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Late at night, two Root squads moved like shadows, silently surrounding the courtyard where Li Rong and his group were staying. Alongside them were two Iwagakure spies whose bodies were being forcibly controlled through the Yamanaka Clan's Mind Body Switch Technique.
After the sensory ninja confirmed that all targets were present, a discreet signal was exchanged.
Ten dark figures vaulted over the wall in near-perfect synchronization, landing soundlessly within the courtyard. They advanced toward the windows, intent on slipping inside without alerting anyone—
—and then, in the same instant, every one of them collapsed.
No explosion.
No cry.
No resistance.
Their knees buckled as if the strength had been extracted from their bones, and they crumpled to the ground like discarded puppets.
The Anbu ninja monitoring from afar felt his scalp go numb.
He activated every sensory technique at his disposal.
Nothing.
No chakra fluctuations.
No barriers.
No residual traces of ninjutsu.
Swallowing hard, the Anbu confirmed that none of the intruders were dead, then abandoned the courtyard without hesitation and rushed to the Hokage Office to report.
"No energy fluctuations at all?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression darkened as his fingers tightened around his pipe, the wood creaking softly. Danzo Shimura, meanwhile, paced back and forth, his cane striking the floor with agitated taps.
This wasn't just about Spirit Bones anymore.
Failure itself was tolerable—but such a complete, effortless failure meant that the normally hesitant Hiruzen, once convinced that the situation threatened the larger picture, would turn resolute. And when that happened, Root would no longer be allowed to act freely.
"No energy detected. No barrier either," the Anbu reported.
"Where is the Yamanaka?" Danzo demanded hoarsely.
"The opponent's methods are extremely strange. The moment the Mind Body Switch took effect, the mental body was forcibly expelled. No intelligence was obtained."
Danzo stopped pacing. His cane slammed into the ground, spiderweb cracks spreading outward.
"Even the Yamanaka Clan's technique was broken."
Hiruzen closed his eyes briefly. He already knew—they had failed completely.
Turning to Danzo, he spoke slowly, each word precise and heavy.
"Proceed with the prior plan. These people are all Iwagakure spies. Ensure the loose ends are handled cleanly."
Danzo bowed slightly. "Understood. All evidence will confirm their identities."
Hiruzen then turned sharply.
"Jiraiya. Minato. Lead the Anbu immediately and eliminate the Iwagakure spy strongholds."
"After that, under the pretext of tracing clues, proceed to Boss Li's location."
"Bring back all the unconscious ninja."
His gaze hardened.
"If Boss Li refuses, execute them on the grounds of possessing Village secrets. He must not retain any living captives."
Seeing Jiraiya and Minato hesitate, Hiruzen's voice rose in anger.
"This is not the time for misplaced compassion! Any delay will harm Konoha's interests!"
"…Yes," they replied, voices heavy.
As they exited the Hokage Building, Minato's expression remained grim.
Jiraiya placed a firm hand on his disciple's shoulder, his usual frivolity gone.
"Minato, this is the darkness of the Village," he said quietly. "It's a choice every Hokage must eventually face."
"If you want to become Hokage, you'll have to endure things like this."
"But there was a clear path to cooperation," Minato said, staring up at the Hokage Rock, where the First Hokage's statue stood solemn beneath the moonlight. "Why must we do this?"
Jiraiya sighed.
"Back then, the Second Hokage also sought a win-win solution. He negotiated with Kumogakure… and was betrayed."
"A Hokage cannot entrust the Village's safety to others. That's reality."
Minato clenched his fists.
"But you taught me that if people truly understand one another, peace can come."
"If the Hokage can no longer understand others—and only demands understanding in return—then isn't protecting the Village itself obstructing peace?"
Jiraiya suddenly grabbed Minato's shoulder.
"Enough."
His voice was low, but unyielding.
"Some answers can't be reached by thinking alone. You're still young. You don't yet understand the fire consciousness—or its weight."
"You'll understand when you sit in that seat."
Minato fell silent.
If understanding the fire meant abandoning the Ninja Code…
Abandoning peace…
Attacking employers and comrades alike…
Then was that fire truly something worth inheriting?
After eliminating the genuine spies, Jiraiya and Minato approached Li Rong's courtyard with three Anbu squads, carrying forged Iwagakure intelligence scrolls.
Before Jiraiya could knock—
A blood-red shadow swept in like a living stain.
It connected to every body present in an instant.
Chakra froze.
Movement vanished.
Even perception itself was severed.
Jiraiya felt his body betray him. Natural energy disappeared. Minato could no longer sense a single Flying Thunder God marker.
They were immobilized—alive, aware, helpless.
Crimson marks bloomed upon their foreheads.
Their bodies moved on their own, lining up neatly in the corner of the courtyard like silent statues.
When the report reached Hiruzen, the last of his illusions shattered.
"If Boss Li pursues this matter," he said coldly to Danzo, "you will take full responsibility."
"I will dissolve Root. Strip you of your position. If necessary, imprison you."
Danzo bowed, fear and greed burning together in his eyes.
Power like this…
If only he could obtain it.
The next morning, Orochimaru and Tsunade stood before Li Rong's courtyard.
Inside, Li was leisurely eating breakfast. Behind him stood twenty young cultivators, their hostility barely restrained.
The air felt like a taut bowstring.
"No need to be nervous," Li said lightly. "Sit."
Tsunade sat without hesitation. Orochimaru bowed first—deeply—before approaching Jiraiya and Minato, confirming they were alive.
Then he smiled faintly.
"Boss Li is merciful," Orochimaru remarked. "If it were me, there wouldn't be a single survivor."
Tsunade drank deeply, saying nothing.
Li shrugged. "Violence disrupts sleep."
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed. "What technique was that?"
Li answered casually, as if discussing the weather.
"Mental suppression for the first wave. Blood Shadow Binding God for the second."
Orochimaru's pupils contracted.
"Remarkable," he whispered.
"Focus on yourself," Li said calmly. "You'll reach it sooner than you think."
Orochimaru smiled, eyes burning.
"Strength isn't important," he said softly. "Knowledge is."
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