Naruto, guided by the faint scent of vinegar and the occasional drip of blood mixed with vinegar, followed the trail into the woods, his figure gradually disappearing from view.
Meanwhile, at the Hyuga compound, Shisui and Itachi’s expressions turned grave upon hearing Lin Yu’s guess that the Cloud Ninja’s target was Sasuke. Especially Itachi, whose three-tomoe Sharingan immediately activated.
Itachi instantly appeared before Ito and said coldly, "Speak! Who is your target?!"
Ito met the gaze of those异y Sharingan eyes, and his mouth involuntarily began to blurt out the entire plan. A voice of temptation constantly echoed in his mind, growing louder and louder, filling his consciousness. He couldn't resist!
*Pfft!*
Blood gushed from Ito’s mouth, his eyes regaining a sliver of clarity before he collapsed to the ground.
"Brother Itachi, let me handle this," Shisui said, his face also chilling. How dare they set their sights on the Uchiha, showing utter disregard for their lives.
Itachi shook his head. "No need. He can no longer speak."
"Now is not the time to discuss this. Hokage-sama, Brother Shisui, Teacher Lin Yu, I need to go back and check on Sasuke. I’m worried…"
"I'll go with you," Shisui said, standing beside Itachi and nodding at him.
Minato Namikaze stated, "Kurenai Yuhi, you are skilled in tracking. Go with them."
"Yes!"
"Thank you, Hokage-sama!"
The three nodded at each other and vanished from the spot.
Minato Namikaze then looked at Hiashi Hyuga. "I will ensure the Cloud Village gives Konoha and the Hyuga clan an explanation regarding this matter. Clan Head Hyuga, please rest assured."
Hiashi Hyuga bowed gratefully. "Thank you, Hokage-sama. An explanation is not necessary. It is enough for the Hokage-sama to know that my Hyuga clan is loyal to Konoha and has no intention of disrupting the alliance between our two nations."
"I have seen the Hyuga clan's loyalty to Konoha. Clan Head Hyuga, you need not worry."
After some polite exchanges, Minato Namikaze dismissed the surrounding ninjas and then turned to Lin Yu, who was still present. He asked softly, "Senior Lin Yu, what do you think of this matter?"
"What do I think? Go home, wash up, and sleep. When you wake up, it'll probably all be over!"
Lin Yu came back to his senses. He had just expanded Kagura Shingan to its maximum range, like a radar detector. Countless 'red dots' appeared on it, representing the lifeforces of Konoha ninjas.
They were so numerous and chaotic that Lin Yu rarely activated Kagura Shingan within Konoha. It was too many people, not suitable for those with trypophobia.
"Sleep?"
Minato Namikaze blinked in surprise, then gave a wry smile. "I wish I could, but I still have to go back and interrogate that Cloud envoy, Ian. I..."
"You don't need to go back. He's already escaped."
"Escaped?" Minato Namikaze was shocked and quickly waved for the hidden Anbu to investigate.
Lin Yu glanced at the 'red dots' in his mind that were rapidly moving towards the outskirts of Konoha. The dots were tinged with a faint black aura, a manifestation of Kurama's ability to sense malice.
"But don't worry, someone is chasing him. With their abilities, it shouldn't be a big problem."
Minato Namikaze breathed a sigh of relief. If Senior Lin Yu said it wouldn't be a big problem, then it likely wasn't.
"And what about the Uchiha side..."
Lin Yu closed his eyes, sensing for a moment, then suddenly chuckled. "So he's still in Konoha. Minato, I'm going back to sleep now. You should get off work early too!"
Minato Namikaze was somewhat bewildered. Who was "he"? And it seemed like the situation wasn't resolved yet. How could he, the Hokage, possibly sleep!
Watching Lin Yu disappear, Minato Namikaze sighed. Senior Lin Yu was too unreliable. It seemed he still had to rely on himself!
"Notify our forces to seal off the area within ten kilometers of Konoha. The target may have already fled Konoha. Send ninjas from the Inuzuka clan to search and pursue!"
"You must find him before dawn!"
"Yes!"
...
"Huh? There's someone here. Is this it?"
Naruto, with his signature spiky hair, emerged from the bushes, covered in grass. His freshly washed face was once again dirty.
"Hey, have you seen a little boy about my age?"
"He looks a little cool, but not as cool as me!"
The mysterious figure turned around, sizing up Naruto. Their voice was hoarse. "You're not an Uchiha, so why are you here?"
"Where is this?"
"The Uchiha Ancestral Hall."
"Oh~"
Naruto uttered an "Oh," scratched his head, and grinned foolishly. "Then do you know Sasuke? Big brother?"
"Sasuke? Is he your friend? Is he an Uchiha?"
The mysterious figure seemed intrigued, their voice becoming more talkative.
"Mhm!"
Naruto nodded, then furrowed his brow. "He seems to have been kidnapped. I followed a scent here and the scent just disappeared. Then I saw a fire light here, so I came to take a look."
"Scent?"
The mysterious figure looked at Naruto. This must be the Fourth Hokage's son, right? Such a keen nose? Did they intermarry with the Inuzuka clan?
Naruto puffed out his chest proudly. "It's Sasuke's scent!"
"..."
The mysterious figure turned back, their voice unreadable. "Never seen him!"
*Rustle, rustle.*
"Hmm?"
The mysterious figure glanced at Naruto, who had come right up to them, and asked, "Is there anything else?"
"Hehehe!"
The only response was a string of foolish giggles from Naruto.
...
Meanwhile, Ian was rapidly leaping across the rooftops of Konoha. His current goal was to escape the village!
Just before, after the Fourth Hokage had been lured away by their plan, Ian had occupied the Anbu guarding them. He then ordered the other three Cloud ninjas to infiltrate the Uchiha compound and steal Sasuke.
With over ten suicide squad members causing chaos in the Hyuga compound, most of Konoha's attention would be drawn there. Coupled with the previously spread news of an alliance between the Cloud and Konoha, most of Konoha's higher-ups would be focused on the Hyuga clan.
This would cause them to overlook the Uchiha clan, whom they already somewhat disdained. The probability of their success was high!
Sharingan!
The thought of this kekkei genkai having once defeated their Fourth Raikage made Ian's heart burn with desire.
Although the Sasuke they were abducting was only three years old and his Sharingan had not yet awakened, his bloodline purity was high! If they let him marry hundreds of women in the Cloud Village, in a few decades, their Cloud Village would also possess the Uchiha clan!
One had to admit, the Fourth Raikage's foresight was remarkable!
If Naruto knew that Sasuke would one day have hundreds of concubines, he would surely weep tears of anguish!
"Don't run! Stop!"
Suddenly, a shout came from behind Ian. Glancing back, he saw a green-clad ninja with a watermelon-shaped hairstyle in hot pursuit.
How is this possible! How did he catch up to me!
"Upper Ninja Ian, I am Kakashi Hatake of Konoha. I request you stop immediately and cooperate with our investigation!"
From the other side, a white-haired ninja also caught up, surprise in his lifeless eyes.
He had just finished a game of "rock-paper-scissors" with Guy when he received a message from Anbu to pursue the Cloud ninja Ian.
He also happened to see a ninja resembling Ian floating above their heads. Might Guy immediately shouted, "Kakashi, the competition continues! Let's see who catches him first!"
"Hey, Guy, you... this is a mission!"
Before Kakashi could finish speaking, Might Guy leaped onto the rooftop and charged forward.