The night was as dark as ink, and Konoha was wrapped in complete silence.
Chiya stood by the window of the Security Force headquarters, gazing at the dimly lit streets in the distance.
He turned and picked up the document that had been prepared on the desk, handing it to Uchiha Fugaku, who stood beside him.
"Deliver this document to the Hokage Building. Say that the Security Force has received a tip."
"There is suspicious activity outside the village. We are assisting the Anbu in investigating."
Chiya's voice was low and calm.
Fugaku took the document, his brow furrowing slightly.
"Clan Head, won't this arouse the Third's suspicion?"
Chiya gave a faint smile.
"Suspicion is inevitable, but our actions are above board. He has nothing to say. Go."
Fugaku nodded and left.
Chiya turned to look at the elite Security Force members assembled behind him.
Each of them wore a solemn expression, their eyes filled with a firm resolve.
"Tonight's mission is to assist the Anbu in investigating a human trafficking case."
"The Anbu are the main force. Your priority is to ensure your own safety."
"I do not want what happened last time to happen again."
Chiya's gaze swept across the group.
These were the younger generation of the Security Force.
Bringing them out was also part of Chiya's plan to give them real experience. After all, training in the training ground day after day could only ensure that one's abilities did not decline.
It was only in actual combat that true strength would grow.
"Move out."
The group quickly left the Security Force headquarters and rushed toward the outskirts of the village.
Under the cover of night, their figures swept across rooftops like ghosts and vanished into the forest at the village entrance.
Inside the Hokage Building, Hiruzen stood by the window, holding the document that had just been delivered.
His gaze passed through the window toward the direction of the village entrance, and a flicker of complex emotion passed through his eyes.
"Uchiha Chiya..."
He murmured softly, smoke drifting around him as he exhaled.
Beside him, Koharu's expression was grave.
"Hiruzen, are you just going to let them act freely?"
Koharu could not help but ask.
Hiruzen was silent for a moment, then said slowly.
"They are operating under the name of the Security Force. We cannot stop them. However..."
He turned his head toward the shadows.
"Aoki has already mixed in among them. He will bring us back a report."
Hiruzen's gaze shifted, and he suddenly brought up Danzo.
"What has Danzo been up to lately?"
"Him?"
Koharu's eyes flickered.
Looking at Hiruzen's back, she said with uncertainty.
"Wasn't he dismissed? He should still be reflecting on his actions."
...
In the dense forest outside the village, Chiya's team linked up with Sakumo's Anbu unit. They had not traveled far from the village.
His Sharingan caught a faint, irregular chakra disturbance.
"Ambush!"
Chiya suddenly raised his hand to signal everyone to stop. His three-tomoe Sharingan flickered with an eerie light in the darkness.
Before his words had even faded, dozens of kunai came shooting in from all directions.
"Defend!"
Sakumo barked sharply. The Anbu ninja quickly formed hand seals.
A wall of earth rose from the ground, blocking most of the attack.
Chiya's figure flashed. In an instant he appeared on a tree branch, and his kunai drove cleanly into the throat of one of the ambushers.
Blood sprayed out. The man stared wide-eyed and collapsed in disbelief.
The battle erupted in an instant.
The Security Force and the Anbu worked together with reasonable coordination. The Security Force members in particular were in their element, the Sharingan's perception giving them a clear advantage in combat.
Uchiha Aoki was embedded within the Anbu unit.
His movements were slightly hesitant, but they were quickly swallowed up by the intensity of the battle.
"Fire Style, Grand Fireball Jutsu!"
A Uchiha ninja spat out a blazing fireball that engulfed two enemies.
Sakumo's White Fang blade traced cold arcs in the moonlight. Every swing took a life.
His eyes were ice-cold, but a flicker of doubt rose in his heart.
'The way these people fight...'
It seemed somewhat familiar.
The battle ended quickly. Every enemy was killed.
Sakumo crouched down and checked one of the bodies. He reached into the man's clothing and pulled out a kunai engraved with a special seal.
