Konoha's Tatsuya

Hearing Tatsuya's question, Kakashi's expression instantly darkened somewhat. He slowly began to speak, "This afternoon, I made contact with the spy our village dispatched to Kirigakure. We had originally arranged to meet outside the village, but when I arrived, he had already been murdered!"

The Konoha spy Kakashi contacted was named Toriichi Kumade, an experienced Special Jōnin who had been embedded in Kirigakure for over two years. When Kakashi reached the meeting point, Toriichi Kumade's body lay silent on the ground, the blood from his neck having long since stained a large patch of earth red. Judging from the lack of struggle signs at the scene, Toriichi Kumade had been assassinated instantly with a single blow. To possess such outstanding assassination skills, the attacker's strength was certainly not simple.

However, what puzzled Kakashi was that after assassinating Toriichi Kumade, the killer not only didn't wait there for his arrival but didn't even take the body. Such actions were highly incomprehensible! Kakashi couldn't figure out the purpose behind this act; it couldn't possibly be just a simple warning.

After hearing Kakashi's account, Tatsuya, Guy, and Itachi all tensed. The murder of the Konoha spy Kakashi was supposed to meet meant their own identities might very well have been exposed. For a moment, the four fell silent. After some fruitless thought and discussion, the four split into pairs and returned to their rooms to rest. That night, all members of ANBU Squad 11 heightened their vigilance.

Time flew by. Three days later, in the morning, the four members of ANBU Squad 11 arrived as scheduled at the designated meeting place. This was an abandoned underground facility within Kirigakure. The dim, damp, confined space held a gloomy and eerie atmosphere.

For this meeting, the four members of Squad 11 again split into two teams: Kakashi and Guy would meet openly, while Tatsuya and Itachi provided backup from the shadows.

Drip... drip... drip...

The sound of water droplets hitting the floor echoed continuously, accentuating the silence of the abandoned underground facility. A dim light source flickered on, revealing three figures in black robes standing silently within a room. Kakashi and Guy entered the room. Two of the figures immediately tensed up.

"Was it you who sent the request for aid to our village?" Kakashi asked, looking at the lead figure in the center.

"Correct. It was I who sent the plea for help to your esteemed village. I initially didn't expect much to come of it; I never thought the Third Hokage would dispatch such elite individuals as yourselves," the lead figure replied.

Hearing this person speak, both Kakashi and Guy showed surprise in their eyes. Behind them, Tatsuya and Itachi, hidden in the shadows, were also startled. The speaker was actually a woman, and her vocal timbre was very distinctive. Glancing again at the woman's figure, Tatsuya instantly identified her.

This woman is the future Fifth Mizukage, Terumi Mei!

"Konoha has always advocated for peace in the shinobi world. Upon receiving your request, Lord Hokage immediately assembled us and assigned this mission. Now that we are here, would you be willing to reveal your true identity? It would facilitate cooperation between our sides," Kakashi said gravely.

"Heh heh, for the sake of cooperation, I can naturally reveal my identity," Terumi Mei chuckled softly, pulling back her black hood. Long auburn hair framed an exceptionally beautiful face.

Looking at Terumi Mei, Kakashi was slightly surprised. During the Third Shinobi World War, Terumi Mei had indeed begun to make a name for herself among Kirigakure's younger generation as a genius ninja possessing two Kekkai Genkai. However, because Kirigakure was comparatively the most closed-off among the Five Great Shinobi Villages, Konoha's intelligence on the village was relatively limited. Little was known by the outside world about Terumi Mei's status and influence within Kirigakure. For her to be the one fronting something as major as a village coup d'état, Kakashi couldn't help but feel some suspicion.

"Now that you both know my identity, do either of you have any objections to our cooperation?" Under the dim light, Terumi Mei offered a sweet smile.

Konoha Village, the Uchiha Compound.

"Elder Yashiro! News from the Land of Fields! That Mangekyō Sharingan wielder claiming to be Madara Uchiha has appeared again! He's in the recently established Village Hidden in Medicine!" Hiroaki Uchiha and Yasumasa Uchiha rushed into the room, excitedly addressing Uchiha Yashiro, who sat upright and motionless.

Uchiha Yashiro glanced sideways at the two impassively, saying nothing. The excitement on Hiroaki and Yasumasa's faces instantly faltered; they realized Elder Yashiro already knew the news.

After several tens of seconds of silence, Hiroaki Uchiha couldn't resist speaking again. "Elder Yashiro, send me this time! We must make contact with that clansman!"

"You? Last time, Misuke went and couldn't even find him. Do you think you can do better than Misuke?" Uchiha Yashiro turned his head towards Hiroaki, his voice even and measured. These past two years, the performance of these two has become increasingly disappointing.

Hearing this, Hiroaki opened his mouth, his face flushing slightly red. Within the clan, Uchiha Misuke was an exception among the women; her strength and competence were absolutely outstanding among the younger generation. This woman had always kept a low profile previously, rarely participating in clan affairs. But two years ago, ever since Misuke Uchiha joined the Military Police Force, her reputation and prestige within the Uchiha clan had steadily risen, and she now consistently overshadowed both Hiroaki Uchiha and Yasumasa Uchiha. If not for Shisui, who had already awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, maintaining an overwhelming advantage in combat power, Misuke Uchiha's standing within the clan might have risen even further. Therefore, hearing Elder Yashiro compare him to Misuke Uchiha, even if Hiroaki wanted to retort, he couldn't find the words. After all, the difference in strength and track record was plain to see.

"This time, I will personally make a trip to the Land of Fields. If I can bring this powerful individual back to the clan, what does it matter if it costs me my old life?" Uchiha Yashiro stated after verbally prodding Hiroaki. As he spoke, expectation and fervor gleamed in his eyes. Leading the Uchiha to seize political power in Konoha Village – this was Uchiha Yashiro's lifelong obsession.

"But... Captain Fugaku probably won't agree to let you leave the village, will he?" Hearing Elder Yashiro's declaration, both Hiroaki and Yasumasa were startled. Yasumasa Uchiha then asked hesitantly. For the past two years, although Uchiha Yashiro was nominally still the clan's wiseman, an advisory elder close to the clan head, everyone had acutely sensed that Fugaku Uchiha's attitude towards him had changed. Elder Yashiro had lost the Clan Head's trust! Under these circumstances, it would be very difficult for Uchiha Yashiro to leave the village.

Hearing this, Uchiha Yashiro raised an eyebrow. "Rest assured! I will persuade the Captain to allow me to go."

"Elder Yashiro, take us with you!" Hiroaki and Yasumasa exchanged a look upon hearing his confidence, then requested in unison.

Uchiha Yashiro's gaze swept over the two, and he nodded lightly. "Alright!"