In the ninja world, it was not uncommon for ninja to have side businesses.
For example, the Nara Clan owned a forest of its own in the Land of Fire. In the original story, Shikamaru had used that forest to devise Hidan's burial.
Danzo's Root also had its own enterprises to keep its underground black-ops forces running.
There were far too many examples like that...
Where there were people, there was the ninja world.
Rather than let others meddle here, he might as well do it himself. That was Akira Sarutobi's thinking.
At the very least... he would make this place better than anyone else could.
"What is Nonō doing?" Akira Sarutobi sat down and took a sip of tea.
"She went to the Land of Waves to gather intelligence."
The Land of Waves... was only a few hours away. They would need to cross the sea.
With a ninja's speed, they could get there even faster.
The Land of Waves was geographically similar to the Land of Whirlpools. It lay north of the Land of Whirlpools.
When Kirigakure wanted to invade Konoha, it would generally choose to land at either the Ruins of the Land of Whirlpools or the Land of Waves.
The Land of Waves had the advantage of having no ninja village. It was a small, neutral country.
Its disadvantage was likewise its tiny size and poverty. It could not conceal a large force, so only small units could roam around and fight.
"I arranged for Nonō's Root companions to stay at the manor..."
Ino Yamanaka brought up another arrangement.
To avoid alerting the enemy and arousing Kirigakure's suspicions, Nonō had personally gone to the Land of Waves to investigate the enemy's movements.
In terms of intelligence gathering, perhaps only the future Kabuto could compare to Nonō.
The Root members had been hidden away, concealing their existence.
"Mm, I understand."
Akira Sarutobi got up, intending to take a bath and get some proper sleep.
Just then, a string of startled cries suddenly rang out from outside.
"What happened?" Ino Yamanaka immediately rushed out.
By the time Akira Sarutobi arrived as well, the disturbance had already subsided.
Several Root ninja wore masks and their distinctive Anbu uniforms.
Each of them radiated killing intent, and at its center...
"It's a child?" Ino Yamanaka cried out.
Before them, a little girl about Kakashi's age was pinned to the ground by a Root ninja, struggling constantly.
She had light purple hair, tied into a braid behind her head.
A jumble of hurried footsteps sounded.
Several bruised and battered gang members walked over, staring at Akira Sarutobi while trembling.
"M-my lord... we really couldn't stop her..."
To maintain secrecy for the upcoming operation with Kirigakure, the gang members served as a front.
To ordinary outsiders, it merely looked like an internal gang dispute, after which local security had suddenly improved.
But in reality... this was Konoha's secret operational base.
Since it was a secret location, outsiders naturally could not be allowed to know of it, much less enter.
Of course they knew about Akira Sarutobi's ruthless methods.
The title Black Reaper had long since spread throughout the gang.
Now that someone had gotten in and they had failed in their duties, they were terrified, afraid Akira Sarutobi would punch them to death.
"Is she a Kirigakure spy?"
Ino Yamanaka curled her lips and instinctively considered the possibility.
Kirigakure's people were certainly capable of using children as spies to obtain intelligence.
"Wait."
Just as Ino Yamanaka was about to use the Yamanaka Clan Secret Technique to stir up the girl's brain, Akira Sarutobi raised a hand and stopped her.
Looking again at the little girl lying on the ground, Akira Sarutobi calmly asked, "What's your name?"
After struggling in vain, the little girl's eyes gradually dimmed. Then, she gave an answer that made Akira Sarutobi's eyes light up.
"Crimson Lotus."
The First Subordinate?
"Crimson Lotus..."
Akira Sarutobi's eyes brightened.
He compared her appearance with the image in his memories.
In the end... Akira Sarutobi was certain.
This little girl was one of the reincarnation vessels Orochimaru had chosen in the original story.
"What can she do?" Akira Sarutobi remained impassive, but countless thoughts flashed through his mind like lightning.
The gang underlings who had been questioned hurriedly began explaining all at once.
She had skills unlike ordinary people, namely taijutsu.
