Senior

However, Tayuya ignored Jirobo's mockery. As her unease intensified, she forced herself to stop.

But when she thought of the mission Orochimaru had entrusted to her... Tayuya unconsciously bit her lip until it bled. No, she couldn't just leave like this. "Does anyone have a way to scout ahead? I feel like there's a trap up there."

"?" Jirobo had never seen Tayuya look like this before. Though still puzzled, he kept quiet for the moment.

"You..." Sakon wanted to say something.

Tayuya snapped irritably, "I'm not joking with you!"

Watching this, Uzumaki Reikawa looked at Tayuya curiously. He hadn't exposed any flaws at all. Was this the legendary woman's intuition?

Back on this side, just as the Sound Four were about to cautiously investigate their surroundings, the trees before them suddenly swayed from side to side, their leaves rustling as they gave the group sinister smiles.

What the—damn it, genjutsu?!

Yet after breaking free of the genjutsu, they found themselves bound to the ground by several golden chains...

That was much easier than binding a waterfall, Uzumaki Reikawa muttered to himself. He poked at them and said casually, "Later, I need to ask Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki about this. Anyone can just stroll into Konoha, and they don't even know to strengthen the security."

"..." Faced with such a nearly hopeless situation, the four struggled desperately to break free, but it was completely useless. Their chakra had also nearly frozen. Tayuya stared at the red-haired guy before her. Just who the hell was this guy?!

Tsunade was sorting through documents when, under Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura's pressing questions about Danzo's death, she directly tossed the files she had found regarding Danzo's various experiments in front of them.

Utatane Koharu picked up the documents. As she read, her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, but her attention remained fixed on a line of intelligence analysis. "Uchiha?"

Tsunade snorted, her tone extremely unpleasant. "Danzo brought this upon himself. Look at what he's done all these years."

After reading the files, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura exchanged a glance. They had no rebuttal. Danzo had indeed gone too far.

"And let me remind you two advisors: I am the Hokage now! At worst, what right do you have to question me about these matters?!" After learning of the First Hokage Cells experiments, Tsunade had been in an extremely bad mood. Save face? What face? Could the face of two advisors possibly be greater than the Hokage's?

Hearing such blunt words, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura's expressions immediately darkened. Mitokado Homura was about to say something when Tsunade cut him off. "Enough. I know what you want to say. As for this Uchiha, Konoha will investigate him to the end. No matter what, Konoha's people should be judged by Konoha itself."

"..."

Having their words choked back, the two advisors looked rather stifled. Still, reason told them it was best not to provoke Tsunade while she was angry.

That was what Tsunade said, but who knew what the actual situation was? If this hadn't happened so suddenly, she might never have learned about any of it.

Perhaps she ought to thank that Uchiha fellow.

After Tsunade "saw off" the two advisors...

Bang, bang, bang...! Knocking sounded at the door again. Tsunade rubbed her forehead and sighed as if resigned to her fate. What was it this time?!

"Come in."

Creak—creak—

When the door opened, Uzumaki Reikawa walked in, dragging the Sound Four behind him one by one. He reported to Tsunade, "Today, I found these four acting suspiciously outside Sasuke's hospital room in Konoha. It looked like they were planning something bad. I don't know how they infiltrated the village."

Tsunade frowned as she looked them over from head to toe. Then she suddenly spotted the Curse Marks on their bodies. "Orochimaru?!"

At that thought, Tsunade's headache immediately worsened. Had that guy still not given up on Sasuke? But then again...

"Didn't you train with Jiraiya today?"

Uzumaki Reikawa scratched his head. "Lord Jiraiya is focusing on teaching Naruto ninjutsu right now. I've already learned the basic techniques. I caught these guys when I went to visit Sasuke."

"Is that so?" Tsunade muttered. "Well done!"

After handing the four over to Tsunade, Uzumaki Reikawa was about to leave when Tsunade called out to him.

"I remember you said before that you came from Kusagakure?"

Uzumaki Reikawa nodded.

"I have a mission for you. Go to Kusagakure with Kakashi. The Anbu recently received word that there seems to be another member of the Uzumaki Clan there," Tsunade said. "But you must keep this trip to Kusagakure confidential. Her situation there doesn't seem very good. I hope you can keep your emotions under control."

Was it Karin?! Uzumaki Reikawa suddenly thought. "Mm, understood!"

Watching Uzumaki Reikawa leave, Tsunade rubbed the space between her brows. Though the kid wasn't as disobedient as Jiraiya had claimed, they had both come from Kusagakure. Did he really not know Karin?

According to Jiraiya's information, Akatsuki seemed to be making some moves, though their specific target was unknown. Trouble after trouble piled up. Tsunade slumped over the desk. She should never have accepted the Hokage's mess in the first place.

Over at Akatsuki, Uchiha Gen had arrived at the agreed meeting place early. Seeing Itachi, he sighed. "You came so early. I even arrived ahead of time."

Itachi didn't say much, merely giving a faint hum. He was neither servile nor overbearing, yet he didn't give off an arrogant impression either.

Strictly speaking, this was their first official meeting.

Itachi wanted to find an opportunity to obtain some information from Uchiha Gen, while Uchiha Gen was considering how to get closer to him.

After meeting up, the two ran through the forest toward the Five-Tails Jinchuriki. The journey was rather dull, and neither of them spoke first.

Finally feeling that he would get sick if this silence continued, Uchiha Gen decided to change the mood and spoke first. "Um, Uchiha Itachi? Can I call you Itachi?"

"Mm." Itachi remained wary of Uchiha Gen's words. He didn't know what Gen meant, so he didn't continue the topic.

"Did you eat breakfast this morning?"

Itachi: "..."

The mood had certainly changed, but it had only become more awkward.

After saying it, Uchiha Gen felt that the topic had been painfully awkward. He had assumed Itachi wouldn't respond, but Itachi unexpectedly said slowly, "I did... a rice ball."

The conversation had continued, but Uchiha Gen no longer knew what to say.

The atmosphere fell silent again. After about another ten minutes of travel, Itachi suddenly took the initiative and asked Uchiha Gen, "What do you think of me?"

Uchiha Gen was startled upon hearing that. After thinking about it, though, he understood. Regarding the question, Gen gave it serious thought before responding, "You already have an answer in your heart, don't you? Besides, you don't need to worry that I'll stab you in the back during this mission. Their deaths have nothing to do with me."

Itachi suddenly smiled in relief. That was true. Anyone who killed their own clansmen deserved no good end! "You weren't in the clan back then? Or rather, you're not from this era?"

"Indeed."

"Then, Senior, are you from Madara's era?" Uchiha Itachi's question was also a test. Whether Gen answered or not, and however he answered, Itachi could obtain some of the information he wanted.

Uchiha Gen thought about how he had been reanimated. Hiss... maybe that really was possible. "If I said I was, would you call me your ancestor?"

Itachi: "..." His eyelid twitched. For the first time, an exceedingly rare emotion arose within him. Why did this Uchiha "senior" seem so damn irritating?