"Knock, knock, knock!"
A series of urgent knocks suddenly sounded, interrupting Sarutobi Hiruzen's train of thought.
Without turning his head, he said in a steady voice, "Come in."
Almost immediately, Ebisu rushed in, breathing heavily, his face pale and sweat beading on his forehead.
"Hokage-sama, bad news!" Ebisu said between gasps.
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned and gave him a disapproving look. "Nonsense! I'm perfectly fine!"
Ebisu: (O_O)???
He froze for a moment, then realized his wording was off and hurriedly corrected himself: "Hokage-sama, something terrible has happened! Lord Konohamaru is missing!"
"Missing? What do you mean?" Sarutobi Hiruzen's frown deepened.
He knew his grandson was quite mischievous; perhaps he was playing a trick and hiding somewhere, so Ebisu just couldn't find him.
But what Ebisu said next made Hiruzen's heart sink instantly.
"Hokage-sama, here's what happened…" Ebisu dared not conceal anything and immediately recounted the entire course of events in detail. "Not long ago, I was instructing Lord Konohamaru in ninjutsu when an Anbu suddenly appeared, claiming you had ordered me to assist in some emergency mission."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face changed drastically. In a stern voice, he said, "I never gave such an order!"
Ebisu's expression turned even more grim as he continued, "I followed that Anbu out of the village, but he vanished without warning. Sensing something was wrong, I hurried back to the Sarutobi Clan's training ground, only to find Lord Konohamaru gone. Moreover, in the nearby forest, I discovered traces of a fight, indicating that Konohamaru had clashed with some unknown ninja."
After hearing the report, Sarutobi Hiruzen's face turned frighteningly dark.
Rage nearly burst from his chest, his eyes cold and fierce.
Not only was Konohamaru his grandson, but also the future hope of Konoha.
"Who dares act so brazenly in Konoha!"
"You all!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen slammed his desk with a heavy hand, his voice laced with an undeniable authority.
Before the echo of his words died away, several Anbu ninja appeared like specters before him, kneeling on one knee as they awaited orders.
"All Anbu are to mobilize immediately! Start at the Sarutobi training ground, spread out in all directions, and conduct a thorough search! We must locate Konohamaru as quickly as possible!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice was cold and resolute, each word brimming with murderous intent.
He had never been so enraged, not even back when Orochimaru defected.
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
The Anbu answered in unison, then promptly left the Hokage's office to notify the other Anbu and begin a comprehensive search.
In the now-quiet Hokage's office, Ebisu lowered his head in guilt, saying, "Hokage-sama, I have severely failed in my duty. Please punish me harshly!"
Had he not left Konohamaru alone, the enemy would not have dared act so audaciously.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face was frighteningly grim.
He waved his hand and spoke in a heavy tone, "Now isn't the time for that. Go join the Anbu and do everything you can to find Konohamaru!"
"Yes!"
Ebisu nodded earnestly, then hastened out to join the search.
Left alone in the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen's fury could no longer be suppressed.
"Bang!"
He slammed his pipe onto the floor, shattering it into pieces, embers scattering.
His chest heaved violently, eyes ablaze with overwhelming anger.
"If they dare do even this, what won't they dare?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze was icy, his fists clenched.
"This time, I will spare no effort in conducting a thorough investigation! Whoever is behind this must pay the price!"
Meanwhile, across Konoha, people soon noticed in shock that the ordinarily elusive Anbu were all mobilized, darting rapidly in and out of the village as though looking for something.
Soon, news spread like wildfire throughout Konoha:
1. "The Third Hokage's grandson, Sarutobi Konohamaru, has awakened a remarkably powerful Wood Style. He might grow to rival the First Hokage!"
2. "If Konohamaru matures successfully, he'll lead Konoha to become the strongest ninja village in the world!"
3. "But just recently, someone with sinister intentions lured away his tutor Ebisu and then kidnapped him!"
4. "The Hokage calls upon every villager and ninja to search together for Konohamaru!"
At once, the entire Konoha erupted in an uproar.
"Wait, Konohamaru has Wood Style? And he might be Hokage-level one day?"
"No wonder the Hokage's freaking out. Those bastards seriously crossed the line."
