Qianyu had already sensed it.
The people outside were members of his own clan.
However, just as he was about to open the door—
The knocking suddenly stopped.
His brows knit slightly as he sensed even more chakra gathering.
"Captain Qian—"
"Shut up!"
A deep, stern voice cut the speaker off.
Qianyu immediately recognized it.
It was Uchiha Yakumi.
"Are you trying to disobey Elder Yashiro's orders?!"
"But… but—"
The door was suddenly pushed open.
Qianyu strode out.
"What happened?"
He didn't need anyone to explain.
Looking at the agitation, panic, and barely restrained fury on their faces, a strong sense of foreboding surged in his heart.
"Captain!"
"Captain Qianyu!"
"I—"
Yakumi once again stepped in front of them.
"Qianyu, you've been suspended."
"So matters related to the Police Force can't be discussed with you for now."
"I'm acting under orders. Please understand."
If that were all, Qianyu wouldn't have cared.
But seeing the desperation written all over his subordinates' faces—
He knew things were far from simple.
"Aoki and Yamabuki?" he asked coldly.
His eyes narrowed.
If they had come to find him, those two—his most devoted followers—would never be absent.
"They… they—"
Yakumi snapped angrily,
"Enough! All of you shut your mouths!"
"Do you really intend to violate orders?!"
Qianyu said flatly,
"Yakumi. Tell me the truth."
"I've already told you—it has nothing to do with you."
Qianyu took a step forward.
"You know me. Even if you don't say it, I'll find out."
"This—"
Yakumi hesitated.
He didn't want to disobey Elder Yashiro.
But he also knew—
The man before him meant what he said.
There was nothing he wouldn't do.
Perhaps telling him was actually safer…
Better than letting him tear the village apart on his own.
"Qianyu," Yakumi finally said, grinding his teeth,
"I can defy Elder Yashiro's order and tell you—but—"
"You must promise me one thing."
"You absolutely cannot act recklessly!"
Qianyu replied calmly,
"I can't promise anything."
"You—!"
Qianyu pressed on relentlessly,
"Yamabuki and Aoki are both gone."
"The order you keep mentioning comes from Elder Yashiro—not the clan head."
"Do you really think I'm stupid?"
"What happened in the clan?!"
His voice rose uncontrollably.
Yakumi let out a long sigh.
"Fine… I'll tell you everything."
He explained the ambush.
The Hidden Mist spy.
The trap.
Aoki critically wounded.
Yamabuki losing an arm.
And finally—
Clan Head Uchiha Fugaku being taken away by the ANBU.
By the time Yakumi finished—
Qianyu's fists were already clenched so tightly they trembled.
When he heard that even Fugaku had been seized—
The last thread of restraint snapped.
Boom!
Chakra erupted violently as Qianyu turned to charge out.
Yakumi and the others hurriedly formed ranks to block him.
"What are you trying to do?!"
Qianyu said coldly,
"Those ANBU removed their masks."
"They clearly conspired with the Hidden Mist spy to frame my people."
"Aoki and Yamabuki are gravely injured."
"Even the clan head has been taken."
"And now—"
"You still want to stop me?"
Yakumi's face flushed red with urgency.
"You know it's a trap—yet you're still walking straight into it?!"
Qianyu's eyes were iron-hard.
"If they want a fight—"
"Then I'll give them a fight."
"If they want to die—"
"Then I'll grant their wish."
The moment those words fell—
His body shot forward.
So fast it was like a cannon blast.
Like a bolt of lightning tearing through space.
In an instant, he slipped between two Police Force shinobi and broke free of the encirclement.
"Qianyu! Don't act rashly!"
Yakumi was drenched in cold sweat.
"I'll chase him—quickly report to Elder Yashiro!"
"Yes!"
"Captain Qianyu! We're coming with you!"
Qianyu's former subordinates followed without hesitation.
Yakumi cursed under his breath.
"Why are his subordinates just like him—young, reckless, and fearless?!"
"Chase them!"
"Yes!"
Yakumi led his men in pursuit.
However—
Qianyu didn't head straight for ANBU headquarters.
Instead, he veered sharply toward Konoha Hospital.
"Aoki… Yamabuki…"
"You two idiots."
His speed increased again.
Lightning and wind howled as he vanished down the street.
...
Inside Konoha Hospital—
Uchiha Yamabuki
sat on his bed, his severed arm tightly wrapped.
Blood still seeped through the bandages.
Ignoring the pain, he staggered out of bed and quietly approached Aoki's bedside.
Aoki still hadn't woken up.
"Aoki…"
"Don't die…"
"I… I still want to follow Captain Qianyu…"
"I still want to fight alongside you…"
Tears fell uncontrollably from Yamabuki's eyes, soaking the blanket.
He covered his face.
Never in his life had he hated his own weakness so much.
"I'm sorry, Captain…"
"It's my fault… I was too stupid…"
Suddenly—
"You really were stupid."
A familiar voice spoke from behind him.
"So obvious a trap—and you still walked right into it."
Yamabuki froze.
Then—
A warm current surged through his body.
All the grief, guilt, and pain he'd been suppressing finally burst free.
"C-Captain…!"
Qianyu stepped forward, his gaze landing on the severed arm.
His brows drew tightly together.
"Your arm…"
"It's fine—just an arm," Yamabuki said hurriedly, then choked up.
"But… but Aoki—"
"What did the doctors say?"
Yamabuki shook his head weakly.
"He was stabbed from behind. His heart and lungs were injured."
"They did everything they could, but…"
"Whether he'll wake up…"
Qianyu nodded slowly.
"I understand."
Tears streamed down Yamabuki's face.
"I'm sorry, Captain… this is all my fault…"
Qianyu cursed softly,
"Idiot."
"The enemy committed the crime. Why blame yourself?"
"Is that how I taught you?"
"Captain…"
Qianyu placed a hand on his uninjured shoulder.
"Recover properly."
"Take care of Aoki."
"He won't die."
"…Yes."
Qianyu took one last look at Aoki's pale, youthful face—
Still filled with innocence.
Then he turned and left.
"Captain—where are you going?!"
"Don't act rashly!"
The door slammed shut.
Yamabuki stood frozen.
Based on what he knew of his captain—
He had no idea what Qianyu was about to do.
But one thing was certain—
Konoha was about to be turned upside down.
...
In a dark, silent corner of the village—
Konoha's prison complex stood hidden away.
The Police Force and ANBU both handled detention—
But their prisons were not connected.
And the place Qianyu was striding toward now—
Was the ANBU prison.
Facing two ANBU guards who immediately tensed as if confronting a great enemy—
Qianyu spoke only a single sentence.
"Those who block me—die."
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