Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned. "Nukenin are shinobi who betray and abandon their villages."
Yoru voice was icy. "Betraying the village makes one a nukenin. Must we wait until they flee before acting? By then, it's already too late."
"Hokage-sama, the moment Orochimaru was discovered conducting human experiments in secret, wasn't he already a nukenin? Did we really have to let him escape Konoha for it to count?"
Sarutobi nearly choked on his pipe.
Of all the examples to bring up—why Orochimaru?!
This was a direct slap to his face.
Letting Orochimaru escape out of lingering sentiment was the greatest stain on his life… and now Yoru had thrown it back at him. Sarutobi had no rebuttal.
He couldn't possibly say, "Yes, they must flee first—that's why I let Orochimaru go."
Taking a slow drag from his pipe, Sarutobi exhaled smoke before speaking again.
"Even if you acted rightly with Hideo, killing Jirō was unjustifiable. No matter his crimes, executing him publicly without trial goes too far."
Yoru fell silent for a moment.
"So, Hokage-sama, you do acknowledge Sarutobi Hideo as a nukenin."
"Given that, how could I trust him to handle the matter fairly?"
"Had I spared Sarutobi Jirō, Hideo would've shielded him. By executing him openly, the gathered shinobi and villagers cheered. It restored their faith in Konoha. Otherwise…"
"Had Hideo and his son continued unchecked, the people would've lost all belief in this village."
Sarutobi Shinnosuke scoffed. "What silver-tongued sophistry!"
"It's not sophistry—it's the truth."
"If the people ever stop believing justice exists in this village…"
"Then Konoha is already doomed."
Yoru met the Hokage's gaze. "Don't you agree, Hokage-sama?"
Sarutobi said nothing.
Finally, he spoke heavily. "Regardless, Yoru, you've caused too great a disturbance."
"I may understand your actions, but the villagers and shinobi won't."
"For now, you're suspended from the Military Police."
"Lay low until this blows over. Then you may return."
"Clan Head Fugaku. Your thoughts?"
Uchiha Fugaku's brow furrowed. "Hokage-sama, this is—"
But Yoru cut in indifferently. "As you wish, Hokage-sama."
With that, he turned to leave.
Fugaku sighed. "Very well. So be it." He followed Yoru out.
Shinnosuke watched their retreating figures, face dark.
"Hokage-sama, you're just letting him walk away?!"
"The clan will demand retribution…"
Sarutobi's voice turned cold. "Oh, he won't escape justice."
"But now isn't the time to kill him."
"Then what should we do?"
Sarutobi pondered. "As I recall, Uchiha Yoru has no family… no close friends either."
"True. Even among the Uchiha, his extremism isolates him. No one dares get close."
"Yet he does have a growing number of… fervent followers."
Sarutobi's eyes gleamed.
"Then we start with them."
"You mean…?"
"The Military Police is a dangerous job. Accidents happen…"
Shinnosuke understood.
"I'll see to it."
———
Yoru handed over his duties without protest.
Under the weight of mixed stares, he left the Military Police headquarters.
Returning home, he felt neither sorrow nor anger—only focus. He resumed training immediately.
Killing Sarutobi Hideo had granted him 100 Virtue Points, his highest reward yet.
He poured them all into his Sharingan's ocular power.
Now at 463 points, he was halfway to awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Even with the standard three tomoe, his visual prowess surpassed ordinary shinobi.
The Uchiha's power thrived on extreme emotion.
Though Yoru claimed to feel nothing, his fanatical pursuit of justice was his driving force.
Fighting in its name unleashed terrifying ocular might.
The Sharingan's three core abilities—insight, replication, and genjutsu—Yoru possessed them all.
But like every Uchiha, his strengths skewed.
His insight reigned supreme. In battle, he could dissect an enemy's movements, even predict them.
His replication was average.
Genjutsu? Nearly nonexistent—yet he could shatter illusions effortlessly.
Now, as he trained, he replayed his fight with Hideo.
The man hadn't been weak. Yoru victory came from:
His Sharingan's flawless evasion and preemptive strikes. The devastating Lightning Release: False Darkness, launched unpredictably. His swordsmanship—the final, decisive edge.
"Insight and bladework—these are my foundation."
"To grow stronger, I need more than ocular power or chakra…"
"What I truly want…"
Yoru ambition burned: Lightning-charged sword techniques.
A fusion of kenjutsu and Raiton, like Sasuke's Chidori Katana or Danzō's Vacuum Blade.
Fire Release could also coat blades—Shisui's Blazing Sword proved that—but Yoru believed Lightning suited him best.
"With this suspension… I'll master Raiton Kenjutsu."
"Justice without power…"
"Is worthless."
———
During Yoru forced hiatus…
Konoha's surface grew calm.
But while Sarutobi could strip his rank…
He couldn't silence the whispers.
To many villagers and shinobi, Uchiha Yoru was no longer a monster—but a dark hero, wielding ruthless justice.
Within the Uchiha, his followers multiplied, their fervor spreading like wildfire.
And this rising tide of black flames only deepened Sarutobi's dread.
So then…
The plot against Yoru began.
(◠‿◠)