Senior

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

But thinking of the mission Orochimaru had entrusted to her... Tayuya bit her lip until it bled. No, she couldn't just leave like this. "Which of you has a way to scout ahead? I have a feeling there's a trap up there."

"?" Jirobo had never seen Tayuya with such an expression. Though still confused, he temporarily shut his mouth.

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

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

Seeing this situation, Uzumaki Reikawa watched Tayuya with curiosity. He hadn't revealed any flaws, so was this the legendary sixth sense of a woman?

Returning to the scene, just as the Sound Four were about to attempt a probe of their surroundings, the large trees before them suddenly began to sway left and right, the leaves rustling as they grinned at them eerily.

What is this—oh no, a genjutsu?!

However, by the time they broke free from the genjutsu's control, they found themselves already bound to the ground by several golden chains...

This was much easier than binding a waterfall, Uzumaki Reikawa muttered to himself. He poked at them and said to himself, "I'll have to ask Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki later; people just waltz into Konoha like this, they really need to tighten up the security."

"..."

Facing this near-hopeless situation, the group struggled desperately to break free, but it was useless, and their chakra had fallen into a state of near-stagnation. Tayuya looked at the red-haired guy before her: Who on earth is this guy?!!

Tsunade was busy organizing files. Under the intense questioning of Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura regarding Danzo's death, Tsunade simply slammed the documents she had unearthed concerning Danzo's various experiments onto the table in front of them.

Utatane Koharu picked up the files, her brow furrowing imperceptibly as she read, yet her focus remained on the intelligence analysis in that one line: "Uchiha?"

Tsunade scoffed, her tone icy. "Danzo brought this upon himself. Look at what he's been doing all these years!"

After finishing the files, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura exchanged glances; there was no refuting it. Danzo had indeed gone too far.

"And please remember, you two advisors, that I am the Hokage now! If you want to talk about things going poorly, what right do you have to interrogate me?!" After learning about the First Hokage Cells experiments, Tsunade's mood had soured completely. Give them face? What face? Was the face of two advisors larger than that of the Hokage?

Hearing such blunt words, the expressions of Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura turned ugly. Mitokado Homura had just started to speak when Tsunade cut him off directly. "That's enough. I know what you want to say. Regarding this Uchiha, Konoha will investigate to the end. Regardless of anything else, the people of Konoha should be judged by us, Konoha."

"..."

Stifled by her words, the two advisors looked somewhat aggrieved, but their reason told them it was best not to provoke Tsunade while she was in a rage.

Tsunade said as much, but as for the actual situation, who could say? If not for the sudden incident, she might never have known about these things.

Perhaps she even owed a debt of gratitude to this Uchiha fellow.

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

Bang, bang, bang...! The knocking sounded again. Tsunade rubbed her temples and sighed with resignation. What is it now?!

"Come in."

Clatter—clatter—

As the door pushed open, Uzumaki Reikawa walked in, dragging the Sound Four behind him. He requested instructions from Tsunade: "Today, I found these four guys acting suspiciously in front of the hospital where Sasuke is staying. It seems they were up to no good. I have no idea how they managed to sneak in."

Hearing this, Tsunade frowned as she looked at them, sizing them up from head to toe, until she suddenly spotted the Curse Mark on their bodies: "Orochimaru?!"

At the thought, Tsunade felt her headache worsen. Had that guy still not given up on Sasuke? But then again:

"Weren't you training with Jiraiya today?"

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

"Is that so?" Tsunade muttered to herself, "Well done!"

Uzumaki Reikawa wanted to leave after handing the four over to Tsunade, but Tsunade called him back.

"Remember you said before that you came from Kusagakure?"

Uzumaki Reikawa nodded.

"I have a mission for you. You and Kakashi are to head to Kusagakure together. Anbu recently received intelligence that there seems to be another member of the Uzumaki Clan in Kusagakure," Tsunade said. "But this trip to Kusagakure must be kept strictly confidential. Her condition in Kusagakure doesn't seem very good; I hope you can keep your emotions in check."

Is it Karin?! Uzumaki Reikawa suddenly thought. "Understood!"

Watching Uzumaki Reikawa walk out, Tsunade rubbed the bridge of her nose. Although the kid wasn't as disobedient as Jiraiya had described, since he also came from Kusagakure, did he really not know Karin?

According to news from Jiraiya's side, the Akatsuki seemed to be making moves, though their specific target was unknown. Troubles piled up one after another. Tsunade slumped over her desk; she should have known better than to take on this rotten mess of a Hokage position.

On the Akatsuki side, Uchiha Gen had arrived early at the agreed-upon meeting spot. Seeing Itachi, he sighed, "You're very early, even though I arrived ahead of time."

Itachi didn't say much, merely giving a faint "hm." He was neither servile nor overbearing, and he didn't give off an arrogant vibe.

Strictly speaking, this was their first formal meeting.

Itachi wanted to find an opportunity to extract some intelligence from Uchiha Gen, while Uchiha Gen was busy thinking about how to strike up a rapport.

After meeting, the two ran through the forest, heading toward the location of the Five-Tails Jinchuriki. The process was quite dull, and neither side spoke first.

Finally feeling that continuing this silence might drive him crazy, Uchiha Gen decided to change the atmosphere and spoke up first. "Um, Uchiha Itachi? Can I call you Itachi?"

"Hm." Regarding Uchiha Gen's words, Itachi remained vigilant, unsure of what he was implying, so he didn't take the bait.

"Did you have breakfast this morning?"

Itachi: "..."

The atmosphere had indeed changed, but it had only become more awkward.

After saying that, Uchiha Gen felt the topic was a bit forced. He had expected Itachi not to respond, but unexpectedly, Itachi said slowly: "I ate... a rice ball."

The conversation had been picked up, yet Uchiha Gen found himself at a loss for what to say next.

The atmosphere fell silent once more. After walking for about another ten minutes, Itachi suddenly took the initiative to break the silence, asking Uchiha Gen, "How do you view me?"

Uchiha Gen was taken aback by the question, but after a moment of thought, he understood. He considered the question seriously before replying, "You already have the answer in your heart, don't you? Besides, you don't need to worry about me stabbing you in the back during this mission; whether you kill them or not has nothing to do with me."

Itachi smiled with a sudden sense of relief. It was true—those who slaughtered their own kin were destined for a wretched end. "Were you not in the clan back then? Or perhaps, are you not from this era?"

"Indeed."

"Then, is Senior from the same era as Madara?" Uchiha Itachi spoke these words as a probe; regardless of whether or how he answered, he would be able to glean some of the information he desired.

Uchiha Gen thought about how he had been summoned via the Impure World Reincarnation. Hiss... come to think of it, that might actually be true. "If I said yes, would you have to call me your ancestor?"

Itachi: "..." His eyelid twitched. For the first time, he felt a rare emotion: why did this Uchiha "senior" feel so incredibly insufferable?