Chiyo and Pakura exchanged glances, both feeling somewhat ashamed because their Sunagakure had already become Ryou's spies.
Everything happening here was likely already known by Ryou's side.
Moreover, to prevent the spores inside their bodies from being discovered by the Byakugan, Chiyo had used Sealing Jutsu beforehand to isolate her and Pakura's bodies from being peered into by sensory Ninjutsu.
The high command of the Allied Forces had been infiltrated from the very beginning; how were they supposed to win?
Outside the meeting room.
Numerous Jonin were anxiously waiting for the Five Kage's deliberation.
The heads of Konoha's major Shinobi Clans were all gathered together.
Yamanaka Inoichi was talking about Tsume's situation: "Tsume, was your clan's Secret Technique really learned by Ryou?"
Tsume nodded: "I never expected that a Secret Technique I've practiced my whole life would be copied in just a few moves by the Uchiha's Sharingan."
"Sigh... I'm truly worried for the child in my womb; the Uchiha lineage is simply too terrifying."
Aburame Shibi comforted her: "Tsume, there's no need to worry. The exceptional ones are only Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Ryou. Look at those other Uchiha; they aren't much more formidable than us."
Tsume looked in the direction Shibi pointed. The members of the Uchiha Clan stood apart from the rest, with the Police Force standing far off with their arms crossed, looking like a group of haughty cats.
Tsume looked at them with extreme distaste: "Hmph! These detestable Uchiha, they have the blood of an evil clan flowing in them."
Akimichi Torifu, acting as a senior, said: "Tsume, don't say things that affect unity. Ryou was kind to you; not only did he release you, but he also treated Kuromaru's disability."
"One shouldn't be so ungrateful!"
Tsume lowered her head: "I'm sorry, Lord Torifu. I became a bit radical because my clan's Secret Technique was stolen."
Shibi also nodded: "The Uchiha are different from before. Even Jiraiya-senpai has taken a member of the Uchiha Clan as a disciple. We shouldn't look at them with biased eyes anymore."
Tsume nodded.
On the Uchiha Clan's side.
"Itachi, you're the first one in the Uchiha Clan to shave your head."
Shisui rubbed Itachi's smooth head. Now that Shisui had been transplanted with a pair of Sharingan from the clan, he could see the light again.
Shisui was very happy to see the light again, and even happier that he had been taken as a disciple by Jiraiya and that the Uchiha Clan was being completely accepted by the Senju Faction.
The future looks promising!
Itachi was a bit annoyed; almost every Uchiha Shinobi would subconsciously reach out to rub his head.
What made him even angrier was that his graduation application had fallen through because the Third Hokage had postponed this year's Shinobi Academy graduation.
Itachi pleaded with Shisui, saying: "Brother Shisui, can you take me to the battlefield when the time comes?"
Shisui didn't understand: "Itachi, why do you like the battlefield so much?"
Itachi said: "I want to see my uncle."
Shisui shook his head: "No, go ask Lord Fugaku yourself!"
"I can't, Mother won't let me go to the battlefield!"
Itachi subconsciously rubbed his bottom; after returning last night, he had been hit by Mikoto for the first time.
He was beaten quite miserably.
Izumi ate a lollipop and smiled: "Lady Mikoto is right. Itachi, don't be so stubborn; the battlefield is very cruel."
"If you accidentally run into Ryou-senpai, are you going to kneel down and shout 'Uncle, don't kill me'?"
At the thought of Itachi shouting for his uncle to spare his life, both Shisui and Izumi couldn't help but laugh.
Itachi was a bit angry: "Damn it, don't talk about me like that. I've already awakened the two-tomoe Sharingan now."
Itachi revealed his Sharingan.
Shisui was extremely surprised to see it: "Itachi, your talent is even better than mine! After the Five Kage Summit is over, let's go train, and I'll teach you the Crow Clone Technique."
Itachi was very happy: "Okay, Brother Shisui."
Compared to the sunlight above, Konoha's underground was a different story.
Urushi from the orphanage was very worried about Kabuto, who hadn't returned after being out all night.
He wanted to rush out, but the Root guards blocked him.
Urushi asked anxiously: "Where did Kabuto go? Why hasn't he come back yet?"
The Root member lied to Urushi, saying: "That kid named Kabuto was personally selected by Lord Danzo and sent to the Shinobi Academy. You should be happy for him!"
Urushi was puzzled: "How are so many people being selected by the Shinobi Lords? Is everyone in the orphanage so talented?"
Urushi didn't know much about the world of Shinobi, but he had heard from the orphanage director, Nonō, that the threshold for becoming a Shinobi was very high.
But the people in the orphanage were all war orphans who didn't have enough to eat or wear; would their talent really be that high?
Could the people from Root be lying to them?
On the other side, in the Root experimental base.
The Root personnel performing human experiments on Kabuto looked in surprise at the naked Kabuto in the glass tank, then glanced at the fusion data on the computer nearby.
The data showed stability, proving that Kabuto had already survived the rejection of Orochimaru's white snake cells.
"Is this kid named Kabuto's compatibility with Orochimaru really this high?"
"I must go tell Lord Danzo quickly; the experiment is nearly a success!"
...
Amegakure Interrogation Room.
After getting a moment to breathe, Nonō gasped for air, her chest heaving slightly.
Ryou showed no mercy; since she had come to kill Tsunade or himself, she was an enemy.
Ryou had the least psychological burden when dealing with female Shinobi treated as enemies; if she was 'grazed,' it was her own fault.
Ryou reached out to toy with her.
The calmness on Nonō's face completely vanished.
"Will you talk? Will you talk? Will you talk?!"
Nonō didn't know what to say.
Hadn't she already shown the Cursed Seal to the other party?
That Cursed Seal prevented her from revealing intelligence related to Konoha.
Ryou definitely knew this; he just wanted to take advantage of her.
Nonō kept enduring, refusing to say anything. Even the Shinobi Cats admired her perseverance.
"Fine, fine, fine, you won't talk, right?"
Ryou began to act like a rogue.
Fear showed in Nonō's eyes, along with a trace of relief that no one else could detect.
Outside the interrogation room.
Tsunade brought Konan to the door; they had heard that Ryou had returned from Hozuki Castle.
Tsunade hadn't settled the score with Ryou for bullying Konan last night yet!
She had to catch Ryou and make him kneel on a washboard.
Furthermore, Tsunade was also afraid that Ryou would kill Nonō.
Although Nonō had assassinated Tsunade, Tsunade was kind-hearted; she knew she had become a threat to Konoha, so it was expected that Root would send someone to assassinate her.
She had forgiven Nonō!
Many Shinobi Cats were guarding the outside of the interrogation room. Tsunade and Konan wanted to barge in, but the Shinobi Cats stopped them.
"Big Sis, don't make it difficult for us. The General is interrogating an important prisoner and specifically ordered that no one disturb him."
Tsunade shouted: "Don't let anyone disturb him? This bastard must be taking the opportunity to take advantage of Nonō! Move aside quickly, or I'm going to lose my temper!"