After Ma Liu left, Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Fugaku took the notebook and began the reckoning.
That night, all the gathering places for Kumo spy operatives in Konoha were thrown into chaos. All members of the Konoha Military Police Force worked overtime, including the auxiliary officers. Even the Inuzuka clan led the charge with their police dogs.
"Do not move. Everyone, put your hands on your heads." An Uchiha shinobi kicked open the door of a tavern building. A large number of shinobi then rushed in from behind him.
The Kumo spies did not sense the danger. They thought the Konoha Military Police had come to arrest criminals. When they first arrived in Konoha, they were indeed very afraid. But as time passed, they learned that the Konoha Military Police was there to protect the village.
Now, they were not afraid at all. Instead, they even greeted the police officers.
"Oh. Everyone, you've worked hard. Would you like to have a drink." Saying this, a Kumo spy smiled and stood up. He raised a mug of draft beer and walked towards the Military Police members.
The leader of the police squad looked at the man offering the drink. He then flipped open his little notebook and glanced at a photo and the name. "Gobei Maru, the tavern owner, right."
"That's correct, sir. That's me." The man holding the beer said with a smile. Gobei Maru was his alias in Konoha. His real name was Kawaki Un, a dual agent from Kumogakure, codename Goko.
The Uchiha shinobi nodded. He then spoke. "Men. Seize him."
Immediately, the shinobi behind swiftly moved forward. With lightning speed, they pressed Gobei Maru to the ground. Gobei Maru's identity was that of a tavern owner, a civilian. So he did not resist. Even if he resisted, he could not withstand their sudden attack.
"Captain, sir, is this a misunderstanding. I am just a simple commoner. I haven't done anything wrong." Gobei Maru was somewhat confused. He had seen scenes like this before, but they were used on others. He had even taken pleasure in others' misfortune. Now it was being used on himself. He was not laughing.
The Uchiha squad leader squatted down. He whispered three words into his ear. "Kawaki Un." Owner Gobei Maru's eyes trembled. He looked again at the notebook in the captain's hand. No wonder it looked familiar.
This was the notebook their spies used to contact each other. Damn it. After ten years of infiltration, had he finally been discovered. Thinking of his wife in Konoha, thinking of his lovely daughter, he gritted his teeth.
Finally, he took a deep breath. "Captain, sir, if I help you identify my accomplices, can you spare my life. Can you declare that Kawaki Un is already dead."
The Uchiha squad leader was taken aback. He looked at the Kawaki Un before him with astonishment. Kawaki Un had tears in the corners of his eyes, staring straight at him.
"I came to Konoha Village ten years ago. Over these ten years, I have witnessed Konoha's prosperity and public order. I like it here very much. I even married a girl from Konoha. We have a daughter."
Saying this, Kawaki Un smiled slightly, his eyes shining. "I have fantasized countless times, if only I were really a shinobi of Konoha."
"But, the identity of a Kumo spy constantly reminds me that everything about me is fake. I have also thought about confessing to the Hokage. But my only younger brother is still in Kumogakure. I did not dare, and could not do that."
"When my mother passed away, she begged me to raise my brother, to take care of him for his whole life. Now he has grown up. He has even gained some reputation in Kumogakure."
"I wish to protect my family, to truly become a member of Konoha. At the same time, I want you to announce publicly that Kawaki Un is dead." Kawaki Un's eyes filled with tears. He began to kowtow to that shinobi.
The Uchiha squad leader frowned but did not answer. Instead, he had someone summon Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Fugaku. The tavern waitstaff's expressions changed, wanting to flee. Other Uchiha shinobi quickly acted, apprehending them all.
The other Konoha villagers in the tavern watched this scene without speaking. Those still drinking continued to drink. Why fear if you've done nothing wrong. The Military Police wouldn't arrest innocent people.
Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Fugaku arrived at the scene. The Uchiha squad leader quickly explained the situation, drawing the gazes of Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Fugaku.
Kawaki Un's eyes were now resolute. He understood this was his only chance to survive. Naturally, he showed no intention of evasion.
Uchiha Fugaku said to Uchiha Itachi, "You handle this for now. I'll go make a call to your grand teacher."
Uchiha Itachi frowned. "Father, it's work time now. Address by title. You should call him Hokage sama."
Uchiha Fugaku chuckled but didn't think much of it. He nodded. However, he remembered Uchiha Itachi's words. He went outside and began to call Hokage Uchiha Ryun.
Beep, beep, beep.
The receiver rang three times. This time, Uchiha Ryun was not resting in his room. He was drinking tea in the living room. His mobile phone rang. The corners of his mouth turned up.
He picked up the phone and pressed the answer button. "Hello. Fugaku, how are things going."
Uchiha Fugaku explained the matter completely and thoroughly. He did not recount the spy's exact words. He focused on the key issues.
Uchiha Ryun listened to all this and nodded. "Agree to his request."
