The Hidden Cloud Village was shrouded in silence, broken only by the sound of hurried footsteps. The moon hung high above, pale and cold, casting silver streaks across the tiled rooftops.
"Captain, that's the situation."
The Patrol Squad leader finished his report, his tone nervous yet respectful.
"I understand."
Patrol Team Captain Aoyama Hideomi immediately set off, his boots clicking firmly against the stone road. He was a man in his thirties, sharp-eyed and steady, carrying the aura of someone who had weathered the cruelty of the battlefield. During the Third Great Ninja War, he had fought on the front lines, surviving countless battles where many of his comrades had fallen.
He had no parents, no wife, no children—nothing to anchor him to the warmth of family. He lived a solitary life, guided only by duty. Known for his upright character and unwavering sense of justice, he was trusted by the Fourth Raikage himself. It was for this reason that the Raikage had appointed him as Captain of the Patrol Team, jointly responsible with the Barrier Squad for the security of the village.
That trust weighed heavily on his shoulders. Tonight, it seemed heavier than ever.
After gathering the details from his squad, Aoyama Hideomi strode up to Hyuga Neji, who stood calmly despite the tense atmosphere.
"Neji-kun," Aoyama began, his voice low but clear, "you said that while training on Amagumo Mountain, you were ambushed by a mysterious man wearing a cloak?"
"Yes," Neji replied without hesitation.
"You claim you severed the man's left arm, followed his trail of blood, encountered three Patrol Ninja along the way, and pursued him into the izakaya?"
"That's correct."
"Do you have anything else to add?"
"No."
Aoyama Hideomi's brows furrowed. He had wanted to believe the young genius, but the facts before him were troubling. He exhaled slowly, then said in a tone both solemn and conflicted:
"The Patrol Team searched the entire stretch of Amagumo Mountain based on your description. However, we found no traces of a battle—no broken trees, no scorched ground, no scattered kunai or shuriken. And as for the blood trail you mentioned, nothing remained."
Neji chuckled coldly, a sneer curving his lips. "All battle traces have vanished, and the corpses of those Patrol Ninja are gone as well. Interesting. It seems there are quite a few ghosts wandering around the Hidden Cloud Village."
Hideomi paused, reflecting on those words. After a moment, he nodded grimly.
"It is possible the mysterious man had accomplices—hidden allies who erased every trace of the battle before our team arrived." He hesitated, then continued with greater weight in his voice. "But… there's another issue. Eyewitnesses claim they saw you kill three Patrol Ninja inside the izakaya, then rush out of the building. You say you were chasing the enemy, but when the Patrol Squad followed, they found no suspicious figure other than yourself."
His expression hardened, eyes narrowing like blades.
"Neji-kun, I want to believe in your innocence. However, until the truth is revealed, I must ask you to come with me for now."
The surrounding Patrol Ninja tightened their grip on their weapons, the tension rising like static before a storm.
Neji, however, remained utterly calm. He glanced at his left hand, where a black glove concealed the truth beneath, and raised an eyebrow.
"Can I meet this so-called eyewitness who claims to have seen me kill?"
Hideomi considered, then nodded. With a quiet command, he signaled to his squad. Soon after, a plain-looking peddler was escorted forward.
"This man," Hideomi explained, "has been selling pancakes from his stall near the izakaya for the past two years. His family has lived in the village for generations. Our investigation found nothing suspicious in his background."
Neji's pale eyes swept over the man. "I want to ask him a few questions."
"Go ahead."
Neji stepped closer, his sharp gaze dissecting the man's every move. His Byakugan flared briefly. There was no chakra fluctuation—no hidden seal, no curse mark.
An ordinary civilian.
"Open your mouth. Stick out your tongue."
The peddler blinked, startled, but obeyed. His tongue was bare—no trace of the Tongue Curse Seal used by Root operatives.
So, not Root. That meant this was a simple pawn.
Neji's voice cut like steel. "Where do you usually set up your stall?"
"Right there, ninja-sama," the peddler said quickly, pointing to a cart stationed on the west side of the izakaya entrance.
