Within just a dozen breaths after Riku disappeared, several Anbu wearing standard vests and fox masks arrived at the scene.
With the aid of sensory-type ninja, they quickly located two unconscious bodies — one large and one small.
They were Hyuga Sōtai and Uchiha Shisui.
Hyuga Sōtai was stable, merely knocked out. Though a member of the Hyuga's Main Family, he wasn't particularly remarkable. But Uchiha Shisui — that was an entirely different story.
The man known as Shisui of the Body Flicker, a battlefield legend who earned the title of Elite Jonin through his skill and valor, now lay battered and broken, clinging to life by a thread.
The Anbu at the scene couldn't help but feel their scalps tingle.
To defeat Uchiha Shisui in such a short time… what kind of monster could accomplish that?
Their expressions grew grim. Still, the squad's rational members quickly took charge.
"Two critical injuries confirmed! Get medical support immediately!"
A few Anbu rushed toward the nearest medical facilities to fetch Medical Ninja, while another group sprinted toward the Hokage Building to report directly to Hokage-sama.
The remaining Anbu secured the scene, gathering intelligence and cordoning off the area.
As for chasing down the perpetrator — no one even mentioned it.
They weren't idiots. If someone could crush Shisui, an Elite Jonin, that person's strength was beyond anything ordinary Anbu could handle.
Even if they caught up, what could they possibly do? Arrest him? Against that kind of power?
They weren't Root operatives who blindly followed orders without thought.
Until Hokage-sama issued a direct pursuit command, discretion was the wiser choice.
This was reality, not a story. Every ninja had their own sense of self-preservation and judgment.
Yet, the intensity of Riku's battle with Shisui had shaken more than just the patrol Anbu.
The shockwaves of their clash had rippled throughout Konoha, catching the attention of nearly every Ninja Clan.
Before long, powerful figures from all major clans arrived one after another:
the Ino–Shika–Chō trio, the Aburame, Inuzuka, Hyuga, and Uchiha.
Each sent representatives — and not just any members, but the influential ones who spoke for their clans.
Even the clan heads of the Hyuga and Uchiha personally appeared.
The others maintained composure, but the atmosphere changed the instant those two clans stepped onto the battlefield.
The Hyuga were the first to react.
Upon seeing the mutilated corpse of Hyuga Miotto, they showed restrained anger. He was a branch family member; his death was regrettable but not catastrophic.
But when they found Hyuga Sōtai alive — albeit barely — the entire Hyuga contingent grew restless.
Leading them, Hyuga Hiashi pushed through the Anbu barricade without hesitation.
He ignored the guards' protests, brushed aside the Medical Ninja mid-treatment, and bent down to examine Sōtai's eyes.
Everyone understood why — the Byakugan was sacred to the Hyuga.
Hiashi's sharp gaze softened slightly once he confirmed that Sōtai's Byakugan remained intact.
"Phew… luckily that thief didn't steal his Byakugan," muttered one Main Family member with relief. "Otherwise, our clan's losses would've been immeasurable."
The tone was almost casual — as if the preservation of the Byakugan mattered far more than Sōtai's life.
The others nodded, some even letting out faint sighs of relief.
To them, the clan's Kekkei Genkai was more important than any single member's survival.
Hyuga Sōtai's life or death simply wasn't their concern.
After all, even within the Main Family, factions clashed and vied for influence.
The Hyuga clan's hierarchy was like a battlefield of politics — and Sōtai was merely the heir of the Hinata Katyu branch, not theirs.
Why would they waste sympathy on a rival branch's future?
Some of the weaker Main Family lines even harbored secret satisfaction.
If Sōtai died, then when old man Hinata Katyu eventually passed away, his resources, influence, and position could be divided among them.
It was a cruel but pragmatic truth.
A few even resented the unknown attacker for not finishing the job.
If Riku had just killed Sōtai, it would've saved them some trouble.
Had Riku been there to hear their thoughts, he would've been utterly speechless.
He knew the Hyuga Main Family wasn't exactly harmonious — but this level of internal scheming?
Even he wouldn't have imagined it.
Perhaps the only time the Main Family ever truly united… was when turning their fangs against the Branch Family.
In stark contrast to the Hyuga's cold pragmatism, the Uchiha Clan burned with raw emotion.
When the Uchiha arrived and saw Shisui wrapped head to toe in bandages like a mummy, their rage was immediate and explosive.
Their leader, Uchiha Fugaku, clenched his fists, veins bulging as the Sharingan flared to life in his eyes.
"Who did this?!" he bellowed. "Who dares insult the Uchiha Clan like this?! We will hunt him to the ends of the earth!"
Dozens of red Sharingan eyes glowed in unison, turning the air thick with killing intent.
The Anbu nearby felt an instinctive chill down their spines.
Still, they couldn't show weakness — they served directly under the Hokage.
The squad leader straightened, his tone calm but respectful.
"Hokage-sama, please calm your anger. The culprit had already fled before we arrived. Our forces are searching as we speak. Please, be patient."
