Chapter – 31: The Nazo

[Name: Hayashi Chojiro, second son of Business Tycoon, Hayashi Seishiro. Shinobi Potential: Average. Strength: Student. Kidnapped after he left Akimichi Chow after having dinner.]

[Name: Kurata Shigeko, the only son of the famous businessman, Kurata Hoshiko. Shinobi Potential: Above average. Strength: Student. Kidnapped right after he left the academy.]

[Name: Hayato Yasuo, the only son of Jonins Hayato Masashi and Nishihara Iori. Shinobi Potential: Good. Strength: Student. Kidnapped right after he left the academy.]

[Name: Yaguchi Koto, the only son of Tokubetsu Jonin Yaguchi Reizo. Shinobi Potential: Average. Strength: Student. Kidnapped in a deserted alleyway after he left the park playing with his friends.]

As he looked at the details of kidnapped children, although from the outside it feels like a typical kidnapping for extorting good ransom, Nara Shikaku feels that there is something wrong here that he couldn't put his finger on, something seems to be missing.

"Shikaku, do you have any ideas?" asks Fugaku in an emotionless tone.

"Not at the moment, we don't have much information as all this happened too quickly for us to prepare. I believe the kidnappers must have acted it in a hurry too. Therefore, there are bound to be some slipups and hopefully, we can find some clues at the places where they kidnapped. Let's first get as much information as possible," says Shikaku, "I will go visit Seishiro-sama, you take care of the rest. We need to identify the perpetrators soon. Have the police force look for any clues near where the kidnappings took place. Also, have them discretely keep an eye on their parents, the kidnappers will definitely try to contact them for ransom."

"I will arrange that," Fugaku nods.

"But don't spread our forces too thin, we might need to fight them."

** Next day **

[Rei POV]

As soon as I enter the classroom, I immediately feel the difference in the atmosphere. Everyone seemed down. Confused, I ask one of the few 'friends' I have made.

"Hi Obito, what happened? why is the class so gloomy today?" I asked.

"Oye, not so loud!" he whispers, "I heard some of our friends didn't come to class today!"

I look around and nod, "Ya, they might be out for a holiday, what's so special about that?"

"Not a holiday, you idiot! I heard they have been kidnapped!"

"WHAT?" I don't know which I am more pissed about, the fact that I was called an Idiot by Obito or from the fact I didn't know anything about such a major event.

'I haven't seen this in the anime. Obviously, they can't cover everything, this is a wake-up all for me, I cannot rely 100% on what I remember. And this lack of an information-gathering channel is an issue, I might miss out on many interesting stuff. I will try to create one once I am strong enough.'

Back in the Origin space.

'Mmm… Interesting, so some of my classmates have been kidnapped,' I think as I stop from my practice.

'Gathering funds for my experiments would have to be done sooner or later as just myself creating seals will never be enough and the best way to get more money is by snatching it. Should I take some risk and get my hands on the ransom money?'

'I have the Origin space and Dream Control, so escaping is not an issue at all… But the main issue is how much importance does Hiruzen put on this incident?'

'Okay, I will do some digging first and see what I can find…'

** Hokage office **

[Third Person POV]

Hiruzen was sitting behind his usual desk smoking a pipe. In front of him stood Shikaku and Fugaku who had just returned from gathering information. They were going to meet up, but before they could do so, they got the summons from the Third.

"Hokage-sama, I just came back after speaking with Seishiro-sama. It seems the kidnappers are quite strong. They were able to kill all of Chojiro's guards who were all Chunins or above instantly before kidnapping him. Seishiro-sama said he will pay whatever ransom the kidnapper asks for getting his son back. I did warn him that the kidnappers might not keep their word and return his son to him, but Seishiro-sama is adamant about not wanting our help," says Shikaku, "But Hokage-sama we should still try to capture them, we cannot allow any harm to come upon Seishiro-sama's son or it will be a big loss for Konoha."

"The Police also didn't find anything useful, other than the fact that they were professionals to not leave behind a single piece of evidence," says Fugaku.

"Mmm, you are both correct," sighs Hiruzen, "I just got word from Jiraiya, his network has some information about it. This is done by an extremely strong group of Missing-nins from Kiri who call themselves the Nazo. There is very little known about this group. Rumors in the underground world are that they would do anything for money and they are so secretive that even the members of Nazo don't know who their colleagues are."

"So, they are doing it for the ransom money?" asks Shikaku.

"Might be, why do you ask?" Hiruzen looks curiously at him.

"Hokage-sama there is something that is bothering me ever since I saw the list of kidnapped children…"

"Oh, what is it?"

"If all they wanted was money, why kidnap three extra people? Seishiro-sama alone can pay what the rest put together cannot even match. It's as if they want something more than just the money. Or is there anything special about the others that we are not able to see?"

"So, are you implying that some other village has hired them to cause chaos here?" asks Hiruzen with a hint of worry because if that is true, there is very little chance for the children to survive this.

"No, I am not sure of it yet, but it does seem suspicious and I am not able to completely believe that it is just for the money…"