Naruto: I'm in Konoha, my name is Uzumaki Menma

Chapter 235 Countdown to the Night of Extermination

"Sorry to keep you waiting! Naruto, Menma, here's your ramen!" Uncle Teuchi placed two bowls of ramen in front of Naruto and Menma.

"Wow! It's finally ready! I'm starting!" Naruto instantly forgot about the subtle feeling he had just experienced, put his hands together, shouted energetically, and then eagerly picked up his chopsticks, blowing on them as he began to eat heartily, his cheeks immediately becoming bulging.

Menma also picked up his chopsticks. Compared to Naruto's wolfing down his food, his eating manners were much more refined.

He glanced at the red-haired woman beside him and the blond man on the other side out of the corner of his eye.

He knew perfectly well the true identities of these two "uninvited guests." His movements seemed to pause for a moment, but then he resumed normal and silently began to eat his noodles.

Minato and Kushina's ramen was served quickly as well.

As he put down his bowl, the middle-aged man habitually struck up a conversation: "Your noodles are ready, please enjoy. Hmm... you two look unfamiliar, you don't come to Konoha often, do you?"

He looked at Minato and Kushina, especially Minato's brilliant blond hair, which was rare even in Konoha. He felt a strange sense of familiarity, but couldn't remember where he had seen him before.

Minato smiled gently and replied in his altered voice, "Yes, it's been a long time since I've been back. Things have changed a lot."

He was telling the truth.

Kushina looked down at her overflowing bowl of "family reunion" ramen, picked up her chopsticks, carefully picked up a slice of char siu, and put it in her mouth.

Although her resurrected body had no sense of taste, and food tasted bland in her mouth, she ate with utmost seriousness, as if savoring the most delicious delicacies in the world.

Every bite is imbued with an almost reverent appreciation.

She could hear Naruto eating and drinking contentedly beside her. This simple daily routine of the family sitting together to eat was once an unattainable luxury for her and Minato.

Even though it was achieved in such a strange and secretive way, it was enough to make her heart, which had long since stopped beating, feel a bittersweet warmth.

So is Watergate.

He watched Naruto and Menma eat their noodles quietly, their movements elegant but equally devoid of flavor.

He focused most of his attention on his two sons beside him.

Hearing Naruto's hissing sound as he burned himself, and watching Menma's quiet profile as he ate, he wished time could stand still for a little longer.

The only sounds in the small shop were Naruto's satisfied swallowing, the soft rustling of Uncle Tetsuya tidying up the kitchen utensils, and the faint noise of the street outside the window.

After a while, Naruto was the first to finish the last sip of soup, patting his stomach contentedly and letting out a loud "Ah—it's so delicious!" This made Minato and Kushina next to him turn their heads slightly, their eyes full of tenderness.

"Are you full? Let's go." Mianma had almost finished eating, put down his chopsticks, and took out his small wallet.

"Oh! To the park! You promised to teach me that amazing throwing technique today!" Naruto jumped off the stool, full of energy.

Mianma paid for the two bowls of noodles and nodded to Uncle Shouda and Changpu: "Thank you for the meal."

"Welcome to visit again!" Changpu replied with a smile.

Watching the two children lift the curtain and leave one after the other, Minato and Kushina almost simultaneously stopped their unnecessary "eating" after their figures disappeared.

They looked at each other and saw a deep sense of reluctance and satisfaction in each other's eyes.

Minato gently put down his chopsticks, took out his money and placed it on the counter, his voice becoming more gentle: "Boss, check please."

The middle-aged man who made the food by hand came over to collect the money, smiling and asking, "How's the taste? Is it to your liking?"

“It’s delicious,” Minato said sincerely, even though he couldn’t taste anything. “The broth is very rich and memorable.”

Kushina also stood up. She looked at Teuchi, then suddenly stepped forward and bowed slightly with great solemnity, her voice trembling slightly: "Thank you very much... for taking care of that child all this time."

The uncle who was wiping the dishes and Changpu were both stunned for a moment, and were a little confused by the sudden and solemn thanks.

"Oh? You're too kind, sir..." The man quickly waved his hand, "We just run a noodle shop, everyone who comes here is a customer, we should treat them well..."

