50

"Huh? And who is this adorable little child?"

Just as the members of the Akatsuki were about to disperse, Orochimaru's serpentine gaze landed on the small figure of Shiro standing near Konan.

Pain glanced at him, his voice flat and dismissive. "Do not ask about matters that do not concern you."

"Hehehe…" Hearing Orochimaru being so swiftly rebuked, Sasori, hidden within his Hiruko puppet, let out a series of hoarse, mocking sneers. Rebuked, Orochimaru said nothing more, a strained, awkward smile playing on his lips.

The members vanished one by one in puffs of smoke.

Pain then turned to Obito. "Madara, I sense your son has great talent. Are you interested in having him join the Akatsuki?"

Hearing this, Obito scoffed. "Join? Let me be clear: he was always a member of this organization."

While the two leaders were talking, Shiro and Konan were already engaged in their own quiet conversation. Looking at Shiro's bright, innocent face, Konan felt a warmth she hadn't experienced in years. "Shiro, from now on, don't call me 'auntie.' Just call me Konan-neechan."

"Okay, Konan-neechan!"

"So obedient," Konan said, a rare, genuine smile gracing her lips as she gently pinched Shiro's cheek.

Obito turned back to Pain, his voice low and serious. "The Akatsuki has now reached a certain scale, but our numbers are still insufficient."

Pain nodded. "I am aware. I am already searching for suitable candidates. Deidara of the Hidden Stone Village is a promising ninja."

Obito added, "I also have my eye on Kisame Hoshigaki of the Hidden Mist. His personality is very much in line with the Akatsuki's tastes."

Pain replied, "The Hidden Mist is your territory. Recruiting him should be a simple matter for you."

"Yes," Obito nodded. "It is only a matter of time."

After their discussion, they both noticed Shiro and Konan. Seeing the uncharacteristic softness in Konan's expression, Pain remarked quietly, "Madara, your son is extraordinary. I have never seen Konan warm to a stranger like this. She is a very closed-off person, except to her closest friends."

Obito chuckled. "Of course. My son's affinity is not something that can be compared to that of ordinary people."

"Well, I have said all that needs to be said. I must be going. Today is my son's birthday." With that, Obito walked to Shiro's side. "Son, let's go."

"Okay!" Shiro nodded, then turned and waved. "Konan-neechan, Pain-niichan, see you next time!"

"Yes. Go on, now," Konan smiled gently.

In the Land of Fire, within the Hokage's office, the atmosphere was grim. Hiruzen Sarutobi, Homura Mitokado, Koharu Utatane, and Minato Namikaze were gathered, their expressions stern.

Hiruzen put down his pipe, exhaling a plume of smoke. "You all know that Danzō has disappeared."

"Yes," everyone present acknowledged, a tacit understanding passing between them.

"Not only him, but all of his Root operatives have vanished as well."

Homura sighed, his voice heavy. "I can only guess, but perhaps Danzō, resentful that he did not gain the position of Hokage, has chosen to defect from Konoha." This was the consensus among the senior officials. With his power, no one would believe he could have been forced to disappear, especially not with his entire organization at his side.

Hiruzen sighed deeply. "There have been too many strange occurrences lately. I know Danzō well. Though he was extreme, I cannot believe he would betray the village. But the facts are before me, and I have no other explanation. I can only say… I was wrong. I never expected he would leave the village simply because he was denied the position of Hokage." A flicker of guilt crossed Hiruzen's face. He had only just returned to power, and already, Konoha had lost one of its great generals.

Koharu spoke up. "Now that it has come to this, there is no point in blaming ourselves. We should dispatch teams to secretly investigate his current location."

Hiruzen replied, "Of course. I have already sent out ten elite ninja teams to investigate, but so far, there has been no news."

Homura added, "With Danzō's skills, if he wishes to hide, no matter how many people we send, they will likely return empty-handed."

Minato interjected, "I still believe Lord Danzō would not do this. There may be something more to this situation!"

"Forget it," Hiruzen sighed helplessly. "Regardless of the reason, it is an indisputable fact that Danzō and his Root operatives have vanished. The only thing we can do now is protect the village and prevent any further incidents." As the Third Hokage, he was very conscious of his political legacy and did not want any stains on his record.

After a moment of thought, Hiruzen changed the subject. "I wish to sign an alliance agreement with the Hidden Sand Village. What are your thoughts on this?"

Koharu replied, "I agree. As one of the Five Great Nations, the Land of Wind still possesses considerable strength. Moreover, I hear the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, has the ability to refine gold. An alliance with them would surely be profitable."

Homura added, "Koharu is right. I agree as well."

With that, the three elders turned their gazes to Minato. He scratched his head awkwardly and smiled. "Ha… haha, I have no objections either."

"Well, that is settled," Hiruzen said, picking up a handwritten letter from his desk. "If there are no objections, I will implement this partnership immediately."

"Yes, that is acceptable," Koharu and Homura nodded in unison.

"Very well." Hiruzen waved his hand, and an Anbu operative instantly appeared before him.

"Lord Hokage, you summoned me?"

"Yes." Hiruzen sealed the letter into a scroll and handed it to the ninja. "I want each of you to continue the mission of finding Danzō. Also, take this scroll to the Communications Division and have them send it to the Land of Wind."

"Understood!" After accepting the task, the Anbu vanished in a puff of smoke.

In the village, in front of a dango shop, Asuma Sarutobi, Might Guy, and Kurenai Yuhi were leisurely eating sweets. Not long after, Kakashi Hatake passed by.

"Hey, Kakashi! Come and have some dango!" his friends called out.

Kakashi turned his head, gave them a brief, emotionless glance, and then continued on his way without stopping. The deaths of Rin and Obito still weighed heavily on him, a shadow that had not lifted in all these years.

"Hey! Kakashi!" Might Guy shouted after him. "You don't even say hello to your friends?"

Kakashi gave no sign that he had heard, his back growing smaller and smaller in the distance.

"Oh… that guy," his friends murmured, their voices filled with worry.

"There's no point in worrying," Genma Shiranui said nonchalantly, a senbon needle held between his teeth. "When we became ninja, we accepted that we would lose our comrades. Such things… are unavoidable."

Seeing the sad, cold atmosphere that had fallen over the group, Asuma took a large bite of his dango and changed the subject. "By the way, have you heard? It seems Lord Danzō has gone missing."

"Oh? Really?" Kurenai looked surprised.

Asuma replied, "Of course. I heard it from my father myself this afternoon."

Might Guy added, "Strange things keep happening, one after another. Half a year ago, the Uchiha clan disappeared, and now Lord Danzō is also missing. What is going on?"

Everyone looked at each other, but no one had an answer.

"Speaking of which," Kurenai said, her expression sad, "Itachi and Shisui… it's such a pity. I was so optimistic about their futures, but I never expected… that they would actually leave the village."

Hearing this, Asuma became a little jealous and reminded her unhappily, "Kurenai, you may not have heard yet, but according to the rumors… Uchiha Shisui is already dead."

"What?" Everyone was shocked.

"Who told you that?"

"It was what my father said. He was just guessing, but…" Since it came from the Third Hokage, it was most likely true. Everyone fell into a deep, somber silence.

"Why is everyone so pessimistic?" Seeing his friends so dejected, Might Guy swallowed a whole dango and shouted with fiery passion, "No matter what happens in the village, we are still Konoha's ninja! We who possess the Will of Fire must never be so pessimistic! Everyone, get fired up! This is the power of youth!"