Integration Movement

Three months have passed since Kazashiro took over as Acting Hokage.

In these three months, Kazashiro's methods have far exceeded the expectations of the advisory group.

Not only did they quickly stabilize the hearts of the people in Konoha, but they also uncovered a large number of spies lurking in the village and suppressed them all with the bloodiest methods.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had advised his disciple that doing so could potentially affect how the villagers and the Daimyo's Mansion viewed him.

After all, as the Hokage, one needs to present strength, composure, or even a bit radical to one's people, but one thing is absolutely forbidden: bloodshed and cruelty.

But Kazashiro refuted the other party with just one sentence.

"Wasn't the Second Hokage also a powerful and ruthless ninja? Teacher Sarutobi, being too protective of your reputation makes you seem weak to others."

Upon hearing this, Hiruzen fell silent. After pondering for a long time, he finally sighed, got up, and left the Hokage's Office.

From then on, this veteran, who served as the longest-serving Hokage and also as an advisor during the Fourth Generation's reign, gradually faded from public view.

Nighttime, at the Hyuga residence.

Hyuga Hiashi has been spending increasingly more time standing in the yard, lost in thought.

If Hizashi, standing behind Hiashi, hadn't seen the situation outside the clan territory with his Byakugan, he would have definitely thought that his older brother had developed Alzheimer's at such a young age.

"Recently, there have been more and more Internal Affairs Department ninjas gathering outside the clan's territory."

Hizashi spoke the words that Hiashi had kept hidden in his heart.

"I don't understand. No matter who becomes Hokage, the Hyuga Clan unconditionally obeys the orders of the higher-ups, so why are we still being targeted by this young Acting Hokage?"

Upon hearing Hizashi's words, Hiashi did not rebuke him for his overstepping his bounds this time. Instead, he spoke of the Hyuga Clan's predicament in a somewhat sorrowful tone.

"Could it be for our clan's property? During the Fourth Generation's reign, the village's economy did indeed experience some problems."

Hizashi thought of a possibility.

"This Acting Hokage is not as naive as he appears. He has a long-term vision, and we have misjudged him all along. Or rather, he did not reveal his ambitions until he took that position."

Hiashi shook his head, turned around, and looked seriously at his younger brother. "I have a premonition that the Hyuga Clan, no, the entire Konoha, will undergo a major transformation."

"This Acting Hokage seems to harbor a great deal of prejudice against the Main Family, but fortunately, he has always held goodwill towards the Branch Family. Hizashi, if anything goes wrong with the Main Family in the future, the Hyuga Clan will be entrusted to you."

Since there were no elders present where the two brothers were talking, Hiashi dropped his usual pretense and looked at Hizashi with a complex expression that was difficult to describe in words.

"Big brother..." Hizashi, somewhat dazed.

I haven't seen Hiashi make that expression in many years.

"Alright, you can leave now." Hiashi's expression suddenly changed, and he ordered Hizashi to leave in a stern tone.

As Hiashi finished speaking, a short, emaciated old man named Hyuga walked over, leaning on a cane.

"Hizashi? As a member of the Branch Family, you'd better stay away from the Main Family's territory, even if you are Hiashi's younger brother."

Hyuga Munakata, the eldest elder of the Hyuga Munekata Hyuga Clan, glanced at Hizashi with emotionless eyes, showing no regard for him whatsoever.

"Yes, Clan Head, Elder."

The Hizashi lowered his head and respectfully left the room.

Hearing that the other party had placed the Clan Head before him, a hint of dissatisfaction flashed in Hyuga Munekata's eyes, which he then expressed verbally. "It seems that our Branch Family leader still hasn't recognized his place."

"I'm very sorry, Elder, I will discipline him properly."

Hiashi's expression remained unchanged, as if the person being talked about wasn't his own brother.

"Well, the reason I came here is to ask when those guys in the Internal Affairs Department will be able to leave the clan's territory?" The Grand Elder nodded in satisfaction and then explained his purpose.

"I have already sent someone to contact the head of the Internal Affairs Department, but I haven't received a reply yet."

"Hmph, those Aburame Clan fellows, just because they're by Danzo's side, they don't even respect our Hyuga Clan anymore. Doesn't he know the relationship between our Hyuga Clan and the Daimyo's Daimyo's Mansion?"

The elder snorted coldly and slammed his cane hard against the ground.

The Sarutobi Clan, Hyuga Clan, and Nara Clan all have members holding positions in the Daimyo's Mansion and have closely related interests with the daimyo.

"Yes, I will definitely..." Just as Hiashi was about to give the other party a perfunctory reply, he suddenly seemed to realize something and carefully recalled what the Grand Elder had just said.

The relationship with the Daimyo's Mansion...

Based on the letter from a member of the Hyuga clan who was serving as an official in the Daimyo's Mansion some time ago, Hiashi seemed to understand why the Hyuga Clan had been targeted by the Internal Affairs Department.

Meanwhile, outside the Saki Port Formation, several dark figures were stealthily approaching the town under the cover of night.

"Who?!"

Just as they were about to enter the town, the leader suddenly stopped and called to a halt to the group behind him.

"Hmm? Not bad, you were able to sense my presence."

A woman's voice rang out, accompanied by a nauseating smell of meat, and the leading ninja visibly withered away.

A fireball was floating in the air in front of him, eventually returning to his side under Pakura's control.

"Scorching Release Pakura, weren't you already dead?"

One of them recognized Pakura's identity, took out Kunai from his pocket and held it in front of him, watching the movement of the opponent's fireball warily.

"Only concerned with what's in front of them, ignoring what's under their feet—is this all the ninjas of the Daimyo's Mansion's domain are capable of?"

Pakura held one of the fireballs in his hand, looking at the group of people in front of him with a mocking gaze.

"What?"

The people present were stunned for a moment, and then they were bound by dense black lines. Two of them were even tightly gripped by black hands that appeared out of nowhere.

"Who exactly are you people...?"

Just before he was about to be strangled to death, a ninja rolled his eyes and struggled to stay conscious.

"Integration Movement, why did the leader give us such a strange name?"

Pakura threw out the fireball and complained irritably.

Once everyone had been dealt with, Kakuzu emerged from the shadows and personally began to plunder their belongings.

"The name doesn't matter, as long as the Daimyo's Mansion's Konoha that did these things." Seeing that no one was left alive, Obito, who had been watching the battle, marveled at the strength of Kazashiro's subordinates and revealed himself.

"It's not exactly hard work, but your friend is really bold, daring to attack Daimyo's Mansion. I'm growing to like that kid more and more." Pakura clapped his hands and teased the young man in front of him.

Obito didn't reply, but instead waved his hand down. Soon, a group of the Internal Affairs Department ninjas appeared from the darkness with lightning speed, using professional techniques to erase the traces of the battle.