Chapter 35: The Calm Before the Storm

"Oh hoo hoo! Got it, got it! Excellent! Konoha really is the best! The average score is very high!"

On the roof of the Hokage Tower, a figure was cackling with perverted glee. Dressed in a red haori over a kimono, with long, spiky white hair and a forehead protector with the character for "Oil" inscribed on it, it was Jiraiya, one of Konoha's Legendary Sannin. He was crouched on the railing, peering through a telescope into the women's hot springs, a lecherous grin plastered across his face.

"Are you doing that boring thing again?" a stern voice came from behind him.

Annoyed at the interruption, Jiraiya lowered his telescope and glanced back. "Hmph! This is vital research for my literary work." He saw the two Konoha elders, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, standing there. "Oh, Advisors. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Is that even a question? You should know why we're here without us saying it!" Homura retorted.

Jiraiya stood up, turning to face them with a more serious, though still casual, expression. "Don't look so grim. I heard we've already settled things with the Sand."

"The Sand was manipulated by Orochimaru. They bear no true responsibility for his actions, and they have offered a full surrender. From Konoha's standpoint, to restore our national strength, we had little choice but to accept," Koharu explained. "However, Konoha's power is at a low ebb. The immediate priority is to assume a larger crisis is coming and prepare for it. Any neighboring country could take bold action at any time. We have decided to convene an emergency executive committee of elite shinobi from all departments to handle the assumed crisis until the village's power is restored. But before that... we need a strong, trusted leader. Disputes are erupting everywhere, not only from Orochimaru, but also—" Homura continued, but Jiraiya cut him off.

"You don't need to tell me all this. Well, if you'll excuse me, my research awaits." Jiraiya turned back around, raising his telescope again.

"Let me be direct," Koharu said sharply. "We need a Fifth Hokage. In an emergency meeting with the Fire Daimyo yesterday, we decided it should be you, Jiraiya."

"Sorry," Jiraiya waved a hand dismissively without looking back. "I'm not suited for the job."

"This is an established fact! If one of the Sannin isn't suitable, then who is? There is another one... Tsunade!"

Jiraiya paused. "Huh? Tsunade-hime..."

"That's right. The girl Tsunade does have the ability," Homura admitted. "But her whereabouts are currently unknown."

"Then I'll just go and bring her back!" Jiraiya declared, finally turning to face them fully. "Compared to a unmotivated fool like me, a clever woman like Tsunade is far more suited to be Hokage. What do you think?"

Homura and Koharu exchanged a long look. "We see," Kohura said finally. "We will consider it. However, we will send three ANBU operatives to form a Tsunade search team with you."

"Don't worry, I won't run away. There's no need for babysitters. But..." Jiraiya's grin returned. "I want to take someone with me. I've found a very interesting rookie." With that, he leaped off the roof, heading off to find Naruto.

***

On the outer wall of Konoha, two uninvited guests stood observing the village below. They wore black cloaks adorned with red clouds, wide-brimmed hats hiding their features. One of them carried a massive, bandage-wrapped object on his back. They were Akatsuki members: Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki.

"Although they avoided total destruction, the damage is still severe," Itachi observed, his voice devoid of emotion as he looked down at the scarred village. "The once-prosperous village is now... pitiful."

"That doesn't sound like you," Kisame remarked, a toothy grin on his shark-like face. "Getting nostalgic for your old home?"

"No," Itachi replied, his expression as impassive as ever. "I feel no nostalgia."

"Hey, so what's the plan now?"

"Enter the village. Follow me." Itachi dropped from the wall first, Kisame following close behind. They approached the main gate, where the two gate guards were instantly subdued by a subtle genjutsu from Itachi before they could even raise an alarm.

Once inside, they moved through the streets, the grieving villagers paying them no mind.

"Where to now?" Kisame asked. "Straight to the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?"

"No. There is a place I must go first." Itachi walked with purpose in a specific direction.

"Alright, you're the boss," Kisame shrugged, following.

***

For the past two days, Ren had forgone his usual training, choosing to stay home. Today was no different. When he woke, Sasuke was already gone. Ren wandered out into the yard and simply lay down on the wooden engawa, basking in the weak sunlight.