"We can't let anything happen to him. If Konohamaru gets hurt, Konoha's future could be screwed."
The whole village—civilians and shinobi—was fired up after the news broke.
"Damn it! If I find out who took him, I'll take them down myself!"
"Whoever kidnapped him won't get away with it. We're gonna make them pay."
"Finding Konohamaru comes first. If something happens to him, the fallout for Konoha would be massive."
Feelings ran high as people spontaneously joined the search. They fanned out through the streets, and even into the surrounding forests, all determined to find any trace of Konohamaru.
The entire Konoha felt as though an invisible wrath had ignited. Whether ninja or civilian, they now shared a single goal—
Find Konohamaru and make anyone who dares threaten Konoha's future pay dearly!
…
In the Root office, Danzō sat in a chair with a darkened expression, listening to his subordinates' reports about the outside situation.
Never had he expected Sarutobi Hiruzen to go so far—mobilizing the entire village to look for Konohamaru.
He found Hiruzen's reaction ridiculously overblown.
But Danzō soon calmed down, reflecting inwardly: "Since this matter's already blown up, I can only follow through with my plan."
As Root's leader, naturally he wouldn't allow Anbu or the villagers to locate Konohamaru so easily.
A cold glint flickered in his eyes. "Even if you overturn every rock in Konoha, you still won't find the boy."
Still, Hiruzen's massive commotion did make Danzō's operation trickier.
He had to be even more careful not to leave any clues.
After a brief contemplation, Danzō decided to carry on as planned.
On one hand, he would ensure that the Anbu couldn't find Konohamaru; on the other, he needed a suitable moment to 'negotiate' with Hiruzen.
"As soon as I become Hokage, I'll cooperate further with Senshi and leverage my firm, iron-fisted policies along with his capabilities to reap the greatest benefits for Konoha!" Danzō resolved inwardly.
Meanwhile, near the Sarutobi clan's training grounds, Sarutobi Hiruzen and his clansmen arrived at the site where Konohamaru had been taken.
They had preserved the scene meticulously, but disappointingly found no valuable clues.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression was grim, and the Sarutobi ninjas all lowered their heads, a somber air stifling everyone's breaths.
One ninja responsible for the clan compound's security stepped forward, head bowed. "Clan head, it's our fault for failing to secure the grounds and surrounding area."
Hiruzen ignored the apology. Right now, the priority was finding Konohamaru, not blaming others.
In a steady voice, he asked, "So far, nothing? Did no one see that fake Anbu, or anyone else?"
All the Sarutobi ninjas remained silent.
The impostor had moved swiftly, lingered only moments, and the Sarutobi grounds were extensive. The security team simply couldn't watch every inch at all times.
Seeing their silence, Sarutobi Hiruzen's face grew gloomier.
He knew whoever kidnapped Konohamaru had planned meticulously and clearly understood the Sarutobi family's internal situation thoroughly.
"That fake Anbu is at least a slight lead, but the ninja who seized Konohamaru left no trace at all," Hiruzen thought. "They didn't use any jutsu or taijutsu that might reveal their identity, and afterward they professionally cleaned up the site. Clearly, this was a deliberate, well-organized operation."
As Hiruzen was worrying, the heads and ninjas of other major clans arrived, each wearing a look of apprehension.
This incident wasn't just about the Sarutobi family; it was an attack on the entire Konoha itself.
If Konohamaru truly came to harm, the village's future would be overshadowed by misfortune.
What worried the clans even more was that from the signs, this likely involved inside-outside collusion—or perhaps someone within Konoha working alone.
…
…
In the Hyūga clan's main hall:
Hyūga Hiashi sat at the head seat, gazing soberly over the high-ranking clan members present.
A heaviness pervaded the hall, all eyes converging on him.
"Does anyone have clues about Konohamaru's abduction?" Hiashi asked, his voice calm and measured.
Everyone shook their heads.
One elder sighed and said, "Clan head, we currently have no useful information. This issue is extensive; our Hyūga clan must proactively assist or face suspicion."
Another old man frowned. "What's that got to do with us? Under no circumstances would our Hyūga clan orchestrate or join any anti-Konoha plot!"
They all spoke up at once, debating noisily.
Hiashi scowled, feeling a headache come on.
