The bustling Konoha Village made Jiraiya, who had just returned, feel as if he were in a different world.
Unfamiliar delicacies, unfamiliar shops, unfamiliar street signs.
Even the izakaya he frequented and the bookstore on the corner had changed their decor.
"No way, how did the old hot spring inn turn into such a huge 'Land of Rain Food City'?"
Jiraiya looked up at the massive four-story building, his small eyes blinking.
"And why are there so many shops I've never seen before on this street? I was just here a few months ago."
This strange commercial prosperity was naturally the outstanding contribution of Uchiha Fucheng.
At the very least, nearly thirty percent of the premium shops on this commercial street belonged to the Uchiha Clan.
"You're back, Jiraiya!" A hoarse voice came from behind Jiraiya.
Without turning around, he knew it was Orochimaru's voice.
"I'm feeling a bit confused, it's good to run into you. Let's go, have a drink with me at noon."
Jiraiya threw his arm around Orochimaru, his earlier strange mood lifting significantly.
"Where's Tsunade? I went to her place, but didn't see anyone."
Orochimaru's expression didn't change, he simply changed the subject, "Hiruzen has also been looking for Tsunade, and he sent word to you this time too, right?"
Jiraiya nodded, "The old man said there was an urgent matter to discuss in the village and urged me several times."
Jiraiya wore a lazy expression.
Orochimaru's face was calm, but his words made Jiraiya lose his composure.
"It's likely about Danzo. Danzo has gone missing, and I am currently in control of Root!"
"Oh, Danzo, he's mis—" Jiraiya turned around abruptly.
"What did you say? Missing?"
Jiraiya looked around, stared at Orochimaru, and lowered his voice, "Is he dead?"
Orochimaru shook his head slightly, "It's not certain yet. Hiruzen went to investigate personally, but I have already controlled Root for three days. If Danzo Shimura were still alive, given his personality, he should have appeared before me long ago."
Jiraiya's expression turned serious.
He rubbed his chin and thought quietly, "What about other aspects? Is there anything unusual in Konoha Village?"
"Nothing unusual, in fact, they just held a food competition that shocked the Ninja World." Orochimaru pointed to the Land of Rain Food City not far away.
"The only thing special might be the Uchiha Clan; they are negotiating with the nobles of the Land of Fire and have gotten into an economic dispute."
Jiraiya frowned, "Did Hiruzen call me back to avenge Danzo?"
Orochimaru shook his head slightly, directly denying Jiraiya's conjecture.
"I don't think so, but it is highly likely related to what Hiruzen found in the Land of Grass."
As the two were whispering, they suddenly saw Uchiha Fucheng in the distance.
Before Jiraiya could greet him, he saw Uchiha Fucheng walk into the izakaya with a Ninja in a green bodysuit.
"Huh? It's Might Duy. Why are they together?"
Jiraiya was quite familiar with Might Duy; they were similar in age and had many interactions.
It was just that he didn't know why Uchiha Fucheng would be with Might Duy.
Orochimaru realized something; this matter with Might Duy was probably related to Tsunade.
Ever since Tsunade retired due to illness, Might Duy had nowhere to seek medical help.
Similar to Sakumo Hatake, he was also facing a situation where his wife was about to give birth, but was suffering from a serious illness.
Having figured this out, Orochimaru suddenly became worried, fearing that Jiraiya would press for information about Tsunade.
He simply stopped Jiraiya and rejected the suggestion to enter the izakaya.
"Let's not drink at noon; we need to find Hiruzen first."
From Jiraiya's perspective, he certainly looked down on Danzo Shimura's character.
But the dead Danzo Shimura seemed to have become the "most reliable" and loyal partner in Hiruzen Sarutobi's memory.
Hiruzen Sarutobi even forgot their arguments and their conflicts; it seemed Danzo had become the person "most worth missing."
"Teacher, can you identify the attacker?" Orochimaru asked in a hoarse voice.
"There were only traces of Rock Ninja combat at the scene, but before Danzo died, he must have ambushed Hanzou in a nearby town." Hiruzen Sarutobi took a gentle puff from his pipe.
"From the town and the final location of his death, I found some traces of Danzo's Root activities." Hiruzen Sarutobi analyzed several suspects, but he always felt that the truth was shrouded in mist.
After hearing the analysis, Jiraiya mocked with disdain, "Danzo wanted to provoke a war between the Land of Rain and the Land of Earth, but ended up dying himself? That is truly unexpected."
The Third Hokage was somewhat displeased, "At least Danzo Shimura did it for Konoha; he took on this darkness voluntarily."
Jiraiya was unmoved, as only Hiruzen Sarutobi would be moved by such a strange theory that "Root is the darkness of Konoha."
He, Jiraiya, only recognized the Toad Sage's theory of the Child of Prophecy.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was extremely helpless regarding this disciple.
It seemed that searching for the Child of Prophecy was Jiraiya's only goal in life.
Orochimaru suggested, "Danzo's death has become an unsolved case; at the very least, we cannot use the current evidence to demand any explanation from the Rock Ninja."
Orochimaru had to bring up the most thorny issue at the moment.
"It is necessary to conduct a reckoning for some of Danzo's crimes, especially a comprehensive reckoning against the Shimura Clan."
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt reluctant.
But Danzo Shimura was dead, and without Root's intimidation, the many clan Ninjas he had forcibly conscripted into Root would all take the initiative to kick him while he was down, making it an inevitable choice to testify to Danzo's crimes.
Murdering fellow Ninjas, forcibly conscripting Ninja clans, embezzling village funds, and even conducting cruel human experiments on Kekkei Genkai clans like the Senju Clan...
Especially since Danzo had no bottom line; he even assassinated Anbu members from Hiruzen's own Sarutobi Clan and the Utatane Clan.
Even as Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not keep a lid on this.
Especially since these crimes also involved the Senju Clan. In Hiruzen Sarutobi's view, Tsunade actively avoiding his summons was her way of watching for his final decision on how to handle Danzo Shimura and the Shimura Clan.
At the very least, Tsunade wanted to see the Third Hokage's stance and attitude regarding the cruel experiments performed on the Senju clansmen.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was slightly conflicted, but ultimately, he firmly issued a [Hokage Order].
"Establish the Danzo Shimura Crime Investigation Team to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the members of the Shimura Clan involved in related crimes."
Thus, the "Confiscation Task Force" targeting the crimes of the Shimura Clan was officially established.
The five main leaders were Orochimaru (new Root Captain), Uchiha Fucheng (representative of the Konoha Military Police Force), Sakumo Hatake (representative of the Jonin Class), Homura Mitokado (representative of the Hokage), and Akimichi Torifu (representative of the Ninja Clans).
Being ranked in the top two of the "Confiscation Task Force" list made Uchiha Fucheng somewhat delighted.
"Good, since you trust the Konoha Military Police Force so much, the Uchiha will provide the main personnel for the confiscation!"
Fucheng was not afraid of offending people, especially when it came to the Shimura Clan; the Uchiha had long been at odds with them.
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