"Zenkichi, are you really not coming with us?"
At the entrance of Konoha Village, Terumi Mei looked at Zenkichi with a worried expression.
Zenkichi smiled and said, "Konoha is very enthusiastic. I decided to stay and play with them a bit. Besides, I never said I wouldn't go with you!"
He created a clone and added casually, "This clone also has considerable strength—enough to protect you on the way back to Kirigakure."
Not far away,
Uchiha Fugaku's Sharingan spun with three tomoe as he said calmly, "The real Zenkichi stayed. The one who left only carries about one-tenth of his chakra."
Uchiha Fukuyama frowned. "What exactly is Kirigakure doing? Why are they leaving so suddenly?"
"Leaving is fine, but why is Zenkichi's real body staying behind? This feels like something bad is about to happen."
Fugaku pondered aloud, "Could it be that Konoha's higher-ups had a plan that was somehow discovered by Kirigakure?"
Fukuyama suddenly added, "That makes sense! Anbu came by earlier today and mobilized some Uchiha clan members."
Just as they were discussing this, golden light suddenly erupted nearby.
Zenkichi's figure appeared beside them. He smiled. "You two, what are you doing here?"
Fukuyama's expression shifted. He spoke sharply, "Zenkichi, what are you doing here?"
"Do you know how rude it is to suddenly appear like that? You're not even a Konoha ninja. What if you overheard confidential information?"
Zenkichi exaggeratedly replied, "Oh, you were talking about secrets? That's serious! I didn't expect it to be that bad—how scary!"
Fukuyama frowned and was about to speak again, but Zenkichi continued casually, "I just felt someone watching me, so I came to check."
"It was rude of me to appear so suddenly—but isn't it equally questionable for you to be secretly observing me?"
"Konoha ninjas! Could you please stop with the double standards? Talking about secrets doesn't scare me."
Fugaku's face changed slightly. Even his expression turned awkward.
They had indeed been ordered to observe Zenkichi—and Zenkichi had caught them. It wasn't a good look.
"Forget it. Let's drop the subject," Zenkichi said with a wave, clearly uninterested in pursuing it further.
He was already prepared for a confrontation with Konoha. There was no point in fussing over minor things.
With his Observation Haki, he enveloped all of Konoha and was aware of every movement and personnel change in the village.
Earlier that morning, White Fang, Mitokado Homura, and Koharu Utatane had set off with their teams to the frontlines, replacing Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade.
Well, Kato Dan was among them…
Dan's Spirit Transformation Technique could be used against Zenkichi, though that was hardly a threat.
Orochimaru's snake venom might work to assassinate him—if it did, there would be no need for a direct confrontation.
Jiraiya had mastered various sealing techniques and was one of the few in Konoha skilled in them.
Many Konoha ninja knew some form of sealing, and there were even sealing divisions—but their level was average.
The one with the highest sealing proficiency in Konoha was Uzumaki Kushina. The sealing techniques of the Uzumaki Clan were unique in the shinobi world.
Because Namikaze Minato had gotten close to Kushina, he had also learned many powerful sealing methods.
Jiraiya, as Minato's teacher and the Third Hokage's student, had also gained access to powerful sealing jutsu.
Under those dual connections, Jiraiya had been exposed to many high-level techniques.
As for Tsunade...
She didn't have much to counter Zenkichi with. She was only recalled to serve as a backup for Konoha.
If they were going to move against Zenkichi, Konoha needed to be fully prepared.
Without Tsunade—the best medical ninja in the world—Shimura Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't feel safe.
After all, they only had one life each.
With Tsunade around, casualties might be kept low, and the lives of Konoha's upper echelon would be protected.
As for medical needs on the front lines, they would leave those to other medical ninja. Koharu, for instance.
Although Koharu wasn't on Tsunade's level, she could handle most problems.
If something happened she couldn't fix, well, that would be unfortunate—but the safety of the village leadership came first.
Compared to the shinobi forces on the front, Konoha's leadership was more important.
Mitokado Homura, Koharu, and White Fang posed no real threat to Zenkichi.
Those with real potential—Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade—had been called back.
Zenkichi knew all of this.
Not just the important things, but even the small ones.
For example…
"I heard your wife's pregnant? Congratulations."
"I bet it's a boy!"
"How about naming him Itachi when he's born? Uchiha Itachi!"
"I'm sure he'll be a genius someday."
"Not just powerful—his thoughts will be… terrifying."
Zenkichi grinned as he joked with Uchiha Fugaku.
Fugaku, though young, was already married and about to become a father.
In this shinobi world where kids went to war, early marriage and childbirth weren't unusual.
"How did you know my wife is pregnant?"
Fugaku's face darkened.
Not many knew about it.
If this weren't Zenkichi's first visit to Konoha, Fugaku might have questioned his wife's loyalty.
Zenkichi chuckled. "Oh, nothing much. I just have a top-tier intelligence system."
Fugaku frowned. A spy in the Uchiha clan?
But if that were true, why would Zenkichi bring it up?
He didn't seem to care what kind of doubts he stirred up—he just did whatever he wanted.
Watching Fugaku's troubled expression, Zenkichi laughed and vanished into a scattering of golden light.
Fugaku rubbed his temples.
Did he just get that info by chance—or is he deliberately trying to cause turmoil within the Uchiha clan?
Doesn't he realize the danger he puts a spy in by saying something like that?
---
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