Kushina straightened up, her eyes a little red, but she forced a smile and didn't explain further, only repeating, "Really... thank you so much."

After saying that, she and Minato turned around, lifted the noren curtain, and went out.

The middle-aged man, holding the money, looked at the still-swaying noren curtain and scratched his head in confusion: "Strange customer... but he seems like a nice person."

He simply attributed his gratitude to the other person's kind heart.

Ayame walked over with a rag in her hand, ready to clean up the dishes left by Minato and Kushina.

She suddenly stopped, a look of confusion on her face.

"Huh? Dad, look..." She showed the bowl to the uncle, "These two customers' ramen... seems almost untouched?"

The ramen and toppings in the two bowls were almost exactly as they were when they were first served, except that there was less broth. It looked like they had been stirred slightly, but definitely not like they had been eaten properly.

It was quite different from the money they paid and the “satisfaction” they showed.

"Really?" The middle-aged man leaned over to take a look, also finding it a bit strange. "Maybe he doesn't have much of an appetite... or maybe he just wants to try it?"

He shook his head, no longer pursuing the matter: "Alright, hurry up and pack up, there will be more guests soon."

Just as Ayame was about to tidy up, the noren was lifted again.

A figure walked in.

He was wearing a standard Konoha Jonin vest, his arrogant silver-white hair covering part of his face, and a black mask covering most of his face, revealing only one slightly lazy, half-drooping black eye.

Most notably, his headband was worn at a slight angle, obscuring his left eye.

It was Kakashi Hatake, who had just finished his mission and was preparing to eat something to appease his stomach.

He habitually glanced around the store, his gaze sweeping over the empty seats. Just as he was about to find a place to sit down, he suddenly stopped.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of the backs of a couple who had just stepped out of the store and were blending into the crowd on the street.

The blond man and the red-haired woman.

It was just a fleeting glimpse, but the two figures struck Kakashi's nerves like a bolt of lightning.

Although blonde and red hair are not unusual hair colors in the ninja world.

But that combination, that height difference...

Especially the way that blond man walked, that gentle yet upright demeanor ingrained in his very being...

A familiar yet unsettling feeling instantly seized him!
"!?!" Kakashi's exposed eye suddenly widened, his languid expression vanishing, replaced by immense shock and disbelief.

Before he could even think, his body acted first, and he turned around abruptly and rushed out of the ramen shop, standing on the street and looking around anxiously.

The streets were bustling with people in the evening.

Where are those two figures now?

They vanished without a trace, like drops of water merging into the ocean, as if that glance just now was merely his illusion.

Kakashi stood there, his brows furrowed.

Is it an illusion?

Is it because I've been too tired from work lately? Or...?

He couldn't convince himself that the intense feeling was fake.

That unforgettable sense of familiarity, especially that blond figure from behind...

He took a deep breath, suppressed the turmoil in his heart, lifted the noren curtain again, and returned to the slightly noisy Ichiraku Ramen shop.

"Welcome... Ah, it's Kakashi." Ayame greeted him with a smile.

Kakashi didn't respond lazily as usual. His sharp gaze swept over the seats where the man and woman had just sat, and his voice was tense, almost imperceptibly: "Ayame, do you remember the man and woman who were sitting there just now? One had blond hair, and the other had red hair."

"Huh? Those guests from earlier?" Ayame was taken aback by Kakashi's slightly anxious tone. After a moment's thought, she replied, "Yes, I remember them. What happened to them? Does Mr. Kakashi know them?"

"Is there anything special about them? What did they say? Or what did they do?" Kakashi didn't answer, but continued to press, his gaze falling on the counter that Ayame hadn't completely cleaned yet, where there seemed to be some water stains still remaining.

"Something special?" Ayame tried hard to recall. "Hmm... The male customer ordered tonkotsu chashu ramen, with bamboo shoots and naruto rolls. The female customer ordered the family set. They... seemed to really like Naruto, they glanced at him several times. Oh, and when the female customer left, she thanked my dad very formally, which left us a little confused..."

As Changpu spoke, she put away the two almost untouched bowls on the table.

"Wait!" Kakashi suddenly called out to stop her.

His gaze was fixed on the two bowls in Changpu's hands.

The ramen in the bowl was almost intact, only the broth seemed to have decreased a bit, and the side dishes were not even in a big mess.