"Just as I thought. These are Root operatives."
He said in a low voice, his brow tightly creased.
Chiya walked to his side. His gaze fell on the kunai.
"It seems someone does not want us to continue this investigation."
Sakumo pocketed the kunai and said in a grave voice.
"The mission must continue, but the path ahead will be far more dangerous."
Chiya nodded.
"Let's move. There is no time to waste."
The group set out again. However, the road ahead was riddled with traps.
Explosive tags, poison needles, genjutsu barriers...
Every step concealed a lethal threat.
"Stop!"
Chiya suddenly raised his hand. His Sharingan locked onto the seemingly undisturbed ground ahead.
"There are a large number of explosive tags here."
Sakumo stepped forward, examined the area carefully, then spoke.
"Indeed. Not just traps, there are close to a hundred explosive tags. Truly dangerous. One more step and we would have..."
The corner of Chiya's mouth curved slightly.
"Stay close to me."
Under his guidance, the group neatly avoided every single trap.
Sakumo watched Chiya's back, and a trace of relief rose in his heart.
'It is a good thing he is here...'
However, when they finally reached the destination described in the intelligence report, a concealed warehouse, they found it completely empty.
They had arrived too late.
An Anbu ninja gritted his teeth.
The interior of the warehouse was in disarray. It was clear the other side had evacuated only a short time ago.
Sakumo examined the traces on the ground, his expression dark.
'They have relocated.'
Everyone fell into silence. A sense of defeat hung heavy in the air.
Chiya stood in place, his Sharingan slowly rotating, his gaze sweeping every corner of the warehouse.
Suddenly, his eyes stopped on one of the walls.
'Something is wrong here.'
Chiya walked over. He lightly tapped the wall with his fingers. A hollow echo came back.
Sakumo's eyes lit up.
'A hidden compartment?'
Chiya nodded. He stepped back, and his hands moved rapidly through the seals.
"Fire Style, Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
A torrent of scorching dragon-shaped fire slammed into the wall. The bricks shattered and crumbled, revealing a dark passage.
Chiya stepped in first, and the others followed close behind.
At the end of the passage was an enormous underground laboratory. The sight before them made everyone draw a sharp breath.
Severed limbs were scattered across the floor. Small bodies lay on operating tables. Organ specimens floated in green liquid and lined the shelves. The air was thick with the sting of chemicals and the smell of blood.
"These animals..."
Sakumo's voice trembled. His fists clenched with a grinding crack.
Chiya's gaze was ice-cold, a flash of crimson passing through his Sharingan.
"This is the true purpose. Human experimentation."
An Anbu ninja suddenly cried out.
"There are survivors here!"
Everyone turned to look. In the corner, several barely alive children were locked in an iron cage. Their eyes were blank and empty, and their bodies were covered in marks from the experiments.
Sakumo stepped forward quickly. Lightning crackled. He cut through the iron lock with a single strike.
"Hurry. Get them out!"
Chiya stood where he was and watched everything.
He turned to look at Uchiha Aoki and found that Aoki's expression was equally grim.
"Aoki."
Chiya's voice was low and dangerous.
"Go back and tell the Third. This is the result of his indulgence."
Aoki trembled from head to toe. He lowered his head and did not dare to meet Chiya's gaze.
Sakumo cradled an unconscious child in his arms and walked over to Chiya's side.
"We have to bring them back to the village for treatment immediately. This place..."
He looked around.
"Burn it."
Chiya nodded and formed hand seals.
"Fire Style, Great Fire Annihilation!"
Towering flames swept through the entire laboratory, swallowing every trace of its crimes in a sea of fire.
The group carried the surviving children and retreated swiftly. Behind them, the raging blaze lit up the dark night sky.
In the distance, on a cliff.
A man with bandages covering his head walked out with five subordinates. He stared down at the sea of fire below with cold, sinister eyes.
"Damn Hatake Sakumo, he actually joined forces with the Uchiha..."