Water Release: Shark enveloped Zhou Cheng and charged toward the figure.
Inside the room, Zhou Cheng had been so focused on escaping that he had no time to see who it was.
Once he reached the courtyard, the darkness of the late hour still kept Zhou Cheng from making out who the person was. All he could see was a vague silhouette.
As the distance closed, Zhou Cheng finally got a clear look.
The figure wore a tight-fitting Shinobi uniform and a fox mask.
Zhou Cheng was stunned.
An ANBU?
Has the Third Generation decided to move against me?
While he was still thinking, Water Release: Shark reached the ANBU.
It was too late for the ANBU to use ninjutsu, so he could only dodge the Water Release: Shark.
Water Release: Shark dispersed, leaving Zhou Cheng at the foot of the courtyard wall.
He was about to leap over the wall and escape when a beam of light appeared in the courtyard.
The door had opened, spilling light from the room outside.
Zhou Cheng saw another ANBU in a tanuki mask emerge with the unconscious Haku slung over his shoulder.
The tanuki-masked ANBU looked at the fox-masked ANBU, then at Zhou Cheng by the wall, momentarily at a loss.
"What's going on?"
"You couldn't even catch a little brat?"
The tanuki-masked ANBU's voice carried a note of gloating.
"Shut up!"
"I let my guard down!"
"This brat is far too alert."
"And he actually knows C-Rank ninjutsu! His hand seal speed is even on par with a Chunin's!"
The fox-masked ANBU sounded embarrassed and angry.
As a veteran Jonin, he had been outmaneuvered by a child who was not even a Genin, and another ANBU had witnessed it.
Anger simmering inside him, he broke into a sprint toward Zhou Cheng.
Zhou Cheng glanced at the unconscious Haku and leaped onto the courtyard wall without hesitation.
But the instant his head rose above the wall, he saw another ANBU already standing on top of it.
Her purple hair was tied behind her, and she held a sheathed Ninja Blade.
Uzuki Yugao?
The name had barely surfaced in his mind when a blow from her scabbard knocked Zhou Cheng back into the courtyard.
Zhou Cheng hit the ground hard, the impact sending pain through his body and twisting his expression.
A cool voice came from atop the wall.
"I told you not to underestimate this child."
The fox-masked ANBU looked embarrassed.
But faced with the person on the wall, he did not dare show his anger.
"Sorry. I was wrong!"
Zhou Cheng had barely gotten to his feet when a kunai pressed against his neck.
"Don't move. Behave yourself!"
At some point, the Purple-Haired ANBU on the wall had appeared beside him, holding a kunai against his neck in her right hand.
"You're ANBU. Why are you attacking me?"
But no one answered him.
Then the fox-masked ANBU tied Zhou Cheng up with a rope.
He slung Zhou Cheng over his shoulder as well.
With a few leaps, the three ANBU disappeared into the night.
Countless thoughts raced through Zhou Cheng's mind along the way, but he could not think of a reason for the ANBU to target him.
The Third Generation? That doesn't seem right. If he wanted to kill us, he wouldn't have given us ninjutsu.
Danzo? Even less likely. Danzo can't command the ANBU.
Could they have uncovered Haku's identity instead?
He is a member of a major clan in Kirigakure, after all.
Soon, he was brought to a basement.
Many people were already seated inside.
Zhou Cheng did not recognize all of them.
But Inoichi Yamanaka was there too.
Realization immediately dawned on Zhou Cheng.
Konoha intended to interrogate him and Haku, using ninjutsu to uncover their deepest secrets.
Zhou Cheng began to panic. If Inoichi Yamanaka's ninjutsu could truly probe the deepest secrets in someone's mind...
Would he be unable to hide the fact that he was a transmigrator?
What would Konoha do to him once they learned he was a transmigrator?
Whatever happened, it certainly would not end well.
What do I do?
I've only been here a few days, and I'm already going to die?
