Half a day later, a knock echoed at the door of Qingyu's dormitory.
This time, it wasn't a standard Anbu messenger. Standing at the door was the Captain of the Torture Force himself, Morino Eaton.
"Captain Eaton? What brings you here?"
Qingyu acted the part of the surprised subordinate, his eyes wide with a mix of confusion and humbleness. He moved aside quickly to let Eaton in.
"Can't I drop by to see my best interrogator?" Eaton joked, a rare, relaxed smile playing on his scarred face as he stepped into the sparse room. He looked around, noting that Qingyu lived a life of extreme simplicity—only the bare essentials were present.
"I assume you know why I'm here?" Eaton asked, his voice carrying a meaningful weight.
"I have a guess," Qingyu nodded.
"Oh? Let's hear it."
"The suspect who escaped the other day... he was caught, wasn't he?" Qingyu purposefully pivoted to work topics. He knew the vacation was the real reason, but he wanted to maintain his image as a dedicated, work-focused ninja.
"Hahahaha!" Eaton let out a booming laugh. "Caught? Yes! And it was thanks to you, kid."
Eaton's expression turned serious as he shared the intel. "Through further interrogation, we confirmed he was a Sand spy. He wasn't after medicine; he was gauging Konoha's detoxification capabilities to prepare for the coming war. You've done a great service for the village."
"Captain, you were the one who got the confession. I just stumbled into him. I'm just glad I didn't let a spy walk free under my watch," Qingyu replied with a modest smile.
Eaton beamed. He knew Qingyu was laying on the flattery, but he didn't mind one bit. It felt good to have such a competent and humble subordinate.
"How have you been resting?" Eaton asked.
"I'm feeling much better! I'm ready to return to my post whenever you need me!" Qingyu stood at attention, projecting a iron-willed determination to work.
Of course, it was all talk. He knew that if Eaton was here personally, the vacation was a done deal.
"You..." Eaton looked at him with a complex mix of admiration and skepticism. He raised a hand to pat Qingyu's shoulder but, remembering the boy's "fragile" health, he pulled it back mid-air.
"Your leave has been approved. You can start your vacation immediately. As for how long..." Eaton paused, looking Qingyu in the eye. "Technically, you're off until the war begins. But I don't think you'll want to stay away that long. Come back whenever you feel you've recovered enough."
"Thank you, Captain! I'll catch my breath and be back as soon as I can," Qingyu said, a genuine smile of relief breaking across his face.
Eaton nodded and turned to leave. At the doorway, he paused and looked back. "Don't forget to keep exercising. When the war starts, the workload will be massive."
"Understood!"
The door closed, leaving Qingyu alone in the silence.
The path has widened indeed, he thought. By securing this official leave, he had successfully disconnected himself from the political nightmare brewing in the village. No matter what happened with the disappearances, he wouldn't be around to be used as a pawn or a scapegoat.
"Time to 'exercise'..."
He left the Anbu dorms, stepping out from the underground darkness into the afternoon sun. Almost immediately, he caught snippets of conversation from passing groups of people.
Danzo? What happened?
Qingyu didn't ask questions. Instead, he simply wandered through the streets, acting like a bored civilian, eavesdropping as he went. By the time he reached the busy center of the village, he had heard over a dozen versions of the scandal.
Some said Danzo was a demon who ate the missing people. Others said the floating body was an escapee from Danzo's private dungeon. Every rumor pointed the finger squarely at the head of Root.
Good grief, Qingyu thought, a playful glint in his eyes. It's really started.
He had planned to go to the woods to train, but he reconsidered. If the village was this tense, a "frail" ninja disappearing into the woods alone might look suspicious or make him an easy target for someone looking to frame a victim.
Decision made: I'll just be a tourist in my own village for a while. Eat snacks, watch the drama, and stay in the light.
Of course, he wasn't going to waste his time entirely. Seeing a young man walking nearby, Qingyu stepped up and casually "patted" him on the back of the head as he passed...