First, they would kill Mikoto, then pin the blame on him. The Konoha High Command had perfected that kind of tactic.
Unfortunately for them, he was a transmigrator who knew Hiruzen Sarutobi's methods inside and out.
Ziyun silently created a Lightning Release: Shadow Clone and sent it home. His real body used the Dog-Dog Fruit, Model: Nine-Tailed Fox to take on the appearance and aura of a Konoha Anbu.
As long as Ziyun didn't change back of his own accord, there was absolutely no way anyone could discover his disguise.
This was a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, after all. If a sensory ninja could see through it, where would that leave the Mythical Zoan's reputation?
Ziyun, disguised as an "Anbu," then caught up with the Anbu following Mikoto.
"Huh?! Fox, what are you doing here?"
The Anbu Ninja following Mikoto jumped in fright when he saw Ziyun in disguise.
Fox? That Anbu codename suited my fruit's ability perfectly.
He had to admit, that Mythical Zoan Nine-Tailed Fox fruit had come at just the right time.
Behind the mask, Ziyun smiled faintly. "The higher-ups were a little worried, so they sent me to back you up."
"What do I need backup for? She's a Genin with mediocre talent. I'm more than enough to kill her."
The Anbu sounded a little displeased.
The higher-ups had actually underestimated him.
"Don't let your guard down. She's a member of the Uchiha Clan, and she's awakened the Two-Tomoe Sharingan."
"And the girl with her is the granddaughter of the Uzumaki Clan's head. She's only six, but she has enormous potential. In any case, we can't afford to be careless."
"Fox" gave the warning in a low voice.
"Got it... We'll make our move after dark."
After watching Mikoto and Kushina return home, the two hid in the shadows and waited for nightfall.
"Move out. Make sure you kill her in one strike!"
As soon as darkness fell and the oil lamp inside went out, the Anbu spoke to "Fox."
"Okay!"
Ziyun nodded, and the two slipped silently into the house.
They found the room where Mikoto and Kushina were sleeping in the dark, then drew their Kunai, ready to slit their throats without a sound.
Just then, a creak rang out.
Naturally, Ziyun had made the sound on purpose.
"Who's there?!"
Her ninja instincts sensed danger, and Mikoto immediately opened her eyes. Kushina sat up beside her as well.
The oil lamp was then lit, immediately illuminating the pitch-black room.
"Anbu? What are you doing here?"
Seeing the two people in Konoha Anbu uniforms and eerie masks, Mikoto asked warily, pulling Kushina into her arms at the same time.
"I have no idea why the higher-ups sent an idiot like you! You've done nothing but get in the way!"
Now that they'd been exposed, the Anbu couldn't help cursing at "Fox."
"You restrain that little girl from the Uzumaki Clan. She's a candidate to be the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Leave the girl from the Uchiha Clan to me."
The Anbu spoke to Ziyun, then drew his Kunai and walked toward Mikoto.
"Little girl from the Uchiha Clan, this is a mission from the higher-ups. I'm only carrying out my orders. If you have to hate someone, don't hate me."
The Anbu seemed to be comforting himself.
"The higher-ups? You mean the Konoha High Command?"
Mikoto asked, activating her Two-Tomoe Sharingan.
She hadn't expected the Konoha High Command to send someone to assassinate her. Why were they doing this?
Mikoto was utterly disheartened.
The Anbu charged at her. He had no need to explain himself so clearly to someone who was about to die.
Just as the Kunai in his hand was about to slash across Mikoto's neck, Ziyun made his move.
"Finger Pistol!"
He used Shave to flash in front of the Anbu and pierced his heart with a Finger Pistol.
The entire process was extremely fast, with no unnecessary sound. Not even much blood came out.
When it came to silent assassination, the Navy Six Powers were forever the best!
The sight made Mikoto and Kushina turn pale with fright. It was their first time seeing a dead person.
"Don't scream, it's me!"
Seeing that Mikoto and Kushina were about to cry out, Ziyun immediately returned to his usual appearance and covered both girls' mouths with his hands.
In fact, Ziyun's face was a little pale too. This was his first time killing someone.