When the Uchiha were still around, they'd have taken the blame in an incident like this, drawing all suspicion and negativity.
But now, with Uchiha gone, the Hyūga clan had become one of Konoha's top noble families. In an incident like this, they couldn't remain outside of it.
"Quiet!" Hiashi struck the table firmly, his voice carrying authority. "Listen to me!"
The old poeple fell silent, over a dozen sets of Byakugan locking on him, awaiting his directive.
Taking a slow breath, he began, "Konohamaru's disappearance has yielded few clues thus far, but from what's known, it was clearly a carefully planned operation. The culprit might be an insider from Konoha, or it could be a ninja from another village colluding with someone inside Konoha."
As soon as he said that, everyone nodded in agreement.
Hiashi continued, "Until we uncover the truth, any power within Konoha capable of pulling off such a feat becomes a suspect, us Hyūga included."
Those words made all present look stern.
They realized their patriarch implied the Hyūga might also be suspect.
One senior asked worriedly, "Clan head, what shall we do?"
Hiashi's gaze was resolute, his tone steady. "First, we must fully cooperate with the Anbu's search for Konohamaru. Our Byakugan has innate advantages for scouting and tracking, and we must do our part for Konoha."
He paused, then added, "Second, if the village deems it necessary to investigate us, we mustn't clash with them. Instead, we'll assist wholeheartedly, showing the Hyūga clan's openness and loyalty."
"In short, we can't allow this incident to tarnish the Hyūga name. Understood?"
"Understood, Clan head!" Everyone responded in unison.
Hiashi nodded, a hint of weariness on his face.
One thing he left unsaid, yet everyone knew: their own clan must also investigate internally.
After all, thanks to the Byakugan, a Hyūga could avoid all guards and quietly approach Konohamaru. That very advantage might appear damning under suspicion.
Until the truth was known, many in Konoha would cast suspicious eyes at the Hyūga.
This was especially true for branch family members, who—though bound by the Caged Bird seal—might still get dragged into wrongdoing if goaded by outside ninja or personal grievances.
Looking firmly at the senior members, he said, "This not only concerns Konoha's safety but also the Hyūga clan's honor. No matter what, we cannot let anyone question our loyalty and position."
They nodded gravely in response.
"Meeting adjourned. Display the dignity of Konoha's number-one clan and take action immediately."
With that, Hiashi waved his hand, signaling the meeting's end.
…
Back in the Hyūga branch family's compound, a tense atmosphere reigned.
Everyone there was under high alert as they faced waves of search parties.
Even Hyūga Neji, usually calm, was gritting his teeth.
"They're here again!"
Neji watched several Anbu enter the compound, his fists clenched so tightly they almost cracked.
He had already been questioned multiple times, each round forcing him to repeat his whereabouts and actions, which left him exasperated.
A few older branch members came over to comfort him.
"Neji, calm down. We're innocent; if we just cooperate, our name will be cleared."
"Yes, and since this case is huge, with Konohamaru being so important, the Anbu are bound to be strict."
"Neji, don't let yourself get upset about the gap between main and branch families."
"The main and branch houses bear different duties—this is the Hyūga tradition, our fate."
Hearing the word "fate," Neji's fists clenched tighter, anger nearly erupting.
Inside, he seethed: "What duty, what fate? Why accept this unfair, irrational system? Must branch members spend their lives lower than everyone else?"
Ultimately, Neji forced himself not to explode.
He breathed deeply, suppressing his fury.
He had discovered a path to change his destiny.
"Senshi-sama…"
He repeated that name in his mind, a flicker of hope shining in his eyes.
Since joining Senshi's mercenary corps, Neji realized there was a way to free the branch family.
Senshi's sealing prowess surpassed even the legendary Uzumaki Ashina, famous for fūinjutsu.
With Senshi's help, the Caged Bird seal that bound all branch members could be removed.
Moreover, Neji could keep doing tasks for payment, earning plenty of scratch-off cards to grow stronger.
When he had enough power to shake the main house, he could speak to them on equal footing through sheer might.
"Senshi-sama gave me this chance, gave me power. I'll make the most of it," Neji vowed inwardly. "I must rewrite the fate of the Hyūga branch with my own hands!"
