The Hyūga jōnin's words dropped Jaeger's family into an icy abyss.
Even Doctor Nake, curled up in the corner, couldn't help but feel pity for them.
Such an ordinary family—
Yet they had been dragged into the very center of the storm.
Yakushi Nono kept her face expressionless, but waves of turmoil surged in her heart. She had already planned her escape route.
Her right hand tightened around the kunai.
If things went wrong, she would at least rescue the child she had treated two nights ago.
Against four Konoha jōnin and a ninja hound, she had no chance of saving the entire family.
"Director Nono," Asuma said lazily, glancing sideways at her.
"I advise you not to make any sudden moves."
"Otherwise, we'll deal with you the same way we deal with rogue ninjas."
He flicked the cigarette butt from his mouth and lit another one calmly.
"Fine," Nono said evenly. "Let's speak honestly."
"They are Root intelligence assets stationed along the border."
"If you touch them, you should consider how you'll answer to Lord Danzō."
She tried to intimidate them with a different tactic.
The four men's expressions changed slightly.
A flicker of hope rose in Nono's heart.
As expected.
No Konoha ninja was fearless when it came to Danzō's reputation.
"Ha…"
The Hyūga branch-family jōnin couldn't hold back his laughter.
"Root? Lord Danzō?"
"Don't make me laugh."
He shook his head, still chuckling.
Asuma exhaled smoke and wore the same mocking smile.
Nono frowned slightly, puzzled by their reaction.
No one bothered explaining.
Just then—
"Asuma, give me an explanation!"
A woman's magnetic voice rang out from the doorway.
Everyone in the room heard it clearly.
Asuma turned his head.
Kurenai Yūhi stepped slowly into the wooden house.
Her cold gaze swept across the room before settling on Asuma.
According to the original plan, she had separated from the others to search Kikyo Mountain for the Uchiha squad.
But she soon realized something was wrong.
Asuma's team had deliberately split up to shake her off.
By the time she arrived at the refugee camp—
She discovered something horrifying.
The entire refugee settlement had been slaughtered.
"Red… listen," Asuma said quickly, putting on a conciliatory smile.
"They're just refugees from small nations. If they cause trouble, they could destabilize the Land of Fire's border. So…"
"Release the mother and child," Kurenai said coldly.
Her crimson eyes were devoid of emotion.
There was no room for negotiation.
Asuma hesitated for a moment before glancing at the Hyūga jōnin.
The Hyūga clicked his tongue and reluctantly lowered the kunai.
"Heh…"
He sneered and walked over to Jaeger.
This time he placed the blade against Jaeger's throat.
Jaeger actually felt relieved.
His eyes softened as he looked toward his wife.
His emotions were complicated.
Kurenai stepped beside the mother and child, shielding them as she glared at Asuma.
"Asuma… you claim you don't agree with the Third Hokage's decisions."
"But you and your father are exactly the same."
"He sacrificed Hyūga Hizashi to preserve the village."
"And you… let your men slaughter refugees and turn them into rogue ninjas just to earn merit."
Asuma's thoughts had been completely exposed.
His expression turned blank.
He glanced at the companions beside him.
The Inuzuka jōnin waved his hand casually and laughed.
"Haha, Captain Asuma, relax."
"This is your family matter."
"We didn't hear anything."
"We won't say a word when we go back."
Kurenai had just insulted the Third Hokage.
Nono watched the brave kunoichi with admiration.
At least—
Not all Konoha shinobi trampled on human life.
She also felt relieved for Jaeger's wife.
Seeing his teammates reassure him, Asuma sighed.
Kurenai's accusations didn't bother him much.
He continued smiling apologetically.
"Red… it's not what you think."
"I'll explain everything when we get back."
Kurenai ignored him completely.
What Asuma had done tonight crossed her moral line.
"Stop wasting time here," Asuma said irritably, his thoughts messy.
"Get the information."
"Kill the man."
"Then continue the pursuit."
He didn't worry about Kurenai's anger.
He understood women well.
She was just upset.
A little coaxing later and everything would return to normal.
The Hyūga jōnin stepped forward to interrogate Jaeger again—
Then suddenly stopped.
He felt danger.
A powerful, suffocating sense of danger.
He had only experienced that feeling once in his life—
The moment he almost died on a mission.
Through the black-and-white vision of his Byakugan—
He saw something.
Behind him.
At the doorway.
A handsome young man in white clothing, a sword at his waist, walked into the room with light steps.
His expression was cold.
His posture proud.
His presence did not disrupt the tense atmosphere of the wooden house.
Instead—
He blended perfectly into it.
Everyone's attention was still focused on the Hyūga jōnin.
No one noticed the extra person behind them.
The Hyūga jōnin pursed his lips and steadied his breathing.
Then he slowly lowered his kunai.
Turning around—
He looked toward the door.
In that instant—
The atmosphere in the wooden house shattered like a stone thrown into a still lake.
The baby's crying stopped abruptly.
Everyone turned their heads at once.
Their eyes fell on the doorway.
"Let him go."
"I'll leave your corpses intact."
Kazuki drew the ninja blade from his waist.
Clang—
His clear eyes rotated with the Yachiman Mangekyō Sharingan.
His handsome face was flawless.
The candlelight illuminated him without restraint, casting a painting-like shadow across the wall.
[Side Quest]: Heavenly Punishment
Options:
Kill everyone present.
Kill Sarutobi Asuma, Hyūga Yū, Akimichi Tu, Inuzuka Akiyama, and Yukimaru.
Reward: Weapon — Dark Moon
Kazuki raised an eyebrow slightly.
The task had appeared rather casually.
A weapon.
Dark Moon.
A blade?
He temporarily suppressed the thought and gripped his sword.
The blade reflected the candlelight with cold brilliance.
Kazuki slowly scanned the room.
Counting silently—
Four men.
One dog.
When his gaze passed over Kurenai Yūhi, it paused briefly.
Her name was not on the target list.
Because…
She held no hostility toward him?
Kazuki immediately understood.
As for Nono returning—
He had expected it.
The reason he brought the team back in the first place was to wait for her.
But he hadn't expected something even better.
A gift delivered by Konoha itself.
The intentions of Asuma's squad were written all over their faces.
Fine.
Then this Konoha squad could stay here forever.
Kazuki's Mangekyō Sharingan quietly released Yin Release chakra.
It flowed silently into the Hyūga jōnin who dared to stare at him with the Byakugan.
He had already sealed away Kotoamatsukami.
In its place, he wielded a complete pair of Yachiman Mangekyō.
In an instant—
Hyūga Yū's eyes widened.
His body trembled violently.
His spirit—
His chakra—
Everything inside him fell completely under Kazuki's control.
The Hyūga clan had no ocular power capable of resisting Yachiman's domination.
The candle flames flickered violently.
Shadows danced across the walls.
The air sank into absolute silence.
"Kazuki…!!!"
Kurenai's pupils shook violently.
Her lips parted slightly as she stared at the young man in the doorway.
She gazed at his cold, expressionless face—
And fell into stunned silence.
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