Konoha: The thirty-year-old Uchiha is not motivated.

Leaf Village

Uchiha Gin-zaku
"The crimson hot spring, a secret healing place, with its misty red spring, offers a rebirth. This national treasure-level intangible cultural heritage hot spring in the land of hot springs gathers the essence of heaven and earth and embodies three hundred years of tradition. The pool water is as brilliant as a ruby ​​and has miraculous effects such as relaxing muscles and promoting blood circulation, beautifying the skin, and nourishing yin and yang."

Reclining on the sofa, Senju Itama stared listlessly at the commercials playing on a loop on TV, her delicate brows furrowed deeply.
"Is the owner of this resort very rich?"

She finally managed to steal a moment from her busy schedule to watch a melodramatic soap opera, but the same commercials kept showing up in the middle, which really ruined her mood.

"I don't know if they have money, but their braised pork is delicious."

Uchiha Gin, who was curled up on the double sofa like a corpse, turned his face and glanced at the muscular man in a well-tailored suit in the advertisement, and casually replied,
"Hmm? You went there? When was that?"

Upon hearing this, Senju Itama suddenly sat up, squinting and staring intently at him.
There's something fishy about someone going to a hot spring so far away all by themselves!

"Oh, a few months ago, your second brother invited me."

Seeing that his unintentional words were about to bring about an undeserved disaster, Uchiha Gin didn't even bother to blink and directly used Senju Hishima as a shield.
"Second brother?"

"That's right. He's been researching bathing culture lately, saying he wants to experience different customs and traditions in different places."

In any case, Senju Hisami has a lot of dirt on her, so Uchiha Gin isn't afraid of Senju Itama confronting her.

Hmph~ White Hair, you don't want your younger sister to know about your obsession with yuri bathing, do you?

"If you dare to lie to me, you're dead!"

Seeing that Uchiha Gin's frank expression didn't seem fake, Senju Itama lay back on the sofa with some doubt, thinking that he would go to his second brother after dinner to confirm whether this curly-haired baboon was really fooling him.

"Don't we even have the most basic trust between us?"

Uchiha Gin shook his head, feigning sadness, then casually picked up the banana milk on the table, took a sip, and a satisfied expression appeared on his face.

The banana flavor lingers on the palate, while the rich milk flavor doesn't overpower it; the two blend perfectly. It's a treasure of a drink that's worth repurchasing. Next time I see Xiao Tuantuan, I'll definitely ask him for the link.

"I became your family's nanny because I trusted you too much."

She glared at the pretentious Uchiha Gin, then pressed a few buttons on the remote, only to find they were all advertisements for hot spring resorts. Her face fell, and she simply pressed the power button.

"By the way, I've found out about what you asked me to find out before."

Gin Uchiha raised an eyebrow, shifting his gaze from the black screen to Senju Itama's gossipy face.
"We've heard news so quickly?"

"Don't underestimate the intelligence network of the village aunties."

Senju Itama smiled smugly. Having frequented the village for years, she always overheard juicy gossip whenever she went grocery shopping.
The Third Hokage is suspected of having erectile dysfunction; his second child may be due to artificial insemination.

The richest woman in the Akimichi family has been rumored to have kept male lovers for many years.
Although the old man is old, his heart is still young. Even in his sixties, he still insists on inspecting the West Street.

The Silver Demon of Konoha abuses his power for personal gain, using various pretexts to keep a mistress at the shrine.
"Alright, alright, stop keeping me in suspense and just tell me."

Gin Uchiha reached out and tapped Senju Itama's proud little head, urging her on as if she had done something incredibly important. It wasn't like she was asking about some major secret; she was acting as if she had performed some great service.
"The illegitimate child you asked me to inquire about, that little guy named Obito, has now been placed by Setsuna in the home of an elderly widow in the clan. He is paying for all the upbringing expenses out of his own pocket and has promised to take the child as his last disciple when he grows up."

Senju Itama stroked his chin, a look of amazement on his face.

"He wasn't this concerned about the orphans of martyrs in the past. Do you think he's just putting on a show?"

Rumors of impending high-ranking changes have been circulating in Konoha lately, making Uchiha Setsuna's actions at this particular time all the more suspicious of his motives.
Who knows?

This is utter nonsense. Unlike Senju Itama, who was full of suspicion, Uchiha Gin knew from the beginning that the little guy named Obito had Setsuna's bloodline flowing through his veins. He could not live with his conscience if he did not give him special treatment.

Bang Bang Bang!
Just as the two were chatting idly, a rhythmic knocking sound suddenly came from outside the door. Uchiha Gin frowned and gave Senju Itama, who was about to open the door, a look of confusion in his eyes.

[People who come to visit at this hour are probably just there to freeload; they're not pretending to be home.]

