Inside the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked surprised.
"What did you say?"
"It's been an entire day since Uchiha Shisui took Reiki into the Uchiha compound?" he asked, frowning.
Could it be that the Uchiha had realized Reiki's value and were attempting to sway him using Shisui? If so…
"Hiruzen, this matter needs careful handling," Koharu Utatane advised sternly. "The Uchiha have gathered all their clan members back to the compound, and no one knows what they're planning. If their power threatens Konoha…"
Homura Mitokado's worry deepened. "The Uchiha's ambition remains unchecked. If they decide to rebel, even we may not be able to contain the fallout."
Suddenly, a group of skilled shinobi appeared in the office—Jiraiya, Namikaze Minato, Hatake Sakumo, and Orochimaru. Two of the Legendary Sannin had arrived, along with the renowned swordsman and one of Konoha's top young geniuses.
"Lord Hokage, you called us for an urgent mission?" Jiraiya asked, looking slightly puzzled. He had barely returned to the village before being summoned.
"It's about Reiki. He was taken to the Uchiha compound by their clan members," Hiruzen explained quickly. "I need you to bring him back."
"Reiki? Tsunade's disciple?" Jiraiya asked with a curious expression.
"Yes," Sarutobi confirmed. "So, this will be an S-Rank mission. Go and bring him back safely."
Jiraiya agreed immediately, not waiting for questions. "Let's go," he said confidently, and the team left without delay.
Soon, the four arrived outside the Uchiha compound.
"Sensei, are we really just going to walk in there?" Namikaze Minato asked hesitantly. "Even with the four of us, this is the Uchiha…"
"Minato, remember why we're here," Jiraiya replied, amused. Minato was brilliant, but sometimes a little too by-the-book.
"We're here to retrieve Reiki, not to fight," Jiraiya explained, taking a step forward.
As they approached, Uchiha Sawa greeted them, looking somewhat surprised to see the four together. "Jiraiya-sama, Orochimaru-sama, Sakumo—what brings you all to the Uchiha compound?"
"Minato, why don't you go have a drink with Sawa here," Jiraiya suggested with a grin, steering Minato aside. "We're just here to speak with your clan leader about something."
"Uh… sure?" Minato replied, clearly puzzled but willing to follow along.
Jiraiya nudged him off, muttering, "Minato is too straight-laced for this mission."
Then he turned to Hatake Sakumo. "Sakumo, remember, we're just here to get Reiki. No need to escalate anything. Let's keep this simple."
Sakumo nodded, and the three entered the compound. In the distance, they saw the Uchiha members lined up, and families handing over money.
"Jiraiya-sama, what… exactly are they doing?" Sakumo whispered, trying to make sense of the scene.
Just then, Uchiha Tani, the clan leader, emerged from the training grounds, looking just as puzzled to see them.
"Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Sakumo—what brings you all here?" Uchiha Tani asked, his tone polite but curious. As fellow high-level shinobi in Konoha, they were familiar, but not close enough to warrant an unannounced visit.
"Lord Hokage sent us to bring Reiki back," Sakumo said plainly.
"Oh, it's a mission, then?" Tani replied with a faint frown. "Brother Reiki is in the training grounds if you'd like me to call him over."
Tani quickly grasped why they were there. It seemed the village's leadership still had some trust issues with the Uchiha, enough to dispatch high-ranking shinobi over a single medical ninja's visit.
"No need," Jiraiya replied with a relaxed smile. "Reiki is busy; we can wait. In the meantime, Tani, how about a drink?"
Tani chuckled, his momentary tension easing. "Of course. Shall we?"
As the three headed off, Hatake Sakumo remained standing there awkwardly. Finally, he decided to go check on Reiki at the training grounds, where he found Uchiha clan members gathering around Reiki as he treated them.
"Uncle Sakumo, just in time!" Reiki called out when he spotted him. "Could you bring some supplies from the interrogation department? And take this box of potions along with instructions for use."
Sakumo took the items, somewhat bemused, but relieved to have a reason to leave.
Outside the compound, Sakumo encountered a group of ANBU, who seemed equally perplexed.
"Hatake Sakumo, did the mission fail?" one of them asked, looking at him oddly. "Four of you went in, and only you came out… and you don't seem injured."
Sakumo chuckled, finding the situation both funny and absurd. "Mission?" he repeated, shrugging before walking away with a dry laugh.