At the Konoha village gate, two Uchiha clan members were listlessly guarding the entrance. Both men looked utterly bored, their dissatisfaction clearly etched across their features.
(The summer sun beat down, making their black uniforms feel heavy and oppressive.)
One of them, sighing loudly, finally voiced his dissatisfaction, muttering, "Why do we, members from the Uchiha clan, need to be stuck guarding the gates of Konoha? This job is beneath us."
His partner, who had a cigarette dangling from his mouth, took a slow drag before replying. "After all, these are extraordinary times. And although the war has officially stopped, that doesn't mean we can relax entirely. So, naturally, powerful people need to guard the gate of Konoha." He flicked his ash onto the dirt. Clearly, these two were Chunin from the Uchiha clan, powerful enough to be useful, but not important enough to escape the tedious duty.
Just at this moment, when the two Uchiha were talking, they heard the distinct sound of footsteps approaching from the road ahead. They immediately looked forward and saw a group emerging from the tree line. Leading the group was a young man with striking, fiery red hair, wearing a white shirt beneath a black overcoat. A massive sword, its hilt resting comfortably in his right hand, was sheathed at his hip. He completed the look with simple black pants and black shoes. A few steps behind him trailed another group: a young girl and two boys, all of whom also shared the distinctive red hair.
Seeing this group, both guards snapped to attention and said at the same time, "People from the Uzumaki clan."
By this time, the walking group had already reached them, but before the guards could even ask a mandatory question or demand identification, they simultaneously collapsed, fainting instantly onto the ground.
(The cigarette fell from the mouth of the second guard, landing in a small puff of dust.)
Unbothered, the group continued to walk inside the village.
As soon as the group crossed the Konoha gate, a shrill, blaring alarm rang out inside the intelligence department's barrier monitoring area, signalling that unknown intruders had entered Konoha. What surprised the analysts was that the intruders had entered through the main gate, suggesting a direct, bold approach. They immediately sent someone for confirmation in case the gate guards had simply forgotten to register legitimate visitors.
The red-haired group continued to walk forward, deep into the village. Wherever they passed, people—mostly nearby residents or low-ranking ninjas—fell unconscious, some even foaming slightly at the mouth as if they had all fainted from a sudden seizure.
(A low, oppressive wave of silent energy seemed to precede the leader, rendering locals defenceless.)
Within a few moments, Hiruzen, sitting inside the Hokage's office, was informed that a group of ninjas had brazenly infiltrated Konoha, which immediately put him on high alert.
(He extinguished the pipe he had been smoking, the sweet scent quickly fading.)
He asked the ANBU department to investigate immediately.
Soon, he received an update. An ANBU ninja appeared before him, kneeling formally on one knee. "Lord Hokage," the masked ninja reported, his voice low and professional, "we have identified the intruders. It is none other than the clan head of the Uzumaki clan, Shanks Uzumaki, and his siblings: Mereoleona Uzumaki, Guy Uzumaki, and Benimaru Uzumaki."
As soon as Hiruzen heard the ANBU ninja's words, his face turned visibly solemn, the easygoing demeanour gone. Danzo, who had just arrived at the Hokage's office, immediately seized the opportunity, his voice sharp and urgent. "Hiruzen, this is the best chance we will ever have to eliminate the clan head of the Uzumaki clan, Shanks Uzumaki, and his other siblings. They walked right into our barrier! We must nip this threat in the bud now. We cannot allow it to grow any longer."
Hiruzen, turning towards Danzo, shook his head slightly. "You're talking as if taking down Shanks Uzumaki is easy. Two years ago, he was able to single-handedly defeat Hanzo the Salamander. After two years, he must have gotten far stronger than before. We need to proceed with extreme caution."
Hiruzen's gaze hardened. "But yes, you are right about one thing. If they are here to talk with us, then we will talk, and we will not attack. But if they are here with hostility towards us, then we need to be fully ready for the fight."
Saying this, he looked sharply toward the ANBU ninja. "Immediately invoke Protocol One. Start to evacuate the civilians from around the Hokage building. With my sensory technique, I have just felt that their direction of movement is directly toward the Hokage building. They are arriving here."
The ANBU ninja nodded once, a silent acknowledgment, and immediately disappeared from the Hokage's office in a puff of smoke. Danzo watched him go, a deep scowl settling on his face. "Hiruzen, your indecisiveness will definitely be the end for all of us," he grated out, his hand instinctively gripping the hilt of his concealed blade. Hiruzen commented nothing on Danzo's words, instead closing his eyes briefly as he began channelling chakra, quietly preparing himself for combat if the need arose.
Soon, the group of Uzumaki clan members arrived just outside the Hokage building.
There, waiting for them, stood Hiruzen, dressed in his full combat uniform, holding a gleaming, Adamantine Staff in his hand. Shanks saw not only Hiruzen, but standing beside him was a rigid, one-eyed man he immediately guessed must be Shimura Danzo. Two other serious middle-aged people, one man and one woman—most probably Konoha's advisors—flanked the far side. On the other side of Hiruzen stood the formidable figures of Tsunade and Jiraiya, and beside Jiraiya stood two people: one was Minato, and the other, Shanks recognized immediately. She was from his clan—Kushina Uzumaki.
Upon seeing Shanks, Kushina's eyes widened, and she immediately wanted to rush forward.
(A gasp caught in her throat, a flash of shared, distant history pulling her.)
But Minato gently held her hand, shaking his head, clearly indicating that now was not the time for familial reunion. Reluctantly, Kushina stopped, remaining frozen in her tracks.
Hiruzen looked toward Shanks, his expression grave but attempting civility. "This is not a very polite way to enter the village, Clan Head Uzumaki," he stated, his voice resonating with Hokage authority. "You could have simply registered yourself and asked for a meeting. I would have gladly allowed you into the village. After all, we are not enemies; we are allies."
----
Want to get daily updates and read chapters on a daily basis? Then join my Patreon!
Patreon Link: https://[email protected]/Hkj822
Join Discord Link: https://discord.gg/MXPrVTBM