Chapter 29
The faces of Konoha's four high-ranking officials turned grim.
The sudden incident late last night was something no one had anticipated.
Who would have thought that the Kumogakurediplomatic delegation, who had come to negotiate peace, would be so audacious as to directly abduct someone?
However, regretting it now would be useless.
The important thing is... what will happen next?
Based on their understanding of Kumogakure,
this bandit-like Village would surely turn the tables and use this opportunity to escalate the conflict.
It was even possible they would use this as an excuse to launch a war from a position of moral high ground.
The Hyuga Clan was certainly acting in self-defense.
But between nations, there is no talk of reason or law.
All disputes ultimately devolve into violent confrontation.
The immediate priority was to protect Konoha, and indeed, the Land of Fire.
"Kakashi..." Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately looked at his subordinate beside him.
"Hokage-sama."
Kakashi led his team forward.
Yamato, Yūgao Uzuki, E, and the other members of 'Team Six' all stood ready for orders.
As Hiruzen Sarutobi issued one command after another,
Kakashi, having received his orders, quickly dismissed his team, and the members rushed to various parts of the Village.
Konoha, in the dead of night, was about to be awakened... The next morning, the sun slowly rose.
Last night's incident continued to ferment.
After a full night of deliberation and diplomatic responses, the four high-ranking officials finally used an expensive long-distance communication device to connect with the Fourth Raikage, Ay, thousands of miles away.
Ay, upon learning of his subordinate's annihilation, flew into a rage and immediately turned the tables, saying... Konoha's Ninja had deliberately destroyed the hard-won peace.
He accused them of being the culprits who wanted to start a war.
After making harsh threats, warning Konoha, and telling Konoha to await the coming war, Ay cut off the connection, giving Konoha no chance to retort.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, knowing that the situation was difficult to salvage, naturally still wanted to continue reasoning.
However, he also understood that if left unchecked, the Land of Fire would surely be invaded by Kumogakure.
Thus, after deliberation, the high-ranking officials once again dispatched more personnel to the border, preparing to use the Uchiha Base as a focal point to resist the impending war conflict... Konohain the morning was met with sudden commotion.
The citizens discovered that a large number of their Ninja were running through the streets and alleys of the Village.
Seeing their urgent demeanor, it seemed as if something big was about to happen.
Like migratory birds in a mass exodus, such large-scale movements couldn't help but make the villagers feel anxious.
Uchiha Clan Compound.
Itachi, returning from his morning training, stopped and watched the clan members hurrying past.
Itachi blinked curiously, a question forming in his mind.
"Did something happen?"
If something had happened in the Village, as an official Ninja, he should have received a notification...
"It's also possible that something even more significant has happened, something that I, still a Genin, am not privy to know..."
As Itachi pondered, a figure leaped beside him.
"Shisui."
"Itachi... something big has happened."
As Itachi's good friend, and also his master on the path of Ninja arts,
he, who had a very close relationship with Itachi, quickly informed him of what had happened last night.
Shisui: "It's only been a few years since the Third Great Ninja War ended... and the Nine-Tailed Demon Foxs Attack wasn't that long ago either..."
His close friend's heavy tone echoed in Itachi's ears.
"The Village cannot withstand another war..."
Itachi felt the same sense of worried apprehension.
After analyzing the pros and cons of the situation, Shisui patted Itachi's shoulder: "Itachi... I'm heading to the front lines. You, who are staying behind in the Village, must take good care of everyone..."
This was not an idle statement.
Konoha now had not only external threats but also... internal worries.
And that biggest internal worry was the Uchiha Clan.
After Shisui left,
Itachi was about to take a step, but Uchiha Izumi's arrival made him stop again.
"Itachi... everyone looks very anxious, do you know what happened?" Izumi asked, holding Itachi's arm.
Itachi subconsciously wanted to avoid such an intimate gesture.
But for some reason, his body didn't move.
On the contrary, the thought of "this is nice" arose in his heart.
Looking at the anxious girl his age, Itachi calmly replied: "Don't worry, it's nothing, it might be a drill..."
"Oh."
The simple-minded Izumi nodded, and most of the doubt in her heart disappeared.
Because she saw that Itachi, also a Ninja, didn't seem anxious at all, so probably nothing serious had happened.
"Want to go for a walk together?" Izumi suddenly suggested.
Her attitude also became a little strange.
Her slightly bashful demeanor left Itachi bewildered.
"I'm going home for breakfast," Itachi said sullenly.
Because he had nothing else to do.
Every morning, he trained, ate, gathered for Geninmissions, disbanded, trained, ate, and slept. Every now and then, he would train with Shisui... It was almost like this every day.
His only hope was to participate in the Chunin Exams.
However, for several consecutive years, he had been rejected by his Jonin Instructor.
At first, Itachi thought he wasn't doing well enough.
Later, he realized... it might be due to the Jonin Instructor's prejudice against the Uchiha.
Remembering that Shisui had already made a name for himself in the Ninja World and was heading to the front lines, while he could only stay in the Village... Itachi felt a surge of anxiety.
Izumi: "Itachi... Itachi...?"
Izumi, walking beside him, reminded him several times before Itachi snapped out of his thoughts: "Sorry, I was thinking..."
Silence.
The two stopped talking and slowly walked back.
"Itachi, don't you think... the clan members have been a little scary lately...?" Izumi suddenly brought up another matter.
This made Itachi vigilant: "Do you know something?"
"..."
Izumi shook her head.
She said it was her intuition... though it might also be a misconception.
In fact, Itachi knew.
Izumi, who had awakened her Sharingan as early as the Nine-Tailed Demon Foxs Attack, had obtained the true power of the Uchiha.
It was normal for her to have a keen sixth sense.
"I'm very scared..."
Izumi's eyes darted around, revealing a hint of unease.
"Are the adults [of the Uchiha]... considering something bad, or planning something...?"
Itachi: "!"
Countless images flashed through Itachi's mind instantly.
There were Yashiro, Inaho, Tekka and others visiting his father after the Nine-Tailed Demon Foxs Attack, accusing the Village of injustice.
There were other clan members who were also dissatisfied with the Village, believing that the Village was oppressing the Uchiha.
Finally, there were the Uchiha Clan's secret monthly meetings, where the clan members' fervent emotions were vented beneath the shrine.
"Izumi."
Itachi suddenly stopped.
"It's best if you don't tell anyone else about these things... including the clan members, and your mother too..."
Izumi: "Oh, okay... If Itachi says so, I'll do it..."
Watching Izumi leave, Itachi, standing at his doorstep, was silent for a moment before opening the door and entering the courtyard.
"Brother~, you're back~!"
His sister, with a smile on her face, pouted the next second.
"Hmph! You didn't call me for morning training again..."
Itachi: "That's because Sako, you sleep too much."
"No, I don't... Anyway, I'll definitely wake up early tomorrow~!" Sako said, biting her teeth firmly.
Looking at his adorable sister, Itachi decided from the bottom of his heart that he must protect everything.
At least... protect his sister... At the same time, Hyuga Clan Residence.
Naruto stretched lazily and slowly got up.
"Naruto-kun, your clothes are dry, I've placed them at the door..."
The sunlight shone on the antique Japanese paper sliding door.
The kneeling figure of the branch family maid cast a shadow.
Naruto stood in the center of the room, expressionless.
The next second, Naruto called out to the maid who was about to leave: "Can you bring them in? It wouldn't be good if I caught a cold."
"..."
The branch family maid's figure paused slightly.