Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: The Scroll from Hidden Star
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In the Hokage's office, Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen stared intently at the scroll in his hand.
With a series of rhythmic knocks at the door, Nara Shikaku entered. He bore two scars on his face and wore the vest of a jonin.
"Lord Hokage!"
"Oh, Shikaku. Perfect timing—take a look at this."
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, set down the scroll in his hand. Wisps of blue smoke rose from his pipe.
Shikaku approached the Hokage's desk and picked up the scroll, reading it carefully. His brows furrowed tighter with each line his eyes scanned.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, meanwhile, added a pinch of tobacco to his pipe and continued puffing away.
"Lord Hokage, how do we verify the authenticity of this commission?"
Those were Shikaku's first words after finishing the document.
The commission scroll was signed boldly by the leader of the Hidden Star Village—the Third Star Shadow, Night Star!
"Moreover, it's said that the Land of Bears has fallen into civil unrest. Ninja from the Hidden Star Village attacked nobles, including the daimyo of the Land of Bears. If this commission is true and the Hidden Star Village has been seized by mysterious ninja, then were those Star ninja who slaughtered the daimyo acting on orders from the mysterious ninja... or were they Hidden Star ninja?"
As the Third Hokage's chief strategist, Shikaku wasn't just brilliant—he possessed exceptional tactical acumen and judgment. He'd long served as jonin commander, and during the Third Great Ninja War, he'd commanded the front lines.
During the Fourth Great Ninja War, as chief of staff for the Allied Shinobi Forces, he'd taken command of the alliance after the Fourth Raikage rushed to the front—only to meet his end under a ultra-long-range strike from the Ten-Tails' Tailed Beast Ball.
In Konoha, Shikaku was undeniably high command. He had clearance on much of the village's gathered intelligence.
Of course, he'd heard about the dramatic upheaval in the western Land of Bears on the shinobi continent.
But the Land of Bears lay in the remote west, separated from the Land of Fire by several nations. Information traveled slowly, and Konoha's intel was limited.
Some reports had even come from Konoha's spies embedded in the Hidden Stone and Hidden Sand Villages.
Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled a plume of smoke and spoke slowly.
"Slaughtering the daimyo is high treason. The Hidden Stone and Hidden Sand Villages will surely be questioned by their own daimyo. They'll dispatch ninja to gather intel in the Land of Bears and Hidden Star Village... or even suppress the Star rebels."
"I had no intention of sending our ninja to meddle in something so distant, but the daimyo has inquired..."
At the mention of their own daimyo's involvement, Shikaku nodded in understanding.
Konoha was, after all, just a military force under the daimyo's command.
"So, who do you plan to send to investigate?"
Shikaku pondered.
According to the request, whether the Hidden Star Village had been taken over by powerful ninja or rebelled on its own, the enemy wouldn't be weak. Ordinary chunin might not cut it.
"That kid Shisui hasn't had a mission in ages." Sarutobi Hiruzen's right hand tapped lightly on the desk.
"You mean have Uchiha Shisui lead the team?"
The image of that rather unique Uchiha lingered sharply in Shikaku's mind.
During the Third Great Ninja War, while Shikaku commanded the front against the Hidden Mist Village, Uchiha Shisui had earned the moniker "Shunshin Shisui" amid the bloodshed, racking up one heroic deed after another!
But because he was so young, Shisui hadn't been promoted to jonin until after the war ended.