Haruto Saito was inside the treehouse, speaking in hushed tones with Uzumaki Mito. It was unclear whether he was using some kind of interference jutsu, but Haruto couldn't make out what they were saying.
He could only pace back and forth at the entrance, waiting.
He waited for nearly half an hour, but Sarutobi Hiruzen had yet to come out.
Meanwhile, several Anbu ninja, who had been hiding nearby to protect Uzumaki Mito, gradually revealed themselves one after another. They approached Haruto and quietly inquired about the situation.
The Anbu knew well enough who Haruto was. What they wanted to know was what he intended to do, what he had discussed with Lady Mito, and how Sarutobi Hiruzen would handle him.
Haruto simply smiled without answering.
No response!
"Huh? You big pervert! You're back!" A young girl's excited voice suddenly rang out from a small forest path in the distance.
It was none other than Uzumaki Kushina, accompanied by Shinjo.
"You brat, are you looking for a beating again?" Haruto glared at her.
"Tch! Would you even dare hit me? If you do, I'll tell Lady Mito, and then you're done for!" Kushina ran up to the treehouse, looking completely unafraid of Haruto.
In truth, she and Haruto had already reconciled. Calling him a big pervert was just a habit.
"Hmph, you brat, I can't be bothered to deal with you!" Haruto waved his hand dismissively, feigning disinterest.
"Wow, you were away on a mission for so long! Did you see Aunt Tsunade? I haven't seen her in ages..." Kushina started pestering Haruto with questions, mainly about Tsunade.
"Why should I tell you?" Haruto raised an eyebrow. This little girl was annoying.
"Because... because I haven't bullied Minato Namikaze lately. We're getting along now!" Kushina spoke as if it was only natural. "See? I'm being so good. Don't you think you should tell me?"
"Oh? So obedient now?" Haruto was a little surprised.
"Of course!" Kushina lifted her chin proudly. "Lately, my teacher keeps praising me, saying I'll definitely become a great ninja like Aunt Tsunade!"
"Oh, really? So you don't get into fights anymore? No one teases you about your hair?" Haruto asked teasingly.
"Hmph! If they dare, I'll—hmpf!" Kushina clenched her small fists, looking fierce.
In the original timeline, Kushina was bullied in school because of her red hair. However, analyzing the situation, her hair wasn't the main reason—being an outsider in the village was. Red-haired ninja were rare, but they weren't exclusive to the Uzumaki clan.
In this world, however, Kushina had already become a gang leader of sorts. She had fought her way to the top! With her natural strength, very few kids her age could take her on.
"Well, as long as you're behaving... As for your Aunt Tsunade... She should be in Uzushiogakure right now. If you want details, ask him!" Haruto pointed at Shinjo.
Haruto had been cut off from intelligence reports for too many days and had no idea about Tsunade's current situation.
However, as the assistant captain of the Anbu, Shinjo would have all the information.
"Him?" Kushina glanced at Shinjo and immediately pouted, turning away with her hands behind her back.
Shinjo's eyes flickered with helplessness.
Kushina had already asked him about Tsunade, but he couldn't reveal classified information. Given Kushina's young age, it wasn't safe to tell her.
"Kushina, you're back?" Uzumaki Mito's voice suddenly came from inside the treehouse.
"Yes!" Kushina responded.
"Come in."
"Coming!" she answered cheerfully and skipped into the treehouse.
Haruto frowned slightly. Normally, when Uzumaki Mito and Sarutobi Hiruzen had discussions, no one else was allowed in. Why was she letting Kushina in now?
His instincts told him this had something to do with the Uzumaki treasure.
Because in Konoha, Kushina was the rightful heir to the Uzumaki treasure. Even Mito wasn't, as she was now part of the Senju clan.
Haruto's heart sank. Was Mito going to change her mind?
"Haruto, after you destroyed the Kirigakure vanguard camp, where did you go?" Shinjo took the initiative to ask. Everything Haruto had done so far was traceable, but after he blew up the enemy camp, he had disappeared for over a week.
There was no information about his whereabouts.
"I didn't do much. I just took the sea route back to Konoha by boat," Haruto replied honestly.
"Oh." Shinjo nodded.
"By the way, Shinjo, now that that brat isn't here, tell me—what's the situation in Uzushiogakure? What's going on with Tsunade?" Haruto asked.
"Hmm..." Shinjo hesitated for a moment before speaking in a low voice. "Tsunade and the others should be back soon... After you destroyed the Kirigakure vanguard, Lord Hiruzen sent Danzo to Uzushiogakure. Danzo personally devised a plan and led the mission to eliminate the remaining Kirigakure forces. Just yesterday, the mission succeeded—four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were killed, three were seriously injured, and the vanguard forces were completely wiped out. Hattori Ryuya barely escaped with serious injuries..."
Shinjo's summary was brief, but Haruto could sense how intense the battle must have been.
It seemed that the crisis in Uzushiogakure was mostly resolved!
Although Kirigakure had the ability to regroup, that was a separate matter. For now, Konoha had won this battle!
"Haruto... I can't even imagine how you pulled it off... Your name has spread across the entire ninja world. Some people even call you Konoha's top assassin!"
"Really? I'm number one? What about Lord White Fang?" Haruto asked.
"The captain isn't an assassin," Shinjo clarified. "And in terms of sheer mission count, you've taken out over 200 Kirigakure operatives. Even White Fang can't compare."
"Sigh, being famous is a hassle. I need to keep a low profile!" Haruto chuckled.
"Yes... You really should." Shinjo nodded seriously, glancing at Haruto. "Do you know? Kirigakure has issued a top-priority kill order on you. You're now the number one target on their assassination list!"
"Got it. I was expecting that." Haruto nodded.
"And... Kirigakure has placed a bounty on your head in the black market!"
"Oh?" Haruto raised an eyebrow. "How much?"
"Fifty million ryo!" Shinjo's voice was heavy. "That's enough to hire an elite S-rank assassination squad to go after you!"
"Wow... Kirigakure is really generous," Haruto shrugged. "No worries. If they come after me, we'll see who kills who!"
"Arrogant!" A stern voice suddenly interrupted!
Haruto turned his head to see Sarutobi Hiruzen appear before him out of nowhere.
Hiruzen's face was expressionless as he looked at Haruto.
"Sensei!" Haruto bowed respectfully.
"Hmph!" Hiruzen snorted coldly and walked past him with his hands behind his back. "Follow me!"
A bad feeling rose in Haruto's heart.
Half an hour later.
In the deepest cells of Konoha's Anbu headquarters.
Haruto lay on a pile of straw, staring at the ceiling with a look of sheer disbelief.
He had been thrown into solitary confinement!