Since the Fourth Great Ninja War, Hashirama Cells have been strictly hidden within Konoha Village.
The uses of Hashirama Cells are incredibly vast and can significantly enhance a ninja's strength. The heavy casualties in the Fourth Great Ninja War were largely due to Hashirama Cells.
So after the war ended, Hashirama Cells were tightly guarded by Konoha.
After a dozen bounty ninjas sneaked into Konoha, they slowly made their way to the cemetery under the cover of night.
The smooth progress made some of them cocky, and they couldn't help but say, "Hey, Konoha's ninja are nothing special. Those Security Team guys were spinning around in circles because of me. The Five Great Ninja Villages are just like this...."
The leader among them said solemnly, "Alright, quickly find the First Generation Hokage's grave. Don't forget this mission. Once we complete this commission, we can rest for a whole year at least!"
"Understood, leader!"
Upon hearing this, the surrounding bounty ninjas immediately dispersed, but just as they were about to disperse to find the First Generation Hokage's grave, they heard 'swoosh swoosh swoosh' sounds in the air around them.
"That's it for you guys!"
The bounty ninjas looked up and were instantly flustered, realizing that they were already surrounded by Konoha ninjas.
Leading them was Sai, and the number of Konoha ninjas he brought was twice that of these bounty ninjas, "Surrender obediently. We don't want to fight here and disturb the Konoha Hero, so...."
However, the leader of the bounty ninjas laughed arrogantly at Sai's words, "Hahaha, then we are totally unrestrained!"
He immediately pulled out an explosive tag from his hand, ready to throw it fiercely, only to find his body frozen.
"Take action!"
Sai realized it was the Shadow Binding Jutsu of the Nara Race and saw the explosive tag in that guy's hand, so he immediately ordered.
The Security Team and Konoha ninjas rushed forward, with some using ninjutsu to stop these people from escaping.
The battle lasted only a moment before all these bounty ninjas were captured.
Sai said, "Take them to the Interrogation Team."
Then, all these people were taken to the Interrogation Team for interrogation all night. Stealing Hashirama Cells is already a very serious matter for Konoha now, and they must find out who is behind it.
Nara Shikamaru didn't return; he was working overtime in the Hokage Building. Upon hearing that Sai had captured a group of people, he came to inquire about the situation, "So, did they talk?"
Sai replied, "Well, they've said some things, though they don't know much; the mastermind is very careful and quite wealthy... the reward given to them is ten million ryo."
Nara Shikamaru was surprised upon hearing, "Ten million ryo, there aren't many forces in the Ninja World that can produce so much money. With such a screening, the target range should be significantly narrowed down."
Sai nodded, "Indeed, next...."
Before finishing his sentence, Fuma Kotaro pushed the door open and entered with a somewhat anxious expression, "Not good, the First Generation Hokage's body has been stolen?"
Sai and Nara Shikamaru, upon hearing this, both wore expressions of shock, "What!?"
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"Sakura, please, just help me this time."
After Yamanaka Ino returned from Uchiha Yoichi's place, she looked for Sakura the next day, asking her to use a Transformation Jutsu to disguise as a strange man and intentionally let Yamanaka Ijin see, to notify Sai.
That way, Sai would be worried and rush over, proving that he cares about her.
However, Sakura wasn't keen on getting involved in this matter. She sighed and advised, "Ino, you don't need to do this. Didn't that boss suggest many other methods? I think they're all more effective than this...."
Yamanaka Ino and Sakura had been friends for over twenty years, so she's naturally talked about the izakaya incident with her. However, she omitted the part where she accidentally bumped into Uchiha Yoichi with her chest.
"I've tried all other methods in vain; that's why I'm resorting to this. Please, Sakura, just once to make Sai nervous; this guy has changed so much lately...."
Sakura shook her head, "I honestly don't think Sai has changed much."
"You're not with him every day, so you won't notice. I can clearly feel it; Sai wasn't like this before."
Yamanaka Ino sighed, saying that initially there weren't many changes, but after Uchiha Yoichi's hints and her own paranoia, she feels many things are off.
"Sakura~"
"Alright, alright, but just this once..."
Sakura helplessly agreed, then began discussing the details with Yamanaka Ino and set a time.
While the two housewives discussed in the living room, Sarada shook her head and left outside. She thought it was something important, but it turned out to be Aunt Ino's family business.
The next day
It happened to be a holiday for the Ninja Academy, and Akimichi Chouchou also invited Sarada for new hamburgers.
The Ninja Academy curriculum is now much less than before the Third Great Ninja War, with a definite touch of joyful education.
After Akimichi Chouchou ordered the hamburgers, she couldn't help but start eating. However, after a few bites, she noticed Sarada hadn't taken a single bite, and she couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong, Sarada? No appetite?"
"Not really, it's just...."
