Secret Plot

One was dressed as a traveling merchant, the other as an ordinary civilian.

The civilian had only a faint trace of chakra in his body, barely enough to perform the most basic Three Body Techniques. That was how he had managed to slip into Konoha.

Both the Hyuga and the Uchiha had eyes that could see the chakra inside a person's body. Sneaking into Konoha in disguise was no easy feat.

"Tanaka, new orders. Find out how Konoha has been rotating its shinobi lately, and how many it's actually recalled.

"The Land of Rain has been quiet for a year. The Land of Fire enjoys springlike weather and good harvests. What gives them the right to occupy such fertile land while those of us born in the Land of Wind have to scrape out a living in a harsh desert?"

Tanaka, dressed as a civilian, nodded. "Leave it to me, Fujimura. I'll find out as soon as I can."

"I'll be in Konoha for another five days, gathering some local goods," Fujimura said.

Tanaka considered this. "I'll do my best to get the details."

After a peaceful year, Konoha had regained its former bustle. Even the villagers who had grieved for lost loved ones had begun to move past their pain.

Orochimaru and the others had returned yesterday, making Konoha livelier than usual. Security Force members darted across the rooftops.

Over the past year, the Security Force had taken on an entirely new air, and its strength had grown noticeably.

Fugaku stepped out of his home. Uchiha Sanada appeared before him and handed him a scroll.

Fugaku opened it. The intelligence inside concerned Danzo.

The name should have been instantly familiar, yet now it felt strangely distant. In the past year, Danzo had vanished from the villagers' sight.

Fugaku, however,