Chapter 154

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"You must be a Konoha ninja. What's going on with these two Rain ninjas? Why are you intercepting them here?"

Shisui asked sharply. He had just completed a mission and returned to the village when he encountered this scene. He noticed that the two Rain ninjas had been warning the attacker in Konoha's name and seemed unaware of why they were being intercepted.

And this person was using the Wood Release? He'd only been out of the village for a month, and now there was a Wood Release user?

"I am Uchiha Shisui, just back from a mission. Is this on the orders of the Hokage?"

Shortly after Shisui spoke, three of his comrades arrived and surrounded Yahiko.

Seeing this, Yahiko called out, "I am Yahiko, leader of the Akatsuki from the Land of Rain. We came to see the Third Hokage but left after failing to meet him. This Konoha ninja who participated in the Chūnin Exams then tried to kill us. Is this on Konoha's orders?"

Shisui frowned and looked at Shin from the Root division, waiting for him to speak.

But Shin, selected meticulously by Danzo, had only ever completed missions since childhood and wasn't skilled at conversation.

Shisui asked again, "Is this on the Hokage's orders? If these Rain ninjas pose a threat to Konoha, I'll help, but your silence is suspicious."

Suddenly, another ninja appeared. He wore a mask, but it wasn't an animal mask like those of the Anbu. He immediately addressed Shisui, "Step aside. These two threaten Konoha, and Danzo-sama ordered their elimination."

"Danzo..."

Shisui was taken aback. He remembered an elder once telling him privately that interfering with Root or Danzo would earn a quiet reward.

Stepping on Danzo's toes or striking him could even get you a squad leader position in the Police Force.

"Who's Danzo? We've never even met him, let alone provoked him."

Konan angrily defended herself, "Yahiko and I are students of Jiraiya-sensei, and that's why we came to Konoha."

Students of Jiraiya-sama?

Shisui scrutinized Yahiko and Konan, sensing they weren't lying. His other three teammates whispered to him.

"Shisui, what should we do now?"

"Both sides should come with me to meet the Hokage. If you haven't harmed Konoha, he won't do anything to you."

Shisui suggested to Yahiko, Konan, and the Root ninja. He couldn't make the final decision, but the Hokage could.

"Come back with me, and don't think about running."

He told one of his teammates to call the Police Force while keeping his Sharingan on both sides.

"Uchiha Shisui, this is a Root matter!"

"Even Root must follow the Hokage's orders."

Unmoved, Shisui's Sharingan locked onto the Root member beside Shin, causing him to see only the blood-red pupils and rotating tomoe before slipping into a trance.

The genjutsu didn't harm the Root ninja but left him drenched in sweat as a warning. Shisui sensed they intended to fight, so he asserted his power.

"Are you going to fight? I advise against it."

Shisui turned to Yahiko and Konan. He'd assessed their strength and judged them to be not particularly strong. This was Konoha, and his comrade had already gone for backup.

"Yahiko..."

Konan tugged at Yahiko's sleeve, regretting not listening to that bandaged man and arrogantly coming to Konoha. Just as he had warned, they couldn't meet the Third Hokage and had landed in trouble.

"Alright, I'll come with you to see the Hokage."

Yahiko reassured Konan with a look. He hadn't wronged Konoha and was Jiraiya's student, so why had Konoha's ninjas tried to kill him on sight?

They'd revealed their connection to Jiraiya, and not going to the Hokage would suggest they had something to hide.

With Yahiko and Konan agreeing, Shisui turned his gaze to the two Root ninjas, but the other Root member snapped, "Shisui, you have no right to meddle in Root's affairs! Shin, let's go!"

But before they could escape, three Police Force ninjas and Shisui's teammate arrived.

"Shisui, what's happening?"

Uchiha Taizo asked, seeing the scene. They'd just finished escorting the daimyōs and nobles when Shisui's teammate called them over.

"Taizo-senpai, here's what happened."

Shisui summarized the situation, and Taizo turned coldly to the Root members.

"Come with us, or we'll knock you down and drag you before the Hokage."

"The Police Force..."

"Enough talk. Move, or prepare to fight."

Taizo signaled, and his two clansmen drew shuriken, glaring coldly at the Root members.

Surrounded by two Uchihas wielding shuriken, escape was nearly impossible without defensive jutsu.

The Root ninjas tried to flee, betting the Uchiha wouldn't dare harm them, but they were wrong.

Both were kicked down from behind and subdued by genjutsu.

Against the Anbu, the Police Force might hold back, but the Root was practically seen as criminals in training. Arresting them could earn a reward from the clan head.

The Police Force brought the Root members, Yahiko, and Konan back to Konoha and directly to the Hokage's office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was taken aback by the large group before Shisui explained what had happened. Learning about Yahiko and Konan's identities made his face darken.

