That night, Gojo Kaigetsu returned home.

"What?! You're saying you want to leave the village?!"

This time, Gojo Kaigetsu was genuinely surprised. He instinctively suspected that Samui had discovered something and was planning to escape…

That wouldn't do! It wasn't time for the undercover kunoichi to be caught yet!

'Six Eyes, activate-!'

Huh?

Why was the Heart-to-Heart Communication chakra thread sealed?

'System log, activate-!'

Samui's impact on prosperity was still recorded as boosting High Academy Publishing House's success…

"Where do you want to go?"

The question slipped out, but seemingly worried that his tone might arouse Samui's suspicion, Gojo Kaigetsu explained:

"It's too chaotic outside now. I'm worried about your safety if you go elsewhere."

Gojo Kaigetsu seized the opportunity to grasp Samui's delicate hand, his gaze sincere and fervent, making Samui avert her eyes uncomfortably.

'He smells strongly of alcohol.'

"It's nothing specific. Just a friend in the Land of Flowers invited me to Tanzaku Quarters."

Tanzaku Quarters?

Tsunade?

The familiar place name instantly reminded Gojo Kaigetsu of the number one woman in the shinobi world, the ideal woman in many men's eyes. And the little something that had happened between them…

His Six Eyes looked at Samui with a strange expression.

Samui and Tsunade… he had a feeling they would create some unusual sparks…

Gojo Kaigetsu's sixth sense told him that Samui's sudden request to visit Tanzaku Quarters must be somehow connected to Tsunade.

"Oh~ I see~"

"You can go, but I'm still worried about your safety. I'll have a ninja escort you."

Yes!

Samui was inwardly delighted. She hadn't expected to get permission so easily, rendering her prepared excuses useless.

"That's… wouldn't that be too much trouble? I heard ninjas are usually busy with missions."

"Nonsense, I'm the one who assigns missions. The village ninjas are here to serve important people like me."

Gojo Kaigetsu confidently grabbed a mission scroll and started writing with his brush:

"Escort Ms. Gojo Ai to Tanzaku Quarters and ensure her safety throughout the journey."

"Mission Rank: C-rank, Bounty: 100,000 ryō, Special Requirement: Only female ninjas can accept this mission."

After writing this, Gojo Kaigetsu tossed the brush aside and casually draped his arm around Samui's voluptuous shoulders. "Ai, have you ever considered becoming a different kind of person since meeting me?"

"?"

Samui's pupils constricted.

What was he implying?! Had her request to visit Tanzaku Quarters aroused his suspicion after all?

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

Was he trying to turn her? Unfortunately… Gojo Kaigetsu underestimated her, Samui's, unwavering ninja way!

"Eh? Why do you ask? What kind of person?"

Samui's heart pounded with vigilance, almost hallucinating the scene of her killing Gojo Kaigetsu with a single strike after being exposed.

"Of course… becoming my woman."

"There have been rumors in High Academy Publishing House lately… that you're my woman. I'd like to clarify that those aren't rumors~"

'…!' Samui had already prepared herself for death.

But instead of exposing her, Gojo Kaigetsu uttered such… cheesy lines that even the Raikage wouldn't be caught dead saying.

"It's still too, too soon, Kaigetsu-kun," she politely declined.

Gojo Kaigetsu wasn't bothered by the rejection. He gave a mysterious smile. "Ai, do you know about a certain secret jutsu from Kumogakure?"

"Secret jutsu… what is it?"

Matters concerning her village made Samui's expression turn serious.

Could it be that Konoha ninjas had infiltrated Kumogakure and stolen their jutsu? If that were true, the consequences would be dire.

"Let me demonstrate it for you, Ai."

Gojo Kaigetsu spoke affectionately, then suddenly moved.

"Ninja Art: Hell Thrust - Two-Fingered Spear Hand!!"

"Yame…"

"Damn, such tight defenses. Then try this!"

"Ninja Art: Hell Thrust - One-Fingered Spear Hand!!"

"Not there…Nnngh ahhh, Oh ho ho ho ho?--"

…

"When did it all begin?"

Danzo Shimura and Homura Mitokado were hidden in the shadows of a teahouse.

Their faces were grim as they discussed the unusual trend that had recently emerged in Konoha.

The plan to suppress the Uchiha clan was something they had formulated long ago and had been persistently implementing.

Even the relatively Uchiha-friendly Fourth Hokage's ascension couldn't stop their plan.

Their strategies included, but were not limited to: arranging for planted spies to be arrested and sent to the Konoha Military Police Force, only to be released and spread malicious rumors about the Uchiha; arranging for the elderly, weak, and disabled to stage accidents and blame the Uchiha officers…

They had anticipated many scenarios.

They had considered the Uchiha resisting with force, colluding with enemy villages, or even a lunatic within the clan wiping out their own…

But they had never imagined that the Uchiha's reputation, which had been tarnished to a level comparable to the average skin tone of Kumogakure, could be reversed.

"This is serious, Danzo! It's too late to trace the source," Homura adjusted his reading glasses. "The inherently evil Uchiha have learned to disguise themselves."

"If those foolish villagers truly believe the Uchiha's lies, it will become extremely difficult to eliminate them."

"This concerns the future of our Konoha!"

Danzo's face darkened as he impatiently retorted, "Of course I know that, but do you have any solutions now?"

"I have a plan to counter the Uchiha-"

"Tell me quickly!"

"The Anti-Uchiha Awareness Act!"

Homura adjusted his reading glasses again. "I've summarized the main changes in public opinion into four points. I intend to address them one by one."

"Firstly, we cannot mention that 'secret ninjas' control Konoha's will."

"Secondly, we cannot say that 'secret ninjas' are persecuting the Uchiha in Konoha."

"Thirdly, we cannot criticize the previous Hokage's political faction, led by the Third Hokage. Criticism is equivalent to colluding with forces outside the Uchiha and is an act of treason!"

"Fourthly, 'Three Years in the Ninja Academy' is illegal because it subtly implies that 'secret ninjas' persecuted the Uchiha. Anyone discussing this book in public will be arrested and sent to the… Root's prison!"

Hiss-

Danzo couldn't help but gasp.

As expected of his trusted friend, Homura Mitokado!

Despite his mediocre talent as a ninja, when it came to Konoha's politics, especially dealing with the Uchiha, he was a true clan treasure!

Hearing these outrageous proposals, Danzo felt as if he had been transported back to the Warring States Period before the village's founding.

He instinctively glanced at his own ninja headband. It felt as if it wasn't Konoha's emblem imprinted on it, but rather… the insignia of the "secret ninja" Root.

"Homura… it's a good plan, but it's a bit too extreme for the current situation."

"I'm not the Hokage yet. Implementing the act requires the Hokage's approval, and with the Fourth's personality, passing such an act is unrealistic."

"If I were Hokage, I would definitely adopt your suggestions."

Danzo shook his head, seemingly recalling something, and said with frustration:

"Hmph, if not for Hiruzen's indecisive nature, how could the Uchiha clan have grown to this point?"

"If Sensei had chosen me back then…"

Seeing his old friend starting to reminisce, Homura quickly interrupted, "Then what should we do? Without the village's authority, we can't stop the Uchiha's reputation from recovering."

"Don't doubt my resolve in dealing with the Uchiha, Homura."

"Root was founded to operate in the shadows, resolving Konoha's crises."

"Since the Fourth Hokage won't cooperate…"

"I'll dispatch Root ninjas to visit those smaller clans."

"As for you, Homura, you'll be responsible for influencing the villagers' conversations using our old methods."