Obito's sudden, unplanned trip truly opened Yōwan's eyes.
He had mobilized the full power of Amegakure, yet still failed to find any trace of Obito.
When he lowered his head to report this to Jigen, Yōwan had already braced himself mentally for death.
A too shared that sentiment.
Within the organization's inner circle, Yōwan's actions as of late were hardly a secret. After several failed infiltrations, most had already branded this arrogant Uchiha as someone doomed to die.
"Is that so?"
Jigen lifted his head slightly, giving Yōwan and A a single glance before lowering it again, making no further move.
Yōwan, who had fully expected to lose another body part in the next second, hesitated when the expected pain never came. He cautiously raised his head.
That was when he saw that Jigen's full attention was now on the book in his hands — there was no intention of continuing the conversation.
Having long grown familiar with Jigen's ways, Yōwan understood that this was a silent order to leave.
But... was that really all?
Even after stepping out of the room with A, the heaviness in his chest refused to fade.
"Useless trash, good for nothing but ruining plans. Sometimes I really wonder how idiots like that manage to come back alive."
Closing the book in his hand, Jigen waved lightly. A hidden door silently emerged from the smooth wall, and a man slowly stepped out.
"So then, Amado — are the terms I offered satisfactory?"
Jigen's eyes held a glimmer of appreciation as he looked at the man before him.
This man had not only improved upon Jigen's original designs, but had even managed to decipher the Ōtsutsuki genetic sequence.
Such talent would prove invaluable to his full resurrection.
It was only because Yōwan had managed to bring Amado back that Jigen had spared him yet again.
"I'm deeply grateful."
Lighting a cigarette in front of Jigen, Amado's manner was calm and composed — neither arrogant like A, nor trembling like Yōwan.
He simply stood there, exhaling a thin trail of smoke, occasionally studying the legendary being before him — the visitor from beyond the stars.
"The affairs of the Asatsuki Organization will trouble you for a while. Whatever you need, speak to Sasori."
Jigen didn't like the way Amado was looking at him, but he held back his irritation.
With the stasis chamber Amado had developed, he could now recover even after temporarily invoking the power of the Ōtsutsuki. This meant that if certain unavoidable enemies appeared, he could face them personally.
Of course, that would require the mark of the "Kāma" first.
For someone who had survived in the ninja world for so many years, Jigen was cautious to the point of perversity.
If not for the disturbance Yōwan had caused, he probably would have waited many more years before seeking out such a useful pawn.
"You provide the funds and materials, I provide the technology — quite a profitable deal."
Extinguishing his cigarette, Amado exhaled one last puff of smoke, then turned and left under Jigen's slightly displeased gaze.
Once the hidden door closed behind him, his expression shifted. His eyes now burned with a mix of fervor and gravity.
At this time, Amado was still unmarried, without a daughter. He had accepted Jigen's invitation solely because of Yōwan's forceful persuasion and his own curiosity about the Ōtsutsuki.
Now, it seemed he had stepped onto a road filled with both danger and opportunity.
Lighting another cigarette, Amado began calculating how to maximize his own interests as he walked deeper down the corridor.
...
In Konohagakure.
Three days had passed since the two advisors had tried to "protect" Karin.
During these three days, they had eaten and slept with constant vigilance.
Flowerpots occasionally falling from upper floors, or fish bones shaped suspiciously like kunai appearing in their meals — each "accident" had only deepened their conviction that this was Danzō's doing.
As a result, they hadn't had a single proper night's sleep in days.
With dark circles heavy under their eyes, the two still showed up punctually to the daily high council meeting.
Glancing around the room, they were both disappointed to see that Danzō was, once again, absent.
Not that it could be helped — after all, as the head of the "Anbu Training Division," he technically wasn't qualified to attend these meetings anyway.
"If this matter isn't explained soon, I'm afraid the two of us will be seeing Tobirama-sensei in the afterlife," said Mitokado Homura grimly.
In his younger days, going three nights without sleep would've been nothing for a shinobi of his level.
But now he was as old as the Third Hokage — this was the age when he should be spoiling his grandchildren.
Instead, this whole fiasco had practically turned him into a grandchild.
"You saw it yourself," Koharu Utatane snapped. "Every time we go there, those Anbu trainees claim he's not in the village. What can we do?"
"That's just an excuse!"
"And what do you suggest? Storm in there by force?"
While the two elders were busy arguing over their next move, the main subject of their concern — Karin — was currently out on a field study in the newly expanded outer district of the village, along with Naruto and the others.
The so-called "new outer district" referred to the land that had been developed after Konoha dismantled its old outer wall and expanded outward.
Except for the southern industrial zone, most of the new areas had become residential neighborhoods.
Many of the new inhabitants were immigrants from the Land of Fire and nearby countries.
The purpose of the field study was to help the students get familiar with this new region — and to test the local security situation.
A jōnin squad was assigned as security detail.
Not far from them, three other individuals were tasked specifically with ensuring Karin's safety.
They were Haku, Kimimaro, and Yamato.
...
The three were crouched in a tree, watching Naruto and Karin chatting with a red-haired boy about their age.
"You... you wouldn't happen to be one of the Uzumaki clan too, would you?"
After getting permission, Naruto reached out and patted the boy's head — focusing particularly on the bright red hair.
Hmm... a little darker than Karin's, not as vivid as Mom's either.
"I... I don't know..."
The boy spoke timidly. It was his first time interacting with children his own age since leaving home.
His sister and brother always treated outsiders like potential threats, and their uncle constantly wore a troubled expression, forbidding them from mingling freely.
"Then what's your name?" Naruto asked.
"I..."
Before the boy could answer, Yamato suddenly dropped down from the tree, smiling gently as he grabbed Naruto's arm.
"That's enough for now, Naruto."
"Huh? Yamato-san?!"
Naruto was startled — he hadn't expected Yamato to appear so suddenly.
But what he said next made Yamato's turn to be surprised.
"You're here to protect Karin, aren't you?"
So perceptive.
Yamato looked at him for a long moment, inwardly impressed. As expected of the son of the genius Minato.
"Let's not talk about that. Your teacher is already looking for you two. Go and regroup, quickly."
After Yamato managed to gently usher Naruto and Karin away, Haku jumped down from the tree as well.
"Kimimaro already went after them," Haku reported first, then turned his gaze toward the red-haired boy.
"This child... who is he?"
"The adult leading them is a rogue from Sunagakure — Yashamaru," Yamato said quietly as he read the intelligence report in his hand.
He exhaled a long breath.