Chapter 571: What’s the Secret?

Chapter 571: Chapter 571: What’s the Secret?

On the way to the Ninja Academy, Rei pestered Kagami with questions. "Kagami, when did your taijutsu become so powerful?"

Kagami smiled with a hint of pride. "It’s been so many years. You didn’t seriously think I hadn’t improved at all, did you? Besides, how could I have become an ANBU squad captain without some strength of my own?"

Rei nodded lightly. "That’s true. Without the strength of a proper jonin, you wouldn’t be able to become an ANBU squad captain."

Elite jonin were exceedingly rare, even among the Five Great Shinobi Villages. Thus, as long as a shinobi reached the level of a jonin and possessed a particular specialty, they were generally qualified to serve as an ANBU squad captain.

Kagami continued with a smile, "The casualty rate in ANBU is so high. The fact that I’ve managed to survive this long isn’t just thanks to luck, you know!"

Rei nodded and said with lingering apprehension, "I really breathed a sigh of relief when you transferred out of ANBU this time."

As a medical shinobi working within Konoha’s hospital system, Rei was well aware of the casualty rate among Konoha’s ANBU.

Ever since Akatsuki became active, more than a hundred ANBU had died directly or indirectly at their hands. In a single operation, several ANBU squads could be completely wiped out. Some squads had even gone through the cycle of annihilation and reconstruction two or three times.

The reason Kagami had been promoted to ANBU squad captain so quickly was also largely thanks to the persistently high casualty rate. Otherwise, judging by his accomplishments, he would have had to wait at least another five years before having any chance of promotion.

Before long, the two arrived at the Ninja Academy, which the village had spent a considerable sum rebuilding.

The new Ninja Academy was larger than the original and situated closer to the village center. It was only a few streets away from the Hokage Building, placing it within the most heavily guarded area of the village.

As they walked across the academy’s training grounds, Rei covered her mouth and chuckled.

"I really never imagined you’d become the principal of the Ninja Academy."

As Kagami surveyed the new academy grounds, he said, "To tell you the truth, even I was a little surprised when the Third Hokage entrusted the Ninja Academy to me."

Rei seemed to recall something and hurriedly asked, "Kagami, do you still remember that exam back when we were students? The one where several of you teamed up against Kakashi, only to get beaten down by him single-handedly?"

Kagami’s face darkened. Pretending to be casual, he replied, "Uh, did something like that ever happen? I don’t remember it at all!"

Rei laughed. "I remember it perfectly! There were four of you against Kakashi—you, Asuma, Guy, and Obito. Rin, Shizune, and I were even cheering you on from the sidelines! Who would’ve thought Kakashi would defeat all of you so easily? Then he graduated early, became the first chunin among our classmates, and later the first jonin..."

As those memories resurfaced, Rei seemed to recall the classmates who had died during the war, and her voice gradually grew quieter.

Kagami said calmly, "We’re all shinobi. Casualties are unavoidable. Don’t dwell on it too much."

Rei pulled herself out of her thoughts. "Mm!"

After crossing the training grounds, the two arrived at the Ninja Academy’s faculty office.

Seeing that the new principal had arrived, the faculty members working in the office hurriedly stood up and bowed to Kagami in unison before introducing themselves one by one.

Kagami nodded in acknowledgment while quietly observing his new subordinates.

Since the Ninja Academy did not require its instructors to engage enemies directly in combat, under normal circumstances, a qualified chunin was more than capable of serving as an academy instructor.

After all, the Ninja Academy was responsible for training future genin. As for training them to become chunin, that was the responsibility of their supervising jonin.

Thus, almost all the instructors in the office were chunin-level shinobi, and quite a few were familiar faces to Kagami, such as Iruka, Mizuki, and others.

What surprised Kagami, however, was that Kabuto had somehow managed to sneak in among them. Moreover, he was dressed in the uniform of a Ninja Academy instructor. From the looks of it, he had already officially become a member of the academy’s teaching staff.

"What’s he doing here? What exactly is Orochimaru planning?"

At present, Danzo was the village’s Acting Hokage. Forget planting someone in the Ninja Academy—even removing Kagami from his position as principal would only take a word from him.

Therefore, arranging for Kabuto, one of Orochimaru’s subordinates, to enter the Ninja Academy was an exceedingly simple matter for Danzo.

What Kagami was more curious about was Kabuto’s actual purpose for entering the academy!

Temporarily suppressing his doubts, Kagami maintained his usual expression and assigned his subordinates their respective duties concerning the entrance ceremony scheduled for a few days later. He then left the faculty building with Rei.

Just as he had expected, Kabuto followed them.

Kagami said gently to Rei, "Rei, you should head back to the hospital first. I still have some matters to take care of here."

Knowing that Kagami had only just assumed his position as principal and undoubtedly had plenty of work to handle, Rei obediently nodded and left the Ninja Academy on her own.

At that moment, Kabuto approached.

After glancing at Rei’s departing figure, he turned to Kagami and said, "Senpai, we meet again."

Kagami stared at Kabuto and asked, "What exactly is your purpose in infiltrating the academy?"

"Heh, if I told you, wouldn’t that put you in a difficult position, Senpai?"

Kabuto chuckled, looking completely unconcerned.

Kagami’s gaze sharpened.

In the next instant, his figure suddenly lunged forward. He seized Kabuto by the throat and slammed him hard against the wall.

Then, in a calm, unhurried voice, he said,

"If you ever speak to me in that tone again, I’ll kill you."

"You!?"

Kabuto’s face was filled with shock as Kagami held him by the throat.

He had never expected Kagami to be so fast. Despite having already reached the level of a jonin himself, he had been subdued effortlessly, without even the slightest chance to resist.

What frightened him even more, however, was Kagami’s calm tone.

He knew that Kagami wasn’t making an empty threat. Rather, he was calmly stating something that would inevitably happen. If Kabuto spoke to him in that same tone again, he really would die!

"Principal, I... I’m very sorry!"

Having recognized the situation, Kabuto immediately wiped every trace of disrespect from his face and sincerely apologized to Kagami.

Releasing Kabuto, Kagami said, "I don’t care what your objective is. You’re not allowed to cause trouble in my Ninja Academy. Understood?"

Kabuto wiped the cold sweat that had formed on his forehead and nodded respectfully.

"Yes!"

The true purpose behind Kabuto’s entry into the Ninja Academy through Danzo’s arrangements was actually quite simple: to observe Naruto up close and discover the secret behind his mastery of senjutsu.

While studying Jugo’s body, Orochimaru had already realized just how powerful senjutsu was.

Yet Naruto, whom he regarded as a complete fool, had somehow managed to master Ryuchi Cave’s senjutsu at such a young age. This had left Orochimaru utterly astonished.

As a result, he was extremely eager to understand why Naruto had been able to master senjutsu.

What exactly was the secret behind it...?