https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-117-Divine-Technique-Heaven-s-Grass-Mowing-Sword-/12832160/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-120-The-Kikyo-Mountain-Orphanage-/12832172/
Chapter 119: The Flame of Purification!
Chapter 119: The Flame of Purification!
Why was driving out the Sand Shinobi army from Fire Country so highly regarded?
Because it was a golden opportunity.
Military achievements!
Invading Wind Country was too dangerous and difficult.
But reclaiming lost territory was much easier.
And during the reclamation, the spoils of war would be incredibly rich.
Military achievements + benefits!
Who wouldn't want that?
The Konoha F4 definitely would.
"Senju Nomiki died at the hands of the Sand Shinobi. To avenge him, the Senju clan is willing to lead the charge against the Sand Shinobi!"
Senju Koshimaru played the dead card.
Senju Nomiki was the commander of the border camp between Fire and Wind Countries, killed by Yuugo, who was the vanguard during the Sand invasion.
Mentioning his name now was to appeal to Hiruzen Sarutobi's sense of duty, hoping he would assign the vanguard role to the Senju clan.
Koshimaru knew Hiruzen well.
Respect the dead!
With this card played, Hiruzen had to reconsider.
Facing this kind of dead card, even Mito Ibaragi and Danzou were at a loss for words.
Even if they knew the Senju clan was aiming for the spoils, Nomiki had indeed died in battle, proving the Will of Fire.
"…The vanguard will be led by the Senju clan, and the rest will be drawn from the major clans!"
Hiruzen made a 'fair' decision.
But there was a serious issue here.
Drawn from the major clans!
Not a word about the civilian shinobi.
Tsk, tsk!
He understood being the Hokage.
His base of power was the major clans of the Hokage lineage. If he truly cared for the civilians, his position as Hokage would be unstable.
As for the civilian shinobi?
It was just lip service, don't fool yourself.
Just look at how many civilians are in the upper echelons of Konoha.
"By the way, for the commander of this unit, I think Shinno is the best choice, don't you agree?"
Senju Koshimaru recommended someone to be the commander of this newly formed shinobi army.
Shinno!
His full name is 'Shinno Sarutobi,' and he is the current head of the Anbu.
This position was previously held by White Fang, who also served as the captain of the Jonin division. With these two crucial roles, it's no wonder he was considered the next Hokage.
Shinno Sarutobi is not only a member of the 'Sarutobi' clan but also Hiruzen's eldest son.
"No, Shinno is still young and not qualified to be the commander!"
Hiruzen refused.
Even though Shinno was raised by him from a young age, he is still only an elite Jonin.
For ordinary shinobi, this is absolutely a super genius, but for the son of the Hokage, this level of skill is lacking.
"Even if he's young, he can't be younger than that little brat, Uchiha Douhei, right?"
Senju Koshimaru provided a current example.
Uchiha Douhei!
He is only 14 years old but has already become a CEO… no, he has already taken the position of commander.
No one took the temporary commander seriously before.
But now he is the true commander, without a doubt.
Yes, with this precedent, having the head of the Anbu as a commander is nothing.
"Right, Hiruzen, your Sarutobi clan should also contribute to the village, shouldn't they?"
Mito Ibaragi chimed in.
Why?
Of course, because only with Shinno Sarutobi in a position of power could the interests of Koshimaru and Ibaragi's families be secured.
They didn't have Danzou's ambition; they just wanted to maintain the status quo.
So, relying on the Sarutobi clan was the best choice.
To become Hokage, being a commander is a must. Otherwise, you don't even have the nomination.
Now you understand why Danzou was so eager to secure the commander position before, right?
This was the best opportunity to push Shinno Sarutobi into a position of power.
All the elites drawn from the major clans, plus the low morale of the Sand Shinobi, how could they lose?
Danzou's fists clenched upon hearing this.
The Hokage is mine!
He roared inwardly.
Anyone who wants to become Hokage is his opponent.
It was because of this that White Fang was hit hard by him.
But Danzou didn't want to destroy him; he just wanted to give him a lesson, to prevent him from ever becoming Hokage. He didn't foresee the subsequent developments.
