Assassination!

Izumi's ears twitched. She listened closely... At first, she couldn't make out the sound and was still wondering what she should say when she saw Yongye.

But it kept going, growing clearer by the moment.

Her face flushed all the way to her ears.

"Ugh!"

Uchiha Izumi spat in disgust, covered her face, and ran. She fled so fast her ponytail whipped behind her like a windmill. She didn't even dare look back.

The door stayed shut. The sounds inside continued for a long time.

During that time, Uchiha Itachi and Shisui Uchiha both heard about what had happened to Asuma and came to talk some sense into Yongye. But when they reached his door and heard the sounds inside, they tactfully left at once.

At dusk, the sunset clouds were red as blood.

Inside, the light gradually faded. Beyond the window, the sky shifted from gold and crimson to deep violet, then was slowly swallowed by darkness.

Ayame lay on the bed, breathing deep and even. The corners of her mouth curved upward, as though she were having a wonderful dream.

Her black hair spilled across the pillow like a waterfall, making her small face look even fairer.

Yongye sat cross-legged beside her. He glanced down, a knowing smile tugging at his lips.

She had been far more obedient than he expected.

He looked away and raised his hands to form seals. His fingers flew, moving so fast they blurred.

Poof!

With a muffled sound, pale blue Lightning Release Chakra gathered beside him and took human form.

It matched Yongye's height, build, and outline. The arcs of electricity around it dimmed in the gloom, but its form was as solid as a fine blade hidden in its sheath.

A Lightning Release Clone.

It was identical to the clone he had made last time, carrying most of Yongye's Chakra and the essence of Lightning Release Chakra Mode.

Its aura was powerful and tightly controlled, enough to fool most sensory ninja.

Yongye reached out and lightly touched the clone's forehead with a fingertip.

He activated the Transformation Technique.

The clone's outline twisted. It grew two inches taller, its shoulders and back broadening. Bandages wound from its temple, layer upon layer, covering half its face and one eye. Its exposed jaw was hard and grim.

Shimura Danzō!

Yongye then pulled a black outfit and hood from his clothes and carefully dressed the clone. The outfit concealed its figure, while the hood covered its head, leaving only a pair of sinister eyes visible.

It was the same trick he had used when impersonating Kakashi: making the disguise itself look suspicious.

The more thoroughly you covered up, the more people believed you had something to hide. And the more you hid, the more certain they became that you were the person they suspected.

Of course, the most important reason was the same as last time: deep suspicion already existed between the target and the man he wanted blamed!

"Go."

Yongye gave the order in a low voice.

The Lightning Release Clone flickered and vanished. The Flying Thunder God Technique activated, locking precisely onto the mark Yongye had placed long ago—on Sarutobi Shinnosuke!

Konoha Hospital.

The corridor smelled of disinfectant, mingled with the faint bitterness of medicinal herbs. The last rays of sunset slanted through the windows, casting streaks of orange-red light across the floor.

Sarutobi Shinnosuke stood in the ward, looking down at Asuma on the bed.

All four of Asuma's limbs were encased in thick plaster and wrapped in bandages. He looked like a mummy.

The anesthetic had not fully worn off, and he slept fitfully. Traces of pain and humiliation still lingered on his stubbled face.

Kokoro no Suke's fists clenched without his realizing it.

That kick could have ended the Sarutobi bloodline!

That damned Uchiha Yongye had been vicious. The medical team said the injury probably wouldn't cause permanent damage, but that word alone was torture.

He drew a deep breath and turned toward the window.

It was getting late. The sunset had set half the sky ablaze, and Hokage Rock glowed warm orange in the distance.

"All right. That's enough."

Sarutobi Shinnosuke waved to the Medical Ninja beside him, who was still using the Healing Technique.

She was a gentle-looking woman with pale yellow hair tied in a low ponytail. Behind her glasses, her eyes were kind and focused.

Pale green medical Chakra glowed around her palm as she slowly lifted it from Asuma's chest.

Yakushi Nonō.

She was an elite member of the Konoha Medical Corps and the director of the Orphanage.

Her Healing Technique ranked among the best of Konoha's Medical Ninja. Gentle and exceptionally patient, she was also one of the hospital's most popular healers.

"Yes."

Nonō withdrew her hand and bowed slightly.

Her movements were respectful and proper, and she wore the warm smile of a Medical Ninja. But a trace of weariness hid in her eyes.

Lately, Danzō had been pressuring her by cutting off funding to the Orphanage. Dealing with it had been exhausting.

"Lord Asuma's injuries are no longer serious. His broken bones have been set well, and all he needs now is rest. You needn't worry too much."

She spoke softly, bowed again, and left the ward. Her footsteps, light and steady, soon faded down the corridor.

Sarutobi Shinnosuke stood alone in the ward for a moment. He glanced at the bandages around his chest and felt a dull ache in his ribs.

Uchiha Yongye had to die!

Poison delivered through a honey trap would be the most effective way!

He began running through possible candidates. ANBU had plenty of beautiful female ninja, but very few could get close to Uchiha Yongye without arousing suspicion.

Perhaps choosing someone outside ANBU would make it easier...

Still thinking, he turned to leave the ward.

A dark figure appeared out of thin air behind him.

There was no warning, no detectable presence. It was as if the figure had grown out of empty space. It raised a foot and kicked Sarutobi Shinnosuke in the lower back!

Bang!

The force sent Sarutobi Shinnosuke flying through the ward window. He tumbled twice in midair.

His pupils contracted sharply!

Years of combat instinct as ANBU Captain drove him to react at once!

His hands flew through seals as he tried to steady himself in midair and cast a Ninjutsu. At the same time, he opened his mouth to call for help.

But he never finished the first seal.

At the shattered window, the figure had already completed its seals: Tiger, Snake, Dog, Dragon!

Wind Release Chakra gathered inside its mouth, compressing and spinning into invisible bullets of air.

"Wind Release—Vacuum Sphere!"

Pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft-pfft!

A rapid barrage of muffled impacts burst through the evening air!

Highly compressed Wind Release Chakra sprayed from the figure's mouth like machine-gun fire. Each shot flashed forward and punched straight through Sarutobi Shinnosuke's body!

Chest, abdomen, shoulder, thigh... Seven or eight bloody holes opened at once. Blood and torn flesh burst into a red mist in midair!

Sarutobi Shinnosuke's eyes bulged.

His mouth hung open, but no sound came out. The Wind Release bullets had pierced his lungs, his heart, and his spine!

He did not even have time to feel pain.

The dark figure stood at the window for a heartbeat, then vanished as silently as it had appeared. It left only shattered glass on the floor and a drifting mist of blood.

At the far end of the corridor, Yakushi Nonō heard the crash of breaking glass.

She turned, ran back, and pushed open the ward door.

Sarutobi Shinnosuke lay on his back in a pool of blood on the ward floor, his body riddled with holes like a honeycomb!