After understanding Uchiha Gin's lip movements, Senju Itama gave him an OK sign with a knowing look, then tiptoed back to the sofa, pretending that no one was in the room.

"blow!"

A moment later, the commotion outside the door ceased, and the two of them simultaneously revealed the same smug expression. Then, the next second, a bolt of blue lightning appeared out of thin air inside the room.

"Tap~"

With an expressionless face, Tobirama Senju arrived riding the Flying Thunder God Technique. Upon landing, he looked at his younger sister and brother-in-law, who were curled up on the sofa pretending to be dead. His face was so gloomy it was almost dripping with water.
"Ha~ Second Brother, what brings you here?"

Seeing that her family members had all entered, Senju Itama, who had been feigning sleep, rubbed her sleepy eyes, sat up, and looked at Senju Tobirama with a face full of "surprise" as he did so.
"White Hair, you're my brother for life. This bottle of strawberry milk is yours and mine."

On the other side, Uchiha Gin, with his eyes closed, seemed still immersed in a dream, but his firm tone carried an undeniable sincerity.
Tobirama Senju watched silently as Gin Uchiha put on his act, and when he saw Gin suddenly struggle, he couldn't help but scoff.

"Tell me, why did you stop talking? Did you run out of things to say?"

"I'll give you number 68, I'll just pick one and make do."

Uchiha Gin muttered to himself with a relieved expression, which made Senju Tobirama's forehead veins bulge, wishing he could make him sleep forever right now.

"Stop pretending, I have serious business to discuss."

Suppressing the urge to spit in his face, Tobirama Senju took a deep breath, his usually cold face now showing a rare seriousness.
"If you have something important to say, just say so. I thought you were just here to freeload a meal."

Seeing Uchiha Gin instantly wake up and turn over, Tobirama Senju kept telling himself not to act impulsively, lest he hurt his sister.

"I'll go make some tea."

Seeing this, Senju Itama used the excuse of tea to make a quick getaway.
"I want the most expensive one."

"understood."

After giving his instructions, Tobirama Senju sat down opposite Gin Uchiha without any hesitation, staring intently at him.
"Speak your mind, don't try to drag it out until mealtime."

"Are you able to contact him?"

"Who?"

I have access to many people. Are you referring to those in heaven or those in the Pure Land?
"Your younger brother."

"Your older cousin? What do you want with him?"

Uchiha Gin frowned upon hearing this. His younger cousin had his own career, and he had never intended to bother him unless absolutely necessary.
"I'm just asking if you can get in touch with them now?"

"The last time he wrote to me was last year."

Faced with Tobirama Senju's interrogation, Gin Uchiha spread his hands, his face full of innocence.

"Tsk!" "What happened?"

Seeing Tobirama Senju's gloomy expression, Gin Uchiha couldn't help but ask.

“It’s alright to tell you. Jing just sent back a secret report that the Cloud Hidden Army has set up camp ten miles from the border of the Land of Fire. Their wolfish ambitions are obvious.”

Tobirama Senju rubbed his throbbing temples and slowly revealed the latest bombshell news in the ninja world.
"It must be a routine drill, right?"

Uchiha Gin wasn't too worried. The Hidden Cloud Village's penchant for military exercises was nothing new; their flexing of muscles was merely a ploy to extract military funding from the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning.
"No, this time is different. The team leader is the Silver and Gold Brothers, who have been retired for many years."

The mere mention of the Silver and Gold Brothers caused Tobirama Senju to ache. The memory of being brutally beaten by them years ago lingered in his mind like a venomous snake.
Hey~ It's an old acquaintance.

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Gin couldn't help but look at Senju Tobirama with an expression full of sympathy. No wonder he was in such a hurry; the Gin and Tobirama brothers' comeback was clearly aimed at him.
"What, chickening out? Ready to call in reinforcements?"

"I'm just doing this as a precaution; Konoha's current situation is not optimistic."

Tobirama Senju couldn't admit he was afraid, so he could only force himself to say that it was all due to the urgent situation at hand.
As he said, the recent spate of massacres in the Land of Rain points directly to Konoha.

The chief technician of Sunagakure, who was visiting his family, along with a nobleman from the village and an elite Jonin, perished at the hands of Konoha.
These two incidents are clearly fabricated and frame-ups, yet they have been sensationalized by those with ulterior motives. Now, the entire ninja world is spreading rumors that Konoha harbors malicious intentions, wanting to play the role of the mantis queen unaware of the oriole, and reap the benefits of others' misfortune.

"Um... is it possible that we really did something shady?"

Listening to Tobirama Senju's nagging, womanizing manner, Gin Uchiha couldn't help but raise his hand.
"How could that be? I have never issued a mission for a similar operation since I took office."

Tobirama Senju always prioritized internal stability before external threats, and with the village's minor troubles still unresolved, he had no immediate plans to intervene externally.
"And before that?"

