A new shadow

The battle inside the antique shop in Tanzaku Town quickly became one-sided after the elite Anbu led by Fox intervened.

Although the remaining Root members fought fearlessly and were skilled in coordinated attacks and assassination techniques, their resistance swiftly melted away before overwhelming numbers and the command of Fox, an experienced captain. Two remnants were killed on the spot. Another member, who tried to activate the shop's self-destruct runes, was stopped in time by Azure Phoenix's remotely cast Sealing Jutsu and fell unconscious.

Meanwhile, the gray-clad man momentarily lost focus, shaken by Ling's mysterious Eye of Purification and Erosion, which could forcibly halt self-destruction. Ling seized that fleeting opening with precision! Ignoring the shallow cut a wind blade had left on his left shoulder, he closed in like a phantom and drove the handle of his kunai, coated in concentrated chakra, hard into a specific pressure point on the back of the man's neck.

The gray-clad man stiffened, disbelief in his eyes, then crumpled to the floor. The Anbu following close behind secured him with special shackles and attached talismans that sealed his chakra.

The battle was over. The entire encounter had lasted less than three minutes.

"Secure the scene and collect all evidence, especially that scroll." Fox calmly issued her orders, her gaze sweeping across the wrecked secret chamber before settling on Ling. It lingered briefly on his left shoulder wound and his eyes, which had returned to normal yet seemed even deeper than before. "Crow, well done. How bad is your injury?"

"Just a scratch. It won't get in the way." Ling shook his head, took the black scroll emanating an ominous aura from inside his clothes, and handed it to Fox. He had stuffed it there in the urgency of the moment. Now he could feel the cold, evil chakra fluctuations within it more clearly, and they made him deeply uncomfortable.

Fox took the scroll and examined its seals, her brow furrowing slightly. "A powerful forbidden jutsu seal... We'll need to take it back to the village for specialists to analyze." She looked at the subdued gray-clad man. "This one's a big catch. Anyone with access to a forbidden jutsu on the level of Dead Demon Kiss must rank fairly high among the remnants."

Before long, the scene had been cleared, the bodies dealt with, and the prisoners taken into custody. Every valuable item, including communication records and experimental notes they had not managed to destroy, was packed up and taken away. The Anbu withdrew like an ebbing tide without disturbing too many ordinary people in Tanzaku Town. Only the devastation inside the antique shop silently spoke of the fierce battle that had just taken place.

The atmosphere on the journey back to Konoha was silent and heavy.

Ling sat on the back of a ninja beast assigned to transport duty, his eyes closed as though resting. In truth, he was examining his body internally. The accompanying Medical Ninja had properly treated his left shoulder wound, and it was nothing serious. His eyes were what truly concerned him.

His instinctive reaction in that split second-forcing his purifying erosion power into action to stop the self-destruction-had successfully resolved the crisis, but it had also stirred the fusion energy that had yet to fully stabilize. Now a faint, persistent ache and pressure came from within his eyes, as though tiny electrical currents were darting through them. Occasionally, one or two barely perceptible patches of distorted light flashed at the edges of his vision.

That really was pushing it too far... Ling sighed inwardly. Lady Tsunade's warning still rang in his ears. These eyes were powerful, but his mental strength, chakra control, and understanding of that foreign energy were all still far from sufficient to command them. He might not be so lucky the next time he encountered a similar situation.

I have to gain complete control over them as soon as possible!

At the same time, he reviewed the gray-clad man's final words-"Your eyes have undergone an extraordinary change..." -and the greed that had briefly flashed in his eyes. This meant the Root remnants had not merely continued watching him; they might even have obtained some information about the mutation in his eyes. That was certainly not good news for his safety.

Back in Konoha, they handed over the mission and reported what had happened. The black scroll and the captured gray-clad man were immediately transferred to the Sealing Squad and the Interrogation Department. Ling and Fox gave Tsunade a detailed mission report, particularly regarding the involuntary activation of Ling's eyes and their possible exposure.

After hearing their report, Tsunade tapped her fingers against the desk and pondered for a long time.

"Those persistent Root ghosts still haven't given up their schemes." She snorted coldly. "Forbidden jutsu research, collusion with outsiders... It seems the last purge wasn't thorough enough!"

