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"Alright, you're right. I'm looking forward to the official launch of the Konoha lottery."
Minato sighed, suppressing his inner craving for cold, hard cash, and returned to his paperwork.
…
Konoha Infiltration Plan: Activated
Konan, following the provided instructions, utilized a combination of a basic concealment technique and a silencing jutsu taught by Black Zetsu to minimize her chakra signature.
She smoothly passed the initial security perimeter and obtained a seven-day visa on the spot before arriving at the main gate for her formal entry inspection.
The process was surprisingly streamlined.
Several Konoha Shinobi, meticulously scanned the passing travelers from either side of the village gate.
Typically, only individuals exhibiting chakra levels exceeding a safe threshold were detained for more thorough identity verification. Even standard Chunin were permitted passage without incident.
If any low-ranking Shinobi dared to cause trouble within Konoha's walls—well, they'd likely be subdued by a random, burly villager before they even had a chance to unsheathe their weapons.
A junior member of the Hyuga clan, Hyuga Kagami, focused his Byakugan intently on Konan. A senior member, Hyuga Nabe, noticing his unusual hesitation, inquired kindly, "Something amiss?"
This was the first instance he'd witnessed a junior clan member falter during inspections. Being the considerate senior he was, he decided to offer some guidance.
"That blue-haired woman seems—unusual," Hyuga Kagami murmured, a hint of uncertainty in his voice. "Her chakra is strange—and different."
"Should we adhere to village protocol and detain her for questioning?"
"Hmm…" Hyuga Nabe followed his junior's line of sight, observing Konan for a moment before offering a reassuring smile and shaking his head.
"Ah, sometimes these things happen…"
"Really? Is this—common, then?"
"Not common, no, but certainly explainable. I attribute it to an exceptionally strong will, manifesting as—well, as you perceived it."
"Chakra, after all," Hyuga Nabe continued with a knowing smile, "is the embodiment of both physical and spiritual energy. A powerful spirit can indeed—resonate in unusual ways."
Hyuga Nabe beamed, pointing to his own eyes. "Heaven has blessed our Hyuga clan with these eyes. Beyond mere intelligence gathering, they grant us the ability to discern the very nature of chakra, to perceive whether someone's spiritual energy is benevolent or malevolent, and consequently, to understand the true nature of a Shinobi."
"Think of Might Guy, the taijutsu specialist in our village. Every time that man passes through the gate, my Byakugan registers a dangerous chakra signature, Yet, when we search him, there's nothing there—What does that tell you? His will is as strong as steel!"
'Seems like a rather niche, and ultimately impractical, application of the Byakugan,' Hyuga Kagami mused internally, nodding along in feigned agreement. So, that was it—Individuals with an exceptionally strong will, a Potent Shinobi spirit, were perceived as 'metallic' by the Byakugan.
"Alright, enough staring at the lady. It's impolite."
'Gojo-sama did emphasize keeping procedures streamlined, avoiding unnecessary re-inspections to prevent delays and maintain a positive image of Konoha.'
Hyuga Nabe waved his hand dismissively, signaling the release of the current group of travelers.
This small gesture eased Konan's apprehension, and she released a barely perceptible sigh of relief as she entered Konoha Village without further incident.
She had been concerned her paper ninjutsu might have been discovered.
Her paper ninjutsu involved utilizing chakra to coat weaponry, transforming them into paper for enhanced concealment and maneuverability while preserving their inherent sharpness and durability.
Furthermore, she could directly manipulate their chakra nature…
In a sense, paper was a form of wood release!
Offense and defense intertwined!
A cornerstone of the Akatsuki's arsenal!
...
Shortly after Konan's passage, Gojo Kaigetsu's figure materialized silently at the Konoha security checkpoint. Upon seeing Gojo Kaigetsu, the Konoha personnel immediately ceased their tasks and saluted respectfully.
Hyuga Kagami instinctively activated his Byakugan and scanned Gojo. As anticipated, just as Hyuga Nabe had described—wait, what?!
Through his Byakugan, Gojo's chakra appeared utterly ordinary, completely devoid of the potent chakra aura Hyuga Nabe had so confidently described.
"Just now—did a blue-haired woman, possessing a somewhat aloof demeanor, pass through here?"
"Yes, Gojo-sama! I personally cleared her for entry!" Hyuga Nabe stepped forward, anticipating praise. Given the importance of the target, Gojo had personally arrived to oversee the inspection, hadn't he?
Hyuga Kagami glanced at Nabe, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes.
"Good. You're fired! You may return to the Hyuga compound and await your next assignment."
'Huh…? Yes! Gojo-sama!'
Hyuga Nabe's heart sank, yet he accepted the directive and promptly departed the checkpoint.
Perhaps he was facing a three-day unpaid suspension, followed by a relaxing trip to a foot massage parlor.
Gojo Kaigetsu turned his attention to Hyuga Kagami. "You seem to have something to say?"
