September 20th, 63 AE
"How dare you take away my Jiji's things?!"
Enma, who was climbing up the stairs of Hokage Tower with Inoichi and Ibiki, heard the voice of a little kid, who was screaming.
Moments later, when they finally saw the little boy, they found him confronting two Chunins, who were moving away the Tobacco Chests of the Third Hokage.
"The Hokage does not smoke, Young Lord. She has asked us to move these to the Sarutobi Compound..."
"She's not Hokage!" Konohamaru screamed again, and his little body was trembling in anger.
"Hey, Konohamaru."
Hearing his call, the boy turned around to face the three of them, and then he lowered his head and clenched his fists.
"I hate you, Enma-niisan."
"Oh? May I ask why?" He gently asked.
"You brought her here... now.. everyone has forgotten about Jiji... people even..." Tears streamed out of his eyes and he wiped them as he tried to rush past him.
However, he had to stop when the Uzumaki placed his hand on his head and gently patted it.
Enma knew what Konohamaru wanted to say. The people of the Village were quite vocal about their admiration for their new Hokage, and everyone was talking about her and the changes she had brought to the Village in the past month.
"Konohamaru. The lives of the living keep moving, and only the memories of those who are gone remain. But remember, people have very short lives, and so, not to drown their hearts in a constant state of sorrow, nature makes things easy on them by helping them move on. For some, it's hard, for some, it's easy. It all depends on how close you were to the one you have lost."
At his words, more tears streamed out of his eyes.
"The lives of Shinobi are even shorter than the civilians, and we see death every next day. It makes us a little... insensitive. You know?" He smiled and sat down before looking at him in the eyes. "Your Jiji's memory will live with you. You are his legacy. So, remember him, as long as you can, but do not hold resentment in your heart for those who don't."
"How can they..."
"Do you wish to see the village continue mourning him?"
"They forgot him so fast...."
"Nature helped them move on so that they could focus on their families. Don't blame them. You know that if someone very close to you is sad, you will feel sad too, right?"
He nodded his head.
"That's why nature helps people move on with their lives so that the little kids around them do not drown in sadness." He ruffled his hair. "Your Jiji would have been sad to see you like this. If you remember him, remember the fun times, and smile. Remember the lessons he imparted to you. Don't dwell on the thought that he is gone. You look so ugly when you are crying that no girls will like you if they they see you like this..."
The adults around them chuckled at his words, and Konohamaru immediately wiped away his tears and snot.
"You cannot even see me!"
"I can sense your ugliness. No, go take a shower and clean up. You stink too." Enma scrunched up his nose, and the little boy angrily looked up at him.
"I hate you, Enma-niisan!"
The Uzumaki laughed when the boy ran away, and then he continued climbing the stairs with his two colleagues.
"Way to distract a kid's mind, Enma," Ibiki smirked at him, and he just shrugged.
"As long as he does not drown in sadness, it's fine."
The three arrived outside the Hokage Office and stopped when they heard the shouts from inside.
Inoichi and Ibiki shared a glance, and the former sighed.
A while later, an angry Mito walked out, and Anko, Shizuka, and Karin followed her.
She scoffed at the sight of Enma and grew angrier when Karin jumped at her brother and planted a kiss on his cheek.
"What's got you all worked up?" He curiously asked, and Mito was more than happy to answer him.
"I hate your sister."
"Oh? Why?"
"Easy. It's because I am better than her..." Karin was more than happy to inform him about the reason.
"You are not!!"
"Yeah, you are in denial..."
"GET OUT OF HERE!!!"
A shout came from inside the office, and they all felt chills run up their spines.
Team 5 quickly walked away after Anko apologised to the Hokage, and Enma sighed and shook his head.
He stepped forward and knocked on the door, and thankfully, Tsunade did not scream at them.
"Come in."
The three of them entered the room, and Inoichi and Ibiki immediately submitted the files in their hands.
They stayed silent as she went through them, and both the men lowered their heads when her brows kept furrowing deeper and deeper.
It took her two and a half hours to read through everything. Shizune, who also read the files, had her face so pale that she looked sick. In truth, she was really sick after everything they had found during these investigations.
"I hope this is the Final Report. Or is there even more?" The Hokage lightly asked, having a headache.
"This is the Final report," Enma nodded to her.
The things Ibiki and Inoichi had found during these investigations were horrific to say the least, and truthfully, the noble image of the Third Hokage had collapsed in their hearts too.
From assassinations to kidnappings of young kids. The torture of the Root Anbu Training, the schemes and traps for the innocents, the horrific experiments, the greed and lust for power and control, all done in the name of the Village, was sickening.
"Ro." The Anbu Captain of Team Ro, her personal Anbu Guard, immediately revealed himself as he went down to his knee. He also on the investigating Team. "Take Ibiki with you and kill the Root prisoners who hold resentment against the village and those who are beyond redemption."
It was a very decisive command, which sent chills up Inoichi's spine.
Ibiki, however, expected this order, and bowed to her before leaving with Ro.
"Thank you, Inoichi."
"I am at your service, Hokage-sama."
"And I am grateful for that. You may get some rest now."
The man smiled a little and bowed to her before taking his leave.
Tsunade stood up and walked over to other side of the table before she leaned against it and folded her arms on her chest.
Her eyes stared at Enma, who was facing her.
"Have you selected all the members of Akaisen?"
He nodded his head.
"Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Izumi, Hyuga Tokuma, Uzuki Yugao, Uchiha Sasuke, Aburame Torune, Inuzuka Hana, Shin, and Tenzo."
