After dinner, Minato Namikaze and his wife left Uzumaki Kuming's home with Naruto and Yoriichi.
A cool night breeze swept through the yard. Beside the waterfall, Uzumaki Kuming sat casually on the ground, resting and meditating. He gazed at the lake before him, letting his mind go blank as he enjoyed this rare moment of peace.
"Rustle."
Footsteps through the grass sounded behind Uzumaki Kuming. His vacant gaze gradually focused as he sensed someone approaching.
"Master."
"Lord Kuming!"
Two voices rang out almost at once. Uzumaki Kuming rose and turned around. Shisui Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki stood quietly behind him, both looking weary from the road. Kuming had previously sent them to other countries to gather information about Akatsuki in the Land of Rain.
Later, as the Ghost incident began to have a growing impact in the Land of Fire, Uzumaki Kuming secretly ordered the dispatched teams to return to Konoha, intending to send them to investigate Wufang City.
But because of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the investigation had begun many days ahead of schedule. The affair in Wufang City had already more or less come to an end, and Shisui and Kisame had only just returned to Konoha.
They hadn't even entered the village. As soon as they got back, they had come straight to report to Uzumaki Kuming. They knew very well that Kuming was the one leading Akatsuki, not Minato Namikaze, the Fifth Hokage, who was in charge of the village.
"Shisui, Kisame."
"You're back."
Seeing the two of them, Uzumaki Kuming smiled warmly. He lifted his right hand slightly, and a gentle force helped the pair up from their half-kneeling positions.
"How did it go? Did you find anything?"
Though Shisui and Kisame looked travel-worn, they seemed to be in good spirits. Kuming asked directly. It had been