An agile body and excellent reactions, meaning outstanding physical abilities.
More importantly...
"She knows ninjutsu. She can breathe fire..."
The gang members watched Akira Sarutobi and spoke cautiously.
"Alright, this has nothing to do with you anymore. Leave... Keep your mouths shut and pretend none of this ever happened..."
Akira Sarutobi waved a hand. The men breathed sighs of relief, bowed, and immediately left.
"Why did you break into our manor?"
With his hands behind his back, Akira Sarutobi signaled the Root ninja to release her.
"..."
Crimson Lotus lay on the ground, raised her head, and looked around, her eyes filled with despair.
Everyone who remained was powerful beyond her ability to resist.
If that was the case... she simply... could not get revenge.
Akira Sarutobi said, "Revenge?"
As Akira Sarutobi questioned her, the truth quickly came to light.
Crimson Lotus's parents had been a pair of Rogue Ninja.
During the Warring States Period, countless clans had fought one another.
Later, the Senju and Uchiha joined forces to establish Konoha, and many clans joined them.
But some clans did not like Konoha, so they either went into hiding under new identities or left the Land of Fire.
Crimson Lotus's ancestors had probably been one such insignificant group.
She had originally lived with her parents, carefree and happy.
Later, that woman from the Twelve Guardian Shinobi appeared and began consolidating control over the port town beneath her feet.
Crimson Lotus's parents were relatively upright people, so they protested immediately.
As a result, that woman slaughtered their entire family in the middle of the night.
Crimson Lotus had escaped by luck. After hiding, she began thinking of ways to take revenge.
Over the past seven days, the port town had undergone repeated changes. Unable to restrain herself, she had planned to sneak in and take a look, only to have her trail discovered.
That was probably what happened.
"Revenge, huh."
Akira Sarutobi nodded.
"Come with me."
He signaled for her to follow. Crimson Lotus did not understand, but she slowly got to her feet and followed Akira Sarutobi and Ino Yamanaka.
After entering a room on the side of the manor, Akira Sarutobi opened the door.
A woman lay on the bed.
That woman dripping in jewels was Crimson Lotus's enemy, as well as a former member of the Twelve Guardian Shinobi.
According to Ino Yamanaka, after the incident, the Konoha High Command had contacted the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire.
That very night, the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire immediately stripped her of her position and happily announced that a replacement could be selected from among Konoha Ninja.
Setting aside that gesture of goodwill.
This action alone was one of the butterfly effects caused by Akira Sarutobi's identity as a transmigrator.
After all, the Twelve Guardian Shinobi had always been Rogue Ninja since Konoha's founding.
In the original story, the first member of the Twelve Guardian Shinobi with a Konoha Ninja identity would not appear until years later, when Asuma grew up and joined them.
History... had changed because of this.
Because of Akira Sarutobi's involvement, the ninja world's course was racing ever further toward an unpredictable future.
"!"
It was her!
Enemies meeting face-to-face made hatred burn all the fiercer.
An expression of extreme hatred instantly appeared on Crimson Lotus's face.
Her blood boiling, she was about to rush forward when Ino Yamanaka stopped her with one hand.
"Look carefully."
Ino Yamanaka gestured for Crimson Lotus to examine the woman's condition.
As she inspected her, Crimson Lotus gradually calmed down. "What... happened to her?"
The woman lay motionless on the bed with her eyes open, staring at the ceiling.
Other than breathing, she seemed no different from a corpse.
"This one has already become an idiot..."
Ino Yamanaka said regretfully.
The enemy you wanted to kill had become an idiot.
That was what happened when the Yamanaka Clan's secret technique violently invaded someone's brain.
"!"
Upon learning the truth, Crimson Lotus dropped to her knees with a thud, her gaze turning utterly blank.
She had wanted revenge, but she had not wanted... revenge like this...
"Someone has already avenged you, more or less..."
Ino Yamanaka patted her head.
"My young master knocked her down with just a few punches..."
Before you continue