This state of almost no movement...

And the blond man ordered the same ramen as Naruto... with extra bamboo shoots and Naruto rolls...

A scene long buried deep in his memory, almost forgotten, suddenly crashed into Kakashi's mind.

On a sunny afternoon, young Minato Namikaze, with a gentle smile, sat at the counter of Ichiraku Ramen. He placed the Naruto roll from his bowl into the bowl of his red-haired wife, Kushina, and said with a smile, "Kushina, eat more. I still prefer the texture of dried bamboo shoots."

Kushina would then laugh and complain, "Seriously, Minato, the Naruto roll is delicious too!"

But her face radiated happiness.

Back then, Minato-sensei always habitually ordered tonkotsu ramen, plus a side of dried bamboo shoots...

blonde hair... red hair...

Familiar flavors...

An unusual level of attention towards Naruto...

Ramen that's barely touched...

And... that familiar back view that sent shivers down his spine...

“Teacher…could it be that you…” Countless fragments of clues collided and pieced together wildly in Kakashi’s rapidly working brain, pointing to an absurd yet heart-pounding possibility!
His breathing suddenly became rapid, and his exposed eye was filled with shock, confusion, and a glimmer of hope that he dared not hope for.

He suddenly looked up in the direction where the two people had disappeared outside the shop, his fingers unconsciously tightening.

"No...impossible...how could this be..." he muttered to himself, his voice drowned out by the noise of the ramen shop.

But the seed of doubt has been planted and is growing wildly at an unprecedented rate.

He had to find out who those two people were!

the other side.

Sasuke, who had parted ways with Menma and Naruto by the river, pouted and returned to the Uchiha clan's territory with a hint of exhaustion.

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the ancient eaves of the Uchiha clan's territory in a warm golden-red hue, creating a subtle contrast with the increasingly somber atmosphere within the clan's grounds.

Sasuke opened the door, and the entryway was unusually quiet, with only the faint sounds of his mother, Uchiha Mikoto, bustling about in the kitchen, and the aroma of miso soup wafting from the pot.

"Mom, I'm home," Sasuke called out as he changed his shoes.

"Welcome back, Sasuke." Mikoto poked her head out from the kitchen and smiled gently. "Did you have a hard time training? Dad and Itachi aren't back yet, so dinner will have to wait a little longer."

"Oh," Sasuke replied, feeling slightly disappointed.

He originally wanted to show his father the ninjutsu he had just mastered, and he also hoped to gain the approval of his older brother, Uchiha Itachi.

He walked to the edge of the veranda and sat down, his legs dangling over the veranda, his gaze fixed on the long shadows cast by the setting sun in the courtyard.

The village was quiet, but this quiet seemed different from usual, carrying an indescribable tension, like the calm before a storm.

Sasuke vaguely sensed that the adults seemed to be busy with something important lately, frequently gathering for meetings, and his father and brother always had particularly solemn expressions. But he was still a child after all, and those conflicts and repressions seemed somewhat distant to him.

All he can think about now is getting stronger, getting his father's praise, and then... surpassing that annoying Menma!

Sasuke rested his chin on his hand, tilting his little face up as he watched the sunset gradually turn inky black, silently calculating the time his father and brother would return.

Meanwhile, beneath the sacred and secluded Nakagawa Shrine of the Uchiha clan, the air was a stark contrast to the tranquil sunset outside; it was thick with the smell of gunpowder and a palpable sense of resentment.

The flickering torchlight illuminated faces etched with anger and resentment.

Almost all of the Uchiha clan's Jonin and core members had gathered here, and the crowd was restless, with whispers rising like an underground current.

Standing at the forefront of the crowd were the radical elite Jonin of the clan, including Uchiha Hachiho, Uchiha Tekka, and Uchiha Inahisa.

Their faces flushed with excitement, their eyes sharp as knives, and their voices passionate and impassioned.

"Clan Chief Fugaku!" Yatsushiro's booming voice, filled with an undeniable urgency, broke the silence of the basement: "How much longer must we endure this? The Konoha leadership has long regarded us as a thorn in their side! Ever since the night of the Nine-Tails' attack, their eyes have been filled with suspicion and apprehension!"

