Recruiting Bullet?

The night wind swept through the streets of Konoha's South District.

Two ANBU ninja lay motionless in the street, the armor over their chests badly caved in.

The surrounding Uchiha clan members and Hyuga clan assistants exchanged uneasy looks.

Everyone held their breath. No one dared breathe too loudly.

Sweat gathered in Uchiha Yan's palm around his Ninja Sword as he hurried to Qian Ye's side.

"Lord Qian Ye, should we carry them inside?"

"If the Hokage Building demands an explanation, this could be hard to settle."

Qian Ye leaned against a gatepost of the command post, looking perfectly at ease.

"Carry them? Why?"

"They trespassed in a restricted zone with bad intentions. I was merciful enough not to throw them into the moat."

Qian Ye's voice carried down the empty street.

"Put up two signs beside them."

"Write: 'Unauthorized climbing. Proceed at your own risk.'"

The corners of Uchiha Yan's mouth twitched.

He really didn't take the Hokage Building seriously at all.

Bullet stood on the steps, glancing around as he rolled his thick neck.

"Kid, are those sneaks in the alley coming out or not?"

"If they don't, I'll tear down this wall and throw it at them."

At Bullet's words, the air in the alley's shadows seemed to freeze.

A wooden cane tapped against the stone pavement.

Several Root ninja in eerie masks darted out to guard either side of the alley.

Shimura Danzō slowly emerged from the shadows, dressed in black robes with half his body wrapped in bandages.

Danzo's gaze first swept over the two ANBU on the ground.

When he saw the enormous fist-shaped dents in their chest armor, his eyelid twitched.

Those marks hadn't been made by ninjutsu. They were the work of sheer brute force.

Danzo looked up. His single visible eye