Before Sarada could finish speaking, Yamanaka Ijin, Nara Shikadai, and Uzumaki Boruto walked in. Upon seeing Akimichi Chouchou and Sarada, they immediately walked over to them.
Akimichi Chouchou saw the three and was surprised, "Huh, are you also here for the new burgers?"
"It's not about the burgers; there's an important matter. Since we just ran into you, let's discuss it together."
After finishing, Uzumaki Boruto motioned for Sarada to scoot over a bit, then sat down with Ijin and Shikadai. After glancing around, he said, "Ijin, you tell them."
Yamanaka Ijin said somewhat reluctantly, "Hey, about this kind of thing, shouldn't we ask first? What if it's a misunderstanding?"
Nara Shikatai spoke up, "Ijin, this is something only you can decide. Boruto and I can't really give you any advice."
"But...."
Akimichi Chouchou asked with a confused look, "What are you guys talking about? Ijin, what's going on?"
"It's about Aunt Ino, I suggest you all not get involved."
Sarada spoke up at this point. Seeing everyone looking at her, she continued, "If you saw another man around Aunt Ino, it might be my mom. Yesterday, I heard Aunt Ino at my house...."
After listening to Sarada, Uzumaki Boruto lay down on the table out of boredom, "So that's what it is. Ijin, this means Aunt Ino deliberately let you see it."
Yamanaka Ijin sighed, "Why is mom taking such a roundabout way? Dad hasn't changed at all...."
"We can't understand adult thinking. But Ijin, what do you plan to do next?"
Nara Shikatai asked, "Are you going to pretend you didn't see it, or will you tell your dad?"
"I'll go back and tell dad."
Yamanaka Ijin thought for a moment and said, they deliberately let him see it, so pretending not to notice will surely make his mom remember it later.
"I'm heading back first, you guys take your time with eating."
After thinking about it, Yamanaka Ijin planned to go home first and tell the story.
After he left, Uzumaki Boruto sighed out of boredom, "I thought there'd be a tracking mission, but it turned out to be this. Speaking of which, my dad is often not home too, and mom's cooking often gets cold and reheated...."
Sarada adjusted her glasses. In her house, there are only meals for two, and she's almost forgotten what her father looks like.
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"Sai, in that case, I'll leave this task to you."
In the Hokage Office, Uzumaki Naruto said to Sai with a heavy expression, "This organization has repeatedly shown ill intentions toward Konoha, and now they've even stolen the First Generation Hokage's cells. For whatever reason, we can't let this continue unchecked."
Last night, they let their guard down and got caught in the diversion trick of those people. After capturing a group, they relaxed their vigilance, not expecting the real thieves of the Hashirama Cells were a second batch of bounty ninjas.
Although the Security Team caught one person, that person died in prison before they could be interrogated, with even the brain destroyed; besides that special mark, they had no other clues.
So, after discussion, they decided to send Sai to investigate in the Ninja World. If he found that organization, he was to infiltrate and see what their plans were.
Sai nodded and said, "Understood. If I find them, I'll report to the village immediately."
"Alright, then go home and make some arrangements first."
"Understood, I'll head back now."
Sai left the Hokage Building and went home, but didn't see Ino, only his son, Yamanaka Ijin.
"Ijin, where's your mother?"
"Uh, Dad, it's better if you find mom yourself regarding her...."
Sai, hearing this, said, "Never mind, I have a mission and need to leave the village for a bit. When Ino returns, tell her that."
Hearing this, Yamanaka Ijin felt uneasy and blocked Sai's path, saying, "Wait a minute, Dad, you really should find mom today. She seems quite mad at you...."
"At me? Why?"
"Don't ask, just go!"
Sai shook his head, "I have a very urgent task and need to leave the village immediately." The organization might withdraw from their base at any moment, so he needed to hurry.
"Hold on!"
Seeing no alternative, Yamanaka Ijin recounted the events, including his mom's plan with Auntie Sakura pretending to be another man.
After a moment of silence, Sai spoke to Yamanaka Ijin, "After Ino comes back, let her know not to stir things up."
"Hey, Dad? Father!?"
Watching Sai pack up and leave, Yamanaka Ijin sighed and shook his head, thinking, 'If you argue, it's none of my business....'
As night approached, Yamanaka Ino returned home with a displeased expression. Seeing Ijin playing video games, she walked up and asked calmly, "Where's your father?"
"Uh... Dad suddenly had an urgent mission and needed to leave the village...."
Feeling the displeasure in Ino's tone, Yamanaka Ijin quickly hid his game console behind his back.
"Did he say anything to you before leaving?"
"Um...."
"Tell mom!"
"Dad said not to give him trouble...."
Yamanaka Ijin shifted his position a bit, seeing Yamanaka Ino's face grow darker, he quickly told the entire story from today!
After hearing her son's words, Ino's anger intensified, her fair hand clenched into a fist; that idiot, knowing it was fake, couldn't he at least go to check on her!