TO THE NINJA WORLD
Xuanyu moved ahead and opened the Fate Door, which shone with a mesmerizing display of multicolored light.
Without hesitation, Xuanyu stepped through, his expression resolute. The moment he crossed the threshold, the scenery around him shifted.
He found himself in a dense forest, where tall trees stretched endlessly into the sky, their thick canopies filtering sunlight onto the soft mossy ground. The air was filled with the chirping of birds and the occasional rustle of leaves.
Moments later, the rest of the group began to appear behind him, each one stepping out of the portal and pausing to survey the surroundings.
"This isn't Konoha," Shisui remarked with visible relief. "That's a good thing. If it were, the barrier would have detected us immediately."
Xuanyu nodded. "Let's figure out exactly where we are first."
Suddenly, Xuanyu flinched as his shop tablet began to vibrate violently in his system inventory. Frowning, he pulled it out and stared in confusion as the entire screen flashed red.
[DING! A GLITCH OCCURRED.]
[IT IS DETECTED THAT THE STRENGTH OF PARTICIPANTS HAS FAR EXCEEDED THE REQUIREMENTS.]
[DING! UPDATING QUEST FUNCTION... DONE.]
[SETTING NEW RULES FOR MISSION PARTICIPANTS.]
[DING! UNDER NEW RULES, CURRENT MISSION REQUIREMENTS HAVE BEEN CHANGED.]
[QUEST: SAVE THE UCHIHA CLAN FROM BEING EXTERMINATED.
MAXIMUM PARTICIPANTS: 5
MAXIMUM STRENGTH LIMIT: KAGE RANK.
REWARDS: 500 SHOP POINTS.]
[DING! PLEASE SELECT NEW PARTICIPANTS ACCORDING TO THE QUEST REQUIREMENTS.]
[SHOP APOLOGIZES FOR THIS INCONVENIENCE AND GRANTS AN UN-RANKED LOTTERY TICKET TO EVERYONE AS COMPENSATION AFTER THIS QUEST IS FINISHED.]
Xuanyu's expression twisted in frustration as he processed the sudden change in the quest.
"Is everything all right?" Shisui asked, noticing his bewildered look.
Xuanyu explained the situation to the group, his voice tinged with irritation.
The others were surprised but quickly accepted the news.
"Well," Bibi Dong said, arms folded, "it's clear that I, Renxue, Irene, Foara, and Almighty can't participate because our strength exceeds the limit."
Xuanyu sighed. "I'm sorry for wasting your time. While you can't join us in this mission, I'll make sure you're all compensated fairly with points after the quest."
The excluded members nodded, and Xuanyu quickly finalized the new team.
[PARTICIPANTS:
1. LAN XUANYU
2. RIAS GREMORY
3. UCHIHA SHISUI
4. SENJU TSUNADE
5. LILY POTTER]
---
Xuanyu turned to Shisui and Tsunade. "Can either of you identify where we are?"
Tsunade looked around thoughtfully. "We're definitely in the Land of Fire, but I can't pinpoint our exact location. We'll need to visit a nearby village or town for more information."
"There's no need to wander," Bibi Dong interjected calmly. "I can sense a village roughly fifty kilometers to the south."
The others stared at her in surprise.
Xuanyu sighed, muttering to himself, "I keep forgetting how terrifyingly powerful you two are…" He referred to both Bibi Dong and Renxue, whose spiritual powers could encompass an entire planet.
With Bibi Dong's guidance, they made their way to the village. After some questioning, they confirmed that they were near the southern border of the Land of Fire.
Following Tsunade's suggestion, the group headed to a nearby town. Upon their arrival, Bibi Dong gestured toward a bustling casino.
"Your little apprentice is in there," she told Tsunade.
Tsunade smirked. "She must be looking for me."
As they approached the casino entrance, Xuanyu suddenly froze in place.
"What's wrong?" Renxue asked, raising an eyebrow.
Xuanyu scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Are children even allowed in casinos? I'm only six years old."
The group collectively sweatdropped, Almight exclaimed," But you look around of age 10 or more?"
Xuanyu shurruged," In our world, children grow quicker physically, because we need strong bodies to accomodate more soul energy. So we grow quicker physcially."
Everybody nodded.
Shisui chuckled. "It doesn't matter. According to rumors, Lady Tsunade started gambling at an even younger age."
The group turned to Tsunade, who looked smugly proud.
Hey, Lady this isn'y something to be proud off.
Xuanyu shook his head and entered the casino.
The moment they stepped inside, someone shouted, "Ah, the big fat sheep is here! It's our lucky day!"
The group turned to Tsunade, who flushed with embarrassment.
"Lady Tsunade!" A young woman dashed over, her expression a mix of exasperation and relief. "I've been looking everywhere for you! Where did you go?"
Tsunade grinned. "Shizune, pack everything. We're going back to Konoha."
