Over the next week, the allied forces of the five great ninja villages scoured the Land of Grass but found no trace of Akatsuki or the 'Upper Ranks.'
Even the 'Box of Paradise' from Hidden Grass Village had vanished without a trace, as if it had evaporated.
As the conflict subsided, refugees returning to Hidden Grass Village wept silently at the sight of their devastated home.
This catastrophe was Hidden Grass Village's own doing.
The 'Fruit of Grass' faction, swayed by the 'Upper Ranks,' had turned the village into a ghost den, squandering generations of accumulated resources. Even their war machine, the 'Box of Paradise,' was lost.
In such times, the Daimyo of the Land of Grass personally visited the five Kage at their military camp to discuss rebuilding Hidden Grass Village.
By rights, given Hidden Grass Village's crimes, disbanding it would be the best course.
However, situated at the heart of the Lands of Fire, Wind, and Earth, Hidden Grass Village existed as a compromise among the great ninja villages—a recognized buffer zone. Dismantling it held little value for them.
Conversely, a weakened Hidden Grass Village, stripped of ambition, better served their interests.
After the Daimyo's repeated pleas, the five Kage agreed to allow the rebuilding of Hidden Grass Village.
Naturally, the Land of Grass would bear the full cost of the great villages' military expenses and compensation for casualties.
With arrangements settled, the ninja armies began their return.
To guard against Akatsuki ambushes, key figures from the five villages concealed their movements, many returning to their villages early.
Having distinguished himself, Uchiha Shinji was deemed a key figure by Hidden Leaf and returned early with Tsunade's squad.
Hidden Leaf Village.
In a noodle shop.
The shop owner seemed distracted. That evening, after dismissing his staff, he went alone to a small grove, anxiously waiting.
Hours passed, but the person he awaited didn't appear.
Just as he prepared to return to the shop in disappointment, a dark figure landed before him.
"You are…"
Startled, his eyes met the scarlet gaze of the figure, and before he could finish, he fell into a daze.
Undoubtedly.
The one intercepting the shop owner was Uchiha Shinji.
He knew the owner was a Hidden Grass Village spy, Karin's handler.
With Hidden Grass Village now in ruins, Shinji intended to sever this connection, freeing Karin from their control.
"Who's your superior?"
Shinji began his genjutsu interrogation.
Under the power of his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, the shop owner couldn't resist, quickly spilling all he knew.
"So that's how it is…"
Shinji pondered after hearing the details.
Karin's line, tied to the 'Box of Paradise' and the Nine-Tails, was a top secret in Hidden Grass Village, known only to elder-level figures.
Others on the line, including the shop owner, knew only fragments.
The shop owner knew Karin was a Hidden Grass spy in Hidden Leaf, while his superior knew only that the owner had a subordinate spy, unaware of their identity.
Thus, apart from the elders, only the shop owner knew Karin's true identity.
During his time in the Land of Grass, Shinji had repeatedly confirmed through various channels that all Hidden Grass elders—whether from the 'Fruit of Grass' or 'Flower of Grass' factions—had perished in the turmoil.
The village's archives were destroyed in the chaos, and all classified documents were lost.
Hidden Grass Village was now electing a new leader, facing a major power reshuffle.
In this scenario, eliminating the shop owner would completely erase Karin's past as a Hidden Grass spy.
But the owner's information gave Shinji a new idea.
Since only the now-deceased elders knew Karin's true purpose in infiltrating Hidden Leaf, she could reverse the line, return to Hidden Grass Village, and seize power covertly.
After this catastrophe, Hidden Grass Village was severely weakened. Competitors for the leadership were likely just surviving jonin.
If Shinji fabricated a cover story for Karin—changing her mission from stealing the Nine-Tails to being a prodigy sent by the elders to study Hidden Leaf's secrets—she could transform from a pawn into Hidden Grass Village's successor.
Shinji had his reasons for wanting control over Hidden Grass Village.
Though weakened, it was still a formal ninja village supported by a nation. Controlling it would solve many of Shinji's financial issues, provide a network of informants, and expand his manpower and intelligence.
This mirrored Nagato's assassination of Hanzo to secretly control Hidden Rain Village.
After this incident, the five great villages would be less wary of Hidden Grass. If Shinji stayed discreet and cautious, his control would be harder to detect.
Resolved, Shinji used genjutsu to alter the shop owner's memories, ensuring the sole person aware of Karin's identity would vouch for her.
Days later.
The shop owner's superior finally contacted him.
Meeting, the superior said, "You've heard about the village, right? All our activities are on hold until the village decides."
The shop owner probed, "Is this the elders' order?"
"Elders? Hah…" The superior gave a bitter laugh. "There are no elders left. The village's jonin are vying for leadership. Only when that's settled will new elders be chosen."
"What!?" The shop owner was shocked, confirming, "All the elders are gone?"
The superior nodded heavily. "Yes, every elder is dead, even the 'Flower of Grass' ones. Our losses were catastrophic. The future… sigh!"
The shop owner pressed, "If that's the case, we can't stop our activities!"
The superior froze. "What are you talking about?!"
The shop owner declared, "Do you know who my subordinate is?"
The superior frowned. "Just an informant, right?"
"No, she's a genius sent by the elders to Hidden Leaf to steal their secret techniques! She's Hidden Grass Village's hope!"