All Avengers; The Corpse Has a Problem

Inside the Shadow Space.

"We're back!"

Uchiha Izumi shouted as soon as she returned.

"Sister Izumi!"

"Welcome back!"

Several little ones immediately ran over from the distance.

"Look what I bought for you all?"

Uchiha Izumi handed the basket in her hand to the children.

"Wow! It's meat!"

"And apples!"

"And dango! Thank you, Sister Izumi!"

"There's so much stuff... Wait? Sister Izumi, where did you buy all this? Could it be?"

Shizuka looked at Izumi, filled with surprise.

Izumi smiled and shook her head, reaching out to pat the top of her head.

"It's temporarily safe outside, but you still cannot go out. Your Brother Arashi and I are ninjas; we can use the Transformation Technique to evade detection, but you cannot. Therefore, the outside world is still very dangerous for you."

Although she really wanted to let the children go out for some fresh air, she simply couldn't.

Unless there was a proper way to conceal their identities, letting these children out would only lead them into a crisis.

Speaking of which, there were eight people saved by Uchiha Arashi, including Uchiha Izumi and seven other children.

Their names were Uchiha Shizuka, Uchiha Ayatsuki, Uchiha Kyoko, Uchiha Dan, Uchiha Kei, Uchiha Hidehiko, and Uchiha Shin.

Three girls and four boys, all under the age of ten, were the most outstanding children Uchiha Arashi could reach.

"Oh~"

The little ones pouted, their faces full of disappointment.

In truth, the environment within the Shadow Space was not bad.

There was land and houses, and the temperature remained constant.

If one had to point out the biggest difference from the outside, it was that there was no sun here, and secondly, it had boundaries; if one walked to the end, they would encounter an air wall, making the range of activity quite small.

"That is why you must study hard."

Uchiha Arashi walked over. "I have found some paper and pens for you. Izumi will teach you how to read and how to use ninjutsu. Once you learn the Transformation Technique and can maintain it for over half an hour at a time, I will take you out for some air. Do not think this condition is too harsh, because you all carry an important mission."

At this point, Uchiha Arashi paused, his eyes sweeping over the seven little ones.

"Your parents, friends, and clansmen were killed by the joint efforts of Itachi and Konoha. I did not save you just so you could live a life of comfort..."

"I know, we are all avengers! When we grow up, we will take revenge on Konoha for our dead parents and relatives!"

Before Arashi could finish his sentence, Uchiha Shizuka suddenly shouted loudly.

The boys and girls, who had previously worn various expressions, now became serious.

Having experienced such a violent upheaval, their hearts had long since matured; it was only their childish nature that occasionally surfaced, but the hatred within them would not easily disappear.

"Very good."

There was no need to say anything more. Uchiha Arashi nodded with a smile and distributed the paper and pens to the children.

Izumi rolled her eyes at him, likely finding his words too blunt.

However, Arashi did not take it to heart. Was he being too blunt? Being blunt was exactly the right approach.

There was no need to worry about these children being unable to handle it, as children in the ninja world were generally precocious. Itachi had gone to the battlefield to observe at the age of four; in Arashi's previous life, a four-year-old would still be struggling to wipe their own nose.

Bearing the hatred of a clan's annihilation, these children had to mature as quickly as possible, otherwise, their futures would only be more miserable—it would have been better to have died that night.

While Uchiha Arashi and Uchiha Izumi were in the Shadow Space with the group of children, teaching them ninjutsu and growing in secret.

Inside the Hokage's office.

"Has the situation with Danzo still not been confirmed?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi put down the documents in his hand, picked up his pipe, took a puff, and asked the ninja in front of him.

"Yes, Lord Danzo has not stepped out since that night. It is impossible to determine what has happened to him."

The person responsible for reporting the intelligence was an ordinary member of the Anbu.

After the night of the massacre, Hiruzen Sarutobi had expected Danzo to come to him quickly to discuss the distribution of benefits. However, after waiting and waiting, he never showed up. Hiruzen immediately sensed that something was wrong with Danzo's situation and sent people to investigate in secret.

Unfortunately, Danzo hid too deeply; it was difficult for other Anbu to infiltrate the headquarters of Root, and Danzo had not appeared since the night of the massacre, leaving even the Anbu unable to grasp his situation.

"What about Itachi? Has any intelligence come in?"

"Not yet. The Third Squad has been following him in secret, though they nearly lost him a few times. His vigilance is very high."

"Then have them return. Itachi is just running in circles; he discovered you all long ago."

Hiruzen took another puff of his pipe and spoke.

The terms of his deal with Itachi were that he would guarantee Sasuke's safety, while Itachi would infiltrate the organization known as Akatsuki to gather intelligence for Konoha.

Hiruzen Sarutobi certainly would not pin all his hopes on Itachi; he had originally intended to use this opportunity to see if he could track Itachi's movements to pinpoint the location of Akatsuki.

As it stands, that plan has failed; Itachi is even more cautious than imagined.

Given his strength, if he were to make a move, a single Anbu squad would not be enough to stop him. Continuing to waste time is meaningless; it would be better to withdraw the men and, in the process, express their side's sincerity.

"Continue to monitor public opinion among the villagers. Do not let the situation escalate; keep it contained strictly to the Uchiha clan."

"Understood!"

The Anbu ninja acknowledged the order, and after confirming the Third Hokage had no further instructions, he flashed away.

Only Hiruzen Sarutobi remained in the room. He looked out at the streets of Konoha and let out a soft sigh.

"With this, the village's greatest source of instability is finally gone. Kagami... forgive me. I had no other choice."

On the other side.

"Still no information?"

In an underground space where even sunlight could not penetrate, Danzo asked with a dark expression.

"Apologies, Lord Danzo. We have searched the entire village of Konoha, but we still cannot find a trace of that masked man."

Ever since Kotoamatsukami was stolen, Danzo had acted like a madman, ordering his subordinates to track the masked man.

But the other party was truly too good at hiding; no matter how hard they tried, they could not find a single shred of evidence.

"What about Uchiha Itachi? Is there any new intelligence?"

"None. The Third's men have been following him, but he has been running in circles... we did not dare to get close."

"Useless! All of you are useless! What use are you to me..."

Danzo broke down, erupting into a tirade of curses.

Just as he was shouting, Aburame Torune suddenly appeared in the room.

"Lord Danzo, there is an issue with the Uchiha corpses."

"Hmm?"

The previously enraged Danzo instantly calmed down.

He turned and walked back behind his desk.

"Explain in detail. What is wrong with the corpses?"