"My name is Uzuki Yugao. I'll be working under you from now on. Please take care of me."
Her voice was polite and careful. The girl standing before Uchiha Yoru looked young, almost too young. Excitement flickered in her eyes, mixed with hesitation and uncertainty. She had the unmistakable air of a newly assigned shinobi stepping into her first real post.
Yoru's expression remained calm.
Inside, alarms were ringing.
Uzuki Yugao.
Purple hair, soft features, a shy composure that bordered on fragile. Something about her presence felt familiar in a way that immediately put him on edge.
"Yoru-niisan," Uchiha Shisui said lightly, clearly pleased with himself. "She's a civilian-born shinobi. Graduated last year. Perfect scores in written exams, meticulous personality. She's well-suited for administrative work in the division."
In other words, a secretary. Paperwork, records, coordination. The kind of role that kept someone close to the core of operations without ever touching combat.
Yoru smiled faintly. "Good. Get familiar with the workflow first."
"Thank you, sir." Yugao bowed deeply, her face bright with relief and anticipation.
She exited the office.
The door closed.
Yoru's smile faded instantly.
Outside, Yugao's expression also changed. The timid excitement vanished, replaced by practiced calm.
Shisui noticed none of it.
Yoru picked up the personnel files. The top page was Yugao's.
Graduated at eleven. Assigned to a civilian-heavy genin team. Average field instructor. Evaluations described her as detail-oriented, capable of basic medical ninjutsu, and highly proficient with a blade.
Too clean.
"Yoru-niisan?" Shisui asked, confused by the silence.
Yoru flipped through the stack. When he finished, his eyes were cold.
"The Seventh Division has already been compromised," he said flatly.
"What?" Shisui stiffened.
Yoru pulled out three files and placed them on the desk.
Uzuki Yugao.Gekkou Hayate.Yakushi Kabuto.
Shisui's breath caught. Yugao's file had been his own recommendation.
"Should I handle it?" Shisui asked quietly, a sharp edge entering his voice.
Yoru rubbed his temples. "No. These identities came from Orochimaru-sensei's side. We don't know how deep this goes."
He exhaled slowly. "Keep them under observation. Quietly. No confrontation."
Shisui clenched his jaw but nodded.
"Focus surveillance on Yugao and Hayate. Kabuto is Root."
That alone explained everything.
The Uchiha had carved the Seventh Division out as Orochimaru's faction, handling the dirtiest work behind the scenes. And yet Root still planted watchers inside it.
Yoru wasn't surprised.
He was almost amused.
"Yoru-niisan," Shisui said, hesitant. "Why not dig deeper?"
Yoru's voice hardened. "That's an order. Do not."
Shisui froze, then answered automatically. "Yes."
Confusion churned behind his eyes. Something about Yoru's reaction felt… personal. As if he knew more than he was saying.
Yoru watched him carefully, then relaxed.
Let Shisui wonder.
Suspicion worked better than truth. When the day came, Shisui would understand just how heavy this burden was.
"Assign Yugao to my office," Yoru continued. "Hayate goes to routine patrol. Kabuto to logistics and medical support. Treat them normally."
Shisui nodded again, though bitterness lingered in his expression.
As he turned to leave, Yoru added quietly, "Keep checking the rest of the roster. There are more."
Shisui paused at the door.
"…Understood."
The door shut.
Yoru leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing.
ANBU. Root. Hidden cultivation from childhood. Quiet infiltration masked as coincidence.
Konoha was already preparing for something.
And the Uchiha were standing directly in its path.