Chapter 42: Consequences and Considerations
"A... Lightning Clone..." Aburame Shiigo managed to gasp out the words, his body wracked by the electric current coursing through him.
Then, he saw them—a pair of crimson Sharingan reflected in his dying vision. Consciousness fled.
"So predictable," Uchiha Akira murmured with a cold sneer, looking down at the fallen form in the rain. "This time, we finally have something tangible on Danzo."
Not far away, Hyuga Kaoru's beautiful face was a mask of shock. The turn of events had completely surpassed her expectations. Aburame Shiigo had suddenly attacked the Captain, yet Uchiha Akira seemed to have anticipated it, countering in the blink of an eye. She even suspected the Captain had deliberately lured Shiigo into making the first move.
Just as Akira was about to move in to extract information from the unconscious Root agent, Shiigo's body, sprawled on the ground, began to swell with grotesque, shifting lumps.
The next moment, a sickening, wet gnawing sound emanated from within his torso.
Hearing this, Akira's expression darkened. "He had this failsafe too..." he muttered.
The insects inside Aburame Shiigo's body were devouring their host's flesh and blood. They were out of control. In moments, only Shiigo's skin remained, a hollow sack. The flesh and organs within had been completely consumed. Black beetles soon chewed their way through the skin and began swarming out.
"Danzo's caution knows no bounds..." Akira let out a frustrated breath. He quickly formed a seal. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!" A stream of fire engulfed the emerging insect swarm and the empty husk, reducing them to ashes in seconds.
Nearby, Hyuga Kaoru stood frozen, conflict written on her face. Watching Uchiha Akira so efficiently dispose of the evidence, she felt a primal urge to flee. But reason prevailed—it was too late. She could never outrun him.
"Jonin Kaoru," Akira's voice cut through the drumming rain, calm and matter-of-fact. "You witnessed it. Aburame Shiigo attacked first."
Hikari Kaoru nodded stiffly. "Yes, Captain. It was indeed Aburame Shiigo who initiated the assault."
Akira gave a curt nod. He wasn't overly concerned with her personal thoughts. "Please use your Byakugan to assist me. Scan the remaining charcoal masses. See if there are any other fragments like that branch hidden within them."
"Understood, Captain," Kaoru replied, her voice tight.
With her assistance, Akira recovered two more fragments of the Ten-Tails' shell, each several dozen centimeters long.
"Captain," Kaoru asked once the area was secured, her voice cautious, "what are our orders now? Do we continue the mission?"
She made no mention of the incident that had just transpired, as if it had never happened.
After a moment of consideration, Akira said, "We find a place to rest. The recent engagement was... taxing."
During the Third Great Shinobi War, the Land of Rain had been used as a battleground by multiple major powers, leaving the nation in ruins. Following Hyuga Kaoru's lead, the two eventually found a deserted, half-collapsed village, offering minimal shelter from the relentless downpour.
After resting for a time by a small, crackling fire, Akira looked at Hyuga Kaoru across the flames.
"Jonin Kaoru," he began, "how do you intend to report today's events upon our return?"
The question hung in the damp air. Hyuga Kaoru fell into a long silence. Finally, she replied, "How would you have me report it, Captain?"
"Report the truth," Akira stated plainly. "Do not overcomplicate it, Jonin."
"The truth?" Kaoru looked puzzled.
Along the way, she had pieced together Aburame Shiigo's likely true identity: not a standard Konoha ninja, but an operative of the Hokage's clandestine Root organization, under Danzo's direct command. As a member of one of Konoha's great clans—even a branch family member—she was aware of the long-standing, deep-seated animosity between Danzo and the Uchiha.
"Correct," Akira confirmed with a nod. "Simply report what you witnessed. There is no need for excessive concern. I will also submit a truthful mission report."
If Aburame Shiigo had been taken alive, Akira thought, the strategy would be different. But with no living witness or concrete evidence directly implicating Danzo, the situation changes. Without irrefutable proof, Sarutobi Hiruzen would never move against his old comrade.
Hearing his firm tone, Hyuga Kaoru studied Uchiha Akira's face for a long moment, then nodded. "Understood. I will report the mission details truthfully to the Hokage."
After another period of quiet, Kaoru ventured another question. "Captain, do we proceed with the primary mission objective?"
"What is your assessment, Jonin Kaoru?" Akira asked, turning the question back to her.
"I believe returning now would be insufficient to consider this S-rank mission properly addressed. What is your opinion, Captain?" Her gaze was steady, a slight, unreadable smile on her lips.
Akira considered this. "Jonin Kaoru... you seem reluctant to return to Konoha."
The air in the ruined shelter grew heavy and cold.
After a prolonged silence, Hyuga Kaoru's voice, now icy, broke the stillness. "Is it so obvious? I have only a sliver of true freedom when on missions outside the village. Returning to Konoha is like stepping back into a gilded cage."
Uchiha Akira stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Has Jonin Kaoru never considered... finding a way to remove the Caged Bird Seal?"
Hmph! Kaoru's pretty face instantly darkened, a flash of raw bitterness in her pale eyes. "Easier said than done. The Hyuga clan's hierarchy is absolute. 'Branch family' is a polite term. In reality, we are slaves to the main house. What slave possesses the power to break their own chains?"
Her Byakugan fixed on Akira for a moment, her tone dripping with cold warning. "Captain, I advise you to stay out of Hyuga clan affairs. And Lord Danzo, the Hokage's advisor... is not an enemy to be trifled with lightly."
Akira showed no offense. Instead, a hint of apology touched his expression. "My apologies, Jonin Kaoru. I overstepped."
She is desperate for freedom, he observed internally. And judging by her temperament, she has the courage to act on it. There is a deep-seated resentment toward the Hyuga main family, perhaps the clan itself... This one might be useful in the future.
"Jonin Kaoru," he said, shifting topics, "the Land of Rain is no longer secure. It is the enemy's stronghold. I believe it is prudent for us to return to Konoha. What is your view?"
"It seems the actual situation differs from your earlier assessment, Captain," Kaoru remarked, a trace of skepticism in her voice. "The enemy is not incapacitated for 'ten days to half a month,' is he?"
Akira gave a slight shrug. "No need for sarcasm. The truth is, we haven't even confronted the true mastermind behind the enemy."
Hyuga Kaoru's expression shifted dramatically. His words were a shock, completely upending her understanding of the mission.
"In that case," she said, her voice turning serious, "we should not linger in the Land of Rain. The strength of this 'Akatsuki' organization far exceeds the village's intelligence. Continuing the investigation would place us in extreme danger."
The following night, the two returned to Konoha and made their way to the Hokage's office to deliver their mission report.
(End of Chapter)
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