After Yamazō and Qiichi stepped out of the tent, Sarutobi Seijirō turned toward the subordinate who had spoken earlier.
A brief silence lingered.
"Kyūkimalu," he said gravely, "those who attacked Uchiha Yuan… were they from Root?"
Kyūkimalu's expression shifted.
"…Yes, Captain."
Then, hesitating slightly, he asked, "When did you realize it?"
Seijirō's face remained stern.
"I was once an ANBU squad leader. I am familiar with Root's contact methods."
"You were careless. The marks you left along the way were too obvious."
Kyūkimalu lowered his head.
"It was Danzō-sama's order. I could not refuse."
Seijirō's voice dropped.
"Kyūkimalu, you must understand—those who followed and attacked Yuan… can only be rogue ninja."
"Do you understand?"
Kyūkimalu looked startled.
"Captain… you believe Root failed to kill him?"
A bitter smile touched Seijirō's lips.
"There are things you do not know."
"Uchiha Yuan is… terrifying."
"I fear those Root operatives will not succeed."
Minutes later—
More than a dozen figures raced through the night forest.
Yamazō led the way. Seijirō and a squad of Konoha shinobi followed close behind.
A gust of wind swept toward them.
Seijirō's face changed instantly.
"Everyone—stay alert!"
The wind carried a thick stench of blood.
Moments later, the trees thinned.
An open clearing appeared before them.
"…The battle is already over?" Kyūkimalu said in shock.
Only a few minutes had passed since the report.
Seijirō's eyes locked onto the lone figure standing at the center of the clearing.
"This wasn't a battle."
"It was slaughter."
"The man is like an Asura incarnate."
The scene before them resembled hell.
The ground was scarred with massive craters and fractured earth.
Twisted limbs lay scattered.
Shattered corpses told a grim tale—each had died instantly under incomprehensible force.
At the center—
Uchiha Yuan stood calmly.
In one hand, he held a severed head.
His gaze was fixed downward at a broken mask lying near his feet.
Whoosh.
Yamazō landed beside him.
"Yuan-sama, are you unharmed?"
Yuan smiled arrogantly.
"Relax."
"Just some gutter rats."
"I crushed them underfoot."
Seijirō descended with Kyūkimalu and the others.
The moment he saw the mask near Yuan's feet—
His pupils shrank violently.
That mask—
Belonged to Root.
Damn it. Those fools exposed themselves outright. Yuan will use this to escalate matters… What should I do?
Seijirō forced his expression steady.
"Uchiha Yuan… do you know who these attackers were?"
Yuan glanced at him, amusement flickering in his eyes.
"They were rogue ninja."
"And can only be rogue ninja."
"Wouldn't you agree, Captain Sarutobi?"
Seijirō froze for half a heartbeat.
Their gazes met.
In that instant, he understood—
Yuan had recognized them as Root.
But for some reason… he was choosing not to expose it.
"Yes."
Seijirō forced a dry laugh.
"Those damned rogue ninja dared attack Konoha personnel. They sought death."
Yuan casually tossed the severed head toward Seijirō.
"Captain Sarutobi. I'll leave the aftermath to you."
"No problem."
The next moment—
Yuan vanished with the Body Flicker Technique.
Kyūkimalu picked up the fallen mask.
"Captain… Yuan has left."
Seijirō looked down at the head in his hands.
His expression grew complicated.
"I knew him."
"Nara Noji."
"He joined ANBU the same year I did."
"I never imagined he would die here."
Then he turned toward Kyūkimalu.
"I will report this incident to the Third Hokage."
"Your testimony will be included."
"Yes, Captain."
For Yuan, the Root ambush was nothing more than a minor episode.
Yet from that night onward, Kyūkimalu and the others showed unmistakable fear toward him.
The brutality of the massacre had left its mark.
The next day.
After half a day's travel, a bustling city appeared ahead.
Crowds streamed through its gates in steady flow.
Chiba Sōichi said,
"Yuan-sama, ahead lies Tanzaku Town—the most lively place in the Land of Fire. Nearly every gambling house in the country gathers there."
Yuan withdrew his gaze from the town and turned toward Seijirō.
"Captain Sarutobi."
"Let's make camp early today."
Seijirō frowned.
"That would deviate from the plan. We were meant to camp near Ishihara City, another hundred li ahead."
Yuan's eyes grew deep and cold.
"I have no interest in your itinerary."
"At this moment, I wish to stop."
Their gazes locked.
Seijirō felt the weight behind Yuan's stare.
After several seconds—
"…Very well."
"We will camp on the southern plains of Tanzaku Town."
Later.
On a grassy plain south of Tanzaku Town, the camp was being erected.
Kyūkimalu approached Seijirō.
"Captain. Uchiha Yuan went into Tanzaku Town with Chiba Sōichi and a few others."
"He hardly looks like someone exiled. More like a man out for leisure."
Seijirō cast him a sideways glance.
"Would you dare say that to his face?"
"Inside the village, he could still be restrained."
"Outside…"
"If he loses his temper, he could beat us senseless—and there would be nothing we could do."
Then Seijirō's expression turned thoughtful.
"I recall… that person has been staying in Tanzaku Town."
"I wonder if Uchiha Yuan will encounter her."
Kyūkimalu blinked.
"Captain… who do you mean?"
Seijirō's face grew respectful.
"One of the Legendary Sannin."
"Tsunade-hime."
To read advanced Chapters, head over to p@treon:
patreon.com/nani_kaito