Assassination night: caught in the trap

"Don't touch that line."

Sasuke raised his hand, pressing the sheath of the Kusanagi Sword against the hand Neji was about to reach forward with.

Neji pushed his Byakugan to its limit, veins bulging at his temples. "It leads to the Hokage Building Underground. Chakra is flowing back this way."

Kakashi immediately turned. "I'll take the ANBU to cut it."

"If you cut it, you'll give them a reason to trigger the self-destruct beneath the Hokage Building Underground." Sasuke looked at Qingmu Shen, who was pinned to the ground. "Aoda, do you recognize this line?"

Qingmu Shen's jaw was dislocated. He could only let out muffled, breathy sounds.

A Yamanaka Ninja held the back of his head. "Clan head, should we reset it before questioning him?"

Sasuke crouched and tapped the Black Needles in the evidence bag. "Reset his jaw. Don't make him comfortable. Just let him talk."

Might Guy held Qingmu Shen's shoulders while Yamada Naoto raised a hand and pushed his jaw back into place.

Tears spilled from Qingmu Shen's eyes at the pain. As soon as he could close his mouth, he rasped, "I don't know about the underground sealing line. I was only responsible for placing the white stones."

"Who gave you the white stones?"

"Root remnants, at the south district warehouse."

Sasuke turned his gaze to Kimimaro. "Before you came in, did Orochimaru mention anything about the Hokage Building Underground?"

Kimimaro knelt on one knee, the chakra points in his chest sealed by Neji, the markings of his Cursed Seal receding to his neck. He looked up at Sasuke. "Lord Orochimaru only wanted your body and eyes."

"What about Danzo?"

Kimimaro stayed silent.

Held down by two members of the Konoha Military Police Force, Tayuya looked grim. "That old bastard Danzo gave us an escape route. He said to go down through the old drainage outlet once the job was done. There was a hidden route that could draw Konoha's pursuers away."

Shikaku's expression darkened at that. "Draw them away? Into the Hokage Building Underground?"

Kidomaru gritted his teeth. "You're talking again!"

Tayuya swore angrily. "Shut up! We've already been caught. Why are you still pretending to be tough?"

Sasuke looked up. "Point the Record Scroll at her."

Yamada Naoto immediately turned the scroll toward her.

Tayuya turned her face aside. "What are you looking at? Danzo said someone inside Konoha would clean up for him. As long as we brought you into the hidden route, we didn't need to worry about anything after that."

Hiashi spoke coldly. "Someone inside Konoha?"

Kakashi rested his hand on his Ninja Blade. "That statement alone will keep everyone in the Hokage Building awake."

Sasuke stood. "Neji, watch the sealing line. Look, but don't touch. The Hyuga will record the chakra flow, the Nara will seal off the old drainage outlet, and the ANBU will guard the perimeter of the Hokage Building. Anyone who tries to clear the area in the name of the wartime shelter level must be registered before being allowed through."

Kakashi looked at him. "The Third Hokage will say you've overstepped your authority."

"The ANBU he sent to watch me is right here." Sasuke fixed his gaze on Kakashi. "You'll report to the Hokage that I never went near the Hokage Building Underground. I was only protecting the village's defensive lines."

Kakashi's exposed eye narrowed slightly. "Understood."

Fugaku walked up to Kimimaro. "What do we do with this Bone Pulse brat?"

"Seal his chakra and lock them up separately." Sasuke looked at the Sound Four. "Don't let them coordinate their stories. Hold the Root remnants separately. Leave Qingmu Shen under the Yamanaka Clan's watch."

Yamada Naoto kicked Qingmu Shen in the calf. "Get up. Leave your master a little dignity."

Qingmu Shen fell, only for Might Guy to haul him up again.

Might Guy stared at him, his brows drawn low. "When you joined the Konoha Military Police Force, you took triple pay and new equipment. You shouted about protecting Konoha on the training ground. How could you bring yourself to plant those white stones?"

Qingmu Shen didn't dare look at him. "Root has my family."

Sasuke stopped walking. "Name."

