Chapter 64: Konoha High-Level Meeting
Ever since Tsunade returned to the village,
the Konoha higher-ups had held several consecutive meetings.
These meetings weren't just about village reconstruction and future planning.
They also discussed some rather… "international" issues——
a detailed analysis of Akatsuki and the Black-Robed Organization!
...
"These are all the intelligence reports we've currently gathered regarding the Black-Robed Organization and Akatsuki."
Inside the conference room,
Shikaku slowly finished explaining the collected information,
then sat to the side and quietly listened.
Besides Shikaku, five other people were present:
The two Konoha advisors, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.
The Root leader, Danzo Shimura.
The former Third Hokage and current elder, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
And the Fifth Hokage herself, Tsunade.
Each of them held a thick stack of detailed reports, flipping through the pages nonstop.
A brief silence fell over the room.
A moment later, Danzo was the first to break it.
"Based on the current intelligence,
Akatsuki's goal is most likely the tailed beasts.
I'm not sure whether they plan to use the tailed beasts to start a war,
but I'd say it's about eighty or ninety percent certain."
When he mentioned Akatsuki,
Danzo's eyes flickered slightly.
He was reminded of something he had done long ago——
the time he indirectly caused the death of Akatsuki's former leader, Yahiko.
But that Akatsuki was clearly different from the current one.
Different uniforms, different strength, different objectives.
So he believed
this was simply another organization that happened to share the same name.
"As for that Black-Robed Organization…
I suspect their true goal is to resurrect some ancient, mythical entity!
The reason they've revived so many people recently
is mainly because they're running experiments.
After all,
reviving that ancient being probably isn't so simple.
So they first need to experiment on ordinary people
to increase the chances of successfully reviving their target.
And the fact that they simply tossed Kushina back without doing anything else…
I believe
they were testing whether a revived person would behave normally."
Hearing Danzo's analysis,
the others nodded one after another.
Judging from the current intelligence,
this deduction sounded very reasonable.
"I propose we classify both organizations as SS-rank terrorist groups.
No——
Only Akatsuki should be SS-rank.
The Black-Robed Organization should be classified as SSS-rank.
More mysterious and far more dangerous than Akatsuki."
Hiruzen took the pipe out of his mouth,
his expression grave as he spoke:
"At the same time,
we begin secret investigations into every piece of information related to these two organizations!
Also,
if our shinobi encounter members of either group outside the village,
extreme caution is required during any investigation.
If something unexpected happens, survival comes first!
Furthermore, I suggest we immediately inform the other hidden villages.
All the great shinobi villages must unite
and root out these two terrorist organizations together!"
"That's a good proposal,"
Koharu nodded. "The Black-Robed Organization and Akatsuki must be dealt with as quickly as possible."
"I've analyzed some things from the existing intelligence,"
Homura put down his report, tone heavy. "The Black-Robed Organization definitely has the ability to rapidly increase a person's strength!
Take Uchiha Izumi for example.
Before her death, she was just an ordinary chūnin.
But now…
her strength is probably not inferior to any of the Kage!
Of course,
part of that might be due to her Uchiha bloodline.
But Pakura is clear proof on its own.
Before she died, she was merely an elite jōnin.
Yet now…
her strength is probably many times greater than even Orochimaru's!"
"Exactly~
We really need to be careful.
I feel the Black-Robed Organization is even more terrifying than Akatsuki…"
...
Tsunade propped her chin on one hand, quietly listening to the old men analyze.
Suddenly, a wave of impatience rose in her heart.
Why does it feel like I'm just a figurehead Hokage?
This is so boring…
If I'd known being Hokage was like this,
I never would have agreed back then!
That damn brat!
Tsunade's thoughts suddenly drifted to Byakuya.
His masterful genjutsu and that gentle smile surfaced in her mind.
Hmph~
He's clearly just a twelve-year-old brat,
so why does he give off such a mature feeling…
How interesting.
"I suggest we focus the investigation on Byakuya!"
Tsunade, who had been lost in thought, suddenly snapped back to reality when she heard that sentence.
"Why?" she asked sharply.
After Danzo spoke,
everyone's gazes instantly focused on him.
"Because he made Hyūga Hinata become extraordinarily powerful,"
Danzo narrowed his eyes and spoke slowly. "Although
during that public lesson he claimed
Hinata possesses the body of an immortal,
who can be sure he wasn't lying?
What if he himself is actually a cadre of the Black-Robed Organization?
At the same time,
I suggest we also conduct a thorough investigation on Hyūga Hinata.
It's possible
she's a spy planted in our village by the Black-Robed Organization!"
"Danzo, you're overthinking this,"
Tsunade immediately sneered.
She had already read the intelligence regarding Hinata long ago.
"With the strength the Black-Robed Organization has displayed,
there's absolutely no need for them to plant spies in any village.
They can destroy an entire village in an instant.
Think about that massive golden palm,
about Pakura wiping out a village single-handedly,
about Uchiha Izumi instantly capturing the Fifth Mizukage.
If all these people moved together…
heh…
Which village could possibly withstand them?
And let's not even mention the Black-Robed Organization——
even the slightly weaker Akatsuki
has no need to plant spies in any village.
With their power, destroying a village is child's play!"
"Tsunade is right,"
Hiruzen nodded, affirming her words.
"Hinata cannot possibly be a spy.
They have no reason to do something so unnecessary,
nor any need to develop her into a spy.
As for Byakuya…
there's even less reason to suspect him.
His background is clean, his record spotless.
There is no way he has any connection to the Black-Robed Organization!"
"Hmph."
Danzo let out a cold snort and fell silent.
However,
a certain thought had already taken root in his mind.
Since that's the case… then I'll just investigate in secret!
I, Danzo, will eliminate any and all threats to Konoha!
Sigh…
As the Root of Konoha,
sometimes I really feel like I'm the village's unsung hero.
...
The next day arrived very quickly.
After visiting Kakashi,
Naruto dashed off like the wind toward the place he had arranged to meet Jiraiya,
ready to begin his "embarrassing training".
Byakuya, bringing Sasuke along, also "coincidentally" headed toward the same training location.
However,
shortly after Byakuya left Konoha,
several Root shinobi quietly appeared at his bookstore…
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