Konoha Village's area was very large, and it was divided into inner and outer districts; its walls surrounded the inner city.
There were guards rotating on the walls.
The large gates were registered, recording the chakra of people who entered.
Although this couldn't completely stop infiltrators, the threshold to enter Konoha had already been set very high.
A spherical barrier covered the sky above Konoha; anybody entering other than through the four great gates would be discovered.
But now… the barrier team had been taken away by Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Miroku was redeploying the barrier setup, so this was undoubtedly the most permeable time for Konoha.
Others still needed various methods to slip into Konoha.
But for White Zetsu, they only needed to use the Mayfly Technique to directly come in.
After all, they were underground and not easy to detect.
Because such a big incident had broken out in Konoha, Black Zetsu had also dispatched many White Zetsu to infiltrate Konoha.
They were there to get more intelligence on Konoha.
———
Outside the mission hall, beside the road, a White Zetsu was hiding in the ground, quietly observing how many people were taking missions here and which people would leave the village after taking missions.
This way it would be easy to judge how much strength a village had in reserve.
"Shishou, there's one here!", a voice came from above the White Zetsu.
Rengoku descended from the sky with Karin.
Karin slammed her palm on the ground; the White Zetsu that had just burrowed felt the earth around it become like a swamp and was spat out by the ground.
Rengoku reached out, grabbed the White Zetsu by the neck; with a twist of his Sharingan, the White Zetsu lost consciousness.
He tossed it backward, and the Uchiha following him tied up the White Zetsu.
This was the seventh White Zetsu Karin had caught.
"Hee hee hee…another one," Karin was very happy to have helped Rengoku catch another White Zetsu.
Her proficiency with Kagura Mind Eye was steadily improving.
These White Zetsu were easy to find. After all, normal people's chakra is not usually underground.
At that moment a clansman came to report to Rengoku, "Clan Elder, the shrine maiden will complete and activate the detection formation in ten minutes."
"I know."
Once the detection formation was activated, it would no longer be easy for White Zetsu to slip into Konoha.
But if they didn't continue capturing now, those White Zetsu would probably be scared off.
"Karin, there's not much time left. Try using Kagura Mind Eye at maximum range."
"Yes, Shishou!"
Karin replied, formed seals with both hands, and began amplifying Kagura Mind Eye with her chakra.
As she moved chakra, countless chakra signals began to appear in the dark world of closed eyes, and they stretched farther and farther away.
The detection range expanded; Karin's chakra poured out like a flood after a gate was opened.
Finally, Karin discovered two more White Zetsu moving stealthily in the ground.
"Shishou, two more found to the north!", Karin opened her eyes and reported excitedly.
But with so much chakra expended, Karin's head began to spin.
After reporting in excitement, she felt so weak she could barely stand.
Rengoku grabbed Karin's body, "What's wrong?"
Karin took a deep breath and steadied herself, "I'm fine, Shishou. I just used too much chakra at once."
Rengoku frowned slightly, "Don't push yourself so hard next time."
Karin stuck out her tongue, "Sorry, Shishou. I won't next time."
"Catch these two and then go rest."
He didn't have the same perceptive ability as Kagura Mind Eye, so he wasn't as quick at finding White Zetsu as Karin.
After giving the order, Rengoku took Karin's arm and headed north.
Karin wrapped her other arm around Rengoku's, and with the whoosh of wind the scenery scrolled past them.
"Shishou, why don't you hug me like you used to?", Karin asked.
Rengoku glanced at her, then turned his head back, "You'll understand when you're older."
Karin tilted her head and leaned on Rengoku's shoulder, watching his profile as memories flickered before her eyes.
A warm feeling rose in her chest, as if sunlight had fallen on her heart, and a strange emotion quietly grew. [T/N: NOPE!]
Karin moved close to Rengoku's ear and said something quietly.
Rengoku listened, smiling a little, "You're a little devil, don't know where you learned that. We'll talk when you're grown."
Karin didn't answer; she simply leaned on his shoulder again, a peaceful smile on her face.
After reaching the north, Karin used Kagura Mind Eye to scan twice more and dug two more White Zetsu out of the ground.
These two were located nearer the Uchiha district; Rengoku happened to capture them and head back.
"Don't push Kagura Mind Eye so far next time, okay? Go rest."
Rengoku ruffled Karin's hair, then took the White Zetsu to Orochimaru's laboratory.
Karin watched Rengoku's departing back, standing where she was as if deep in thought. Then she slapped her own cheek, feeling a little warm.
———
[Orochimaru's Basement]
As time passed and Mitarashi Anko came into contact with more things, she felt the world's cruelty more and more.
Her previous mindset, being used as a tool, seemed destined.
Especially now that such a big incident had happened in Konoha, it was a huge shock to all shinobi loyal to Konoha.
Konoha had split; Sarutobi Hiruzen had taken so many ninja away.
If other shinobi villages invaded, Konoha would be finished.
If others didn't believe the Third Hokage's scandals, Anko did.
She never imagined that the most respected Third Hokage in the village had done so many things damaging the village.
For a shinobi like Anko who depended on Konoha, that was a devastating blow.
Those who believed these Third Hokage scandals must hate Sarutobi Hiruzen deeply.
If Hiruzen hadn't exploited the village, how strong would Konoha have been?
But now Konoha had split and even faced the danger of collapse.
Other shinobi had been taken away for missions, but no one informed Anko.
Anko asked around and learned this was Rengoku's order, to leave her idle.
This salted fish of hers couldn't stay salty; she wanted to ask what was going on.
"Oh, you didn't follow the old man?", Orochimaru asked without turning around when Anko raised the question.
Hearing Orochimaru's teasing, Anko's face flushed with awkwardness and embarrassment.
Just then Rengoku entered carrying two White Zetsu.
He saw the two teacher-and-disciple stuck here.
Orochimaru faced away from Anko; Anko stood shyly to one side.
"What's wrong?", Rengoku's voice broke the awkwardness.
Anko secretly breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Elder Rengoku, I want to know why you didn't assign me any tasks?"
Rengoku glanced at Orochimaru and saw he didn't seem concerned here; he probably hadn't told Anko that he would use her.
He thought for a moment, then smiled, "You looked like you didn't want to work, so I didn't assign you anything."
Anko felt very embarrassed, she had been too foolish before.
She drew a deep breath and lowered her voice, "Sorry, Elder Rengoku. Sorry, sensei. I was too naive before."
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