Konoha Notes.

Chapter 518 False Move

Chapter 518 False Move

Some White Zetsu, even in the United Affairs Bureau where the main force had been transferred, could not be considered a powerful fighting force.

But they were scattered across various floors, appearing without warning, as if seeping from the walls themselves. Everyone understood that the appearance of these things meant that many more were lurking in the shadows.

What's more troubling is that this is likely not an isolated attack.

The offices of each ninja village reacted swiftly and in unison. Ninjas wearing various colored vests made a decision almost simultaneously: prioritize the protection of the Jinchuriki.

Sasuke ran downstairs the moment the commotion started.

As he walked through the fifth-floor corridor, sand was pouring out from under the door. Gaara had already subdued the three White Zetsu on his floor; the pale humanoid figures were wrapped in sand like cocoons, suspended in mid-air and slowly tightening.

The red-haired boy's gaze swept over, and Sasuke merely nodded. Without stopping, he checked on the trainees' safety and searched for Naruto's location, only to find him nowhere to be seen.

Immediately afterwards, he noticed that Green Sunflower was also not in the secret service.

He took a few steps toward the door, when suddenly a white Zetsu darted out from the side corridor of the hall.

The moment Sasuke dodged the first attack, two swords had already pierced the vital points of that pale body from different directions.

The ninja with the knife did not stop; he drew his sword and continued to advance deeper into the corridor.

No one stopped him, and Sasuke chased after the village.

Not far from the secret service building, Naruto noticed some movement in the building behind him: "There seems to be something going on behind us."

He turned his head to look.

Mizuki also stopped in her tracks: "It seems so—"

Just then, several secret service ninjas ran over: "Naruto, come back quickly! There's an enemy attack! Return to the secret service first!"

Upon hearing the news of the enemy attack, Naruto immediately took a step towards the Secretariat.

Mizuki placed his hand on his shoulder: "Wait, Naruto."

Then he asked the newcomer, "Who attacked us?"

"It's a White Zetsu. The situation is now under control."

"Naruto, go back to the village," Mizuki said. "Those are enemies that can disguise themselves. It's more dangerous in crowded places."

""

Naruto wanted to argue further: "But Dana and Sasuke—"

"Don't cause trouble at a time like this, Naruto," Mizuki emphasized. "They'll be fine inside the building. We came out first, and going back now will only add to their burden."

At this moment, another group of people appeared behind Naruto and Mizuki; they were dressed in police uniforms.

The leader, Tokuma Hyuga, said, "Naruto, come with us. Let's go to the stadium area first. The police support will be here soon."

Before Naruto could understand the situation, the Chunin from the Secretariat rushed towards the police squad and entangled them.

Tokuma and the others were stuck in place.

"Mitsuki, take Naruto and go!"

Naruto's wrist was suddenly grabbed.

He was pulled by Mizuki and ran in a direction away from the secret service office.

The path beneath my feet changed from smooth bricks and stones to muddy ground in the woods. Low-hanging branches constantly brushed against my face.

Mizuki loosened his grip on his wrist. The two of them swept past several thick cedar trees, one after the other.

After running a few more steps, a figure appeared ahead.

"Naruto, Mizuki."

The person emerged from the shadows of the trees, their green hair tinged with varying shades by the setting sun filtering through the woods.

Mizuki instantly blocked Naruto with his arm, while his other hand reached for the ninja tool pouch at his waist.

"Who are you?!"

"He's Teacher Midori—" Naruto said, hesitating a bit. Midori Aoi shouldn't have suddenly appeared at this time.

"Naruto, you still remember our promise, right?" The green-haired Chunin stopped a few steps away, not approaching any further, and spread his hands. "Mitsuki, it was Iruka who introduced us. We even drank together that night. Remember?"

Shui Mu then relaxed his guard slightly.

Naruto glanced at Green Aoi, then looked toward the secret service office hidden behind the trees.

"Midori-sensei, how's it going at the secret service?"

"It's all alright now." Green Sunflower took a step closer to them. "I was worried about you, so I came to check on you."

Then his gaze went past Naruto's shoulder and landed further away.

Sasuke entered the forest from the side. His breathing wasn't quite steady yet, but his eyes had already locked onto everyone present. Green Aoi was suspicious, so was Mizuki.

