Hiruzen Sarutobi had always considered himself perceptive, but even he failed to see through the depths of Danzo's thoughts. Though he occasionally sensed something off about his old comrade, he dismissed it as the usual friction between two men who had once been brothers-in-arms. To him, a little roughness between friends was normal; after all, hadn't they fought side by side since youth? Because of that faith, he ignored the faint but growing darkness behind Danzo's eyes.
Returning to the main issue, Hiruzen straightened his robes, his voice low but filled with authority.
"Danzo, I need your strength. An unknown Kage-level expert infiltrated Konoha today and attacked both the Hyuga and Uchiha clans. I want you to capture him as soon as possible."
Then, after a slight pause, Hiruzen added more pragmatically, "Of course, if capturing him proves impossible, it's fine. What matters is that you act. The village must see that I, the Hokage, am responding swiftly. Do you understand?"
When Hiruzen Sarutobi grew serious, the entire room seemed to bend under his will. His gaze, sharp and commanding, pinned Danzo like a blade pressed against the throat. For a brief moment, even the usually stoic Danzo felt suffocated.
But in the next heartbeat, Danzo composed himself. His embarrassment turned into anger. "Hiruzen, what is that tone supposed to mean? Are you giving me an order?"
"An order?" Hiruzen replied calmly, exhaling faintly from his pipe. "You can interpret it that way. After all, I am the Hokage."
Danzo's eyes darkened. "Hiruzen… you'll regret this!"
With that, he turned sharply, his cloak sweeping behind him as he stormed out. His indignation was clear, but his compliance was, as always, absolute. He hadn't refused the command—he never did. Everything appeared normal, natural, as if nothing had shifted between them.
Hiruzen sighed once the door closed. That unpleasant confrontation was finally over, and the response he'd wanted was secured. He relaxed into his chair, drew out his pipe, and leisurely puffed out a ring of smoke, trying to ease his lingering tension.
Meanwhile, outside the Hokage's Office, Danzo's anger evaporated like mist. His face relaxed, and a thin smile of satisfaction crept across his lips.
"Hiruzen," he murmured under his breath, "you're still as blind as ever. You haven't realized that your precious disciple has already sunk into my darkness."
At first, Danzo had suspected that Hiruzen's sudden summons meant his dealings with Orochimaru had been discovered. For a moment, he'd been worried. But now he realized the truth—Hiruzen remained oblivious. The so-called 'Professor' had overestimated himself.
"Once I obtain the First Hokage's power," Danzo whispered to himself, "we'll see who dares to speak down to me ever again."
As for that "unknown Kage-level expert"? Danzo scoffed.
"Hmph. This old man doesn't have time for that nonsense. If Hiruzen wants to stage a political performance to reassure the clans, let his Anbu handle it."
In his mind, the Root's strength was far too valuable to waste on such distractions. Every resource had to be preserved to ensure his survival and the progress of his plans.
"And those Ninja clans… the Hyuga, the Uchiha?" His expression twisted with contempt. "So what if a few of them die? They're nothing but rotten branches, pests infesting Konoha. If a few are cleaned up, all the better."
In short, nothing—absolutely nothing—was more important than his ambitions.
That same night, across the village, Hiruzen's orders spread rapidly. Though he had reassured the clans publicly, most of them still prepared their own defenses. Hidden family shinobi were summoned back from missions, watch posts were reinforced, and even the smallest movements were closely monitored. Strict curfews were enforced within their compounds, and anyone leaving without permission was punished severely.
Fear spread like wildfire.
Even though the common citizens and lower-ranking ninja didn't know the details, they could feel the tension in the air. When the noble clans grew cautious, ordinary people followed suit. Within a single day, the usually lively Konoha had turned paranoid and eerily quiet.
For the first time in years, the great village of the Leaf felt truly on edge.
And somewhere deep in that uneasy silence, the true instigator—Riku—slipped silently back to his small home.
No one would have imagined that the mysterious Kage-level intruder who had attacked both the Hyuga Main Family and an Uchiha prodigy was actually a member of the Hyuga's Branch Family.
The moment Riku entered his modest dwelling, he released the Transformation Jutsu that concealed his identity. His form shimmered back to normal. Without hesitation, he stripped off his battle-torn clothes, rolled them into a tight bundle, and incinerated them with a swift burst of Fire Release. The flames devoured the evidence completely, leaving only a faint trace of ash.
Then, methodically, he moved around the room, erasing every possible clue—chakra residue, footprints, weapon fragments. Only when he was certain nothing remained did he finally exhale and allow his body to relax.
But despite his success in covering his tracks, there was no trace of joy on his face.
His plan had failed.
