Far from the bustling center of Konoha, deep inside the Nara compound, an old wooden house held an eerie, unnatural quiet.Under the dim yellow lamp, the cracked ceiling and spotless walls made the room look even more lopsided and abandoned.
In the corner stood a tall shadow, stiff as a gravestone.Uchiha Tobika crossed his arms, tapping a finger rhythmically against his bicep, eyes narrowed in thought.
There were five people hiding in this tiny room.Five.Waiting for the "real culprit."
The problem was simple.
The real culprit… was already here.Him.
And if he confessed now?He could already imagine it: Nara clan's shadow-binding locking his limbs, an Akimichi matriarch leaping from the ceiling to body-slam him into paste, and a Yamanaka hijacking his consciousness so he could commit several crimes against his own will.
A recipe for social death.
No wonder "Nara Ryoko" had been acting strangely.They must have used a Yamanaka mind technique to borrow her body as bait.
Well, congratulations—the fish had walked into the trap.
Trouble was, he was the fish.
He exhaled.Staying here tonight was pointless.Better to heal the kid and get out.
Just as he turned toward "Ryoko," a quiet knock echoed at the door.
Dok. Dok.
Tobika froze.His expression iced over.
Great. Does Ryoko actually have another man?
A large masculine hand slid into view, pushing the door.Panic surged through Tobika as he scanned for a hiding place.
The bed was too far.The cabinet was full.Curtains already occupied.
Fine—he pressed his palms together, molding chakra.
Thud!
Outside, the newcomer felt that chakra flare and instantly burst into the room.He relaxed only when he saw "Ryoko" staring at him warily and a "small child" standing by her feet.
The chakra must've been Ryoko's reflexive reaction to an intruder.
"Ryo."The masked man straightened, voice cold and flat."The chief requires you."
Root, Tobika realized instantly.
"Ryoko," however, was really a Yamanaka elder riding her body.She frowned.
So this was Danzō's dog?Annoying.
She had opposed Ryoko joining that so-called "Anbu training division" from the start.But Ryoko was stubborn enough to approach Danzō herself, and Root missions were… fatal.Even leaving Root alive was considered a miracle.
"What mission?" the disguised woman asked.
"First complete your final mental evaluation tonight. If your mind is stable, report to the usual location tomorrow."
"…Understood."
The masked man pointed at Tobika—currently disguising himself as a small child.
"And him? You're not bringing him?"
"Ryoko" stared at the child too.Bring him… for a mental evaluation?
The Root ninja frowned at her look.
"The last two evaluations failed because your son cried the moment you left him. It distracted you and lowered your score. The chief was displeased."
"Oh, he won't cry tonight."
Cry all you want, she thought darkly.He's not even my kid.
But the Root man shook his head.
"No. Bring him. Don't waste the chief's time."
"…Fine."
She glared at the "child" in her arms, then scooped Tobika up and followed the Root operative to the front room.
Where the "mental evaluation" was revealed to be…
A questionnaire.A Root loyalty questionnaire.
Tobika, still in child form, blinked, brain lagging from the absurdity of tonight.He tugged the strands of her hair for attention—and got his thigh twisted with terrifying maternal strength.
He immediately behaved.
The Root ninja prepared a clipboard."Begin."
Yamanaka-as-Ryoko leaned forward, eyes growing sharp.Tobika peered over her arm at the sheet.
Question 1:If you are a trainee under the Anbu Development Division, and the village is attacked by a powerful enemy you cannot defeat, what is your first priority?
Rescue, evacuate, and protect villagers.
Rally nearby shinobi and hold the enemy back with your life.
Gather intel and deliver it to the Hokage.
Immediately retreat to Root headquarters and await the Chief's orders to unleash a decisive strike.
Tobika's eye twitched.
The Academy had drilled the official Konoha protocol into his skull since childhood.Step 1: eliminate the enemy.Step 2: evacuate civilians.Step 3: mobilize the whole village.
Nowhere did it say:"Run to Danzō."
Without hesitation, "Ryoko" circled answer 4.
Tobika stared at her, horrified, and read the next one.
Question 2:If the Hokage is engaged in a one-on-one battle with a powerful intruder in Konoha, what should you do?
Rescue civilians in the blast zone.
Guard the Hokage against hidden attackers.
Gather allies to surround the enemy and apply psychological pressure.
Believe in the Hokage's strength and the Chief's vision.Proceed immediately to Root headquarters to await strategic orders that will ensure the village's survival.
"…What?"
She marked option 4 again.
Tobika dropped his forehead into her shoulder.He didn't need to see the rest of the test.The correct answer to every question was clearly:
Follow Danzō. Obey Danzō. Love Danzō. Die for Danzō.
He sighed internally.
But wait.
If the Yamanaka matriarch was possessing Ryoko…
…then who, exactly, was the one hiding inside the cabinet earlier?