Night deepened, and the streets grew sparse.
On the way back to their residences, Xiuren cast a thoughtful glance at Uchiha Mo and Rin beside him, already understanding everything.
The scene at the academy gate—
The timing was too perfect.
The location too conspicuous.
With Mo's usual caution, there was no way he would discuss such secrets in a place like that unless it was deliberate.
Since that was the case—
He naturally had to play his part.
"Looks like…" Xiuren murmured softly, "someone won't be sleeping tonight."
Mo only smiled faintly and said nothing.
Some things needed no words.
The three stopped at a fork in the road.
Mo casually took Rin's hand and headed toward his modest home.
Now that he had chosen to stop hiding—
Rin would naturally move in with him.
The place was small, but enough for two.
Xiuren watched their figures disappear into the distance before turning in the opposite direction.
Since Mo already seemed to have a plan—
It was time for him to begin his own preparations.
After all, the techniques he had learned needed to be put to use.
And today—
He just happened to have a suitable scapegoat.
"Shimura… Sarutobi…"
Xiuren whispered the two names, his figure melting into Konoha's shadows, moving like a ghost.
He headed first toward the Shimura clan's territory.
Unlike the Sarutobi clan—
Prominent as the Hokage's lineage—
The Shimura compound exuded an indescribable sense of oppression and decay.
The walls still stood tall—
But inside, emptiness lingered.
Xiuren slipped past the guards with ease.
Calling them guards was generous.
They were merely middle-aged clan members—
Their expressions dull, their chakra weak, some bearing visible injuries.
This—
Was the result of Shimura Danzō.
For the sake of Root and his endless ambition—
His own clan's bloodline had long since become expendable.
The capable were taken into Root—
Or consumed in dangerous missions.
Those who remained—
Were the old, the weak, the crippled, or the useless.
Such a clan—
Could never prosper.
Entering the clan's private cemetery—
The scene only confirmed his suspicions.
Under the pale moonlight, weeds ran wild.
Gravestones lay broken.
Some graves had even collapsed.
The air carried a deep sense of abandonment—
And resentment.
Beyond the scent of soil and decay—
There lingered faint traces of blood and the sharp sting of experimental chemicals.
Some unfortunate Shimura clan members—
Had not even been allowed to rest in death.
They had been used in secret experiments.
This decay—
This despair—
Was the perfect breeding ground for yin energy.
Without much effort—
The accumulated negative energy here was already abundant.
Xiuren selected three of the newest graves—
Their aura thick with resentment, their residual chakra disturbingly unstable.
"Died unjustly. Resentment still lingers. Perfect material."
Like a precise surgeon—
He began setting up his formation.
Special kunai were driven into the ground, outlining a triangular array.
Powder mixed with yin-aligned substances was scattered, linking the flow of energy.
"Draw from the earth's veins. Use resentment as fuel. Gather."
The response was immediate.
The suppressed yin energy beneath the ground—
And the lingering hatred of the dead—
Rushed toward the graves as if finding release.
The process went smoother than expected.
It was as though years of suffering—
And the consequences of Danzō's actions—
Had become his tools.
Xiuren finished silently, erasing all traces of his presence.
As if no one had ever been there.
"…Now comes the difficult part."
As he approached the boundary of the Sarutobi clan's territory—
An invisible pressure settled over him.
Moonlight illuminated the neat houses and orderly paths.
Peaceful.
Serene.
But beneath that calm—
His Sharingan revealed a completely different reality.
Fine, resilient threads of chakra—
Like countless invisible webs—
Wove together around the clan's perimeter.
Especially around the cemetery.
"…As expected of a clan that has ruled for decades."
This level of defense far surpassed the Hyūga's passive observation.
Konoha's vast resources—
Had clearly been poured into reinforcing this place.
Xiuren took a slow breath, suppressing his chakra to the absolute limit.
Relying on his Sharingan's perception—
And his newly learned techniques for concealing energy—
He narrowly slipped through the outer layers of the barrier.
The cemetery lay ahead—
Meticulously maintained.
In stark contrast to the Shimura side.
He could even spot patrol units in the distance—
And hidden sentries watching from the shadows.
Just as he prepared to approach the edge—
To replicate his earlier setup—
Buzz—
A faint vibration pierced his senses.
"Detected."
Alarm bells rang instantly in his mind.
Without hesitation—
He retreated at full speed, like an arrow released from a bow.
At the same time—
"Enemy sighted! Northwest perimeter—cemetery outskirts!"
A sharp shout shattered the night.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Several figures burst forth from shadows and patrol lines—
Fast. Coordinated.
Blocking escape routes instantly.
Kunai and shuriken cut through the air—
Covering his position and possible movements with deadly precision.
From deeper within the Sarutobi compound—
A powerful chakra surged.
Like a waking beast—
Locking onto him.
Xiuren made a split-second decision.
He abandoned the plan.
Facing the incoming barrage—
His body twisted at an unnatural angle—
Barely evading the first wave of attacks.
"There! Don't let him escape!"
Several Sarutobi ninja moved in, forming a wide encirclement.
Xiuren fought while retreating—
Using unpredictable movement to avoid direct confrontation.
As he moved—
His hands flicked repeatedly, sending out strips of paper from his sleeves.
These were not ordinary explosive tags.
Their texture was coarse.
Yellowed with age.
Covered in twisted, dark crimson patterns—
Radiating something ominous.
These—
Were the modified techniques from another world.
In a world where spiritual energy was scarce—
Such talismans were weak, relying on rituals and materials.
But now—
Powered by chakra—
A force born of life and spirit—
They revealed something far more direct.
And far more terrifying.
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