Chapter 119: 115: A New Beginning
Volume 2.... Advanced chapters on my Patreon.
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In his office, Hiruzen carefully reviewed the report submitted by the Anbu.
Regarding the extent of the damage, it appeared that the battle zones were mainly concentrated in the northeast and southeast of the village, as well as in the forest of death. Thankfully, the damage to the village's buildings was relatively limited, and reconstruction wouldn't pose a significant challenge.
Konoha had a sufficient inventory in reserve to resume operations swiftly without any major problems.
However, the real concern lay in the loss of nearly a hundred ninjas during this turmoil. Among them, roughly ten Jounin had died in battle, with the Hyuga clan accounting for half of these casualties.
Furthermore, if one factored in the Uchiha and Hyuga clan members who had defected and left Konoha, the situation became even more troubling.
A dozen or so Jōnin leve fighters, positioned on the battlefield, could have provided huge support in small scale ninja confrontations.
Ignoring these huge losses, the departure of Uchiha and Hyuga Clan members, particularly those with Kekkei Genkai , presented a significant challenge for Konoha.
Announcing this matter would severely damage Konoha's reputation, especially during this precarious wartime period, likely causing panic among the village's ranks and providing ridicule for the enemy's taunts.
At that moment, the office door swung open, and two advisors, Homura and Koharu, entered, followed by the leader of Root, Danzo.
The nearby Anbu, observing this, discreetly exited using the Body Flicker Technique, making room for the village's high ranking officials to deliberate.
The trio entered the room, remained silent for a moment, and then Koharu finally broke the oppressive silence by addressing Hiruzen. "How do you plan to handle this situation?"
"I intend to play down the impact of this mass defection." Hiruzen sighed, meeting Koharu's gaze squarely.
"Have you issued a gag order?" Koharu inquired.
"To pursue the defection of the main culprits and downplay the presence of the others."
Hiruzen paused, then continued, "At the time of the incident, all eyes were fixated on the Kyuubi, so the village's ninjas were largely unaware of the Uchiha and Hyuga situations. Even if some suspected, it was only a minority. I've instructed them to maintain secrecy."
Koharu and Homura exchanged glances and nodded; this indeed seemed like a viable approach.
Providing information about the two primary culprits, Chiba Shiraishi and Uchiha Ruri, while downplaying the role of the others, made sense.
In the current age of war, letting these accomplices continue to "sacrifice" on the frontline as Konoha ninjas could explain why they had "disappeared" from the village.
However, they knew this was not a long-term solution but they would deal with the implications in the future.
The riot and fire at the Hyuga Clan that night could be portrayed as an encounter with a powerful enemy attack. Hyuga ninjas had fought valiantly, ultimately defeating the enemy but suffering some losses.
The most critical aspect now was to maintain the morale of Konoha's ninja and minimize the damage to the village's reputation.
As for the two main culprits, Chiba Shiraishi and Uchiha Ruri, their actions had been too conspicuous, there was no way to downplay them.
Given the gravity of the situation, a reasonable explanation was necessary. Placing the blame squarely on these two individuals and publicly shaming them would unite Konoha's ninjas in shared resentment and divert their attention.
"Danzo, what's your take on this?" Hiruzen looked to Danzo for his opinion.
On the night of the turmoil, Danzo's hard work also made him feel gratified. In the village's critical momebt, he was able to stand up to fight the enemy without hesitation, fight side by side with his fellow villagers, and assumed the responsibilities that Konoha ninjas should have.
Danzo answered with something unrelated to the current discussion. "There's news from the Uchiha Clan that Uchiha Sora has retired due to old age."
"Uchiha Sora?" Danzo's statement elicited surprise and concern from Koharu and Homura.
Uchiha Sora was one of the few ninjas in Konoha who had lived from the Warring States Period to the present.
"When Hiruzen assumed the position of Hokage, that old man was relentless in purging internal strife within the Uchiha Clan. Shortly after that, Kagami died on a mysterious mission... It makes one think of unsettling possibilities."
Homura sighed.
Since then, their surveillance of the Uchiha Clan had been completely cut off. Without Uchiha Kagami providing information, the Uchiha Clan had slipped beyond their control and had become a forbidden territory, inaccessible to Konoha.
"Don't indulge in baseless guesses. Kagami's death was likely a result of unfortunate circumstances."
Hiruzen cautioned them.
After all, they lacked evidence to support the claim that Uchiha Kagami had died at the hands of his own clan members.
It was not uncommon for a ninja to meet their end on a mission.
