Chapter 54 - Chapter 55: Crane Tree Is Forced to Work

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Was he serious?

Wood Release?

Who besides the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, would dare say something like that?

Wait. There was one other person.

Konoha's famed architect—Yamato.

Never expected this.

Yamato had ended up under his command.

No one else seemed surprised by Yamato's statement. They must have already known.

"Codename Kabuto. Male. Age ten. Specializes in medical ninjutsu."

White hair peeked from beneath a cloak. A boy's youthful voice.

"…"

My team is really full of hidden masters.

Crane Tree's mouth twitched.

[Ding! Favorability of target character, Kabuto Yakushi, has decreased by 50!]

"What?!"

What just happened?

Crane Tree's gaze settled on Kabuto's mask.

What heinous crime had he committed to earn such an… impressive favorability score from Kabuto?

"System, hide Kabuto's favorability level."

Crane Tree sighed inwardly. "It's honestly depressing to look at."

"…"

The System hid Kabuto's portrait on the target characters panel.

It saw Hanzō of the Salamander's favorability was at -100. Considering its host's current mental state, the System automatically hid Hanzō's level as well.

Team Nightwind, including Crane Tree, had eleven members in total.

The age distribution was wildly unbalanced, from a fifty-year-old man to a ten-year-old child.

Danzō was recruiting child soldiers and exploiting the elderly.

In the shinobi world, reaching the age of fifty was considered a remarkable feat of longevity.

After getting the rundown, Crane Tree took on Team Nightwind's first mission.

Dispose of the war criminals held in Konoha Prison.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, advocated for simply detaining them. But the mission Danzō issued was to eliminate them. Completely.

Konoha Prison was also known as the War Detention and Interrogation Facility.

The facility sat outside Konoha's walls, deep within the Land of Fire, on a desolate plain of red earth where nothing grew.

After half a day's journey, their figures landed soundlessly behind the interrogation block.

"The facility is surrounded by watchtowers," Kabuto reported, sharing the intel he'd gathered. "Three patrol ninja per tower. Four main gates, five primary routes. Over ten patrols per route, two guards per gate."

"The main block has eight floors, centered around a courtyard with three on-duty ninja."

"One patrol per floor."

Impenetrable.

That was the first word that came to mind.

That old dog Danzō's requirements were strict: cause as little commotion as possible.

Based on the situation, avoiding detection was impossible.

He himself could teleport, but the others clearly couldn't.

"Captain, what's the plan?" Yun asked.

For a Root ninja, obeying orders was second nature.

"A silent infiltration is difficult. Silently killing those rebel ninja and war criminals is even harder," said the oldest member of the team, codenamed Ren.

All eyes were on Crane Tree, awaiting his decision.

"We're going in through the front gate."

Crane Tree's gaze settled on the interrogation block's crimson spire. He spoke flatly.

"What?!"

Ren, known for his composure, actually yelped. His eyes, visible through the holes in his mask, went wide.

The others stared at Crane Tree in shock, speechless.

Even Yun, accustomed to blind obedience, couldn't help but protest. "Entering through the front gate means facing every guard head-on."

Once a melee started, the commotion would be anything but small.

And if any ninja alerted Konoha HQ, reinforcements would arrive from the village.

"I know," Crane Tree said.

The air grew heavy.

Their Root conditioning prevented them from refusing the order, even if it seemed utterly foolish.

…

"Why can't these criminals just shut up?"

A guard at the main gate complained to his partner, digging irritably at his ear. The noise filtering out from the gate was grating on his nerves.

"Tch. They're criminals. It's what they do," his partner drawled lazily.

"True!" the complaining guard agreed, then sighed. "I don't get why we keep them alive. Just kill 'em and be done with it."

His partner frowned at that. It wasn't the sentiment, but the attitude.

"Keep your voice down. That's not our call to make."

"Tch."

The complainer shut his mouth, though his expression remained mocking.

Swish!

Suddenly, eleven black-clad figures appeared before them.

The complaining guard tensed, but relaxed slightly upon seeing their masks. "ANBU? What's your business here?"