Danzo was always causing trouble.

He sent for Jiraiya, who quickly arrived.

"Yahiko, Konan? What brings you to Konoha?"

Jiraiya beamed at seeing his students again after three years of teaching them.

"Yahiko, did you come to visit me? What's happened?"

Jiraiya noticed the tension between the Root and Police Force.

"Jiraiya, it seems there was a misunderstanding during a Root mission. I'll have the Anbu investigate and talk to Danzo."

Sarutobi explained, prompting Jiraiya to angrily grab the two Root ninjas. Standing at 1.9 meters and quite muscular, he lifted them effortlessly.

"You two, why did you attack my students? What did they do?"

"Jiraiya, calm down. Take your students to rest. I'll handle this."

Sarutobi gently stopped Jiraiya before turning to Shisui and Taizo.

"Shisui, Taizo, thank you for your efforts."

"We'll take our leave."

With a nod, Shisui and Taizo left the office, but not before Jiraiya thanked them.

Jiraiya then addressed Sarutobi, "Old man, I'll take my students away, but you better get to the bottom of this. I won't let him off otherwise."

As a Sannin, he couldn't tolerate his students being attacked for no reason. At the very least, he deserved to know why.

"Understood. I'll notify you afterward and make sure your students aren't wronged."

With outsiders present, Sarutobi appeased Jiraiya.

"Third Hokage-sama, I came to discuss the Akatsuki's vision for peace. I hope you'll hear me out."

Sarutobi hesitated before nodding with a smile, "Go ahead, Yahiko-kun."

"Alright!"

Yahiko was overjoyed. He had nearly given up hope, but now he had to share his ideals.

He explained how the Akatsuki aimed to resolve conflicts between ninja villages and countries through peaceful negotiations at the table.

After listening, Sarutobi smiled kindly.

"What a noble goal, Yahiko-kun. I see a rare vitality in you. Let me handle this situation first. Stay with Jiraiya, and I'll give you a proper response later."

Yahiko nodded and said, "Thank you, Third Hokage-sama. I'll leave with Jiraiya-sensei now."

Once they left, Sarutobi let the Root members go and immediately summoned Danzo.

"What fool students has that idiot Jiraiya picked up this time?"

That naïve talk had nearly put him to sleep. Why had Danzo's ninjas tried to kill this innocent Rain ninja?

---

"Yugito!"

Outside a sushi restaurant, Samui spotted her friend and classmate and quickly followed her. Before the third round of the exams, she'd been warned for loitering near the Uchiha clan grounds and feared she'd miss seeing Yugito.

But there she was before leaving, so Samui hurried to catch up.

"Samui? You're here... for the Chūnin Exams, right?"

Yugito recognized her old academy friend and remembered the exams.

She'd stayed around the Uchiha grounds throughout the exams, only emerging to buy supplies.

"Yugito, have you really betrayed the village and become a Konoha ninja?"

Samui felt a pang of sorrow seeing Yugito's Konoha forehead protector. She spoke softly, "The village is still trying to bring you back. How could you betray us?"

"The village would let me die because of the Two-Tails. They abandoned me first."

Yugito said softly. She'd already settled into Konoha and didn't want to argue with Samui about it.

"Congratulations on becoming a chūnin, Samui. I'm heading back."

"Wait, Yugito!"

Samui grabbed Yugito and pulled her into an alley.

"We've found a way to bring you back, even if it means my sacrifice. You're not being watched right now, so come with me."

"Impossible, Samui."

"Yugito, the Cloud Village is your home!"

"I—"

"Yugito is being smart, but it's a shame you don't understand."

A voice interrupted Yugito, and Samui turned to see someone behind her. She had no thoughts of resistance.

Yoichi grinned.

"I warned Dodai, but it seems he didn't listen. You'll live out your days in Konoha prison."

Without a word, Samui reached for her kunai to fight back.

"Strong-willed but foolish."

Yoichi said, gripping Samui's throat and sending a mild electric current through his hand. The Lightning Release paralyzed her.

"Well done not listening to them. Go on back."

"But..."

Yugito hesitated, glancing at Samui before bowing her head.

"She failed, and I never planned to return to the Cloud Village. Samui took care of me. Can you let her go just this once?"

She held up a finger, saying, "Just this once."

After a moment's thought, Yoichi said, "You've done well, and a chūnin deserves this."

He paused.

"But you'll need to agree to one condition."

Yugito paled, recalling the late-night noises she'd heard. She asked, "Wh-what condition?"

"What kind of face is that? I just want Two-Tails chakra!"

Yoichi was annoyed by her expression.

Then with a smirk he said, "Use your foot in white socks and step on me!"

Yugito froze, her face turning crimson.

"You perverted jerk!"

(End of Chapter)