Actually, You're a Spy, Aren't You?

Since when did the Police Force start interfering in the business of the Anbu?

The words were spoken with a resonant, imposing force!

The relationship between the Konoha Police Force and the Anbu has always been strained, as their duties are fundamentally different.

If one had to draw a distinction, it would be like the difference between the FBI and the CIA; the Police Force handles internal affairs, while the Anbu handles external ones. Of course, there are overlapping areas that require coordination between the two.

Strictly speaking, anything that happens within the village falls under the jurisdiction of the Police Force.

The Anbu operative was choked by Suifeng's retort, and it took him a long moment to ask, "What crime has Murakami Ame committed?!"

"I suspect this guy is a spy from another village who deliberately spread rumors to frame White Fang, leading to his death. I'm taking him back to the Police Force for investigation. Do you have a problem with that?!"

"Huh?!" The Anbu operative's gaze instantly sharpened. "You say he's a spy—do you have evidence?!"

"The Police Force doesn't need to answer to the Anbu when we do our jobs!" Suifeng glanced at the operative and walked toward Murakami Ame, his tone mocking. "What, this guy caused the death of your Anbu Chief, and you Anbu are still going to protect him?!"

The Anbu operative had intended to stop Suifeng, but upon hearing this, his body stiffened visibly, and he halted his movements.

White Fang was the Anbu Chief, and the most popular one in years. His death had caused a massive shock within the Anbu, leading to internal dissatisfaction and signs of unrest.

Although he wasn't one of White Fang's inner circle, he was a subordinate who had always held White Fang in high regard. The death of White Fang had affected him deeply; he felt it was a grave injustice, and he held just as much resentment toward Murakami Ame.

Damn it, you were saved, so you were saved—why go out and spout nonsense after your life was spared?

To pin all the blame on White Fang—what exactly were you thinking?

Of course, as an Anbu, he knew some of the inner workings of Konoha's high command. He was well aware that, given his position, it wasn't his place to comment, so he remained silent while accepting the order to protect Murakami Ame in secret.

White Fang was already dead; if this guy were to commit suicide now, it would look very bad for the higher-ups.

He was deeply resistant to this mission, but there was no helping it—as a ninja, the mission comes first.

When he saw Suifeng coming to cause trouble for Murakami Ame, he had intentionally delayed his arrival, though his original intent wasn't for Suifeng to beat Murakami Ame to such a pulp.

He had noticed Suifeng and Obito when they approached, and from Obito's muttering, he had learned their purpose.

These two were friends of Kakashi, here to settle the score with Murakami Ame.

He could have intervened earlier, but his own lingering resentment kept him from doing so. He figured that since both were from the Uchiha clan, if they came to cause trouble and were injured by Murakami Ame, the Uchiha clan wouldn't let it slide.

Murakami Ame would then bring trouble upon himself.

Watching that happen would have been a pleasure for the Anbu.

But he hadn't expected the situation to develop in the complete opposite direction. The two Uchiha boys were fine, but Murakami Ame had been beaten to a pulp. If he didn't appear now, he might actually be beaten to death by this seemingly harmless kid. If Murakami Ame died, it would be his responsibility, which was why he appeared—to try and scare the kid off.

He hadn't expected the kid not only to be unfazed but to immediately slap the label of "spy" onto Murakami Ame.

Seeing Murakami Ame's devastated expression, he almost wanted to laugh.

However, as an Anbu, he wouldn't be intimidated by Suifeng's words. Most importantly, as an Anbu, how could he be scared off by the Police Force?

"Spy hunting? What evidence do you have? Who is your captain? Furthermore, according to the Konoha Police Force regulations, two people must be present to execute a mission. You are a police officer, but this kid is not!"

Aoari pointed at Obito.

"Uh, he isn't one now, but he definitely will be in the future!"

