One Tree Cannot Hold Up a Forest

"It's starting to get colder, chirp chirp."

"Yeah, chirp chirp. We need to hurry up and stockpile food. Are you still planning to hide in the Gray House this year?"

Two little birds landed on the windowsill, shaking out their feathers as they chirped away.

"Yeah, that's what Father said. Speaking of which, I found a nest of new insects beside the Calla Lily today. Chirp chirp, they were really delicious."

"Why aren't you saying anything, chirp chirp?"

"Chirp... that human over there seems to have been staring at us."

"Hehe, these dumb patients are always like this. Chirp chirp, can you understand what we're saying~?"

"I can. Can you understand me?"

Sasuke answered them.

The two little birds flapped their wings in fright and hurriedly flew away.

So this pendant called the "Heart of Animal Language" allowed its wearer to communicate directly with animals!

After a while, the two birds flew back.

This time, a whole flock of different birds followed behind them.

"Are you sure he can talk?"

A gray magpie poked its head out and asked.

"It's true! He suddenly spoke to us and scared the life out of me! Chirp chirp!"

The first little bird said, still shaken. Seeing that it had so many friends around, it gathered its courage and asked again:

"Hey! Say something! Chirp chirp!"

Sasuke was somewhat speechless, but he replied, "Hello."

The flock erupted again, wings flapping wildly.

A few timid birds scrambled away outright. The birds that remained all stared curiously at Sasuke with beady eyes.

"I know you!" a Crow suddenly said.

"Last night, near the Ninja Academy, did you fight someone?"

"That's right."

Sasuke nodded.

Before long, Sasuke suddenly realized what these birds could do for him.

"The Anbu ninja who fought me—does any of you know anything about him?"

Sasuke asked.

The birds looked at one another. In the end, it was still the Crow who answered:

"Maybe my Cousins know something."

Sasuke got up, took out a piece of bread from beside his bed, gently placed it on the balcony, and said:

"Please. That person's identity is very important to me. Where he went after the fight, his name, any information about him—I want to know it all."

At the sight of the bread, the birds became excited and rushed forward to peck at it.

"Don't worry! We'll all keep an eye out for you!"

With crumbs still clinging to their beaks, the birds had their fill in the early autumn.

Konoha, Hokage Building, inside the office.

"You finally decided to come see me."

The Third Hokage bit down on his pipe and spoke calmly.

"Sarutobi Sensei, it's been a while!"

Jiraiya greeted him.

"Still chasing that daydream of yours about the Child of Prophecy?"

the Third Hokage asked.

Ten minutes earlier, when he heard that Jiraiya wished to see him, he had nearly been overjoyed and hurriedly had someone invite in one of the legendary Sannin.

Konoha's combat strength was dwindling.

With danger lurking on all sides, this was precisely when it needed people like him to defend it.

Since the Second Shinobi World War, his three disciples had either run away, gone foolish, or gone mad.

Orochimaru had defected from the village, Tsunade had developed hemophobia, while Jiraiya wandered the world in a crazed haze, constantly babbling about some Child of Prophecy.

Whenever Hiruzen Sarutobi thought of it, a wave of desolation rose in his heart.

"It's not a daydream! In fact, I came to see you this time because of this matter."

Jiraiya answered.

I really shouldn't have gotten my hopes up.

The Third's gaze dimmed, and his spirits sank again.

"I can now confirm that Uchiha Sasuke is the Child of Prophecy I've been searching for!"

"Oh?"

The Third Hokage gently set down his pipe. Uchiha Sasuke again.

"Then congratulations."

The Third Hokage replied flatly.

"But last night, Anbu personnel suddenly attacked Uchiha Sasuke and nearly killed him!"

The Third was startled. He looked toward Kakashi, who nodded to confirm that Jiraiya was telling the truth.

"Then someone must have been impersonating them."

After thinking it over, the Third Hokage answered. He still had great confidence in his control over the Anbu.

In truth, what concerned him most was Sarutobi Asuma's movements.

Over the past two days, he had invited Asuma to meals and sent people to watch his Movements closely, but they had found nothing suspicious.

The boy seemed to spend all day courting women, occasionally going out for barbecue with the disciples of the three Ino-Shika-Cho clans. No matter how one looked at it, he did not seem like someone preparing to defect.

As for Uchiha Sasuke, reports merely said that he had been diligently Training lately.

In the Third Hokage's view, this matter could practically be brought to a close. After all, the current priority should be fortifying the village's defenses.

Jiraiya argued a little longer, but the Third said nothing more. He merely had someone bring over the itinerary logs of every Anbu member from the previous day for Jiraiya to inspect.

He also gave a general explanation of the ninjutsu used by each Anbu ninja.

There was no information related to a Combat Medical Ninja among them.

"If it really was an impersonator, Sarutobi Sensei, do you have anyone you suspect?"

Jiraiya had no choice but to concede and continue asking.

It seemed it truly had not been the Third Hokage's doing.

The Third shook his head.

"Indecision breeds endless trouble!"

At the high-level meeting, Danzo's furious face flashed through the Third's mind.

"Could it have been Lord Danzo?"

Jiraiya asked directly.

His thoughts having suddenly been exposed, the Third was startled, but he quickly steadied himself. "Don't say anything that harms unity."

"I understand."

Jiraiya turned and left.

"Kakashi, stop him! Don't let him do anything foolish!"

the Third hurriedly said.

As he watched the two depart, a deep weariness washed over him.

Konoha was now filled with internal factions, while enemies watched greedily from outside.

It had only the hollow frame of greatness left, while inside it had long since become frail and weak.

This thatched hut, leaking from every side and on the verge of collapse...

He wondered how long this rotten tree could continue to hold it up.

Beneath Hokage Rock, in an underground tunnel, the Konoha Assassination Special Forces · Root base.

Torchlight flickered, casting Jiraiya's white hair in an orange-red glow.

"What a gloomy fellow, hiding away in dark underground tunnels all day."

Jiraiya mocked.

"And you? What brings you here again? Are there no women bathing in the village today?"

Shimura Danzō shot back.

"Nothing much. I just came to warn you."

Ignoring the mockery, Jiraiya's expression turned terrifying.

"If you send someone after Uchiha Sasuke again, I will kill you!"

"Is that so? Then I'd like to see whether you truly have the strength to do it."

Shimura Danzō was enraged. He rose to his feet and faced Jiraiya directly.

"Jiraiya-senpai!"

Kakashi finally caught up. "Lord Danzo."

After respectfully bowing, Kakashi stepped forward, tugged at Jiraiya's clothes, and urged him to leave at once.

"Give my regards to that Combat Medical Ninja! Next time, he definitely won't be so lucky."

Jiraiya was dragged out by Kakashi. Even as he left, he did not forget to turn around and continue mocking him.

However, those words sounded rather baffling to Danzo.

Sasuke had been assassinated.

Medical... combat ninja.

Could it be...?

Danzo sat facing the wall once more, the firelight casting a huge shadow upon it.

Danzo pondered the matter and once again sank into deep thought.