The early summer breeze blew, sweeping away the clouds.
The full moon peeked out, illuminating the pitch-black earth.
Under the moonlight, Baki and Kabuto saw the newcomer's face clearly, their expressions both turning solemn.
— Uchiha Fugaku.
The Captain of the Konoha Police Force, a veteran of the Third Shinobi World War.
Although he hadn't made a massive name for himself in the ninja world like the Fourth Hokage or Kakashi, no one would underestimate him.
As the head of the Uchiha clan, those three-tomoe Sharingan undeniably told the two that this was an elite among elites.
"What exactly are you plotting? Care to tell me?"
Fugaku stood with his arms crossed over his chest, his expression indifferent.
Despite being one against two, he showed no sense of urgency. Instead, he looked down at them with an unquestionable gaze.
That confidence of "I am right here, and you absolutely cannot escape" made sweat drip from Baki and Kabuto's foreheads.
They were also elites among elites, having experienced various grand scenes. They wouldn't be easily overwhelmed by someone else's aura.
But the aura of the man in front of them was simply too strong.
Like the expression of a police officer catching a thief, it made one involuntarily want to retreat.
Meanwhile, Gekko Hayate, the Special Jonin who had trailed Yakushi Kabuto all the way here, was also feeling extremely anxious.
Ten days ago, Jokichi told the Third Hokage that Sunagakure had sent their Jinchuriki to participate in the Chunin Exams.
Out of caution, he dispatched Kakashi's Anbu squad to the border of the Land of Wind to investigate.
Five days ago, Anko encountered Orochimaru in the Forest of Death, and through her, he issued a threat to Konoha.
Three days ago, Kakashi's squad returned and reported that Sunagakure's interior was currently empty, with a large number of ninjas absent from the village.
Yesterday, Yakushi Kabuto, who had participated in the Chunin Exams multiple times and quit halfway each time, aroused the Third Hokage's suspicion. He ordered Gekko Hayate, who possessed the Transparent Escape Technique, to tail and investigate Kabuto.
The anomaly in Sunagakure, the arrival of Orochimaru, the suspected spy Kabuto—all these situations made the village's Jonin feel uneasy.
Right now, Hayate, who had tracked Kabuto here, saw him secretly conspiring with Sunagakure's Baki and instantly associated it with many bad things.
He had wanted to eavesdrop on more of their plans.
But at this moment, Uchiha Fugaku, acting as the Captain of the Konoha Police Force, also noticed the anomaly and jumped out.
Baki was a famous elite Jonin of Sunagakure, possessing formidable strength.
And Yakushi Kabuto, as heard from his conversation with Baki earlier, was Orochimaru's most trusted subordinate.
Although he hadn't fought him and didn't know his specific strength.
But to become Orochimaru's most trusted subordinate, he couldn't possibly be weak no matter how you thought about it.
Fighting one against two, and facing experts of this caliber—even with the Sharingan, it was too disadvantageous.
Hayate was currently hesitating.
Whether to jump out and help, or continue observing the situation.
If he jumped out to help, the other party would likely flee immediately.
If he continued to observe in secret, it was highly likely that a situation would arise where Fugaku was defeated, his life in danger, and he himself wouldn't have time to rescue him.
If the mission was the priority, naturally he should continue observing until he found out the enemy's plan.
However, doing so would place his comrade at great risk.
Hayate was caught in a dilemma.
Just as Hayate was hesitating inwardly, the conversation over there also changed.
"Captain Fugaku, what are you talking about?"
Yakushi Kabuto spread his hands, a genial smile plastered on his face. "I simply ran into a Sunagakure Jonin, hit it off with him immediately, and we're having a friendly exchange."
"A friendly exchange?" Fugaku couldn't help but chuckle.
"For someone of the Uchiha clan who has awakened the Sharingan, even without activating it, their vision is different from ordinary people. You two have intentionally or unintentionally crossed paths and made contact over a dozen times during this Chunin Exam. If it's a friendly exchange where you hit it off immediately, why did you pretend not to know each other back then?"
"I just didn't notice back then."
Kabuto pushed his glasses frame, the reflective lenses hiding his frozen gaze.
Baki, on the other hand, responded indifferently, "Do I need to report the reasons for my actions to the Konoha Police Force?"
"Of course, because this is Konoha Village."
"I haven't broken any of your Konoha's rules."
"Whether you've broken any or not, we'll know once you come with me."
"Too arrogant." Baki seemed angry, his tone becoming aggressive.
"Trying to arrest me to investigate without evidence, is this how Konoha treats its allies?"
Fugaku closed his eyes, then snapped them open. A piercing sharpness seemed to bloom from his pupils, making Baki and Kabuto's hearts involuntarily tighten.
"What these eyes see is the evidence."
As the words fell, Fugaku suddenly vanished from his spot. The next moment, he appeared behind the two, his hands spread wide, grabbing towards the backs of their necks.
"Hmph!"
Baki snorted disdainfully. The index finger of his right hand, which was resting against his chest, tapped lightly, and two invisible wind blades whistled out from his fingertip.
These wind blades weren't large, but they were very fast.
Furthermore, with his body acting as a visual obstruction, it was extremely sudden.
When Fugaku noticed the wind blades, it was already too late to dodge. The best he could do was shift his body to barely avoid a vital spot.
"Pfft!"
The wind blade plunged into Fugaku's chest and pierced through his shoulder, bringing with it a large amount of bright red blood.
"Is the Captain of the Konoha Police Force only at this level?" Baki's face was indifferent, seemingly surprised by how easily he took down the opponent.
During the Third Shinobi World War, he had also participated in the war between Sunagakure and Konoha, so he had a certain understanding of the combat level of Konoha ninjas.
He shouldn't be this weak.
"Of course it's not that easy!"
Yakushi Kabuto pushed his glasses with his left hand, while his right hand was placed on Baki's shoulder.
"Release!"
As the voice fell, the scene in front of Baki suddenly warped and shattered, and Fugaku, holding a kunai, had already charged close.
"Crack!"
The kunai mercilessly pierced into Baki's body.
However, after piercing in two inches, it couldn't advance any further.
Fugaku's pupils slightly widened, discovering that the opponent actually had a layer of Sand Armor on his body.
"To make me fall into a Genjutsu without me noticing, truly awe-inspiring Uchiha!" Baki praised. His left hand formed a seal, his right hand raised, and a massive wind blade slashed out.
At such close range, it was impossible for an ordinary person to dodge.
But Fugaku was different. His Sharingan had already perceived the opponent's action, so he released the kunai in advance and retreated.
But before he could land, the sound of breaking air came from behind.
Fugaku remembered that boy wearing glasses.
However, he hadn't paid him any mind.
Just a young spy lurking in Konoha.
"I wasn't looking for you, so just live out your miserable life. To actually come offer yourself up..."
Before the thought even finished, a sharp pain struck his back, and a large amount of blood splattered.
Is that guy's speed that fast?
Fugaku's pupils trembled slightly. Without even turning his head, he threw several kunai behind him.
Yakushi Kabuto jumped back, then immediately chased after him. On the other side, Baki also moved in for a pincer attack.
Clutching the wound on his shoulder, Fugaku backed up against the wall. His Sharingan spun madly, desperately reading the two's movements.
He made a huge mistake, which was that he shouldn't have treated the famous Baki as the primary threat while underestimating Yakushi Kabuto.
He shouldn't have treated him like an ordinary youth and spy.
That guy was even more dangerous than Baki.