Night had fallen deep. Seeing the lights in Konohamaru Sarutobi's room extinguish, the ANBU Ninja stationed around began to take a short breather.
However, no one noticed a heart covered in black tendrils silently infiltrate the room... The next day.
Seeing that Konohamaru Sarutobi had not come out, the ANBU Captain felt puzzled. A team member beside him said, "Captain, what should we do? Konohamaru Sarutobi has never stayed in this late!"
"Wait a little longer!"
It wasn't until the sun was high in the sky that a bad premonition arose in the ANBU Captain's heart. He flashed to the door of the room and pushed it open.
The sight before him greatly startled the ANBU Captain, and he subconsciously assumed a combat stance, his right hand gripping the hilt of the short sword at his back.
Moments later, he reacted and roared, "Go quickly and report to Hokage-sama! Konohamaru Sarutobi..."
His words trailed off, as he didn't know how to phrase it.
The remaining ANBU Ninja flashed into the room, scanning around in shock: "This... how is this possible?! We never left for a moment!"
The room was empty, with only a large amount of bloodstains remaining on the bed... Inside the Hokage's Office Building.
Danzo Shimura pushed the door open with a ferocious expression, glancing at his three old friends in the office: "The Shimura Clan suffered multiple assassination attempts last night! Many of my juniors are missing!"
Homura Mitokado gritted his teeth and said, "Our three clans also encountered this situation!"
"Damn it! Is it that accursed evil Uchiha again?!"
"What do we do now?"
"We must take the strongest measures to respond!"
"We can't let this continue, Hiruzen!"
The three Hokage Advisors and assistants were anxious, speaking out one after another.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath of expensive pipe tobacco: "First, order the closure of the Village's entrances and exits. Enter Level Two alert, and arrange for the Anbu to thoroughly investigate everyone who has recently entered Konoha."
Danzo's single eye bulged: "We must enter Level One alert! Recall all forces to the Village and launch a cleansing operation!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "Konoha is the Konoha of the Land of Fire! We cannot disregard other defenses and missions for the sake of our family's affairs!"
Danzo roared in anger: "Hiruzen! You will regret this!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a large cloud of thick smoke: "Danzo! I am the Hokage!"
Just then, an ANBU Ninja emerged from the floor like a ghost, maintaining a kneeling posture.
Danzo shouted impatiently: "What is it?!"
The ANBU Ninja lowered his head and said tremblingly: "Young Master Konohamaru Sarutobi is missing! A large amount of blood was found in his room..."
"Bang!"
"What!!!"
A roar and the sound of a desktop shattering came out simultaneously. Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed his hand on the table and stood up: "The entire Village will immediately enter Level One alert! Completely seal Konoha, and activate the barrier to its strongest state!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's roar startled everyone, and the scene fell into silence.
Seeing everyone standing still, Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his voice and bellowed: "Quick!!!"
"Yes!" The ANBU Ninja immediately went to relay the command.
His three old friends also called their subordinates to issue orders, and the staff within the Hokage's Office Building were also mobilized. The entire Konoha quickly became bustling.
At this moment, a traveling merchant had just finished registering and was walking out of Konoha's main gate.
Kotetsu Hagane looked at the large burlap sack on his back and laughed, "Uncle really likes our Konoha's specialties, buying so many things."
"Ah, yes, Konoha's things are too good, hehe..." Kakuzu continued on his way without looking back.
Moments later, a large group of ANBU Ninja flashed into appearance at the gate. an ANBU Captain loudly ordered: "Seal the gate! No one is allowed to enter or exit!"
Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki were startled by the sight; there were so many Anbu, easily fifty or sixty of them!
"Anbu brothers, what's wrong? Did something happen?" Kotetsu Hagane quietly put away the playing cards they often used for slacking off and asked.
The ANBU Captain came before the "Two Great Gatekeepers of Konoha" and asked seriously: "Who has left during this period?"
Izumo Kamizuki's expression changed: "Just now, an uncle named Kakuzu left the Village with a large burlap sack!"
"What?! Why did you let him go? What was he carrying?!"
The two gatekeepers exchanged glances. Kotetsu Hagane said, "Konoha didn't have any orders prohibiting entry or exit, and we just checked that uncle's sack. It contained some scrolls and Konoha souvenir dolls."
"Scrolls! Storage scrolls!!!"
The ANBU Captain, however, turned pale with shock and hurriedly continued to ask: "What were you doing? Where did he go?"
Kotetsu Hagane showed displeasure, feeling that the Anbu were targeting him. Did the "Konoha Gatekeepers" not have any face?
Seemingly realizing his attitude was problematic, the ANBU Captain took a deep breath and, with a calmer tone, said, "A large number of assassination incidents have occurred in the Village, and Hokage-sama personally ordered an investigation."
Upon hearing this, Kotetsu Hagane nodded and said, "After leaving Konoha, he naturally went in the direction away from Konoha."
The ANBU Captain immediately turned around, gave a few instructions, and then led two teams in hot pursuit out of Konoha.
However, even after chasing for a long distance, they found no trace.
The ANBU Captain held Kakuzu's photo, secretly anxious. He had lost Hokage-sama's grandson, Konohamaru Sarutobi.
If the suspect escaped again, he felt he wouldn't have the face to live in this world.
He looked intently at the sensing team member beside him. This member was from the Hyuga Branch Family and was currently fully activating his Byakugan to investigate.
"How is it?" The ANBU Captain couldn't help but ask.
The Byakugan Anbu shook his head: "No trace of the enemy has been found within several miles..."
"Damn it! Continue the pursuit, we must find this suspect!"
Of course, they couldn't catch Kakuzu. At this moment, Kakuzu had torn off the disguised face he had taken and reverted to his original appearance, which was indeed Kakuzu!
How fast was Kakuzu?
Riding a lightning-attribute black monster, its tail roared with wind and fire, like a super engine accelerating at full power.
"Hahahahaha!!!"
"So exhilarating!"
"Thanks to the great Konoha for the bounty!"
Kakuzu let out a hearty laugh. His harvest this time was immense; he estimated he had taken down over a hundred million Ryo worth of bounties!
He naturally knew the risks involved; Konoha was not an entity anyone could provoke!
So Kakuzu was not greedy, quickly making his kills and swiftly withdrawing from the Village.
He had originally prepared to fight his way out of Konoha, thinking that Konoha might have already taken action and sealed the Village.
However, he didn't expect Konoha's reaction to be so slow!
But he also noticed Konoha's movements; it was clear they had already begun to act.
Therefore, as soon as he left Konoha's main gate, he fully utilized his wind, fire, and lightning monsters to accelerate his escape, even though this would consume a large amount of his Chakra.
However, just like the price he paid to come to Konoha, it was all worth it!
After all, if he got entangled with Konoha's Ninja, the elites from Konoha Village would continuously arrive.
After all, it was on Konoha's territory. Although Kakuzu was arrogant, he deeply knew that if he fell into such a predicament, even someone as strong as himself would definitely meet his end there.