After a period of seemingly calm days—
This day arrived.
Uchiha Aoki and Yamafū were carrying out their routine patrol.
"Without the captain around… it's really boring,"
Aoki sighed.
Yamafū shot him a look.
"Aren't you the one who used to complain that the captain was too extreme?"
"You said he never considered the bigger picture and always dragged trouble onto the Uchiha and the Police Force."
Aoki broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly covered Yamafū's mouth.
"Shh!
Don't talk nonsense—if the captain hears that, I'm dead!"
"Besides, I wasn't the only one saying that.
You complained too!"
Yamafū brushed his hand away and snorted.
"That was because I was naive."
"Now I understand completely.
The captain's way is the right choice."
Aoki nodded.
"Yeah… I wonder when the captain will come back."
"As for the Hokage's side…"
The two of them fell silent at the same time.
At that moment—
A disturbance erupted ahead. The sounds of violent combat echoed through the street.
They exchanged glances.
"Let's go!"
Though young, they had followed Qianyu for years. Their judgment and decisiveness were sharp.
What they saw next made their blood run cold.
Five or six Konoha ninja were brutally beating a female ninja.
Punches landed like a storm.
Her screams were hysterical—inhuman.
Worse still—
Aoki and Yamafū had never seen these people before.
They wore Konoha headbands, yet felt utterly unfamiliar.
"Stop it!"
Aoki roared and rushed forward.
Yamafū hesitated—but seeing Aoki charge in, he sighed and followed.
"Who are you people?!"
"What do you think you're doing?!"
One of the men glanced up coldly.
"Police Force?"
"This has nothing to do with you."
"Mind your own business."
"Get lost."
He continued beating the woman without hesitation.
"H-help… please…"
Her desperate plea tore at the air.
Aoki's blood boiled.
He hurled several shuriken.
Clang! Clang!
The attackers scattered.
Aoki seized the chance, flashed forward, and shielded the woman behind him.
"Are you alright?"
"I-I'm fine… th-thank you…"
She was already disfigured—blood pouring from her face.
Aoki's fury surged.
"You bastards—who exactly are—"
Before he could finish—
"Aoki, watch out!"
Yamafū lunged forward, throwing himself in front of him.
Too late.
A flash of cold steel.
"AAAAAH!"
Two screams rang out.
Yamafū's arm was severed instantly.
The blade didn't stop—
It plunged straight into Aoki's back.
Thud!
Aoki spat blood violently.
He turned his head with difficulty—
And saw the woman's blood-covered face twist into a demonic grin.
"Thank you, kind little fool…"
The moment she finished speaking, she fled at full speed.
The "Konoha ninja" roared angrily.
"Damn it!
You Police Force idiots!"
"That woman was a Blood Mist Village spy!"
"You actually let her escape from ANBU hands?!"
"Are you trying to rebel?!"
Aoki and Yamafū went deathly pale.
"Blood Mist… Kirigakure… spy…?"
They weren't stupid.
They had walked straight into a trap.
And the cruel smiles behind those ANBU masks—
Made it unmistakably clear.
The "ANBU" pretended to chase the spy and vanished.
Leaving behind—
One man missing an arm.
One man dying.
Ignored.
"Aoki! Aoki!"
"How are you holding up?!"
"I'll get you to the hospital—right now!"
Aoki forced a bitter smile.
"Yamafū… your arm…"
"Damn it! An arm means nothing!"
"Your injuries—!"
Aoki shook his head weakly.
"It's my fault… I was stupid… impulsive…"
"I fell for such an obvious trick…"
"I'm sorry… I dragged you into this…"
"Shut up, idiot!"
Tears streamed down Aoki's face.
"I followed Captain Qianyu for so long…"
"And I didn't learn anything from him…"
"I'm ashamed…"
Yamafū roared, ignoring the blood pouring from his shoulder.
With one arm, he held Aoki tightly and sprinted toward the hospital.
"Don't talk!"
"Hold on!"
"We're almost there!"
Aoki smiled faintly.
Blood spilled from his lips, staining the road red with every step.
Not long after—
Sarutobi Shinnosuke arrived at the Police Force with ANBU, demanding answers.
"Clan Head Fugaku."
Fugaku already knew what had happened.
His rage was barely contained.
"What do you want?"
Shinnosuke smiled inwardly.
"Your Police Force interfered with ANBU operations and nearly allowed a Kirigakure spy to escape."
"You owe us an explanation."
Fugaku's eyes burned.
"What explanation do you want?"
Shinnosuke sneered.
"Those two were from Uchiha Qianyu's squad, weren't they?"
"Their captain was suspended for extremism."
"Now his subordinates act recklessly and nearly cause disaster."
"Clearly, the whole squad is rotten from top to bottom."
"They must be disbanded immediately."
The Police Force went pale.
This was blatant retaliation against Qianyu.
"And all of Qianyu's followers must be interrogated by ANBU."
"Every single one."
Fugaku exploded.
"Sarutobi Shinnosuke, you've gone too far!"
Shinnosuke's eyes gleamed like a vulture's.
"Too far?"
"Your Police Force interfered first."
"You nearly released a terrifying Kirigakure spy."
"Who can guarantee that Qianyu and his men aren't spies themselves?"
"If you obstruct us—"
"You're complicit."
Fugaku trembled with rage.
Behind him, Uchiha chakra surged violently.
Shinnosuke scanned the scene.
"So…
Are the Uchiha planning rebellion?"
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