"You mean, Hiruzen?"

Reminded by Gin Uchiha, Tobirama Senju thought of his eldest disciple, who had been keeping a low profile lately, and a thoughtful expression appeared on his face.

"The tea is here!"

The fragrant aroma of green tea interrupted Tobirama Senju's troubled thoughts. Looking at his sister beside him, whose face held a worried expression, the heaviness on his face vanished instantly.

"Thank you."

I must not let my sister worry, no matter what.

Thank you for your hospitality.

Under his sister's hospitality, Tobirama Senju experienced a rare moment of peace. Setting down his empty teacup, he nodded to Gin Uchiha and slowly raised his left hand, forming the Flying Thunder God seal.

"Don't rush off, why don't you stay for a simple meal?"

Seeing that the other person was about to leave, Uchiha Gin hurriedly pretended to try and persuade him to stay, but secretly he couldn't wait for the guy to get lost.
"Since you've put it that way, then I..."

"Sit-in, see the guest out!"

"blow!"

A flash of blue light, and Tobirama Senju appeared in the empty Hokage's office. Gin Uchiha's words had given him some insight: Konoha might not have been clean from the very beginning.

"But where should we begin?"

The ninja alliance led by Sarutobi was impregnable, and Tobirama Senju, unsure where to begin, frowned deeply.

But soon, he thought of a breakthrough.

Root, Danzo!
Hiruzen Sarutobi's personal white glove, the chosen scapegoat.

So he closed his eyes and shared the information he had acquired that day with Senju Hisama, who was far away in the research lab, through a soul link. After that, he sat cross-legged and began his daily recharging.

Thousand Hands Research Lab
"teacher?"

Orochimaru looked at Senju Hishima with a puzzled expression, unsure whether he should warn her that the reagent in her hand was about to explode.
"Uh"

The time it took to receive the message was short; a few breaths later, Senju Hisami's eyes regained their sparkle. She casually tossed the test tube, which was about to explode in her palm, aside, her face filled with contemplation.

"Pfft~"

Ignoring the dazzling fireworks bursting from the test tubes at her feet, Senju Hisami looked up at Orochimaru, who was even more feminine than herself, her eyes filled with a strange expression.
"I have something I want to ask you."

"Students speak freely about anything they know."

Seeing that even his teacher was asking him for advice, Orochimaru smiled especially sweetly.

Roots

"This is so hard for me."

The office was still dimly lit. Danzo rested his chin on his hands, his expression visibly bitter.

He is now about to become a so-called lonely man.

"Lord Danzo, the recruitment situation in the Root Department is not optimistic recently. If this continues, many departments will soon be unable to survive."

Holding the report, Nono pushed up her glasses and began to speak with a heavy heart.

"Why? Why does everyone have to leave?"

First, Orochimaru, a key member of Root, was forcibly taken away by Hisa Senju. Then, Tsunade submitted her resignation, citing her intention to return home and inherit her grandfather Hashirama Senju's secret techniques.
A few days later, Kato Dan also resigned, citing the need for someone to lead the family business.
As for Might Guy and Sakumo Hatake, they were unable to focus on their careers due to becoming fathers, and could only leave with regret.

In just a few days, he lost several key lieutenants. Of the six who swore to be loyal to him forever, only Jiraiya, who was far away in the Land of Rain on a secret mission, remained.

But then again, out with the old, in with the new.
Danzo wasn't too heartbroken. These people were destined for greatness; the small Root organization was merely one stroke in their impressive resumes.

He quickly shifted his focus to recruitment, but somehow, despite the generous benefits offered by the company, he repeatedly encountered setbacks in recruitment.

Is it possible that with such a favorable economic climate, no one is interested in this lucrative opportunity?

That shouldn't be the case. There are so many people lining up to squeeze into the monkey's secret unit. What exactly is the problem?

Thinking this, he subconsciously shifted his gaze to his assistant, Nonou, who was standing beside him. She was a talent introduced by Shinnosuke, who had patted his chest and guaranteed she was absolutely reliable.

And that's certainly the case. Nonou has a remarkable talent for handling documents, working with incredible speed, to the point that he's now reduced to a emotionless signing machine.
"Miya, you were in charge of recruiting new members, didn't you notice where the problem occurred?"

After her work ability was recognized, Danzo entrusted the entire recruitment process to Nonou. However, he never expected that even the "walking shrine maiden" he had such high hopes for would sometimes let him down.
When called upon, Nono calmly adjusted her glasses; this was the moment she had been waiting for.
She handed Danzo a revised research report, her kind face etched with deep helplessness.
"According to my market research, there is only one reason for the recruitment failure: insufficient funding. I implore Lord Danzo to continue to increase funding to help my Root organization rebuild its glory!" (End of Chapter)