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It was already eight o'clock in the evening. Mikoto Uchiha and the others were preparing to say goodbye. Being able to see Naruto today was a very good start for them. After all, he was their dear friend's son. News about Naruto had always been excluded by Hiruzen Sarutobi. Seeing Naruto now, although he looked somewhat malnourished, his smile still carried the shadow of the gentle Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze. This was quite a nice feeling.
"Then we'll head back first, Boss Shinji. Naruto is entrusted to you," Mikoto Uchiha reached out and patted the sleeping Naruto's hair.
"Okay. Then you head back first. There happen to be no Root ninjas outside right now. Seize the time," Shinji sensed the situation outside and said.
"Root ninjas?" Hizashi Hyūga repeated subconsciously.
"Yes. Looks like they finally discovered Naruto is missing. Only discovered from morning until now," Shinji said somewhat mockingly. This also meant Naruto's meals were only delivered in the morning and then again in the evening. This arrangement was really...
"Need our help?" Hinami Hyūga's personality was somewhat similar to Hinata's, usually not talking much. But at times like this, she was often the first to stand up.
"No need. You go back first. My All-Purpose Shop can handle it," Shinji chuckled lightly, then signaled them to go back first.
"Alright then. If you need anything, tell us promptly," Mikoto Uchiha frowned.
"Naturally. Don't worry, it's fine."
Everyone filed out. Soon, only Shinji, Karin, Deidara, Jūgo, and the soundly sleeping Naruto remained in the All-Purpose Shop.
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...
After Karin cleared the dining table, Jūgo had already carried Naruto upstairs to sleep. Deidara, however, uncharacteristically didn't return to his room, but just sat on the living room sofa looking at his hands. From time to time, he kneaded something in the small pouch he carried.
"Deidara, why haven't you gone back to your room to work on your inventions?" Shinji looked somewhat strangely at Deidara. This wasn't like Deidara's personality.
"Lord Shinji, there will be a battle soon, right?" Deidara didn't answer Shinji's question, but just looked at Shinji and said. While speaking, the kneading in his small pouch became even more obvious.
"What, you want to participate if there's a battle?" Shinji smiled. He already knew Deidara had sensed something. Seeing this, he no longer concealed it, but sat down beside Deidara, following his gaze towards the main door of the All-Purpose Shop.
"Naturally. I am a part of the All-Purpose Shop," Deidara said somewhat proudly. Once upon a time, he only considered the All-Purpose Shop a temporary residence. But after spending this period together, Deidara grew increasingly fond of the All-Purpose Shop. Whether it was Shinji, Karin, or this Jūgo who had just arrived not long ago. These felt like bonds winding around him, making him feel increasingly attached to the All-Purpose Shop.
"A part... Deidara, you should know, if you don't go upstairs now, what you will face." Shinji stated calmly. He believed that with Danzō's intelligence capabilities, the news of him appearing outside Naruto's residence this morning must have already been grasped. Then, with Danzō's ability, connecting him with Naruto's disappearance this time wouldn't be difficult. Meaning, Danzō might very likely bring Root to the All-Purpose Shop's doorstep soon.
"I naturally know this, Lord Shinji. You know me," Deidara chuckled lightly. He knew what the All-Purpose Shop would face next. But this didn't disturb his inner feelings of guarding the All-Purpose Shop.
"Lord Shinji, me too," At this moment, Karin had just finished clearing the dining table and came directly beside Shinji. Jūgo also came down from the room. Without saying a word, he just stood behind Shinji.
Feeling the emotions of the three towards him, towards the All-Purpose Shop, even Shinji couldn't help feeling somewhat gratified. Humans are creatures prone to sharing wealth but not hardship together. Therefore, the actions of these three warmed Shinji's heart.
"Then let us together... guard this All-Purpose Shop."
"Yes! Lord Shinji!" Hearing Shinji's reply, the expressions of the three seemed relieved, their bodies relaxing. It seemed Shinji's answer just now gave them great encouragement.
"But, no next time," Shinji chuckled softly. Facing these things now was still too early for them. After all, an eagle that hasn't grown up is still just a fledgling, still needing his protection.
"Hehe," Karin acted as if she didn't hear Shinji's words, instead reaching out and holding the corner of Shinji's clothes.
"Lord Shinji, I will protect you," Jūgo said very seriously.
"Yes, yes. Sigh, can't argue with you," Shinji shook his head somewhat helplessly. These few were just too shrewd, all knowing where Shinji's soft spot was.
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...
"Is this the place?" In the street, a figure suddenly appeared at the end of the street. The sound of the cane tapped continuously on the ground like a death knell.
"Yes, Lord Danzō. After checking ANBU records, this morning, the owner of the All-Purpose Shop, Shinji, passed by the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki's residence and lingered for a period. He only left after ANBU members approached. And according to ANBU records, Shinji wasn't seen leaving until noon," The Root ninja held a notepad, filled with ANBU records. After the incident of the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki's disappearance, the Root under Danzō's command controlled the remaining ANBU personnel with lightning speed.
The reason given was: these people neglected their duty, and investigation was needed to determine if anyone within ANBU privately released the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. Of course, anyone with discerning eyes could see Danzō was just eliminating dissenters. After all, in Konoha, only ANBU could pose a threat to Root. And the notepad in the Root ninja's hand was precisely the duty logbook of the ANBU specifically responsible for guarding Naruto's vicinity!
"Can Shinji's subsequent whereabouts be determined?" Danzō frowned and asked.
"Temporarily unable to. But according to the cake shop owner nearby, the All-Purpose Shop ordered a birthday cake today," The Root ninja lowered his head and checked the records. Filled with dense records, some were situations confirmed after recent visits.
