The fog on the island was even thicker at night than during the day, blanketing every corner of Kirigakure.
Moonlight diffused through the mist, draping the isolated shinobi village in a pale, ghostly veil.
Uchiha Shinichi stood in the shadows beneath the eaves, his black robe patterned with red clouds blending into the night. Only his scarlet Sharingan flickered with an eerie glow in the darkness.
"Six directions, six nodes."
Shinichi rapidly formed hand seals, and five Shadow Clones appeared soundlessly around him.
Like phantoms, they scattered out and took their positions at key locations throughout the courtyard, corridors, and rooftops.
Then, the original and his clones bit their fingers at the same time, their blood gleaming dark red beneath the moonlight.
"Sealing Barrier: Sixfold Manifestation!"
Six threads of chakra shot from Shinichi and his clones' fingertips, weaving an invisible net through the air.
The instant the barrier formed, every sound, light, and chakra fluctuation within the Third Elder's residence was completely sealed off.
Shinichi nodded in satisfaction. Now, no matter what happened inside, the outside world would not notice a thing. He then dismissed the Shadow Clones, which had nearly exhausted their chakra.
He lightly leaped onto the windowsill and slipped into the inner room as silently as a falling leaf.
The residence reeked of old mildew and ink. A faint yellow light shone from the end of the corridor.
After easily dealing with the guards outside, Shinichi suppressed his presence and slowly approached the light, a string of muffled curses gradually reaching his ears.
"That old bastard!"
The hoarse voice grated like a broken gong dragged across the ground, especially harsh in the silent night. "Just because he's the First Elder, he thinks he can push that little brat Mei Terumi onto the Mizukage's seat? Dream on!"
Shinichi