Chapter 43: Welcome to Konoha
It's worth noting that a small number of ninja added to the border outposts were former subordinates loyal to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Although some of them passed standard background checks, they were still sent far from the village—isolated at frontline border camps.
Meanwhile, the great clans retained their authority and continued to act as overseers of village security.
Barring any unexpected developments, these loyalists of Hiruzen would spend years in obscurity, buried at the borders.
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Hokage Office
At this moment, Uchiha Fugaku—the current Fifth Hokage—was unaware that he had already drawn the attention of Jiraiya.
He was handling business as usual.
> "Hokage-sama, two more spies were apprehended in the village yesterday. After interrogation by the Intelligence Division, they were confirmed to be from Kumogakure and Iwagakure, respectively."
Nara Shikaku, Hokage's Chief Strategist, was calmly reporting the situation in the office.
> "The border remains stable. It appears the other villages are still trying to gather intelligence before making any aggressive moves. But I suspect they won't hold back for long. A probing attack is likely."
Shikaku concluded with his usual insight.
Fugaku nodded slightly, the corner of his mouth lifting in a faint smirk.
> "If they try anything, we'll break their claws off."
He was in a good mood.
Kakashi had returned the night before, and the first joint operation between the Hokage's ANBU and Root had been a resounding success.
The remnants of the Sarutobi faction—clandestinely raised outside the village—had been completely eliminated.
One less problem to worry about.
After giving a few more instructions, Shikaku left. His workload remained immense.
Fugaku, meanwhile, relaxed into his seat. As Hokage, he had become a mostly hands-off leader in recent days—thanks to his loyal and efficient subordinates.
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Uchiha Compound – Rebuilt Grounds
That evening, Fugaku returned home.
The Uchiha Clan had officially moved back to their ancestral territory just the day before.
Thanks to Yamato, the rebuilding efforts had been completed with astonishing speed. Without his Wood Release jutsu, it would've taken weeks, if not longer.
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Akatsuki Hideout
In a dark cavern, atop the gigantic fingers of the Demonic Statue, several shadowy figures stood, each wearing the signature black cloak with red clouds and straw hats with hanging beads.
It was a rare full meeting of the Akatsuki.
At the center stood Pain—Tendō Path—his aura oppressive and solemn.
His Rinnegan eyes slowly surveyed the surrounding empty fingers.
> "Zetsu… where is Uchiha Madara? What's he hiding from now? I told you this meeting would address important matters."
The one called Genbu—really Zetsu, with his strange pitcher plant head—answered awkwardly.
> "He's vanished. I… can't find him either."
He wasn't lying. Obito had disappeared again, slipping out of even Zetsu's tracking.
Pain frowned. Uchiha Madara—or rather, the man claiming to be him—was too elusive. Always appearing and vanishing like a ghost.
Still, he let it go for now.
His expression neutralized as he addressed the assembled members.
> "The Akatsuki is still too small. We need more capable members to carry out missions."
He turned back to Zetsu.
> "Any new candidates?"
Zetsu nodded.
> "I've found a promising one in the Land of Water, from Kirigakure. Name's Kisame Hoshigaki. They call him the 'Tailless Tailed Beast.' His strength is extraordinary."
Pain's eyes glinted with interest.
> "Tailless Tailed Beast… I like the sound of that. Konan, you and Zetsu will handle his recruitment."
> "Understood."
The purple-haired kunoichi replied calmly.
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Konoha Village Gates
Dust clung to the cloaks of three travelers as they approached Konoha's main gate.
"Stop right there! Show your—"
On duty at the gate were the usual pair: Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki.
But before Izumo could finish his sentence, the figure at the front calmly pulled down his hood.
Black hair, pale skin… and two pronounced tear troughs under his eyes.
> "Oh! It's Itachi! Haha, welcome back!"
Izumo immediately recognized him and waved them through enthusiastically.
Kotetsu let out a small sigh of relief.
This was, after all, the Hokage's son.
They quickly stepped aside, allowing Uchiha Itachi and the two behind him to pass without delay.
Itachi offered a curt nod in greeting and strode into the village without breaking pace.
> "Welcome to Konoha, Kisame."
He said, his voice calm.
As they entered the broad, well-trodden streets of the village, Yakushi Nonō—walking silently beside them—remained observant.
She had long realized that this "recruit" held quiet admiration for Itachi. Seeing Itachi open up and speak, she had no intention of interrupting.
> "That up there is the Hokage Rock," Itachi said, raising a hand toward the distant mountain carved with massive faces.
"From left to right: Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage… Tobirama Senju, the Second… then—"
He paused. His eyes narrowed slightly.
The face of the Third Hokage, once etched in stone, had been… removed.
Only an empty, flattened surface remained where Hiruzen Sarutobi's likeness used to be.
> So Father even did this…
Without comment, Itachi resumed his introduction.
> "...Then comes Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage. And finally… the Fifth Hokage—Uchiha Fugaku."
Beside him, Kisame Hoshigaki pulled down his hood, revealing his shark-like face. His eyes lit up with excitement as he stared at Fugaku's sculpture.
> "That's the man himself?"
Itachi and Nonō exchanged glances.
They knew the reason for his excitement.
Before they left Konoha, Hokage Fugaku had given them a specific message to deliver to Kisame.
At first, they doubted it would matter. Kisame was a Kirigakure Jonin—unlikely to defect over some idealistic appeal.
And yet… when Itachi shared that message with him, Kisame had instantly changed.
He believed.
Believed that Konoha, under the Uchiha, could bring true peace to the shinobi world.
Even Itachi and Nonō had been skeptical of such lofty ideals.
But somehow… Kisame believed.
The world, it seemed, never ceased to surprise.
> "Yes," Itachi said softly. "That's him. I'll take you to meet him now."
> "Good, good! Let's go!"
Kisame's excitement was palpable. The hilt of Samehada twitched under his cloak, as if sensing its wielder's mood.
Itachi and Nonō didn't react—they were already familiar with the bizarre sentience of Samehada, one of the Seven Ninja Swords of the Mist.
They walked toward the Hokage Tower.
Kisame was about to meet the man he believed would reshape the world.
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