Sarutobi Hiruzen was in a good mood.
Thinking of Danzo's expression when he was sitting in the Hokage's seat just now—when he suddenly appeared... Hehehe... It was fun to be scary!
However, considering their long-standing friendship and Konoha's current situation, he chose not to deal with his old friend. The village wasn't exactly prosperous at the moment...
After Hatake Kakashi and Uchiha Shisui arrived at his office, Hiruzen's kind expression cracked inch by inch. He said solemnly, "A weirdo who can use the Flying Thunder God Technique... Are you sure, Kakashi?"
"I'm Minato-sensei's disciple," Kakashi said seriously, his meaning clear.
"Hmm... Did you discover anything unusual?"
"The chakra reserves are no less than any Jonin's. The Flying Thunder God is used skillfully, the speed is astonishing, and their secrecy is exceptional..." Kakashi pondered the enemy's combat performance before adding, "However, they seem to have no formal ninja training."
"What do you mean?"
"All their taijutsu and swordplay had flaws, and they lacked combat experience... Moreover, throughout the entire battle, they didn't use any ninjutsu except for the Flying Thunder God. Even their shuriken throwing accuracy was extremely poor..."
Kakashi glanced at Shisui beside him.
The other source of information, a shuriken prodigy, was even more puzzled. "Based on my calculations, their shuriken poses no real threat after being thrown..."
A powerful ninja who couldn't even throw a basic shuriken? Apart from the Flying Thunder God, everything else was an embarrassment to the profession...
"I see... That really does sound like his style," Sarutobi Hiruzen muttered, habitually picking up his pipe. "Kakashi, Shisui, go back and rest. Just keep this matter confidential."
Hatake Kakashi: "..."
"I'm sorry, Hokage-sama." Uchiha Shisui knelt on one knee. He had to take responsibility for this. "Fugaku-senpai's family might also learn about this..."
Shisui had no choice but to bring up that troublesome crow again.
"...Is that so?" Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly picked up a document from his desk, tore it into pieces, and tossed it into the trash. "It doesn't matter. When you go back, tell Fugaku something for me."
"Yes!"
"The Konoha Police Force headquarters doesn't need to be relocated for now. The village's security still depends on them—it's too far from the main district."
The Third Hokage spoke in a deep voice and exhaled a thick smoke ring, his expression obscured by the swirling mist...
Shisui nodded. "Understood! But I heard the clan has already started building an office for the police force in the new district..."
"That's a minor issue. As the police captain, he can make arrangements as he sees fit."
At this moment, Uchiha Fugaku was still at home, contemplating how to investigate this matter privately. Someone had attempted to assassinate the Hokage... Just thinking about it was exhilarating!
Expecting the crow to keep a secret? Impossible in this lifetime... It would definitely add fuel to the fire of what it had worked so hard to accomplish.
A powerful Wood Release user... A strange practitioner of the Flying Thunder God... A group of attackers capable of fighting on par with elite Anbu...
When Fugaku heard Itachi's explanation, he was stunned.
Leaving everything else aside, a single Wood Release user was enough to terrify people.
Throughout the entire ninja world, apart from Konoha's First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, there had never been a second Wood Release wielder. And just how powerful was Wood Release? Take the Uchiha during the Warring States Period as an example!
Whenever people mentioned Wood Release, they habitually mocked the Uchiha...
Have you heard of Konoha's Sharingan clan? They possess the strongest kekkei genkai in the ninja world!
And yet, during the Warring States Period, they were utterly crushed by Hashirama's Wood Release. In the end, they had no choice but to surrender and join Konoha. Even their leader, the mighty Uchiha Madara, was ultimately defeated by Hashirama... His statue still stood in the Valley of the End as a reminder!
How many people dreamed of becoming a part of history through their battles with the legendary "God of Shinobi"? For example, a certain financial guru loved to boast about having fought the First Hokage and then "retired"...
The Uchiha clan, however, did not find this amusing. They would find it downright humiliating.
Now, with reports of a Wood Release user in Konoha, Fugaku's mood could be imagined.
"Fugaku-kun, is something wrong?" Uchiha Mikoto sat beside her husband and handed him a cup of hot tea. "You've seemed worried ever since Beiyuan came back."
"There's some trouble in the clan..." Fugaku exhaled, blowing the steam off his tea before shaking his head. "Thanks. I'll have a day off soon, so I can help out at home."
"Are you sure?"
"It should be fine... Where are the children?"
Uchiha Mikoto placed a finger to her lips. "Shh, Sasuke finally fell asleep... Itachi took Beiyuan out."
"Ah? I forgot to tell them not to mention the assassination attempt." Fugaku, who already had a strong suspicion about the culprit, didn't want unnecessary trouble.
"Itachi is very smart..."
Although young, Uchiha Itachi was intelligent enough to understand that an attempt on the Hokage's life was not something to be discussed in public.
Everyone knew the eldest son of the Fugaku family was a genius—except for the crow perched on his shoulder... It felt like something was wrong with Uchiha Itachi's brain today.
All it took was a little girl tapping him on the shoulder and saying that the crow on him seemed sick. She claimed to be a veterinarian and offered to take a look...
And Uchiha Itachi actually believed her!
"I've treated lots of animals!" The little girl placed her hand on the crow. "Your crow looks lethargic, its heartbeat is irregular... Maybe it's been frightened."
Uchiha Itachi thought for a second and nodded. "That's possible."
"Good thing you ran into me today!" The little girl confidently took out a medical kit and looked the part.
"Gah!"
The crow struggled desperately in Itachi's arms. It was just in a bad mood!
After the adrenaline of battle had worn off, the anxiety from killing those Anbu ninjas was creeping in. Beiyuan kept reassuring itself—they weren't innocent... But the lingering unease wouldn't fade so easily.
Who would have thought Konoha would have such a persistent little doctor...?
"First, stroke the animal's back to help it relax..."
"Then, locate the blood vessels..."
"And finally, administer a sedative!"
"Gah!"
The crow, initially a little relaxed, suddenly became completely alert and struggled wildly.
Physical therapy for psychological problems?! There was something wrong with this girl!
Uchiha Itachi held the crow tightly and eyed the thick needle in the little girl's hand. "Huh? Wait... Can you really do that?"
"Of course! The sedative will help it sleep well, and the body will naturally recover during hibernation!" The little girl explained matter-of-factly.
Ignoring her age, the needle in her hand, and the identity of her "patient," Beiyuan had to admit—her logic made some sense...
But salvation came in the form of a furious voice.
"Inuzuka Hana! So this is where you are! I finally found you!"
"Last time, after you 'treated' my dog, it's been limping ever since!"