Throughout Konoha, each clan was likewise undergoing an Anbu investigation.
Shimura, Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi, Inuzuka, Aburame—even within Sarutobi's own clan—everyone was scrutinized.
After all, anyone could be an inside mole. Even the Sarutobi had no guarantee of loyalty from every corner.
Even Orochimaru's lab and Root's HQ were targeted.
Numerous Anbu scoured every corner, cross-checking and searching for any sign of Konohamaru at all costs.
Outside Orochimaru's laboratory, large numbers of ninjas gathered.
Inside, Orochimaru and Kabuto were absorbed in research when they noticed the commotion, both feeling a jolt of alarm.
"Could it be that the 'pyramid' scheme has come to light?" Orochimaru felt uneasy.
Though he and Kabuto periodically released new "improved" meds, the so-called "Eternal Chakra Elixir" was actually a brilliant ruse.
Even if they did one day create a true perfect version, they had no intention of handing it over.
In the lab, Kabuto's hurried footsteps approached, and Orochimaru's expression grew more serious.
"Orochimaru-sama, what do we do now? Hokage-sama has brought people to surround the lab!" Kabuto asked anxiously, eyes flickering with guilt.
Orochimaru knitted his brow, mind racing.
He was completely puzzled about what might have triggered this encirclement.
Normally, as long as he continued producing better meds periodically, something like this shouldn't happen.
After a moment's deliberation, Orochimaru calmly said, "I'll go deal with them, see what's going on. Kabuto, hurry and gather up the Blacklight Virus, the Eternal Chakra Elixir, plus Senshi's chakra sample. If anything looks off, we'll leave at once!"
Kabuto nodded firmly. "Yes, Orochimaru-sama!"
He then turned to carry out his tasks.
Taking a deep breath, Orochimaru headed for the lab door.
His emotions were conflicted. He genuinely had no wish to abandon Konoha—here he had ample funding and a safe base for research.
Yet Sarutobi Hiruzen leading a team to besiege the lab implied something serious had occurred.
"Old Man… don't force my hand," Orochimaru thought silently, preparing himself to shift into the "Yamato no Orochi" form if necessary.
The lab door opened slowly, causing Orochimaru's pupils to contract, a sense of great pressure rising within him.
Standing outside were not only Sarutobi Hiruzen and the other two members of the "Konoha F3," but also a large force of elite Anbu. The tension was almost suffocating.
Just as Orochimaru was about to sneer, "Well, so you've finally found me out," Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke first in a concerned tone, "Orochimaru, has your laboratory been attacked or interfered with in any way?"
Orochimaru: (O_O)???
Sarutobi Hiruzen heaved a sigh and continued, "Sigh… I truly didn't wish to disrupt your experiments. You and Kabuto work tirelessly here for the village. Besides, as your teacher, I trust this has nothing to do with you. Even so, we still have to do a thorough check of your lab to be certain Konohamaru isn't hidden here."
When he heard that, Orochimaru breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
So it wasn't that his "pyramid" scandal had broken wide open, but rather that Konohamaru was missing!
"What a scare…" Orochimaru thought to himself.
If he'd seen Konoha F3 and so many Anbu show up, he might well have clashed with Hiruzen on the spot.
Without hesitation, he stepped aside, calmly stating, "Sensei, you may come in and inspect. Konohamaru isn't here. Also, I have a few animal test subjects bound under a barrier—please don't touch them, or there may be danger."
Sarutobi Hiruzen and his two colleagues saw Orochimaru's cooperative attitude and realized this indeed had nothing to do with him.
Otherwise, someone like Orochimaru would have either fled long ago or wouldn't let them in so easily.
"The rest of you, stay outside. The three of us will go in and check," Sarutobi Hiruzen said to Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane.
They nodded in agreement and accompanied Orochimaru inside the lab.
Watching only the three older men enter, Orochimaru felt further at ease.
Inside the lab lay the Blacklight Virus; if too many curious ninjas intruded and accidentally came into contact, the entire ninja world could explode into chaos.
While Sarutobi Hiruzen's group searched, Orochimaru walked deeper into the lab and called out to Kabuto, who was busy packing.
Together, they accompanied Konoha F3 in their inspection of the lab.
~~~
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