"Lord Jun," Hatake Sakumo said as he saw the village of Konoha before him, feeling relieved inside. He had originally planned to ask the ANBU what exactly was going on, but they completely ignored him and simply left.
It seemed they really were on a secret mission!
They didn't even give face to him, the future ANBU captain. That meant only the Hokage could have given such an order.
But...
What exactly was the Hokage trying to do?
"Please wait here for a moment," Hatake Sakumo said helplessly. "I will go and report to the Hokage."
Although the daimyo of Uzushiogakure was now an ally of Konoha...
The proper formalities still had to be followed.
Uzumaki Jun nodded indifferently. Aside from the daimyo of the Five Great Nations, basically anyone who wanted to meet the Hokage of Konoha needed to be announced first. Though he felt a little displeased—no matter what, he was still the daimyo of a nation.
"Ah, Uzushiogakure is still too weak."
...
"Hokage-sama," Hatake Sakumo entered the Hokage's office and said respectfully.
"Mission completed?" Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff of smoke and asked, "What brings you back to the village?"
If he remembered correctly, the war deployment should have been arranged long ago.
Hatake Sakumo was supposed to head straight to the battlefield in the Land of Rain after completing his mission, as the situation there wasn't very optimistic.
And...
Why hadn't Uzushiogakure fought against Sunagakure and Amegakure?
According to intelligence reports from spies below, the two sides had been peaceful for many days, with no conflicts breaking out.
Uzushiogakure just occasionally sent their ninjas out for drills. But this wasn't bad either. Once Konoha resolved the battlefields against Iwagakure and Kumogakure, they could join forces with Uzushiogakure to deal with Sunagakure and Amegakure.
So...
It was fine that they hadn't fought. Right now, Uzushiogakure just needed to stall them and prevent them from causing trouble.
"The Sky Ninja Village has been destroyed," Hatake Sakumo said after a moment of thought, "But there were some problems."
"What problems?" Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned. "Heavy losses?"
"There weren't any losses, but..." Hatake Sakumo said, "We encountered..."
He decided to explain the situation clearly first and see if the Hokage really had some secret mission.
Or...
Who was that Mangekyō user?
"The Mangekyō and the Rinnegan?" Sarutobi Hiruzen was stunned when he heard Hatake Sakumo's words. "I didn't send any ANBU for support!"
However...
Hatake Sakumo looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen with suspicion. If it wasn't the Hokage's order, then who could command the ANBU?
"It seems someone is framing Konoha," Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed and took a puff of smoke. "Those ANBU weren't sent by me. I'll arrange for someone to investigate..."
Wait, no. He suddenly remembered that a group of ANBU had left the village without registration.
His expression immediately sharpened. "I think I know what's going on."
What exactly was Danzo trying to do?
Who was that Mangekyō user? Could it really be from the Uchiha clan? If so...
What were Danzo and the Uchiha plotting?
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned and looked at Hatake Sakumo. "You don't need to worry about this. I'll handle it. Now, please bring in the daimyo of Uzushiogakure."
The Akatsuki...
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed as he smoked. Why had such an organization suddenly appeared in the ninja world?
They had hidden deeply for so many years that even the First Hokage and his teacher hadn't noticed.
He had heard there was a strong figure from the same era as the First Hokage who had fought against him. Who could it be?
"What exactly do they want?" Sarutobi Hiruzen leaned back in his chair and muttered. "Is it really for the peace of the ninja world?"
"Hokage-sama," Hatake Sakumo led Uzumaki Jun into the room and said respectfully.
Uzumaki Jun walked in slowly and smiled at Sarutobi Hiruzen, nodding slightly. "Hokage."
They were of the same rank now, so there was no need to lower his status. Besides...
Once things blew up, the Hokage in front of him would probably want to kill him.
"What a heroic young man," Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't mind Uzumaki Jun's form of address and said with emotion. "I've always wanted to meet the future God of Shinobi, a member of Lady Mito's clan, but I never had the time."
"Indeed..." Sarutobi Hiruzen showed a nostalgic expression. "Just like the First Hokage!"
"You flatter me," Uzumaki Jun smiled. "I dare not compare myself to the First Hokage."
These words were meant to set up Uzushiogakure.
How many people in the ninja world wanted to see another God of Shinobi appear?
Even when Amegakure produced a "Half-God," they were relentlessly suppressed. Otherwise, why would the Land of Rain be so poor and constantly embroiled in war?
This time, they even made it a battlefield...
This old man, huh...
"Haha, it's fine," Sarutobi Hiruzen gave a warm, kind smile. "I'm sure the First Hokage would be very happy to see someone in the ninja world who shares his ideals."
"Heh," Uzumaki Jun smiled and nodded, saying nothing. As for sharing the same ideals...
Who would believe that? This old man was probably thinking about how to kill him right now, especially because of those 500 million and the jutsu scrolls...
Heh...
Did they really think he was just some clueless kid?
Seeing that the young man wasn't excited by his praise, Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed inwardly. As expected of someone who became a Kage at this age—his temperament didn't match his age at all.
So...
"How do you know the Akatsuki?" Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze sharpened as he asked seriously. "What is their goal?"
Better to get straight to the point.
"It all started with the appearance of the airship in Uzushiogakure," Uzumaki Jun ignored Sarutobi Hiruzen's imposing aura. He had even faced Madara—why would he be afraid of the "Strongest Hokage"?
"The Akatsuki is an organization that loves peace and contributes to the peace of the ninja world..."
...
"Damn it!" Danzo returned to the village with a dark expression, accompanied by his subordinates. He had schemed across the ninja world, earning the title of "The Darkness of Shinobi," yet he had been deceived by his own subordinate. What exactly was going on?
"Toru, go back and capture Mushi," Danzo said to Toru beside him. "Ask him what he's trying to do."
Was it his own doing, or was someone in the village...
Trying to move against him?
At that moment...
"Whoosh!"
"Lord Danzo," a masked ninja appeared before Danzo and said, "The Hokage wishes to see you."
"Hiruzen?" Danzo was taken aback and frowned in thought. "What does he want to see me for at this time?"
Was it because of problems in the war?
Or...
Was this Hiruzen's way of messing with him?
Maybe reminding him not to get too close to the Uchiha clan?
But Danzo believed in his old friend. He wouldn't truly act against him—after all, they had decades of friendship.
So...
"Let's go," Danzo said calmly.
He would see what Hiruzen wanted with him.