At this point, it would be safest for Naruto to leave their side first.

So he immediately started yelling, "Idiot, what are you doing here?"

Naruto paused for a moment, then asked, "Sasuke?"

"Coward, too afraid to turn around?" the black-haired boy mocked.

Naruto's eyes widened: "What did you say?!"

He rushed towards Sasuke.

The distance between the two people wasn't long; to onlookers, it looked like one angry child was demanding an explanation from another child who had spoken rudely.

Mizuki even lowered his arm that was blocking Naruto's way.

In that instant, the blond boy crossed his hands in front of him to form a mudra.

Shadow Clone Technique.

White smoke exploded, and eight identical figures scattered in different directions.

Naruto still remembered the last time the two of them had a fight without any reason.

He didn't know Sasuke's reasons for doing this, but he knew what he had to do.

Sasuke then shifted his gaze away from Naruto.

The Sharingan has been awakened.

Seeing this, Mizuki realized that things had been exposed. His first reaction wasn't to look at Sasuke or Naruto's shadow clone, but to look at Midori Aoi.

These past few days, he's simply brought Naruto to the secret service as usual, and hasn't done anything else. There's been no unusual behavior, no extra contact, and nothing that would arouse suspicion.

Sasuke Uchiha wouldn't chase after him because of him, and he shouldn't have such an attitude.

"Midori, you bastard! You're being watched by the secret service?!"

"I thought you were being very careful, but in the end, I'm the one who got dragged down by you."

As he spoke, Mizuki took out a kunai: "However, you actually came alone. You're quite confident, Uchiha Sasuke."

.

"Midori-sensei—Mizuki—" Naruto peered out from between the shadow clones, his blue eyes filled with confusion. "Aren't you Iruka-sensei's friend? Why—"

Mizuki sneered, "I've accomplished so many tasks for the village and put in so much effort, yet I don't get any recognition in the end."

On the contrary, it's that idiot Iruka—"

"There's absolutely no need to waste any more time in a village like this."

"Two mere students, do they think they can take on a Chunin?"

Sasuke's expression remained unchanged.

"Then let's take a look."

The moment he finished speaking, a white substance suddenly expanded from Naruto's body. The shadow clones beside him, who had just rushed out, exploded into white smoke one by one.

"What is this?!"

Sasuke lowered his head. The same white substance was spreading outwards from his shoulders, tightly binding his hands and feet. Chakra was being continuously drained, and his fingertips began to go numb.

Shui Mu's laughter echoed through the woods: "What do you think those people came out for?"

He turned to Green Sunflower, his tone carrying a newfound composure: "Green, hurry up. The venue area won't take long."

Green Aoi walks towards Naruto.

The blond boy could no longer support himself. He knelt on one knee on the muddy ground, white cocoons spreading from his back to his chest.

The blue eyes reflected the approaching figure.

"Teacher Green—you're also because of—"

Green Aoi drew a kunai and swung it down. It pierced into the body of a White Zetsu, a creature that, though more like a plant, could still be killed.

After being stabbed by a kunai, the White Zetsu on Naruto's body twitched and tried to reach out, but was cut off by another kunai.

After killing the White Zetsu, he immediately grabbed Naruto by the collar and rushed towards the village.

Mizuki, who was about to deal with Sasuke, was first suspicious, then angry, and finally laughed: "You're an idiot too, Green."

As he finished speaking, something was blooming on Green Sunflower's back. The same white color, spreading at the same speed, descended from the back of his neck, climbed over his shoulders, and wrapped around his arms.

He lost his balance and fell to the muddy ground along with Naruto.

Mizuki didn't look at Sasuke again.

He walked straight toward the two people on the ground.

"Do you think you're so smart? You never hid your intention to use me as a stepping stone from the very beginning."

"But it doesn't matter. From the beginning, nobody cared which side you were on."

He stopped in front of the green sunflower and looked down at the mud-covered face.

"We're all the same kind of people, Green."

"Compared to someone like me who personally brought Naruto here, do you think those people would be completely unprepared, given that you're just all talk?"

"A person like you will never gain trust anywhere."

He crouched down, bringing his gaze level with Green Sunflower's, and said disdainfully.

"I won't kill you. Now that you've lost your jinchūriki, the village will have people thoroughly examine your brain."

