If it were before, Danzo would have sarcastically said a few words like, "Hiruzen, your disciple betrayed the Village, you are not capable, let me do it." But today, he was exceptionally quiet.
Losing his Mangekyo Sharingan was equivalent to breaking his spine.
He had a deep understanding of the Akatsuki Organization; if he hadn't colluded with Hanzou back then, Yahiko would not have died. He was half responsible for how this organization, including Konan, turned out today.
At this moment, Danzo sat there like an old monk, only listening and not speaking.
Seeing that no one had any objections, Jiraiya issued an order in the Hokage's name: the entire Village was to enter a state of alert. He thought for a while about closing the main gates and decided it was unlikely the Akatsuki Organization would attack from there, so he only requested an increase in guard levels, without closing the gates.
As a military organization, Konoha's execution was flawless; as soon as the order was given, the Village immediately raised its alert level.
"Why the sudden increase in alert level? Did something happen?" Yamanaka Rino asked Ino while tidying up their belongings.
"Actually, I don't know what's going on either, but Kakashi-sensei said it's pretty serious," Ino replied with a look of innocent ignorance, as if she had no connection to the whole affair.
"Oh, seriously, Konoha has been having so many problems these past two years. It's a shame about these flowers I've planted." Despite her reluctance, Rino was a Ninja in her younger days and understood the gravity of the situation.
After packing their belongings, she and Ino left the Yamanaka Flower Shop.
Just like during the Konoha Crush, at times like these, Ninja Clans would immediately gather and settle their women and children. Ino wanted to pretend to be a child, but her strength didn't allow it!
On the way back to the Village, she was quite anxious, worried that Pain might suddenly appear.
With an Ultra. Shinra Tensei, Konoha would be gone in a flash.
If it were another strong opponent, she might have been able to transplant a Mangekyo Sharingan to fight, but how could she fight Pain? Use Kotoamatsukami Sharingan to rewrite the will of the Rinnegan? This thing has a limit and isn't that powerful at all.
As soon as she got home, she arranged for Yamanaka Rino to pack their luggage. By the time they were almost finished packing, the Village had also issued the order to raise the alert level.
Inoichi was still at the Interrogation Department, so Ino organized the women and children of the Yamanaka Clan to take temporary refuge at the Nara Clan's estate outside the Village.
The Ino–Shika–Choji trio had been doing this for many years.
Ino calculated the range of Shinra Tensei and the distance from the Village center to outside the Village, concluding that the Nara Clan's location was very safe.
On the way, they also encountered the Hyuga Clan's group.
Little Hyuga Hanabi waved to her from afar, and she smiled and waved back.
Karin had previously taken the construction team back to Takigakure Village, so she didn't need to make special arrangements for her.
After settling the family members, as a Chunin, she naturally had to return to her post.
Team 10, as a squad with extremely high overall combat power, reassembled and was stationed at the southeastern corner of the Village to guard the first line of defense.
Last year, Sunagakure and the Hidden Sound Village had entered Konoha from this very spot.
Asuma didn't even go home; he came directly to stand guard here.
Ino and Shikamaru arrived one after another. Choji, who had eaten spinach and curry pills, was very weak, but he also returned to the team with his injuries at this time.
The fat boy was particularly serious, his face taut, as if he was about to eat a chili pill any second.
Ino was also quite nervous this time. She sat on the wall, constantly using her sensory abilities to detect her surroundings.
Jiraiya sent an order that she didn't need to fight; as long as she maintained enough Chakra, she just needed to summon the Slug Sage when the time came.
Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado had both changed into combat attire; the former was a Medical Ninja, and the latter specialized in Sealing Technique. If pushed, both of them had combat capabilities.
Hinata, Sakura, Tenten, Naruto, Sasuke, and other Ninja appeared at their respective posts, awaiting the enemies who would appear.
The Village was outwardly relaxed but inwardly tense. They waited for a day, but the enemy didn't come!
"Crunch, crunch," Choji sat on a high spot eating potato chips. If he had known the enemy wasn't coming, he would have started eating yesterday. Shikamaru, meanwhile, lay sleeping nearby. Between missions, battles, and then having to stand guard vigilantly, he was utterly exhausted.
They waited another day, still no movement.
Many Ninja from the Hyuga Clan's branch family and the Inuzuka Clan went out of the Village to scout. The scouting range expanded to a hundred li, but no trace of the enemy was found.
Jiraiya was a bit baffled. Shikaku speculated on several possibilities, the biggest being that the Akatsuki Organization simply didn't value Konan and didn't care that this member had been captured.
"That shouldn't be…" Jiraiya knew the bond between the three of them and didn't believe Nagato and Yahiko would abandon Konan, but the facts were right before him, and he had to believe it.
The interrogation team hadn't extracted any information, so he could only go to see Konan himself.
"Jiraiya-sensei." Konan was calm and gentle. Seeing Jiraiya enter the cell, she greeted him very politely.
Jiraiya responded with a smile: "Konan has become a grown woman, I really can't recognize you, hahaha—"
He laughed twice, then his voice gradually deepened: "You, who loved origami, were always the gentlest among the three children. Konan, tell me, who exactly is the leader of the Akatsuki Organization? Where are Nagato and Yahiko? The rumors of their deaths are false, aren't they?"
Jiraiya carefully watched Konan's expression, then seemed to understand: "So that's it. It seems the leader is one of them."
Konan slowly shook her head: "Sensei, at this point, what's the meaning of saying all this? You should kill me. I won't tell you any information."
Jiraiya repeatedly tried to persuade her, but Konan remained silent. Having no other choice, he could only let the Yamanaka Clan members take over.
Inoichi stated that his current Yin Release level was far inferior to Ino's. Jiraiya knew Ino could use the Spirit Transformation Technique and immediately called her back from the front line to the interrogation room.
"So your name is Konan, Konan-neechan, we're really fated, aren't we?" Ino's sweet talk flowed easily.
Konan glanced at her, thinking, "Why are you everywhere?"
"Calling me 'neechan' now? Isn't this the time to strip my clothes?"
Ino concentrated for a moment, then pointed a finger at Konan's forehead.
Konan had placed many Sealing Technique on her own memories. When encountered unexpectedly, they were indeed difficult to undo.
Fortunately, Ino often experimented on the Fourth Kazekage's head. The Akatsuki Organization's Sealing Technique were, after all, no match for a large Ninja Village with a long heritage. Ino didn't need to wear the Yamanaka Clan's mental energy amplification headband, nor did she need to be overly focused. She could speak while bypassing the many Sealing Technique in Konan's mind.
"Hokage-sama, I'll take you to see her memories."
"Good, thank you for your hard work."
Ino used her sensory transmission ability, pulling Jiraiya into the depths of Konan's memories. The two walked through a dark passage and arrived in front of a slightly dilapidated wooden house.
They entered the wooden house; it was somewhat dim inside. Sunlight leaked from the roof, shining on the east wall, where three square wooden plaques hung.
Below the plaques were names, in order: Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan.
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