"Goodbye, kiddo~" Tsunade waved, her cheeks flushed with a satisfied glow. Meanwhile, Uchiha Munetsuki felt completely drained, his eyes vacant, legs unsteady as he leaned against the wall and staggered out of her room.
Make no mistake—he had done nothing untoward with hypnosis. Manipulating the subconscious mind of a high-level shinobi was exhausting. The repeated spiritual strain left him on the edge of collapse, whispers of instability flickering at the edge of his awareness. One wrong move with the psychic system, and things could spiral out of control. Today had been a harsh reminder of that fact.
"Dr. Munetsuki, are you alright?" A passing medical ninja blinked in shock at the sight of him staggering out of Tsunade's office.
Munetsuki didn't even need to read the man's mind to know he was forming wild assumptions. He explained quickly, "The chakra expenditure during Tsunade's treatment was excessive."
"Ah, I understand, I understand," the man said, patting his chest as if to reassure himself. "Don't worry, Dr. Munetsuki. My lips are sealed. No one will hear this from me."
Munetsuki's mouth twitched as a cold bead of sweat ran down his face. I really was just treating her!
"Of course," the man said with a sly smile. "No need to explain. I'm rooting for you and Tsunade~" With that, he dashed off, leaving Munetsuki fuming silently. If he weren't worried about losing control, he might have unleashed a full-scale psychic trap.
Among the other medical ninjas and nurses, curious eyes followed him, but he finally exited the hospital, letting two quiet tears slide down. From now on, his reputation was in jeopardy. The hospital gossip machine would spread this story everywhere. He only hoped Tsunade wouldn't come looking for him with a fist.
Pinching his brow, he attempted to calm his mind and decided to return to the Uchiha estate for a brief rest.
Rounding a corner into a deserted alley, a figure appeared like a ghost.
"Uchiha Munetsuki, your mission starts now. Follow me." The ANBU operative, wearing a cat-faced mask, spoke coldly, eyes locking onto him.
Munetsuki barely furrowed a brow. Exceptional individuals, even in early stages, might be weak in combat but had heightened spiritual perception. Once advanced, they could probe aura and subtle energy, reading thoughts. In the cold glare behind the mask, Munetsuki discerned hostility, contempt, and murderous intent.
This one comes with ill intent, he thought, nodding calmly. "Understood."
The ANBU led him to the Death Forest.
"Here," the operative said, stopping. Munetsuki pushed up his glasses and scanned the dense forest. The towering canopy stretched like a great umbrella, casting deep shade over the lush undergrowth. Birds and insects called through the branches, making it almost serene.
"Here," the operative repeated, eyes cold beneath the mask. Alone, no ambush visible, Munetsuki relaxed slightly, grateful for his spiritual perception. Even skilled ninjas couldn't hide their subtle life force.
"Uchiha Munetsuki," the cat-faced ANBU began, "according to ANBU protocol, you will now be questioned. You've used genjutsu on many in the village under the guise of a psychologist. What is your purpose? Were you acting under the orders of Uchiha Fugaku? Are you still loyal to the Hokage?"
Munetsuki lowered his gaze, eyes swirling like dark eddies. "Before I answer, tell me… who sent you?"
"Don't evade the question!" the operative snapped, kunai in hand, a lethal aura flaring. "This is an order. ANBU don't question, don't hesitate, don't act on personal will. You follow orders. Understood?"
Munetsuki smirked, tilting his head. "Ah, now I remember. Only one place in Konoha talks like that. You're from Root, aren't you?"
"Seems you intend to refuse interrogation," the ANBU said, forming hand seals, chakra ready, murderous intent radiating. "No matter. Danzo-sama already knew you Uchiha wouldn't comply."
Leaves swirled violently as the ANBU activated body flicker, striking from behind. A kunai shot toward Munetsuki's chest without hesitation.
Pfft! The kunai pierced the space where Munetsuki had been, but he appeared calm, almost amused.
Bang! Smoke erupted, and the ANBU realized too late: it was a shadow clone. He stumbled back, but from behind, a flurry of shuriken whistled through the air, forming a near-impenetrable net.
When did the Uchiha even use shadow clones? The operative cursed, drawing a short blade and slashing furiously to deflect the projectiles.
Clang, clang! Exhausted from parrying, he faltered. Munetsuki seized the moment, chakra erupting like black lightning, surging forward.
Their eyes met. Three blood-red tomoe spun rapidly in Munetsuki's Sharingan. In the ninja world, it was said: when an Uchiha with Sharingan locks eyes with you, one-on-one, survival is unlikely. The battle was already decided the moment their gazes met.
Bang! The ANBU vanished into smoke.
"Expected," Munetsuki murmured, unsurprised. ANBU were skilled; they wouldn't fall to a simple encounter. Root could be cruel, but it was far from incompetent.
"Let's end this little test," Munetsuki said, eyes following a canopy. The tomoe continued spinning. "Our time is too valuable to waste."
"You really aren't as simple as you appear, Uchiha Munetsuki." The cat-faced ANBU dropped from the trees. "As you wish. Let me show you what true cruelty is."
A swarm of tiny black insects erupted from his sleeves, forming a dense, choking cloud around him. Their movements and chittering were unnerving; even with Sharingan, it was hard to discern individual insects. Those with a fear of crowds or swarms would feel suffocated at the sight.
"Aburame clan," Munetsuki murmured. Only their clan had such distinct traits.
"Danzo-sama anticipated your refusal, so he sent me," the operative said. "Even your Sharingan cannot counter our techniques. This massive swarm will neutralize your eyes."