His partner reacted differently, silently drawing a kunai and watching Crane Tree's group with caution.

"We are here under orders to execute the war criminals," Crane Tree said, stepping forward.

"Executions?"

The complaining guard's brow smoothed, but then he caught the discrepancy. "Executions require the Hokage's direct authorization! The facility hasn't received any such order!"

He took a slight step back, his eyes flashing with suspicion.

"You're lying!" both gate guards snapped in unison, their eyes sharpening.

"The lie of a lie shall become reality."

The moment Crane Tree spoke, the two guards' eyes went vacant for a second. When focus returned, they slowly sheathed their kunai.

"In that case, proceed."

The complaining guard stepped aside to flank the gate while his partner pushed the heavy doors open.

Crane Tree was the first to step inside the prison.

The others followed, a sense of surreal disbelief washing over them.

What just happened?

It was inexplicable.

Such a method was beyond comprehension.

It wasn't genjutsu. It was just… a simple sentence?

Ren watched Crane Tree's back, his gaze heavy.

To alter someone's will with a single sentence.

Such an ability was truly chilling.

A sudden wave of cold dread washed over Ren. Now he finally understood why Lord Danzō had assigned a teenager to be their captain.

"Halt!"

"State your business!"

The challenge snapped Ren from his thoughts.

Crane Tree looked at the two ninja blocking their path and repeated, "We are here under orders to execute the war criminals."

The two exchanged a glance, their frowns deepening. "Show us your authorization scroll."

Since the gate guards had let them in, they must have passed inspection. But it never hurt to be careful.

"Very well."

A smile touched Crane Tree's eyes. He extended an empty hand toward them. "Here it is."

The Emperor's New Authorization Scroll.

If you can't see it, you're just not very bright.

"You—!"

"You dare mock us!"

"There's clearly nothing there!"

The two ninja scowled, a murderous glint in their eyes. A sneak attack was one thing, but insulting their intelligence was going too far.

"The lie of a lie shall become reality."

Crane Tree had absolutely no intention of insulting their intelligence. Although, the moment they denied seeing it, they'd already proven theirs wasn't exactly top-tier.

"Ah! The authorization!"

One ninja stared at Crane Tree's hand as if it held a physical object. He nodded, glancing at his partner. "Proceed."

"…"

Team Nightwind, initially shocked, now just felt numb.

They were starting to think missions like this were… surprisingly relaxing.

Clad in black cloaks and animal masks, they calmly ascended the stairs to the second floor.

A patrolling ninja glanced at them but said nothing. A flicker of doubt crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed it. Anyone who could pass through two checkpoints and enter so openly had to be legitimate.

The cells holding war criminals and rebel ninja bore special markings and were fitted with stronger restraints.

Guided by Kabuto, who had memorized the layout, the group stopped before a cramped, shadowy corner.

Behind iron bars, three men in white prison uniforms sat silently on the floor. There was no communication between them. When a cluster of shadows fell across the floor, only one of them bothered to look up.

"Tch. Konoha's ANBU?" A savage scar marred the ninja's face. Sarcasm filled his eyes.

His voice prompted the other two to slowly raise their heads.

Cold eyes fixed on Crane Tree.

Thick iron chains bound the three men's necks and limbs. The slightest movement produced a sharp, metallic clatter.

"I'll go in," Yun said, stepping up beside Crane Tree with her head bowed slightly.

"Unnecessary."

Crane Tree shook his head. There was no need for such trouble.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Flesh was pierced by sharp icicles.

Dark blossoms of blood bloomed against the crimson walls.

Yun's pupils dilated.

Before her eyes, the entire cell was perforated by countless ice spikes. There wasn't a single spot to dodge.

The fate of the three ninja was sealed.

As war criminals, they were strong, but the attack was too dense. Evasion was impossible.

"Cleared. Next cell."

Crane Tree lowered his hand.

Yun silently swallowed and retreated into the formation. Compared to her method of slaughtering them one by one, the captain's efficiency was on another level.