"Yes! Gojo-sama, I suspect the woman who just entered may be dangerous—My Byakugan detected that she was carrying strong chakra. But Nabe-senpai dismissed it as normal and permitted her entry…"
"Hmm, relax. Your instincts were correct; she is indeed dangerous. But rest assured, everything is under control."
"What is your name?"
"Gojo-sama! My name is Hyuga Kagami!"
"Oh? Hyuga Kagami?" A flicker of surprise crossed Gojo Kaigetsu's expression. "Do you possess the Tenseigan?"
"Huh? Gojo-sama, I have the Byakugan—What is a Tenseigan?"
"Never mind. You are promoted. You are now the head of this security checkpoint! When you are off duty, I suggest you visit the Uzumaki compound and introduce yourself to Uzumaki Reina. Tell her I sent you. I believe you two might—connect."
"Alright, that concludes our business here. I'm leaving."
Gojo Kaigetsu clapped Hyuga Kagami's shoulder lightly and vanished.
Three brief sentences, and Hyuga Kagami was left speechless, a blush rising on his cheeks.
Suddenly, he felt a surge of newfound purpose…
He had recently read "From a Branch Family," and the narrative had deeply resonated with him. But what he had just experienced firsthand—this could be adapted into a compelling story and submitted to Konoha's publishing house!
He immediately began to formulate a way to extol Gojo-sama's virtues:
[Years later, the esteemed Supreme Village Defense Commander Gojo-sama, in his unwavering dedication to understanding the common Shinobi and identifying potential security vulnerabilities, personally visited the front lines at the security checkpoint.]
[He could have easily bypassed the checkpoint entirely, yet he insisted on undergoing the standard procedure—Upon passing through, the Byakugan detected that Gojo-sama was radiating a potent chakra signature. The inspectors searched diligently for an extended period but found nothing tangible.]
[Finally, they realized that the Byakugan was reacting to Gojo-sama's indomitable will, which was 'Extremely' unyielding and Powerful!]
[The power of a role model is immeasurable, especially when it is the Supreme Village Defense Commander himself. Witnessing firsthand that a Shinobi's spiritual will could be as very potent, I was profoundly moved and inspired. The heroic spirit and unwavering resolve displayed by Konoha's Shinobi in battles against other villages undoubtedly stem from this very source…]
....
....
Having entered Konoha, Konan felt as though she had stepped into an entirely different realm.
The peaceful world she had long envisioned likely resembled something akin to this
Clear skies, the air devoid of the pervasive dampness and decay characteristic of the Land of Rain; bustling streets, yet no visible signs of homelessness.
Smiles graced the faces of the villagers, as if nothing in the world could bring them greater joy than residing in Konoha; the streets were adorned with novelties that captivated Konan, who had spent her formative years in Amegakure, leaving her wide-eyed with wonder.
Standing amidst the bustling thoroughfare, Konan felt a pang of disorientation.
Konan's orange eyes, tinged with confusion, murmured, "This is Jiraiya-sensei's hometown. It's—beautiful."
After a prolonged moment of contemplation, Konan bit her tongue sharply, jolting herself out of her reverie and reaffirming her Shinobi resolve:
'There is nothing to admire—Had I not been born into such an environment, I might still be living—There is nothing inherently wrong with forging bonds of friendship.'
'The scenery of Konoha is undeniably beautiful, yet it belongs solely to Konoha. This semblance of peace is a peace exclusive to Konoha—a fragile tranquility built upon the pain and suffering of Amegakure. Their peace has not been extended to Amegakure.'
'Everything here will inevitably be consumed by Nagato's wrath. Perhaps it is merciful to indulge in this illusion of peace for now. At least, before the impending disaster, before the flames engulf them, they can experience happiness.'
Konan inhaled deeply, steeling herself and severing any lingering threads of sympathy for the Konoha villagers.
'I have come to Konoha for only three paramount objectives.'
'Locate the Uzumaki! Persuade the Uzumaki!'
'Beyond these goals, I must remain detached from all extraneous emotions!'
...
Konan sternly reminded herself, reinforcing her determination. She began navigating the streets, endeavoring to locate the Uzumaki clan compound independently.
To render her search for the Uzumaki clan less conspicuous and evade detection by Konoha's Anbu, Konan consciously attempted to blend into the Konoha populace, mimicking the demeanor of an ordinary traveler and momentarily immersing herself in the village's peaceful ambiance.
'I am not indulging in this. This is solely for the mission.' Konan reassured herself, approaching a small vendor, retrieving the organization's allocated funds from her wallet, and commencing her reconnaissance under the guise of casual spending.
She held a candied fruit stick in her left hand, a bowl of Four Fruits Soup in her right, her eyes darting about, meticulously observing her surroundings.
'The Uzumaki clan has only recently returned to Konoha. Mistrust likely lingers between the Uzumaki and Konoha. Therefore, it is highly probable that—Konoha has only granted them a relatively small territory as a temporary residence.'
'However, they are, after all, the Uzumaki clan. Their location wouldn't be relegated to the remote outskirts, nor would it be situated too close to the central core of Konoha…'
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