Night in Konoha.
The Yamanaka and Aburame Clans saw people come and go, finally returning to tranquility.
Inside Naruto's house, Naruto was lying sprawled out, with a thick quilt pinned beneath him.
He had been running outside for too long and was truly exhausted.
In the house next door to him.
Sasuke was blindfolded with a black cloth, continuously throwing punches to knock away the swinging sandbags.
On the street, some villagers had not yet returned home.
Outside the yagyu house, Kurama Yakumo had been waiting for a long time; after a while, two people appeared at the end of the street, walking side by side.
Seeing Yakumo, the two were first surprised, then quickly moved a little distance apart.
Yakumo had a smile in her eyes.
As the two approached, she narrowed her eyes with a smile and said, "Teacher, Kurenai-sensei... hee, I knew you two must have gone out to eat somewhere again."
"Ahem!"
Kurenai Yuhi gave an embarrassed cough and explained, "I wanted to ask for advice on the problem of combining Taijutsu and Genjutsu."
Afterward, she acted serious: "Does Yakumo have something to talk to me about?"
"No, I have something I want to discuss with Teacher."
Yakumo looked at Masahiko.
Masahiko nodded slightly: "Let's go inside to talk."
The two were welcomed into the house by him.
The yagyu residence was an old house, but the Rooms were quite large, with two floors and a courtyard; Kurenai Yuhi sat in the courtyard outside.
"Your place is full of weeds; you could plant some flowers, or maybe a tea tree so you can make your own tea."
"Kurenai-sensei, you can help Teacher plant them!"
Yakumo teased.
Kurenai Yuhi rolled her eyes at her and said crossly, "Go on! Go talk to your teacher!"
"Hehe!"
Yakumo smiled and made a face, then slipped through the door and entered the living Room.
Masahiko took out a teapot and poured her a cup of water.
"What's the matter?"
"Teacher..."
Yakumo stood there, fidgeting with her fingers uneasily.
After a few seconds, she said hesitantly, "I feel like for the past month, that transfer student, Sai, has been following me."
Yakumo paused slightly before adding, "Ido... ah, that's the fellow inside my body; she was the one who warned me."
Masahiko pondered for a moment and said, "Do you still remember what happened that day?"
"Of course."
Yakumo nodded.
Masahiko said, "Some people in the village are uneasy about children who possess great power, like you, and like... Naruto."
"Naruto..."
A look of curiosity appeared on Yakumo's face.
"His situation is similar to yours."
Masahiko answered simply.
Yakumo nodded as if she half-understood, her tone firm: "Teacher, no matter what, I believe in you."
...In the Land of Fire, deep within the mountains.
"Lord Shennong, ten of our squads were killed by Danzo's people!"
"I know."
Shennong's gaze was cold, "The grudge must be avenged, but we cannot be impulsive; we are not strong enough yet!"
"Lord... then, do we need to relocate?"
The Sky Ninja subordinate did not dare to argue.
"You relocate; pull out three squads to assist me. I want to try one more time to see if I can seize that special girl."
Shennong's eyes were burning.
A peculiar soul that can fuse with Dark Chakra... if I can get my hands on it, perhaps I can cultivate another 'Zero-Tails'.
To the Village Hidden in the Sky, such an opportunity is more important than a mere three squads!
...Meanwhile.
In front of the open space near Ryuto Street, beneath the Hokage Rock, Danzo looked up at those four faces, the glimmers of light reflected on his face and in his eyes.
He stared for a long time.
Finally, heavy footsteps sounded from behind, coming closer and closer—
Utatane Koharu walked slowly from the lights.
"Danzo, what do you want with me?"
"Koharu."
Danzo looked at the Hokage Rock and said, "Tell me, if I had raised my hand back then, would everything have turned out differently?"
Utatane Koharu was speechless.
She looked up, then back at Danzo, sighing softly: "It's been over twenty years... Danzo, have you still not let go?"
"Let go?"
Danzo gave a cold laugh, "I was only one step away, just that one step... how can I let go?"
"Danzo, it was never yours."
Utatane Koharu could not bear it, yet she still spoke her mind directly.
She sighed softly:
"Hiruzen was indeed better at uniting everyone than you... in that situation back then, there was simply no possibility of you taking the position."
"And what about now?"
Danzo turned around, staring at Utatane Koharu.
Utatane Koharu couldn't help but take a step back, slightly stunned: "You... what now? Hiruzen is still in power!"
"You and I both know that after Minato died, there should have been a new election; that was supposed to be my chance."
Danzo's tone was deep, "When a leaf falls, it is still remembered, but when a root rots, it decays in the soil... no one will remember us."
Utatane Koharu's face became increasingly terrified; after taking a deep breath, her voice trembled: "What do you want to do?"
"Nothing."
Danzo turned his head to look at the Hokage Rock, staring at the Second Hokage's face for a long time without looking away.
After a while, he turned back and walked toward the distance where there were no lights.
"Koharu, take care!"
"Danzo, what on earth are you going to do? Danzo..."
Utatane Koharu's voice was urgent, but the other person had already disappeared into the night.
She stood frozen in place, the unease in her heart growing more intense.
Inside Konoha, it seemed a situation was unfolding that she did not understand.
But she understood Danzo.
Since Danzo said nothing, it meant he was unwilling to reveal it, or perhaps—
The danger of this matter far exceeded her expectations... The next day, at the Ninja Academy.
"After today, we will be on holiday. In a few days, it will be the New Year Festival, and the flow of people in Konoha will be greater than usual."
"Everyone must pay attention to safety and remember the training content we did in school."
"Don't forget to exercise and practice at home as well..."
Iruka was talking incessantly on the stage.
At this point, he looked at Naruto in the front row: "Especially you, Naruto! You absolutely must not cause trouble during the New Year Festival, or I won't save you if you get locked up!"
"I know, Iruka-sensei, you're so naggy."
Naruto rested his head on his hand, looking annoyed on the surface, but his eyes were full of smiles.
Outside, Masahiko sat in the office, arranging some trivial matters for after school, but—
This was only his Shadow Clone.
Somewhere outside the school, Akai Osamu lowered his head and reported the recent patrol situation to Masahiko, as well as... "Captain, this is what the adult asked me to give to you."
He handed over a sealed scroll.
Masahiko took it, unsealed and opened it according to the knowledge from the books Danzo had given him before; inside was an order stating 'he will assign extra manpower to protect the three targets.'
He handed it to Akai Osamu with an indifferent expression.
"Execute it."
"Captain, the extra manpower mentioned here..."
"Don't worry about it; we just need to act according to the adult's orders."
Masahiko replied.
Akai Osamu quickly nodded and replied: "Yes! I will do my utmost to cooperate with everyone and protect the safety of the three!"
"By the way, during the usual New Year Festival, I remember many Nobles also come to participate?"
Masahiko asked.
Akai Osamu nodded: "Yes, the New Year Festival is the most prosperous day in our Konoha."
"The people from the Village Hidden in the Sky might take the opportunity to cause trouble. Although this is the responsibility of the Anbu and patrol Ninjas, we must also take it seriously ourselves."
"Yes!"