He had successfully stirred everyone's curiosity, yet Yan chose not to explain anything. Seeing the clan members anxiously scratching their heads and muttering among themselves, Yan nearly burst into laughter. Danzo had truly fallen, and even Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, had finally met his reckoning. This was the moment Yan had long awaited ever since he first arrived in this world. The wish he carried since his time travel—justice for Uchiha and a cleansing of Konoha's corrupted core—had begun to materialize. Remembering the overwhelming fear and helplessness of his early days in this world, Yan couldn't suppress his laughter. Tsunade had now officially become the leading candidate for the Fifth Hokage. With her ascension, the next major hurdle would be managing Uchiha's hardliners—those within the clan still clinging to old grudges and volatile ideas. As long as no further reckless actions occurred, and with Obito eventually exposed and the truth laid bare, Uchiha's path into the light would be cemented. While Tsunade bore no grudge against the Uchiha, the shadow of the Nine-Tails Incident still loomed. Trust had not yet fully returned. Only when Obito, the true mastermind behind that dark night, was unmasked could the Uchiha truly be exonerated. With that, Yan's long-standing plan reached a major milestone. And the next phase… was madness. He didn't want to speak on it, and without his words, no one else could guess what had transpired. Yan, unable to contain himself, alternated between coughing and laughing from excitement, prompting bewildered stares from the Uchiha clan. He laughed without restraint—so maniacally, in fact, that someone jokingly nominated him as one of Uchiha's new "Four Mad Masters." Worried glances were cast his way. "Captain, are you really okay? If something's off, you should—" "Scram. You're the one with something off." I'm fine—more than fine! The metaphorical blade that had hung over his neck for so long had finally disappeared. How could he not be in good spirits? Sure, some lingering problems remained—political debris, public scrutiny, internal cleanups—but they were ants compared to the sword that had loomed over his life. Danzo… wait for me. I'll be attending to your fate personally. To appease both the villagers and the Fire Daimyo, the Third Hokage had taken a step back—a major one. Though it was regrettable that Danzo couldn't be executed outright, it was satisfactory to see him imprisoned and handed over to the Uchiha Military Police. Yan resolved that once he returned to the village, he'd request an indefinite leave from Fugaku and personally oversee Danzo's custody. He'd treat Danzo well, in every sense of the word. Soon after the news was transmitted from the Fire Daimyo's mansion, intelligence brokers and bounty networks distributed the classified details back to the Five Great Nations. When the scrolls arrived in various villages, shock rippled through the ninja world. The reactions were varied. The minor villages lacked the political or military power to do more than observe. They waited, silently, for the moves of the Great Villages. Among the major players, Sunagakure and Kirigakure were surprisingly indifferent. "Hmph. Predictable filth." Yagura read through the document before tossing it aside without a second glance. He couldn't be bothered to care. Kirigakure, once dubbed the "Village of the Bloody Mist," had committed far darker crimes. Compared to the depths of their own experimentation and internal terror, Konoha's sins were tame. Yagura had no intention of making political moves. Kirigakure was still in a recovery phase post-Third Ninja War. Resources and manpower were limited. At most, they'd send a few spies—standard surveillance protocol. Sunagakure's Kazekage, Rasa, reacted in much the same way. "We'll need to send representatives to attend the inauguration of the Fifth Hokage." Following the war, Sunagakure had been reduced to the weakest of the Five Great Nations. With the Wind Daimyo cutting military funding and diverting missions away from the village, their elite forces had been decimated. Rasa spent more time seeking gold mines and black-market commissions than worrying about Konoha's scandals. Though tempted by rumors of Hashirama's Wood Release, Rasa knew that Sunagakure lacked the strength to act on such desires. Greed without means was meaningless. And besides, Sand and Leaf were still nominally allied after the war. Stirring trouble now would only isolate Sunagakure further. Rasa was no fool. He suspected Hiruzen wouldn't survive this political firestorm and anticipated news of the Third Hokage's second retirement soon. Still, Wood Release… that was a tempting prize. Yet dreams don't forge reality. Without manpower, wealth, or leverage, Sunagakure could only watch and wait. But Kumogakure and Iwagakure were a different story. Both were militarily powerful. Kumogakure, especially, had remained unscathed during the last war, developing rapidly while others bled. By now, they arguably held the greatest strength among the Five Great Nations. Though Iwagakure had clashed bitterly with Konoha during the war, their losses were not as crippling. Had the Third Raikage not died halting Iwa's advance, forcing Onoki to withdraw, the war might have dragged on longer—its outcome uncertain. In truth, despite Konoha's public declarations of victory, the tangible benefits were lacking. There were no reparations from Iwagakure. No territorial gains. Minato and Hiruzen had no illusions—Iwa would never admit defeat. Both Iwa and Kumo had kept eyes locked on Konoha since. Now, with news of secret experiments and the rebirth of Wood Release, the sharks smelled blood. "How credible do you find this report?" In the Tsuchikage's office, Iwa's top strategists, jonin, and even the Daimyo of the Earth Country had gathered. Unlike most nations, Iwa's Daimyo maintained a close and direct relationship with the village, often residing within its heart and participating in high-level decision-making. "I'd wager it's very credible," the Daimyo said, a thin smile on his lips. "The messenger confirmed that Tsunade and Uchiha Hiko departed from the Fire Daimyo's residence on the same day—Tsunade immediately returning to Konoha." "If the content is legitimate, the next question is—who leaked this intel?" "Has Konoha truly recreated the First Hokage's bloodline?" "Indeed," said Onoki, rubbing his beard thoughtfully. "The detail provided on this 'Tenzo' is comprehensive. It smells authentic. Still, only Konoha knows how stable this success is." "I propose dispatching an elite intelligence unit to infiltrate Konoha and confirm the facts." "I second the motion." The council murmured in agreement. "And let's not just play defense," said an elder, his voice sharp. "Publicly condemn them. Human experimentation is forbidden by the Great Nations' treaties. Let's drown Konoha in condemnation." "Indeed. Let's stain their reputation—'Konoha, the Ethical Hypocrites.'" "Covertly… capture Tenzo," Onoki added, the gleam in his eye making clear the intent. "Dissect the truth from his cells if needed." In contrast to Iwa's subtle maneuvering, Kumogakure's response was blunt and aggressive. The Fourth Raikage, A, was a man of fists, not flowers. He had no patience for niceties. If there was information to be gained, they would take it. Whether by infiltration, bribery, or abduction didn't matter. Kumo had a long and colorful history of such tactics. Hinata Hyuga, Kushina Uzumaki, even Uchiha targets—none had been off limits to them. Assassination attempts, kidnappings, and manipulation of diplomatic events had all been part of their playbook. Their successes were many. Once, a Kumo shinobi infiltrated Konoha, knocked out Kushina—a jinchūriki!—and almost escaped without detection. Had it not been for Minato Namikaze, who intercepted and defeated the intruder alone, Kumo would've succeeded. It was laughable, really. How could such a vital mission be entrusted to someone who wasn't elite jonin-level or higher? Why was no Kage-level backup involved? Plot armor aside, the incident proved just how bold and dangerous Kumo truly was. And now, with whispers of Wood Release on the table, the wolves of Kumogakure were already circling. Their next move would be swift. Their next move would be ruthless.
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