The entire Kusagakure (Hidden Grass Village) had gathered together.
The seven elders of Kusagakure had convened.
In the great hall, each elder wore a beast-headed mask, and the attendees were divided into two factions, each accompanied by their respective ninjas, splitting the village's forces.
The two factions had long been at odds, but today they stood united.
"That tool is gone."
The tone of one beast-masked elder was grim.
After all, it was the village's only medical "tool," and its disappearance was a heavy blow to Kusagakure.
Before the girl had arrived, everyone had to wait for their injuries to heal naturally—or face death.
Back then, the mortality rate in Kusagakure had remained alarmingly high.
After Uzumaki Shirouka's arrival, the casualty rate had plummeted.
"We must find her!!"
Even the elders of the peace-seeking Grass Blossom Faction spoke angrily.
Though divided into two factions, they shared the same resource. Losing this medical tool would harm not just one side but both equally.
Even for those who advocated peace, the safety of their own people had to be ensured.
"Have there been any strangers recently?"
The ox-masked elder asked.
By now, they had turned the entire village upside down but found no trace of Shirouka.
The girl seemed to have vanished into thin air. Yet she wasn't even allowed to leave her house, which was guarded front and back.
How could she just disappear?
They would never let go of such a useful tool.
"A noble came to request a search mission," the sheep-masked elder said.
"He claimed to have been separated from his servants and hasn't paid yet."
All eyes turned to him.
"Was his noble status confirmed?"
"No. He didn't reveal his specific lineage."
Kusagakure never pried into the identities of nobles who commissioned them.
As long as they paid, nothing else mattered.
But now, with a key figure missing, this noble was the only suspect. They couldn't let him go.
"Detain him first. Send someone to find his servants and verify his identity."
In the next moment, several ninjas appeared in the meeting room, kneeling on one knee before the elders.
"Yes!"
Mr. An sat by the window, sipping tea quietly. From this vantage point, he could see the small treatment hut had already been closed.
"They shut it down fast."
He sighed. As for the girl, Uzumaki Shirouka, she had already been sent to Amegakure (Hidden Rain Village).
Given the timeline, it wasn't hard to deduce that she was likely the future mother of Karin.
He didn't know much about her original fate, only that she was from Kusagakure and that her mother had been bitten to death by the village's ninjas to heal them.
Since she was a distant relative of Kushina, he figured he might as well save her.
But he wasn't doing it for free. Shirouka would spend the rest of her life as a medical ninja serving him.
What a saint he was.
Mr. An smirked inwardly, praising himself.
Then his pupils flickered slightly to the left before returning to their usual gaze out the window.
Figures appeared behind him using the Substitution Technique.
"Mr. An."
Mū, the leader, called out expressionlessly.
Mr. An turned as if noticing them for the first time, feigning surprise. He nearly dropped his teacup, spilling some water.
"What's this about?"
He looked at the crowd in confusion.
Mū explained, "Recently, the village has suffered financial losses, and we suspect spies from other villages may be involved. For your safety, we'd like to relocate you to a secure location we've prepared."
Mr. An nodded in understanding.
"I see."
He smiled at each face in the room.
"Then I'll leave it to you. Kusagakure is certainly thorough."
His demeanor made the lead ninja hesitate. This man's mannerisms did seem noble.
Perhaps he wasn't the culprit after all.
"Please follow me."
Mū stepped forward to guide him.
Mr. An followed Mū out of the room. The lead ninja walked to the window, looking out over the village.
What was he staring at? It was impossible to tell.
In an underground prison still under construction:
"What is this place?"
Mr. An eyed Mū suspiciously.
"Are you imprisoning me?"
Mū looked awkward. This was the village's decision. He chose his words carefully.
"This is the safest place in the village. It houses one of Kusagakure's most important treasures, so it's heavily guarded. Other locations lack the same level of security."
He didn't even believe his own words.
But most of it was technically true.
"Is that so?" Mr. An's voice dripped with disdain. Though his face was hidden, the surrounding ninjas could feel his unmasked contempt.
"I hope so."
His tone was displeased.
"I expect to be kept safe until my servants arrive."
He acted like someone who wanted to resist but didn't dare challenge Kusagakure—cowardly yet entitled.
The ninjas almost laughed.
What a timid noble.
But they held back. After all, he was a potential payday and deserved some respect.
Mū led Mr. An into a relatively large cell.
Mr. An ran a hand over the bed, then flicked away the dust with a look of barely suppressed fury. He gritted his teeth and said nothing, only muttering under his breath:
"I'll never hire Kusagakure again."
As if he were really here for a mission.
"Our apologies, Mr. An. Once this matter is resolved, we'll prepare a gift to make amends."
The lead ninja spoke up. Kusagakure still valued this mission.
If only the timing of his arrival hadn't been so suspicious.
They wouldn't have resorted to this.
"Enough, enough."
Mr. An waved dismissively.
"I'd like to rest. You may leave."
His attitude was exactly what one would expect from a noble. The more he acted like this, the more at ease they felt.
"Call for us if you need anything, Mr. An. We'll be nearby."
The lead ninja bowed slightly before they all filed out, locking the cell behind them.
Once they were gone, Mr. An expanded his Observation Haki. No one was watching.
This was to be expected.
The prison had only one exit.
Guarding it was enough to prevent escape.
But that didn't account for someone who knew the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Mr. An sat cross-legged on the bed.
Darkness seeped from his shadow, spreading outward.
Eleven figures slowly emerged from the expanding pool of shadow.
...
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(End of Chapter)