The reason Jinghang chose to reveal the entire "plotline" to Tetsu Yamashita was based on two key considerations. Firstly, he lacked confidence in his own abilities. Although, as the "Child of Reincarnation," he knew many things in advance, a single person’s mental capacity was limited. There were matters he simply couldn’t handle alone. Moreover, the current ninja world had already deviated significantly from the original storyline, with many events spiraling out of his control. This was no trivial matter—one wrong step could lead to irreversible consequences.
Secondly, Jinghang had immense faith in Tetsu Yamashita. This man was practically born for intelligence work. To put it bluntly, he was even better than Rasa! Not only was his logical thinking meticulous and his instinct for intelligence sharp, but he also had a broad strategic perspective, often deducing the bigger picture from minute details. Most importantly, like Jinghang, he was a practical patriot who genuinely cared about the prosperity of their village.
For the Second Kazekage Samon to have sent such talent to Kirigakure was nothing short of a waste! He could have been a top advisor within the village instead. During his tenure as head of the Intelligence Department, Tetsu Yamashita had revolutionized Sunagakure’s intelligence operations. Having such a person on his side was undoubtedly a great boon for Jinghang.
The "story" Jinghang told lasted over three hours, starting from the arrival of the Ōtsutsuki Clan, to the founding of ninjutsu by the Sage of Six Paths, to the battle at the Valley of the End, and finally to his encounter with Zetsu.
At first, Tetsu Yamashita listened as if it were just a story. But as it progressed, his expression grew increasingly serious.
The Kazekage’s tale sounded disturbingly plausible. If what he said were true, then everything—every seemingly unrelated event—suddenly formed a logical loop. It all made sense. It all fit.
When Jinghang concluded with the recent events in Iwagakure, he finally took a sip of tea.
"The story is over. What are your thoughts?" Jinghang asked.
Tetsu Yamashita remained silent, carefully replaying every detail in his mind. To his shock, he found no flaws.
"Is all of this true?" he finally asked.
"Yes," Jinghang confirmed.
"And everything you’ve been orchestrating in the village over the years—it’s all for this?"
"You intend to use the power of Madara Uchiha and Zetsu to weaken the other ninja villages, ultimately reaping the benefits for Sunagakure?"
After asking these three questions, Tetsu Yamashita fell into deep thought.
Deep inside, Jinghang was overjoyed. It seemed he had chosen the right person.
Listen to that! Just listen! The questions were so on point. Not a single useless query like, "How do you know all these secrets?" Instead, he went straight to the heart of the matter and even deduced Jinghang’s intentions. Then, without missing a beat, he transitioned into work mode, beginning to strategize.
After a long pause, Tetsu Yamashita looked up and said, "I think... this can be done."
What could be done? Naturally, the plan to use Madara Uchiha and Zetsu to weaken the other ninja villages. "This can be done"? Excellent! At least the strategy was sound.
"But," Tetsu Yamashita added, "there are gaps."
Of course there were gaps; otherwise, why would Jinghang seek his counsel?
"Go on," Jinghang said without wasting words.
"The biggest risk in this plan is that Madara and Zetsu are uncontrollable forces. At the very least, we need to pinpoint their locations."
Straight to the point.
Jinghang nodded. "We’re already working on that. Why do you think Hidan hasn’t returned yet?"
The initial tasks Jinghang assigned to Hidan were twofold: first, to eliminate Ōnoki, and second, to track Zetsu’s whereabouts.
The first task was already complete. As for the second, it was likely still in progress. Over the years, Zetsu’s movements had been as elusive as a ghost. This time, they had finally caught a glimpse of his "tail," and Jinghang had explicitly instructed Hidan to prioritize stealth over success. It was better to forgo the mission than to alert the target.
After some thought, Tetsu Yamashita said, "That kid Hidan may seem reckless, but he’s actually quite shrewd. I think he’ll manage. Next, I believe we should focus on the boy with the Rinnegan in Amegakure."
