"Stop right there!"
Akira had barely walked a short distance before being stopped.
In front of him stood a Konoha Military Police ninja wearing a green flak vest—
an Uchiha.
Akira, still using Illumi's disguise, kept a blank expression.
"May I ask what the Uchiha-sama needs?"
The Uchiha extended a hand, equally expressionless.
"Routine inspection. Please present your Konoha residency permit, temporary permit, business license, and other relevant documents."
…Since when were the Uchiha this dedicated to their jobs?
Akira frowned slightly and pointed at himself.
"Why are you checking me?"
He had just walked out of a restaurant—he looked like any ordinary civilian.
So many people around, yet this guy singled him out?
"Because you look like a ninja."
The Uchiha studied him carefully, face completely rigid—like someone trained to suppress all emotion.
The kind of face that looked… artificial.
Akira immediately understood.
Shouldn't have used Illumi's appearance.
A professional assassin's demeanor really did resemble Root operatives.
If he'd used Hisoka instead…
…that might've been even worse.
"I see. Then you must be mistaken, ninja-sama."
Akira reached into his pocket as if searching for documents.
"There's no way I could be—"
His finger shot out—
pressing against the Uchiha's neck, cutting off chakra flow and blood circulation.
The Uchiha's eyes rolled back as his body collapsed forward.
[+1234 EXP]
Akira caught him smoothly.
"Long time no see."
He scanned the surroundings.
A patrol of Uchiha Military Police wasn't far away.
"Yeah, it's been a while. What have you been up to?"
Two voices came from Akira's mouth at once—like two people talking.
E-rank ninjutsu: Ventriloquism Technique.
A minor academy skill that altered one's voice with chakra.
Useless in direct combat—
but perfect for assassination.
With an arm draped over the unconscious Uchiha, Akira walked casually toward a nearby alley.
A few patrol members noticed something off and began heading his way—
but as soon as he turned a corner, out of sight—
Whoosh.
Substitution Jutsu.
Akira vanished.
The Uchiha dropped to the ground.
By the time the patrol arrived—
he was already gone.
"Good thing this place is close to home," Akira muttered.
The target had been at a restaurant he frequented.
This mission should've been simple—
but the Uchiha had been too diligent.
They questioned anyone suspicious.
He had nearly been exposed.
Still—
for all their harshness and strict enforcement—
no one could accuse the Uchiha of corruption.
But being the Military Police…
meant making enemies everywhere.
And yet, the Uchiha monopolized the position.
No one else could touch it.
What exactly were they thinking?
"Looks like Illumi doesn't work," Akira mused.
Hisoka flashed through his mind—
too eye-catching.
"…Mu Yu, then."
An ordinary face. Nothing special.
With a Transformation Jutsu—
Mu Yu returned.
Akira crouched on a tree branch, gazing at a secluded house.
With his Byakugan activated, he counted the people inside.
"One, two, three… eight."
All targets present—
plus one extra.
But that extra person—
"…So, Hiruko-sensei… how did you end up mixed with them?"
Akira rubbed his chin.
By timeline, Hiruko shouldn't defect until between the Second and Third Great Ninja Wars.
Wait…
That meant something.
Maybe becoming a jonin wasn't impossible after all.
Who said jonin never defected?
Hiruko was proof.
Though—
most high-level defectors from Konoha were terrifying:
Orochimaru.
Itachi.
Obito.
Madara.
…Why were so many of them Uchiha?
"Teacher Hiruko… how could I ever bear to kill you?"
Akira grinned, baring his teeth.
A blue sphere formed in his hand.
This area was remote—near the forest.
Perfect.
Awakening Skill.
Instance Field.
A wave of blue light spread outward.
Inside the house—
Hiruko's pupils shrank.
He vanished instantly.
Jonin reflexes.
The others didn't stand a chance.
All seven were dragged into the instance.
The world shifted.
A vast grassland.
Waist-high grass swayed in the wind.
Nothing else.
"…Grassland?"
Akira looked disappointed.
Different environments granted different buffs.
This one was… mediocre.
He glanced at the confused targets.
Pity.
Hiruko had escaped.
But that was fine.
He wasn't at his peak yet.
Hiruko's strongest version appeared much later.
Right now?
He wouldn't drop anything worthwhile.
Conclusion:
Useful enough to keep—too wasteful to kill.
A classic chicken rib.
"Hey! Where are we?! Who are you?!"
The group shouted, staring at Akira—the only unfamiliar face.
He snapped out of his thoughts.
"For just you guys… no need to explain the rules."
Without declaring them, the domain only provided minor buffs and prevented escape.
Still enough.
"Fire Style: Nine-Headed Dragon Jutsu!"
A massive fireball erupted—
splitting into nine flaming dragon heads that engulfed them.
Some tried to use Substitution—
—but the dragons were alive.
[+6213 EXP]
[Wind Style: Vacuum Bullets]
[Genjutsu: Tree Binding Death]
Only two useful drops.
The rest were either duplicates or junk.
Akira stored the skills.
The rest could be converted into essence.
Another solid haul.
He turned his gaze toward the forest.
On a tree branch stood Hiruko—
expressionless.
"So, Hiruko-sensei…"
"What happened on the Mist battlefield?"
"Why are you planning to become a rogue ninja?"
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on P@treon if you're interested:
patreon.com/KuroTL