Valley of the End, below the waterfall.
The sound of splashing water filled the air as Haruma soaked her feet in the water, looking completely relaxed.
Two days
Haruma, carrying Shisui, sped from Kirigakure, using the coordinates they had left behind on their way there, to this place.
Will there be any trouble going back this time?
The close friend deliberately maintained an ambiguous distance from Konoha, neither too close nor too far.
The reason given for not returning to the village immediately was to adjust his condition and restore his Chakra.
As for his close friend who wanted to return to the village in his prime, what were his plans? Shisui had no idea.
Looking up at the portraits of the First Hokage and Madara Uchiha, Shisui's face showed a complex expression.
Haruma paused slightly, looking at the gentle ripples spreading across the lake, and asked softly:
"The peace of your clan, the peace of your village, the peace of the Shinobi World — Shisui, which one do you care about most?"
Upon hearing this, Shisui lowered his head and pondered for a long while, finally shaking his head. "I have no way of judging, nor do I have the right to choose."
"I just don't want war to happen, and I don't want to see too many innocent ninjas die."
After finishing speaking, Shisui turned and stared at Haruma, saying in a deep voice, "I am neither as strong as my dear friend, nor as intelligent."
"So I can't think of a solution that satisfies both."
"But the changes in Kirigakure, the establishment of the company! I feel that what I can't do, my best friend should be able to perfectly solve!"
As he said this, Shisui's face was full of trust in Haruma!
During the time they stayed in the Kirigakure Hidden Realm, there were several gatherings using the Magic Lantern Body Technique.
The information conveyed by the Fugaku clan chief made Shisui somewhat uneasy.
Hokage Sarutobi has personally entered Root three times to inquire about Danzo's return date.
Most importantly, they even specifically checked the marks on the tongues of the Root Ninjas!
As soon as Sarutobi left, the news reached Chief Fugaku with utmost secrecy.
Meanwhile, his close friend waited patiently for Itachi Kakuzu's phantoms to dissipate.
He gave the order to Chief Fugaku to mobilize the entire clan and be ready to evacuate at any time.
Shisui understood that something big might happen during his return to the village.
Shisui wouldn't feel the slightest emotional turmoil while accompanying his best friend on a killing spree in Kirigakure.
Because the deaths of just a few hundred ninjas could bring peace to the entire Kirigakure.
My dear friend handled this matter perfectly!
But if it's in Konoha...
Shisui doubted whether he could bring himself to do it.
Haruma looked up at Shisui, whose expression was conflicted, and replied softly, "Don't worry, I have no intention of harming the village."
"The worst-case scenario is that the Uchiha Clan will have to leave Konoha."
Thinking of the foundation he had already laid in Kirigakure, Haruma's lips curled into a slight smile, "Withdrawing from Konoha might not be such a bad ending after all."
"Putting everything else aside, at least for your and Itachi's sake, I won't attack Konoha."
Hearing the somewhat conflicted look on Shisui's face, he finally calmed down a lot.
A close friend might be a little greedy and a little unreliable.
But a true friend will not break a promise.
On Haruma, as he turned to look back at the lake, he thought to himself:
Destroying Konoha and killing Sarutobi at this time would be the act of someone who's insane.
The vast difference in ideology between Konoha and Kirigakure meant that the path of terror-based rule and forceful suppression was doomed to fail.
After all, the so-called inexhaustible Will of Fire is simply too unsolvable.
Sarutobi will die at Orochimaru's hands in a few years, so why would he willingly jump out and become the villain?
The Shinobi World is so vast; the Land of Earth, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Lightning are enough to keep Haruma entertained for quite some time.
There's really no need to go against Konoha or the entire main character group right now.
Wouldn't it be much easier to subdue Konoha after Tsunade and ascends to the Six Paths level?
At this point, bringing his entire clan, along with Fugaku, who possesses Kage Level strength, to help stabilize the rear base would be the best solution.
Originally, the plan was simply to go out and make contact with Orochimaru.
As a result of Itachi's information, Kirigakure was inexplicably recruited first.
