Midnight.
Konoha Village.
Root Base.
The gatekeepers of the Root Base were still dutifully guarding the base.
Suddenly, a pitch-black object was thrown down from the well at the base entrance, startling the two gatekeepers, who hurried over to check it out.
"This is..."
"Aburame Ryuma?"
The gatekeepers' expressions changed abruptly.
The object that had fallen at the base entrance was indeed the corpse of Aburame Ryuma.
Aburame Ryuma's body, even his head, was pierced by sharp wooden spikes, with dozens of wounds protruding spikes, making it look like a bush had grown out of his body.
"This is..."
"Wood Release Ninjutsu?"
The two gatekeepers immediately went to report to Shimura Danzo.
Aburame Ryuma used to be a personal guard of Shimura Danzo. It would be bad enough if he was just killed, but to have his body thrown into the Root Base was clearly a provocation.
The most troublesome part is...
The murderer is highly likely to be Akihara Kagura!
After all, the Root gatekeepers had just expelled Akihara Kagura. Aburame Ryuma was killed by Wood Release, and the body was thrown here, most likely as revenge by that kid!
Upon seeing Aburame Ryuma's body, Shimura Danzo immediately concluded that Akihara Kagura was behind it, because he had personally witnessed Akihara Kagura using such a Wood Release Ninjutsu!
Moreover...
Akihara Kagura is inherently an extreme child!
The two Root gatekeepers were ordered to expel Akihara Kagura, who then happened to encounter Aburame Ryuma returning from a mission in the Hidden Mist Village. Killing Aburame Ryuma to take revenge on the Root fits perfectly with Akihara Kagura's style!
"Go bring him back!"
Fury flashed across Shimura Danzo's face.
Akihara Kagura's murder of Aburame Ryuma was a direct challenge to his authority; that brat couldn't possibly think he could tolerate his impudence any longer!
"..."
The members of Root exchanged glances.
They didn't dare defy Danzo's orders, but couldn't help but wonder if Lord Danzo no longer cared for their lives!
Shimura Danzo realized the situation too, leaning on his cane, he coldly ordered, "Does anyone know where that brat is?"
"..."
The group of Root ninjas remained silent.
They didn't know where Akihara Kagura was either.
Again, Shimura Danzo realized the flaw in his question, since Akihara Kagura wasn't a native of Konoha, but an outsider he had brought in himself...
This is really troublesome...
Where could that brat be in the middle of the night?
Besides the Root Base, where else could that brat possibly go?
"Everyone, split up and search for him!"
Shimura Danzo's face turned exceptionally grim, he said in a deep voice, "Whichever squad finds him, just hold him off; I'll arrive immediately. Before dawn, I want to see that brat!"
In the early hours.
Akihara Kagura couldn't fall asleep.
While the Root ninjas were searching for him extensively, Akihara Kagura sensed that something might be wrong in the village, using the Dark Side of the Ninja World to investigate the situation in Root.
In his mind, Akihara Kagura saw the corpse of Aburame Ryuma, and realized only the Wood Release: Planting Jutsu could cause such a gruesome scene.
In an instant...
As an expert in framing others, Akihara Kagura immediately understood the reason for Root ninjas' sudden large-scale action.
Someone was using Wood Release to frame him!
The number of Wood Release Ninjas in the entire ninja world could be counted on one hand, and in the knowledge of Shimura Danzo, the only person who could use the Wood Release: Planting Jutsu was Akihara Kagura himself!
This is a baseless accusation thrown at Akihara Kagura!
Akihara Kagura immediately contemplated why this accusation had fallen on him, knowing that in the ninja world, no accusation comes out of nowhere.
This ninja world...
Is there really someone throwing the blame on him?
Identifying other users of the Planting Jutsu should be enough.
The information brought by memories of the past life is invaluable, Akihara Kagura knew there are others who can use this technique, a mastermind hidden in the ninja world.
A man who always wears a mysterious mask.
The official designation is the Mysterious Masked Man.
"This guy..."
"In Konoha?"
While covertly investigating the Mysterious Masked Man's information using the Dark Side of the Ninja World, Akihara Kagura surprisingly discovered this guy hiding within Konoha Village, even nearby!
Perhaps the peacefulness of Konoha's struggles made people subconsciously forget the dangers lurking in the ninja world. While Akihara Kagura was still planning to continue acting as a double agent between Shimura Danzo and Sarutobi Hiruzen, he had forgotten that someone was watching everything happening in Konoha.
Additionally, Aburame Ryuma's last mission was in the Hidden Mist Village, coincidentally a large country ninja village long controlled by the Mysterious Masked Man.
"Has this guy always been in Konoha?"
Akihara Kagura's eyes narrowed slightly, pondering over the night's events: "Using the Planting Jutsu to murder Aburame Ryuma to frame me, rather than kill me... Does he want to force me to defect? Become his pawn?"
Such a good offer...
Why not express it directly?
The Mysterious Masked Man could've easily spoken to him face to face, as if he would reject the temptation of working for a new boss?
He has resorted to such despicable means!
This false accusation shouldn't logically stand at all!
Akihara Kagura suddenly straightened up, the tiny blanket covering him was like a cape, hanging behind him with a flourish!
Since clearing his name wasn't feasible, he decided to simply accept this blame first and then figure out a way to toss it away!
After all...
This debt will be recorded in his book for now!
Under any circumstances, he couldn't delay today's itinerary to report to the Dark Department because entering the Dark Department meant a new supervisor and a new entry gift package for Akihara Kagura.
Just so happens, there is a man he can use in Konoha's Dark Department, and Akihara Kagura can fully utilize him to cause some trouble for the Mysterious Masked Man.
"Hey."
Akihara Kagura actively approached a team of Root ninjas.
"Hold him down!"
Upon seeing Akihara Kagura, the team of Root ninjas didn't even wait for him to open his mouth, immediately drawing their ninja swords and surrounding him!
Akihara Kagura's fingers swiftly came together!
With the activation of Wood Release Chakra, immense vines surged from the ground, swiftly entangling the surrounding Root ninjas!
One Root ninja avoided the vines, wielding a ninja sword toward Akihara Kagura, only to be kicked away by Akihara Kagura and subsequently bound by a vine. The other Root ninjas were quickly subdued by the vines!
The squad leader of this Root team stood firm, his neck stiff as he asked, "Kagura... Sir, you killed Aburame Ryuma, and now you want to kill us too? We are here under Lord Danzo's orders to find you; Lord Danzo will be arriving soon!"
"Take me to see Lord Danzo."
Controlling the vines, Akihara Kagura released the commendable squad leader, saying in a low voice, "I won't kill you, to avoid angering Lord Danzo further."
"If not for Aburame Ryuma taunting me about being expelled by Lord Danzo upon returning to Konoha, I wouldn't have accidentally killed Ryuma."
"...Yes."
The Root squad leader slowly nodded, agreeing with Akihara Kagura's pretense, "It's true, Aburame Ryuma brought it upon himself by speaking out of turn..."
After this Root team and Akihara Kagura left, the silhouette of the Mysterious Masked Man appeared quietly under a large tree, his voice seemed a bit puzzled.
"Could it be... I'm caught in a genjutsu?"
The Mysterious Masked Man's voice carried confusion, "Why didn't that brat argue? Why did he admit to killing Aburame Ryuma?"
The Mysterious Masked Man found his mind unable to wrap around it, "I remember it was me who killed Aburame Ryuma, wasn't it?"