A Heavenly Gift! Out for a Stroll, He Picked Up Little Konan!

After dumping a huge pile of tedious administrative work on Tsunade, the newly appointed secretary, Tobirama strolled out of the tower feeling completely unburdened.

The streets of Amegakure were still covered in puddles.

But that deathly, oppressive atmosphere was gone.

"Lord Tobirama!"

"Lord Tobirama!"

Wherever Tobirama passed, pedestrians and ninja alike stopped by the roadside and bowed to him respectfully.

There was no hatred for an invader in their eyes, only gratitude.

After all, Tobirama had done exactly as he promised.

After Konoha took over, they had not only refrained from taking anything, but had also distributed food. There were even medical ninja offering free treatment in the streets. To the people of the Land of Rain, who had long suffered under Hanzo's harsh rule, this was practically paradise.

"Careful. Pay more attention when you work next time. Safety comes first."

In a good mood, Tobirama casually steadied an old man's nearly collapsing stall, then used Water Release to wash away the sludge at the street corner.

After that display of friendliness, the surrounding civilians looked at him with even greater enthusiasm.

This was called building reputation.

A god high above inspired awe, but only a god willing to bend down could make people entrust their lives to him.

As he wandered into a remote alleyway, a weak voice came from behind a trash bin.

"P-please... please..."

Tobirama stopped.

A filthy little girl was supporting herself against the wall as she staggered toward him.

Her pale orange eyes were filled with longing as she stared at the rice ball in Tobirama's hand.

"G-give..."

Thud.

Before she could finish, the little girl's legs gave out, and she fell face-first into the puddle before Tobirama.

"Tsk, trying to scam me?"

Tobirama joked, but his movements were quick.

He scooped the little girl up in one motion.

The moment he touched her, Tobirama froze.

When he brushed aside the tangled, mud-caked hair on her face, the distinctive bluish-purple hair and the white paper flower tucked by her temple made his pupils constrict slightly.

Konan? The future Angel of the Akatsuki?

That rich woman who had used six hundred billion Explosive Tags to blow up Obito?

And now she was a little beggar on the verge of starving to death?

The corners of Tobirama's mouth rose wildly.

When luck came knocking, nothing could stop it.

Who knew where those two unlucky fools, Yahiko and Nagato, were? But if he got his hands on this Angel first, there might not even be an Akatsuki in the future.

"Fine. Guess you're lucky."

Tobirama took off his outer robe, wrapped the filthy little kitten in it, then carried her away into the rain.

Half an hour later, in Tobirama's private bedroom.

Under the warm yellow light, Konan lay on the soft bed. Her eyelashes trembled, and she suddenly opened her eyes.

Alertness!

It was an instinct she had developed during her life on the streets.

Like a startled little animal, she instantly curled up in the corner of the bed. Both hands clutched the blanket tightly as she stared at Tobirama, who sat by the bedside, with terrified eyes.

"You're awake?"

Tobirama held a steaming bowl of porridge and smiled at her.

"Don't be afraid. It's not like I want to eat you."

"Come on, drink this first."

The fragrance.

The scent of food instantly shattered Konan's psychological defenses.

She swallowed, and her stomach obediently let out a growl.

She hesitated for three seconds.

Her desire to survive overcame her fear.

She cautiously moved closer, held the bowl, and gulped down the porridge, nearly burning her tongue.

"Slow down. No one's taking it from you."

Watching her, Tobirama could not help reaching out and rubbing her short bluish-purple hair.

It felt pretty nice.

Konan's body stiffened, but she did not dodge. She simply lowered her head and continued drinking the porridge, her ears turning red.

After finishing the last mouthful, she set down the bowl and wiped her mouth. Her eyes regained a trace of clarity.

"Th-thank you, big brother."

Konan's voice was soft and pleasant.

"But... I need to leave."

She remembered that this was the home of a strange ninja, and he seemed to be a Konoha ninja. Konoha ninja were enemies. Although the two sides were peaceful now, she had not forgotten the fear Konoha ninja had brought her before.

Konan lifted the blanket and tried to get out of bed.

But then—

"Ow!"

The moment she stood up, her legs went weak. She slid right off the bed and landed on the carpet on her butt.

The motion was clumsy and adorable.

"Pfft."

Tobirama could not hold it in and laughed.

"With that tiny body of yours, you can barely walk two steps. Where do you think you're going?"

"It's still raining outside. If you leave, you'll starve to death."

Konan sat on the floor, her face flushed bright red, tears welling in her eyes.

