After waiting an entire day without receiving any news from the Prajñā Group, Nankumo Reizan felt as though the sky itself had collapsed when his guards returned with their intelligence.
The group that boasted so loudly—claiming they didn't even regard the First Hokage in their eyes—had been discovered in utterly miserable states, each death more wretched than the last.
Cold sweat visibly trickled down Nankumo Reizan's face after hearing his subordinates' descriptions.
"Trash, trash! I gave them so much money, so much money, and they still couldn't deal with a so-called Acting Hokage?!"
Terrified that such a death might soon befall him as well, Nankumo Reizan could only mask his fear with rage.
He kicked the servant kneeling on the floor again and again, venting all his fury onto the unfortunate woman.
Soon, blood streamed from her mouth and nose, dripping onto the lavishly decorated carpet.
"Dammit! Who gave you permission to bleed? Who allowed you to stain my precious carpet? Bastard, bastard! Drag her out and beat her severely!"
At his command, the samurai mercilessly dragged the unconscious servant out of the room, leaving a long streak of blood across the carpet.
"Ah, damn it, damn it..."
Clutching his hair with both hands, Nankumo Reizan squatted on the ground in complete disarray, staring at the bloody stain, utterly clueless as to what he should do next.
"Ah, that's right—hasn't there been some so-called 'Integration Movement' causing havoc across the Land of Fire lately? I'll have those people deal with that cursed Hokage instead. Yes, that's it!"
Nankumo Reizan suddenly recalled the rising reputation of an organization in the Land of Fire.
"Hurry, take this gold and find out where the Integration Movement is hiding! Tell them—if they can kill the Hokage, no matter how much money they want, I'll pay it!"
...
While Nankumo Reizan lived in constant dread, Takeshi returned to Konoha together with Nanashi, after sampling delicacies from across the Land of Fire.
Standing guard at the village gate, as always, were Kamizuki Izumo and Kotetsu Hagane.
The two were just remarking on how life had once again become peaceful and uneventful when they saw Takeshi approaching with a young girl by his side. On his way past, he even greeted them.
"Greetings, Acting Hokage-sama!"
Both men immediately stood at attention, only realizing something was wrong after Takeshi walked further away.
"Strange... I saw Acting Hokage-sama in the office this morning, handling documents. When did he leave the village?"
Kotetsu was still puzzling over when Takeshi had supposedly left, when Izumo smacked him on the shoulder, urging him to pay attention to the more important issue.
"No, wait—who was that girl? Don't tell me she's Danzo-sama's illegitimate daughter?"
"Then Danzo-sama's waist must be in great shape, to father four kids! That efficiency almost rivals Sunagakure's Fourth Kazekage next door."
Their conversation happened to be overheard by Hakuyun Sōken's returning squad, and once again, the streets and alleys of Konoha buzzed with rumors about Danzo's supposed illegitimate daughter.
As expected, the Internal Affairs Department, with its eyes and ears spread across the village, also received word of it and reported the matter to Aburame Tatsuma.
"..."
Aburame Tatsuma silently studied the report in his hands, wondering if he should bring this to Danzo's attention.
...
"Where is the Uchiha clan?"
Upon arriving in Konoha, Nanashi immediately asked about them.
Takeshi's expression sharpened.
"Didn't we agree you wouldn't target them?"
"Relax. I won't go back on my word. I only want to confirm their current way of life." Nanashi pressed down the hatred burning in her heart, insisting again and again that she wouldn't strike at the Uchiha clan—
At least not within Konoha.
"Fine, I'll trust you. Wait here—I'll fetch their clan head."
Takeshi had originally wanted to take her sightseeing around the village, but seeing her urgency, he gave up on the idea.
The moment the Uchiha were mentioned, Nanashi's entire demeanor grew strange—the hatred in her tone seemed even greater than what she held toward the Uzumaki and Senju clans.
If he wanted to resolve the hatred in her heart, he needed to first understand her past.
"No. I want to observe quietly, on my own." Nanashi shook her head, refusing.
Seeing the firmness in her eyes, Takeshi didn't press further. Instead, he told her the general location of the Uchiha compound and let her go there herself.
As soon as she vanished with the Body Flicker, Takeshi turned and rushed toward the Hokage's office.
Not even pausing to greet Itachi, he dispelled his Shadow Clone Technique and immediately summoned Fugaku and Hiruzen.
Both arrived swiftly, listening to Takeshi explain how he had discovered and undone the seal.
"Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan? Impossible... such an eye, seen only once in a century—how could the clan suddenly have so many?"
Fugaku was dumbfounded after hearing everything.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was no less shocked, his expression still frozen in disbelief.
Was this still the Uchiha clan he knew? Now they could casually produce Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan bearers?
It seemed that Konoha's title of "Number One Clan" was on the verge of changing hands to Takeshi's.
"Here's what we know for sure: this Uchiha called Nanashi must be a person from the Warring States era. But which generation exactly—you two will need to deduce yourselves."
'Furthermore, this girl harbors deep hatred toward both the Uchiha and Senju clans. She must have suffered some kind of injustice. Although I've secured her promise not to act against Konoha, still..."
Takeshi fixed his gaze on Fugaku.
"I worry that, upon seeing the Uchiha clan, she may be provoked into losing control. At that time—"
"I understand, Acting Hokage-sama. I will restrain my clansmen's actions. And if she loses control, I will personally intervene."
Hiruzen also pledged to review the clan's ancient records as soon as possible, determined to uncover her identity.
"Then I'll leave it in your hands."
After sending them away, Takeshi wasted no time. He summoned Aburame Tatsuma.
"Minister Tatsuma, Nankumo Reizan hired the Prajñā Group of the Land of Woods to assassinate me, but I defeated them. I could bring this matter before the daimyō and have him punish Nankumo... but that would be too harsh."
He paused, recalling what he had seen.
"The town under his control is quite prosperous, an important hub for commerce. The Nankumo family is also an old lineage. If their bloodline were to vanish entirely, it would be a great pity."
Aburame Tatsuma understood the hint and nodded.
"As for the Prajñā Group in the Land of Woods, leave them to the Fourth's Anbu to handle. Internal Affairs need only provide the necessary intelligence."
Having arranged everything, Takeshi indicated that Tatsuma could leave.
But Tatsuma did not immediately depart. Instead, he looked at the Acting Hokage with a complicated expression.
He had already informed Danzo-sama that Takeshi had returned with a little girl. Danzo-sama's expression at that moment—how should he put it—was quite... spectacular.