Talking to a smart person truly saved time.
"What do you suggest we do?" Jinghang asked.
"The old method—send an undercover agent to monitor him. As long as we keep a close watch on those eyes, they won’t escape us."
Exactly! Keeping tabs on Nagato was undoubtedly the best course of action. But this was no easy task. In the original Naruto series, only Itachi had managed to accomplish such a feat.
Now, Jinghang was intrigued. "Do we have a suitable candidate?"
Tetsu Yamashita smirked. "We just might."
"One of the Ten Heavenly Stems: Yan Feng."
"Why is there still a member of the Heavenly Stems in Sunagakure? Weren’t they all dispatched?" Jinghang asked, puzzled.
"This one is the best of the lot. I couldn’t bear to send him away, so I assigned him to infiltrate Yuexi Peninsula."
"Yuexi Peninsula? Infiltrating? What exactly do you mean?" Jinghang was taken aback. Why would an undercover agent be stationed within their own territory?
"The Fourth Division of the Standing Army," Tetsu Yamashita replied, his expression grim.
Jinghang was even more astonished.
The "Heavenly Stems" were elite "special agents" cultivated since Rasa’s tenure as head of the Intelligence Department. The resources and funds invested in them were astronomical. For such a person to be planted within Sunagakure’s own Standing Army could only mean one thing: there was a significant problem within the army. Specifically, the Fourth Division stationed on the Yuexi Peninsula—the lifeline of Sunagakure’s finances!
What kind of problem? Were they planning a rebellion?
"How is it that I, the Kazekage, have heard nothing about this?" Jinghang asked, displeased. He had always paid close attention to issues within the Standing Army.
"I only discovered it recently and haven’t yet compiled a complete chain of evidence, so I haven’t reported it to you," Tetsu Yamashita explained.
Indeed, Jinghang had a strict policy: intelligence reports containing words like "speculation" or "suspicion" were not allowed on his desk. This was reasonable. What was he supposed to do with unsubstantiated intelligence? Act or not act? Without evidence, it was all nonsense.
"What exactly is the issue? Tell me," Jinghang demanded.
"Upon the request of Director Liangping, we investigated corruption within the Fourth Division of the Standing Army. I assigned Yan Feng to look into it," Tetsu Yamashita began.
Jinghang was surprised. The Standing Army’s compensation was quite generous; the monthly salary of an ordinary soldier was comparable to that of a senior technician in Yuehu District. How could corruption still occur?
"Is it ghost soldiers or exploitation of subordinates?" Jinghang asked, his tone dark.
"If it were just that, it would be simpler. The reality is far worse," Tetsu Yamashita replied coldly.
Tetsu Yamashita sighed and began, "This came to light after a gambler escaped from a place called Jinhan Casino on Yuexi Peninsula..."
It turned out that some officers in the Fourth Division had colluded with local casino operators, using shady gambling schemes to trap wealthy merchants in "pig-butchering scams," offering high-interest loans, and resorting to kidnapping, extortion, and even setting up private execution grounds.
Upon hearing this, Jinghang was livid. Based on Tetsu Yamashita’s account, these "scum soldiers" were turning Yuexi Peninsula into a lawless zone akin to Northern Myanmar!
"According to the intelligence we’ve gathered so far, this network involves high-ranking individuals within the village. We’re still compiling a complete list of names."
"Investigate! Investigate thoroughly! No matter who is involved or what rank they hold, I want them all exposed," Jinghang roared.
"Understood. I’ve already coordinated with Director Liangping to organize a joint operation. We aim to take them down in one sweep. Additionally, I believe we can tackle these two matters simultaneously," Tetsu Yamashita suggested.
"You mean placing an undercover agent in Amegakure?"
"Exactly. As long as we craft the narrative well, this... can be done!"
Discover 10 Amazing Fanfics on My !Unlock 400+ Advance Chapters and Dive into the Story Early! 👉 [/DarkGolds]