One Night (3)

After hearing Ueno Kei's reply, the Anbu fell silent. He said nothing, only studying Ueno Kei with a cool, measured gaze. Ueno Kei remained calm and unhurried. He knew the Anbu was weighing his words.

Just as Ueno Kei had guessed, the Anbu was trying to judge whether he was telling the truth. Ueno Kei's age worked in his favor. Though he stood over four feet tall, there was no hiding his youthful face.

Besides, the other Anbu members stationed nearby had heard that, for the past few years, a boy had come every day to train in the eastern hills outside the village. His route now did indeed lead back to the village. And the boy before him felt like a Ninja Academy student: his chakra was pitifully weak, and his skills seemed just as poor.

The Anbu figured he was probably no kind of spy.

The Anbu gave a slight nod, then vanished from the spot with a whoosh. Only after seeing him leave did Ueno Kei let out a breath and relax.

He knew the Anbu couldn't simply attack anyone they pleased inside the village, but it was always best to be cautious. For the most part, the Anbu's assumptions had been right.

The only thing he'd gotten wrong, just like the black-robed man before him, was Ueno Kei's strength. Ueno Kei wasn't a match for either of them, but with the Lingyu Blade and the first move of the Wind Wing Sword Technique—which he could now barely manage—he could at least hold his own against the black-robed man for a few exchanges.

With the element of surprise, he might even wound his opponent. Boldness and caution in equal measure, along with two lifetimes of experience and the misery of his early years in this life, had made Ueno Kei's heart as unyielding as stone.

And since Ueno Kei had sensed the Anbu's brief trace, it was clear that this Anbu was noticeably weaker than the black-robed man. Ueno Kei was certain he could escape him, unless the Anbu had some special trick.

And if Ueno Kei used the Summoning Technique without holding back, the outcome would be anyone's guess—depending on the strength of the summoned beast.

Ueno Kei watched the Anbu disappear, his eyes flickering.

He frowned. "Did something unexpected happen here? Why is there an Anbu around?"

Ueno Kei pondered for a while. For some reason, the girl he had seen by the river two years ago suddenly came to mind, her expression cold. I hope this has nothing to do with her.

He thought it over, but came to no conclusion. In the end, he gave up and headed down the mountain.

Elsewhere, more than ten miles from Ueno Kei, two Konoha Ninja dressed as Anbu lay limp on the ground outside a wooden cabin on a hillside.

Seven or eight black-robed figures, dressed unlike the Anbu in black, stood scattered around the cabin. The burly Yewu was there, along with his elder brother, the black-robed man leading the group.

"Big brother, why didn't we just kill those two Anbu?" Yewu asked, puzzled.

"Taking Yun'er back was a last resort, but we've already angered Konoha. We should avoid killing Anbu if we can. Otherwise, we'll only make their hatred for us worse."

Yewu gave a quiet snort. As far as he was concerned, the hatred was already there—why worry about things like this now? But it was his elder brother's order, and he couldn't very well refuse. So the men sent to deal with the other four Anbu had been told to leave them alive if possible.

"Clan Head! This is bad! The young lady isn't inside!" A black-robed man hurried out of the cabin. In the moonlight, his face beneath the hood was stricken with panic.

"What? What did you say?" The black-robed leader yanked back his hood, his face full of disbelief. Yewu was already livid.

He roughly shoved the subordinate out of his way and rushed into the cabin. A moment later, he came back out, his face ashen, and shook his head at his brother.

The black-robed leader closed his eyes and drew a deep breath. Gritting his teeth, he said coldly, "Search! Turn the whole place upside down if you have to! She wouldn't have run off on her own. Some other Konoha ninja must have taken her away! Notify the others. Seal off the entire area around the mountain at once. I want her found!"

"Yes, sir!"

"And make sure she's found within an hour! If... if we can't... then follow the original plan and retreat!"

"Big brother...!" Yewu stared at him in shock. He understood what his brother meant, but to do that...

A trace of pain crossed his brother's face, then hardened into resolve.

"Yewu, you know what will happen to us if Konoha's reinforcements arrive. You understand, don't you?"

"Yes, big brother. I understand."

Yakumo, don't blame your uncle for being cruel. For the sake of the Kurama Clan, I have no choice. If Konoha... if they... I swear I'll avenge you one day.

The black-robed leader steeled himself and waved a hand. "Follow the second plan. If we find the young lady, then all is well. If we don't, abandon everything, cover our tracks as best we can, and leave Konoha!"

"Yes, sir!"

When the others had answered, the black-robed figures vanished, scattering in every direction to search.

At the Hokage Office Building in Konoha, a faint light glimmered in the Hokage's office.

Two figures sat in the candlelight, their shadows stretching long across the room.

"Shikaku, has the Kurama Clan really made a move?" asked an old voice.

"Yes, Lord Hokage. Kurama Yeqiong has entered the western hills, but Kurama Yakumo probably hasn't been taken. The Anbu we had lying in wait should have brought her to safety." The other man replied. He was middle-aged, with his hair tied in a ponytail and a terrifying scar across his face.

This was Nara Shikaku, a renowned strategist of the Nara Clan and one of Ino-Shika-Cho.

Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded silently.

"What a tragedy. It all happened because nothing was properly explained. Shikaku, keep this from the other three elders, too. Go notify Kurenai, then head out. I'll go myself."

"Lord Hokage, but..." Shikaku hurried to object when he heard that Hiruzen Sarutobi intended to go in person.

"Heh. Don't worry, Shikaku. I may be old, but I'm still Konoha's Hokage. I'll take a few of my personal Anbu with me. Besides, I sowed the seeds of this years ago. I should be the one to face the consequences and set things right."

"Yes, sir," Nara Shikaku replied quietly. As soon as he finished speaking, he vanished from the spot.

"Ah..." Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed softly, then raised his right hand.

With several whooshes, a few Anbu appeared and knelt on one knee.

"Let's go. It's such a late hour, but this old man could use a little exercise."

The Anbu moved without a sound, disappearing from the Hokage Building along with Hiruzen Sarutobi as they headed for the cabin in the western hills.

Meanwhile, Konoha's newly promoted jonin, Yuhi Kurenai, lost no time heading straight to the place where her beloved student was. The bond forged years ago had to be settled today.

As Yuhi Kurenai made her way there, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was so.