Tsunade knew that Torune and Shin were former Root Anbu, but she trusted his judgement on this matter.
"Tenzo? You are not satisfied with taking away one of my Anbu?"
"He and Kakashi have been on a number of missions and are very familiar with each other. Having him on the Team will prove very beneficial, and I will have an excuse if I ever have to..." he trailed off but she understood his words.
"Tenzo. Usagi."
The two Anbu were present in the room, and they immediately revealed themselves.
"Take off yours masks."
They did as asked and already knew that they were no longer Anbu members.
"Any objections?"
"No, Hokage-sama." Yugao shook her head and Tenzo did the same.
"Tenzo of the Wood Release is no more. You are hereby called Yamato."
"I understand, Hokage-sama."
Tsunade nodded her head and then walked back to her seat.
"I have received the letter from Terumi Mei. She and her forces have agreed to let us keep Sanbi as security for the next seven years. As long as we do not create a Jinchuriki of Sanbi, she will honour her end of the deal."
Enma nodded his head.
"Team Akaisen! Your mission is to eliminate the Fourth Mizukage and seal away Sanbi. You are leaving for Kiri tomorrow morning."
"Yes!" The three of them answered in unison, and then the Hokage threw two scrolls to Yugao.
"You will find the details in these scrolls, as well as the locations and methods of contacting the Rebellion Forces."
The former Anbu nodded her head and then followed Enma out.
"Inform Kakashi, Hana, Tokuma, Torune, and Shin that we will be gathering up at the Gate at 7 am sharp."
"Yes, Captain!" The two acknowledged his command and accepted the four armbands he took out of his jacket's pockets.
"The red line is a Storage Seal, and inside, there are a few Sealing scrolls and guides. Familiarise yourself with them by the morning. Tell everyone else to do the same, and give an armband to Torune and Shin. Go."
"Yes."
The two of them immediately rushed away, and Enma jumped on the roof of the Hokage Tower, observing everything with his Mind's Eye.
He soon located a certain young girl, who had finished her Medical-Nin classes for the day and was heading back home.
Sakura was lost in her thoughts when she arrived at the gate of her house and crashed into someone's chest.
When she looked up, her eyes immediately brightened, and a smile blossomed on her face.
"Enma. Come in!" She excitedly said and took him inside her house, and blushed when he picked her up and led her to her bedroom.
"When will your parents be back?"
"They won't be back tonight." She shyly said. "Will you stay with me?" She hopefully asked, and felt extremely happy when he nodded his head.
As soon as they arrived in her room, they started helping each other out of their clothes, and then enma bent her over her study table and entered her for behind, making her wince in pain.
However, it did not take long for her to tremble in pleasure, and she moaned her heart out as he ravaged her insides with a relentless passion.
He fucked her mind blank, and a couple of hours later, when she lay exhausted in his arms, they had a very gentle chat.
"You are not getting bored at the Hospital, are you?"
"No. It's fun. I am learning a lot of new things, but it's just..."
"Yes?"
"Shizune-san announced yesterday that the most talented of us will be given a chance to become Hokage-sama's students. I don't know if I can catch her eye..." she nervously said.
"Just keep working hard. Do not slack off on your Chakra Control Exercises that I taught you, and your Meditation. No matter how tired you are..."
"Yes, yes." She pouted as she cut him off and planted a kiss on his chest.
Sakura sweetly smiled as he stroked her head lovingly, and before she knew it, she dozed off to sleep.
Her eyes opened close to midnight, and her stomach immediately grumbled in hunger.
Since he seemed peacefully asleep, she carefully slipped out of bed and took a shower to clean herself, and then rushed to the kitchen and checked the refrigerator.
She happily fixed a meal for two, and smiled when she heard him taking a shower in the bathroom.
Enma came downstairs with his hair still damp, and she grabbed the towel and helped him dry them.
The two them had their meal as they chatted about things, and she was a little sad when he informed her that he would be gone for a while.
Since he did not tell her what misison he was on and where he was going, she wisely refrained from asking the question.
After their meal, Enma helped her through some exercises, and a few minutes before dawn, he kissed her goodbye and left.
The Uzumaki returned to his compound, entered his room, and picked up the two scrolls that were filled with food supplies.
He then entered his mother's room, and planted a kiss on Hiyori's head, who was sound asleep, and Himari, who had woken up after sensing him, asked him where he was going.
Enma told her that he was going to Kiri on a Mission with his Team Akaisen, and she told him to be safe, which he promised her.
Next, he visited his little brother, and gave him a kiss too on his head.
Karin was not home as she had gone out on a mission, and he did not bother Kushina, who was busy meditating in the Hall of Sealings.
Afterwards, he headed to the Uchiha Compound, and entered Sasuke's room.
The boy was startled when he heard the door open and instantly sat up.
"Get ready. We are leaving for Kiri at seven."
Sasuke nodded to him and got up to pack his stuff, and Enma left to inform Izumi that they were leaving.
He found her practicing her Kenjutsu in her courtyard, and she stopped when she saw him.
"We are leaving for Kiri at seven. Get ready."
"That's abrupt." She raised her brow at him, but seeing him shrug, she sighed and sheathed her sword before walking into her room.
The two Uchiha found him at the gate of the Uzumaki District, and seconds later, they were rushing towards the gate of the Village.
Everyone except for Kakashi was present there, and after they greeted each other, they waited for their Copy Ninja.
Against Sasuke's all expectations, his Sensei made it to the gate exactly on time.
"Yo..."