The Seal Breaks

Scattered lights glimmered across Iwagakure, but most of the village had fallen into darkness.

Fugaku slipped into the village with ease. Standing atop a building, he surveyed the area. Little had changed since his last visit.

The buildings destroyed in Iwagakure had been rebuilt, all in the same old style of stone-spired houses.

Ōnoki was away from the village. Fugaku's main target was the sealed Four-Tails. He intended to release it again and give Iwagakure something to deal with, so Ōnoki would not leave the village so easily in the future.

He watched an Iwagakure patrol pass. The ninja who had once kept watch at fixed posts were gone; now they patrolled in squads instead.

It seemed what he had done last time had put Ōnoki on guard. Fugaku made no attempt to approach the patrollers.

He moved between Iwagakure's buildings, large and small, and entered the home of a villager whose house stood taller than the rest.

Anyone who owned such an imposing home in a ninja village had to be someone of standing. Even if they were not among Iwagakure's senior officials, they would know plenty.

Peering through a window, Fugaku spotted a tall figure inside.

He searched his memory but found no information on the man. Apparently, the man's abilities had not drawn the attention of other nations' intelligence networks.

Fugaku slipped into the room and stood by the window. The man slept on, oblivious to anything amiss.

Fugaku's Mangekyo Sharingan swept over him. His chakra was roughly on par with that of an ordinary Chunin. Fugaku had no need to learn how strong he really was.

He lifted the man's eyelid. His Mangekyo Sharingan slowly turned as their eyes met, and a Genjutsu took hold, bringing the man under his control without the slightest resistance.

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