In this sense, Danzou was very pure. Eliminating the Uchiha and becoming Hokage, everything was for this goal.
"Let Shizune lead the forces. If the Sand shinobi launch a counterattack..."
Danzo tried to use this point to dissuade his two friends from their plan.
After all, while the Sand shinobi had been defeated, it didn't mean they lacked the strength to fight back. At the very least, there were still over two thousand Sand shinobi, and only one elite Jonin from the Rock Village, 'Shu,' had been killed. If they encountered Shadow-level shinobi, it would be a different story.
"Don't worry, with the protection of the elite members from the major clans, even Shadow-level shinobi won't be a problem!"
Tanzaku Koharu was full of confidence.
If it were a civilian shinobi force, there might be some concern. But the elites from the major clans were far superior in training and strength compared to civilian shinobi. With them protecting Sarutobi Shinno, even Shadow-level shinobi wouldn't be an issue.
Danzo couldn't argue with the two of them, especially since Sarutobi Hiruzen was already intrigued by the idea. It was indeed a great opportunity to earn merit, and the risk was minimal.
In the end, they decided that Sarutobi Shinno would lead a thousand-strong shinobi force to drive back the Sand army. The decision was made.
As for the original Southwest Shinobi Force?
They would be responsible for guarding Mount Kikyo to prevent the Sand shinobi from using it as a route to ambush Konoha.
This reason was perfectly legitimate and unassailable.
After the meeting adjourned, formal orders were immediately sent to the Southwest Shinobi Force to coordinate with the newly formed shinobi force.
Mount Kikyo!
The area was now a wasteland, dotted with tents forming a temporary camp. Even without a fortress, everyone felt more relaxed.
Who wouldn't feel safe with the 'Purifying Flame' in command?
Purifying Flame!
Yes, that was Dojo's title.
It wasn't a title given to him; he earned it through his actions.
The title 'Sannin' that Hiruzen had bestowed initially carried a derogatory connotation, but the trio's own efforts eventually turned it into a revered name.
Dojo's title, 'Purifying Flame,' was indeed fitting. The first two characters came from his phrase, "Let the flames purify everything," when he entered Sage Mode, and the last two characters referred to his proficiency in Fire Release techniques.
As they say, only names can be wrong, not nicknames.
Because the title was so apt and vivid, it spread quickly through the camp and beyond.
Near the river not far from Mount Kikyo!
Uchiha Dojo, the commander, had been 'occupying' this spot all along.
Fishing!
He had delegated all the tasks to Nara Shikaku, who was temporarily helping out. But no one complained.
After all, a Sage who had defeated two Shadow-level shinobi in a head-on battle could say whatever he wanted.
When you're powerful, everything you say is right.
Dojo was experiencing this firsthand.
"How's it going?"
He asked the approaching chubby man nonchalantly.
"Isn't this a bit..."
Honda Taka still had some integrity, so he seemed a bit embarrassed.
"What about the Honda Clan's request?"
Dojo drew out his words.
The Honda Clan wanted to become the supplier for the Southwest Shinobi Force, and that decision was in his hands. So, he wasn't going to make it easy for his friend.
"The title 'Purifying Flame' only fits you, Dojo. It's not flattery, but genuine admiration..."
Honda Taka quickly changed his tune.
Yes, the title 'Purifying Flame' didn't come from the Sand shinobi.
Dojo had come up with it himself and had Honda Taka spread it.
With this title, he wouldn't have to worry about embarrassing nicknames like 'Konoha Birdman' or 'Blue Flame' in the future.
Don't think it can't happen.
Konoha had its fair share of awkward titles, like 'Konoha White Fang,' 'Fierce Eye,' and 'Shadow of the Shinobi.'
Dojo didn't want to face social death in the future, so he quickly gave himself the title 'Purifying Flame.'
While 'Flame of the World's Purification' might sound more dominant and impressive, he didn't want to steal the show just yet.
He wasn't powerful enough for that!
He would wait until he could punch Madara and kick the filial son before using such a flashy title.
After discussing the title, Honda Taka mentioned another matter.
Someone had come from the village.
(End of Chapter)
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