He hadn't personally confirmed Hyuga Sōtai's death. Though his final strike had contained all his strength, the attack hadn't been aimed precisely at a vital point—he'd been forced to rush under the pressure of time. And considering the medical expertise available in the ninja world, Riku knew that as long as there was even a single breath left, the Hyuga could save Sōtai.
That meant the boy might still be alive.
The thought made Riku's expression tighten in frustration. Still, he wasn't the type to wallow in regret. He preferred to face his failures directly and learn from them.
"Let's analyze this," he muttered to himself. "My plan was solid. My strength was enough to instantly eliminate Sōtai's guards. Logically, Sōtai—who isn't even a genin—should've fallen easily. So where did it go wrong?"
He frowned. "Right… Uchiha Shisui. That guy showed up out of nowhere and ruined everything."
He replayed the fight in his mind.
"Was I unlucky? Maybe. But in a way, I was also fortunate. If Shisui had already awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan—the one with Kotoamatsukami and Susanoo—I'd never have stood a chance."
Even without those divine eye techniques, Shisui's abilities were astonishing. Riku couldn't deny that. The encounter had been both a setback and an awakening.
"His chakra and reflexes matched mine almost perfectly," Riku admitted. "But in the Body Flicker Technique, I was completely outclassed. He was faster, smoother, more precise. I lost the initiative early."
Riku had managed to land a few blows using his specialized Iron Fist Taijutsu, but they had done little more than surprise Shisui. The Uchiha's combat sense and adaptability were exceptional. He had quickly shifted tactics, suppressing Riku with a seamless mix of ninjutsu and kenjutsu.
"In those two areas, I still have serious shortcomings," Riku realized bitterly. "If he hadn't taken the bait at the end—if he hadn't let my taunts provoke him—the battle's outcome could have gone either way. And once surrounded by reinforcements, without revealing all my trump cards, escape would've been nearly impossible."
He clenched his fists. "That mission almost cost me my life."
For a while, he sat quietly, letting the weight of that truth sink in. Though he had survived, Riku's cautious nature demanded preparation. Luck was not a resource he intended to rely on twice.
"This can't happen again," he told himself firmly. "Next time, I might not be so lucky. The Uchiha geniuses are truly formidable."
His irritation faded slightly as another thought crossed his mind, and a faint smile appeared. "Still… the experience wasn't wasted."
Fighting Shisui had yielded something unexpected—growth.
"The experience points I gained from that fight were insane," he muttered with astonishment. "Almost ten thousand! That's like fighting Might Guy ten times over."
He summoned his internal interface, and a shimmering panel of data appeared before his eyes:
Skill Panel
Ninjutsu: Clone Technique (E) – Lv 10 (MAX) (Breakthrough possible)
Transformation Jutsu (B) – Lv 10 (MAX) (Breakthrough possible)
Substitution Technique (E) – Lv 10 (MAX) (Breakthrough possible)
Spirit Devour (B) – Lv 10 (MAX) (Breakthrough possible)
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique (C) – Lv 4 (772 / 1600) (Other Fire Releases hidden)
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough (C) – Lv 4 (426 / 1600)
Body Flicker Technique (C) – Lv 9 (2971 / 3600)
Taijutsu: Hyuga Gentle Fist (C) – Lv 9 (2786 / 3600)
Taijutsu: Iron Fist Basic (C) – Lv 9 (2786 / 3600)
Taijutsu: Konoha Style Hard Fist (B) – Lv 7 (4457 / 7000)
Sealing Technique: Evil Break Seal (B) – MAX (Breakthrough possible)
Dōjutsu: Byakugan (A) – Lv 7 (26 397 / 51 200)
Byakugan Skill: Intimidation (A) – Lv 6 (14 264 / 25 600)
Eight Gates Released Formation (S) – Lv 2 (6632 / 30 000)
Free Experience Points: 26 349
Evaluation: Jōnin? No—your limits are still unfolding. Your bloodline shows signs of transformation.
Riku's eyes glimmered as he scanned the list. The data confirmed what his instincts already knew: he was evolving faster than ever before.
"Not bad," he murmured. "Even a failed mission can be a step forward. If sparring with a single Uchiha genius gives me this much progress, then true mastery isn't far."
He leaned back, folding his arms. The corners of his lips lifted into a calm, confident smile.
"The path of growth is never easy. But I'll keep grinding. One day, I'll stand above them all—Hyuga, Uchiha, Hokage… everyone."
Outside, the moon hung high over the silent rooftops of Konoha, casting pale silver light across the village. Shadows stretched long and deep, and within one of those shadows, Riku's determination hardened into something unbreakable.
For now, the village was restless, filled with fear and suspicion. But for Riku, it was the perfect environment—a crucible in which his strength would continue to grow.
He closed his eyes, letting the night's stillness seep into him. The next move was already forming in his mind.
Next time, he vowed, there would be no mistakes.
End of Chapter 47
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