"Someone,"
At the Hokage Office, after reading the scroll about Sunagakure, the Third Hokage murmured.
"Lord Hokage." A figure dressed as Anbu knelt before him.
"Secretly infiltrate Sunagakure and keep an eye on their movements. Pay especially close attention to any news about the Jinchuriki," the Third Hokage said gravely.
"The Jinchuriki?" At those words, the Anbu member's body gave an almost imperceptible shudder.
As one of the Third Hokage's personal Anbu, he had witnessed the Tailed Beast Rampage two years ago. Thanks to Jiraiya and the Fourth Hokage, the village had suffered little damage, but the Nine-Tails and Three-Tails had still left a deep impression on him with their sheer destructive power.
Although he felt a little nervous, an Anbu would never dare disobey the Hokage's orders. Besides, he was only being sent to gather information, not to actually fight a Tailed Beast.
"Yes, Lord Hokage," the Anbu replied respectfully.
Then he left.
Clearly, the Third Hokage had also learned that Sunagakure was about to replace its Jinchuriki. Even though Konoha had signed an alliance treaty with Sunagakure, the Third Hokage remained on high alert when it came to Tailed Beasts.
He didn't want to repeat what had happened two years ago, when the Three-Tails from Kirigakure had reached his doorstep before he even knew about it.
Knock! Knock!
Just as the Third Hokage was about to continue reviewing the other reports, someone knocked again.
"Come in."
The visitor had red hair and a youthful face. It was Uzumaki Naraku.
Naraku then told him that Root had approached Kushina.
"Before Lady Tsunade left, she said my sister would wake up soon. If anything happens during that time, I'm worried about what's inside her..." Naraku stopped there.
He trusted that the Third Hokage was smart enough to guess what he was about to say.
Sure enough, the Third Hokage's expression changed instantly when he heard those words.
He knew that the Nine-Tails had been sealed separately inside Kushina and Naruto.
If it were only Kushina, he might not have paid it much attention. But with the Nine-Tails involved as well, he couldn't afford to take it lightly.
"Naraku, I'll handle this," the Third Hokage said in a low voice after composing himself.
Naraku nodded. Having received the answer he wanted, he had no reason to stay. He turned and left.
After all, he still resented the Third Hokage. Whenever Naraku saw him, he was reminded of his poor nephew.
"The Nine-Tails..." After Naraku left, the Third Hokage fell into thought.
He recalled the Tailed Beast Rampage two years ago, and Minato's death.
"Danzo," the Third Hokage murmured.
"Bring Elder Shimura here," he said to the shadows.
As Hokage, he had long since noticed that Root, led by Danzo, had become increasingly active over the past two years. First came the suppression of the Uchiha Clan, then a series of pretexts to gain all sorts of privileges from him.
The Third Hokage could tolerate that much. After all, Danzo's Root was still part of Konoha, and merely a blade of his, Sarutobi Hiruzen's, that could not be wielded in the light.
He had even secretly orchestrated the suppression of the Uchiha Clan. In his eyes, the clan's growing strength in recent years had become a serious threat to his position as Hokage.
Especially after their clan produced geniuses like Shisui and Itachi.
But setting the Uchiha matter aside, Danzo had now started having Root approach Kushina. That was undoubtedly a challenge to the Third Hokage's authority.
"Danzo, there are some things you can't meddle in," the Third Hokage thought.
Before long, Danzo arrived at the Hokage Office, bandages wrapped around his body, with an Anbu escorting him.
"Hiruzen, what do you want?" Danzo asked as soon as he entered.
His tone made it clear that he had not the slightest respect for the Third Hokage.
Ignoring Danzo's question, the Third Hokage raised his right hand and swept it through the air, then set up a simple barrier to block sound from escaping.
Danzo's expression turned serious.
The two of them then launched into a heated argument.
In the end, the Third Hokage won, and Danzo agreed not to have Root approach Kushina again.
Danzo was deeply unwilling, but the Third Hokage had issued the order to him directly in his capacity as Hokage. He had no choice but to comply. After all, the Hokage was the highest authority in the village.
Danzo left the Hokage Office, furious.
Root could no longer approach Kushina, but the Third Hokage's actions had confirmed something for Danzo.
"So the Nine-Tails was split into two. Heh. Hiruzen, the Hokage Position will be mine sooner or later."
Naraku knew nothing about what had happened in the Hokage Office. But even if he had, he wouldn't have cared. To him, the Third Hokage and Danzo were nothing but dogs fighting among themselves.
By then, he had just returned to Konoha Hospital. As he was about to go inside, he spotted someone he knew and stopped.
"Hey, Kai, you're here."
The person before him was Kakashi, who had just hurried over from home.
He wore a black tracksuit and a black mask. His silver-white hair and slender build added to his cool air.
After spending so many years together, Kakashi had grown completely used to the nickname "Kai."
The two then went to Ichiraku Ramen for dinner, and afterward stood side by side atop Kage Rock.
"By the way, Naraku, the Third Hokage wants you to come on a mission with me," Kakashi said.
"You want me to go on a mission with you?" Naraku asked, momentarily surprised.
"Are there no other people in your squad?" Naraku blurted out.
Kakashi shook his head. "The village has received a huge number of mission requests. All the capable shinobi in the village, whether they're Anbu or not, are out on missions."
"As for the others in our squad, they're all on other missions too. They can't spare the time right now."
"I see."
Naraku nodded. He had no objection to going on a mission with anyone, especially someone he knew as well as Kakashi.
In the entire Shinobi World, aside from Minato and Kushina, Kakashi was undoubtedly the person he trusted most.
Of course, there were also Guy and his teacher, Jiraiya.
He had formed deep bonds with all of them.
"Kai, have you decided what to do about the Sharingan?" Naraku asked.
"The Sharingan..." Kakashi reached out and touched the Forehead Protector covering his eye. Beneath it, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan was constantly drawing on his chakra.
Unwillingness, doubt, hesitation—an array of complicated emotions surfaced in his right eye.
"Forget it."
"Ah!"