Tiehu slammed his fist against the stone wall beside him, making a dull thud: "The police department's power has been repeatedly reduced, and our scope of operations has been restricted! Even the children in the village will avoid us when they see the Uchiha clan's fan crest! This is an utter disgrace!"

"Shisui's disappearance is definitely related to them!" Inahisa chimed in, her tone resolute: "He was one of the strongest ninjas in our Uchiha clan, how could he just vanish without a trace? It must be the Konoha higher-ups, that old bastard Danzo who did it! And now they're trying to pin the blame on Itachi!"

Mentioning Uchiha Shisui immediately caused a stir among the crowd, and a wave of grief and indignation swept through them.

Shisui was not only the pride of the Uchiha clan, but also an object of admiration for many young ninjas. His mysterious disappearance was like a poisonous thorn, deeply embedded in the hearts of every clan member, and the vague investigation results from the Konoha leadership only exacerbated this suspicion and resentment.

"That's right! We can't just let Shisui's matter go like this!"

"They are driving us to our deaths step by step!"

"We Uchiha possess the strongest bloodline limit, why should we suffer such humiliation!"

"This is rebellion! Chief Fugaku! Lead us to reclaim the dignity we deserve!"

The crowd was filled with rage, and pairs of scarlet Sharingan eyes involuntarily appeared in the dim light, exuding a dangerous and powerful aura, causing the fluctuations of chakra in the air to become chaotic.

All eyes were focused on the man standing opposite them, the head of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Fugaku.

Fugaku's face was as solemn as if carved from stone, his brows furrowed, forming deep furrows.

He was dressed in traditional Uchiha clan attire, with a Jonin vest over his jacket, arms crossed, attempting to use the authority of the clan leader to suppress the almost out-of-control torrent.

In the past year, he has been able to appease his people by arguing about the practical advantages and disadvantages.

Lacking support from other ninja clans, the Uchiha clan alone could not contend with the entire Konoha machine; he even had his eldest son Itachi join the Anbu, ostensibly to "obtain intelligence and know the enemy," which temporarily stabilized the situation.

But now, Zhishui's disappearance has become the last straw that broke the camel's back, and the long-suppressed resentment within the tribe has finally erupted.

He felt as if he were standing on a volcano about to erupt, the power of which was almost beyond his control.

"Quiet!" Fugaku's deep and authoritative voice rang out, temporarily silencing the commotion.

His sharp gaze swept across the crowd, finally settling on the silent, black-haired boy at the very back of the group.

"Itachi," Fugaku's voice was emotionless, "You tell me. What have you found out recently? What is the current attitude of the Konoha leadership? Are there any concrete leads regarding Shisui's disappearance?"

All eyes instantly focused on Itachi Uchiha.

Those gazes were incredibly complex, containing scrutiny, expectation, but above all, deep distrust.

Uchiha Itachi slowly raised his head. His face was calm, even a little too pale. His black eyes were as deep as a bottomless cold pool, perfectly concealing all his emotions.

He stepped forward, his voice steady, and began to report carefully selected, seemingly important but actually insignificant information: "Based on my observations, there are disagreements between the Hokage and Advisor Danzo regarding how to handle clan affairs. The Anbu and Root are also mutually restraining, not a monolithic entity. Currently, the higher-ups seem to be primarily focused on the emerging Land of Stars outside the village, regarding Shisui..."

"It's always this!" His words were immediately interrupted impatiently by Uchiha Yatsuhoku: "Itachi, you've been in the Anbu for over a year! Every report is just this vague stuff! The higher-ups aren't united? What's the use of that! What we need are their concrete action plans! How exactly did Shisui die? Who's the murderer?!"

"I think he's just giving us the runaround!" Tie Huo added sharply. "Maybe he's already been brainwashed by those higher-ups and has become their spy planted within the clan! He might even have been involved in Zhi Shui's death!"

"Enough!" Fugaku shouted, but the questioning voices were already surging towards Itachi like a tidal wave.

"I don't think he has any intention of helping the family at all!"

"Clan Chief Fugaku, we can no longer trust him!"

"That's right! Why does he always speak up for the village?"

As he listened to the clansmen's undisguised suspicions and accusations, Itachi Uchiha's heart sank to the bottom.

