After seeing the Ninja Hawk off, Touhuan left work early and returned home.
That night, Touhuan set out tea utensils in the reception room and placed a special kunai in the usual seating area for guests.
After preparing everything, Touhuan did not light the stove under the kettle, but instead sat cross-legged, sensing the natural energy in the air.
Time passed slowly, and the clock in the reception room moved forward slightly after midnight. Suddenly, a spatial fluctuation came from the kunai in front of Touhuan.
Touhuan's eyes snapped open, and a faint purple eyeshadow appeared at the corners of his eyes. The moment Kakashi appeared, surrounded by Shisui, Raidō, and Iwashi, the natural energy around Touhuan's residence began to fluctuate abnormally.
Then, the charcoal in the stove placed to the side was lit.
"You're here." Touhuan nodded to the four.
The four nodded back and each found a seat.
"You've all seen the contents of the letter," Touhuan said, looking at them. "I can maintain this state for thirty minutes. During that time, I can guarantee the Hokage's reconnaissance ninjutsu won't see this side."
"How's it going at the border?" Touhuan asked.
"You can rest assured about that. Of the rogue ninja who escaped, only one escaped with the Executioner's Blade, one of the Seven Ninja Swords of Kirigakure. The rest have mostly been wiped out," Shisui said. "Moreover, Kakashi is now the undisputed leader of the border forces in the Land of Water."
"Is that so?" Touhuan glanced at Kakashi and smiled. "Looks like you're doing quite well over there."
"Let's talk about this first, Touhuan. Has the Third Hokage already sent the letter nominating the Fifth Hokage to the Daimyō?" Kakashi asked.
"Probably around 80%. Even if Jiraiya were to become the Fifth Hokage, the rumors wouldn't spread everywhere in the village," Touhuan said.
"What the Third Hokage is doing isn't following the rules," Shisui said. Everyone knew the process when the Fourth Hokage took office; to become Hokage, the village's Jonin had to vote for the candidate before going through the formalities with the Daimyō. But the Third Hokage's actions ignored protocol.
"Tell me, Touhuan, what do you plan to do?" Kakashi asked directly.
At that moment, the water in the kettle on the nearby stove heated up. Touhuan leisurely took the kettle down and poured it into the teapot in front of him, the fragrant aroma of tea rising into the air.
Touhuan placed four cups of tea in front of the group before taking out a document.
"I found something interesting at Orochimaru's experimental base. Take a look,"
Kakashi said, picking up the document. It described how, during the Second Shinobi World War, the Sannin encountered three children from the Land of Rain. Jiraiya had chosen to leave the group and teach those children, one of whom had the Rinnegan, the same eye as the legendary Sage of Six Paths.
"Don't you find it strange? Why would Jiraiya teach children from another country? And why didn't he bring those three children back to Konoha? I've recently heard a rumor about a rogue ninja organization called 'Akatsuki,' and their leader has the Rinnegan. Jiraiya's actions could be considered aiding the enemy, right? Can someone who aids the enemy become Hokage?"
Kakashi finished reading the document, passed it to the other two, and then silently picked up his teacup and drank.
"Looking at it this way, Lord Jiraiya is indeed very suspicious." After reading the documents, Shisui and the other two exchanged glances.
"For someone who poses a great threat to the village, it's reasonable for the Security Department to take him away for investigation, isn't it?" Touhuan said with a light laugh.
"But, Lord Jiraiya is now the Hokage's assistant, which puts him at a higher rank than the Security Department and the Anbu." Shisui analyzed with a frown.
"As long as we get the Hokage's signature, there won't be a problem, right?" Touhuan said. "I believe that with the Hokage's Will of Fire, he wouldn't sit idly by while such a potential threat to the village exists, would he?"
As Touhuan spoke, his Mangekyō Sharingan opened. Seeing the slowly rotating Mangekyō Sharingan, Shisui and the other two understood Touhuan's plan and couldn't help but swallow hard.
"This... this could be considered a coup, right?" Shisui said.
Just then, Kakashi placed his empty teacup on the table and said, "Speak, Touhuan, what do you need me to do?"