"Nevertheless, it is quite coincidental that Sora retired at this time... So, who is the current Uchiha Clan leader?" Koharu inquired.
"Uchiha Fugaku." Danzo replied.
Danzo's response didn't come as a surprise to the three of them.
Uchiha Ruri had defected and become an extremely dangerous S-rank rogue ninja. Among the Uchiha's younger generation, only Uchiha Fugaku had the capability to challenge her leadership.
"Just keep an eye on him. As long as the old man doesn't continue to live in seclusion within the Uchiha Clan, he'll be the one pulling the strings behind the scenes." Homura advised.
At this moment, Homura handed a form to Hiruzen and placed it on his desk.
"What's this?" Hiruzen inquired.
"The branch store of Purple Rose was affected by the recent turmoil, and some medicines appear to be damaged. While they haven't requested compensation yet, I believe it's best to address this promptly. We can't afford to tarnish the village's reputation at this time." Homura explained.
"Later, I'll send someone to negotiate and compensate them at a rate 10% higher than the selling price."
This was a consequence of Konoha's inadequate supervision, and the Purple Rose Company was an innocent party that Konoha needed to take responsibility for. Despite the Land of Demons being a neutral country, maintaining good relations was essential.
The Land of Fire and Konoha seemed to have sufficient funds, and they had the means to handle this situation. Homura agreed with this approach.
At this juncture, securing an ally was beneficial, especially considering that the Purple Rose Company had promised to supply Konoha with medical provisions during the war, reducing Konoha's logistical burden.
Upon reflection, the Purple Rose Company was a timely ally, alleviating some of the medical pressure faced by Konoha.
After Danzo and the others left, Hiruzen picked up a cigarette stick from the table and took a deep drag, coughing slightly.
He retrieved a slightly thin document from his drawer, the name "Chiba Shiraishi" written at the top. Below were several photos, including one of Sakumo's team, as well as pictures from Shiraishi's school days, his ninja days, and his teenage years.
The document contained evaluations from various teachers:
"A diligent, kind, and hardworking student. Frequently found in the library, borrowing books weekly. Shows a keen interest in medical technology, which should be cultivated according to his inclinations." (Chunin Fujimura Taiga)
"He has an average talent in medical ninjutsu, not exceptionally high expectations, but also won't disappoint. While his knowledge base is sufficient, he lacks some flexibility needed to become a top-tier medical ninja. However, with hard work, he can excel among first-class medical ninjas." (Anbu Medical Ninja)
"During missions, he understands the role of a medical ninja, never acting impulsively, maintaining composure, understanding his strengths and weaknesses, and taking responsibility for his comrades' lives. He may fear death, but this makes him well-suited for the role of a medical ninja and the core of the team. Permission to continue serving in the squad is granted." (Sakumo Hatake, Jonin)
"Impressive knowledge and occasionally offers unexpected ideas. A good teacher with a strong student following." (Jonin Tsunade)
"An excellent Chunin who upholds the Will of Fire and bridges the gap between the village and the Uchiha." (Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen)
Hiruzen let out a sigh and, looking at the last comment, a wry smile formed on his face. To him, these words were both impressive and relevant. He picked up a black pen, crossed out the final comment, and added a new one:
"Proficient in concealment, possesses a cruel temperament. Unknown medical and ninjutsu abilities. A shadowy presence, highly dangerous."
"Send this document to the Intelligence Department." Hiruzen closed the document and instructed.
"Yes Hokage-sama"
An Anbu appeared nearby, took the document, and left using the Body Flicker Technique, heading to the intelligence department.
.......
Uchiha Clan.
Ruri's former residence had been taken over by Anbu.
"Is this everything?"
The Anbu systematically searched every room and item.
However, the collected items were nothing out of the ordinary. Some basic medical ninjutsu books were also present, but finding anything significant seemed impossible.
"Yes, that's it. Many rooms were empty." An Anbu reported.
"All seem to be standard items; nothing unusual." the squad leader added.
"Do you want to take everything with us?" he asked.
"Of course, pack everything and send it to the intelligence department. Even though I doubt we'll find any useful information here, it's part of the job, and we can't afford to overlook anything."
The Squad Leader gave instructions to his subordinates.
Hearing his instructions, the rest of the Anbu nodded. They collected all items, including some suspicious scrolls, placing them in a large box before transporting them outside.
"Still, who would have thought that someone who seemed so ordinary would be such a dangerous presence." one of the Anbu commented during the process.
