During the Second Shinobi World War, the Hidden Haze Village in the Land of Mountains conflicted with Konoha. Hidden Haze assigned a trap ninja named Genno to infiltrate Konoha and plant a million explosive tags in almost all key facilities, such as the Hokage Residence, Hokage Rock, Ninja Hospital, and various clan compounds. The purpose of these explosive tags was clear: to destroy Konoha when Hidden Haze’s main forces attacked, with Genno triggering the explosives from within.
However, before the plan could be executed, Hidden Haze was wiped out by the neighboring Hidden Waterfall Village, and Genno was captured by enemy forces, disappearing without a trace. The million explosive tags remained hidden in Konoha’s key locations for nearly thirty years, waiting silently.
Today, Neiki, familiar with the storyline and able to use the Byakugan to detect the explosive tag network, utilized these dormant explosives.
Seeing Neiki playing with the second remote, the expressions of all Konoha ninjas turned grim.
Three explosions had occurred: the Hokage Residence, the Inuzuka clan compound, and the Ninja Hospital. Each explosion was larger than the last. The number of explosive tags Neiki controlled exceeded their imagination. This was not something Neiki could have done alone; such an extensive trap required significant time and money, implying backing from a village-level force.
No one doubted the remote in Neiki’s hand was a bluff anymore. Doubting it was too expensive.
The first two explosions had limited casualties, but the third, at the Ninja Hospital, was heartbreaking. After the day’s battles with the Uchiha and Nine-Tails, how many injured Konoha ninjas were inside receiving treatment?
The explosion likely left few survivors in the hospital, many of whom were heroes who had shed blood to protect Konoha.
No one dared to speak. Only anger and fear filled the air.
Neiki, a true madman devoid of compassion, would not hesitate to press the button even if it targeted civilian areas.
From Shikaku to Kakashi, they could feel their comrades’ accusing stares. Neiki had laid out his rules, but many Konoha ninjas, thinking themselves clever, tried to exploit loopholes. Shikaku and Kakashi, caught in Neiki’s display of power, became examples of this foolishness.
Neiki and Konoha were in an unequal situation. Only pain would make Konoha take Neiki seriously. The first remote’s three buttons would be pressed no matter what; the only difference was Neiki’s chosen reason.
Seeing the sorrowful and angry Inuzuka ninjas, Neiki smiled slightly. Stirring internal strife was easy.
Hiruzen Sarutobi’s eyes burned with anger. He glared at Neiki as if he wanted to tear him apart. But noticing Neiki’s finger on the remote, he controlled his emotions and asked, “What do you want?”
Now, this was a negotiating attitude.
Neiki smirked, “Nothing much, I just want to fulfill a request from the head of the Hyuga clan.”
Hiruzen looked surprised at Neiki’s demand. Just this?
Other Konoha ninjas were equally bewildered.
If it was just this demand, the previous explosions seemed excessively costly.
“Yes, but I must personally go to Konoha to bring her out,” Neiki added, adding a small condition.
After failing to oppose it and discussing it with Shikaku and others, Hiruzen decided to let Neiki into Konoha. Konoha ninjas would monitor him closely to prevent any mischief.
“You must leave immediately after retrieving her, and you can only stay in Konoha for ten minutes,” Hiruzen stipulated.
Neiki reluctantly agreed.
This further convinced Hiruzen that Neiki had other sinister plans, and he instructed the ninjas to watch him closely.
On the way, besides the few ninjas assigned to monitor Neiki closely, others kept their distance. Hiruzen also arranged for evacuations of places like the Ninja Academy and the library, suspecting they might be rigged with explosive tags.
Shikaku frowned, watching Neiki’s back.
“…Could it be a shadow clone?”
Or was there another plot?
Regardless, after massacring the clan, Shikaku didn’t believe Neiki’s pretense of fulfilling the Hyuga clan head’s request. He made his secret plans.
…
Two more explosions rocked Konoha. The already ruined Hokage Residence was now a dusty mess. Iruka had to dig out Kaori from the rubble with great effort.
Looking at the girl’s pale corpse, Iruka was tearful.
“Sorry, Kaori… I’m so sorry… it’s my fault…”
Iruka was filled with guilt and confusion. This explosion was different from the Uchiha rebellion earlier.
He didn’t know why the explosion happened, why the Hokage hadn’t returned, or where to go. Konoha seemed unsafe everywhere, with people wandering the streets, crying in fear and confusion.
Konoha had no plan for this; conflicting orders from the top only added to the chaos. Some ordered evacuations to previous shelters, while others believed the shelters were unsafe and directed people to the outskirts of Konoha.
No one dared stay home; no one knew what to do. The crowds argued and panicked.
Iruka cried for a moment, then heard light footsteps. A shadow fell over him.
It was a boy with beautiful Byakugan eyes. Iruka recognized him as… Neiki.
With two Konoha Jonin guarding him, the boy clicked his tongue, “Good riddance.”
Iruka thought he misheard, “What?”
The boy glanced at him coldly, “Too bad only a few died, such a waste of explosive tags.”
He then walked away.
One of the Jonin patted Iruka’s shoulder, offering comfort, before following Neiki. Iruka was left in a daze.
The air felt stifling, like burning fire. In the distance, the boy’s voice echoed.
“Where are you going now?” Jonin’s voice was angry.
“To the Ninja Hospital to see the results of my tens of thousands of explosive tags,” the boy’s tone was like admiring his work.
Rocks embedded in his palm.
It was like an arrow had found its mark.
Iruka stiffened, staring at Neiki’s departing figure, suddenly understanding.
So that’s it.
—He grabbed a kunai from the roadside.
“Don’t fall into his trap!” A shadow from the darkness bound Iruka.
Nara clan… he thought, finding it absurd!
“Trap?…” Iruka tried to remain calm.
Silence ensued.
Muscles trembled as if gathering all his strength to break free.
Blood seeped from his arm.
The figure in the darkness didn’t answer.
Spitting blood, Iruka roared:
“Trap! What trap!!”
“The murderer is here boasting!!”
“I want to kill him!”
“I want to avenge Kaori!”
“What are you doing!!”
“You’re stopping me??”
“Who’s really falling into a trap??!”
“Huh?!”
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