Danzo, in his Root base, was hopefully awaiting the successful return of Tenzawa Kiyotaki by the Jonin Squad, but instead, he received news that the entire Konoha Village was abuzz with talk about the 'ghost-faced Masked Man kidnapping incident'.
Some Ninja who knew Konoha's secrets were already inquiring if Root Ninja were once again targeting and abducting children from the Village.
Even ANBU Ninja were asking questions; if Root Ninja were not responsible, then the matter would have to be reported to the Third Hokage for a full Village-wide spy investigation.
Early that morning, Danzo felt as if he had eaten a pile of dung, extremely uncomfortable, and even the Jonin Squad he dispatched returned to ask if he still needed them to continue the mission.
The Jonin Squad knelt on one knee, awaiting instructions. Konoha was in a state of panic, and the difficulty of their abduction had increased significantly.
Danzo gritted his teeth, 'What the hell is there to continue?!' Even the Third Hokage had sent people to inquire about the matter. Many in Konoha were watching, so how could the mission proceed?
"Mission temporarily canceled!"
He waved his hand expressionlessly, dismissing the Jonin Squad.
--- Kiyotaki ate breakfast and happily walked to the Ninja Academy. Passing by a dango shop, he bought a few more skewers.
He hadn't been idle all morning. He told everyone he met about being attacked and abducted by the ghost-faced Ninja; he told the steamed bun vendor while eating buns, and the dango shop owner while eating dango.
He told adults taking their children to school, and he told young women cradling and feeding their babies.
The adults with children gripped their children's hands tightly in fear, the young women feeding their babies were so scared they rushed inside with their children, and even those without young children gossiped endlessly.
At the Ninja Academy, almost all the children were discussing the foreign spy who kidnapped children. They looked excited and terrified, and agreed to walk home together after school.
"Ohayo! Kiyotaki-kun, I heard you were attacked last night? Are you okay?!"
Little Hanabi-chan, whom he met at the Ninja Academy entrance, greeted him and asked with concern.
"I'm fine! Last night after school, I encountered several Ninja wearing ghost-faced masks who tried to abduct me! It scared me to death, but luckily, I have good fortune!"
"That's too scary! I'm glad you're okay."
"Yes, Hanabi-chan is so cute, you should also be careful."
Perhaps it was the first time someone had called her cute, as Hanabi-chan's little face instantly turned rosy.
"Kiyotaki-kun, please don't worry. My father, upon learning of your incident, arranged for more protection for me."
Kiyotaki also sensed several Hyuga Clan Ninja hidden nearby. The Hyuga Clan had doubled the number of escorts arranged for Hanabi-chan compared to usual.
"That's good, then Hanabi-chan will be safe going to the Ninja Academy!"
"Kiyotaki-kun, after school, why don't you walk with me? We'll be safer together."
"Thank you, Hanabi-chan!"
Kiyotaki, of course, agreed. With the Hyuga Clan by his side, he didn't believe Danzo would dare to make a move.
Entering the Ninja Academy, Kiyotaki parted ways with Hanabi-chan and immediately went to report the ghost-faced Ninja kidnapping incident to a Ninja Academy teacher.
Not only the Ninja Academy, but also the Konoha Village Security Department, the Konoha Guard, the Konoha Hokage Building... he went to every place he could to report it. Even the old gatekeeper at the Ninja Academy entrance, he ran over to chat with him and warned him to be careful of any unfamiliar Ninja who might appear in the Village.
Before long, the Ninja Academy teachers all sprang into action, conducting a grand safety education class for the entire Ninja Academy, and even posting safety slogans about being wary of spies on the Ninja Academy walls.
The Guard and Security Department also intensified patrols, and even the Third Hokage was alarmed, sending ANBU Ninja to summon Danzo for an explanation.
Only then did Danzo realize he had stirred up a hornet's nest. The entire Village was discussing the matter, and his hand, gripping his cane, trembled with anger, almost crushing the cane.
