Hui's Investigation

Before the Uchiha gathering had even begun, Hui heard that rumor once again.

Recently, children had been going missing, and in significant numbers.

Hui furrowed his brows, his instincts immediately pointing toward Danzo.

Recalling his very first mission—retrieving that Ninjutsu Rifle while in a chakra-less state—Hui felt a stir of agitation. He wanted to go and see if Danzo was truly the one pulling the strings.

He had come to the academy in his physical body today; because of the awkwardness surrounding Ino yesterday, he felt compelled to handle the situation in person.

Iruka had long since dismissed the class, and the students were gradually dispersing.

Hui could feel a scorching gaze on his back; it was Ino, staring at him.

His fingers tightened unconsciously around the pen he was still holding for some reason, his Adam's apple bobbing, yet he couldn't find a suitable opening line.

I should have just let a Shadow Clone handle this... Hui thought with chagrin, feeling as if fine beads of sweat were breaking out on his forehead.

It wasn't that he didn't understand the girl's feelings, but the relationship between the Uchiha clan and the village was currently on a knife's edge, and a suffocating atmosphere permeated the clan.

Hui didn't even know if he would still be in Konoha after all this was over.

Thinking of the recent disappearances once more, Hui secretly made up his mind.

Consider it my final contribution to Konoha. After all, I've spent so many years here.

Hui gazed at the darkening sky outside the window, silently steeling his resolve.

The last few students in the classroom left one after another.

Sasuke cast a meaningful glance before leaving, dragging a protesting Naruto out of the room.

As their footsteps faded away, the entire space fell into a heart-palpitating silence.

Today, even Sakura wasn't eavesdropping.

"Um... Ino?" Hui finally gathered the courage to speak, his voice trembling slightly.

"Wh... what is it?" The response from behind him also carried a hint of a tremor.

"Can I walk you home? About the Shadow Clone yesterday... I am truly sorry! That was absolutely not my intention! It was all that self-acting Shadow Clone..."

Hui's explanation became increasingly chaotic, his speech accelerating.

Ino froze for a moment, then suddenly burst into a giggle: "Hui-kun, don't tell me this one is a Shadow Clone too?"

"Ho... how could it be!" Hui turned around in a panic.

At some point, Ino had quietly approached. She suddenly reached out and tapped Hui on the shoulder, then quickly retracted her hand like a startled fawn.

The girl's cheeks were flushed with a sunset-like glow, and she lowered her head, muttering softly: "Mm... this one shouldn't be a Shadow Clone..."

Hui looked at the Ino before him and scratched his head awkwardly.

"It's a promise, then—walk me home, no backing out!" Ino suddenly turned away, her back to Hui.

Hui could only watch as Ino's golden hair traced a beautiful arc in front of him.

"Ah... oh... okay..."

Watching Ino run toward the flower shop, Hui finally regained some of his composure.

Hui didn't know how he had managed to walk Ino to the flower shop, but he could feel that his emotions seemed a bit off.

At this moment, Hui suddenly thought of his tattoo, the [Reverse-Memory Well].

Could similar memories be activating this?

Hui silently contemplated everything about himself; although his mother had been somewhat deliberate, but...

This time, Hui finally saw Ino clearly; her jogging silhouette seemed somewhat flustered.

This feeling doesn't seem half bad. Was my mother like this back then? It seems I've stumbled upon something incredible.

Hui slowly revealed a smile while inwardly grumbling to himself.

Hui turned and headed toward the direction of the Root Base he had sensed.

Hui wanted to protect the Konoha of the present!

Even if he had to leave, he wanted to return. True peace was indeed his current dream, a dream he hadn't even told Chuanhe about.

But for someone with infinite time like him, he would have plenty of opportunities to pursue it in the future.

A flash of inspiration struck Hui, and he thought of a better way to dissipate his chakra.

Rather than wasting all his chakra at once, it would be better to distribute it rationally.

[Shadow Clone Technique]

As the hand seals were completed, ten clones instantly appeared around Hui.

This way, even if he had to waste chakra, the amount remaining in his physical body would be negligible.

As Hui entered the state of chakra silence once more, the corners of his mouth curled into a smile.

This time, he had thought of a more interesting way to infiltrate.

As four-dimensional beings, the ability of Hui and Chuanhe to manipulate matter would strengthen alongside their understanding of dimensions and constant practice.

After training for this period, Hui was currently barely able to achieve this effect.

He took a deep breath and began to manipulate all the matter around his body from a macroscopic perspective.

He did not distinguish specific components, nor did he pursue microscopic precision.

His figure gradually rippled with fluctuations, various colors shifting and changing across his skin, eventually condensing into a pure black silhouette.

[Physics Invisibility]

It was a pity that with Hui's current level of material manipulation, he could only achieve this much; for now, he could only achieve a pitch-black effect, unable to reach complete transparency.

But this was already the most practical solution for the moment: no chakra fluctuations, no scent emitted, and an effect akin to optical camouflage in the darkness.

Hui quickly analyzed the possible means of detection.

Sage Mode sensing, naked-eye observation, or the Byakugan.

However, Root Base should not have any members of the Hyuga clan.

Preparations complete, a "black shadow" drifted silently toward the Root Base.

Hui decided to fly the entire way; since no one knew his identity anyway, this would also completely eliminate any traces on the ground.

The sky gradually turned completely dark, and the pitch-black Hui was like a fish in water in this environment.

Even under these circumstances, Hui still tried his best to avoid the line of sight of the Root ninjas.

Finally arriving directly above the Root Base, Hui closed his eyes and began to sense.

The Root Base was underground; Hui understood that much just from the name.

But it was far too deep, and the verification methods along the way were as numerous as the hairs on an ox.

It seems I cannot cast the technique directly this time; just as Father said, prepare in advance.

Hui thought to himself.

He had his shadow clone leave one of his Flying Thunder God marks in a hidden location.

[Space Leap]

When returning, Hui would be able to use this mark to come back with almost zero delay.

It was dim, and the air carried a scent of decay.

Looking at the ground beneath him, which was so neatly arranged, the atmosphere of this environment made Hui feel very irritable.

Hui hid his figure in the shadows and began to sense the entirety of the Root.

This underground area seemed even larger than he had imagined.

As his perception spread, Hui's expression slowly turned grave.

Dozens of teams of Root ninjas, just like the three he had seen that day, had hollow eyes, no expectations for the future, and their world had never known light.

Under Danzo's orders, they were engaged in all sorts of tasks.

Hui saw a burial ground, and inside it, there were even...

Hui saw cylindrical glass tanks similar to those in the town laboratory.

Inside were various bizarre-looking "people?".

Hui saw humanoid trees of strange shapes, still retaining expressions of wooden agony...

Hui saw countless... stored in categories.

Hui only felt disgusted; an unknown sense of nausea rose from within.

He covered his mouth tightly, and the [Physics Invisibility] he maintained around his body began to become somewhat unstable.

Several colored spots appeared on his body.

Is... is this the Root?

Hui's mind was a bit dazed now, and his body was trembling uncontrollably.

Having never experienced war, this was his first time seeing such a scene.

It was just like the word described in the study--hell!

Hui's body trembled in mid-air, but a cool sensation flowed from his back, allowing Hui to slowly regain his reason.

Silently thanking his mother, Hui continued to sense; he had come here with a mission.

Finally, in a small room, Hui saw the few remaining people...

Hui cast [Space Leap] toward that direction.