Sanshao Under the Shadow

"They really took the bait."

For an infiltrator within a ninja village, exposure usually signifies extreme danger, with the probability of death often exceeding ninety percent. However, when the intelligence they seek to acquire is significant enough, sacrifice becomes a matter of course.

Unfortunately, this entire affair was a hastily orchestrated conspiracy. The so-called intelligence was nothing more than a fabrication; the spies' actions and sacrifices would yield absolutely nothing.

Tonight was destined to be a chaotic melee—not just a battle between spies and Konoha ninja, but a mutual slaughter between spies of different affiliations. Who was the mantis, who was the oriole, and who was the fisherman? Those caught in the center of the chaos could hardly determine what role they were playing—everyone, that is, except for Hanyu.

He was the most exquisite ornament in this dispute, the most nervous spectator.

Faint, imperceptible whispers drifted through the night air.

"There are too many people coming. Have all the spies hidden in this village been mobilized? Could it be a trap?"

"Regardless of whether Konoha has ulterior motives, we are already at the point of no return. Even if Konoha is targeting us tonight, the source of the intelligence is confirmed to be real. Something definitely happened in Konoha today; the atmosphere of the entire village has changed. There is stability amidst the chaos... they must have obtained definitive news regarding the Second Hokage."

"Then, there is no use in talking more?"

"No use in talking more!"

The low-pitched conversation vanished rapidly, followed by the intensifying sound of weapons clashing.

It seemed the people who had just been speaking had finally charged into the fray.

Hanyu leaned against his pillow, half-reclining on the hospital bed, listening intently to the movement outside. The sounds had gone from nothing to something, from intense to fading, all within a mere ten minutes or so; one could easily imagine the ferocity of the battle.

"The cleanup has begun." This was Konoha, after all. If the fighting was gradually subsiding, it certainly meant the village's ninja had already brought the situation under control.

He hoped Konoha would achieve its predetermined goals. Since they had already released those rumors, the cleaner the spies were wiped out, the more beneficial it would be for Hanyu.

In the lightless ward, Hanyu's pupils were darker than the environment itself. Only a small corner was illuminated by the moonlight streaming through the window, and it was precisely at this spot that Hanyu had been staring until a figure finally emerged.

The person wore a tight-fitting black suit, their entire face obscured by a mask. Their upper body was stained red with blood, and the moment they appeared at the window, the stench of gore permeated the room. From the physical characteristics revealed, it was impossible to tell whether they were a Konoha ninja or an enemy, yet Hanyu understood: they were an enemy.

He extended one hand, waved at the person, and greeted them with a smile, "Good evening. You've worked hard."

Hanyu felt neither nervous nor panicked. Although an enemy had appeared before him, he knew that the weapon he had borrowed from Danzo—which he was currently gripping tightly in his other hand—would not be needed after all. At this stage, the enemy could no longer cause him any harm.

This was Konoha, and countless Konoha ninja were fighting just outside the window. How could they possibly allow the last remnants of the enemy to run wild?

Unless Konoha itself intended to put Hanyu to death and was using this method to kill with a borrowed knife—but would Konoha go to such unnecessary lengths?

Hanyu felt he could wait and see.

The enemy outside the window looked at Hanyu with eyes full of malice. He must have realized his mission could not be completed. Tonight was a trap set by Konoha, and trapped in a desperate situation, he surely wouldn't mind taking someone down with him as a burial companion. But could he do it?

A feathered arrow shimmering with lightning suddenly arrived, instantly piercing the man's throat. The flickering residual light like electric sparks, the trembling arrow shaft, and the spurting blood together drew a crimson period to the night's events.

Hanyu slowly closed his eyes. He knew he could get a good night's sleep now. Not just because the night's events had come to an end, but because Konoha posed no threat to him. The village seemed to have no intention of eliminating an outsider like him for the reason that "you know too much."

Early morning.

Battles in a ninja village are not exactly frequent, but they are not rare either, so the average person in Konoha did not pay much attention to the fighting that broke out last night. However, clearing out spies held significant strategic importance for the current Konoha, meaning the village had secured its intelligence safety for a considerable time to come.

The traces of battle on the streets had already been cleaned up. Aside from the faint, lingering scent of blood in the air and the marks left by weapons on walls and roads, there was nothing left to indicate that dozens of vibrant lives had perished here last night.

However, whether it was strategic decisions or tactical arrangements, none of it had anything to do with Hanyu now. What did concern him was that he had received word in the morning: he could no longer stay in the hospital. The village had made specific arrangements for him, and someone would soon come to take him away.

Because he was somewhat worried about his own physical condition, Hanyu had initially wanted to stay in the hospital for a while longer. But the medical ninja seemed to think that his injuries and the issue of chakra erosion were not worth worrying about, so he was "permitted" to be discharged.

His departure from the hospital was even faster than he had imagined. Two hours after receiving the notification, the person coming to collect Hanyu had already arrived in his ward.

"Hanyu Yu, child, come with me." The person was a woman who looked to be in her thirties, with a gentle appearance, a clean and easygoing smile, and an aura that made her very easy to approach.

The other party naturally knew Hanyu's name and identity.

"Yes, okay." Hanyu followed behind her as instructed. It had to be said that this person made an excellent first impression.

Hanyu was all alone and had nothing to pack, so the two of them left the hospital one after the other in short order.

Walking on the streets of Konoha, with the various pedestrians, the somewhat noisy sounds, the midday sun that was not bright but rather cool, and the cloudless sky, everything felt very mild.

"The weather is quite nice, isn't it?"

"Ah? Oh, yes, it is." After a brief moment of hesitation, Hanyu realized the other party was speaking to him.

"I heard you were the one who brought the news of the Second Hokage back to Konoha."

"Yes."

"What was he like at the end?" The other party seemed to hesitate, but ultimately asked the question.

Hanyu recalled the scene at that time, and the figure amidst the raging flames surfaced in his mind. "At the end, the Hokage was just like a ninja."

Senju Tobirama was a ninja himself; the description "just like a ninja" shouldn't have been used for him, yet Hanyu felt that was the only way he could describe him.

"Like a ninja... is it? That is truly an apt description for that man." She stopped in her tracks, and a smile finally appeared at the corners of her mouth.

Interestingly, the other party seemed quite satisfied with such an evaluation.

As the two continued to move, Hanyu noticed that the person he was following seemed to have an unusual status, as many people along the way kept nodding and greeting her.

However, the topic of the Second Hokage stopped there; she seemed unwilling to discuss that aspect too much. At this moment, all of Konoha was immersed in the grief of losing the Hokage, and Hanyu did not think too much of her reaction.

"The weather is getting colder." She coughed lightly, covering her mouth with a clenched fist. He didn't know if she was awkwardly changing the subject or if the weather had truly turned cold.

Hanyu followed her lead, saying, "Yes, it is already Kannazuki."

"It seems we need to prepare some clothes for you."

Hanyu's expression became uncharacteristically awkward. He was still wearing his hospital gown, and his feet were in hospital slippers.

"By the way, you don't know who I am yet, right? My name... it's not convenient to tell you for now. I am the director of the Konoha Nursing Home; you can call me Teacher Sanshao." She introduced herself in this way.

Since it was inconvenient to reveal her name, "Sanshao" must be a code name. In other words, the person before him was likely a ninja as well.