chapter 191 part 2
"Yes."
Shizune called over the three villagers from the left queue. "What are your names?"
"Songwei Xinyou."
"Jiutiao Tuozhen."
"Lantian Tou."
After hearing their surnames, Shizune's hand trembled, her eyes filled with shock.
The pen she was using for recording fell to the floor with a "thud." Tsunade stood up. "Everyone, something urgent has come up today. Please come back tomorrow. Don't worry, I will be here early tomorrow morning to see you all. There's no need to rush."
These Uchiha clansmen sighed one after another, but there was nothing they could do.
Once most of the people had left, Tsunade took off her outer coat and instructed Shizune, "Kakashi's antidote is just a few steps from completion. You keep an eye on it. I'm going to find my teacher."
"Yes!"
Tsunade's figure leaped between the rooftops of Konoha, quickly arriving at the Hokage's Office.
She pushed the door open, giving Sarutobi Hiruzen no time to react and put away his crystal ball. The latter blushed. "What's wrong, Tsunade? Is something urgent?"
Tsunade quickly explained the Uchiha clansmen's situation. Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head slightly. "I'm not entirely clear on it, but it should be fine."
"What do you mean, teacher? I don't really understand."
"It means you don't need to concern yourself with it."
Tsunade couldn't help but frown. She thought about what had happened to Uchiha Ren, and then connected it to her own secret hemophobia being leaked...
It was hard not to arrive at a terrifying conclusion.
Thinking of this, Tsunade's face darkened. "Kakashi's antidote can be prepared by tomorrow. Once it's done, I will be leaving Konoha."
Sarutobi Hiruzen was stunned for a moment. "Well, alright then, Tsunade. Since you've chosen to continue wandering the ninja world, I don't have much else to say. Just... be careful with everything."
Tsunade shook her head, said no more, and left the office.
After Tsunade left, Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed. "To think you would annihilate a clan through a plague that affects the Uchiha? Danzo, you have truly found an incredible method."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked out the window at a large tree. His vision gradually extended from the tree down deep into the earth, past the gnarled, intertwining roots, and his view suddenly opened up.
This was a dark, underground base, its structure highly similar to Orochimaru's base in the Sound Village.
And in the center of the base, an old man in a white robe, with his forehead and half his face wrapped in bandages, was issuing commands to a large group of kneeling shinobi.
"This mission only allows for success, not failure! When the Uchiha stir up trouble, you will be responsible for holding back the shinobi of the Konoha Military Police Force. Afterward, you will finish off any surviving Uchiha clansmen. Do you all understand!?"
The Root shinobi were completely devoid of their own thoughts. Even being ordered to attack fellow villagers, they showed no hesitation.
They nodded in unison. "Yes!"
Before the main gate of Konoha, the setting sun cast a golden glow.
A merchant caravan approached slowly, wheels rumbling and kicking up a bit of dust.
The horses pulling the carts snorted from time to time, their pace heavy and steady.
This seemingly ordinary caravan, however, was stopped by Gekko Hayate in front of the Konoha gate.
Gekko Hayate's eyes were as sharp as an eagle's. He sized up the caravan, raised a hand to signal them to stop, his voice clear and carrying an unquestionable authority. "Routine inspection. Please cooperate." As he spoke, his gaze fell on a luxurious carriage within the caravan.
Gekko Hayate felt something was amiss. He slowly walked towards the carriage and reached out, just about to lift the heavy door curtain.
At that moment, a shinobi who had been standing beside the carriage, one with a red dot on his forehead, suddenly struck, quickly waving his hand. His tone was resolute as he said, "You cannot see my master's face."
As soon as these words were spoken, Gekko Hayate instantly grew vigilant. He took a step back, his hand subconsciously resting on the ninja sword at his waist. His eyes were fixed on the shinobi before him as he questioned, "Why not?"
Just then, a sinister voice came from within the carriage: "If you want to look, then look."
As the voice fell, the door curtain slowly parted, and a faint, putrid smell wafted out.
The moment Gekko Hayate's gaze touched the figure inside the carriage, his entire body instantly froze. His eyes bulged, his gaze vacant, as if he had short-circuited, completely motionless.
His body tensed, holding its previous posture, as if time had frozen in that very instant.
Clearly, he had been caught in a genjutsu, trapped in an endless illusion.
Inside the carriage, Orochimaru sat leisurely, dressed in a long white robe, his long hair scattered casually over his shoulders.
His eyes were slightly narrowed, a strange light gleaming in his pupils. His snake-like tongue darted out from time to time, licking his lips.
Looking at the genjutsu-trapped Gekko Hayate, Orochimaru slithered out of the carriage. He gazed at the familiar gate of Konoha, the corner of his mouth hooking into a bizarre smile as he muttered to himself, "Teacher Sarutobi, I'm back!"
On the balcony of Uchiha Ren's home, Yakumo Kurama ate dango while watching the Uchiha clansmen come and go below, feeling a little empty.
She didn't understand why Uchiha Ren had called her over for a small get-together, only for him to not be there when she arrived.
Out of boredom, she could only watch the passersby.
Suddenly! Yakumo Kurama's gaze locked onto a room in a house not far across the way!
Why was there so much red liquid splattered on that paper window?
Did someone owe a debt, and the creditor splashed paint on their house?
Before her mind could even process it... space distorted, and a mysterious man wearing an orange spiral mask appeared in the room across the way!
"Wh-what's going on?!"
Sensing that the atmosphere was off, Yakumo Kurama immediately ducked down, peeking outside through the gaps in the balcony railing.
But she suddenly discovered that the street, which had been bustling just a moment ago, was now deathly silent.
What happened?!
Abruptly, she heard a sound behind her.
Just as she was about to turn her head, a warm palm covered her mouth.
"Shh." Uchiha Ren made a gesture. "Don't make any noise. Don't worry, I'll stay here and protect you. Also, draw a picture based on this portrait. It might help me out when needed."
Yakumo Kurama took the photo, asking with a bewildered expression, "Wh-what's happening?!"
A barely perceptible excitement flashed in Uchiha Ren's eyes. "Tonight... is the night of the Uchiha Clan's annihilation."
"Wh-what!?"
(end of chapter)