"Yes. Hokage sama." Uchiha Fugaku said solemnly. Uchiha Ryun was suddenly taken aback. Why was Uchiha Fugau so serious today. He wasn't used to it.
"Good. That's it. Also tell him to become a double agent. From now on, if Kumogakure sends more spies, he must report immediately and have them captured. Our people will replace them. At the same time, we will pass on the information we want Kumogakure to know." Uchiha Ryun crossed his legs and lit a cigarette.
He took a deep breath and then exhaled. Tsk, tsk. This was getting more and more interesting.
Uchiha Fugaku said "yes" and waited for Uchiha Ryun to hang up before he turned off his phone screen.
Here, the author needs to explain something to some readers. The sound of talking on the phone while sitting and while standing is different. Leaders can tell the difference. So...
Uchiha Fugaku walked back in. He then explained the matter to Uchiha Itachi and Kawaki Un. Kawaki Un's expression was complicated. But in the end, he still nodded.
"I understand. Please tell Hokage sama that I, Kawaki Un, am willing to agree to his conditions. I will become a double agent and support all of Konoha's decisions and arrangements." Kawaki Un said solemnly.
Uchiha Fugaku smiled and helped him up. "From now on, we are colleagues. But the most important thing right now is to capture all the current Kumo spies.
As for whether Ma Liu will talk. That's a joke. If the matter isn't exposed, he'd rather die than speak. Only if it's exposed will he push the blame onto Tsuchibutori Takeshi.
Next, with Gobei Maru's cooperation, the arrests went exceptionally smoothly. A total of thirty Kumo spies were captured and imprisoned in the Konoha jail.
They looked at Gobei Maru with hatred and fury in their eyes. You traitor. You betrayed Kumogakure. You betrayed the Third Raikage.
Gobei Maru showed no emotional fluctuation. As a spy, his psychological resilience was already stronger than most. Also, once he made a decision, he would not regret it.
Compatriots. Colleagues. They are nothing more than my letter of surrender to Konoha.
Because Gobei Maru was a hub liaison officer, he was questioned about his specific work matters and schedule. Then he was escorted back by the Uchiha squad leader.
"I really didn't expect that you would betray Kumogakure, the village that gave you birth and raised you, for the sake of a family in an enemy village." The Uchiha squad leader sighed.
"Over these ten years in Konoha, I have experienced the rights of Konoha villagers, the advantages of Konoha villagers, and the safety. In the end, I am also a human being. I also want to live a life with a wife, children, and a warm bed. This is something Kumogakure cannot give me."
"At first, I struggled too. But when I thought of my child's smile and her calling me daddy, I knew I could not abandon her. Therefore, I chose family." Gobei Maru sighed.
"Actually, I envy you. You were born a part of Konoha. I envy your leaders for being so powerful. I envy you, for being able to dedicate everything to the village's security." Gobei Maru smiled.
The Uchiha squad leader was silent. Then he smiled. "Let's go have a drink at your tavern later."
Gobei Maru was stunned. Then he also smiled. "Alright."
"I won't pay." The Uchiha squad leader smiled.
"Tonight, it's all thanks to you. Otherwise, I'd probably be in jail now, living a life worse than a dog's. So this round of drinks is on me." Gobei Maru smiled.
"Hah. Konoha has clear regulations. Officials eating meals cannot have debts. Are you trying to make me commit an error." The Uchiha squad captain smiled.
"We are friends. Friends treating each other to a drink shouldn't be a problem, right." Gobei Maru replied.
The two laughed and walked towards the tavern that Kumogakure had spent a lot of money to acquire.
This Uchiha squad captain was now Gobei Maru's friend, and also his supervising jounin. The two would have many dealings in the future.
Uchiha Ryun listened as Uchiha Itachi reported everything to him face to face. He nodded. "Itachi, what do you think of this matter."
He looked at Uchiha Itachi with an examining gaze. Uchiha Itachi thought and then said, "A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall. If we eliminate all the spies this time, Kumogakure will eventually send new ones."
"The frightening thing about spies is not their strength, but their intelligence gathering ability. If we turn spies into our own people, we can mislead and pass false information to the enemy. They will be unable to ascertain our true intentions." After thinking, Uchiha Itachi gave this answer.
Uchiha Ryun smiled. Uchiha Itachi's political wisdom was high. "Well said. But do you know why I chose Gobei Maru, or rather Kawaki Un."
"Because he has a weakness. His family is in our hands, in Konoha's hands." Uchiha Itachi answered.
Uchiha Ryun nodded, then shook his head. "That is one reason. Secondly, from the words your father relayed to me, I could tell that this Kawaki Un's heart has already leaned towards Konoha because of his family. If in the future, he were to tell the impoverished villagers of Kumogakure about the treatment Konoha gives him."
"What would the villagers of Kumogakure think then." Uchiha Ryun held a cigarette in his mouth, ready to light it. Just at that moment...
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