He looked at those faces twisted with anger and narrow-mindedness, at the burning flames of hatred in their eyes that could consume an entire family, and a profound sorrow and despair overwhelmed him like a cold river.

Everything he did and everything he endured seemed utterly unbearable to his people.

The path to peace he longed for showed no glimmer of hope here.

Amidst the commotion, Fugaku's expression grew increasingly grim.

He knew that if he didn't give a clear statement today, he probably wouldn't be able to quell the anger of his clansmen, and it might even trigger an internal conflict on the spot.

He was pushed to the brink by the overwhelming public opinion.

He took a deep breath, as if he had made a huge decision, and suddenly raised his hand.

The room fell silent again, and everyone looked at him expectantly.

"I understand everyone's anger!" Fugaku's voice echoed within the shrine: "The dignity of the Uchiha clan cannot be trampled upon! But—"

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming extremely serious: "Rebellion is not child's play! It cannot be succeeded by mere passion and anger! We need a meticulous plan, we need the right timing, and we need to consider all possible unforeseen circumstances! Blindly rushing towards the Hokage Building will only plunge the Uchiha clan into an abyss of no return!"

His words temporarily quelled the unrest, and the tribespeople began to whisper among themselves, believing that the chieftain had finally relented and was beginning to seriously consider the rebellion plan.

"Yashiro, Tekka, Inahisa," Fugaku named them, "You will take the lead in immediately developing a detailed battle plan, assessing all risks, and listing the forces we need to win over and the enemies we need to guard against. No one should act rashly before thorough preparation!"

"Yes, clan leader!" The three elite Jonin responded with joy and a resounding reply.

The other tribesmen also seemed to see hope. Although their emotions were still agitated, they were at least guided in the direction of the "plan".

Fugaku closed his eyes wearily and waved his hand: "Disperse, everyone. Remember, remain absolutely calm until the plan is finalized, and do not let any secrets leak out."

The clansmen left the Nanka River Shrine one after another, filled with excitement and anticipation.

In the end, only Fugaku and Itachi remained in the empty and cold basement.

Fugaku walked up to Itachi, looked at his son's expressionless face, remained silent for a moment, and then said in a low voice, "Itachi, go to the Anbu and report as usual. Tell them... there are still grievances within the clan about Shisui, but I have temporarily suppressed them and they are currently observing the situation without taking any concrete action."

This was clearly an attempt to send him to spread false information and mislead the higher-ups.

Itachi Uchiha raised his head and gave his father a deep look.

He saw deep weariness, struggle, and a hint of unwilling compromise in his father's eyes.

He said nothing, only nodded slightly, and turned to leave the shrine.

His figure appeared particularly lonely in the dimly lit passageway.

After leaving Nakagawa, Itachi Uchiha did not go home, but went straight to the Hokage Building.

The night was deep, but the Hokage's office was brightly lit.

Not only was the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, present, but also the three Hokage advisors, Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado.

Clearly, they had been waiting for Itachi to arrive.

Itachi knelt on one knee, expressionless, his voice calm and even, and reported everything that had happened at the Nakagawa Shrine, including how his father was ultimately forced to agree to the rebellion plan and how the clan was indignant and demanding to seize power by force. He did not conceal anything.

A deathly silence fell over the office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand holding the pipe trembled slightly, his face full of heartache and reluctance. In the swirling smoke, his wrinkles seemed to deepen.

In the end, he still couldn't stop it all.

"As expected... it still came to this..." he murmured to himself, his voice hoarse.

"Itachi, you did a great job. You did not let Shisui's efforts go to waste." Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Itachi, who was kneeling motionless on the ground, and praised him.

Hiruzen Sarutobi then ordered, "Go and rest now. Continue to monitor the Uchiha clan's movements. Report back to me immediately once you have a confirmed time."

"Yes, Hokage-sama!" Itachi Uchiha bowed deeply, his tone devoid of emotion.

After Itachi Uchiha left, Danzo Shimura was the first to speak.

"Hiruzen! At this point, what are you still hesitating for?!" Danzo's single eye flashed with a cold and sharp light, his tone aggressive.

"The Uchiha clan is a malignant tumor on Konoha! If we don't remove it now, are we going to wait until it fully erupts and drags the entire village down with it? The fate of the Kaguya clan in Kirigakure's rebellion is a lesson to be learned!"

