The Mission Begins

"This matter can't be rushed. Even if the Third Hokage steps down, Danzo will still be Hokage Assistant, with considerable power. And with the Third Hokage still around, I'm afraid the human experiments won't be enough to take him down completely," Uchiha Fugaku said gravely.

He looked at Uchiha Akira and said, "Even if we do it, we'll have to wait until Minato has Konoha firmly under his control. Otherwise, Minato will have too many constraints, and his hands will be tied."

"I know," Uchiha Akira replied with a nod. "Once Minato takes office, he'll have the full support of the Uchiha Clan, along with help from the Ino-Shika-Cho clans. It won't take long to bring Konoha under his control."

"Danzo's hostility toward the Uchiha Clan is too great. We can't let him keep control of the Hokage Assistant position and Root," Uchiha Akira continued.

The reason Danzo could do whatever he wanted was that he had Root, an organization independent of Anbu, and the position of Hokage Assistant.

Without those two positions, Danzo would be like a tiger without claws or fangs, and would pose little threat to the Uchiha Clan.

Just like Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu: although they were advisors, they didn't hold much power.

They could hardly interfere in Konoha's affairs. It was only because Sarutobi Hiruzen was an old friend of theirs that they were able to make themselves heard.

Minato Namikaze wasn't Sarutobi Hiruzen. Once he took office, the advisors' suggestions would carry far less weight than they had under Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"You're right." Uchiha Fugaku nodded. "We have to find a way to remove Danzo from the position of Hokage Assistant, and we need to dismantle Root as well. That man is too dangerous."

"The only thing we need to worry about is whether the Yellow Flash has the resolve to do it," Uchiha Akira said.

Uchiha Fugaku glanced at him. "Don't worry. Minato has never lacked resolve. His boldness now is beyond what the aging Third can match."

"Then I'm relieved." Uchiha Akira nodded.

Uchiha Fugaku had spent far more time with Minato Namikaze than he had and understood him better.

If he said so, then Minato Namikaze truly had plenty of boldness and resolve.

That evening, the ninja tools they had ordered from Nekomata's shop arrived.

The half-human-height, plump orange tabby licked its paws and said indistinctly, "Nekomata asked me to tell you that we've found a lead on the person you asked us to look for."

Hearing the cat, Uchiha Akira immediately understood. He took a bag of dried fish from a drawer and handed it over, then asked:

"Is it the Uzumaki Clan? Or the clan that can become a sage?"

The orange cat named Jubupang pulled the bag of dried fish toward itself before replying unhurriedly:

"Nekomata said it's someone from the Uzumaki Clan. She seems to be in Kusagakure—a young woman. Her abilities are exactly as you described: she has a massive life force, and anyone who bites her can heal their injuries."

"We Ninja Cats have memorized the woman's scent. When you get to Kusagakure, a cat will tell you where she is," Jubupang said slowly.

"I understand. Thank you." Uchiha Akira's lips curled into a smile.

Jubupang looked at Uchiha Akira and said seriously, "Nekomata says this information is worth three million. She wants you to send the money over as soon as possible."

"Wait a moment." Uchiha Akira went into his room.

A short while later, he came out with a scroll and said, "There are four million in here. Sorry for the trouble, but please give it to Nekomata."

"Are all ninjas this rich?" Jubupang asked in surprise. Though it was only a cat, it knew that four million was a fortune.

Even if I ate the most expensive dried fish every day, this would last me ten years! Jubupang thought.

"Where there's a will, there's a way!" Uchiha Akira said with a smile.

Making money might have been difficult for other people, but it was easy for Uchiha Akira.

The Sharingan wasn't just for show. With it, companies, gangs, and Underground Black Market trading posts were all glittering vaults he could simply walk into and rob.

He wasn't like the ninjas of this era. As a transmigrator, he wouldn't say he had no scruples at all—only that he had no qualms about targeting those companies and gangs.

With the Sharingan's genjutsu, Uchiha Akira would never be short of money.

The next morning, Uchiha Akira and his three temporary teammates gathered in front of the Konoha Gate.

Uchiha Akira looked at them and introduced himself first. "Uchiha Akira. I specialize in Fire Style, Lightning Style, and Wind Style."

"Aburame Shigang. I specialize in the Aburame Clan's Insect Manipulation Jutsu." Aburame Shigang, wearing a hooded coat and sunglasses, spoke second.

"Hyuga Kaoru. I specialize in Gentle Fist." Next was Hyuga Kaoru, whose beauty and icy demeanor made her seem unlike a ninja at all.

"Yamanaka Shigeyoshi. I specialize in the Yamanaka Clan's secret techniques, including the Mind Transfer Jutsu." Yamanaka Shigeyoshi was the last to speak, his expression solemn.

The three were dressed differently, with no outward signs that they were Konoha Ninja or members of their respective clans.

This mission was to enter the Land of Rain and gather intelligence, so they couldn't openly wear their Konoha Jonin flak jackets.

Even Hyuga Kaoru had wrapped a strip of cloth around her forehead to hide the blue Caged Bird Seal.

"These are the details of the mission. Read through them carefully, and ask any questions you have now." As he spoke, Uchiha Akira handed a scroll to Aburame Shigang, who was first in line.

Aburame Shigang took the scroll, unrolled it, and read it carefully.

Before long, all three had finished reading the scroll.

This mission was extremely difficult. Sarutobi Hiruzen had classified it as an S-rank mission.

Since there was no third-party client, each of them would receive a mission reward of at least one hundred thousand ryo upon completion.

Naturally, the rewards for missions issued by Konoha itself weren't as high as those for missions commissioned by third parties.

Seeing the three remain silent, Uchiha Akira asked, "Do you have any questions? If not, we'll set out."

"Captain, I have no questions," Hyuga Kaoru said in a voice as cool and clear as a spring.

Uchiha Akira nodded slowly. "Then let's go. Follow orders throughout the mission."

"Understood!" the three answered loudly, each taking out a mask and putting it on.

Seeing this, Uchiha Akira gave a slight nod and took out a Tiger-Pattern Mask of his own.

As a few leaves drifted down, the four vanished from the spot and raced toward the Land of Rain.

Not long after Uchiha Akira and his squad left Konoha, Danzo, who was at Root headquarters, received the news as well.

"Lord Danzo, Uchiha Akira has led his squad out toward the Land of Rain."

The masked Root ninja knelt on one knee and respectfully reported to Danzo, who sat in a high-backed chair at the head of the hall.

"Mm." Danzo gave a slight nod. "Immediately notify the Root squad that's embedded in the Land of Rain. Leak some of the things we've done to Akatsuki, and leak information about Uchiha Akira as well."

"Yes!" The Root ninja vanished in an instant.

"Excellent. Now we'll get to watch the dogs tear into each other!" Danzo's lips curled upward, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.