After resolving these Root members whose masks and movements clearly matched the typical ANBU formations used under Danzō
Thousand Nights used the Flying Thunder God Technique, relying on the hiraishin marker he had previously placed near the Uchiha Clan District, and flashed back with a brilliant surge of chakra.
"Brother!!"
"Sister!!"
The moment the two siblings met, they immediately embraced each other, tears welling in their eyes like the reunion scenes often witnessed between separated clansmen during the turbulent period before the Uchiha downfall.
Sensing that he was an outsider in such a private moment, Chiya quietly stepped back, just as Kakashi often did when avoiding emotional family matters.
"Sister, how did you get caught by Konoha's people?"
After their emotions finally calmed,
Kuishan asked with confusion and lingering guilt.
"Ever since… ever since you were listed as a missing-nin, I was treated with hostility and suspicion by the villagers," she said softly, recalling the looks similar to how villagers once glared at Naruto as a child.
"I knew… I knew I could no longer live peacefully in the village, so I volunteered myself pretending it was my own decision to come to Konoha as a spy…"
Hearing this,
Kuishan felt ashamed immediately, just like Sasuke once did after learning the truth about Itachi.
He promised solemnly: "Brother swears I will never let you suffer even the slightest grievance again!"
"Hmm!"
Wang Tu nodded.
Although Kuishan was a listed missing-nin,
Not every missing-nin was a ruthless killer like the rogue swordsmen of the Mist.
Each person had their own reasons for abandoning their village.
For example, Kuishan
Although branded a traitor,
And even given a high danger ranking in the Bingo Book,
He had in fact killed very few people.
His danger rating came entirely from his strength, similar to how Itachi's rank skyrocketed not from mass crimes, but from potential threat.
"By the way, brother… who was the person who saved me?"
Wang Tu suddenly asked.
Kuishan scratched his head. "Hmm… to put it simply, he's my employer."
"Employer? But he's so strong… someone with that level of ability how did you convince him to rescue me?"
Kuishan froze. "…"
"Huh? Brother, why are you crying all of a sudden?"
"It's nothing… just remembered something sad…"
He quickly wiped the corner of his eyes.
"???"
Then, after steadying himself, Kuishan asked,
"Sister, what do you plan to do next? Return to the Earth Release Village? Or…?"
"Tuyin Village no longer has a place for me… but with you, I— I'll stay with you from now on."
Kuishan paused, then sighed.
"…Alright then."
Since her home village had rejected her, following her brother was indeed the most sensible choice.
…
After that, Kuishan went to find Senya.
As soon as they met, Kuishan nearly knelt on the ground in gratitude, similar to how villagers once thanked the Fourth Hokage.
But Chiya stopped him in time.
"I've already accepted your payment there's no need for kneeling."
Kuishan insisted, voice deep:
"Money is money, but you saved my sister. Such a debt can't be measured with ryo! I owe you a favor, if you ever need my help, even if it's a life-threatening mission like an ANBU infiltration, just say the word!"
Chiya nodded with a light smile.
Then Kuishan explained that his sister wished to remain here as well.
Qianye responded,
"She can stay. But the Uchiha district rents land and doesn't support idlers. She must find her own way to sustain herself."
Kuishan nodded. "Of course but you'll need to help us find something."
He truly wanted to support his sister
But after paying Senya, his earnings for the next year were gone.
So he needed help finding her suitable work.
Chiya thought for a moment and said,
"There aren't many openings within the clan right now. But my household still lacks a caretaker. Your sister can try it. Cooking, cleaning simple but steady work."
He had been living alone for years and was already accustomed to handling things himself,
but having reliable help was never a bad thing in such turbulent times…
So later, even after he eventually became clan patriarch, he had never intended to find personal attendants. Just like how Fugaku Uchiha handled most affairs himself, he felt it was unnecessary.
However, the Uchiha elders repeatedly advised him to at least appoint a subordinate some kind of household assistant, caretaker, or formal retainer especially since high-ranking clan members traditionally had aides much like the Hyūga branch family attendants.
"That's great! Although my sister stutters a little, when it comes to caring for others she's absolutely reliable better than most attendants in the compound!"
...
A day later,
Danzō received the report:
The entire ANBU-Root escort squad responsible for transporting the captured spy had been wiped out.
The spy's whereabouts were unknown.
"Unforgivable!!"
Danzō slammed his desk with a force that rattled the inkstones and mission scrolls.
He had never planned to hand over the spy alive, not even for a moment.
Even the Iwagakure envoy who came for the hostage exchange—Danzō had no intention of letting him return alive.
This was consistent with ROOT's operating principles: eliminate all loose ends.
He was ruthless.
But what he had not expected
Was that Ōnoki, that stubborn old "Fence-Sitter Tsuchikage," was even darker than him!
A clean double-cross.
A perfect black-eats-black.
Yes!
From Danzō's perspective, only Ōnoki could have orchestrated this.
After all— The hostage exchange, the identities involved, and the precise timing were known only to Danzō and the Tsuchikage.
And now all his men were dead.
The culprit was obvious.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side
"Unforgivable!!"
"Danzō, that old viper! He dared to scheme during a hostage exchange arranged according to shinobi convention!"
"Does he really think Iwagakure is something he can toy with?"
Iwagakure,
Tsuchikage's Office,
Ōnoki's expression was cold enough to freeze stone.
Immediately, he turned toward his son, the dependable Kurotsuchi's father Huangtu (Loess): "Contact Sarutobi Hiruzen at once! I want an explanation from him personally! Otherwise.tell him I will not hesitate to start a war with Konoha!"
"Yes, Father!"
Loess bowed heavily and left the office at once.
Of course
Whether Ōnoki truly intended to go to war, or whether he was simply using his long-practiced intimidation tactics to pressure the Third Hokage
that was difficult to say.
But one thing was certain:
His method was extremely effective…
When Hiruzen Sarutobi received the Tsuchikage's letter, his entire demeanor changed.
His hand trembled slightly, and he could no longer remain seated calmly.
He immediately summoned Danzō to account for the incident.
After reading Ōnoki's accusations, Danzō ground his teeth and snarled,
"That old fossil! After staging a black-eats-black ambush, now he reverses the truth and demands I give him an explanation? Shameless!"
Hiruzen said coldly,
"Then tell me what you propose we do!"
Danzō slammed his cane.
"If it comes to it, then we go to war! Konohagakure is no spineless coward!"
But the reality was obvious:
He had suffered a loss.
And now he was expected to "explain" himself like some guilty party?
What did they take him for a soft persimmon to be crushed at will?
"War!?"
Hiruzen's voice snapped like a whip.
"You think war is a game!?"
"People will die! Many!"
"And the village is already unstable the Uchiha are watching cautiously from the sidelines, tensions are already high! If we enter a war now, do you understand the consequences?"
His voice grew louder, harsher, rising until he was almost yelling very unlike the usual calm, pipe-smoking Third Hokage.
"But—!"
Danzō's face twisted in frustration.
He also knew this was a terrible time for war. But in this matter he was the victim and now he was expected to explain himself to the one who deceived him?
Too humiliating!
"Enough! I am the Hokage!"
Hiruzen cut him off sharply.
"You caused this mess.
You will take responsibility.
You will resolve it."
That was the final verdict.
Without waiting for Danzō's reply, Hiruzen turned away, robes sweeping the floor of the Hokage's office.
Seeing this,
Danzō understood that arguing further was meaningless. He could only grit his teeth and leave rage boiling and unresolved…
---
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