*So boring,* he thought. *Sasuke's such a grind. Out training at dawn. I'm just lying here.*

Suddenly, a prickle of awareness ran down his spine. He felt unseen eyes upon him.

***Host is under surveillance. Transmit visual feed?*** the system prompted.

*Is it Danzo's Root again?* Ren didn't move, maintaining his lazy facade. *System, show me.*

***Ding! Feed transmitted.***

An image appeared in his mind: two figures standing on a large tree just outside the compound walls, looking directly at him.

*It's him? Of course. It had to be,* Ren thought, a jolt of surprise and grim understanding running through him.

"Yo, I heard you had two little brothers. Is this one of them?" Kisame's voice, though muffled by distance, was clear in the feed. "He seems... different from you."

"...A failure," Itachi's voice was cold, flat. "Worthless. He should have joined our parents that night. He's not even worthy of dying by my hand." Though his words were cruel, a pang of something else—regret, sorrow—flickered in his eyes, unseen by his partner. *I'm sorry, Ren. I never wanted this for you. But it's better this way. Better to live a simple, empty life than to be taken by Danzo and turned into a emotionless tool. The Third... he kept his promise. He kept Sasuke safe from Root. Otherwise...* This content belongs to ⓝovelFire.net

Seeing Ren's seemingly vacant, lazy state, Itachi felt a deep wave of remorse. He couldn't stay here any longer.

"Let's go." He turned, and he and Kisame vanished from the tree.

*They're gone.* Ren sat up slowly, wiping pretend sleep from his eyes.

*Hmph. Uchiha Itachi. The Third Hokage is barely cold in his grave, and you couldn't wait to come back?* Ren's thoughts were icy. *Just to remind Konoha's higher-ups you're still out there, to keep them in check and protect Sasuke. What a dutiful big brother you are.*

Ren knew Danzo was the true architect of the massacre. But Itachi had been the one to swing the blade. While he didn't harbor the all-consuming hatred Sasuke did, the memory of Itachi standing over their mother's body was a wound that would never fully heal.

After leaving the Uchiha compound, Itachi and Kisame entered a quiet tea house. Kakashi Hatake, who happened to be waiting for Sasuke outside, spotted the two mysterious figures in Akatsuki cloaks. A deep suspicion settled in him, but he did not act immediately.

Just then, Kurenai Yuhi and Asuma Sarutobi approached.

"Yo! You two getting along well?" Kakashi joked, though his eye remained fixed on the tea house.

"Idiot," Kurenai blushed. "Anko asked me to help her buy some dango. I just ran into Asuma."

"And you?" Asuma asked, lighting a cigarette. "What are you doing lurking around here alone?"

"Ah, nothing much. Just buying some offerings... and waiting for someone," Kakashi said, his gaze still locked on the tea house. "...Waiting for Sasuke."

Hearing his brother's name, Itachi's hand, holding a teacup inside the shop, trembled almost imperceptibly.

"Rare for you to be waiting for someone. Bringing offerings... for Obito?" Asuma asked, the recent loss of his father making the subject of tribute somber.

"Yeah."

At that moment, Sasuke arrived. "Kakashi? You're here already? That's a first."

"Once in a while," Kakashi said. When he glanced back at the tea house, the two cloaked figures were gone. He quickly made a subtle hand signal to Kurenai and Asuma. They nodded in understanding and split up, moving to intercept.

Kurenai and Asuma caught up with Itachi and Kisame near a river on the outskirts of the village.

"You two aren't from Konoha," Asuma stated, his chakra blades sliding into his hands. "State your business."

"Long time no see, Asuma-sensei, Kurenai-san," a calm voice replied.

"You know us? So you were once shinobi of this village."

Itachi reached up and slowly removed his hat. The setting sun glinted off his features and the unmistakable crimson of his Sharingan.

Kurenai and Asuma gasped in unison. Their eyes widened in shock and dawning horror.

"It can't be... You are...!"

"There's no mistake," Asuma breathed, his grip tightening on his blades. "You're Uchiha Itachi."

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