"Ziyun? Why are you here?"
When Mikoto and Kushina saw Ziyun, most of their fear vanished in an instant.
"You saw it yourself. The Konoha High Command sent an Anbu to assassinate you. That's why I came."
Seeing the two girls gradually calm down, Ziyun relaxed and blew out the oil lamp.
He didn't want to arouse any suspicion at a time like this.
"Why would the Konoha High Command want to kill me?"
Mikoto asked tearfully. Over the past two days, she felt as though her whole worldview was being turned upside down.
It was bad enough that they'd treated her as a pawn, but they'd even sent an Anbu to kill her?
Konoha High Command... are you really so heartless toward me?
"Why? Because they wanted to pin your murder on me... so they'd have a legitimate excuse to eliminate a genius like me."
Ziyun told them the whole truth.
"No way. Lord Hokage, Auntie Koharu, and Uncle Homura are all good people. They wouldn't send someone to assassinate Mikoto."
"Ziyun, did you stage all of this yourself?"
At that point, Kushina began to suspect Ziyun instead.
After all, Ziyun was the number one genius in the Hidden Cloud Village.
It would be easy for him to create two clones to deceive her, wouldn't it?
"No, I believe Ziyun," Mikoto said, taking his side.
After all, she had seen the struggle between the Konoha High Command and the Uchiha Clan with her own eyes. She was beginning to believe that the village couldn't always be full of light; there had to be darkness too.
"Mikoto, are you out of your mind? How could Lord Hokage and the others send someone to assassinate you?"
Kushina's eyes widened. She thought Mikoto must have been blinded by love.
"Kushina, you're still young. You don't know about the darkness in the village. In any case, I believe Ziyun." Mikoto looked at Ziyun resolutely.
"Mm, thank you, Mikoto." Ziyun looked at her and took her hand in the darkness. "Come back to the Hidden Cloud with me tomorrow. Konoha isn't your home anymore."
After a moment of silence, Mikoto nodded solemnly.
If she hadn't made up her mind that afternoon, the assassination attempt that night had made her lose all hope in Konoha.
Rather than stay here, she would be better off going to the Hidden Cloud with Ziyun.
"Mikoto, are you crazy? Are you going to betray Konoha? I'm going to tell Lord Hokage! Ziyun, you're a big bad guy! You're trying to lure Mikoto away!"
Kushina was furious, her little face flushed red.
"Kushina, it's perfectly normal for you not to believe me, but would you be interested in a bet? Tomorrow, you can see whether Hiruzen Sarutobi uses Mikoto's death to try to kill me."
"If things don't happen the way I said, you can do whatever you want to me."
Ziyun looked at Kushina and smiled faintly.
There were no Anbu around him now, so he could say whatever he wanted.
Those persistent pests were probably keeping a close watch on his Lightning Release: Shadow Clone right now.
"Fine, Ziyun. Let's see what trick you're playing. I don't believe Lord Hokage would do something like that."
Kushina spoke with absolute confidence.
"Good. Tomorrow, I'll show you Hiruzen Sarutobi's true colors and the darkness of Konoha." Ziyun smiled. Kushina was bound to lose.
He and Mikoto then agreed on a plan for tomorrow.
After disposing of the Anbu's body as quickly as possible, Ziyun prepared to leave.
If he lingered here too long, the Anbu would grow suspicious too.
Before leaving, Ziyun kissed Mikoto on the forehead, then transformed into the Anbu he had killed.
Not only that, Ziyun created another Lightning Release: Shadow Clone and had the clone take the form of a dead Mikoto.
He was going to report back to Hiruzen Sarutobi and tell him that Uchiha Mikoto had been successfully killed.
Tomorrow, he could make his move against Yeyue Ziyun without a hitch!
"Oh, right, Kushina, let me tell you a little secret. The reason you came to Konoha so early is that you've been chosen by Konoha to be the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki."
"If you don't know what a Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is, you can ask your Grandma Uzumaki."
"Also, you'd better warn your grandfather. It won't be long before the Uzumaki Clan is wiped out, and Konoha is very likely to be the one to do it."