Everyone present looked at Zhou Cheng and Haku with pity.
If either of them was a spy sent by another ninja village...
They would be killed on the spot without mercy.
Every village loathed spies.
Zhou Cheng saw neither the Third Generation nor Danzo, but he knew those two scheming old bastards had to be watching him from somewhere.
Soon, both boys were strapped to specially made beds.
The beds appeared to be made of some kind of metal.
All sorts of complicated instruments were connected to them.
They resembled the devices certain countries used to electrocute prisoners.
The equipment was switched on, and various wires were attached to their bodies.
Then the tanuki-masked ANBU who had captured Haku formed a hand seal directed at him.
"Release!"
Haku instantly jolted awake.
He looked around in terror.
Apparently, he had been under some kind of genjutsu.
Zhou Cheng looked at Haku, who was looking back at him.
They saw fear in each other's eyes.
Zhou Cheng feared that his secret would be discovered.
Haku feared an experience he never wanted to remember again.
Inoichi Yamanaka began forming hand seals, and the other Shinobi beside him began assisting.
Soon, Haku's piercing screams echoed through the small room.
Zhou Cheng squeezed his eyes shut and waited a while.
Yet he found nothing unusual happening to him.
He felt the Gourd Vine birthmark on his chest slowly grow warm, then hot.
A light that only he could see and sense shone through his clothes into the room.
Zhou Cheng was shocked, but he could only keep his eyes tightly shut and pretend to be in pain.
Is the Gourd Vine blocking the memory probe for me?
Then what memories will Inoichi Yamanaka see?
If he sees nothing, they'll only become more suspicious of me!
Soon, half an hour passed.
Haku lay limp as a rag on the metal bed, pain still lingering on his face.
Tears and saliva covered the bed.
The sight filled Zhou Cheng with helpless fury.
An ordinary person probably would have been reduced to a mindless wreck before enduring even half an hour of this.
In a severe case, they might suffer a complete mental collapse and become brain-dead on the spot.
He wanted to curse them out, but forced himself to calm down.
Zhou Cheng, stay calm. Now isn't the time. Once you reach Kage Level, settle the score with those two scheming old bastards, the Third Generation and Danzo.
For now, all you can do is cling to life!
Revenge can wait, even ten years!
Zhou Cheng feigned unbearable agony while violently twisting his body, pretending to struggle desperately against his restraints.
He let out screams that made everyone's skin crawl.
A look of pity appeared on Inoichi Yamanaka's face.
He remembered what his daughter had told him the night before.
"Zhou Cheng is really talented, and handsome too. He's always smiling like a little sun, and he always makes you feel so warm!"
Such a good child.
The Purple-Haired ANBU's gaze wavered. She began to regret bringing these two children here. They were only ten years old.
They should not have to endure such torture.
But the other Shinobi's eyes were filled with indifference.
The life or death of a child from another village had nothing to do with them.
"Strange. This child couldn't take any more. His body's stress response kicked in, and he passed out."
"But why is this Zhou Cheng still so active?"
"Could he really be a spy trained from childhood?"
"How else could he last this long?"
Puzzled, the fox-masked ANBU looked at Inoichi Yamanaka.
"Have you found any useful memories?"
As he spoke, he glanced at the still-struggling Zhou Cheng, and the sight gave him a terrible fright.
Zhou Cheng's eyes were wide open, glaring fixedly at him.
His bloodshot eyes, hate-filled pupils, and chilling groans...
Made the ANBU feel as if he were back on the battlefield, facing the threat of death.
Zhou Cheng suddenly screamed with all his strength, "I'll kill you!"
Then he passed out, his entire body going limp on the metal bed just like Haku's.
Unable to bear it, the Purple-Haired ANBU closed her eyes, not daring to look any longer.
Inoichi Yamanaka let out a breath of relief and immediately stopped his ninjutsu.
At that moment, every gaze settled on Inoichi Yamanaka's face, waiting for his conclusion.