CHAPTER 8
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A day had passed since Hiruzen's ominous declaration, and the atmosphere in the Hokage's office was thick with unease. The sound of hushed whispers filled the air, creating an echo of tension that clung to the walls.
"After watching this, even if I die, I have no regrets," murmured one of the ANBU operatives, his voice trembling with a mix of awe and fear.
"Yeah, this is heaven," another added, excitement lacing his tone, eyes wide as he anticipated the aftermath of their secretive mission.
Suddenly, Hiruzen flickered into view, his presence instantaneous and commanding. With a swift motion, he drove a kunai into their throats, sealing their bodies away before they could utter a sound.
The sharp metallic clink of the kunai echoed in the silence, a grim reminder of his resolve.
Once their lifeless forms vanished, Hiruzen created four shadow clones, each one mirroring the appearance of the slain ANBU.
"Get to the ANBU headquarters. Report in," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for hesitation.
As the clones strode confidently toward the Hokage Tower, they encountered the shift captain of the other ANBU squad.
His tone was casual, yet professional. "How was your shift? The lord was asking for any new details on the Hokage."
The clone captain answered smoothly, "There was no substantial news, just the same old details."
"Okay, you report to Lord Zashi," the captain replied, dismissing them with a wave of his hand.
But before the clone could respond, a kunai hurtled through the air, aimed directly for the captain's neck.
In a blur of motion, Hiruzen's clone caught the ANBU's wrist, twisting it mercilessly.
"Ah! I forgot that in ANBU, I can't share mission details with anyone but my superior or the Hokage. You must have realized this. What a drag," the clone remarked with a cruel smirk, before delivering a swift slash of his kunai, eliminating the other ANBU operatives in the blink of an eye.
With the bodies swiftly dealt with, Hiruzen transported them to a secluded forest between the ANBU headquarters and the Hokage Tower.
Laying the corpses down with meticulous care, he executed the **Earth Release: Decapitation Jutsu**, burying them deep beneath the soil.
Then, he unleashed **Wind Release: Air Bullet**, scattering the remnants of their existence like leaves in the wind.
It was imperative that it appeared as though they had fallen to the ambush of an unknown assailant.
Satisfied with his work, Hiruzen returned home, his mind swirling with the chaos he had orchestrated.
He relished the thought of laying low for a while; Konoha was on the brink of upheaval, and he intended to ride the wave.
As dawn broke on a new day, Hiruzen found himself in his office, a dark cloud of anxiety hovering over him.
He summoned the ANBU commander, who entered with a steady gait, followed closely by the Hokage's advisors: Kagami, Homura, and Koharu.
The door creaked open, revealing Zashi, his cat-faced mask obscuring his expression. "Hokage-sama, you called for me?" he asked, voice steady but tinged with unease.
"Yes, Zashi. When I arrived, there were no ANBU present. What happened? Are they not taking the Hokage Tower's safety seriously?" Hiruzen's voice was calm, yet it resonated with authority that demanded answers.
Silence enveloped the room, the weight of his words pressing down on everyone.
Homura exchanged worried glances with Koharu. Koharu was the first to break the tension. "What? Zashi, how can the ANBU allow this? Do you not consider the Hokage's safety important enough?"
Zashi's frown deepened. He felt the scrutiny of their eyes piercing through him.
"I sent out a search party for the night squad after they failed to report in, but I have yet to receive any updates," he explained, his frustration bubbling beneath the surface.
Homura jumped in, "How can we tolerate this? They are taking their duty lightly! I suggest we hold a Jonin meeting to discuss the situation and consider removing Zashi from his post for such laxity."
Zashi bristled at the insinuation. How dare they suggest his removal when he was actively investigating the matter?
"Now, now, everyone. We don't need to be so heavy-handed," Hiruzen interjected, maintaining a measured tone that defused the rising tension.
"I believe Zashi is not that kind of person. He must have made a mistake, but what we need now is an investigation."
Kagami nodded, adding, "Yes, Koharu and Homura, what Hiruzen said is correct. We need to investigate how this happened."
Zashi felt a flicker of gratitude as Hiruzen and Kagami supported him. "I apologize for this mistake, Hokage-sama. I, too, have been investigating this issue, as the night squad did not return after their duty. I sent someone to search for them."
Just then, another ANBU operative burst into the room, urgency painted on his features.
"Hokage-sama, elders, and Lord Zashi! We found eight corpses in the forest near the ANBU headquarters. Their throats were slit with kunai bearing a unique mark. Several **Earth Release** jutsu marks and **Wind Release: Air Bullet** marks were also found on their bodies." He unfurled a space scroll, revealing the gruesome sight of lifeless bodies for all to see.
The shock of the scene sent a chill through the room.
The lifeless ANBU lay sprawled, their eyes forever closed, their faces a stark reminder of the violence lurking within the village.
Hiruzen's brow furrowed in thought. "Such powerful wind release… There are very few in the village capable of this level of power. I can't recall anyone other than Danzo having this kind of capability. It seems someone is trying to undermine our authority. What do you all think?"
Nods of agreement rippled through the room, and Homura's voice broke the silence. "You're right, Hiruzen. Danzo shouldn't have done this; we must investigate further."
Koharu chimed in, "Yes, we must."
Determination etched on his face, Zashi declared, "I will do my utmost to investigate this matter thoroughly. I will also look into Danzo's activities. No one can easily kill ANBU and challenge the village's authority like this."
As the discussion wound down, the weight of their predicament lingered in the air.
The sense of urgency propelled everyone into action, each member filled with renewed purpose.
"Ah! What an interesting life we lead," Hiruzen mused to himself, a sly grin creeping onto his lips.
"With so much time before war, I can take some action and exert more control over Konoha. I might just dispatch some ANBU every week or two to thin their numbers."
Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months.
The passing of time brought a relentless tide of turmoil to Konoha. ANBU members fell one by one, their deaths sending shockwaves through the village.
Fear gripped the hearts of many, the question echoing in hushed conversations: Who had the audacity to kill the Hokage's ANBU and vanish without a trace? Even the police struggled to uncover the identity of the elusive assassin.
Tensions flared during a meeting called for the Jonin of the village. Accusations flew like kunai, many blaming Zashi for his failure to find the culprit.
Frustration boiled within him, teeth gritted and fists clenched as he listened to the murmurs of discontent.
"SLAM!" Hiruzen's fist hit the table, demanding silence.
"Everyone, calm down! The killer is simply too powerful and evasive. Even after sending two squads, along with two Jonins, they were all killed and the assailant escaped."
One of the Jonin proposed, "Let's increase patrols around the jungle area and send joint patrols from every clan."
Hiruzen nodded, his voice steady. "Yes, this will work."
As the meeting continued, the air crackled with anxiety, and the stakes felt higher than ever.
Hiruzen reveled in the chaos, fully aware that the longer he could maintain this state of fear, the more control he could exert over Konoha.
As the Jonin dispersed, murmurs of frustration echoed in their wake, leaving Hiruzen alone to contemplate his next move.
A smirk played on his lips as he considered the web of intrigue he was weaving. He was the puppet master, and Konoha was merely a stage for his ambitions.
"Ah, what a delightful game this is," he thought, fingers steepled as he planned his next steps. "With chaos comes opportunity, and I intend to seize every last bit of it."
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