Konoha Village, Military Police Force Headquarters.
In Tatsuya's office, Uchiha Misuke, dressed in the Military Police Force uniform, stood quietly in the room. Her long, well-proportioned legs looked exceptionally alluring beneath the uniform. Opposite Uchiha Misuke, Itachi also stood calmly in the room.
After gazing silently at Itachi for a moment, Uchiha Misuke glanced at the empty seat behind the office desk and asked, "Where is he? Did he go back to the secret room to train again?"
Hearing this, Itachi replied, "Sister Misuke, the Captain indeed went home to train."
Uchiha Misuke responded noncommittally, "Is that so? That's exactly what Kyoko and the others said." As she spoke, a flicker of emotion crossed Uchiha Misuke's eyes. After a brief silence, she suddenly added, "Has he been gone from the village for a long time now?"
Hearing this, Itachi's expression remained unchanged, but his breathing hitched for a split second before he answered, "Sister Misuke, the Captain has always been in the village. Didn't he meet with you and Brother Shisui just a few days ago?"
Uchiha Misuke didn't answer. She looked at Itachi quietly for a moment, then turned and left.
When she reached the doorway, Uchiha Misuke paused. Her voice sounded again in the room, "You must know about that news, right? If the rumors are true…" Here, Uchiha Misuke stopped. With her back to Itachi, she remained silent for several seconds before finally stepping away.
In the room, a series of emotions flickered across Itachi's face, but in the end, it all settled into a helpless sigh. Itachi was very intelligent. He naturally understood the meaning behind Uchiha Misuke's words.
The news of the great battle between Akatsuki and the Divine Court on the Moon had already spread completely throughout the ninja world. Hearing this news, and connecting it with Tatsuya's departure and the instructions he had given Itachi before leaving, how could Itachi not guess that Tatsuya was part of the Divine Court? In fact, Itachi even suspected that Tatsuya was the leader of the Divine Court.
This conclusion wasn't difficult to reach. Considering Tatsuya's strength, Itachi truly couldn't think of anyone else in the ninja world who could stand above him. Even now, whenever Itachi recalled the sight of Tatsuya using the Heaven and Earth Giant technique, a tremor would run through his heart.
However, Itachi couldn't completely dismiss the rumors currently circulating in the ninja world that the Divine Court had been suppressed by Akatsuki. Because the leader of Akatsuki was also a formidable figure, possessing the legendary Sage's eyes, the Rinnegan. In a clash between two such powerhouses, without witnessing it himself, Itachi couldn't be certain who was stronger.
For the past two days, Itachi had also been worried about Tatsuya's safety. He hadn't seen any of Tatsuya's Shadow Clones in these few days either. However, despite his concerns, Itachi faithfully continued to carry out the tasks Tatsuya had assigned him before leaving.
Outside the Military Police Force Headquarters, Uchiha Misuke strode briskly away on her long legs, her face expressionless. Only, a flicker of worry would occasionally pass through her bright, restless eyes.
As she walked, Uchiha Misuke's steps suddenly faltered. Not far in front of her, a familiar figure was walking towards her. It was Tatsuya, whom she hadn't seen for several days.
Because Akatsuki had destroyed the spatial passage to the Moon when they left, by the time Tatsuya and his group had dealt with the aftermath in the Moon's inner world, they could no longer leave smoothly through the passage. Forced by the circumstances, Tatsuya had to use a Shadow Clone to relay a message to his clone bodies back in the ninja world. Then, using the Summoning Technique and Reverse Summoning Technique, he recalled himself and his three primary clones—Jizo, Kagutsuchi, and Suijin—back to the ninja world.
After returning to the ninja world, Tatsuya didn't immediately go back to Konoha. After making some inquiries and learning about the news spread by Sunagakure, Tatsuya made a trip to the Land of Demons and the Land of Swamps, settling Jizo, Kagutsuchi, and Suijin there. This round trip took an additional half a month. By now, more than twenty days had passed since Tatsuya's original body had left Konoha.
Seeing Uchiha Misuke, Tatsuya gently raised his right hand, about to wave a greeting.
A fragrant breeze wafted over, and Uchiha Misuke's figure threw herself directly into Tatsuya's arms. Tatsuya's hand froze in mid-air.
After a moment, he lowered his right hand and gently patted Uchiha Misuke's back. After lingering in Tatsuya's embrace for a few seconds, Uchiha Misuke pulled away. She looked up, her expression cool and composed. However, her eyes were slightly reddened.
Looking at this beautiful woman, Tatsuya could only shrug helplessly and ask, "Where were you heading?"
"Is that any of your business?" Uchiha Misuke retorted, shooting Tatsuya a cold glare before turning on her heel and heading back into the Military Police Force Headquarters.
Seeing this, Tatsuya glanced up towards the second floor, then smiled and followed her into the Military Police Force Headquarters.
On the second floor of the Military Police building, Fugaku and Shisui were both standing by the window, watching the scene below. Shisui had a smile on his face, while Fugaku's expression was somewhat complicated.
In Tatsuya's office, Itachi, who had been lost in thought for a moment, was just about to leave. From outside the room, Tatsuya walked in. Seeing Tatsuya, Itachi was startled at first, then he was about to rush forward and ask something, but Tatsuya spoke first.
"Itachi, you've worked hard!"
Hearing Tatsuya's words, a look of joy immediately appeared on Itachi's face. Itachi said, "Brother Tatsuya, you…" He wanted to ask something, but for a moment, he didn't know where to begin.
Seeing the expression on Itachi's face, Tatsuya quickly waved his hand and said, "Itachi, I know what you want to ask. I'll tell you everything tonight. Shisui and Misuke will come over then too."
Hearing this, Itachi's eyes suddenly lit up. Vaguely, he guessed what Tatsuya was planning to do next. Itachi immediately replied readily, "Alright, Brother Tatsuya."
Then, in the office, Itachi recounted to Tatsuya some of the things that had happened in Konoha Village and the Military Police Force during Tatsuya's absence. During this period, nothing particularly major had occurred in Konoha. The only significant event was the impact of the news about the great battle between Akatsuki and the Divine Court on the Moon.
Within the village, many people were fervently discussing the matter. However, Konoha's higher-ups acted extremely indifferent to it, seemingly showing no reaction at all. Inside the Military Police Force, many of the usually proud Uchiha members were also quite shaken after hearing this news.
Hokage Tower.
"Have all the letters been sent out?" In his office, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, looked at an ANBU ninja kneeling on one knee before his desk and asked gravely.
"Lord Hokage, they have all been sent," the ANBU ninja replied.
Hearing this, the Third Hokage nodded and silently took a puff from his pipe. After a brief silence, the Third Hokage spoke again, "Has Tatsuya Akimichi been in closed-door training all this time?"
The ANBU nodded. "Yes, Jonin Tatsuya Akimichi has been training in his family's secret room during this period and has rarely shown his face at the Military Police Force. However, Jonin Tatsuya Akimichi did go to the Military Police Force today."
After hearing this, the Third Hokage fell silent again for more than ten seconds, then waved his hand. "Alright, you may leave."
"Yes, sir." The ANBU ninja acknowledged the order and departed.
Only the Third Hokage remained in the room, a thoughtful expression on his face.