"How do you feel about the Chakra consumption?"
Inside the makeshift laboratory, Orochimaru was asking Nagato how he felt.
"It's a bit better than before, but the energy expenditure is still quite high."
Nagato truthfully reported his feelings.
Orochimaru's prosthetic eye was indeed useful, allowing him to unleash the Five Release Ninjutsu at will, but it consumed twice as much Chakra as the hand seals he used to release them.
"So that's how it is. It has this kind of drawback. Is it because the compatibility with the host is not high?"
Orochimaru scribbled in his notebook and then went off to do his own thing.
Nagato and the others were already used to Orochimaru's style, so they didn't say anything to disturb him, but stood aside quietly waiting for his instructions.
"Oh, it's Nagato. Here to check your prosthetic eye again?"
Just then, Hiruko arrived at the laboratory and greeted Nagato and the other two familiarly.
Before Nagato could respond, Hiruko, like Orochimaru, entered a state of complete absorption.
"It seems only you can use this prosthetic eye; we don't have that much Chakra to use."
Seeing the two busy at work, Yahiko smiled and put his arm around Nagato's shoulder, teasing him.
"Yes, aside from the five elemental jutsu, each time I release Storm Release, it also drains a large amount of my Chakra."
Nagato nodded honestly. Ever since the battle with the unknown Uchiha, he had tried his best not to use his prosthetic eye unless Orochimaru made a request.
The depletion of Chakra alone was enough to give him a headache.
"So, after we finish today's business, where should we go for dinner?"
Yahiko smiled and shook his head, starting to think about where to have dinner tonight.
"I heard Obito is coming back from the border in the next few days. Should we invite him to join us?"
Konan suddenly made a suggestion.
"Really? How about we invite Jiraiya- sensei too? And Kazashiro, our junior uncle should be back from the border soon, right?"
Yahiko enjoyed the lively scene and immediately agreed to Konan's suggestion.
"The border... I wonder how Kyusuke and the others are doing."
Hearing them mention the border, Nagato suddenly thought of her companions who were still in the Land of Rain.
"Kyusuke? They sent me a letter a while ago saying that the mysterious forces in Amegakure have stopped hunting them down."
Yahiko's face darkened as he thought of his comrades who had died at the hands of the enemy.
"Once Nagato's prosthetic eye is fully adjusted, let's say goodbye to Jiraiya- sensei."
Konan saw through Yahiko's thoughts and spoke up for him.
"Okay, that's fine then."
Yahiko nodded. Just then, Orochimaru had finished compiling the necessary data. He beckoned Nagato forward, reached out and gouged out the prosthetic eyes, then took them to the experimental table and started fiddling with them.
"Ouch, no matter how many times I look at it, my eyes still hurt."
Konan watched Orochimaru's practiced movements, covering her eyes as if she were the one having them gouged out.
"Me too."
Yahiko also quietly covered his eyes.
Meanwhile, Kazashiro, who had held a friendly discussion with Nine-Tails Kushina, left the Minato family and headed towards his own home.
The incident of accompanying Danzo to practice Wind Release late at night had left Kazashiro with a serious psychological trauma. Despite Kushina's attempts to persuade him to stay, Kazashiro insisted on going home to see his father.
As soon as Kazashiro entered, he saw Uchiha Shisui setting up electrical circuits in the front yard.
"Hey, Shisui, busy?"
After casually greeting Shisui, Kazashiro didn't linger and strode into the house.
Just as he had expected, Danzo had received news of his return to the village long ago and was now sitting in the living room, waiting for Kazashiro's arrival.
"You're back?"
Danzo glanced at Kazashiro, feeling very satisfied, but his tone remained indifferent.
"Yes, I'm back."
Kazashiro nodded honestly.
"Then let's prepare dinner."
Danzo didn't say anything more, but got up and went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.
Although most members of the Konoha Torture Department look fierce and menacing, like villains who need to kill several people to eat every day, in reality, the methods used by the Konoha Torture Department are not too cruel.
After ordering the prisoner brought by Kazashiro to be sent to Konoha Hospital for treatment of his burns, Yamanaka Inoichi, who was in charge of Konoha's Intelligence Department, disregarded the dark sky, put on his black trench coat, and hurriedly headed towards the Hokage Building.
Pushing open the door, Yamanaka Inoichi didn't see Sakumo, but instead saw Jiraiya sitting in the Hokage's seat, studying a crystal ball.
If he remembers correctly, this crystal ball should be the same model Third Hokage.
"Inoichi? Is there something you need so late?"
Hearing the door being pushed open, Jiraiya finally understood his teacher's feelings, but compared to his teacher, Jiraiya was much thicker-skinned.
Without batting an eye, Jiraiya and calmly inquired about the other party's purpose.
"I have read the memories from the minds of the prisoners sent back by Kazashiro, and I have now determined the hidden village they belonged to. In addition, there is something else that is very concerning."
"Oh? What's something that bothers you? Tell me about it."
Jiraiya's curiosity was piqued by Yamanaka Inoichi, and he gestured for the other party not to keep him in suspense.
"The attackers are ninjas from Kusagakure). Furthermore, there are others in their village..."
That evening, the previous Konoha F4, who had received the news, gathered together in a rare event.
The four of them sat in two rows around the table. Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura sat in one row, while Danzo and Hiruzen sat in the other.
Sakumo sat in the head seat, with Jiraiya and Yamanaka Inoichi standing behind him.
"I'm so sorry I'm late."
As the door was pushed open, Nara Shikaku's voice drifted into the room. He had just managed to appease his wife and hadn't even had time to eat before coming here for the meeting.
"Shikaku's arrival means everyone is here."
Sakumo smiled and nodded to the other person, gesturing for them to stand beside him, and then announced the start of the meeting.
"There's no room for negotiation on this matter. Since Kusagakure dared to attack Konoha, they should pay the price."
Danzo, who had already learned of the meeting's contents through his own channels, spoke in his characteristic hawkish style, immediately proposing to send troops to deal with Kusagakure.
"Danzo, you're being too radical! Kusagakure is an ally of Konoha, a village that has maintained friendly relations with us since the time of the First Hokage!"
Upon hearing Danzo's familiar words, Hiruzen transported back to his time as Hokage, and before Sakumo could speak, he refuted the latter's suggestion.
"Partner? Hiruzen, are you senile? Have you forgotten that during the Third Shinobi World War, Kusagakure and Iwagakure joined forces to attack Konoha?!"
Danzo his fist on the table, ready to tear Hiruzen apart.
"Kusagakure was forced into this situation by Ōnoki. Didn't they send people to mend relations with us after the war? Besides, what if Iwagakure retaliates against us if we attack Kusagakure?!"
"Then crush them all together, Hiruzen, you're too weak!"
"Danzo, I am the one— Sakumo is the Hokage!"
"You!"