After several days of seemingly peaceful calm—
On this particular day—
Uchiha Aoki and Uchiha Yamaka were carrying out their routine patrol.
"With the Captain gone, everything feels so dull…" Aoki sighed.
Yamaka shot him a sideways glance.
"Weren't you the one who used to complain that the Captain was too extreme?"
"You said he never considered the bigger picture and kept causing trouble for the Uchiha and the Police Force."
Aoki broke into a cold sweat and hurriedly clamped a hand over Yamaka's mouth.
"Shh! Don't talk nonsense! If the Captain hears that, I'm finished!"
"And it wasn't just me—you complained too!"
Yamaka brushed his hand away.
"That was because I was naïve."
"Now I understand the Captain."
"His way was the right one."
Aoki nodded slowly.
"I just wonder when he'll return…"
"The Hokage's side…"
The two fell silent.
Just then—
A commotion erupted ahead.
The unmistakable sounds of a fight rang out.
The two exchanged a glance.
"Let's go."
Though they were young, they had followed Chiba for years. Their instincts and judgment were sharp.
But what they saw ahead stunned them.
Five or six Konoha shinobi were surrounding a female ninja, beating her mercilessly.
Blows rained down in a relentless storm.
Her cries of pain echoed through the street.
What was more, Aoki and Yamaka had never seen these shinobi before.
They wore Konoha headbands—
Yet their faces were unfamiliar.
"Stop!"
Aoki shouted and rushed forward.
Though Yamaka felt a faint unease, he followed immediately.
"Who are you people?"
"What are you doing?!"
One of the shinobi glanced up coldly.
"Police Force?"
"This doesn't concern you."
"Stay out of it."
"Leave."
He continued striking the woman without hesitation.
"Help… please…"
Her voice was weak and trembling.
Aoki felt his blood boil.
With a roar, he unleashed a volley of shuriken.
Clang! Clang!
The men dodged.
Seizing the opening, Aoki dashed forward and shielded the woman behind him.
"Are you alright?"
"I—I'm fine… th-thank you…"
He glanced back.
She was bruised, bloodied, and barely recognizable.
His anger surged.
"You people—"
Before he could finish—
"Aoki, look out!"
Yamaka lunged forward, throwing himself in front of him.
But it was already too late.
A cold flash sliced through the air.
Steel gleamed.
Two cries rang out simultaneously.
Yamaka's arm was severed in an instant.
The blade did not stop there—
It drove straight into Aoki's back.
Pain exploded through his body.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
He slowly turned his head—
The battered female ninja's lips curled into a twisted smile.
"Thank you… kind fool."
In the next instant—
She vanished.
The "Konoha shinobi" immediately roared,
"Fools!"
"That woman is a spy from Kirigakure!"
"You dared interfere with an ANBU operation and let her escape!"
"Are you trying to betray the village?!"
Aoki and Yamaka turned pale.
Kirigakure…
A spy…
They understood instantly.
This had been a trap from the very beginning.
And beneath their masks, the so-called ANBU wore chilling, satisfied smiles.
They made a show of chasing the fleeing "spy," leaving Aoki gravely wounded and Yamaka missing an arm.
"Aoki! Aoki!"
"Hold on! I'll get you to the hospital!"
Aoki forced a faint smile.
"Yamaka… your arm…"
"Forget my arm! Your injury—"
Aoki shook his head weakly.
"I was foolish… reckless… It should have been obvious."
"I dragged you into this…"
"Shut up! Don't talk nonsense!"
Tears welled in Aoki's eyes.
"I followed Captain Chiba for years… but I never truly learned from him."
"I'm ashamed…"
Yamaka shouted, ignoring the blood pouring from his severed limb.
With one arm, he hoisted Aoki onto his back and sprinted toward Konoha Hospital.
"Save your strength! Stay awake!"
Aoki smiled faintly.
Blood trailed behind them, marking their path.
…
Not long after—
Sarutobi Shinnosuke arrived at the Police Force headquarters with a squad of ANBU.
"Clan Head Fugaku."
Fugaku had already heard what happened to Aoki and Yamaka.
Fury burned within him—
Yet now he faced accusations instead.
His fists clenched until they trembled.
"What is it?"
Shinnosuke spoke calmly.
"Your Police Force interfered with an ANBU operation and nearly allowed a Kirigakure spy to escape."
"You owe us an explanation."
Fugaku's eyes burned.
"What explanation do you want?"
Shinnosuke exhaled coldly.
"I heard those two belong to Uchiha Chiba's squad."
"He was suspended for his extreme methods."
"Now his subordinates act recklessly and nearly cause disaster."
"It seems the entire squad reflects his influence."
"The squad must be disbanded immediately."
Shock rippled through the Police Force.
The targeting was obvious.
"Furthermore," Shinnosuke continued,
"All subordinates of Uchiha Chiba must undergo ANBU interrogation."
"Every single one."
Fugaku finally snapped.
"Shinnosuke."
"Do not go too far."
"Too far?"
Behind the mask, Shinnosuke's eyes were ice cold.
"It was your Police Force that interfered."
"A Kirigakure spy nearly escaped."
"Who can guarantee that Uchiha Chiba and his followers are not collaborators?"
"Clan Head Fugaku…"
"If you obstruct this, it will appear that you are shielding them."
Fugaku trembled with anger.
"You—"
Behind him, members of the Police Force released their chakra, surrounding the ANBU.
Shinnosuke slowly scanned the room.
His voice turned sharp.
"What is this?"
"Clan Head Fugaku…"
"Are you implying rebellion?"
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