Chiyu had already sensed their arrival—some of his fellow clansmen.
He was about to open the door when the knocking abruptly ceased. His brow furrowed slightly as he sensed additional chakra sources.
"Capt—!"
"Shut up!"
A low, forceful voice interrupted. Chiyu recognized it as belonging to Uchiha Yakumi.
"You want to defy Yashiro-sama's orders?!"
"B-but…"
Suddenly, the door was pushed open.
Chiyu stepped out with long, determined strides.
"What's the matter?"
He didn't need further explanation; seeing the tense expressions and the way they were pulling each other back, he could sense a strong foreboding.
"Captain!"
"Captain Chiyu!"
"I—"
Again, Yakumi halted them.
"Chiyu, you've been suspended. The Police Force's affairs aren't for you to bother with right now. I'm just following orders; please understand."
Under normal circumstances, Chiyu wouldn't care. But seeing the agitated faces of his subordinates, he knew it wasn't so simple.
"Where are Aoki and Yamakaze?" he asked, his brow knit in concern. Those two were generally his most devoted followers and would never be absent if they'd come seeking him.
"T-they…"
Yakumi snapped, "All of you, be quiet! Are you seriously going to defy orders?"
Chiyu's voice was cold. "Yakumi, tell me what's going on."
"I've said it's none of your concern."
Chiyu closed in step by step. "You know me well enough—if you don't tell me, I'll figure it out my own way."
"Th-this…"
Yakumi hesitated. He didn't want to go against Yashiro-sama's orders, but he also knew that Chiyu was dead serious. This was a man who truly followed through, no matter what. Perhaps telling him was the better option—it might be less chaotic than letting him find out on his own.
"All right, Chiyu. I'll disobey Yashiro-sama and fill you in, but…"
"You want me to promise not to act recklessly," Chiyu cut in. "I can't guarantee anything."
"D-damn you…" Yakumi muttered. He relented, facing the question head-on. "Yes. Since Yamakaze and Aoki aren't here, and you rightly guessed these orders came from Yashiro-sama, not the Patriarch… You're no fool. Very well, I'll explain…"
He told the whole truth, start to finish.
At the mention of Aoki and Yamakaze being gravely injured, Chiyu's fist had already clenched. By the time he learned that Patriarch Fugaku had also been taken away by the Anbu, he was beside himself.
In an instant, he burst with chakra, heading for the exit.
Yakumi and his men quickly moved into a defensive formation to block him.
"What are you doing?!"
Chiyu's eyes were ice. "Those so-called Anbu, not even wearing masks, clearly staged that farce with a Kirigakure 'spy' to trap my people. Aoki and Yamakaze are in the hospital, and now they've even taken the Patriarch. And you still want to stop me?!"
Yakumi's face went red with urgency. "If you already know it's a trap, are you really going to charge in yourself?!"
Chiyu's gaze was as firm as iron. "If they want a fight, I'll give them one. If they want to die, I'll gladly oblige."
With that, he shot forward like a bullet—or like a bolt of lightning—instantly weaving between two Police Force shinobi and slipping past their encirclement.
"Chiyu! Don't do anything foolish!"
Beads of sweat poured down Yakumi's face.
"Damn it, I'll go after him! The rest of you, alert Yashiro-sama!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Captain Chiyu! We're coming with you!"
A group of Chiyu's squad members pursued as well.
Yakumi cursed under his breath. "Why are all of Chiyu's men as headstrong as he is?! After him!"
"Yes, sir!"
He led his own people in chase.
However…
Chiyu did not head straight for the Anbu's main base. Instead, he first sped toward the Konoha Hospital.
"Aoki, Yamakaze… you idiots!"
Bang!
He accelerated again, moving like a gusting storm, a flicker of lightning darting through the village.
…
Inside Konoha Hospital—
Uchiha Yamakaze, missing an arm, had thick bandages wrapped tightly around his shoulder, but blood still seeped through. Battling the pain, he'd slipped out of bed to visit Aoki's bedside.
At the moment, Aoki was still unconscious.
"Aoki… please, don't die… I… I still want to fight alongside you, following Captain Chiyu's lead…"
Tears rolled down Yamakaze's cheeks, soaking the sheets. He covered his face, cursing his own helplessness and stupidity.
"I'm sorry, Captain… It's my fault…"
Suddenly—
"It is your fault," said a voice behind him, one he knew all too well.
"That was such an obvious trap, yet you fell for it," the voice continued.
Yamakaze jumped in alarm, then felt a sudden warmth coursing through him as relief flooded in. The weight of fear, anger, regret—it all rushed out at once.
"C-Captain…"
Chiyu stepped up beside him, his gaze fixed on Yamakaze's severed arm, brow knitting in concern. "Your arm—"
"It's nothing but an arm… But Aoki, he…" Yamakaze trailed off, his expression clouded in despair. He shook his head. "He was stabbed clear through the back and injured his lungs and heart. The doctors have done all they can, but… they're not sure he'll come around."
Chiyu nodded gravely.
"I'm sorry, Captain… It's all my—"
"You fool!" Chiyu snapped. "Why blame yourself for the enemy's crimes? Have I ever taught you that?"
"C-Captain…"
He set a hand on Yamakaze's good shoulder.
"Focus on healing. Look after Aoki. He'll pull through."
"Y-yes, Captain…"
Chiyu paused for a moment, gazing at Aoki's pale, youthful face—so innocent in his deep unconsciousness. Then he turned and strode from the room.
"Captain, where are you going?! Don't do anything reckless!"
The door clicked shut. Yamakaze stood there, stunned. Knowing their captain, there was no telling what he might do—he could well turn the entire village upside down.
…
In a dark, isolated area, stood Konoha's detention facility. Police Force and Anbu duties often overlapped here, but their respective prisons were not directly connected.
Now Chiyu arrived at the entrance of the Anbu's prison ward with purposeful steps. Two guards there immediately tensed up. Chiyu's only words were:
"Anyone who stands in my way—dies."
~~~
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 70 Chapters Ahead of Others!