He took a step forward, his voice growing even more somber: "Moreover, who can guarantee that Fugaku won't collude with those two Uchiha from the Land of Stars? That woman named Uchiha Hikari is unfathomably powerful; even Shisui suffered a great loss at her hands! Once the Uchiha rebels within their ranks, and with powerful enemies outside providing support, Konoha will face an unprecedented crisis! We must eliminate her immediately to prevent future troubles!"

Koharu and Homura exchanged a glance and nodded solemnly.

“Danzo’s words are radical, but they are not without reason.” Mitomon Homura pushed up his glasses.

"The Uchiha problem can no longer be resolved peacefully. Their Sharingan is too dangerous, and if they cause trouble, the consequences will be unimaginable. However... with Konoha's current strength, it would probably suffer heavy losses if they wanted to completely suppress the Uchiha clan."

Koharu Utatane interjected, "We need to recall Jiraiya and Tsunade immediately. With the two of them back in charge, along with the strength of the Anbu, Root, and the Ino-Shika-Cho ninja clans, we should be able to control the situation."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a drag of his pipe, then exhaled a thick cloud of smoke. His face was filled with helplessness as he sighed, "Jiraiya's whereabouts are uncertain, and Tsunade... suffers from hemophobia. Even if she returns, how much of a help can she provide? Besides, distant water cannot quench immediate thirst."

Danzo snorted coldly, seemingly having anticipated this outcome. He changed the subject, his sinister single eye fixed on the door Itachi had closed as he left: "Since we can't rely on external forces, let's solve it from within. Hiruzen, you know Itachi's strength. Shisui said more than once that Itachi's talent was even greater than his own, and his strength was second only to Fugaku within the Uchiha clan."

Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to sense something, his brow furrowing sharply: "Danzo, what do you mean?"

Danzo's voice was cold and ruthless: "The meaning is simple. Let Itachi take action. Let him eliminate those radical core rebels. He doesn't need to kill them all; just plunge the Uchiha clan into internal strife and panic."

"At that time, the Anbu and Root will intervene under the pretext of quelling the internal strife and thoroughly purge the Uchiha clan. Finally, pin all the blame on Itachi and declare him a rogue ninja who destroyed the clan. This is the best solution to minimize the damage to the village."

'This is also the best opportunity to deal with the Uchiha clan...' Danzo's right eye, covered by bandages, was showing signs of life, with the Sharingan he had replaced with Shisui's.

Izanagi is an incredibly powerful technique that can rewrite reality, but it also consumes too much energy. He needs more Sharingan with three tomoe!

The office fell into a deathly silence once again.

Although Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado did not speak, their silence itself seemed to be a form of tacit consent.

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at Danzo in shock, unable to comprehend the cruelty of sending a young boy to slaughter his own clan.

"Danzo! You're insane! How could you let Itachi..." Hiruzen Sarutobi tried to retort.

But Danzo interrupted him: "This is the only option!"

"The matter has come to this point; the Uchiha's rebellion is a foregone conclusion, and their fate is sealed! The focus now is no longer on how to prevent it, but on how to eliminate this enormous threat that could destroy the village with the least cost and in the most thorough way! Extermination is the only option!"

"Or do you want to see the Uchiha clan collude with Shura from the Land of Stars and that Uchiha Hikaru to launch a pincer attack on Konoha from within and without, causing even greater casualties than the Nine-Tails' attack?!"

Danzo's cold words struck a chord in everyone's hearts, and Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado both looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was standing in the center.

As the most powerful ninja clan in the ninja world, the Uchiha clan alone has elite Jonin such as Fugaku, Yachiro, Tetsukika, Inahisa, and Yakumi. In addition, there are other Jonin who have awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan, making the total number no less than ten. Not to mention that there are also many ninjas in the clan who retired from active duty after getting married, like Uchiha Mikoto.

If the Uchiha clan were to mobilize as a whole, the rebellion of at least a dozen or twenty Jonin and hundreds of Chunin would be far more powerful than the rebellion of the sickly Kaguya clan!
It was no less than a major battle!
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned deeply and fell into a profound silence.

night, deeper.

Beneath the seemingly peaceful surface of Konoha Village, undercurrents were surging to a critical point.

(End of this chapter)