Naruto: Puppet Master Undercover in Konoha

The battle at Mount Hakuto was just a single fight, but it resulted in a devastating defeat for the alliance of Sand and Cloud ninja. They were driven right across the border of the Land of Fire, securing Konoha a decisive victory in the war.

At this time, Konoha ninjas were clearing the battlefield, recovering bodies, and organizing supplies.

Shindai, Obito, and Kakashi weren't seriously injured, so after Rin Nohara finished treating her wounds, they began searching the battlefield for injured Konoha comrades.

Right now, Shindai felt really annoyed. He was swollen like a pig's head, yet they still made him work? That was going too far.

"Mom!"

Just as Shindai was about to help an injured ninja stand up, the wounded man, upon seeing Shindai's head swollen like a pig's face, got startled.

You've got plenty of voice left. Guess that means you're fine to walk yourself back.

Halfway through helping him up, Shindai immediately became unhappy and let go, causing the injured man to fall back onto the ground.

The injured man looked at his broken legs, then confusedly looked up at Pig-faced Shindai.

Was that considered a minor injury? Could he really return by himself?

"Ahh, sorry, sorry! He's just joking with you."

Obito quickly apologized, rushing over to assist the injured man and carrying him toward the medical ninja.

Kakashi approached Shindai and asked, "Why are you so angry?"

Shindai replied sharply, "Angry? I'm not angry. I was just annoyed by him. I was trying to be nice and help him up, but he reacted like he saw a ghost. How could I not get mad?"

After staring at Shindai for a while, Kakashi asked, "What did you talk about with Pakura during your fight? After she left, you seemed troubled, like you're anxious about something."

Turning his head away from Kakashi, Shindai answered, "Really? You must've misunderstood. Why would I be anxious? Kakashi, I think you're being too neurotic. Lord Hokage said this battle signified the end of the war. I can finally return to my homebody life again. Right now, I'm really happy!"

Obito also came to Kakashi's side and said to Shindai, "Honestly, Shindai, you're really too predictable. Kakashi is right—actually, I feel the same. You do seem anxious, and it definitely has something to do with Pakura. Come on, tell us what's wrong. We'll help you figure it out together."

Figure it out yourselves—quit overcomplicating things!

Shindai turned around directly and headed toward the supply station. He didn't want to keep cleaning the battlefield anymore. Right now, he just wanted to flop down and properly think things through.

Shindai found an empty stretcher and pretended to be an injured person lying down on it.

Neither Obito nor Kakashi tried to stop Shindai. They could clearly see how bad his mood was—and that it definitely had something to do with Pakura.

Lying on the stretcher, Shindai contemplated.

He never expected that Pakura would aim to claim the position of Kazekage.

Rasa is certainly no fool. After all, he himself was a prime example—framed and ultimately labeled a traitor of Sunagakure. And beside him, there's Chiyo and Ebizō assisting him.

If Pakura intends to compete for the position of Kazekage, Rasa will surely make his move against her.

However, since Rasa had just assumed office as Kazekage and suffered a defeat, he wouldn't act openly against Pakura.

So most likely, he would still send ninja from Kirigakure to deal with her.

But now, there's one uncertainty—and that is Rasa himself.

After all, once Pakura leaves Sunagakure, Rasa will never allow her to return alive.

Then comes a problem: using Pakura as a sacrificial pawn, having her secretly assassinated by Mist ninjas—if Pakura somehow survives this attempt?

Should Pakura manage to return to Sunagakure, it would undoubtedly cause a significant upheaval to Rasa's rule.

Because originally, Rasa only hastily took power due to The Third Kazekage's disappearance without finding any trace of him. Then came another major defeat and those scandals.

If Pakura claims she was secretly targeted by Rasa, even if Rasa forcefully suppresses it, unrest will still brew.

Putting himself in that situation, Shindai—a schemer like Rasa—pondered deeply.

If he were Rasa, he would certainly dispatch ninjas to follow Pakura and personally witness her death at the hands of the Mist ninja; if she didn't die, then he'd have those dispatched ninjas kill Pakura himself.

Shindai shot upright on the stretcher, his expression extremely grim.

This is bad!

The life-saving mechanism Shindai had created for Pakura was one-time use only. Once used, it was gone forever.

He needs to come up with a plan to prepare further.

But... how exactly can he do that?

Even if he makes more devices, there's no way to deliver them to Pakura.

Another big problem is not knowing when or where Pakura will leave Sunagakure.

Shindai's eyes darkened—he really needed to think carefully.

To save Pakura, he must know when she leaves Sunagakure and where she is headed. Otherwise, even if he could fly, he wouldn't arrive in time.

As Shindai pondered, he unintentionally noticed several Konoha ninjas surrounding a child.

"What's your name? Do you know it?"

"Where are your parents? Do you know their names?"

"He doesn't know anything at all. Seems like he's lost his memory, and probably has poor eyesight too."

Looking at the child, Shindai felt a strange sense of familiarity.

"Let me examine this kid."

A blonde-haired woman wearing glasses began examining the child.

"What do you think about this child, Nonou?"

"No head injuries, just some abrasions on the skin. The specifics of the amnesia are unknown. We'll need to conduct a thorough examination back in the village to determine the cause."

"Well then, let's bring Shindai back to Konoha first. We should try to find his parents too. A child this young shouldn't be appearing here—it's really strange."

Shindai paused for a moment, then ran directly in front of the blonde woman and asked excitedly, "Big sister, what's your name?"

The blonde woman answered, "My name is Nonou Yakushi."

Shindai suddenly understood—it was Nonou Yakushi. Then this gray-haired kid must be Kabuto Yakushi—the well-known protégé.

"Shindai, it's not very nice to stare at people like that."

"You're still too young, Shindai. Maybe when you grow up a bit more."

"But your taste is actually pretty good. Nonou is one of the most famous beauties in the village. Many people are fond of her—you wouldn't even make the list!"

Many Konoha ninja teased Shindai playfully like this.

Because Shindai was a member of Kakashi's squad, and Kakashi, Obito, and Rin Nohara were all students under Konoha's Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze, plus how Shindai always went everywhere with Kakashi completing missions, nearly all the Konoha ninja already recognized Shindai by sight.

However, Shindai seemed rather shy, so he rarely interacted with others.

That's right—in their eyes, Shindai was just a timid and bashful kid.

Shindai rolled his eyes and muttered sarcastically, "What nonsense are you talking? Sister Nonou is way older than me—how could anything happen?"

Nonou Yakushi, already aged twenty-five, had a vein twitching on her forehead. This kid's words were seriously irritating!

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