At that moment, Suifeng put on a perfectly timed look of guilt. "I had no choice. I finally analyzed that this guy was suspected of being a spy, and I was afraid he'd run away, so I rushed over to make the arrest, intending to notify the Police Force afterward. But since you're here now, and the Anbu also has the authority to arrest spies, I'll leave him to you. No need to thank me!"

With that, Suifeng waved his hand, acting as if he were graciously yielding the opportunity, grabbed the bewildered Obito—who still hadn't grasped the situation—and bolted.

The speed of his departure and the decisiveness of his attitude left Aoari unable to react. In fact, he was still immersed in the logic Suifeng had just used, trying to make sense of it.

And then, Suifeng just ran! Faster than a rabbit!

"Damn it, you can actually do that?!"

Under his mask, Aoari's face was covered in black lines; he didn't even know how to complain.

He finally analyzed that this guy was suspicious?

So you mean you have no evidence that he's a spy? You just made it up in your head, and then ran over here to make an arrest?

No, wait—it was clearly just a beating to vent anger, and he had the nerve to call it 'handing him over to the Anbu' so he wouldn't run away. Damn it, this guy has been under our Anbu's...

Wait, that's right!

We in the Anbu have the authority to arrest spies. Since someone has accused him of being a spy, regardless of whether it's true or not, for the sake of safety, shouldn't we take him back to the Anbu for interrogation first?

Anyway, it wasn't our Anbu who accused him; it was the Police Force. If I don't take him back and he runs away, wouldn't that make me look like I'm harboring a spy? If you put it that way, I have to take him back, right?

Thinking of this, he looked at Murakami Ame with ill intent.

"You, you, you—what are you doing?!"

Murakami Ame's heart skipped a beat, a bad premonition rising in his mind as he backed away repeatedly. "Don't, don't do anything reckless, don't do anything reckless!!!"

"Murakami Ame, you have been accused of being a spy from another village. Come with me for investigation!"

"No, I'm not going!"

Murakami Ame, having just snapped out of his daze, suddenly realized the gravity of the situation.

Investigation? Investigate my foot!

Sakumo, who just died, was the Anbu Chief. Now that he's dead and left the Anbu in this mess, heaven knows how many of these guys want me dead. Once I'm taken to the Anbu, I might never come out alive.

Don't think he was just scaring himself.

If there is a suspicion of being a spy, shouldn't there be an interrogation?

If he doesn't confess, shouldn't they resort to methods?

If those methods don't work, couldn't they use secret mental arts to inspect his memories?

And if a "small problem" occurs during that memory inspection, wouldn't he end up a mental patient?

Do you think this is a dinner party?!

This is a life-or-death struggle!!

In this process, if one or two people who hold a grudge against him decide to meddle, does he even have a way to survive?

What's more fatal is that while he isn't a spy, he did indeed play a disgraceful role in the matter of White Fang, and he still doesn't know who the guy forcing him into that role was.

In other words, someone was indeed fanning the flames regarding the death of White Fang, and he was almost certain it was someone from the village, but what if it wasn't?

What if his deduction was wrong?

This whole thing is impossible to explain clearly!

The more he thought, the more terrified he became. His expression shifted constantly, from panic to fear, from fear to uncertainty, and then from uncertainty to determination. Aoari saw it all.

As a member of the Anbu, he had been trained and knew how to observe.

What are you doing? Why that expression?

Isn't that the look of a guilty conscience? Anbu training taught this, didn't it? Huh, your body is leaning slightly, your feet are shifting, your eyes are darting around—what are you trying to do? Are you trying to escape?

Are you afraid?

Why be afraid?

Wait, could you stop changing your expression so fast...

Huh, this expression...

I've learned this expression, no, I've seen it—this is the look of someone putting up a desperate struggle!

This is the posture of someone intending to resist to the bitter end!

What on earth are you trying to do? Who are you!!

Damn it all!

Could he really be a spy?

Oh, heavens, you bastard, I'll hack you to death!!