The words were meant to defuse tension, but they only poured oil on the flames.
"What?"
"The enemy escaped?!"
The gathered Uchiha erupted in fury.
Their most talented genius had been beaten within an inch of his life — and the attacker was still free?
"Patience?" scoffed one elder. "What good is patience when incompetence reigns? The Anbu are useless! You can't even catch one man who attacked a Konoha ninja! What are you even good for?!"
Murmurs of agreement spread through the Uchiha ranks.
It was clear none of them believed the Anbu would actually find the culprit.
If they could have, they already would have.
Fugaku's eyes burned with rage, but he remained silent — for now.
Then Uchiha Yashiro, one of the clan elders, stepped forward, his tone sharp and commanding.
"Enough! If the Anbu can't act, then we will! Fugaku, give the order! We can't let this go unanswered. If we fail to capture the bastard who did this, how will the Uchiha stand in the ninja world?!"
Fugaku's jaw tightened.
Yashiro's words reflected the sentiment of many within the clan — and though they stung, they were true.
If he, as the clan head, did nothing, he might as well surrender his title.
Just as he was about to issue the command, a commanding voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Everyone — that's enough."
A figure clad in a white Hokage's robe, embroidered with the kanji for "Fire," approached slowly, flanked by a dozen Anbu.
The crowd fell silent at once.
"The Third Hokage!" someone whispered.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, his hands clasped behind his back, walked into the center of the gathered clans, his expression grave.
Despite his age, his presence alone commanded respect.
The murmur of the clans faded into silence.
"Anbu have already briefed me on the situation," Hiruzen said, his tone calm but heavy with authority. "However, before we act, I want to hear the full account from those who witnessed the scene. Then we will determine our course of action. Hiashi, Fugaku — what do you think?"
Though his words were measured, his gaze carried unmistakable weight.
The "Professor," the "Strongest Hokage," the man who had guided the village through wars and trained the Sannin — his prestige was still immense.
Even the furious Uchiha lowered their eyes and nodded silently.
Fugaku took a deep breath, reining in his killing intent.
The hotheaded voices that had been clamoring for vengeance moments ago now grew quiet.
Hiashi bowed slightly. "Understood, Hokage-sama."
The other clan leaders followed suit, offering brief nods of acknowledgment.
The Third Hokage turned his gaze toward the wounded, then at the scorched earth still crackling faintly with leftover chakra.
He sighed inwardly.
To leave this kind of destruction in the heart of Konoha…
Whoever this Riku was, his power was extraordinary — and dangerous.
The investigation that followed would not be easy.
The Anbu began relaying reports, describing the traces of battle:
massive craters, shattered trees, and residual chakra that flickered between Fire and Lightning nature.
Whatever technique had been used — it was far beyond standard jonin-level jutsu.
"Estimated power level?" asked Hiruzen quietly.
"Unknown," replied the Anbu captain. "But… based on chakra output and destruction patterns, the culprit's strength likely exceeds that of an Elite Jonin."
A faint murmur spread through the surrounding ninja.
Even the most stoic among them couldn't hide their surprise.
"Above Elite Jonin?" someone whispered. "That's… at the Kage level!"
Hiruzen's expression didn't change, but his heart sank.
A ninja capable of defeating Shisui — and escaping Anbu pursuit — was no ordinary threat.
And the fact that this happened inside Konoha's borders meant something was very wrong.
He turned his gaze toward Fugaku, who stood rigid with fury.
"Fugaku," Hiruzen said gently. "I understand your anger. But if we act recklessly, we risk plunging the entire village into chaos. Allow the Anbu and the Intelligence Division to conduct their investigation properly."
Fugaku clenched his fists, veins bulging. "And if they fail?"
"Then," Hiruzen replied, his voice firm, "I will personally see that justice is done."
That declaration carried the authority of the Hokage himself.
For a long moment, Fugaku said nothing.
Finally, he exhaled and bowed his head slightly. "Understood."
Hiruzen nodded and turned to the Hyuga clan.
"Hiashi, I trust you will handle your internal matters quietly. The last thing we need is unrest within the village."
Hiashi's face was calm, but his eyes flickered with something unreadable. "Of course, Hokage-sama."
The Third Hokage gave one last sweeping glance across the scene — the wounded, the angry, and the fearful — then turned away.
"Seal the area. No information leaks beyond this point. This incident will be treated as an S-rank confidential matter."
The Anbu immediately responded, "Yes, Hokage-sama!"
As Hiruzen's figure disappeared into the distance, tension still hung thick in the air.
The clans began to disperse slowly, though whispers lingered among them — fear, speculation, and curiosity about the mysterious ninja who had defeated Shisui.
And somewhere far from Konoha, Riku walked alone beneath the moonlight.
The night breeze brushed his face, carrying faint echoes of the chaos he had left behind.
He didn't regret his actions — but he knew what was coming next.
The storm over Konoha had only just begun.
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