Konoha Notes

Chapter 181 Another Kaleidoscope
The Hidden Cloud Village kept its promise.

The day after the training exercise concluded, Konoha's ninjas were permitted to use the eleventh backup training ground outside the village. The ground was well-equipped and secluded, perfect for undisturbed training.

Having witnessed the strength displayed by their team leader, the Konoha genin's enthusiasm for training noticeably increased. At least, as they poured their sweat into their training, the gloom of their team's defeat seemed to be somewhat dispelled.

As for his opponent, Darui, he was probably not greatly affected.

At least that's how Shuji sees it.

As the first day of training drew to a close and the Konoha team prepared to return to their base, Shuji noticed a figure standing in the shadows outside the training grounds. It was Darui. He didn't approach; he simply stood there quietly.

"Lord Raikage said I'm very lucky." Darui's voice came through, less lazy than usual and more calm, "to encounter a powerful enough goal worth pursuing when I needed to clarify my path."

"Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Shuji."

After saying that, he turned and left.

After that, the area around Konoha's temporary base became noticeably quieter. The Cloud Village ninjas who had previously been somewhat inconspicuous, with their scrutinizing gazes, almost disappeared.

Once the ninjas' training was back on track, Shuuji turned some of his attention back to the matter that had been temporarily put on hold due to the Chunin Exams.
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After submitting a detailed action report, specifying the planned route, destination, and emergency contact information, Uchiha Enjin finally obtained permission to leave the village and began to carry out the so-called "tracking down the stolen Sharingan" mission on his own.

Initially, he followed the submitted action plan and traveled along the southeastern direction of the Land of Fire.

It seems they went there to find clues about the stolen Sharingan.

Behind him, a small ANBU squad followed at a distance, ensuring that Uchiha Enjin's movements were under control, at least in the initial stages.

Uchiha Enjin's route was basically in line with the plan he reported. There might have been some deviations along the way due to the need for intelligence gathering, but they were all within a reasonable range of explanation.

However, this "smooth sailing" did not last long.

Inside the Hokage's office, Tsunade received an urgent message transmitted through her summoning beast: Uchiha Enjin had disappeared after entering a complex forest area.

The shadowy squad that was following him conducted an urgent search, but failed to find any useful traces he had left behind, as if he had vanished into thin air.

Soon, Kakashi and Itachi Uchiha, who had been summoned, appeared in the office at the same time.

Tsunade placed the intelligence scroll on the table and rested her chin on her hands.

“There were no signs of a battle at the scene, and the Anbu are further investigating the possibility that he was taken away by special means.” She stated the known information, “However, if no evidence can be found to support this hypothesis, then Uchiha Enjin is suspected of defection.”

Kakashi pondered for a moment and then offered a different perspective: "If he really intended to defect, he wouldn't need to submit multiple applications and wait for this official opportunity to report for duty."

Having served in the police force for many years, and possessing a three-tomoe Sharingan, defecting from the village wouldn't be too difficult for Uchiha Enjin.

"I think he may have chosen to leave under the guise of a formal mission so that he could have a reasonable explanation later and return to the village smoothly."

"Therefore, the contact information he left behind must be able to reach him. Otherwise, even if he eventually has many seemingly reasonable reasons for being out of contact for a long time without any explanation, he would have to undergo strict interrogation and investigation to return to the village."

“By then, his true movements and purpose outside the village will be even harder to conceal.” “So, we might as well try using the emergency contact plan he left behind to probe him. This might help us determine if he is still under our control, or at least, obtain some clues,” Kakashi suggested.

After thinking for a moment, Itachi Uchiha said, "There aren't many things that Flame Blade can only do by leaving the village."

"If we rule out the possibility that his main purpose for this trip was indeed to find the stolen Sharingan... then another more likely possibility is that he needed to contact someone outside."

He paused for a moment, then added, "Or, to contact some people who are not currently in the village."

Kakashi thought of the Uchiha who had been away since last year and said, "In the Fire City, Shisui is leading the Uchiha squad that is on a mission to protect the Daimyo."

"This is a group closely related to Uchiha Enjin, but as long as he doesn't leave the village, he can't be directly contacted."

Those who are now under the supervision of Shisui are the radical Uchiha.

Moreover, at the speed of a Jonin, the distance from the village to the Land of Fire could be covered in a single day. This means that even if the village were to urgently activate the contact methods he left behind, Uchiha Enjin would be able to respond within the stipulated time limit—if he wished.

Tsunade frowned upon hearing this. The radical faction, having lost its influence, was trying to contact other radical factions who were on missions abroad... Just thinking about it, she knew that it was unlikely to produce any positive results.

"Do two things immediately." Tsunade made a quick decision. "First, send someone to inform Shisui to be on high alert and pay special attention to the movements of the Uchiha members in his team. Report any abnormalities immediately."

"Second, have the Anbu activate the emergency communication plan left by Uchiha Enjin to send a message: the village has some new clues about the theft of the Sharingan and needs his immediate reply."
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"You are not Lord Madara."

Facing the man with the swirling tiger-striped mask and long hair, Uchiha Enjin spoke with certainty.

When the eerie pitcher plant creature that called itself "Jue" silently appeared in his home, his first reaction was to breathe fire and burn it to ashes.

However, something the other party produced made him suppress this thought—a perfectly preserved Sharingan belonging to his fallen comrade.

The message Zetsu brought—about the current state and future of the Uchiha clan, and about the "conspiracy" of the Konoha leadership—truly touched upon his deepest anxieties and resentment.

Despite having doubts about the identity of "Lord Uchiha Madara" mentioned in the secret, Uchiha Enjin decided to risk leaving the village to meet him in order to explore a possible way out for his clan, or at least to find out the other party's true purpose.

Upon first glance at the masked man, he was almost certain that this person was not Uchiha Madara.

Because Madara Uchiha didn't need to wear a mask or hide his face.

"Whether it is or not, use your eyes to confirm it, Uchiha Enjin."

A deep voice came from beneath the mask.

The next moment, the shape of the pupil in that single eye suddenly changed.

Uchiha Enjin's eyes widened.

This is... the Mangekyou Sharingan...

(End of this chapter)