"The current year is Konoha 36. The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, is in power."
"The Second Shinobi World War ended not long ago, and the Third hasn't broken out yet..."
"We are in a brief period of peace."
Aoki sat alone, meticulously analyzing the timeline and his current environment.
He knew better than anyone that this was a surface-level peace; undercurrents were surging between every village. If other villages had spies in Konoha, Konoha undoubtedly had spies embedded in theirs. In an era of war, danger lurked in every shadow.
"Right now, I just want a quiet life. The Torture Force is situated deep beneath the Konoha Prison—it's incredibly safe. No one will come here to disturb me."
"Everyone who knows me knows my health is poor. I must maintain this persona. I cannot afford to expose a single shred of my true potential or strength!"
The ninja world was cruel. It was a far cry from the hot-blooded idealism portrayed in stories. A ninja burdened with a mission could be sacrificed at any moment for the sake of the objective.
"With the Mind-Reading System, I can gain rewards by reading memories. This is my path to power."
Earlier, he had dreaded being called for duty; now, the tables had turned. Life's peaks and valleys truly came without warning.
"But now is not the time to practice. If I'm discovered, I'm in trouble. I have to stay calm. As long as I steady myself during these days, I'll have all the time in the world later!"
Through Luo Fanyi's memories, Aoki could see every deed the spy had committed and every jutsu he had used. However, his current label was "physically unfit," and he was in a relatively unfamiliar environment.
Caution was the only way forward.
Aoki decided that until he fully understood the inner workings of this place, he would take zero risks. No training, no showing off—just the same sickly, frail boy. Safety wasn't just a priority; it was his lifeblood.
The Anbu Torture Force.
Inside the dim, oppressive halls, flickering candlelight provided the only sliver of warmth. Morino Eaton stood tall in his black trench coat, radiating an aura of absolute authority.
"Aoki, you're here."
Eaton looked toward him. As his gaze landed on the boy, the harsh lines of his face softened significantly.
"Captain Eaton!" Aoki greeted.
"Take a look at this one..."
Eaton gestured toward a wooden cross standing a few paces away. A man was bound to it, though his attire and aura didn't scream "ninja."
"This man claims to be a merchant from the Land of Hot Springs. When he tried to leave the village, he looked panicked. The gate guards stopped him and found intelligence intended for the Land of Water hidden in his luggage."
"We have every reason to suspect he's a scout sent by the Hidden Mist. But no matter how we interrogate him, he insists he knows nothing. Even under the threat of death, he hasn't cracked."
Eaton leaned down, his voice dropping to a whisper meant only for Aoki's ears.
"Based on my years of experience, I don't think he's lying. It's highly likely he's under a genjutsu or some other influence—he might not even know he's being used as a carrier pigeon."
"I know you haven't fully recovered, but this man is a civilian, not a ninja. It shouldn't be too taxing."
"I need to know what he's experienced recently. I need to know if he's lying, and if someone is pulling the strings from the shadows."
"I'm leaving him to you!"
Eaton finished by clapping a heavy hand onto Aoki's shoulder, a gesture of trust and shared burden.
Aoki's heart jumped. He immediately winced, his face contorting in pain as he let out a sharp hiss.
His physical transformation had to remain a secret. He would stay "crouched" in the Torture Force; it was the safest place in the village.
"Ah, my apologies!"
Eaton quickly pulled his hand back, realizing he had been too rough. I need to be more careful with him, he thought with a silent sigh.
The kid is talented, but his body is just too damn weak.
"It's alright, Captain. I understand. I'll get to work."
Aoki rubbed his shoulder gingerly, maintaining the act of a boy in pain, and walked up to the bound prisoner.
He raised his right hand and began to churn his chakra, mimicking the hand-signs of the Yamanaka secret art.
Buzz!
The moment his palm touched the prisoner's scalp, Aoki's body gave a slight, practiced shudder. Fragment after fragment of memory flooded into his mind.
[Ding! Memory Read Successful! Reward Obtained: Ninja Tool Throwing Art!]
The crisp electronic chime echoed in his head, confirming his theory. Every memory read came with a prize.
"Huuu..."
Aoki took a deep breath, masking his excitement behind a facade of "mental exhaustion" from the memory dive.
The blueprint was now clear: Read memories, get rewards.
Aoki was naturally a person who preferred solitude and hated being bothered. Being tucked away in the dark, quiet corners of the Torture Force, reading memories in peace while growing stronger... it was a perfect match.
Right then and there, he made a silent vow.
He would stay buried in this pitch-black department. He would work quietly, live quietly, and grow in the shadows.
Lay low and grow, and never, ever show!