Sound Ninja infiltration, remnants providing support

"The Hokage Building Underground?" Fugaku stepped forward, his scabbard knocking against the table corner. "Danzo left a formation under the Hokage Building too?"

Kakashi picked up the Snake Scale and studied it through the sealed bag. "This is writing carved into Orochimaru's shed skin. It might not be trustworthy."

"Trustworthy or not, first look at what he wants me to do." Sasuke pressed the Snake Scale against the edge of the map. "He wants me to change course for the Hokage Building at the last minute."

Shikaku stared at Training Ground Three. "If you change course, the Sound Ninja will retreat, and Aoda won't move either. The chain of evidence breaks."

Hiashi came in through the door, two Hyuga Scouts behind him. "There are traces of four unfamiliar chakra signatures near the Old Drainage Outlet outside the village. And a colder one, leading them."

"Kimimaro," Neji supplied.

Might Guy clenched his fist. "The Sound Ninja really came!"

Yamada Naoto looked at Sasuke. "Then what about this lead in the Hokage Building Underground?"

"Kakashi will investigate." Sasuke sealed the Snake Scale away. "Don't go underground or touch any seals. Just confirm whether there have been any unusual deployments at the Hokage Building tonight."

Kakashi nodded. "What if the Third Hokage asks why I'm patrolling near the Hokage Building?"

"You're the ANBU Captain-in-Chief. Even drafts in the Hokage Building are your responsibility."

Kakashi gave him a look, then turned and left.

Fugaku was still uneasy. "Sasuke, this Snake Scale from Orochimaru might be a warning, or it might be an attempt to sow discord. You can't go to the training ground alone."

"I'm not bringing guards." Sasuke fastened his Clan Leader's Robe. "But the training ground will be surrounded by my people."

"Then at least take Neji."

"Neji will leave the village with the Hyuga Team tomorrow morning. Their route will be public. Aoda needs to pass that information to the Sound Ninja."

Neji's hand tightened at his side, then relaxed. "I understand. I'll make them believe you've been left unguarded."

Sasuke looked at him. "Don't overdo it. Root operatives are most suspicious of an act that's too perfect."

Neji nodded.

The new recruits were still being divided into teams in the outer courtyard. Qingmu Shen was assigned to perimeter security at Training Ground Three. His eyelid twitched when he received his assignment tag.

Yamada Naoto stood before him. "Assemble at dawn tomorrow. Be even a few minutes late, and you're out of the Konoha Military Police Force."

Qingmu Shen lowered his head and accepted the tag. "Understood."

Might Guy walked past and clapped him on the shoulder. "Your first field assignment as a rookie! Let your passion burn!"

The slap knocked Qingmu Shen's shoulder sideways half an inch, nearly sending the Black Needles sliding from his sleeve. He hurriedly pressed his arm against the fabric. "Guy, sir, I'll do my best."

Neji watched from the roof. "He just protected his cuff."

Sasuke did not look up. "Have the Yamanaka Clan's people stay in the Records Room tonight. We need the Black Needles removed intact, with the Seal in the Needle preserved."

Inside the Abandoned Warehouse in Konoha's South District.

Qingmu Shen knelt on the floor before two masked Root remnants. One handed him a folded Route Map.

"Tomorrow at dawn, the target will head to Training Ground Three alone. Fugaku will guard the clan compound, the Hyuga will leave the village on patrol, and Kakashi has been called back to the Hokage Building. All you need to do is place a White Stone at the Eastern Old Drainage Outlet. The Sound Ninja will know the way is clear."

Qingmu Shen took the Route Map. "The Konoha Military Police Force is watching closely. I can't stay out too long."

"You're already on the List. What are you afraid of?"

Qingmu Shen raised his cuff. "This needle..."

The Root remnants gave him a cold look. "Use it if the mission fails. Lord Danzo has no use for prisoners."

Qingmu Shen's Adam's apple bobbed. "I'm only providing support. I won't fail."

"You'd better not."

On the warehouse roof, a Yamanaka Clan ninja lay behind the tiles, fingers pressed against a Record Scroll. A Konoha Military Police Force member beside the ninja tried to move, only to be stopped by a Nara Clan shadow.

"The clan leader's orders," the Nara ninja whispered. "Record only. No arrests."

After the Root remnants left, Qingmu Shen sat in the warehouse for a while before hiding the Route Map against his body. He never noticed that a Hyuga Scout had already replaced the White Stone on the ground with a Fake Stone containing a seal.

In the deepest hours of night, at the Old Drainage Outlet outside Konoha.

Kimimaro stood beside the water channel, the Sound Four behind him. Sakon rolled his neck. "We're just walking into Konoha like this? If that Defense Line Map is fake, the Barrier Team will slice us to pieces."

Tayuya chewed on a grass root. "Would that old bastard Danzo dare lie to Lord Orochimaru?"

Kidomaru crouched on the wall, his six hands stringing threads into cracks in the stone. "The more real it looks, the more trouble it is. Konoha's been crawling with the Konoha Military Police Force lately. That Uchiha brat won't be easy to kill."

