This One

Night had fallen.

In Konoha, Minato summoned the heads of the major clans and the village's jonin to convene a meeting regarding the recent nighttime attack on Konoha.

"Sorry to take up everyone's valuable rest time, but we still haven't determined the enemy's identity or motives in the previous invasion. It is time to consolidate our intelligence and take targeted measures."

"But before that, there is something I need to report to everyone."

Minato said gravely, "The Scroll of Seals, as confirmed jointly by the Third and me, had six and a half techniques taken by the enemy!"

"Why... six and a half?"

"The half was my Flying Thunder God Technique."

"That page was torn in half during the struggle. The other six techniques were all top-secret or dangerously powerful... super S-rank forbidden techniques no less formidable than the Flying Thunder God."

"We never expected them all to be S-rank... We thought what had been lost were A-rank forbidden techniques like the Shadow Clone."

A heavy atmosphere descended over the meeting as soon as it began.

Minato rose and bowed apologetically. "For this, I offer everyone my sincerest apologies. I failed to protect the legacy left behind by our predecessors!"

Aburame Shiki said, "Fourth Hokage, there is no need for you to blame yourself. Facing such troublesome invaders, recovering most of the Scroll of Seals was already an extraordinary achievement."

Minato sat back down. "Now, let us consolidate and analyze our intelligence on the invaders. Guy, you and Kakashi were the first to encounter them, but Kakashi is currently unconscious. Tell us what happened at the time..."

"Yes, Fourth Hokage." Might Guy said loudly, "At the time, Kakashi and I split up under the pretense of a match. The one who fought me was the Third Kazekage, whom the Third Hokage defeated. I need not elaborate on his abilities. Kakashi, meanwhile, encountered a masked invader whose abilities I do not know."

"But when I came to my senses... Kakashi had already been seriously injured and carried away on a stretcher!"

Hiruzen held his pipe between his teeth and turned his head. "The masked enemy... Minato, after Mizuki blew himself up, was that the enemy you fought after summoning the great toad?"

Minato answered meticulously, "Yes... That invader had a penetrating wound on her shoulder caused by Chidori. She was undoubtedly the same person who fought Kakashi."

"She was the one who received Mizuki and took away the remaining pages of the Scroll of Seals. The ability she displayed was a particularly troublesome Summoning Technique. At the final moment, she even demonstrated something akin to the Legendary Sannin's reverse summoning, escaping right before my eyes."

"I suspect she used that Summoning Technique to deceive us and infiltrate Konoha's sensory barrier, making us initially believe there was only one invader!"

Shikaku Nara nodded in agreement. "That makes sense."

At that moment, Yamanaka Inoichi said, "According to the latest report from the medical unit, Kakashi Hatake's injuries were not severe enough to leave him unconscious for so long. From this, we can infer that he must have suffered a tremendous mental shock."

"It was like when he was rescued from the Kirigakure battlefield half a year ago. No, it may be even worse than it was then."

"What kind of psychological trauma could affect Kakashi so deeply? Could it be that he saw something while fighting that masked invader?"

Inoichi paused before asking, "Fourth Hokage, if Kakashi remains unconscious for a long time, should the Analysis Division intervene and take a look into his mind?"

Invading his mind would also deepen and awaken his traumatic memories.

Minato ultimately could not bear to make his disciple suffer that ordeal again.

"The Analysis Division will not need to intervene. What he saw is not the most important thing. What matters is understanding the enemy's abilities."

"Mizuki used an ability similar to soul extraction. The masked woman used summoning techniques. Dingmao used an ability that absorbed ninjutsu and chakra. In addition to Magnetic Release: Sand Iron, the Third Kazekage used an ability similar to summoning Mechanical Armor, employing missiles and beams. Above all this..."

"Fourth Hokage, have you perhaps left something out?"

A gloomy voice rang out, followed by... "Tap, tap." The dull sound of a cane striking the floor.

Shimura Danzō's arrival changed the expressions of everyone present.

"..." As he walked straight over.

Aburame Shiki's expression shifted behind his sunglasses. He actually rose from his seat and chose to stand off to the side.

Danzo did not care. He brazenly sat in Shiki's seat, his gaze drifting toward Uchiha Fugaku, who sat there with Hyuga Hiashi between them.

He said, "According to reports from the civilians, at least two invaders we know nothing about appeared within the Uchiha clan. Yet even now, the Uchiha have not reported anything regarding those two invaders, have they?"

Fugaku said in a low voice, "Lord Danzo, are you questioning us?"

Danzo said coldly, "And what if I am? The police force has become far too arbitrary and self-serving!"

The atmosphere instantly filled with the smell of gunpowder.

Hiruzen hurriedly tried to smooth things over. "Danzo, do not be so aggressive. Fugaku was carrying out an important mission and only returned last night. He knows nothing about this matter either!"

The corner of Danzo's mouth curled upward. "Knows nothing? Perhaps. But speaking of missions, why did the Uchiha genius, Body Flicker Shisui, return with one arm gone? Don't tell me he truly triggered a trap on Bellflower Mountain by mistake and had it blown off?"

Crack! Fugaku clenched his fist tightly, a cold glint seeming to flow through his tightly shut eyes.

At that moment, Minato said heavily, "Mr. Danzo, this is an intelligence consolidation meeting regarding the Konoha invasion. Could I ask you not to discuss irrelevant matters?"

Danzo's gaze abruptly sharpened, but then... it receded.

He lowered his head and slowly said, "Well, even if Body Flicker Shisui is called a genius, he is still a young man after all. I hope the lesson of losing an arm will help him become a more mature ninja."

Swish! Everyone present turned to look at Minato.

The Fourth Hokage truly had courage. He had actually managed to suppress Danzo, Konoha's infamous elder...

In the silence, Minato rested his chin against the back of his hand and smiled. "Mr. Fugaku, if it is not inconvenient, could you tell us what you learned afterward?"

Fugaku lowered his arms from across his chest, straightened his posture, and said, "Ah, I had intended to discuss this with you at this meeting..."

"Of course... I did not witness it personally. I learned of it from members of my clan."

In a town in the Land of Rice.

Nagato and Konan, eating oden balls, arrived at a hot spring inn.

The innkeeper smiled. "Oh my, you two came at just the right time. I just returned from a trip, and no guests have visited my little inn's hot springs today!"

Nagato looked at the sign reading "Mixed Bath" and sighed inwardly. In the end, he did not dare shamelessly suggest bathing together.

"Come on, Konan. Let's find another place."

He had just turned to leave when Konan grabbed his sleeve.

Nagato turned back, surprised. "Konan..."

Konan swallowed the ball in her mouth, her eyes flickering as she spoke in her usual emotionless voice.

"Let's stay here..."