"Indeed, during the battle, we were too occupied to act. Just sensing that atmosphere almost suffocated me." the squad leader agreed.
That kind of ninja level was genuinely terrifying. The constant feeling that life could be extinguished at any moment, was like being in the epicenter of a battlefield, not knowing when one's life would be snuffed out by the enemy.
Life and death were intertwined in such an environment.
"Well, excuse me..."
As they were transporting items outside, a soft voice interrupted them. It belonged to a girl with short brown hair, approximately eight or nine years old. Beside her was an Uchiha boy sporting sunglasses.
"Who are you? What's going on?"
Seeing someone the Anbu didn't pay much attention, as there had been many onlookers during their search.
"I'm Rin Nohara, a student at the academy. I wanted to ask about Shiraishi-senpai... I heard he defected. Is that true?" Rin's hopeful expression betrayed her disbelief.
"It's true. Don't refer to him as 'Senpai' anymore; he's now a dangerous traitor. Did you sense the turmoil in the village that night? He and others caused it." the Anbu leader explained patiently.
Dealing with respected seniors or close friends who had defected was uncomfortable for anyone. However, the life of a ninja often involved partings and death.
"How come... Is there any misunderstanding here?" Rin asked.
"Misunderstanding? With so many people dead, it's not a simple misunderstanding. You should abandon any fantasies. I witnessed his coldness and ruthlessness that night. No matter how you try to explain it, he is far from the respectable senior medical ninja you once knew. If you encounter him again, he won't hesitate to kill you. It's best to let go of this futile hope."
The Anbu spoke in a calm but firm tone.
Ignoring Rin's dazed state, he continued to move the items.
"Captain, isn't that too harsh? She's still a student..." one of the Anbu said.
Even though they had abandoned their official identities, they didn't want young children to be exposed to the harsh realities of the world so quickly.
"This incident happened right before her eyes; we can't change that. It's better to sever her illusions. Deception would be the real cruelty. Besides, he's a defected ninja now, and he won't show mercy just because he was once a comrade." The Anbu explained.
"I hope she can eventually emerge from this shadow." He added.
"Then let's hope for that." the Anbu agreed.
"By the way, Captain, do you think they defected because of Sakumo..." another Anbu asked, lowering his voice.
"There's no evidence for such speculation. Don't bring it up without proof." The leader warned, giving a cold stare.
The Anbu fell silent.
"Rin, are you still thinking about that guy?" Obito asked Rin as he watched the Anbu carrying boxes filled with items and leaving.
"Shiraishi-senpai... why did he..." Rin was still hoping that this was false.
Obito turned his head slightly, passed through the gate, and looking at the empty courtyard within the luxurious residence. Shiraishi's actions had deeply saddened Rin.
'That b*stard! He made Rin so sad! Next time I see him, I won't let him off!' Obito clenched his fists, resolute in his determination to make Shiraishi pay for making Rin sad.
"Rin, I promise you, sooner or later, I'll find that guy and find out why he left the village. This is my responsibility as an elite ninja of the Uchiha clan!" Obito vowed solemnly.
"Well, thank you, Obito... I'm feeling better now." Rin responded, trying to put on a brave face.
'Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, that b*stard is as good as dead. He must be punished severely for making Rin so sad!'
Obito's heart seethed with anger and resentment towards Shiraishi.
.....
One day later...
In the capital of the Land of Fire, at Purple Rose Medical's branch.
"Boss, here's the latest wanted notice from Konoha." Bug Man knocked and entered the room, bringing news to Shiraishi. He placed a copy of Konoha's wanted list in front of Shiraishi.
Shiraishi picked it up with interest. Bug man commented, "To be honest, this bounty came a bit later than expected."
Considering Konoha's capabilities, it should have arrived yesterday based on their previous speed. Other nations would receive the wanted list within two or three days.
As a result, they stayed in the Land of Fire and only received the wanted list until today.
"They have to weigh various factors and minimize the impact. The wanted list is probably low on their priority list. It's expected that it would be released later." Shiraishi responded.
As for the chasing troops, with Iwagakure now joining the war. After seeing the strength they showed that night, as long as there had no problems with their brains, they should realize that dealing with the war is a more pressing concern than hunting down defectors.
Winning the war is paramount; even if they manage to capture the defectors, it won't matter if they lose the war.
Shiraishi read the Konoha's wanted notice, which was basically in line with his expectations:
-----Konoha Ninja Chiba Shiraishi, Chunin, the reason for defection is unknown. He is charged with attacking the village and killing fellow ninjas. This individual is highly dangerous and is designated as an 'S' rank traitor.