Jirobo carried a large pack over his shoulder. "We need all five of us to kill an eight-year-old?"

Kimimaro ignored them. He unfolded the Defense Line Map and checked it against the barrier markings at the drainage outlet. "The route is correct. Once inside, do not kill anyone unrelated to the mission. Our only target is Sasuke Uchiha."

Tayuya snorted. "Danzo said it'd be best to gouge out his eyes."

Kimimaro put the map away. "Lord Orochimaru wants him alive."

Sakon laughed. "What if the brat won't cooperate?"

"Break his limbs."

Konoha's barrier raised no alarm. As they passed, the sensory talismans inside the drainage outlet dimmed a fraction, then returned to normal.

Inside a tree trunk above the underground channel, an Image Scroll quietly turned, recording all five faces.

On the top floor of the Konoha Military Police Force headquarters, a Yamanaka Ninja projected the live feed onto the wall.

Yamada Naoto grinned. "They're in."

Fugaku stared at Kimimaro. "There's something wrong with that boy's chakra."

Hiashi swept his Byakugan over the image. "Bone Pulse. The Kaguya Clan's inherited bloodline."

Shikaku looked at Sasuke. "Are you sure you want to stand inside the formation yourself?"

"I need to force their confessions out of them." Sasuke hung the Kusanagi Sword at his waist. "Catching assassins isn't enough. I want them to name the Defense Line Map, Danzo, and Orochimaru themselves."

Kakashi dropped in through the window. "There are indeed seal fluctuations in the Hokage Building Underground, but the entrance is closed off under an old ANBU restriction. The Third Hokage said it was the Wartime Shelter Level and forbade me from investigating."

Sasuke looked at him. "Was he nervous?"

"He changed pipes twice. Neither one lit."

Shikaku's expression darkened. "So the Snake Scale wasn't a baseless lead."

Sasuke circled the Hokage Building Underground on the map. "Leave it alone for now. Tonight, all our evidence focuses on the Sound Ninja. We'll investigate beneath the Hokage Building when they think this has blown over."

"You're putting a blade to your own throat," Fugaku said grimly.

"They're holding the blade. They'll swing whether it's at my throat or not." Sasuke pushed the door open. "I'm just choosing where it falls."

The horizon had barely brightened when mist drifted in from the edges of the training ground.

Sasuke walked alone along the path, his Clan Leader's Robe neatly fastened and the Kusanagi Sword hanging at his left side. He had brought no Konoha Military Police Force guards. Even Yamada Naoto, who usually accompanied him, was absent.

Qingmu Shen had already arrived at the junction. He placed a White Stone in the grass, then looked up to see Sasuke approaching.

Sasuke stopped before him. "Your name is Qingmu Shen?"

Qingmu Shen immediately lowered his head. "Yes, Clan Leader."

"First day in the field. Nervous?"

"I'll do my best."

Sasuke looked at the hand hidden inside his sleeve. "Tore your sleeve?"

Qingmu Shen's expression faltered for a moment. "Caught it on something during training last night."

Sasuke nodded and walked past him toward the center of the training ground. "Don't stand too close to me later. If assassins come, you won't be able to stop them."

Qingmu Shen stood rooted to the spot, sweat soaking his back. Only after making sure Sasuke had not turned around did he nudge the White Stone half an inch outward with his toe.

Deep in the grass, Kidomaru saw the White Stone move and grinned. "Inside contact confirmed."

Kimimaro raised a hand. "Set up the formation."

Sasuke reached the center of Training Ground Three and stopped.

The Chakra Flow Sound came through the mist. At four points around him, four Sound Ninja formed hand seals simultaneously. A Violet Flame Wall rose from the ground, sealing off the center of the training ground.

Sakon stepped out from behind a tree. "You've got guts, brat."

Tayuya rested her flute on her shoulder. "Is he scared stupid?"

Sasuke raised a hand to straighten his collar, his gaze settling on Kimimaro. "Orochimaru didn't come himself? He sent you lot to die?"

Kimimaro emerged from the mist, a bone spike extending from his palm. "You knew we were coming?"

"Was the Defense Line Map Danzo gave you useful?"

For a moment, silence fell both inside and outside the Four Violet Flames Formation.

At the perimeter, the blood drained from Qingmu Shen's face. The Black Needles in his sleeve began to burn. The snake pattern at their end split open, and a sealing line crawled up his wrist.

A Yamanaka Ninja emerged from beneath the grass, formed hand seals, and pressed down on his shadow. "Aoda, don't be in such a hurry to die."

Qingmu Shen looked up to see Yamada Naoto standing before him with an Evidence Bag, its mouth already open.

At the center of the training ground, Sasuke drew the Kusanagi Sword and pointed its tip at Kimimaro.

"Come on. Help me tell the whole village that Danzo betrayed his country."

Behind Kimimaro, Kidomaru suddenly looked up. For the first time, his expression changed.

"Captain, there's an ambush outside... no, the entire training ground is being recorded!"