After a day of misty daylight, night once again descended upon Dawn City.
Once the day’s work was done came the time for unrestrained celebration.
The streets were filled with staggering figures.
The hazy lamplight in the drizzle itself seemed drunk, casting blurred white halos through the mist.
In the distance, several people could be seen tangled together.
“Y-You…
hic!
Can you even walk on your own?” “B-Bastard!
Don’t look down on me!
I could drink another ten bottles and still not get drunk!
Hic!” Beneath a streetlamp, several workers leaned on one another for support.
None of them could stand steadily.
Each carried a wine bottle, swaying from side to side until, from afar, they looked like they were performing some bizarre dance.
At last, the drunkest of them wrapped both arms and legs around the lamppost.
He rubbed his face against it while mumbling drunkenly, “More wine…!
Hic!
I’m happy today!
I’m finally gonna get a wife…
hic!” “Hahaha!
Look at this idiot!
He was acting so smug after winning the drinking contest, and now he’s showing his true colors!” The others leaned against the lamp as well, pointing at him and roaring with laughter.
The dim light reflected off their flushed, drunken faces.
Their hot breaths blended into a visible wave of warmth rising into the rainy night, dispersing even the cold damp air.
But just as they were laughing— “Urgh!” The man hugging the lamppost suddenly stiffened before vomiting violently.
One of the others failed to dodge in time and got splashed.
“You old bastard—!” Before he could finish cursing, another hurriedly covered his mouth.
“Shh!” He pointed toward the dark government building in the distance.
“We wandered all the way to the Administration Office.” “Lord Unkawa might still be working.” “…!” Everyone instantly sobered a little.
They all looked toward the building.
Seeing that the top floor was already dark, they immediately turned black-faced toward the laughing drunk.
“You dare joke about Lord Unkawa?!” “Beat him up!” “Wait, wait!” “What about this old drunk?” They looked back.
The man was already snoring loudly, mumbling incoherently in his sleep.
“…Wife…
kiss…” Several veins popped on their foreheads.
One of them sighed.
“You guys go ahead.” “I drank the least tonight.” “I’ll carry him home.” “Fine.” “We should’ve stopped him from drinking so much.” “How’s that our fault?” “Who knows what got into him?
He drank like he wanted to die.” …
A short while later…
Two figures staggered into a small wooden house.
“Whew!” “You old bastard…” “You’re as heavy as a pig.” After laying him onto the bed, the man wiped the sweat from his forehead before muttering quietly, “…Was it worth it?” The drunk looked completely unconscious.
As though he hadn’t heard a single word.
Instead, he continued murmuring someone’s name in his sleep.
Tears shimmered beneath his trembling eyelids.
Creak…
The wooden door slowly closed.
The light from outside disappeared.
The room gradually sank into darkness.
Only soft snoring remained.
Moments later…
Even that disappeared.
Complete silence.
Only the noisy wind gently tapped against the windows…
Concealing everything.
Within the dim room…
A shadow quietly rose.
It slipped silently through the darkness like a ghost.
…
Coo…
coo…
At the very top of Dawn City— Upon the great bronze bell atop the Administration Building— Several white doves pecked rainwater from their feathers.
Their crimson eyes reflected the uninvited guest below.
Inside the Administration Building…
The two officials on night duty chatted idly.
Gradually…
Their voices became softer.
Their conversation less frequent.
Soon…
Only sluggish, absent-minded responses remained.
The intake vent of the ventilation system quietly released a colorless, odorless mist.
Sleep crept in before either man could react.
Their frail consciousness was quietly replaced.
Click.
The Administration Building at night was deathly silent.
The front door slowly opened without making a sound.
Dust stirred beneath the faint breeze.
A thick black shadow slipped inside like a ghost.
Like an owl, the figure clung upside down to the ceiling above the duty room.
Not the slightest sound escaped him.
The man wore a half-mask that covered both his mouth and ears.
Its appearance resembled a bat with crimson fangs.
He glanced at the two sleeping guards below.
After confirming they were completely unconscious…
He formed a hand seal.
His lips moved soundlessly.
As though speaking to himself.
“I’ve infiltrated the building.” “How’s your side?” “Ready to receive me?” A moment later…
A faint voice echoed back through the secret communication technique.
“Unkawa…
Lord Unkawa hasn’t moved.” “At this hour, Tsukimisato Unkawa should still be conducting evening training…” The voice suddenly paused.
The infiltrator’s expression tightened.
Thinking something had gone wrong, he hurriedly asked, “Saburō!
What happened?” “…Nothing.” “And stop calling me by my name.” “…Bat.” The connection remained active.
Soon, his companion continued.
“That idiot kid who arrived today just went to see Tsukimisato Unkawa.” “You haven’t been discovered.” “Hurry.” The man quietly let out a breath.
His heartbeat slowed.
His breathing became nearly imperceptible.
He possessed absolute confidence in his disguise and infiltration skills.
He had successfully infiltrated countless dangerous locations.
He had even snuck into the Fire Daimyō’s palace.
During that mission…
He stole Konoha’s military deployment plans.
Then sold them on the black market for an enormous fortune.
Unfortunately…
He gambled every last coin away.
The Daimyō’s people eventually tracked him down.
Rather than execute him…
The Daimyō took a liking to his talents.
He ordered him to infiltrate various nations and gather intelligence.
This…
Was his first official assignment.
Normally…
This mission should have been easier than anything he’d done before.
Yet…
A strange sense of unease lingered.
Tsukimisato Unkawa gave him an unsettling feeling.
Warm.
Approachable.
Yet unfathomably meticulous.
A man who left no openings.
Someone…
Far from ordinary.
And this infiltration…
Had gone far too smoothly.
Even if…
Everything was unfolding exactly as it should.
“…Owl.” Instinctively, he whispered the codename.
Just as he always had whenever he felt uneasy.
Hoping to hear the familiar reply— “I’m here.” But…
No one answered.
Only silence.
Drip…
Inside the deathly quiet duty room…
The tiny sound felt unbearably loud.
As light…
As a raindrop.
Without hesitation— His hand shot to the hilt of the blade at his waist.
He spun around sharply.
Searching for an unseen enemy.
The next instant— A flash of cold steel.
His entire body shuddered.
Driven by pure instinct…
He jerked his head aside.
A shrill whistle sliced past his ear.
Warm blood streamed from his cheek to his jaw.
“Urgh!” His face became visibly lopsided.
Clutching what remained of his ear, he barely managed to suppress a scream.
The agony twisted his expression.
Staring ahead— He saw only…
A small, slender figure.
Stepping silently from the shadows.
“Looking for him?” The childish voice was icy cold.
Before the horrified infiltrator— The child casually tossed something toward him.
It rolled across the floor.
A human head.
A black kunai had pierced clean through its temple.
Because it was a direct brain wound, almost no blood poured out.
Instead…
Blood dripped slowly…
One drop at a time.
Forming a small pool on the floor.
The “raindrops” he had heard earlier…
Had been blood.
The owner of that head…
“…Saburō…” For a brief instant…
His mind went blank.
An icy chill crawled from his spine to the back of his neck.
Then— The child raised a short blade.
Its polished edge gleamed coldly.
“…Bat.” He spoke the infiltrator’s codename.
Then slowly shook his head.
“No.” “I should call you…” “…Mud Capital.” “By the charge of espionage…” “I hereby sentence you to death.” The blade in Nagato’s hand reflected Mud Capital’s travel-worn face.
The familiar expression he wore…
Was now filled with nothing but terror and disbelief.
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