Qingmu Shen raised his head, a desperate hope of survival shining in his eyes. "My younger sister, Aoki Yuri. Danzo's men said she was in a hidden bunker outside the village. They said they'd release her once I finished this job."

Shikaku looked at Sasuke. "It could be bait."

"It could also be true." Sasuke handed the Kusanagi Sword to Yamada Naoto. "Write it down. If you find she's still alive, rescue her. If you find he lied to me, hang him at the Konoha Military Police Force's front gate tonight."

The color drained from Qingmu Shen's face. "I didn't lie to you!"

"Then pray your sister is still alive." Sasuke turned. "Take him away."

They had barely left the training ground when ANBU arrived from the direction of the Hokage Building. Their leader wore a Dog Face mask and carried a written order from the Third Hokage.

"Lord Hokage orders all assassins transferred to the ANBU for interrogation."

The Konoha Military Police Force's procession stopped at the intersection.

Yamada Naoto drew his blade on the spot. "Take one more step, and I'll treat this as an attempt to free the prisoners."

The dog-masked ANBU looked at Kakashi. "Captain?"

Kakashi stepped out of the crowd, took the order, and scanned it. "This order isn't countersigned by the council of elders."

The dog-masked ANBU froze. "This is Lord Hokage's order."

"The assassins infiltrated using Konoha's Defense Line Map. This involves treason." Kakashi folded the order. "Under the new law, the Konoha Military Police Force has the right to conduct the initial interrogation at the scene. The ANBU will assist with guarding the prisoners."

The dog-masked ANBU grew anxious. "Lord Hokage said this concerns the village's stability. It must not become public."

Sasuke walked past the others and stopped in front of him. "Must not become public? Where was your stability when Danzo sold Konoha's defenses to Orochimaru?"

The dog-masked ANBU didn't dare answer.

Sasuke took out the Record Scroll and pressed its seal. Tayuya's words about Danzo trading the Defense Line Map for his life rang out again. The faces of several civilians awakened by the commotion changed instantly.

"Did you hear that clearly?" Sasuke put the scroll away. "If you stop me now, I'll consider it an attempt to destroy evidence on Danzo's behalf."

The dog-masked ANBU's hand trembled around the written order.

Kakashi tucked the order back against his chest. "Go report back. Tell the Hokage I was at the scene. The assassins are alive, and no evidence is missing. If the Hokage wants to see for himself, someone at the Konoha Military Police Force's dungeon entrance will register his visit."

The ANBU withdrew.

Yamada Naoto spat on the ground. "Trying to take them away the moment we caught them. They really think the whole village is blind."

Sasuke didn't respond to that. "Move faster. The Third Hokage will come himself."

The Konoha Military Police Force's dungeon was brightly lit.

Kimimaro was sealed in the deepest cell, his limbs secured with chakra locks. The Sound Four were separated and imprisoned. The Root remnants were stripped of their outer clothes, and their tongue-sealing talismans were sampled and sealed away one by one. Qingmu Shen was held in a separate interrogation room, with a Yamanaka Ninja seated opposite him and the Black Needles and fake white stones laid out nearby.

When Inoichi arrived, he hadn't even fastened his outer robe properly.

"Sasuke, if you're calling me here this late, this had better not be an ordinary interrogation."

Sasuke placed the copy of the Defense Line Map, the Black Needles, the white stones, and the audio recording scroll on the table in turn. "Danzo sold the village's defenses to Orochimaru. Sound Ninja have already entered through the old drainage outlet. I want memories extracted from the living."

Inoichi's expression darkened. "Do you know what that means?"

"It means that if the Yamanaka Clan chooses the wrong side tonight, the entire village will condemn it as an accomplice to treason tomorrow."

Inoichi stared at him. "Are you threatening me?"

"I'm offering you the cleanest position to take." Sasuke pushed the scroll toward him. "You read their memories, and the Konoha Military Police Force will protect the Yamanaka Clan's legal standing in gathering evidence for this case. If the Hokage Building comes after you, I'll turn the heat back on them."

Inoichi looked at Shikaku.

