move might be to secede from Konoha and begin reclaiming land from the sea.
Kumogakure.
Raikage's Office.
"Hmm…"
The Raikage finished reading the report in his hand, his thick fingers tapping rhythmically on the desk.
"No wonder the Uchiha are looking to expand outward," he muttered. "In an environment like that, their clan will always be suppressed."
Sitting opposite him was Dodai. Having already read the documents, he added, "Kawasaki has consistently avoided a civil war within Konoha. He probably doesn't want his clansmen to suffer any losses. He likely anticipated his failure in this election from the start. I expect he has more moves planned."
The Raikage nodded in agreement. "I've heard that Uchiha Itachi and Fugaku had problems with their eyes. They only regained their sight thanks to Orochimaru's cloning technology."
"That information was deliberately leaked by the Third Hokage. It's hard to say if it's true or not," Dodai replied. "However, Orochimaru's cloning technology can indeed regenerate severed limbs. Some disabled elite ninja have already regained their former strength through it. The cost is currently very high, but it may decrease in the future."
The Raikage frowned. "The last time I heard about this, I allocated a special fund to the medical division. Has there been any progress?"
Dodai shook his head. "The concept of this technology has been around for a long time. The reason it hasn't become widespread is because the barrier to entry is too high. Without specialized personnel, it's impossible to master. We've poured a lot of money into cloning, only to end up with useless monstrosities. Kumogakure simply isn't skilled in this area. I suggest we stop throwing money at it. Most of the village's funds have already been spent on compensation for the families of those injured and killed in the recent conflict."
At the thought of the four thousand Kumogakure ninja who had died, the Raikage's fists clenched so hard they creaked. That damnable Akatsuki.
Sighing, the Raikage said, "Let it be. We'll suspend funding for the cloning project for now. At the same time, keep a close watch on the situation in Konoha."
"Understood!"
…
Kirigakure.
In the Mizukage's office.
Having just won a major battle, the Land of Water was in a state of rapid recovery. In accordance with their previous agreement with the Uchiha, Terumi Mei had already begun relocating the residents of the designated island.
However, some were unwilling to leave, saying they had grown accustomed to life on the island. Mei let them be, figuring the Uchiha wouldn't mind a few extra people.
After their return, Zabuza Momochi and Jūzō Biwa had become Mei's most capable assistants. Each led a team to resolve various troubles within the country, so busy that their feet hardly touched the ground. But both were loyal to Kirigakure and performed their duties with exceptional diligence.
One day, Ao returned with intelligence regarding the selection of the Fifth Hokage.
After reading it, Terumi Mei remarked with a sigh, "So that's why Uchiha Kawasaki wants to strike out on his own. The reason was that simple."
Ao concurred. "The Uchiha have been a powerful force since the Warring States Period, but they have been constantly restricted since joining Konoha. With so much internal strife in the village, it's no wonder Uchiha Madara chose to leave all those years ago. I wonder if this exposé of the Third Hokage was something Kawasaki planned long ago. If he truly calculated all this in advance, then he is a terrifying man."
Recalling Binglei's words, Mei said with certainty, "This incident was definitely a trap set by Kawasaki. His participation in the Hokage election was just for show; otherwise, he wouldn't have made arrangements for those islands so far in advance. After this, I expect there will be a major personnel shake-up among the Konoha leadership."
"I understand, Lady Mizukage," Ao said, grasping her meaning. "I will keep a close eye on the latest developments there."
…
Konoha.
Although the Fifth Hokage had been chosen, the atmosphere in the village had been strange lately. Almost no one spoke of the former Third Hokage in public. Many ninja clans were quietly investigating the Sarutobi clan, trying to determine their numbers, how many of them were ninja, and which of those were high-level shinobi.
However, the Third Hokage had done an excellent job of maintaining secrecy, so not everyone could dig up any substantive information.
Amidst this tense climate, the Ninja Academy's team placements, which had been postponed due to the election, were finally set to begin today.
Thanks to Kawasaki's help, Naruto had been well-fed and well-clothed since he was five, so his physical development had not been hindered in the slightest. With the added competition from Sasuke and the Third Hokage constantly increasing his stipend, Naruto's financial situation improved even more once Tsunade arrived at the Uchiha compound.
Consistent training had filled him with confidence. Combined with the excellent genes inherited from his parents, a positive attitude, and healthy physical growth, Naruto, who constantly vied with Sasuke for the top spot in class, had attracted the admiration of many young girls. As a result, it wasn't uncommon to find girls in the class who had a crush on either Sasuke or Naruto.
Everyone had known about the team placements for some time, and the classroom was abuzz with discussion before the lesson began. The girls silently prayed to be assigned to the same squad as the boy they liked, while many others eagerly wondered who their future teammates would be.
Of course, Choji and Shikamaru couldn't care less.
Shikamaru was slumped over his desk, looking completely uninterested. Being exceptionally bright since childhood, he knew the "Ino-Shika-Cho" formation would not be broken up. He was utterly indifferent to the impending announcement, knowing he would end up with them regardless. Beside him, Choji was too busy munching on potato chips to spare a thought for team assignments.
Ino mused to herself: It would be great to be on a team with Sasuke or Naruto.
Sasuke and Naruto, having both earned Kawasaki's acknowledgment, were certain they would be on the same squad. They just hoped their third teammate would be easy to get along with.
Sitting further back, Hinata quietly wished for the same thing: to be on Naruto's team.
...
"Due to the Fifth Hokage selection, the originally scheduled team placements were postponed until today," Iruka announced, standing at the front of the class with a clipboard in hand.
"As of today, you are all officially ninja, though you are only entry-level Genin. Many more hardships lie ahead. You will be organized into three-person squads and will complete missions under the guidance of a Jōnin sensei."
"Now, I will announce the team rosters..."
"Team 1..."
"Team 2..."
"Next, Team 7: Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata."