Now that Wen Lan possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, he could nullify Obito's Kamui. He was confident he could protect Kushina.
But Wen Lan always prepared contingencies.
If something went wrong during the Nine-Tails incident, Orochimaru's experiment would serve as a backup plan.
On his way back from Orochimaru's lab, just as he entered the Uchiha compound, Wen Lan spotted a small girl with the Uchiha clan crest on her back.
She looked timid, clutching a cloth bag to her chest as she walked carefully forward.
Several older children surrounded her, sneering and shoving her.
The nearby adults merely watched coldly.
"Hey. What are you doing?"
Wen Lan's voice rang out sharply.
The children froze—then scattered instantly when they saw him.
The adults quickly turned away as if nothing had happened.
Wen Lan walked over and looked at the girl, who seemed about his age.
"You alright?"
She lifted her head, eyes brimming with tears, still protecting the bag tightly.
"I—I'm fine. Thank you, Third Elder."
Wen Lan studied her carefully.
Black hair. Purple outer robe. A small tear-shaped mole beneath her right eye.
And a faint sense of familiarity.
"You're from which branch? Why haven't I seen you before?"
He didn't know every clan member personally, but he was certain he had never seen her.
The girl lowered her head.
"I… I…"
Wen Lan sighed and rubbed his temple.
"Fine. If you don't want to say, don't. But if anyone bullies you again, come find me. You know where I live."
"Thank you, Third Elder."
She bowed and ran off.
Wen Lan turned to a nearby onlooker.
"Come here. What's going on?"
The man approached nervously.
"She's Uchiha Izumi. She just returned a few days ago. Her mother is from the clan… but her father isn't."
Wen Lan's pupils shrank slightly.
Uchiha Izumi.
Itachi's childhood crush in the original timeline.
A girl almost forgotten by the main story—but at thirteen, she awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan. A genuine prodigy.
The cold treatment made sense.
The Uchiha, like the Hyūga, forbade intermarriage. Mixed bloodlines were seen as disgrace.
"So because her mother married outside the clan, you ostracize her?"
His voice turned icy.
No one dared meet his gaze.
He may have been young, but his strength and authority were unquestioned. Even clan politics yielded to him.
And after what happened in Konoha's prison, the clan knew his ruthlessness.
He scanned the area slowly.
"If she carries Uchiha blood, then she is Uchiha."
"If I see this happen again, I will exercise my authority as Third Elder."
"Yes!"
The surrounding members bowed their heads like frightened quails.
Only after he left did they breathe again.
Back home, Pakura was tidying the house.
"You're back early."
"Nothing urgent. Gave Itachi and Kurenai the day off after the banquet."
He sat on the tatami and accepted tea.
"Where's everyone else?"
"It's too quiet, right?" Pakura smiled faintly. "Lady Tsunade went out again. Shizune followed. Hikari was bored and went with them."
"Left the village?"
"Not sure. Probably."
Wen Lan sighed.
"She probably found another gambling den outside the village."
Pakura chuckled softly.
"You know her temperament."
He nodded.
Peaceful.
For once.
The peace shattered minutes later.
Rapid footsteps.
An ANBU appeared instantly in the courtyard, kneeling.
"Advisor-sama. The Hokage requests your immediate presence."
Wen Lan rose without hesitation.
Inside the Hokage's office, Minato and Shikaku wore grim expressions.
"What happened?" Wen Lan asked.
Minato handed him a report.
Wen Lan scanned it.
Within three months—
Sunagakure.
Kumogakure.
Iwagakure.
All had been attacked.
And the targets were the jinchūriki.
Han of Iwa.
Yugito Nii of Kumo.
Gaara of Suna.
Han and Yugito survived due to reinforcements.
But Gaara—only six months old—had nearly caused catastrophe when Shukaku broke free due to unstable sealing. Half of Sunagakure was almost destroyed before the Fourth Kazekage intervened.
Witnesses described attackers wearing black cloaks with red clouds.
Highly coordinated.
Extremely powerful.
Known participants:
Sunagakure: a puppet master and a black-and-white half-bodied figure.Kumogakure: a scythe-wielding man and a heavily wrapped individual.Iwagakure: two lightning-style specialists.
Wen Lan immediately identified several.
Sasori.
Zetsu.
Hidan.
Kakuzu.
The two lightning users were unclear.
Shikaku spoke.
"We don't know how this organization formed. But their objective is clear: collect the tailed beasts."
"They're all at least Kage-level."
"Even the weaker pair attacking Iwa were near Kage-level."
Silence filled the room.
Wen Lan's gaze darkened.
The Akatsuki had begun moving earlier than expected.
The gears of fate were accelerating.
He looked at Minato calmly.
"They've started."
And this time—
He would be ready.
—------------------------------
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