Shikaku spread his hands. "Don't look at me. The Defense Line Map is real, and so are the Sound Ninja. If you don't read their memories, tomorrow someone will ask why the Yamanaka Clan didn't dare."

Inoichi rubbed his brow. "Who first?"

"Qingmu Shen." Sasuke turned. "He's the most afraid of dying. His memories are the most scattered, so images should surface easily."

Qingmu Shen was dragged onto the chair, his teeth chattering. "Lord Inoichi, I'll talk. I'll tell you everything."

Inoichi placed his hand on top of Qingmu Shen's head. "Your account can leave things out. Your memories won't invent a story for you."

Qingmu Shen began to struggle. Might Guy pressed a palm onto his shoulder.

Inoichi closed his eyes, sinking his chakra into Qingmu Shen's mind. Moments later, sweat beaded on his forehead. "South district warehouse, two Root remnants, white stones, black needles... and a visual order from Danzo."

"Record it." Sasuke placed a blank Image Scroll beside him.

The Yamanaka Ninja immediately stepped in to assist.

The scroll lit up, revealing Danzo's damaged half-face. He told Qingmu Shen that if the mission failed, he should drive the Black Needles into his brain, and Konoha would remember his loyalty.

Yamada Naoto cursed. "Loyalty? Ordering someone to kill himself counts as loyalty?"

Sasuke looked at Inoichi. "Continue."

Inoichi moved over to Tayuya.

At first, Tayuya hurled vicious curses. Once Inoichi's secret mental technique forced its way in, her curses turned to panting. Images surfaced layer by layer. Inside a dark base, Danzo handed a Defense Line Map to Orochimaru. Orochimaru reached out to take it. Three preserved Sharingan sat nearby.

Danzo's voice came from the Image Scroll. "Use this in exchange for Sasuke Uchiha's life."

No one in the dungeon spoke.

Fugaku rested his hand on his sword hilt. Only after a long moment did he speak. "Play it again."

Sasuke pressed down on the scroll. "No need. Save it for dawn."

Hurried footsteps sounded outside the cell door.

The Third Hokage arrived with two ANBU squads. He carried no pipe, and the lamplight deepened the wrinkles on his face.

"Sasuke, hand them over."

Sasuke looked at him through the iron bars. "You came quickly, Lord Hokage."

The Third Hokage stared at the Image Scroll on the table. "This matter must not escalate. Danzo is already a rogue ninja. The village cannot withstand any greater turmoil."

"The village can't withstand the truth, but it can withstand Orochimaru following the Defense Line Map straight in to slaughter us?"

The corner of the Third Hokage's eye twitched. "I will handle it."

Sasuke held up the newly recorded memories. "Your way of handling it is to take the assassins away before I can gather evidence?"

One of the ANBU behind the Third Hokage took half a step forward.

Kakashi emerged from the shadows and blocked the inside of the dungeon doorway. "Lord Hokage, the evidence from the scene has already been entered into the records of the Konoha Military Police Force, the ANBU, and the Yamanaka Clan. Taking them away now would violate procedure."

The Third Hokage looked at Kakashi. "You're going to stop me too?"

Kakashi met his gaze without flinching. "I'm enforcing the new law."

Sasuke placed the Image Scroll inside an evidence box. "Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo sold the Konoha Gate, not your backyard. If anyone dares touch these prisoners before dawn, I'll post every order issued tonight on the Hokage Building's outer walls."

The Third Hokage's face twitched. "Do you want the entire village to spiral out of control?"

Sasuke opened the evidence box, letting him see the first frame inside. "No. I want the entire village to know who's been bleeding Konoha dry all along."

Just then, Neji rushed in through the dungeon entrance, his Byakugan still active.

"Clan head, the sealing line in the Hokage Building Underground has been severed."

Kakashi turned. "Who cut it?"

Neji's expression was grim. "Before it broke, a lingering voice carried by chakra came from underground."

Sasuke's hand stopped on the evidence box.

Neji spoke each word distinctly. "The voice said, 'Lord Danzo, the backup Defense Line Map has been sent out of Konoha...'"