She looked at Ling, her gaze stern. "As for your eyes, I'll have the Sealing Squad speed up their analysis and work out a safer training and usage plan as soon as possible. Until then, avoid carrying out high-risk missions alone as much as you can. As for the leak concerning your identity and your eyes..."

A sharp glint flashed through Tsunade's eyes. "That may not be entirely a bad thing. Since they're so 'interested' in you, perhaps we can make good use of it. Fox, raise the secrecy level surrounding Crow's movements, but selectively 'leak' some vague information that he's undergoing special training at a secret base."

Fox understood immediately. "Understood, Lord Hokage. Set a trap and lure them out."

"Exactly." Tsunade nodded. "Rather than letting them watch from the shadows like venomous snakes, we should give them a clear target and resolve this trouble once and for all. You'll draw up the details."

"Yes!"

Ling understood that he had once again become part of a plan-a piece of bait. But he felt no resentment. In the world of ninja, this was one of the most efficient ways to eliminate threats. Besides, he also wanted to settle things with these Root remnants.

"Go and rest, Crow." Tsunade waved a hand. "You did well on this mission. I'll record a commendation for you. Keep me informed of any changes in your eyes."

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

After leaving the Hokage's office, Ling returned to the Anbu quarters. He first went to the medical room and had the Medical Ninja on duty examine his eyes again. Only after confirming that there was merely a slight energy disturbance and no structural damage did he feel somewhat reassured.

Afterward, he soaked in warm water, washing away his exhaustion and the smell of blood. Leaning against the edge of the bath, he closed his eyes and let his thoughts drift.

The Root remnants, the Scroll of Seals, the forces behind the gray-clad man, the hidden dangers of the Eye of Purification and Erosion, the threat of Akatsuki, the crisis surrounding the Ryūmyaku... And that mysterious mark, which had remained quiet for so long yet seemed to hang over his head...

The various clues and pressures intertwined like an enormous net. And he stood at its center.

Power... I need to gain the power to break through all this uncertainty and these threats, and I need it faster!

Over the next few days, Ling's life returned to a regular rhythm. During the day, he underwent intensive taijutsu and standard ninjutsu training to work out any rustiness that might remain after his left arm's recovery, while focusing more closely on exercises in precise chakra control. At night, he spent most of his time meditating, carefully guiding the fusion energy within his eyes and trying to deepen his understanding and control of the Eye of Purification and Erosion without triggering a backlash.

He no longer regarded this power as something "alien" that demanded vigilance, but instead began trying to "communicate" with and "understand" it. He discovered that when he was sufficiently focused and calm, his eyes gave him a peculiar sense of feedback, as though they possessed a faint consciousness of their own. It craved use and growth, yet fiercely rejected forceful control and overexertion.

This was more like... a symbiotic relationship.

During this period, preliminary news about the gray-clad man also came from the Interrogation Department. He was tight-lipped. Even after enduring the Yamanaka Clan's Mind Body Switch Technique and Ibiki Morino's torture, he had divulged only some inconsequential information. He claimed to belong to a mysterious organization dedicated to "reviving the ancient powers of the Shinobi World," and said his cooperation with the Root remnants was temporary, with each side getting what it needed. As for the source of the Dead Demon Kiss scroll and details of the organization behind him, he kept his mouth firmly shut.

After a preliminary analysis by the Sealing Squad, the black scroll was confirmed beyond doubt to be an incomplete scroll of the forbidden jutsu Dead Demon Kiss. The evil method recorded within, which exchanged life and soul for power, alarmed even the experienced members of the Sealing Squad. The material of the scroll itself and its sealing methods were extremely ancient, seemingly not products of the present era. Its origin remained a mystery.

Pieced together, these fragments of information pointed toward a shadow lurking behind the Root remnants, one that might be even older and more dangerous. This heightened the vigilance of Konoha High Command once again.

A week later, Ling received a message from Fox, instructing him to assemble at Training Ground Three.

When he arrived, he found Uzumaki Xi there alongside Fox. She wore casual clothes that allowed easy movement, and her complexion had improved considerably since he had last seen her. Her long, dark-red hair was tied back, giving her a much more capable appearance.