"Birthday cake..." Danzō narrowed his eyes. As Hokage Aide and leader of Root, he naturally knew the significance of buying a birthday cake today. Indeed. This mysterious Boss Shinji knew Naruto's true identity. After all, in the entire Konoha, only the missing Naruto had a birthday today! Therefore, Danzō was now extremely certain that the person who took Naruto away must be Shinji! Thinking of this, Danzō looked at the Root ninja beside him.
"Lord Danzō?" Sensing Danzō's gaze, the Root ninja quickly asked.
"Gather all Root members here," Danzō said after some thought. He could now confirm Naruto was definitely inside this All-Purpose Shop! Therefore, he needed to bring Naruto back! Incidentally, he could also analyze Shinji's secrets. Thinking of this, a wave of excitement surged through Danzō's heart.
"Yes!" The Root ninja accepted the order and left directly. Danzō stood in place, looking up at the sky. The bright moonlight shone on him, stretching his shadow very long behind him.
"Truly a full moon night," Danzō murmured. This really was a good night. As long as tonight passed, he would be able to get closer and closer to his goal. The position of Hokage seemed increasingly close!
"Lord Danzō! Currently, besides some Root ninjas who went out of the village to search, all remaining personnel have arrived."
"Very good. Move out!" Danzō glanced back. Root ninjas densely occupied the entire street. Chilling auras emanated from these people. Sharp auras like javelins tore through the dark night.
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"Looks like they're coming," Shinji suddenly opened his eyes. He could already sense footsteps approaching outside the All-Purpose Shop, and judging by the number, it wasn't small.
"Good. Just right, I can test my newly developed skill!" Deidara licked his lips like Orochimaru, but immediately realized this action didn't quite suit him.
"Lord Shinji, I can do it!" Dragon Slayer Magic aura already appeared around Karin. This aura made her hair float slightly without wind. Her blood-red hair made Karin's cheeks look even more resolute. Jūgo, though silent, faintly showed signs of sage chakra appearing on his body.
Knock knock knock. Just as Shinji was thinking, a knock sounded on the main door of the All-Purpose Shop.
"Please come in," Shinji signaled the three with his eyes, then returned to the tea table himself. Since someone came to the All-Purpose Shop, Shinji would still open for business. Of course, there would definitely be some other attitude involved.
"Boss Shinji..." Thump thump thump, the sound of Danzō's cane entering. His remaining eye stared at Shinji, seeming like just an ordinary old man coming over for a chat.
"Lord Danzō, why do you have time to come over here so late today?" Shinji acted completely unaware of Danzō's purpose, instead looking at him with a chuckle.
"Naturally, I came to find Boss Shinji for tea and chat. Just happens I can also introduce some business to you. You wouldn't be unwelcome, right, Boss Shinji?" Danzō chuckled lightly, then waved his hand. The Root ninjas originally outside walked in one by one, soon filling the already not large first floor of the All-Purpose Shop.
Watching these Root ninjas enter, Shinji's eyes narrowed. This Danzō fellow really had no scruples at all, actually letting so many people enter directly. Introduce business? Shinji saw through Danzō's purpose at a glance. Was this planning to use absolute force to search his All-Purpose Shop?
Seeing so many people enter, Deidara, Karin, and Jūgo directly entered alert stances. Deidara's right hand had already reached into his small pouch. Although he now didn't need exploding clay to use explosions, years of habit still made him habitually carry it.
"Lord Danzō, with so many people coming over, my small shop can't entertain so many guests," Shinji tapped the tea table with his finger. The tapping sound echoed continuously in the All-Purpose Shop. The Root ninjas stood in designated positions. Without Danzō's next command, they wouldn't act.
"Boss Shinji is resourceful. This level of numbers shouldn't trouble Boss Shinji, right?" Danzō said unhurriedly. This matter wasn't something Shinji could simply gloss over.
"That might not be certain. Lord Danzō, let's talk about why you came to our All-Purpose Shop today," Shinji chuckled lightly, then intended to bring the topic back on track.
"Just a small matter. But have some puzzling things, so isn't that why I came over to the All-Purpose Shop for consultation?" Danzō said with a forced smile.
"Oh? A small matter. Then Lord Danzō, please speak. This humble one will definitely tell all he knows," Shinji knew this old fox Danzō intended to approach the beginning and end of this matter step by step. Moreover, for someone like Danzō, as long as he suspected you, then in his heart, you were no longer a suspect, but the heinous originator.
"Today, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki disappeared. Wonder if Boss Shinji knows about this?" Danzō looked at the teacup before him, slowly picking it up and taking a sip.
"The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki disappeared? Lord Danzō, this is ANBU's dereliction of duty," Shinji knew what this old fox intended to say, but didn't pick up Danzō's thread.
"Boss Shinji actually doesn't know about this?" Danzō stared into Shinji's eyes, his gaze slowly becoming sharp. Seemingly sensing the change in Danzō's aura, the Root ninjas all took two steps forward, staring intently at Shinji. Karin, Deidara, and Jūgo, seeing the Root ninjas intending to act, simultaneously stood up and came beside Shinji, just staring at the Root ninjas behind Danzō.
"Deidara, disciple of Iwagakure's Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki. Karin, although origin unknown, identity as Uzumaki clan member is correct. And this one... Jūgo? Although I don't know the detailed information, definitely not a native Konoha ninja," Danzō's gaze swept across the faces of the three one by one, enunciating the identities of the three word by word.
Clap clap! Clap clap! Shinji clapped his hands, seemingly agreeing with Danzō's words.
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