Konoha's Internal Strife!

Once the patrol guards had led the children away, Roy returned to his room.

"Itachi, take a look at this."

Roy handed a box to Itachi.

"Hm?"

"This is..."

After opening the box, there was a note inside.

The content written on it was precisely information regarding Benteng Village.

"Our deduction was correct; this place should be a relatively large stronghold for the Satori Organization."

"It might even be some kind of branch office."

"We should be able to obtain quite a bit of information here."

Roy said directly.

"However..."

Itachi had clearly seen the previous battle.

Even though Roy's fighting had looked effortless, Itachi knew that the weakest ninja Roy had just cut down was at the level of a Special Jōnin.

And that was just in the village on the outskirts; if they went to Benteng Village and charged straight into the enemy's main base...

What would happen to Izumi?

Itachi dared not be arrogant enough to think he could protect Izumi while distracted by facing countless powerful ninjas.

"Worried about Izumi?"

"Actually, Izumi's strength is quite formidable."

"Right, Izumi?"

Roy looked at Izumi, who was standing to the side, with a smile.

"I... I... should have the ability to protect myself."

Izumi nodded, a rosy flush appearing on her face.

One had to remember, she was a girl who had set her heart on following in the footsteps of Uchiha Itachi.

Although she had never revealed her feelings due to shyness, her unremitting efforts had not been in vain.

Despite only holding the rank of Chūnin, Izumi's strength was at least at the level of a Special Jōnin.

Coupled with her Sharingan and specialized medical ninjutsu, she was formidable.

Most importantly, this girl did not look like she had any combat power at all.

It was very easy to confuse opponents during a fight.

This was another invisible bonus.

The only reason Roy had kept Itachi guarding Izumi was simply because he wanted to bring them closer together.

Of course, Roy had no intention of being a matchmaker.

He just wanted Itachi to know that, besides his younger brother, there were other bonds to be found in the village.

"Alright, let's set off."

"We've wasted too much time already."

"I don't want to return to the village after our mission is over only to find that everything has already been settled."

After Roy finished speaking, he set off immediately.

Itachi and Izumi followed closely behind.

Inside Konoha.

In an underground palace.

"The second group of Uchiha has returned to the village, bringing back a group of children."

"However, they were all sent to the Uchiha Compound, where a separate residential area has been prepared for them."

"For now, Uchiha Roy and the other two are still out executing their mission."

"There haven't been many changes in the village; everything is proceeding according to your previous arrangements, sir."

A Root ninja knelt on one knee before Shimura Danzō, reporting the situation rapidly.

"Hm, leave the Uchiha clan outside alone for now."

"That brat is somewhat strange; sending ordinary members out is no longer enough to take him down."

"Focus on arranging the matters within the village first."

"In half a month, I want the Uchiha to be driven back to the edges of Konoha once again!"

After Danzō finished speaking, the member of Root vanished.

"I need Hashirama Cells."

Just as the Root member vanished, Orochimaru appeared on the scene.

Furthermore, he opened the conversation by demanding Hashirama Cells directly.

"I recall that I already gave you this month's allotment."

Danzo narrowed his eyes, speaking with a hint of displeasure.

Orochimaru had been visiting far too frequently lately.

Danzo was beginning to have the unsettling illusion that the Orochimaru before him was slowly becoming uncontrollable.

"Some issues have arisen. I have obtained a large number of high-quality test subjects and require a significant amount of Hashirama Cells for experimentation."

"After this batch, I estimate the experiments will be essentially complete."

"Lord Danzo, do you not wish to obtain this power as soon as possible?"

Orochimaru flicked out his long, serpentine tongue, his expression sinister.

"I will arrange for someone to deliver them, you..."

"I need them now. Twenty portions!"

Orochimaru interrupted Danzo, holding up his fingers.

"Very well."

Although Danzo felt the urge to lash out, he suppressed his simmering anger, keeping the importance of the research results in mind.

Inside the Hokage Office.

"Orochimaru has been acting strange lately, Sensei, you..."

A ninja appeared within the Hokage Office, speaking with a calm expression.

"I am aware."

"However... what do you intend to do?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the white-haired man before him, a look of curiosity appearing on his face.

This fellow usually paid no mind to the affairs of the village.

He rarely even listened to his instructions.

It was only when he needed to be assigned to specific, special missions that they would have any contact.

Indeed, this white-haired man was none other than Jiraiya.

One of his disciples.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was well aware of what Jiraiya was resentful about, given his personality.

However, Sarutobi Hiruzen had already chosen this path, so there was nothing left to say.

"Detain him."

"Otherwise..."

"BOOM!"

At that very moment, a massive explosion erupted in the distance.

The night in Konoha was instantly jolted awake.

"Lord Hokage, Lord Shinnosuke... he has been killed!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen stood up, looking toward the direction of the explosion.

Just as he prepared to investigate, an Anbu ninja appeared in the room.

The ninja spoke with a panicked tone.

"What?!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's usual composure shattered; his figure wavered, and he nearly collapsed back into his seat.

Fortunately, Jiraiya caught him just in time.

"Who did this?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen seemed to age ten years in an instant, the wrinkles on his face deepening.

"It... it was... Orochimaru..."

The Anbu ninja stammered out the name of the culprit.

"Orochimaru?"

"Jiraiya, you..."

Before Sarutobi Hiruzen could even issue an order, Jiraiya had already bolted out.

He had been preparing to detain Orochimaru, and now he intended to see exactly what that man had been up to lately.

In Jiraiya's eyes, that kind of evil research would eventually destroy Orochimaru and even threaten Konoha.

Yet who could have imagined that Orochimaru would choose to make his move this very night?

Could it be that his research was already complete?

Thinking of this, Jiraiya increased his speed.

The ninjas within the village also mobilized at the very first moment.

In a patch of woods inside the village.

"Are you planning to block me?"

Looking at the familiar figure before him, Orochimaru said with a calm expression.

"No, I was just out to buy some things."

The person passing by at this moment was none other than Hatake Kakashi.

He had been detached from the Anbu for some time, having been guarding Naruto.

Therefore, he was unaware of the order to pursue Orochimaru.

The two of them brushed past each other just like that.

Although Orochimaru could not be considered top-tier in terms of raw combat power, there were few who could stop him if he truly wanted to leave.

At the very least, there were currently few in Konoha who could be certain of stopping Orochimaru alone.

Late at night, Sarutobi Hiruzen stood at the entrance of the Scripture Pavilion, looking at the two corpses on the ground.

One of them was his son, Sarutobi Shinnosuke, and the other was his daughter-in-law.

He had originally intended to let Shinnosuke succeed as Hokage in another two years, but now...