"I've lived this long, and I've never seen such a talkative child!"
"Creak!"
The door opened, and a Root member walked in.
"Danzo-sama, the Third Hokage requests your presence!"
--- At the Hokage Building, the Third Hokage slammed his hand on the desk, looking angrily at Danzo.
"Danzo, look at the mess you've made!"
Danzo's ugly, zombie-like face remained expressionless, but he no longer had his usual imposing presence when facing the Third Hokage. He knew he was in the wrong; abducting a child from the Village was bad enough, but to have it widely publicized throughout the Village was worse.
The Third Hokage was extremely angry. Danzo always acted without his permission; it was true with the White Fang incident, with the Uchiha incident, and now with the Tenzawa Kiyotaki incident.
He knew that the peace and stability of Konoha were his top priorities, and he would not allow anyone to disrupt the peace of the Village.
The Third Hokage scolded Danzo for a while. Gradually, Danzo's temper flared up, and the two argued for some time before finally reaching an agreement.
"I'll handle the Tenzawa Kiyotaki matter for you, and don't target him anymore. Be mindful of the impact on the Village."
The Third Hokage waved his hand, and after Danzo left, he called out to an ANBU Ninja.
"Go to the Ninja Academy and summon Tenzawa Kiyotaki."
"Hai!"
The ANBU Ninja responded and vanished in a flash.
Kiyotaki, who was in class, suddenly received a notification from an ANBU Ninja to go to the Hokage.
Looking at the tall Hokage Rock, Kiyotaki walked to the Hokage Building and entered the Hokage's office.
"Ah! Kiyotaki!"
The Third Hokage put down his work, his expression kind and his tone gentle.
"Hokage-sama!"
Kiyotaki bowed, looking like a good child.
The Third Hokage nodded in satisfaction.
"Kiyotaki! Are you okay after yesterday's attack?"
"I'm fine! I'm perfectly well, Hokage-sama."
"That's good."
The Third Hokage nodded: "This was our oversight, allowing spies from other Ninja Villages to infiltrate Konoha."
"We have already determined that last night's attack on you was carried out by a foreign Ninja Village. They impersonated Root Ninja to attack you, precisely to stir up internal conflict within Konoha Village."
"Do you understand what I'm saying?"
"Hokage-sama, I understand!"
"Hmm!"
The Third Hokage nodded, speaking seriously.
"We cannot let them succeed! Disrupting Konoha's peace, Konoha's peace is of utmost importance!"
"I hope you can clearly explain to everyone that the attack was not carried out by Root."
The Third Hokage kindly stated his purpose.
"Root and Anbu are both nameless individuals who walk in the darkness, silently supporting peace! They are all excellent Ninja, excellent inheritors of the will of fire."
Good heavens! Is he already trying to brainwash me?
Kiyotaki's face was serious, but inwardly, he was already thinking, 'buy, buy, buy!'
Seeing Kiyotaki's humble and receptive expression, the Third Hokage nodded in satisfaction.
"Kiyotaki! What is your dream when you grow up?"
Before Kiyotaki could answer, he continued.
"Are you also willing to become an excellent Ninja who walks in the darkness, silently supporting peace?"
"Ah!"
Kiyotaki was stunned. The Third Hokage thought he was shocked with excitement.
"I am willing! Hokage-sama."
Kiyotaki said, against his true feelings, without a hint of hesitation.
"Good!"
The Third Hokage was already smiling like a blooming chrysanthemum: "Kiyotaki is also an excellent inheritor of the will of fire!"
"Well then, Kiyotaki, you can go back now. I still have some matters to attend to."
Kiyotaki walked out of the Hokage's office with an excited expression, his face flushed as if he had been praised.
The staff at the Hokage Building were already used to it, concluding that this was yet another excellent inheritor of the will of fire.
Only Kiyotaki's heart was already filled with millions of 'grass mud horses' galloping wildly.