"Then you'll realize you've lost everything. You haven't pleased anyone."

"How pathetic and laughable, Green."

Green Sunflower slowly raised her head: "I never intended to betray the village from beginning to end. It's just that I didn't confess at the right time before, and later I wanted to accumulate more merit."

He looked into Mizuki's eyes: "There's no mission you can complete without failing."

Mizuki's lips twitched, then he straightened up and stopped looking at Green Sunflower.

"Then savor the taste of mission failure."

He reached out to grab Naruto.

Then the sound of wind breaking through the air came from the side.

Mizuki's body felt as if it had been struck head-on by an invisible giant hammer. His chest caved in for a moment, the sound of breaking ribs muffled inside him, and he didn't even have time to scream.

He was sent flying backward, crashing into a cedar tree three or four meters away, and sliding down the trunk.

Hiashi Hyuga remained in the gesture of swinging his hand.

Police officers dispersed behind him, and four or five squads moved in unison to cordon off the entire woodland.

Shui Mu opened and closed his mouth several times before managing to squeeze out a few indistinct syllables.

"How could this be possible? The time should still be..."

Green Aoi remained silent, watching as the White Zetsu on Naruto was pulled off by the police, and watching Hiashi Hyuga walk to the blond boy and squat down.

He thought to himself.

How could it be impossible?

Despite the operation reaching this stage, not a single high-ranking ninja listed on the wanted poster has appeared.

Naruto's setup was just a feint.

He should have figured it out a long time ago.

Those people let him take action and win over Shuimu so easily because he, Shuimu, and everyone else exposed today are nothing but pawns.

"I have information to give to the village." Green Aoi looked up. "They have other targets."

The lights in the Hokage's office stayed on until late at night.

"That concludes today's situation."

"No one in the new building can be ruled out as having been implanted with spores by White Zetsu, including the people at the Daimyo liaison office."

"The investigation will take several days. Until then, most members of the Joint Affairs Bureau will be unable to return to work."

"Departmental functions will be paralyzed for a period of time."

Kakashi stood in the center of the room, having just finished his report.

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado sat on the sofa by the window, while Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in an armchair beside them. Minato Namikaze sat behind his desk, half a mask resting on the corner of the table.

Shuji leaned against the bookshelf, having barely spoken since earlier.

"What's the situation at the old building?" Minato asked. "Did anything else go wrong during the chakra extraction process?"

""

Kakashi stated, "Key personnel are all under surveillance. Until the new building is confirmed to be safe, the old building will need to be used as temporary office space."

Mitokado nodded and steered the conversation toward a more troublesome topic.

"From the outside perspective, this attack suggests that the Akatsuki organization is no longer willing to abide by the previous tacit understanding."

"If we remain indifferent, the authority of the Joint Affairs Bureau will be completely undermined. The next time the other side takes action, they will have no scruples whatsoever."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said regretfully, "This is probably exactly what they wanted. Jiraiya and his side had only just started making contact, and this happened so quickly."

Minato turned to Shuji, who was leaning against the bookshelf. "What do you think?"

Shuji straightened up and paced around the room a few times.

"Arrange for people to go to the Land of Tea. Make it seem like we're heading towards the Land of the Sea." His tone remained unhurried. "Let Shisui lead the team. Also—"

He looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, "Third Hokage, I'll trouble you to make this trip."

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't ask why, he just nodded to indicate that he understood.

"That's all for now." Shuuji put his hand back in his pocket. "Naruto and Gaara will stay in the village for the time being. As for those involved in this operation—"

"There is a group of ninjas who are not from Konoha. Since they are part of the Joint Affairs Bureau, they will be handled uniformly in the name of the Bureau after discussions among the village offices."

"I will coordinate the negotiation arrangements with the other four film studios."

The meeting is now adjourned.

The advisors and the third generation left first.

Kakashi didn't leave.

"That's terrible, Kakashi. Something's been going on these past few days. Are you staying behind to discuss the pay cut?" Shuji asked.

Kakashi said, "You're the one who should have your salary docked."

"I did a very good job as a ninja academy commissioner," Shuji said. "Anyway, as for things you need to reflect on, please talk to your teacher about them slowly."

"I have surgery to perform, so I can't keep you company."