Inside the command tent sat Nara Shikakaku, Hatake Sakumo, and Tsunade—the three leading commanders.
Sakumo had ordered everyone else to leave. Only the three of them remained.
Nara Shikakaku kept his head bowed.
Tsunade flipped through a report, then tossed it onto the table before Shikakaku.
She had expected something serious. Instead, it was just a scandal—another clan issue.
"Clan Leader Shikakaku," she said coolly, "I understand that both the jōnin corps and command operations are heavy responsibilities, but you can't neglect the younger generation. I can't believe Nara shinobi have been using shadow techniques to turn their comrades into puppets. I'll admit—your clan's creativity is… boundless."
Shikakaku's voice was heavy. "I've already requested ANBU to execute the culprits. Rest assured, Lady Tsunade, I won't tolerate such corruption within my clan."
Tsunade sighed, turned on her heel, and left. She wanted no part in this ugliness.
Once she was gone, Shikakaku looked to Sakumo. "Vice Commander Sakumo—thank you for your report. Without you, those rogues would have kept harming their comrades unchecked."
Sakumo nodded gravely.
"At least fifteen Konoha shinobi died because of them. This isn't trivial.
Every ninja of the Leaf is ready to die for the village—but their deaths should mean something.
I'm grateful you've shown justice, Shikakaku. If not, more good men would've fallen by their hands."
When Sakumo finally left, Nara Meika entered the tent, kneeling beside Shikakaku.
"Clan Leader," she said softly, "my apologies for letting Sakumo get ahead of me. My own internal report was nearly finished."
"It's not your fault," Shikakaku replied. "Sakumo simply moved faster than expected.
Without warning, his network of followers has grown enormous. To think he could uncover the Nara Clan's scandal without anyone noticing…
Today he brought ironclad proof—I had no choice but to yield.
I'll forward his report to the Hokage, unchanged. Let the Hokage see the power Sakumo has gathered around himself."
Meika nodded. "Understood, Clan Leader. I'll proceed with my other assignment. The Sand have begun replicating our paragliders—I'll investigate their progress."
"Go."
When the tent was empty again, Shikakaku's expression hardened. His eyes glinted darkly above Sakumo's report.
For the clan to investigate and punish itself was one thing.
For Hatake Sakumo to expose them and slam the evidence down before him—that was humiliation.
Meanwhile, Yako gathered three ANBU squads.
Each would receive one assassination target. He would handle one personally.
"The scroll contains intel on your targets," Yako said. "Eliminate them within two days.
And remember—each target is of special status. Do not expose your unique abilities.
Use only taijutsu, tools, and explosive tags.
When you strike, disguise yourselves as Sand or Rain shinobi."
When the others departed, Yako held Purple Cat back.
"Purple Cat," he said quietly, "you've seen the scroll. The targets are from the Nara Clan.
In the village, the Ino–Shika–Chō trio may be inseparable—but in ANBU, there's no such thing.
Only successful or failed missions."
Purple Cat nodded, her tone steady. "Captain, from the moment I joined ANBU, I was prepared. Whether the target's a Nara or a Yamanaka… I'll complete the mission."
"Good. Go."
Once his teams dispersed, Yako checked his own target's file—Nara Taku, a Tokubetsu Jōnin currently deployed on the northern border with his squad.
The border of the Land of Rivers, northern sector.
A rocky expanse of wind-carved desert. Nara Taku's team was resting between two massive stones, only a few meters apart.
A genin named Hachimaru spoke up, eager and bright-eyed.
"Captain, we don't need to rest! The Sand ninja we're tracking have six wounded and only two guards. If we take them out, it could count as an A-rank mission!"
Nara Taku replied lazily, "No rush. The closer we get, the more careful we should be. Those wounded can't move fast anyway."
Inside, though, he was thinking: 'Two of those 'wounded' are puppet masters. As long as their fingers move, they're dangerous.'
He eyed Hachimaru with faint amusement.
So earnest. So eager.
Too weak.
'When the time comes… he'll be braver than he ever imagined.'
After resting, the team advanced deeper into the wasteland.
Hachimaru spotted dried, brownish-red blood on the sand.
Following the trail, they soon found their quarry—two standing Sand shinobi, six lying down.
Taku raised his hand. "Attack."
Excited, the genin charged forward with kunai in hand.
So many wounded enemies—it felt like an easy win.
But then, one of the "wounded" lifted a hand.
Two puppets burst from underground behind the Konoha genin, ambushing them.
A trap.
Pinned between puppets and Sand shinobi, the genin panicked.
Nara Taku appeared nearby and shouted, "Don't resist, Hachimaru! Your taijutsu's too weak—let me control you!"
"Yes, Captain!"
Hachimaru relaxed his body, letting the Shadow Imitation Technique take hold.
In an instant, their movements synchronized. Taku dodged, and so did Hachimaru—swift and precise.
"Wow! You're amazing, Captain!" he gasped.
Taku maneuvered them together, charging the enemy line—thirty meters apart, moving parallel.
Hachimaru faced the wounded enemies head-on, Taku from the flank.
Then, something felt wrong.
More and more of the "wounded" were rising to their feet—jerky, unnatural.
One slashed at Hachimaru. He realized in horror—his body didn't move to dodge.
"Captain! Control me—hurry!"
But instead, his own hands grabbed the Sand shinobi's throat.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Taku wasn't avoiding anything at all—he was charging straight in, ready to trade his life to restrain the foe.
'He's… he's going to die just to pin them down?!'
Suddenly, a black figure shot out from the ground beneath Taku's feet.
He jumped back instinctively—and because of the shadow link, Hachimaru jumped too, narrowly dodging a poisoned kunai.
The blade glistened with a violet sheen. One scratch would've meant death.
Then—movement ceased.
Hachimaru turned his head and saw Taku impaled through the stomach by another kunai.
Blood gushed out. His eyes widened, staring at the Rain shinobi in front of him—masked, fast, and merciless.
'Rain ninja? Here?'
The Rain assassin moved like lightning. A sweeping kick smashed into Taku's chest, sending him hurtling backward.
He crashed into the Sand wounded, killing two on impact.
Yako disguised a Rain shinobi glanced once at the frozen genin.
'That's as much help as I can give you,' he thought. 'Any more, and it wouldn't look like an assassination.'
Good luck, rookie.