The Shinobi World's Darkness: A Setup?

Nawaki was dragged away by the scruff of his neck by Tsunade, not even getting a chance to say goodbye, and in the blink of an eye, only Namikaze Yoru remained in the training ground.

Not daring to dwell on it too much, afraid Tsunade might double back at any moment, he didn't even bother to brush the dust off his clothes before forcing himself to stand and leave.

But hampered by the aftereffects of opening the Eight Gates to the fourth gate for the first time, his muscles now ached as if pierced by needles.

He could only slow his movements, hobbling step by step toward home. Regardless, today's "training" could be considered exceeding expectations.

Having Princess Tsunade as a sparring partner gave him a clearer understanding of his own strength.

Chakra went without saying—even if he hadn't yet reached his physical peak, he estimated it was around seven or eight Kā level.

With the Eight Gates boosting his Taijutsu, he could probably barely touch the threshold of a Special Jōnin.

As for Genjutsu... it was enough to say he could hold his own.

Of course, if he used all his trump cards and went all out, that was another story.

As soon as he got home, Namikaze Yoru collapsed onto his bed in exhaustion.

Having come to this world, he'd been constantly scrambling to survive, and influenced by his past life's mindset, he never deliberately thought about matters between men and women before turning eighteen.

But today's events seemed to tear through a layer of paper, stirring up ripples he'd never felt before.

The chaotic thoughts gradually settled, his breathing steadied, and he finally fell into a deep sleep.

Inside the Hokage's Office.

The Hokage's Office was unusually lively today, filled with Hiruzen Sarutobi's old acquaintances.

"Danzo? Why are you back?!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the man before him, but felt none of the relief he had when seeing Tsunade—only anger rising, since Danzo's sudden return to the village could be seen as disobeying orders on the front lines.

"I, along with Orochimaru, have seized the initiative on the battlefield. I've come back because I heard Tsunade has returned to the village. I need her to treat my eye."

Only then did Hiruzen Sarutobi notice that Shimura Danzo's right eye was covered by bandages. He had assumed it was just a minor flesh wound, not realizing the eye itself was injured.

"This... what happened?" Since there was a reason, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't press further and instead turned to concern for his old friend's injury.

"The front lines are intense. I was caught in the crossfire during battle." Shimura Danzo was a master of this as well, his understated words subtly boasting of his own merits.

"I'll arrange for Tsunade to treat you immediately."

"No need. Official business comes first. I'll return to Root to handle the backlog of matters. It can wait a couple of days." Shimura Danzo spoke with great righteousness, putting on a show of being willing to shed his last drop of blood for Konoha.

In truth, his return was more due to an urgent report from Root: the base had been burglarized, and a large number of items stolen. Shimura Danzo was furious and had to come back to assess the losses.

Especially since many secrets in the Root office were known only to him; even his trusted subordinates couldn't inventory the damage.

Along the way, he had already planned it out. Using the eye injury as an excuse, he would replace it with his treasured Three-Tomoe Sharingan of Kagami Uchiha! This would both boost his strength and allow him to keep it hidden under bandages—a two-for-one deal.

After their conversation, Shimura Danzo returned to his loyal Root base. The moment he stepped into the office, his expression changed.

Even though his subordinates had already reported the theft, Shimura Danzo was very confident in his own arrangements, believing that even if Hiruzen Sarutobi personally acted, he might not discover his hidden measures.

Looking around, not to mention the emptied bookshelves, the secret room in the corner that even he rarely opened was exposed, and the special metal door fused with the wall was gone without a trace.

No joke—if the contents inside were ever revealed, even as the Hokage's Assistant, he would be in deep trouble.

In an instant, cold sweat broke out on Shimura Danzo's back, and his previous fury was replaced by shock.

He hurriedly checked the hidden compartment in the bookshelf. The sealing jutsu serving as a barrier was intact, but everything inside had been taken without exception.

His last shred of hope was shattered. He felt as if a massive conspiracy was about to engulf him.

He even began to wonder: could it be that Hiruzen Sarutobi, now firmly seated as Hokage, was planning to make an example of him, the Hokage's Assistant?

The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. He had just been transferred to the front lines, and soon after, the Root base was precisely ransacked.

But if Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't using this to attack him, was it to give him another chance? He ran through countless possibilities, each one leaving him more unsettled.

Lost in thought, he didn't even notice his subordinate approaching.

"Lord Danzo."

Inside the Root base, the still-recovering Shimura Shinsei came to take responsibility, since this matter was closely tied to him.

He was lucky, too. Originally pierced by bone spikes, with blood flowing endlessly, he was as good as dead. But by chance, he was caught in Namikaze Yoru's Lightning Release, which cauterized the wound and stopped the bleeding, miraculously saving his life.

"You useless waste! Letting an outsider infiltrate the Root base!"

Already furious, Danzo's anger only grew at the sight of Shimura Shinsei. Especially upon hearing that the enemy had used Shinsei as the breakthrough point, he felt like strangling this clan member on the spot.

Seeing Danzo's rage, Shimura Shinsei was about to quietly withdraw when Danzo suddenly called him back.

Then, under his terrified gaze, Danzo tore off his clothes.

"L-Lord Danzo...?"

"Shut up!"

Shimura Shinsei's mind was in turmoil, but if it was Lord Danzo's wish...

Danzo knew his actions were abrupt, but his own chaotic mind left no patience for explanations.

Then he cut through the bandages on Shinsei's wound, watching the slightly scabbed injury exposed to the air. He narrowed his eyes, lost in thought.

"This wound... it looks like..." Shimura Danzō nearly blurted it out, but forced the words back down his throat, knowing this matter could not be disclosed.

Even in the Root base he completely controlled, after being silently infiltrated once, it could no longer offer him enough sense of security.

He murmured to himself inwardly: "Bone Spikes? Nawaki was also killed by Bone Spikes? A spy lurking in the village, or a bloodline ninja secretly cultivated by Hiruzen Sarutobi as a 'black glove'?"

Others might not see it, but he, Shimura Danzō, would never mistake it. For a top-tier ninja like him without a bloodline limit, he had long etched the characteristics of every major bloodline deep into his mind.

Seeing Danzō make no further move, Shimura Shinsei dared not act rashly either, standing stiffly as he was scrutinized, his bare upper body exposed.

Perhaps sensing the strangeness of the atmosphere, Danzō finally waved his hand:

"Withdraw. Rest and recover well."