After seeing Hoshishita Shu leave, Hatake Sakumo frowned slightly.
Something was wrong with the list.
Mimura Yomaki, Inuzuka Kyo, and Aburame Shisei made sense.
But the other three clearly didn't have the qualifications to enter the ANBU.
Which meant the real purpose of this visit was definitely not "evaluation for ANBU candidates."
Sakumo immediately sensed something unusual.
He took out a map at once.
No matter what the ANBU's real objective was, he had to prepare for the worst.
Meanwhile—
Shu and his three subordinates waited quietly beneath a large tree.
Soon they noticed activity spreading throughout the camp.
Shu signaled with a glance.
Sarutobi Atsushi immediately vanished to investigate.
A short while later he returned.
"Captain, Sakumo-sama seems to be adjusting the entire defensive deployment."
"Could that alert the enemy?"
Shu wasn't worried at all.
"Adjusting defensive formations is perfectly normal."
"The only unusual thing is that the scale is slightly larger."
"If he only adjusted the patrol routes of the people on our list, that would alert the enemy."
"Doing it this way actually avoids suspicion."
The three nodded together.
"Makes sense!"
But internally, Shu was thinking something else.
Hatake Sakumo has probably already sensed something is wrong.
A full redeployment… he's preparing for the worst-case scenario.
Sharp and decisive.
No wonder he's the White Fang of Konoha.
Shu continued to wait.
An hour later, Sakumo arrived.
"Everything is ready."
Shu stood up.
"Thank you for the trouble, Sakumo-sama."
"No need to be polite."
Sakumo led them to a temporary interrogation tent.
After he left, Shu turned to his team.
"You three guard outside."
"Send them in one by one."
"First—Akabane Nozomi."
Sarutobi Atsushi immediately went out to fetch him.
Soon, Akabane Nozomi entered the tent.
Shu examined him carefully.
Ordinary appearance.
A gentle smile.
A harmless and friendly demeanor.
He looked slightly nervous—perfectly normal behavior.
Shu immediately activated the status effect True to Heart on him.
Then he asked calmly, "Akabane Nozomi."
"You must answer every question I ask."
"Yes, sir!"
Nozomi replied respectfully.
Shu stared directly into his eyes.
"Are you a spy?"
The question was blunt and brutal.
Nozomi froze in shock.
Then he stammered nervously.
"I… I'm not a spy."
Shu raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Then why did you betray Konoha?"
"No!"
"I never betrayed Konoha!"
No spy.
No betrayal.
So he really was just a good-natured guy.
Shu nodded.
"Very well."
"You may wait outside for further orders."
Completely confused, Nozomi bowed and left the tent.
Next came Uema Kushigami.
A large, muscular man with a scarred face.
Shu applied the same status effect and asked immediately:
"Why did you betray Konoha?"
Uema opened his mouth.
"Because—"
His expression suddenly changed.
He tried to clamp his lips shut.
But Shu had already appeared in front of him.
Sweat poured down Uema's face as he leapt backward and threw a kunai.
Clang!
Shu drew his blade.
The kunai split cleanly in two.
The next moment—
Uema was blasted out of the tent and slammed into a tree trunk, coughing blood.
Before he could stand, a fierce bark rang out.
Inuzuka Ryo's dog Blackball lunged forward and pinned him down.
Nearby, the waiting Michikami Takuya and Akabane Nozomi looked shocked.
Realizing escape was impossible, Uema stared at Shu in disbelief.
"H-How did you do that?"
"Genjutsu?"
Shu ignored him.
Instead, he turned his gaze to Michikami Takuya.
"Are you a spy?"
"I am—"
Takuya's face turned deathly pale.
He tried to jump away.
But a scream burst out.
The one who struck him was Akabane Nozomi.
Takuya collapsed to the ground.
Aburame Hiiichi's insects swarmed over him immediately, sealing his movement.
Meanwhile, Sarutobi Atsushi and the others were filled with doubt.
The captain's interrogation method is this simple?
Is it genjutsu?
Could he be from the Uchiha clan?
None of them had ever seen Shu's real face.
But his domineering personality earlier really did resemble the reputation of the Uchiha.
…
After securing the two spies, Shu lightly patted Akabane Nozomi on the shoulder.
"Come with me."
"Yes!"
The two walked deep into the forest.
Darkness swallowed their silhouettes.
Back near the camp, Inuzuka Ryo whispered, "Do you think the captain might be Uchiha?"
Aburame Hiiichi shook his head.
"No idea."
"But an ability like that…"
"Only the Uchiha's Sharingan could probably do it."
Deep in the forest, Shu faced Nozomi.
"Are you willing to join Root?"
Nozomi froze in shock.
He didn't know how to answer.
Shu continued calmly.
"The Third Hokage has approved it."
"Lord Danzo's Root is no longer just a training branch of the ANBU."
"It is now the blade that protects the village from the darkness."
"Akabane Nozomi…"
"Are you willing to become someone who protects the village from the shadows?"
Nozomi swallowed nervously.
"I… I am willing."
"But—"
"That's enough," Shu cut him off.
"You won't actually join Root."
"You'll serve as a Root intelligence agent."
"You'll remain hidden among ordinary Konoha shinobi."
Nozomi was stunned.
Shu explained evenly.
"You saw it just now."
"Traitors and spies are everywhere."
"And they hide very well."
"Your personality and friendliness make it easy for people to trust you."
"The village needs someone like you."
"To quietly monitor and investigate potential traitors."
Nozomi grew excited.
"Yes!"
"I understand!"
"I'll do my best!"
After more than twenty ordinary years, had he finally found a chance to be valued?
Shu looked at him and patted his shoulder again.
"Good."
"From today onward, I am your only superior."
"You receive missions only from me."
"And report only to me."
"My codename is A."
"And your codename…"
"Shadow."
Nozomi nodded immediately.
"Yes, I understand!"
After agreeing on secret contact signals, they returned to the camp.
"Akabane Nozomi, you may return to your unit."
"Ape, keep watch over them."
After giving the orders, Shu went to meet Sakumo again.
"Sakumo-sama, our mission is complete."
"Thank you for your cooperation."
Shu spoke politely.
Sakumo looked slightly surprised.
"So fast?"
"Was the defense plan really leaked?"
Shu nodded slightly but gave no further explanation.
"Tomorrow morning we will escort the suspects back to Konoha."
"We won't trouble you further."
Sakumo nodded.
"Do you need an escort?"
Shu declined politely.
"Thank you, Sakumo-sama."
"But border defense is more important."
Sakumo did not insist.
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