The changing situation also led to the failure of Haruma's original plan for the Konoha Crush 1.0.
but,
Starting in Kirigakure would obviously be much more suitable than starting in Konoha at this point.
Night, twinkling stars.
In the spacious conference room of the Hokage Building, seven people gathered.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, is positioned at the head of the table.
Anbu affiliation: Kakashi Hatake, Wood Release Yamato: Kekkei Genkai Ninja.
Family Affiliation: Head of the Konoha Ino-Shika-Cho Clans, and head of the Hyuga clan.
The Yamanaka Clan, symbolizing the "pig," is led by Inoichi Yamanaka.
The Nara Clan, symbolized by the deer, was headed by Shikaku Nara.
The Akimichi Clan, symbolized by the butterfly, is headed by Akimichi Chōza.
The Hyuga Clan, possessing the Kekkei Genkai Byakugan, is headed by Hyuga Hiashi.
Sarutobi at the head of the table, had a serious expression on his face, and his first words stunned the others.
" The Hokage assisted Danzo; he has most likely been murdered and his identity stolen."
Before anyone could react, Sarutobi continued, "Back when we investigated the Danzo's attack, suspicious points had already emerged."
Hyuga Hiashi, who was also involved in the matter, nodded.
"After returning to the village, with Yamato's help, it was basically confirmed that the real Danzo had encountered trouble."
Yamato, sitting in the audience, stuck out his tongue in agreement.
The clan leaders' gazes sharpened; indeed, the remaining marks and strokes on the tongue could still be clearly seen.
However, Yamato casually revealed a few pieces of information about Danzo without being harmed by the magic.
The moment Danzo's true form perished, the mark was already broken, leaving only useless strokes.
However, the original Root ninjas had long been accustomed to Root's ways and Danzo's Danzo.
No one would actively think about the relevant information, nor would they voluntarily try to reveal Danzo's secrets.
This is also why Sarutobi only discovered Danzo's troubles so late.
The Haruma, after being away from the village for so long, deepened Sarutobi's suspicions.
It wasn't until a month ago that I had Yamato try it out a bit, and it turned out that the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal was ineffective.
Two possibilities.
Shikaku had calmed down, he analyzed, "The first possibility is that Danzo, for some reason, voluntarily removed all the seals."
"The second type of mark is destroyed along with the caster upon death."
The clan leaders' eyes gleamed, clearly indicating that the second possibility far outweighed the first.
"Initially, my plan was to secretly arrest and interrogate Danzo after Danzo returned to the village."
Sarutobi nodded and added, "But Danzo has been missing for a long time. I deliberately showed up at Root to stir up trouble and force out the person hiding in the shadows."
Speaking of this,
Sarutobi's tone held a hint of doubt. "Then I discovered that the Root ninjas of the Uchiha Clan also had the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal' etched on their tongues."
"Therefore, before we begin, let's have Hiashi confirm it first."
Hyuga Hiashi, sitting in the audience, nodded.
No wonder that after receiving news of Danzo's return to the village tonight, he was secretly summoned by the Anbu for a gathering.
The truth is actually this.
At this Hiashi was still secretly alarmed by the news that Konoha's second-in-command had been impersonated.
Shikaku looked at Sarutobi and reminded him, " Lord Hokage, if Danzo is indeed being impersonated, then this person might have some connection to the Uchiha Clan."
Sarutobi nodded and said in a deep voice, " The Root organization members are indeed suspicious."
"Therefore, the operation against Danzo involves only a few of us."
"All the remaining Anbu members in the village are to wait near the Uchiha Clan base for orders."
"Once Hiashi is confirmed, we will apprehend the Danzo as quickly as possible."
"That way, even if the Uchiha Clan any moves, we can get there to provide support as quickly as possible."
The high-level combat force quickly captured Haruma, Anbu squad was responsible for delaying the potentially unpredictable Kage Level Fugaku.
Without concrete evidence linking the Uchiha Clan to the mysterious figure lurking in the shadows, Sarutobi's plan was already perfect enough.
Sarutobi made one mistake in his calculations.
That's the true strength of Haruma!