Five minutes later, under the watchful eyes of the patrol ninja, Crane Tree and his team calmly exited the prison.

"The mission… is complete?" Yamato, the second youngest, tried to maintain an air of profundity but couldn't quite hold it together.

Kabuto's gaze remained fixed on Crane Tree, abnormally focused.

If Crane Tree hadn't sneaked a peek and seen Kabuto's favorability drop another twenty points, he might have thought Kabuto was about to declare him his life's mentor.

"Let's go."

Crane Tree was the first to depart.

Behind their masks, the members of Team Nightwind wore varied expressions. They exchanged glances and fell in line behind him.

Their initial discontent had faded, replaced by a growing sense of awe.

Before they entered the village proper, they were met by Danzō, who was waiting for them.

He stood in his familiar attire, shrouded in the shadow of a large tree, watching them approach.

"Lord Danzō."

Crane Tree stopped before him and removed his mask. It really hindered his acting.

"The mission was completed satisfactorily."

News of the total annihilation of the prisoners had reached the village's upper echelons before their return. For Konoha, to have its prison infiltrated so effortlessly, leaving a trail of corpses, was a profound disgrace.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression, at the very least, had been extremely unpleasant.

The key issue: every single guard insisted they had seen the Hokage's authorization scroll.

"You flatter me, Lord Danzō."

After the usual verbal sparring, Crane Tree removed his gear, ready to clock out.

Overtime? Not in this lifetime. If there was a duty shift, he'd just find a substitute. A captain had to use his authority, after all.

Crane Tree had barely set foot on the main street when someone stopped him.

"Kushina-senpai?"

He was surprised. He was always the one creating opportunities to interact with his targets. This was the first time one had come to him.

"Crane Tree! Heading out to eat?" Kushina beamed.

Crane Tree nodded, curious as to why she'd sought him out.

"Great! In that case, why not come eat at my place?" Fearing a rejection, Kushina quickly added, "Ah! I heard you helped Minato a lot on the battlefield! Let me thank you properly!"

She looked at him with expectant eyes.

Crane Tree raised a brow. A deal this good?

Of course he'd go. Who would refuse such a golden opportunity?

"Wouldn't that be too much trouble for you, Senpai?" Crane Tree feigned hesitation.

"Not at all! It's no trouble at all! My cooking is really good, you know!"

And so, Crane Tree was "forced" to accompany Kushina to her home.

Kushina knocked cheerfully on the door.

Minato opened it. He saw Crane Tree and coughed awkwardly. He was the one trying to set up Kakashi and Crane Tree, but actually doing it made him feel a bit guilty.

Minato avoided Crane Tree's gaze, offering a mechanical welcome. "Haha! Crane Tree, first time here! Please, come in!"

Crane Tree was silent.

Minato-senpai, could your smile be any faker?

This was getting a little awkward.

Soon, he would realize that this bit of awkwardness was nothing.

An hour later, facing a table laden with delicacies, Crane Tree felt truly uncomfortable for the first time.

"Kushina… senpai… do you… really not think… it's a bit crowded?" Crane Tree managed to ask, looking painfully at Kushina, who was relentlessly squeezing herself toward him.

Kushina's favorability had been steadily rising, and Crane Tree hadn't wanted to ruin the atmosphere.

But… this was too much!

Kakashi sat beside Crane Tree with a deadened expression, half his body already leaning off his seat.

And Kushina kept squeezing.

Crane Tree was being forced into Kakashi's space.

"Is it? Crowded? Haha!" Kushina laughed, shaking her head. "No way! I think it's nice and cozy!"

Across the table, Minato's smile seemed frozen on his face.

He looked troubled. Should he remind Kushina that she was being a little… obvious?

His gaze shifted to Crane Tree with a pang of sympathy.

Why did the light in Crane Tree's eyes seem to have gone out?

And Kakashi…

Gulp.

Minato jolted. Kakashi was even worse off.

His eyes were completely vacant.

A faint sense of guilt pricked at Minato's heart.

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