"In the operation to capture Jiraiya, the enemy might mobilize some of the village's ninjas to fight like cornered beasts. At that time, the garrison's strength might be insufficient, and I might need to personally capture Jiraiya and be unable to spare any manpower. Therefore, I need you to bring back a portion of the border force to control the situation."
"Border force? What if Kirigakure invades because of this?" Raidō hesitated after hearing Touhuan's words.
"Kirigakure wouldn't dare invade." Touhuan said, looking at Kakashi, "My sword is still quite useful, isn't it?"
Kakashi smiled. Touhuan had given him the Swift Lightning Blade before he left. At first, he didn't understand the other's intention, but it wasn't until he revealed the Swift Lightning Blade while chasing the first batch of Kirigakure rogue ninja that he understood why Touhuan said that this sword was more useful than any ninjutsu when facing Kirigakure.
Those rogue ninja from Kirigakure roaming the border, especially some older ones who had experienced the last Shinobi World War, would almost instantly lose their will to fight and run away upon seeing the eerie blue lightning that would bloom after the Lightning Blade was infused with chakra. For them, this sword was the most terrifying nightmare.
And this was all thanks to the reputation that Touhuan had earned on the battlefields of Kirigakure.
"I understand. When should we set the date?" Kakashi asked with a smile.
"Tomorrow, December 12th. I think that's a good date, don't you think?" Touhuan said.
"So casual?" Kakashi chuckled.
"As long as we're well prepared, when the time comes, it's all about our mood, isn't it?" Touhuan laughed.
"Alright, the troops will arrive at the village by tomorrow night at the latest," Kakashi said.
After making the decision, Shisui and the other two surrounded Kakashi again and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to instantly leave.
After the four disappeared, Touhuan also deactivated Sage Mode and walked out of the reception room.
"Sister Keiko!" Touhuan called out loudly.
"Clan leader, what are your orders?" Keiko asked as she walked out of the courtyard.
"Send invitations to all these people. Tonight, I'm inviting them to a gathering at our house." Touhuan handed a list to Keiko and said.
"Yes." Keiko nodded, took the list, and went to prepare.
After finishing all this, Touhuan stretched in the courtyard and went back to his room to sleep. Tonight and tomorrow would be busy.
...
Just as Touhuan and Kakashi had finalized their plan, Itachi had just finished work.
After his public break with the Uchiha clan that day, Itachi's work in the Anbu became increasingly difficult. The regular Anbu members were alright; while not always enthusiastic, they at least completed their missions. However, the administrative staff, except for a few from the Sarutobi clan, largely ignored his orders. Therefore, he had to handle many things himself, even those that didn't require his attention. In just a few days, the 13-year-old Itachi was exhausted.
On his way home from work, looking at the silent streets, Itachi sighed deeply, thinking:
[I hope Jiraiya-sama can successfully become the Fifth Hokage; that way, Touhuan's ambitions will subside somewhat.]
"Young man, you look lost." Just then, a voice sounded behind Itachi.
"Who goes there?" Itachi reacted almost instantly, drawing his kunai and turning to face his opponent. Simultaneously, a pair of three-tomoe Sharingan eyes flashed.
Itachi recognized the newcomer; their body was concealed by a wide robe, and their face wore a peculiar mask, revealing only one eye.
"No need for such hostility towards me. We're from the same clan." The newcomer's exposed eye flashed red, the three tomoe slowly rotating within.
"Sharingan? Are you someone sent by the clan to kill me?" Itachi's brow furrowed.
"I have no connection to those traitors. I'm just here to help you."
"Hmph, do you think I'd believe you?" Itachi's eyes flashed coldly, and in the blink of an eye, he fired several shuriken at the newcomer.
However, the shuriken passed right through the newcomer's body.
"Not a physical entity?" Itachi's brow furrowed, his grip on his kunai tightening.
"Are all Uchiha juniors this rude these days?" The masked man glanced back at the mark left by Itachi's shuriken embedded in the wall behind him and said.
"Who are you? Why do you have the Sharingan?" Itachi asked in a deep voice.
"Let me introduce myself, my name is Madara." The three tomoe in the masked man's exposed Sharingan spun rapidly, and soon, a windmill-like pattern formed within it.
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(End of Chapter)