"Starting today, Xi will be temporarily assigned to our squad as a special adviser," Fox announced without preamble. "She has unique expertise in ancient contracts, Sealing Jutsu, and energy perception. That will help with future missions that may involve the Ryūmyaku or similar ancient powers. She also needs some rehabilitation training to adapt to the way ninja operate."

Ling was not surprised. Xi's identity and abilities meant she could not remain under protection like an ordinary person indefinitely. Integrating her into an Anbu squad would allow her to contribute while ensuring her safety in a relatively controlled environment.

"I look forward to learning from you, Mr. Ling." Xi bowed slightly to Ling, a trace of nervousness and anticipation on her face.

"Likewise, Miss Xi." Ling nodded in response.

"Today's training will focus on teamwork and sensory interference." Fox wasted no words and went straight to the point. "Crow, you'll lead the attack. Your objective is to break through my defenses and Azure Phoenix's"-Azure Phoenix was simulating support from a distance-"and touch the target behind me. Xi, you'll support Crow. Use your sensory abilities to identify the best route through for him, and try to interfere with my sensory lock."

It was a standard Anbu assault and counterassault exercise, with Xi added as an unusual sensory variable.

Training began. Ling shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, activating his Sharingan in basic insight mode, his movements constantly shifting. Fox stood firm as a rock, calmly deploying various ninjutsu to intercept and suppress him. Her combat experience was exceptionally rich, and she could always anticipate his movements.

At first, Ling and Xi's coordination was somewhat awkward. Although Xi's senses were keen, she lacked combat experience and often could not translate the information she perceived into effective tactical instructions quickly and accurately. Ling, in turn, had to divide his attention to understand and execute her instructions, repeatedly disrupting the rhythm of his attacks.

But through repeated failures and Fox's sharp counterattacks, their coordination began improving rapidly. Xi gradually learned to convey information more concisely and directly. She even began trying to mobilize her unique Uzumaki chakra to create faint energy disturbances that interfered with Fox's chakra perception. Ling increasingly trusted Xi's guidance, focusing more of his attention on breaking through and attacking. The Sharingan's insight and Xi's wide-area perception complemented each other perfectly.

When Ling made his final attempt from an exquisitely precise angle, narrowly slipping through Fox's Fire Release blockade and at last touching the cold target with his fingertips, all three stopped.

"Not bad." Fox's voice beneath her mask seemed to carry an almost imperceptible hint of approval. "You've established some initial coordination. But you'll need much more practice before you can apply it in real combat."

Xi panted lightly, sweat beading at her temples, but her face shone with a lively radiance it had long lacked. Being able to use her power and participate in practical training made her feel she was no longer a burden who needed protection.

Ling also felt the difference this teamwork made. Alone, he had to divide his attention among every aspect of a situation. Working with a reliable partner allowed each of them to make the most of their strengths. Perhaps this was the deeper purpose behind Fox's arrangement of this training.

By the time training ended, the sun was setting.

Ling and Xi walked side by side on the way back to the quarters.

"How did it feel?" Ling asked.

"Exhausting, but... good." Xi smiled and raised a hand to tuck her sweat-dampened hair behind her ear. "It felt... as though I'd found a little of what I used to feel. Back in the Land of Rain, even though I was imprisoned, I could occasionally use the contract to faintly sense the Ryūmyaku and everything around me... Only back then, there was nothing but despair."

She paused and looked at Ling. "Thank you, Mr. Ling. And... Konoha, too."

"There's no need to thank me." Ling shook his head. "We share a common goal."

Just then, Ling's steps faltered slightly, and his sharp gaze swept toward a small grove at the edge of the training ground. In that brief instant, the Jōgan's passive perception had caught an extremely concealed sense of being watched with malice! But the sensation vanished in a flash, like an illusion, and he could no longer detect any trace of it.

Root remnants? Or... something else?

"What's wrong?" Xi noticed his unusual reaction and asked softly.

"...Nothing." Ling withdrew his gaze, his tone calm. "Maybe I'm being too sensitive."

But he knew clearly that it had been no illusion.

The shadows had never been far away. And he and his new teammate had to remain ready at all times to face the challenges that came from the dark.