Regarding Ayane, there was no mention, presumably to keep her existence from being known to other villages. A gag order might have been issued to insiders.
Considering the events of that night, Ayane faced the fewest Konoha ninjas, and she was responsible for most of their deaths. By imposing a gag order on the surviving witnesses, they could temporarily conceal her involvement.
If he and Ruri hadn't fought publicly, and if there hadn't been so many witnesses, they might not even be considered 'traitors' in this defection. Instead, their actions could have remained a secret known only to the insiders.
Hence, only Shiraishi and Ruri were listed as defectors. They were designated as extremely dangerous S-rank ninjas.
Notably absent from the wanted list were Ayane, members of the Hyuga clan's branch family, and the Uchiha clan defectors. Their names deliberately omitted.
"Indeed, the Hokage is quite shrewd... Are you certain we shouldn't make a bigger fuss?"
Their unspoken agreement was evident, and this aligns with Shiraishi's thinking.
Konoha was preoccupied with the ongoing war, leaving them with no surplus manpower to chase them down. On their part, maintaining a low profile was necessary. They couldn't afford to act overtly at this stage; secrecy was key.
Shiraishi could appreciate Hokage's perspective. Prioritizing the village's internal stability and dealing with the pressing war took precedence over pursuing a dangerous defector.
"Setting aside Konoha for now, do you think other villages might covet the power of the Sharingan?"
Bug Man asked, voicing his concerns.
While a lot of critical information had been redacted, Ruri's Sharingan could still attract the attention of those with ulterior motives.
"It's possible, but where would they obtain that information?" Shiraishi responded.
Bug Man thought that the wanted list contained only charges, grades, and basic information, omitting key details.
Shiraishi elaborated, "Despite our defection, our ninja abilities and combat styles remain closely guarded secrets of the village. Even our formef allies won't share such information."
Shiraishi wasn't concerned about other villages pursuing them.
After this incident, the intelligence about them would be classified as top secret by Konoha, accessible only to high-ranking officials like Hokage and their inner circle.
Konoha had declared them as S-rank defectors, signifying their strength and, more importantly, their danger.
Any attempts by Konoha ninjas to locate them would require confirming their whereabouts, sending ninja teams to assess their capabilities, all consuming considerable time, energy, funds, and potential casualties.
In the case of the uncertain reward of acquiring the Sharingan, these sacrifices made it an unworthy pursuit, which explained why ninja from other villages were reluctant to deal with defectors from foreign villages.
"I understand." Bug Man nodded.
"How are the arrangements progressing?" Shiraishi inquired.
"Members of the Uchiha and Hyuga clans have been relocated in phases. Barring any unforeseen issues, they should safely arrive in the Land of Demons the day after tomorrow." Bug Man reported.
Shiraishi nodded. With Ruri and Ayane accompanying him throughout the journey, not even the Five Kages could guarantee their success. Thus, he had no safety concerns regarding their trip.
"Let's quicken our efforts here. While I can make educated guesses, I can't let my guard down entirely. Use more smoke bombs; regardless of whether Konoha sends pursuers, we cannot leave any loose ends in these follow-up tasks."
"Understood."
As Bug Man was about to leave, the ground trembled, and General Tu emerged from the floor. It held a letter, handed it to Shiraishi, and disappeared into the shadows.
"Whose letter is that?" Bug Man asked curiously.
"It's from the agent I placed in Konoha Hospital. They may have important information to report." Shiraishi replied, opening the letter to read its contents.
Upon reading the letter, Shiraishi's expression changed noticeably, causing Bug Man to worry that a significant development had occurred in Konoha, possibly implicating him.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Namikaze Minato is not dead."
Shiraishi stated, his expression unusually grave.
"Namikaze Minato?"
"A highly skilled tricky Konoha ninja. I thought he was dead."
Shiraishi explained, confused by the revelation.
He couldn't fathom how Minato had survived. At the time, Shadow Dancer's Shadow Blade had pierced Minato's heart, a wound deemed fatal even with Tsunade's expertise.
He was well aware of Konoha's medical capabilities, and such an injury should have been fatal. Continuing to read the letter, Shiraishi discovered the reason.
"Mount Myōboku..."
He uttered these two words, prompting Bug Man to ask.
"Mount Myōboku?"
Shiraishi thought for a while, and issued a confusing order:
"Collect books and scrolls that document ancient history, particularly legends and histories about sages. Focus on gathering this information."
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