Shizune froze, her eyes wide in shock. "You're serious? My days of running from debt collectors are finally over?"
Overwhelmed with joy, Shizune ran off to gather their belongings, eager to leave before Tsunade could change her mind.
The group exchanged amused glances, while Tsunade looked sheepish.
x-x
Once they were far from the bustling town, Lily waved her wand, the borrowed magical tool from Xuanyu, glowing faintly as she muttered a spell under her breath. A shimmering aura dissolved around the group, lifting the Notice-Me-Not charm she had placed earlier.
Shizune gasped as unfamiliar figures appeared around her. Her hand shot to her kunai pouch, instinctively gripping the weapon.
"Relax, Shizune," Tsunade said, placing a steadying hand on her apprentice's shoulder. "They're allies."
Shizune hesitated, her eyes darting between the unfamiliar faces before giving a slow nod.
Tsunade didn't waste any time. "Now, what's going on in Konoha? I want a full report—everything, even what's coming out of the ANBU."
Shizune blinked in surprise. "ANBU information?" she asked hesitantly, glancing at the group once more.
"They're trustworthy," Tsunade reassured her. "Spill everything."
Still uncertain but trusting her mentor, Shizune took a deep breath and began.
"Where do I even start? Konoha is... tense. Tighter than it's been in years. The power struggles between the clans and the village leadership are getting worse. Third Hokage seems to be balancing too many plates right now.
"The Third Hokage's daughter-in-law is one month pregnant. It's been kept quiet, but the closer circles know. Asuma is en route to the Fire Capital to join the Daimyo's Twelve Guardian Ninja, while many see it as him distancing himself from Konoha's political unrest and some other see it as Third Hokage political move."
Shizune hesitated for a moment, her tone growing darker. "Then there's Sarutobi Shinnosuke. He's leading a secret mission with an ANBU squad. The mission's details are classified."
"Naruto…" Her voice softened. "He's still suffering at the hands of the villagers. Even though Ichiraku Ramen's owners look out for him, he's alone most of the time. Many protested to the Third Hokage when Naruto was allowed to enroll in the Ninja Academy. The Third ignored them, as usual, but the villagers' resentment is growing. They're afraid of him, even if they don't understand why."
Tsunade's jaw tightened, but she stayed silent.
"And now, for the bigger issue." Shizune's gaze flicked to Shisui, then quickly away as if afraid to linger. "You've been declared missing since last night. Danzo Shimura personally accused you of attempting to assassinate him, claiming that you fled when the attack failed. This morning, during the jonin council meeting, Danzo demanded immediate retaliation against the Uchiha clan. He painted you as a traitor and suggested the Uchiha be placed under martial law."
Her voice faltered as she continued. "The meeting caused an uproar. The other village elders—Shimura, Mitokado, and Utatane—all sided with Danzo. They proposed increasing ANBU surveillance on the Uchiha and suggested deducting the bounty for your supposed actions from the clan's treasury.
"The Third Hokage didn't approve labeling you as a traitor, but he didn't outright defend you either. He compromised, saying he'd investigate the accusations and make a decision in a few days. In the meantime, the Uchiha have been put under tighter watch."
Shisui's fists clenched at his sides, his knuckles turning white. The group fell silent as the weight of Shizune's words sank in.
Shizune's voice dropped to a near whisper as she added, "The atmosphere in Konoha is volatile. The Uchiha are becoming more isolated, and even the clans allied with them are starting to withdraw their support. The tension is so thick that a single spark could ignite it into something disastrous."
Tsunade crossed her arms, her brow furrowed. "And Danzo? What's he been up to?"
Shizune bit her lip. "Danzo has been unusually active. Root operatives have been seen moving in and out of Konoha more frequently, though the missions they're undertaking are heavily classified. Some rumors suggest he's gathering leverage on various clans—documents, secrets, and weaknesses. He's been pressuring smaller clans to pledge loyalty to him directly rather than to the Hokage."
Her gaze hardened slightly. "Even among the ANBU, there's a growing divide. Some are openly questioning whether Sarutobi Hiruzen is strong enough to lead Konoha through this turmoil."
---
The report ended, but the tension lingered. Shisui's shoulders trembled, his rage barely contained. "Danzo…" he muttered, his voice low and icy.
Tsunade, ever observant, tilted her head. "What's your plan, Shisui?"
Shisui took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay composed. His lips curled into a cold smile that didn't reach his eyes. "First, we'll visit the Fire Capital. Shizune, while we're gone, I need you to gather detailed information about Sarutobi Shinnosuke's mission and whereabouts."
Shizune hesitated, looking at Tsunade for guidance.
Tsunade shrugged. "You heard him. Do it."
Though still wary, Shizune nodded. "I'll have the information by this evening."
The group fell into step as they departed for the Fire Capital.
X-X-X-X
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