Chapter 1006

"Your senses are quite sharp, or perhaps that's why you were so aware of my existence back then?"

Kaguya-hime watched Young Yuanzi's figure head off toward the direction of the Hokage building. Even though this wasn't her true body, prolonged contact would eventually cause Young Yuanzi to sense something was off, and if he were to investigate seriously, he might even see straight through her.

"Lin Cheng, I'm asking you a question."

"I'm a bit tired, I'll head back to my room first." Kaguya-hime casually walked toward Lin Cheng's room without a care. As the fusion grew smoother and smoother, the influence of Hyuga Lincheng on her behavior had already weakened to a negligible degree.

Meanwhile, part of her attention was on Black Zetsu's ongoing collection of the Two-Tails' power, while the rest of her focus was on considering Young Yuanzi's situation. She had absolutely 17 no intention of putting on an act, and simply turned and left coldly.

Hyuga Hiashi watched his daughter leave. The reprimand that had been on the tip of his tongue got stuck and he couldn't bring himself to say it. For some reason, he felt that his daughter's changes over this recent period had been rather significant — what on earth was going on?

The sudden invasion lasted a single day before fizzling out anticlimactically. The Konoha side was unable to immediately determine who the planner of the attack actually was. The ninja, desperately short on manpower, devoted all their energy to rebuilding damaged structures and soothing the public's emotions. As for exactly how many Leaf Anbu the Third Hokage and Danzo had dispatched to pursue them — that was not information that could be made public.

"I am deeply grateful for the Hyuga clan's assistance during this crisis."

"What are you saying? Even though I'm no longer a ninja of Konoha, this place is still somewhere I've lived for a very long time — in fact, it's far more familiar to me than my own hometown."

A few days later in the Hokage's office, Young Yuanzi met with Hyuga Hiashi again. The head of the Hyuga family once more expressed his thanks, and this time the留守 jonin who had also been called in — that is, the instructors of over a dozen genin squads, Kakashi, Gai, and others — all heard it.

As Sarutobi Hiruzen took his seat, everyone quickly fell silent.

"I apologize for calling everyone together at such a critical juncture in the village's reconstruction, but this concerns our subsequent Konoha retaliation for this attack, so it is still necessary to have you all hear this."

Just how many times was this the Third's temporary stint as acting Hokage?

Surrounded by all sorts of troublesome matters, he had simply ignored that question. Now, crushed under the pressure and barely able to breathe, he even felt it was entirely possible he'd be dead and buried soon.

"First matter: thanks to Young Yuanzi for intervening in time this time. Although we don't know whether these people ultimately found Hyuga Lincheng, thwarting them and bringing Hyuga Lincheng back within the Hyuga clan's protection was absolutely critical — at the very least, we didn't let them achieve their ultimate objective."

Sarutobi's words instantly made everyone present understand the invaders' target. It turned out to be just like the Lin Cheng kidnapping incident launched by the Cloud ninja back then — this group's objective was likewise the Hyuga clan's Kekkei Genkai.

As one of the three great dōjutsu of the Shinobi World, the Byakugan truly held a temptation worth the risk for other ninja villages.

"Second matter: regarding the investigation into the damage to the Uchiha clan's compound. Uchiha Sanai was with Uzumaki Naruko yesterday — you understand what I mean, Kakashi?"

The Third Hokage called Kakashi out by name directly, which immediately caused a certain someone pretending to be a worn-out middle-aged man — Hatake Kakashi — to bear the gaze of everyone present.

"I have a rough idea?"

The Third's meaning: strictly speaking, Konoha's last surviving Uchiha, Sanai, and Naruko, who has at least half of the Nine-Tails sealed within her — the two most important strategic targets had brazenly gone about without anyone accompanying them. As their instructor teaching both of them, how could Hatake Kakashi not understand?

Danzo, who had remained silent until now, spoke up at just the right moment: "In fact, they repelled multiple enemies. Uchiha Sanai seemed to have been triggered by something and fully awakened her Sharingan in the battle. However, she is still unconscious now from mental exhaustion. It was Naruko who protected her the entire time. The two of them have been taught very well by you, Kakashi."

"Third matter: after this meeting concludes, you are to gather every genin currently available. The reconstruction work must be completed before the first batch of returning field ninja arrive to reinforce."

Because Nara Shikaku had already submitted a thoroughly prepared plan, as long as work began now, there was plenty of time.

"'Root' has already begun tracking and leaving markers along the way. After you complete the reconstruction work, you will join up with the returning squads and follow the markers to track them down. Muyebu Society will not let this go — the enemy must pay the price!"

After that came the specific assignment of tasks. Because chakra existed, a ninja's work was beyond what ordinary people could compare to. Perhaps the Sage of Six Paths had originally taught people how to use chakra and ninjutsu for exactly this kind of purpose.

"I'm sorry, Young Yuanzi — you finally came back and immediately ran into something like this." After the others had left one after another, only Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzo, and Young Yuanzi remained in the Hokage's office. Fatigue finally showed on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face.