063: Konoha's Seven Mysteries: Ninja Academy Ghost Stories!
"Reporting to Lord Hokage, we apprehended another ten people shouting nonsense atop the Hokage Rock today." An ANBU member reported the situation within the Hokage Tower.
"Lock them up! Don't release them for at least a year or two." Hiruzen roared. "Declare the area surrounding the Hokage Rock a restricted zone. Arrest anyone who approaches without authorization."
Hiruzen massaged his temples.
Three months had passed since the Uchiha Izumi incident.
During this time, the flow of people coming and going in Konoha had increased, along with the number of envoy delegations from other villages.
Most annoyingly, the aggressive Kumogakure delegation had returned.
Their purpose this time was clear to the naked eye: to assess Konoha's remaining strength after the Uchiha rebellion and investigate the string of mysterious incidents plaguing the village.
The most recent incident involved Uchiha Izumi publicly standing on the Hokage Rock, acting foolishly in front of the villagers, and spouting chuunibyou nonsense.
As a result, she gained immense power, transforming into a Crimson-Haired Angel before everyone's eyes.
She instantly became incredibly famous.
Ordinary people even believed it was a blessing from past Hokages.
Consequently, people frequently ran to the Hokage Rock, yelling and screaming, hoping to inherit special powers.
This severely tarnished Konoha's image and humiliated the Third Hokage in front of the foreign envoys.
"Have you located Uchiha Izumi?" Hiruzen stopped massaging his temples, resting his head in his hands.
The memory of the events three months prior brought him another wave of headaches.
"Izumi's whereabouts are erratic," the ANBU replied. "However, she recently proclaimed herself a member of some 'Congregation' and, under the title 'Crusader of the crimson flames,' has been active throughout the ninja world, wiping out numerous bandits and thieves."
"Moreover, she's using the rewards from these missions to place a bounty on Uchiha Itachi's head. Her personal vendetta has driven Itachi's bounty to 30 million Ryo, and the amount continues to climb."
"Kakuzu, the S-rank missing-nin and bounty hunter from Takigakure, has publicly expressed interest in this 'Crusader' who's disrupting his lucrative bounty-hunting business by hogging all the high-paying missions. He's even offered a paltry 10,000 Ryo for information on her location." The ANBU agent methodically reported all gathered intelligence.
"Where's that golden pineapple, 'Hero King' and Fugaku's group?" Hiruzen questioned.
"The 'Hero King,' Gilgamesh, escaped our ambush again last week. He and Uchiha Fugaku, along with the remaining rebels, have occupied a city in the Land of Hot Water."
"The Land of Hot Water's envoy delegation has also arrived in Konoha, likely seeking our assistance."
"Damn it! The problems keep piling up," Hiruzen grumbled.
"It feels like ever since the Plan involving the Uchiha Clan was initiated, the number of troublesome individuals has only increased." The usually shrewd Hiruzen was beginning to feel overwhelmed.
"Report! Darui, head of the Kumogakure delegation, requests an audience!" A voice announced from outside.
Hiruzen immediately dismissed his subordinates and rose to greet the Kumo ninja.
While the Third Hokage met with Darui, another group from the Kumo delegation strolled through the streets near the Ninja Academy.
"Are you sure the Ninja Academy is where most of these strange occurrences in Konoha happen?" Samui, a blonde, buxom Cloud Jonin, asked a street vendor while pretending to examine the trinkets on display.
The vendor was clearly one of Cloud's spies planted in Konoha.
"Absolutely!" the vendor confirmed. "Konoha has experienced a series of bizarre events in recent years. First, our higher-ups had excellent foresight; Hyuga Hinata, whom we once attempted to kidnap, suddenly awakened an even greater Dojutsu than the Byakugan. She nearly split Konoha in half with it."
"Then she was rescued by Ultraman Zetta. Believe me, Lady Samui, there really is an Ultraman in Konoha. It's unbelievable, but that Akimichi kid used a transformation device Ultraman threw out to become Ultraman himself. I even managed to get one, look here." The vendor carefully retrieved a box from under the table, unlocked six padlocks, and reverently produced a plastic transformation device.
"This... this thing? Are you serious?" Samui twitched her lips, wondering if the spy's mind had gone mushy from staying in Konoha too long.
She applied a little pressure, and crack—a fissure appeared on the transformation device.
"Hsss!!!" The vendor gasped, clutching his chest as if struck.
A look of pure agony contorted his face.
"On my ever loving Mother! Lady Samui, please be careful! Any more pressure and it'll break!" he pleaded. "This is a device that can transform someone into Ultraman!"
"You have no idea how strong Ultraman is! He's a giant of light, taller than a house! He can demolish an entire building with a single slap!
"If I could transform into Ultraman, I'd immediately return home and become a Daimyo! After all these years of undercover work, I've earned enough merit; all I lack is strength!"
Samui rolled her eyes and tossed the device back. "You? With your intelligence? You'll b lucky if you could stick like this forever." She sighed. "Tell me about the other strange happenings. Give me all the details; I already know the general gist from the reports in Kumogakure."
The vendor frantically caught the device, meticulously wiped it clean, and then returned it to his treasure chest, carefully re-engaging all six locks.
Without saying a word, his actions clearly conveyed his displeasure with Samui.
He couldn't help it.
She held a higher rank and possessed greater strength. He could only hope she wouldn't make his life more difficult.
Three years of undercover work in Konoha, then another three... he longed to return home.
Composing himself, the vendor continued, "Besides the incidents I mentioned, the most mysterious events occur at the Ninja Academy..."
"For instance, the 'Hero King' Gilgamesh, who suddenly appeared from the Academy, conquered a city in the Land of Hot Water last week. Now he's a renowned powerhouse throughout the ninja world."
"Lately, some eerie ghost stories have been circulating within the Ninja Academy.
"Like the self-cleaning broom that sweeps the floors without anyone operating it.
"Or the magic circle behind the teaching building that occasionally glows, even though it's just drawn with ordinary chalk.
"The scariest one is about the humanoid puppets in the equipment room that people have seen moving around on their own. One night, they were even seen racing on the training grounds.
"And then there's the elusive 'Blue-Eyed Ghost.' They say she's a beautiful woman who lures unsuspecting young boys. Wherever she appears, boys end up crashing into pillars or breaking their legs..."
The more the vendor spoke, the brighter Samui's eyes became.
"L-Lady Samui, you're not thinking of going to the Academy, are you?" the vendor stammered, alarmed by the eager glint in her eyes.
"Don't be crazy! It's best to investigate during the day. No one dares go near there at night!"
As expected, these powerful Jonin were all a handful.
"No, quite the opposite," Samui declared. "There must be some secret hidden within the Academy if they're going to such lengths to create these distractions.
"The most dangerous place is the safest. For an undercover agent, you lack even the basic awareness. I'm extending your stay in Konoha by another three years."
With that, Samui snatched a trinket and left the stall. Staying any longer would arouse suspicion.
She had made up her mind: tonight, she would infiltrate the Ninja Academy.
"My Lady, no!" the vendor wailed, his dreams of returning home shattered.
He only realized he had attracted the attention of those around him when their gazes fell upon him.
He froze, remembering his undercover identity.
Without missing beat, he cried out, "That blonde-haired lady! She ran off without paying!"