Chapter 32: Research Progress

"Shiga Aburame, Tokubetsu Jōnin, expert in the Aburame clan's secret insect jutsu, Hyūga Kaori, Tokubetsu Jōnin from the Hyūga branch family, skilled in Gentle Fist, Yamanaka Juro, Tokubetsu Jōnin with expertise in the Yamanaka clan's Mind Body Switch Technique and strong sensory abilities!"

After introducing Akira's three teammates, Hiruzen Sarutobi turned to him and said,

"These three are exceptional ninja, more than capable for this mission."

Akira nodded. Judging by their profiles, they were indeed qualified. Being Tokubetsu Jōnin meant their abilities were no joke—stronger than the typical ANBU, who were often only Chūnin-level, with the elite reaching Jōnin.

When he had returned to Konoha earlier, Akira himself had only been a Chūnin. Of course, by now, he had been promoted to Jōnin.

At that moment, the sound of several footsteps echoed through the hallway, and three figures entered the Hokage's office.

One wore a black hooded cloak and dark sunglasses, giving off an aura of cold indifference. The second, a girl in a white kimono with black hair and white eyes, appeared around sixteen or seventeen, her expression calm and distant. The last figure, a man in his twenties with orange hair, wore a Jōnin vest and looked stern.

"Lord Hokage," they greeted in unison.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at them solemnly.

"I've called you here for a very serious mission. There's an organization emerging in the Land of Rain called the Akatsuki. This organization…"

He briefly summarized the mission objectives, then continued, "Uchiha Akira here will lead this mission. I'll give him the full details, and you can discuss it further on the way."

Hearing this, the three turned to Akira with varied reactions.

Shiga Aburame and Hyūga Kaori showed no change in expression, as if nothing could disturb their calm. But in Yamanaka Juro's eyes, a glint of intrigue flashed. Akira's reputation had long spread across the Five Great Countries and was especially well-known within Konoha. If he was the mission leader, it was clear the mission posed significant risks.

"Yes, Lord Hokage!" The three answered respectfully.

"Good," Sarutobi nodded. "Prepare for the mission. You depart tomorrow."

After acknowledging his instructions, they left the Hokage Residence.

Back at the Uchiha compound, Akira summoned the ninja cats and asked them to relay a message to Granny Cat, requesting her assistance in preparing some ninja tools and explosive tags.

Afterward, he visited Fugaku's residence to inform him about the mission details. For a mission of this scale, it was important to report to the clan head.

Fugaku looked at Akira, his face serious as he warned,

"You'll be investigating a group capable of defeating Hanzō. Be cautious."

"I understand," Akira nodded. Though he was strong enough to face tailed beasts, he wasn't entirely confident about facing Nagato yet. If Nagato had defeated Hanzō, it likely meant he had already perfected the Deva Path and mastered the Six Paths of Pain and Yin-Yang Release.

While Nagato might not yet be at his peak—such as when he would later assault Konoha—Akira wasn't overconfident. He wouldn't miss any opportunity to take down Nagato if one presented itself.

The Land of Rain, with its constant rainfall, provided an environmental advantage for Akira.

"Just be careful," Fugaku reminded him again. "Danzo spent several months in the Land of Rain—who knows what kind of traps he might have set there."

"I'll be extra cautious this time. Please don't worry, clan head," Akira replied.

He then added, "By the way, while I'm away, could you oversee the progress on the ShinTen Biotech project? It should be nearing some results by now."

Usually, Akira monitored ShinTen Biotech's progress himself, while Fugaku handled clan affairs. Fugaku's expression brightened.

"So it's almost ready?"

"Yes," Akira said thoughtfully. "Nonō Yakushi has been more capable than we anticipated. Under her leadership, we've overcome several hurdles in cloning. In a few more months, we should be ready to start trials."

Fugaku smiled. "It seems we've really found a valuable asset in Nonō. She's talented."

"Absolutely," Akira agreed. "But we'll need to be cautious of Danzo—he's bound to make a move on her orphanage to force her back into his ranks. I fear he'll resort to underhanded tactics."

"I'll keep an eye on things," Fugaku assured him. "I'll station people to protect her orphanage and ensure her safety."

Nonō had become highly valued to the clan, especially as her work neared completion. Even without her involvement in transplanting Hashirama's cells, her advancements in cloning would be significant for the Uchiha. In particular, success in targeted cloning could prevent future Mangekyō Sharingan blindness.

"Any progress on Hashirama's cell integration?" Fugaku asked. It was something he was keenly interested in—the potential of combining Wood Release with the Sharingan was an exciting prospect.

"We're still exploring. All our animal trials have failed so far," Akira shook his head.

"No surprise, given it's the First Hokage," Fugaku mused. "Even his cells are powerful enough to cause death at an exceptionally high rate."

It was true that, typically, a shinobi's chakra allowed them to survive transplanted organs or cells from others, as seen with Kakashi's Sharingan or Mist Jōnin Ao's Byakugan. But Hashirama's cells were different, with a staggering fatality rate of 99.99%.

Moving past the subject, Akira asked, "When does the Third Hokage plan to step down? The situation seems clear—Orochimaru is no match for the Yellow Flash, and most of the Jōnin in the village support him."

Fugaku pondered a moment. "There's no set timeline yet, but I'd guess within a month or two. It's only a matter of officially consulting the daimyo."

"Are you thinking of making a move against Danzo after Minato becomes Hokage?" Fugaku asked.

"That's the plan," Akira confirmed.

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