The next morning, Li Xing rose early to begin her makeup. She put on the clothes she had worn as a courtesan long ago. While Kasumi and Yugito were still asleep, Li Xing kissed each of their foreheads. Then, she opened a door to nowhere and arrived directly near Konoha Village.
"Should be fine, right? Even Jiraiya wouldn't recognize me in this getup. Others definitely won't. Although, Ino might. Oh well, I trust Ino won't give me away."
Putting aside further thoughts, Li Xing walked directly towards the gates of Konoha Village.
Upon reaching the Konoha gates, Li Xing saw the two gatekeepers, Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane. As expected, Li Xing was stopped and inspected.
"I am Yun Ji, a courtesan from the Land of Rice. I've heard the name of Konoha Village for a long time. I've specifically come to Konoha for a tour and performance. I beg you two to let me in."
"Oh, is that so? Then let's go. I'll take you to see Lord Hokage."
"What? Izumo, you've worked hard for many days. Let me take this courtesan there instead!"
Li Xing had only shown a little of her charm, and Izumo and Kotetsu were already acting like rivals. Just as Li Xing was about to say she would find her own way, two people walked in from outside the gate.
It was Mo Li and Yuhi Kurenai. They walked in together, chatting and laughing. Seeing Izumo and Kotetsu arguing incessantly, Mo Li quickly stepped forward to mediate and learned about the courtesan's arrival.
"If that's the case, we'll escort this courtesan. We were just heading to report our mission to Lord Hokage anyway." Kurenai, seeing their infatuated expressions, immediately decided to lead the way.
"Wow! Sister, you're so beautiful! I'm Mo Li, Yamanaka Mo Li!"
"I'm Yuhi Kurenai, a Jonin of Konoha."
"I am Yun Ji. Please take care of me!" Li Xing bowed slightly, her words and actions portraying the demeanor of a courtesan to avoid suspicion from Mo Li and Kurenai.
"I miscalculated. I've only been separated from Mo Li for a day and a night. They haven't traveled any faster than I have. I arrived too early." Following behind Mo Li and Kurenai, Li Xing cursed herself for not being more thoughtful. She had encountered acquaintances as soon as she entered.
...
In the Hokage's office, Tsunade was unusually focused on reading documents. As soon as Mo Li entered, she shouted "Sister Tsunade!" and pounced into Tsunade's arms.
"I'm sorry, Sister Tsunade, I didn't complete your mission. But I met Brother Li Xing, and we went to watch the fireworks together. I took a lot of photos, look..."
After speaking, Mo Li pulled out a stack of photos, all of fireworks. Tsunade flipped through them carefully, a hint of disappointment on her face.
"Mo Li, didn't you take any pictures of your Brother Li Xing?"
Tsunade's words reminded Mo Li. She hadn't thought of it at all before. Then, she sheepishly scratched her head, "I forgot..."
At this moment, Kurenai interrupted their conversation, explaining their recent experiences. Finally, she brought up the courtesan Yun Ji they had brought along.
"Miss Yun Ji, please come in!"
Li Xing, who had been waiting outside, heard Kurenai's call, pushed open the door, and walked in. Tsunade smiled as soon as she saw Yun Ji, then patted Mo Li's head. "It's alright, Mo Li. You've worked hard too. Go tell Inochi you're safe. Kurenai, you've worked hard as well. Go back and rest well, I'll grant you leave."
After Mo Li and Kurenai had completely left, Tsunade walked over to Li Xing and circled her once.
"Your name is Yun Ji, right? You want to perform in Konoha? That's fine, but you must perform for at least three months. No, half a year. As for lodging, you'll stay with me. Is that okay?"
"Lord Hokage, wouldn't half a year be a bit too long? I still want to perform in other places. As for lodging, I agree." Li Xing didn't know what Tsunade was thinking, but she figured no one could stop her if she wanted to leave. Agreeing for now was acceptable, but she had to pretend to refuse.
"Alright, it's decided then. I'll take you to my place later, and I'll have Shizune prepare a room for you."
Tsunade only heard Li Xing's final agreement and completely ignored the rest of her words. Regardless of whether Li Xing was willing or not, she directly took Li Xing's hand and walked in the direction of her home.
Li Xing felt extremely speechless. "Old hag, don't just hear the part where I agree. You're still so unreliable even after becoming Hokage."
...
Meanwhile, in an Akatsuki hideout in the eastern part of the Land of Fire.
Sasuke woke up with a vacant stare. Obito immediately stepped forward to talk to him.
"You're awake. We've met before, haven't we? I'm not your enemy. Don't think too much about Deidara's situation. I have something to tell you, something about Itachi."
"You seem to know your brother well, but you know nothing about Itachi. Everything Itachi did was actually to protect you."
Sasuke's first reaction upon hearing Obito's words was disbelief. Obito knew Sasuke wouldn't believe him and decided to reveal his identity, claiming to be Uchiha Madara, Itachi's accomplice on the night of the clan massacre.
At the same time, Obito removed his mask, revealing his Sharingan. Suddenly, Sasuke's left eye transformed into Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan, shedding two streams of bloody tears. A ball of black flame ignited on Obito's body.
"That Itachi! He won't leave me in peace even after death!"
Obito was startled and quickly retreated into the shadows. After a short while, Obito reappeared within Sasuke's sight, completely unharmed. In reality, Obito had used Izanagi, altering the unfavorable reality.
Obito then continued to speak about Itachi, about the truth behind the Uchiha clan's annihilation, attributing it to the darkness deep within Konoha.
Sasuke still didn't entirely believe this. After all, Itachi had tried to kill him yesterday. To claim it was for protection, who could accept that?
"Regarding this matter, only four people knew: the Third Hokage, Danzo, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado. However, two of them are already dead, leaving only those two old fools."
"But I have someone under me who has learned Orochimaru's Edo Tensei. Danzo was also killed by him. I can have him resurrect Danzo so you can ask him for clarification."
Sasuke recalled that night of the clan massacre. Itachi had shed tears when he left. At the time, he thought he had seen wrong. Even the words Itachi spoke before his death were identical to the gentle brother he once knew, not like someone who wanted to kill him. He now believed Obito for the most part, but he still needed to confirm it himself.
To find the truth, Obito took Sasuke to a town in the Land of Fire. In a teahouse, they overheard people discussing the death of the Land of Fire's S-rank rogue ninja, Uchiha Itachi.
When Sasuke heard people calling Itachi a traitor and a criminal, he couldn't help but want to kill them, but Obito stopped him.
In the evening, on a seaside cliff, Sasuke cried. His brother had borne all the suffering to protect Konoha, yet in the eyes of others, he was a criminal. And he himself had personally killed the brother he loved the most. In the end, he had become what Itachi had said he would be – one who kills those important to him.
"From today onwards, our Snake Team is renamed Hawk Team. The Hawk Team has only one goal: to destroy Konoha!" Sasuke opened his eyes again. His scarlet Sharingan now displayed a six-pointed star pupil – the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Seeing this, Obito was satisfied. Where there is love, there is hate. The current Sasuke was filled with hatred born from love. Hate born from love was the most frenzied, and he had also awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, making him someone who could be used.