Aoki Yoru's eyes turned cold.
Without hesitation—
He flipped his wrist.
Three kunai instantly appeared between his fingers.
In the next moment—
He threw them.
The kunai cut through the air at terrifying speed.
Ding's pupils shrank violently.
His instincts screamed danger.
Then—
He saw it.
Each kunai—
Had an explosive tag attached.
His face twisted in horror.
"Not good—!"
BOOM—!!!
A violent explosion erupted.
Flames roared into the sky.
A massive fireball bloomed above Konoha, lighting up the night like a second sun.
The shockwave swept outward—
Shattering tiles.
Cracking walls.
Sending debris flying in all directions.
Aoki Yoru reacted instantly.
He pulled Chino tightly into his arms—
Shielding her completely with his body.
At the same time—
His free hand formed a seal.
"Lightning Release: Lightning Shock Bomb!"
A sphere of crackling electricity condensed in his palm—
Then shot forward—
Straight into the center of the flames.
BOOM—!!
A second explosion erupted within the fireball.
Lightning spread violently—
Like a net of destruction.
Ding's body froze mid-air.
His muscles locked.
His nervous system overwhelmed.
Electricity surged through him—
Relentless.
Unforgiving.
Then—
His body fell.
Thud.
Motionless.
Lifeless.
Aoki Yoru exhaled slowly.
This technique—
Had originally been developed to counter sound-based ninjas.
Its explosive sound and electrical interference made it highly disruptive.
He hadn't expected—
To use it like this.
Encircled
Suddenly—
The air shifted.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Figures appeared from all directions.
Ninjas.
And—
Anbu.
In an instant—
The area was completely surrounded.
A man stepped forward.
Sharp eyes.
Beast-like presence.
Captain of the Police Force—
Inuzuka clan member.
"What happened here?" he demanded.
Aoki Yoru immediately recognized him.
And inwardly—
Relaxed slightly.
At least—
It wasn't Root.
"Someone was kidnapping a child inside Konoha," Aoki Yoru said calmly.
"I discovered it, pursued him, and this was the result."
As he spoke—
He adjusted his hold on Chino—
Ensuring she remained protected.
Captain Inuzuka's gaze shifted.
To the body.
Ding.
Dressed—
Like Anbu.
His expression changed slightly.
This…
Was trouble.
If handled incorrectly—
He could be dragged into something far beyond his authority.
After a moment—
He spoke carefully.
"This matter will be investigated thoroughly."
"But for now…"
"You need to come with us for questioning."
At his signal—
Several officers stepped forward.
Interruption
"Captain Inuzuka."
A calm voice cut through the tension.
A silver-haired figure appeared—
Standing in front of Aoki Yoru.
Kakashi Hatake.
Aoki Yoru let out a quiet breath.
Now—
Things wouldn't be twisted so easily.
Kakashi's visible eye narrowed slightly.
"Isn't it against procedure," he said calmly, "to detain someone without verifying the facts?"
The air grew tense.
Captain Inuzuka hesitated.
Neither side—
Was someone he could offend.
Just as the situation reached a stalemate—
A shadow appeared.
Silent.
Sudden.
Like a ghost.
"Jonin Kakashi. Chunin Aoki."
"The Hokage requests your immediate presence."
The room fell silent.
Aoki Yoru and Kakashi exchanged a glance.
They both understood.
This had escalated.
To the highest level.
"…Let's go," Kakashi said calmly.
Aoki Yoru followed—
Holding Chino tightly.
Hokage Office
Inside—
The atmosphere was heavy.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at the center.
Beside him—
The two advisors.
And—
Danzo Shimura.
The moment they entered—
Danzo struck first.
Bang!
His cane slammed against the floor.
"Aoki Yoru!"
His voice was cold.
Sharp.
Accusing.
"You dare attack and kill an Anbu member within Konoha?!"
"Are you trying to betray the village?!"
The room grew tense.
Aoki Yoru didn't flinch.
He stepped forward.
Calm.
Composed.
Then—
He explained everything.
From the kidnapping—
To the pursuit—
To the fight.
Finally—
He looked directly at the Hokage.
"If he truly was Anbu…"
"Then his actions are even more unforgivable."
"Kidnapping a child within the village—"
"Could he be a spy?"
Then—
His voice sharpened.
"I request that his memories be examined."
"Everything will become clear."
Shock
The moment those words fell—
Danzo's pupils contracted.
His grip tightened on the cane.
If memories were read—
Root's secrets—
Would be exposed.
"Absurd!"
His voice rose.
"An Anbu ninja carries top-level classified intelligence!"
"How can their memories be casually accessed?!"
Outwardly furious.
Inwardly—
Uneasy.
At that moment—
Kakashi spoke.
Calm.
Measured.
"Advisor Danzo need not worry."
"The Anbu intelligence division is capable of handling such matters."
"No information will leak."
It was subtle.
But precise.
A direct strike.
Danzo's expression darkened.
Decision
"Enough."
The Third Hokage spoke.
The room fell silent.
He looked at Aoki Yoru.
His expression—
Gentle again.
"Yoru."
"Take the child to the hospital first."
"The village will investigate this matter thoroughly."
"We will give you a satisfactory answer."
Aoki Yoru lowered his head slightly.
"…Understood."
He had expected this.
This—
Would not be resolved here.
Aftermath
Outside—
The night was calm.
Too calm.
As they walked—
Aoki Yoru's expression darkened.
"Kakashi-sensei…"
"Has it always been handled like this?"
Kakashi was silent for a moment.
Then—
"…Things will improve."
A vague answer.
Aoki Yoru clenched his fists.
In any other place—
This would be a major incident.
But here—
It was brushed aside.
Power.
Authority.
Control.
He understood now.
This wasn't just injustice.
It was—
The system.
Inside the Hokage Office
The atmosphere had changed.
The gentleness—
Was gone.
The Third Hokage's gaze—
Was sharp.
Heavy.
"Danzo."
"Tell me the truth."
"Are you still conducting Wood Release experiments?"
Danzo didn't hesitate.
"I'm doing this for Konoha."
"The Nine-Tails is unstable."
"If it goes berserk again—"
"We need Wood Release."
"Enough!"
The Hokage's voice rose.
"You dare conduct human experiments in secret?!"
Silence.
Then—
Cold judgment.
"From today—"
"Root is disbanded."
"All members will be reassigned to Anbu."
"You—"
"Are confined."
Without permission—
You will not step outside.
Danzo's face darkened.
"…You'll regret this."
He turned.
Walked out.
Then—
Behind him—
A voice.
Calm.
Final.
"I am the Hokage."
Those words—
Would echo in his mind forever.
Hospital
Chino lay peacefully.
Just asleep.
No injuries.
Aoki Yoru exhaled in relief.
Later—
He returned her home.
Grandma Chidao—
Tears in her eyes.
"Thank goodness…"
"Several children have gone missing these past years…"
"This time…"
"Thank you…"
Her words—
Cut deep.
Aoki Yoru said nothing.
Only nodded.
Night
Back home—
Bang!
His fist slammed into the wall.
Cracks spread.
"…Damn it."
Missing children.
Experiments.
Silence.
He understood now.
This wasn't new.
It had always been happening.
Only—
Hidden.
He closed his eyes.
"…What can I even do right now?"
He laughed bitterly.
Weakness.
That was the answer.
For now—
He could only endure.
But one day—
"When I'm strong enough…"
"I'll settle everything."
And in that moment—
Aoki Yoru finally understood—
Why no one came—
During the fall of the Hokage.
Some things—
Were inevitable.
And some people—
Were long overdue—
For judgment.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)