Neji's eyes narrowed. That detail didn't align. He had pursued the insect clone to the east side.
His face hardened. "You're lying."
The peddler flinched, but stammered stubbornly, "No, everything I said is true."
Neji took a single deliberate step forward. His presence pressed down like a mountain. "Did you personally see me kill anyone? Did you see my face clearly?"
The man's face paled under Neji's killing intent. For a heartbeat, his voice faltered—but then, forcing courage into his lungs, he blurted out:
"I—I hid under my cart during the explosion! I saw you kill those ninja and flee! And then the Patrol Team came chasing after you!"
The Patrol Ninja shifted uneasily, exchanging looks. Neji turned to them, then back to Hideomi. His voice carried an icy authority:
"You all heard what he said, didn't you?"
Hideomi's expression darkened. "We heard it. Every word. Do you have a rebuttal?"
"Yes," Neji said calmly. His gaze swept across them all. "Stand by the cart. Watch carefully. I will reenact the scene."
"…Alright," Hideomi agreed after a pause, curiosity winning over suspicion.
Neji walked into the izakaya, then slowly stepped back out. He moved eastward, turning the corner, his profile briefly visible from the cart's position. From there, the angle of vision revealed only a fleeting silhouette.
Even standing in perfect conditions now, none of them could see his face clearly.
The realization struck them like a wave. The peddler's words crumbled instantly. This was a fabrication.
Neji turned back, his voice resonant. "Anyone here who saw my face clearly, raise your hand."
Silence.
Not one Patrol Ninja raised their hand. They knew what that would mean.
And then, foolishly, the peddler thrust his trembling hand upward. "I—I saw it!"
"Shut up!" Hideomi barked furiously, his patience snapping.
Neji advanced step by step, eyes glinting dangerously. "Even standing here just now, none of these trained ninja could see my face clearly. And you—cowering under a cart during an explosion, choking on dust and blinded by debris—how could you possibly see anything at all?"
"I—I didn't see clearly, no—wait, I did! I swear I did—"
A harsh crack split the night as Hideomi's palm struck across the man's face, sending him sprawling to the dirt.
"Enough! This man is nothing but a pawn. There's a mastermind behind him. Take him away—interrogate him until the truth spills out!"
The Patrol Team seized the terrified peddler, dragging him away as his protests faded into the night.
Hideomi turned to Neji, his expression filled with guilt. "Neji-kun… I was careless. I nearly made a grave mistake. If not for your sharp mind, the consequences—"
Neji waved his hand dismissively, cutting him off. "Spare me the apologies, Hideomi-senpai. What matters now is this: our enemies are already hiding inside the village. Until we drag them into the light, Cloud will never know peace."
Hideomi's jaw tightened. He nodded firmly. "You're right. I'll mobilize every resource at my disposal. We'll dig them out, even if we must turn the village upside down."
With that decisive vow, he departed with his team, shadows stretching long behind him.
Neji stood silently, his pale eyes glimmering with depth far beyond his years. Within them flickered a darkness, sharp and dangerous, like a blade hidden beneath silk.
Only after Hideomi was gone did he turn and ascend the stairs back into the izakaya.
On the second floor, as expected, sat Yakushi Nono. The woman leaned weakly against the wall, her body slumped, face pale. Whatever courage she once had seemed to have drained away.
Neji wordlessly approached, slipping an arm around her waist and carrying her into a private room. He laid her gently on the bed, then poured himself a glass of water. He sipped slowly, his gaze cold as frost.
"If that witness hadn't bungled his lies so clumsily," he murmured, his tone laced with contempt, "your identity would have been exposed tonight. How laughable. They still underestimate me, thinking such cheap tricks could destroy everything I've built."
He set down the glass, his expression unreadable.
"They don't understand the Fourth Raikage's trust in me. Even if they conjured undeniable evidence tying me to Root, the Raikage would refuse to believe it. But you, Nono…" His gaze shifted toward her pale face, his voice lowering to a dangerous whisper. "…if it ever came to that, not even I could guarantee your life."
The room fell silent. Outside, the village seemed to breathe uneasily, as though sensing that the game of shadows within its walls had only just begun.
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