In the Hokage's office.
The top brass of Hidden Leaf Village gathered to discuss countermeasures against the Akatsuki organization.
As the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade sat behind the Hokage desk, frowning at the documents in her hand, while Shizune stood by her side, cradling Tonton.
In the reception area in front of the desk, the Third Hokage, Danzo, Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado—the four advisory elders—along with Shikaku, Kakashi, Asuma, and Hiashi Hyuga, either sat or stood, each reviewing their own copies of the documents.
Indeed.
After stepping down as Hokage, the Third had taken up the role of advisory elder. Jiraiya, meanwhile, was absent, accompanying Naruto and Yakumo to Hidden Cloud Village.
The documents in their hands were the latest intelligence on Akatsuki, compiled and analyzed by the intelligence unit based on data gathered during the recent war.
From the leader Nagato and the suspected co-leader 'A' downward, the report listed over a dozen Akatsuki members, enough to make one's scalp tingle.
Sigh.
Homura Mitokado set down the intelligence report, letting out a long sigh.
Nagato's group, including Nagato himself, consisted of Konan, the mysterious masked man (Obito), Zetsu, Kakuzu, Hidan, Deidara, Sasori, Juzo Biwa, Itachi, Hiruko, Ranmaru, Shinno, and Moryo—fourteen members in total.
'A's group, including 'A' himself, comprised 'A', 'B', 'C', 'D', 'E', 'F', and 'G'—seven members.
Clearly.
Shion, codenamed 'X', the bio-exoskeleton codenamed 'H', Ryuzetsu codenamed 'J', and Chino codenamed 'K' had not yet acted openly as Akatsuki members, so their existence wasn't included in the report.
Even so, the two groups combined totaled twenty members!
These weren't ordinary wanted criminals. The strongest among them were formidable enough that even the Five Kage couldn't guarantee victory against them. The weaker ones were at least elite Jonin level, capable of shifting the tide of a battle. Thus, none of the Hidden Leaf higher-ups in the Hokage's office dared underestimate them.
At this moment, Danzo spoke up. "Itachi is no longer reliable! If he hadn't struck down the Mizukage in this war, the situation wouldn't have collapsed to this point!"
"Indeed!"
Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane nodded in unison.
Unable to contact Itachi and with this incident, in the eyes of the older village leaders, Itachi was indeed no longer trustworthy.
The Third remained silent.
Unaware of the mutual restraint and surveillance between Itachi and Obito, he, too, began to doubt Itachi's loyalty. After all, the losses suffered by the Five Great Shinobi Villages this time were immense.
Seeing the advisory elders either agree or stay silent, Danzo pressed on. "If Itachi is compromised, then Uchiha Sasuke is unreliable as well! I recall the Fourth Raikage once accused him of being Akatsuki's 'E'. I think it's time to reopen the investigation!"
Kakashi immediately stepped forward. "Sasuke's loyalty is beyond question! We've already cleared up that misunderstanding with the Raikage, and they accepted our explanation."
Danzo snorted coldly. "Then how do you explain Akatsuki's Hiruko and Ranmaru appearing so precisely in the Forest of Death, attacking Takigakure's Seven-Tails Jinchuriki and Sunagakure's One-Tail Jinchuriki?"
Shikaku spoke up. "Regarding that, Kirigakure informed us that their Jonin, Hoshigaki Kisame, was Akatsuki's mole in their village."
Kakashi quickly added, "Hoshigaki Kisame was the Jonin leading Kirigakure's team for the Chunin Exams. He had access to all sorts of exam intelligence, so we have reason to suspect Akatsuki obtained their operation details from him to ambush Fu and Gaara."
Danzo's brows furrowed.
Having been sidelined recently and with his Root organization disbanded by the Third, he was unaware of this information.
Tsunade took over. "Today's agenda isn't about assigning blame or rooting out spies—it's about discussing how to counter Akatsuki!"
Danzo ceased his attacks and fell silent.
Asuma spoke up. "I fought Ranmaru. Aside from his lack of experience, he has almost no weaknesses. Especially his 'Transparency Release'—it leaves no trace. Two Jonin squads couldn't suppress him!"
Hiashi said, "Our Hyuga clan's Byakugan can counter him!"
Kakashi spoke. "Compared to last time, Hiruko has grown much stronger."
"Oh?"
Tsunade looked over.
Kakashi explained, "His abilities haven't improved significantly, but his proficiency in using various Bloodline Limits has noticeably increased, especially with the Mangekyo Sharingan. His progress is remarkable!"
Koharu Utatane asked, "How many people would it take to deal with him?"
Kakashi shook his head. "Hard to say. Without a strong enough leader, even an army of a hundred shinobi might not suffice."
Koharu pressed, "What level of strength would the leader need?"
Feeling the gazes of the room, Kakashi answered calmly, "My suggestion is to have Uchiha Shinji take him on!"
"What?"
Many in the office showed skeptical expressions.
Danzo sneered. "You're suggesting a twelve-year-old fresh out of the Academy take on an opponent even you couldn't handle? Kakashi, this is your advice?"
Before Kakashi could explain, Asuma interjected, "If it's that kid, I think it's worth a try!"
The Third glanced at him. "Your reasoning?"
Asuma knew the Third was deliberately prompting him to elaborate, so he said, "That kid's ridiculously strong. When attacked by the First and Second Hokage's 'Impure World' bodies, Cloud's Darui and Mist's Ringo Ameyuri could barely protect themselves. Only Shinji broke through easily and later covered Naruto's escape from the First and Second's pursuit."
Kakashi added, "The last time Hiruko invaded the village, though Yakumo and I were there to assist, it was Shinji who killed Kurosuki Raiga and drove off Hiruko! We shouldn't overlook his strength just because of his age!"
Hearing Asuma and Kakashi's explanations, everyone in the room fell into thought.
Previously, since Shinji always had fellow village shinobi present during confrontations with Akatsuki, while they knew he had significant contributions, no one fully attributed the victories over strong enemies to him.
Now, through Asuma and Kakashi's accounts, it seemed Shinji was the key figure in repelling these foes, forcing them to take him seriously—despite already considering him highly!
Suddenly, Danzo asked, "Has he awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan?"
"Hm?" Caught off guard, Kakashi replied, "Probably not!"
Danzo sneered. "Even Uchiha Sasuke, with his Mangekyo Sharingan, couldn't handle Hiruko. What makes a kid with a three-tomoe Sharingan capable of driving him off?"
Koharu Utatane's expression sharpened. "Danzo, are you suggesting he's hiding the fact that he's awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan?"
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