The first—and most immediate—reason was simple:
Yoru was at his weakest.
If a fight broke out now, he had no strength left to resist.
Yoru wasn't some superhuman monster, nor was he one of those godlike freaks from the Fourth Shinobi War with infinite chakra and unbreakable stamina. Right now, his power was at most jōnin level, maybe elite jōnin at best. He wasn't invincible.
His chakra reserves were limited. He could be injured. He could be exhausted.
Just think about it—from the moment he learned about Aoki and Yamakaze's situation, to storming the ANBU prison, slaughtering nine ANBU operatives in a brutal battle, breaking through the prison, and then clashing with Sarutobi Shinnosuke at the ANBU headquarters… He hadn't had a single moment to rest.
The fact that he was still standing at all was nothing short of a miracle.
He needed time.
The second reason? Uchiha Fugaku was still in ANBU custody.
Without their clan head, the Uchiha were leaderless. Relying on Uchiha Yashiro and Uchiha Yakumo to take charge?
It was hopeless. A suicide mission.
On the other side stood Sarutobi Hiruzen, Hatake Kakashi, the ANBU elites—Elephant, Hare, Sparrow, Scales—and let's not forget Shimura Danzō and ROOT, lurking in the shadows.
And the Uchiha's strongest warrior, Uchiha Shisui…
Might turn against them at any moment.
If the Uchiha acted recklessly now, they'd be walking straight into annihilation.
The third reason? Yoru's actions were driven by justice.
That would never change.
Call him stubborn. Call him a fool. But he would always stand by his principles.
Even if it meant being suspended, even if it meant killing Sarutobi Shinnosuke and being imprisoned during the investigation—he could accept that. Because it was the right thing to do.
And the fourth reason…
The most crucial one.
He had an absolute means of self-preservation.
Because…
——
Under the escort of Hatake Kakashi, Elephant, and a dozen elite ANBU operatives, Yoru was finally brought to the prison gates.
A crowd had already gathered, their eyes burning with hatred, their fury so palpable it felt like they wanted to tear him apart on the spot.
Even Kakashi couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
This man willingly walked into the lion's den. Now that he's in the hands of these ANBU operatives—who despise him—his fate is… unimaginable.
Kakashi's feelings toward the Uchiha were complicated. After all, the most important comrade in his heart was Uchiha Obito.
And the Sharingan in his left eye? A final gift from that same friend.
Deep down, Kakashi always felt a debt to the Uchiha.
Which was exactly why Hiruzen never let him handle Uchiha-related matters.
Elephant spoke coldly: "Kenpei, this man is your responsibility now."
The head prison guard, Aburame Kenpei, nodded.
Yoru knew him—a top-tier ANBU operative.
Kenpei and seven other ANBU elites stepped forward, their hands weaving seals in unison as they unleashed a pair of powerful sealing techniques.
"Sealing Technique: Chakra Suppression!"
"Four Limb Binding Seal!"
Yoru's brow furrowed slightly.
He recognized these—high-level Uzumaki clan fuinjutsu.
The Chakra Suppression Seal blocked all chakra flow, rendering a shinobi unable to use ninjutsu or genjutsu.
The Four Limb Binding Seal locked down physical strength, disabling taijutsu.
Under this dual seal, any shinobi would be completely powerless.
But…
The instant the ANBU finished their seals…
Yoru had already activated his Mangekyō Sharingan's ocular power.
Left Eye Ability—
"Kuyanbikogu!"
When the ANBU had removed Fugaku's seals earlier, Yoru had used this power to analyze and memorize the sealing structure.
Now, with the last remnants of his chakra and ocular power, he left a flaw in his own seal—one that would allow him to break free at any moment.
That was the terrifying power of Kuyanbikogu.
Absolute insight. The ability to find weaknesses in any technique and exploit them.
Before this eye, no jutsu was flawless.
With the dual seals complete, the ANBU operatives finally relaxed—and then, their expressions twisted into cruel smirks.
Yoru knew exactly what they were thinking.
Kenpei sneered. "Kakashi, Elephant… I'll take it from here."
"I'll make sure he's… properly secured."
Elephant's lips curled into a faint, merciless smile.
Kakashi, however, remained silent.
As Yoru was shoved roughly through the prison gates, Kakashi suddenly called out:
"Uchiha Yoru…"
"Why did you insist that I investigate this?"
Yoru glanced back, offering Kakashi a rare, faint smile.
"Because…"
"Out of all the ANBU, you're the only one who still feels somewhat human."
Kakashi's breath hitched.
The other ANBU operatives' expressions darkened instantly.
"Move it!" One of them snarled, shoving Yoru into the darkness.
As the prison door slammed shut, Kakashi stood frozen, replaying Yoru's words in his mind.
Elephant gave him a meaningful look.
"Kakashi, we should head back."
"…Yeah."
As they walked, Elephant spoke again, his tone casual but weighted.
"You're smart, Kakashi. You know this investigation is a political minefield."
"One wrong step, and you'll sink in too deep to escape."
"More importantly…"
"Why did that man demand you specifically?"
Kakashi frowned. "It's because—"
Elephant cut him off. "His reasons don't matter. Yours don't either."
"What matters is…"
"What the Hokage will think."
Kakashi's chest tightened. He understood.
"I'm only saying this out of respect for the White Fang… and because you're one of Konoha's few true talents."
"Don't throw it all away."
With that, Elephant turned and left, heading toward the Hokage's office.
Kakashi watched him go, then exhaled heavily.
There was another layer to this.
Yoru might have chosen him because he was *"still human"*…
But the fact that Hiruzen allowed it?
Beyond silencing the Uchiha and other factions…
This was also a test.
Where do your loyalties lie, Kakashi?
With the Uchiha? Or with the Hokage?
That's what Hiruzen wanted to know.
"What the hell am I supposed to do…?"
Kakashi rubbed his temples, then—almost instinctively—found himself walking toward the Memorial Stone.
He needed to talk to an old friend.
——
Meanwhile, deep within the ANBU prison…
Yoru was thrown into a cell, the door slamming shut behind him.
The masked ANBU outside let out low, sinister chuckles.
"Uchiha Yoru… We've prepared a special welcome for you."
Yoru didn't need them to explain. He could already sense it.
From the shadows, twisted, rotting figures emerged, their murderous intent suffocating the air.
Yet instead of fear…
Yoru smiled.
This was the final reason he'd chosen imprisonment.
If he wanted to deliver justice, to purge evil from the world…
Where better than the ANBU prison, a den of the worst Konoha had to offer?
Sending Yoru into a cell full of monsters?
That was like throwing a lion into a cage of rabbits.
Their "gift" was nothing short of a favor.
They thought they'd caught their prey.
They were wrong.
They were the prey.