Triple Trap

Yakushi Nonō was a genius spy who excelled at hiding her true feelings, which made her the hardest woman to win over.

No matter what, if he forced himself to catch up with her now, he would definitely make her wary. He would wait until tomorrow, when he went to the Ninja Academy, and find a way to approach her then.

Uchiha Kurohane was only nine, so he probably wouldn't take part in the Second Shinobi World War.

The Third Shinobi World War would begin seven years later. It would probably last two years before things got bad enough for children who were Genin to be sent to the battlefield.

Uchiha Kurohane was fairly safe for now. He still had time to grow stronger at his own pace.

His only concern was the group of shinobi he'd injured earlier while helping Kushina.

They might keep looking for friends or clan members they knew to take revenge.

Although Uchiha Kurohane had the powerful Kekkei Genkai, Yatagarasu Substitute, and had learned a powerful Fire Release technique, he couldn't afford to let his guard down.

He'd better stop wandering around for now and head home.

Uchiha Kurohane hurried home.

In the shadows, Pumpkin Head watched Uchiha Kurohane part ways with Yakushi Nonō. His lips curled into a delighted grin.

"What a perfect chance. There's no one else around now. We can make our move!"

Pumpkin Head thought he'd found an opportunity to get revenge. He wanted to give Uchiha Kurohane a taste of his own medicine and stab him in the kidney, too.

Aburame Ryoma watched in the direction Yakushi Nonō had gone, the corner of his mouth twisted into an especially sinister smile.

"Wait. That kid seems to like that girl. Let's go after her first. Once we've got her, the kid won't be able to fight back."

Pumpkin Head was worried by the suggestion.

"Wouldn't it be bad to drag someone else into this? Aren't you confident you can beat him alone, Big Brother Ryoma?"

Aburame Ryoma sneered as he explained.

"I remember that girl. She's an orphan and has no friends. Going after her won't have any consequences."

"Sure, I can beat Uchiha Kurohane on my own, but that wouldn't be satisfying. If he sees the woman he loves get captured and is powerless to help her, that'll strike at his heart."

"A blow to the heart? You really are amazing, Big Brother. I never would've thought of that. I'm thoroughly impressed. Great! That'll make that evil kid pay!"

Pumpkin Head imagined Uchiha Kurohane crying and begging on his knees, and couldn't help wanting to burst out laughing.

Hahahaha—

With a hostage in their hands, even Uchiha Kurohane's strength would be useless.

Pumpkin Head couldn't imagine how they could possibly lose this time!

Yakushi Nonō had reached the next street, but her heart was still racing.

For one thing, she kept to herself and acted like she didn't fit in.

For another, the male shinobi of Konoha had all undergone emotional training and weren't interested in women.

She'd never had a boy approach her before.

Being spoken to by a boy for the first time filled her with a joy she'd never felt before.

It was exactly the kind of feeling she, so lonely, needed.

On top of that, he wanted to become a Medical Ninja, too. They shared the same dream.

Yakushi Nonō actually wanted to get to know him better.

She kept asking herself if she'd made the wrong choice.

Just then, a cold gust brushed against her from behind.

Yakushi Nonō sensed something was wrong and was about to turn around.

Two arms reached around from behind. One locked around her neck, while the other covered her mouth.

"Don't move. I'm Pumpkin Head, and I'd like you to help me with something..."

Yakushi Nonō realized she was about to be kidnapped. Remembering Danzo's words about the darkness of the world, she panicked.

She ignored Pumpkin Head's warning and struggled with all her might.

With one kidney injured, Pumpkin Head's strength and stamina had greatly diminished. Even though he was older than Yakushi Nonō, he couldn't hold her down.

"Damn it, can't you listen? I'll have to knock you out!"

A violent glint flashed in Pumpkin Head's eyes as he raised his hand to strike.

At that moment, a crow flew in from behind. With a poof, it suddenly transformed into Uchiha Kurohane.

Uchiha Kurohane's Sharingan glowed crimson as he swung the Giant Fuma Shuriken and drove it into Pumpkin Head's lower back with all his strength.

The gentle-hearted boy didn't attack Pumpkin Head's injured side. He went for the other one instead.

Crack!

The upside was that it wouldn't affect Pumpkin Head's recovery from his existing injury. The downside was that he'd lost his other kidney, too.

"Ahhh—!"

Pumpkin Head let out a bloodcurdling scream.

Yakushi Nonō immediately broke free of Pumpkin Head's grasp and, in her panic, struck him under the chin with her elbow.

Pumpkin Head fell to the ground, clutching his lower back and thrashing like a fish stranded on shore.

Yakushi Nonō backed away two steps, looking between Uchiha Kurohane and Pumpkin Head on the ground. For a moment, she couldn't understand what had happened.

Pumpkin Head lifted his head. When he saw Uchiha Kurohane, he grinned excitedly.

"Idiot! You came right to us! You're dead this time!"

Uchiha Kurohane looked down at him and replied calmly.

"Don't get excited yet. Your second kidney's gone, too. The rest of your life might get a lot harder."

Pumpkin Head froze. The familiar, intense pain made him realize that his other kidney had been stabbed as well.

His furious eyes grew bloodshot, and his whole face turned red.

"Damn you! You really did it! I'll kill you!"

Just then, Yakushi Nonō saw a figure appear behind Uchiha Kurohane in an instant and cried out in a trembling voice.

"Look out!"

It turned out Aburame Ryoma had sent Pumpkin Head to attack Yakushi Nonō as bait, luring Uchiha Kurohane into making a move.

Then he would attack from behind.

Aburame Ryoma waited until Uchiha Kurohane thought he'd won and let down his guard. Then he used the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind him, kunai in hand, and stab at his neck.

As a Konoha Genin, he was far more ruthless than Uchiha Kurohane.

Stabbing someone in the kidney was child's play to him. He planned to slash Uchiha Kurohane's throat and leave him unable to breathe.

That would let him win with a single strike.

"Idiot! I knew you'd find out. My Kikaichū have been following you, so I knew you used a Shadow Clone Technique to pretend to go home while your real body secretly followed Pumpkin Head!"

"This is a trap!"

Uchiha Kurohane didn't turn to look at him or make a move. He simply answered in a calm voice.

"Same here. This is a trap, too!"

It turned out Uchiha Kurohane's crow had also been keeping an eye on Aburame Ryoma, allowing him to see through the double trap.

Slash!

Aburame Ryoma's kunai cut into Uchiha Kurohane's throat.

But at the very instant the kunai sliced across his neck, Uchiha Kurohane switched places with the crow that had flown behind Aburame Ryoma.

He appeared behind Aburame Ryoma and, without hesitation, drove the Giant Fuma Shuriken into his lower back.

Slash!

The Giant Fuma Shuriken pierced Aburame Ryoma's waist. His kidney was done for, too, but his body didn't react at all.

He stood perfectly still and let out a sinister laugh.

"Hahaha! Just as I'd heard, you use the Substitution Technique to lure your enemies in, then attack them from behind. But that trick won't work on me."

"I'll show you the true power of the Aburame Clan!"

As soon as Aburame Ryoma finished speaking, his body turned into a swarm of black insects.

They were the Kikaichū he kept!

It was an Insect Clone Technique!

The Kikaichū swiftly swarmed toward Uchiha Kurohane.

It turned out this was a triple trap!