The setting sun stretched the shadow of the Konoha Police Force building far across the ground.
Fugaku ended another long day, rubbing his temples as he made his way home.
The Chūnin Exams had kept the Police Force exceptionally busy, and with Orochimaru's incident the previous day, even Fugaku—who rarely showed fatigue—felt the wear creeping in.
But whatever quiet he expected dissolved the moment his house came into view.
A crowd had gathered at his doorstep—almost entirely women of the clan.
At the center, his wife, Mikoto, wore her gentle smile, though it strained visibly at the edges as she fielded a barrage of rapid-fire questions.
Meanwhile, Sasuke looked ready to hiss like an angry kitten.
His cheeks puffed up, eyebrows knit in irritation as he glared at the usually kind aunts and grandmothers surrounding his mother. He tried to shove his way through to rescue her, but his small frame didn't stand a chance against the wall of adults.
In desperation, he scanned his surroundings—and the moment he spotted Fugaku, his eyes lit up.
"Father!"
That one call froze the entire group.
Every face turned toward the clan head.
Uchiha Fugaku—who could remain unshaken even before the Sharingan of enemies—felt a bead of cold sweat slide down his temple as he faced dozens of eyes filled with eagerness, curiosity, and a faint anxiety.
"Clan Head! Is it true the Village is opening Ninja Academy positions for us?!"
"Captain Fugaku, what jobs exactly? Are they strictly administrative? Any rank requirements?"
"I heard the pay is good—how does it compare to the Police Force?"
"How many slots? Will there be tests? Should we prepare resumes?"
"Do mission records matter? What if our years are insufficient?"
"—?—!"
Questions flew from every direction, consuming him like a tidal wave.
For the first time, Fugaku realized: his clansmen could show enthusiasm…as long as it wasn't about staging a coup.
With everyone distracted, Mikoto quietly exhaled in relief.
She clasped Sasuke's hand and whispered, "Let's go home first."
"But Father—"
"He'll return soon. Come help me make dinner."
While Mikoto and Sasuke beat a strategic retreat, Fugaku watched them flee—betraying him to the wolves—and then turned back to meet the sea of expectant faces. Faces that, on normal days, were cool, distant, or downright aloof.
Instinctively, he stepped back.
But it was as if the air had turned solid behind him—no escape.
It's just a few Academy positions… why is everyone this excited…?
He remembered the icy resistance whenever he suggested joining more influential departments like Anbu.
He didn't understand.
He only understood one thing:
He wasn't getting home anytime soon.
The underground cavern reeked faintly of mold and chemicals.
A Root operative appeared silently, kneeling before Orochimaru, who was busy adjusting instruments.
"Orochimaru-sama."
"Oh?" Orochimaru didn't look up. "Jikyu… you're still alive."
His fingers kept moving. "What does Danzo want?"
Jikyu bowed lower.
"Danzo-sama and the main Root force have been temporarily confined within the Village's execution sector under the Sandaime's orders, under the pretext of an urgent mission. Their movements are restricted."
Orochimaru paused mid-motion.
"Tsunade acts quickly… It seems she's truly angry."
This wasn't a move Hiruzen would make on his own. Nor Koharu or Homura—they wouldn't act without tangible wrongdoing. Root brushing shoulders with rogue shinobi was hardly shocking.
This move could only have come from Tsunade: the Fifth Hokage candidate, invoking her authority, and her fury… to protect that old house—and the boy inside it.
"Danzo-sama asked me to relay," Jikyu continued, "that he still has an elite squad unaccounted for in the Sandaime's monitoring. They are currently deployed nearby and await your orders."
"His request: swiftly and cleanly eliminate the Uchiha Anbu squad on external assignment."
Orochimaru finally set down his tools and let out a low laugh.
"At a time like this, he's still obsessed with petty extermination assignments… hoping to sabotage Tsunade's efforts."
He shook his head.
"That smallness… that narrow vision is why Danzo will forever remain in the shadows. He was never fit for the Hokage's seat."
"You—!"
Jikyu's head snapped up, anger blazing in his eyes.
But the instant he met Orochimaru's inhuman gaze, a cold spike ran down his spine.
The fury died.
He lowered his head again.
"Heh…" Orochimaru leaned down, voice soft.
"Your trapped master's whining ends here."
"As for that squad…"
He straightened, bored once more.
"I'll take care of it. Tell Danzo to relax and enjoy the show from his cage."
Roshi moved like a streak of wind, afterimages flickering behind him as he raced eastward.
From the moment he left Konoha, he ran almost without stopping.
Two squads had been assigned long-term to the Hidden Mist front:
Shisui's team and the newly established Uchiha Anbu squad.
Roshi had reviewed the intelligence: since the start of this year, Hidden Mist had repeatedly sent recon teams and Anbu across the sea to infiltrate the Land of Fire.
Last year's patterns were similar, but Konoha had been too preoccupied with internal issues.
Now, with the village stabilizing, Mist was becoming more brazen.
Konoha's leadership was puzzled.
Roshi, however… had suspicions.
Yagura—the Fourth Mizukage—was confirmed to have been under Obito's genjutsu in canon.
But when exactly Obito took control… was unclear.
Some theories said he did so after Itachi injured Yagura with Amaterasu.
Others showed Obito facing Yagura alongside Pain and Konan.
Whatever the truth, the timeline was messy.
If these aggressive movements weren't Yagura's doing… then perhaps Obito, after last year's Hidden Cloud incident, had escalated his manipulation—using Mist as a proxy to provoke Konoha.
There was no way to confirm it yet.
But at least for now, Mist's operations remained within a manageable range.
And according to canon… Shisui should complete this mission and return by next year.
Roshi's pace accelerated.
The journey proceeded more smoothly than expected.
Perhaps because he had moved quickly enough, he encountered no enemies until reaching the Land of Waves coastline.
According to the scroll, the squad should have been resting at a hidden campsite.
Roshi arrived—but the place was empty.
The campfire had long gone out, leaving only cold ash and charred wood.
Weapon marks scarred trees and earth.
Kunai impacts.
Shuriken trails.
And faint remnants of chakra—evidence of ninjutsu.
There had been a battle not long ago.
But—No bodies. No pools of blood. No signs of lethal injury.
A small blessing amid a dangerous situation.
Were they discovered by Mist-nin?
To find such a well-hidden rest point…
Roshi's senses sharpened.
He followed the faint battle traces into the forest.
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