After visiting White Fang, who expressed great happiness and gratitude, Miki and the other two left the Hospital.
On the way home, they naturally separated.
Chiri was the first to leave, and then…
"Homeless again, are we?" Miki looked at Hitomi.
Hitomi, who had been following Miki closely, said, "Yes."
Miki reached out and ruffled Hitomi's hair, saying, "I really can't do anything with you."
The two returned home, Hitomi made dinner, and after a simple meal, they rested.
In the middle of the night, Hitomi woke up to a sound, and when she left her room, she found Miki was about to leave.
"What's wrong?" Hitomi asked.
"I have something to take care of, you go back to sleep," Miki replied.
"Oh, can I help?" Hitomi asked.
"You could, I suppose, but it's very boring," Miki said.
"Then I won't go," Hitomi said.
"Alright." Slipping her small feet into wooden clogs, Miki said, "Do you want a late-night snack? I'll bring you something when I get back."
"That's a calorie bomb, maybe not," Hitomi said, conflicted.
"Alright then." Miki turned to Hitomi and said, "I'm off."
"Be careful on your way," Hitomi said softly.
Pushing the door open, Miki stepped into the night.
Konoha was very quiet at night, with only the occasional dog bark.
The streetlights along the road cast a dim yellow glow, and there were few pedestrians on the desolate streets.
Only one street was bustling, in the central area of the Village, where entertainment venues like izakayas and casinos operated all night.
Miki's destination was not there; the further she walked, the more secluded it became.
The entire Konoha was under the Barrier's surveillance; the monitoring team could see everything on all the streets, and without the cover of crowds, the more secluded places stood out even more.
But there were always a few hidden, inconspicuous routes.
And there were many places in the Village that were not monitored; these were blind spots Mito had deliberately left when the Barrier was established.
For example, the territories of various Shinobi Clans.
For example, the interiors of various buildings.
Figuratively speaking, there was an eye in the sky overlooking the entire Village, but due to the obstruction of buildings, the eye's line of sight was blocked.
Mito's Barrier, of course, had more than one eye, and Miki knew all their locations, making it easy to use buildings for cover and hide her presence.
And Chiri often walked brazenly through the Village, and the Barrier couldn't detect anything unusual.
Therefore, it was Chiri who was in charge of stealth in the Hidden Rain Village.
The route Miki was taking now led her all the way to the forest outside the Village, to the clan's compound.
By the time Miki arrived, the clan members were already waiting there.
There were only about three hundred people in total.
But they were the true elite of the clan.
After Miki sat in the main seat, the assembled clan members, in true Shinobi fashion, knelt on one knee.
Standing beside her was the legendary clan patriarch's uncle, Shiron.
He was dressed in standard Aburame attire: a black robe with a hood and sunglasses covering his face.
Although Miki had not yet officially taken over as clan leader, whenever there was an issue in the clan, Miki was the one to make the decision.
"What is it?" Miki yawned sleepily and said, "Do we really have to gather at night?"
This kind of gathering was a first.
The last time was during the First Shinobi World War.
"Moving stealthily like insects under the moonlight," Uncle Shiron said solemnly, "Mushi-Hime, this is tradition."
Miki glanced at the mere Elite Jonin.
"The Village is at a critical juncture; don't hold these illegal gatherings," Miki said, "If there's anything, just inform me."
"Mushi-Hime, the Second Shinobi World War is about to begin," Shiron said seriously.
"Where did you get that information?" Miki asked.
"From analysis," Shiron said, "What happens in the Village cannot escape our ears."
"Eavesdropping all day long…" Miki said, "That's not good."
Just as I thought, don't expect much from Konoha Anbu's secrecy.
With all the major Shinobi Clans involved, it's already a sieve.
Except for Uchiha.
At the slightest hint of trouble, the entire Village knows.
If they knew Madara was still alive, the Uchiha's situation would only become more difficult, and the Main Faction would develop some unnecessary ideas.
For example, defecting to Madara.
"Mushi-Hime, what should we do?" Shiron asked.
"It's still too early for a Shinobi World War," Miki said.
"The major Shinobi Clans have already begun to take action," Shiron said, "Not to mention large clans like Uchiha and Senju, the other Shinobi Clans are actively preparing for war, hoping to gain influence through the results of the World War II."
Is that what they're thinking?
They underestimate the other four great Shinobi Villages too much.
The Konoha Ninja have been immersed in the false illusion of Konoha's immense power for too long.
"I say…" Miki asked, "Are you short on money?"
The Aburame Shinobi looked at Miki, startled, and shook their heads one after another.
The industries developed solely from the three-colored insects, like the Painted Hall (Caihua Tang), were enough to feed the entire clan.
"So you're full and have nothing to do, and you're looking for excitement?" Miki asked.
The Aburame Shinobi looked at each other.
"Then let's see it through," Miki said, "Starting tomorrow, I'll cut off the clan's supply. Let's go back to fending for ourselves."
Upon hearing this, the Aburame were stunned, and their sunglasses-clad eyes turned to Shiron.
"Mushi-Hime…" Shiron began, "Everyone is also thinking for the clan."
"Isn't living well enough?" Miki said, "Even if you have influence, what good is it if you continue to play mute at the Shinobi Clans meeting?"
The silent Aburame lowered their heads and remained silent.
"What's wrong, are you mute?" Miki sneered.
"Every single one of you, with your dull minds, wants to play with smart people. You won't even know how you died."
Miki said coldly.
"Who told you what?"
"Think carefully and answer me."
Leaning back in her chair, Miki rested her chin on one hand, while the index finger of her other hand tapped idly on the armrest.
"The Anbu has begun personnel adjustments, and the Third Hokage is asking us for more manpower," Shiron said.
He's moving fast, the Third Hokage has already started preparing for war.
It seems like normal procedure.
"What are the benefits?" Miki asked.
"No benefits were given," Shiron said, "It's all for Konoha, and there are some Anbu positions."
"Promotions and raises, then," Miki said, "Is that all?"
"That's all," Shiron said.
"Has the Sarutobi Clan sent more Anbu personnel?" Miki asked.
"A large number, many young people from the Sarutobi Clan have joined the Anbu," Shiron said.
Now that's normal procedure.
The Third Hokage is a person, and a person will be constrained by their heart, doing things they don't want to do.
When it comes down to it, the Third Hokage has no reason to just watch his family's younger clan members die on the battlefield.
Compared to the extreme danger of large-scale engagements on the front lines, where many die at once.
The controllable mission casualties in the Anbu, with occasional losses, are within acceptable limits.
So, this can be considered a gesture of goodwill from Sarutobi.
However, the expansion of the Anbu means the rise of a new department.
Root.
That place has a near 100% mortality rate, doing the dirtiest and most arduous work, without even gaining a shred of reputation.
The Third Hokage is helping Danzo recruit people.
Where they ultimately go is truly uncertain.
If it were made clear what kind of place Root is, let's see which Konoha Shinobi Clan would send people there.
Whose child isn't a child?
So…
This is called tricking people.
"Since the Sarutobi Clan is so enthusiastic, why don't we make some room for them?"
"We withdraw from the Anbu?" Shiron hesitated.
If the Sarutobi Clan members are all going in, isn't it obvious who will do the dirty and hard work?
"You don't actually think the Sarutobi Clan wants to set an example and lead the charge, do you? You don't, do you?"
"This…" Uncle Shiron was speechless.
"Let them play by themselves," Miki said, "Leave a few people in the Anbu, and the rest will form the Aburame Insects squad, and do it like Sengoku."
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