Night —
Uchiha Clan Affairs Office, Meeting Room
Uchiha Naraku sat at the head of the room. Dozens of Uchiha elites sat cross-legged below—chiefs and representatives from various departments of the Clan Affairs Office.
Among them were key figures such as Uchiha Yashiro, Uchiha Tekka, and Uchiha Inabi. The elders, except the busy Great Elder Uchiha Daizō, were all present.
Non-shinobi departments like the orphanage and nursing home were not summoned. Most attendees were from the Administration Division, the Council of Elders, the Police Force, the Ninjutsu Research Unit, and other military wings.
"Lord Naraku," began Uchiha Yashiro, expression grave as he held a report, "in recent weeks, fifteen of our Genin and Chūnin who were on missions outside the village have gone missing. We dispatched the police force to investigate, but they found no traces or clues. I suspect this is the work of the Anbu."
"No clues at all?" Naraku frowned. "Nothing about their routes or mission objectives?"
"Nothing," Yashiro replied. "Which is why I believe it was Anbu under the direct command of the Hokage. Only they could know such details."
Naraku took a deep breath. "Reopen the investigation. Mobilize the Jōnin Security Unit as well. No matter what—it must be resolved. I want either their safe return or their remains."
At the word "remains," a cold breeze stirred in the sealed room. Naraku's chakra flickered, and his Sharingan activated—the three tomoe rotating slowly, betraying his inner turmoil.
"It's definitely Anbu!" bellowed the Second Elder, Uchiha Kyo, rising to his feet. His red eyes gleamed with fury. "Naraku! We must go to the Hokage's office. Sarutobi Hiruzen must answer for this!"
Among the missing was his favourite grandson. Since his disappearance, Kyo had searched relentlessly without results. The grief had pushed the once-elegant elder to the brink.
Naraku sighed inwardly. These elders rarely showed him respect, often calling him by name without honorifics. If Great Elder Daizo were here, managing them would be impossible.
"Everyone is concerned," said Uchiha Zen, one of the Assistant Elders. "But we can't accuse the Hokage without proof. That will only invite more repression. Please, have faith in Naraku—he'll handle it."
"You coward! Genjutsu: Sharingan!"
"Ah!"
Zen collapsed backwards, unconscious. Uchiha Kyo had flared his Sharingan at him in rage.
"Second Elder, please calm down!"
"Enough, sir!"
"Get a grip, old man!"
The others rushed to restrain him.
Kyo glared at Naraku. "Naraku! The Hokage's people are targeting us! What's your plan?"
Naraku remained calm. "We can't act yet. Our forces have only recently returned from war. We lack proof, and the missing aren't solely from our clan. Other shinobi and civilians have vanished too."
Kyo's glare deepened, but Naraku pressed on.
"Still, I'll speak to the Hokage. As clan leader, I am just as troubled by this. I will get to the truth. If it is the Hokage's doing, I swear—he will pay."
Kyo chuckled darkly. "I'll be waiting."
Could this emotional surge evolve his Sharingan into Mangekyō? Naraku wondered silently.
—
Later, Naraku remained in the hall alone, deep in thought.
"It's been barely a month since Shimura Danzō returned with the army… and now this. If anyone would use such underhanded methods, it's Danzō."
Like others, Naraku suspected Root. The clean execution, lack of clues, and suddenness pointed to elite operatives—exactly how Danzō operated.
He had already ordered the Police Division to halt all Uchiha missions temporarily. The Criminal Investigation Bureau was searching for clues.
Many of the missing were promising young shinobi—future pillars of the clan.
Uchiha Kyo and Zen had always been rivals yet respected each other. Zen's collapse and Kyo's descent into fury made the crisis all the more painful.
"It's not easy being the clan head," Naraku muttered, standing.
He summoned his escort: "Team Redfire. With me. To the Hokage's office."
Poof!
A puff of smoke revealed four elite Uchiha. At their front was Uchiha Akahiro, leader of Naraku's personal guard—seasoned and loyal, with three other rising talents behind him.
—
Hokage Office
Sarutobi Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, brows furrowed in a tight 川 (kawa) pattern. The scroll in his hand detailed the recent disappearances.
At first, he dismissed the delays as typical mission setbacks. But the cases kept mounting. Over twenty shinobi were now missing—many from the Uchiha clan.
Anbu's investigations had come up empty. No chakra traces, no footprints, nothing.
And the pattern was disturbing. These were not random losses—most were skilled Genin and Chūnin. Too many were Uchiha.
Hiruzen exhaled smoke slowly.
"Ghost Fox. Summon Shimura Danzō."
"Understood."
The air in the corner of the office shimmered briefly, though no figure could be seen.