That was so embarrassing.

And... it hurt.

Tobirama walked over, picked her up like a chick, placed her back on the bed, and tucked the blanket around her again.

"Stay put."

"Get better before you leave. I can spare you a meal."

With that, Tobirama turned and walked out of the room, casually switching off the light behind him.

"Get some proper sleep."

The room fell silent.

Konan curled up beneath the warm blanket, showing only her eyes as she stared at the tightly shut door.

Her thoughts raced.

This Konoha ninja... he looks powerful, and he seems rich.

But I can't stay here forever... this is Konoha ninja territory. It's dangerous.

But I don't have any strength right now...

Konan bit her lip and made a great decision.

I'll pretend to be obedient first!

Once my body recovers and I get my strength back, I'll sneak away!

That's right! I'll do that!

Having figured it out, Konan closed her eyes with a clear conscience.

A soft bed and a full stomach.

A few seconds later, faint snores began to sound.

At that very moment.

Konoha, Hokage Office.

The atmosphere here was far more oppressive than that cozy little bedroom in Amegakure.

Smoke filled the room, choking everyone until they could barely open their eyes.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in the seat of honor, puffing on his pipe while frowning deeply.

Across the table sat his three old comrades.

Danzo, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura.

The so-called Konoha F4 were all present.

"Too fast... it happened far too fast!"

Utatane Koharu pushed up her glasses, her tone full of shock.

"That Uchiha Tobirama has only been at the front lines for a few days, and he has already destroyed the Land of Rain!"

"His reputation at the front lines is far too high now. We have to find a way to restrain him!"

"If this continues, who will be able to keep him in check once he returns to the village?!"

Mitokado Homura nodded in agreement.

"That's right. The Uchiha Clan has never been peaceful to begin with. Now they have produced such a domineering genius. What if he wants to seize power..."

Danzo's face darkened, and a cold gleam flickered in his single eye.

"Hiruzen! Indecision only invites disaster!"

"Before the other great nations react, we should..."

Danzo made a slashing gesture across his throat.

"Get rid of him!"

"Then pin the blame on Iwagakure or Kumogakure! That would eliminate a hidden danger while stirring up the village's shared hatred of the enemy!"

It was a vicious plan.

Typical Danzo-style thinking.

"Nonsense!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed his hand onto the table.

"He is a hero! A hero who destroyed a nation!"

"Kill him now? Do you want Konoha to descend into civil war immediately? Fushan Uchiha and that old fox Uchiha Setsuna are no fools!"

Although Hiruzen Sarutobi was wary, he still cared about appearances.

More importantly, he feared internal conflict even more.

"Then what do you suggest?" Danzo snorted. "Are we supposed to just watch him ride roughshod over you?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was silent for a long time.

At last, he exhaled a ring of smoke, and his gaze turned deep and unreadable.

"We can't kill him, but we can't let him run free either."

"Call him back."

"Have him join the Anbu."

"Give him a squad leader position and keep him under my watch."

"The Anbu answers directly to the Hokage. Cut off his connection to the Uchiha Clan, and cut off his contact with ordinary ninja as well."

"And by entering the Anbu, the civilians will gradually forget him, weakening his influence."

A public promotion, a hidden demotion, and constant surveillance.

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura exchanged glances and nodded.

"That is a prudent solution."

Only Danzo sneered as he rose to his feet with his cane.

"Hiruzen, you are still as weak as ever."

"The Anbu? Hmph, do you think a mere Anbu can contain that kind of monster?"

"You will regret this."

With that, Danzo walked out without looking back.

Beneath Konoha, Root Base.

Danzo sat in a chair, lightly tapping the armrest with his fingers.

"Hiruzen wants to use a conciliatory policy... what a joke."

"The Mangekyō Sharingan... such evil power must be in my hands."

A hint of madness flashed through Danzo's eyes.

He recalled Tobirama's terrifying accomplishments.

If he could obtain those eyes... even just one...

"Otsu! Hei!"

Two masked figures instantly appeared.

"Go."

"Contact our hidden agents in the Land of Rain."

"Leak the news that Uchiha Tobirama is returning to the village, along with his route. Have them strike on his way back."

"If they fail, you will attack together and eliminate him! Keep it clean, and make it look like Iwagakure's Explosion Corps."

"I will see him... dead!"

"But remember, his eyes must be taken back."

A cold smile curled at the corner of Danzo's mouth.

Since Hiruzen did not dare to do it, then I would do it.

This was the will of Root.

"Where the light cannot reach, I am the only judge."