23 Chapter 23: Devourer

"I want to be an Anbu captain."

Hiruzen looked wordlessly at Yuki; the smile on his face and his request were far from good.

The Anbu hunters were also surprised.

"Why? What are you planning, kid?"

"Plans? No, no, you're overestimating me, Hokage-sama... I've simply always admired Itachi, being Anbu and all."

Waving his hand, Yuki smiled cunningly.

"But also, I've set out to be better than Itachi, so I thought... By being a captain, would I surpass Itachi?"

Yuki's eyes gleamed dangerously as he spoke these words.

Hiruzen squinted his eyes; he, of course, didn't believe a word – everything about the boy screamed lies.

"Becoming an Anbu captain doesn't happen overnight; you need strength and experience, not just..."

"But I have the strength and experience, Hokage-sama, don't you think?" Yuki interrupted, not letting the Hokage finish.

"It's not about that; you just can't..."

"Well, Hokage-sama, don't say that... I hope this might make my request come true."

Interrupting again, Yuki had a clone hand a document to Hiruzen.

Hiruzen looked suspiciously at the document in the clone's hands, but sighed tiredly – there was nothing to fear. If the boy wanted him dead, he would have attacked long ago.

Taking the document, Hiruzen decided not to waste time and read it.

"This...?!"

Hiruzen's eyes widened in shock as he read the content of the document, and with each page, he felt strength draining away.

"As you see, Hokage-sama, I hope with this, my request will be accepted."

Yuki enjoyed seeing the shock on Hiruzen's face; he looked at him with interest. The Anbu hunters didn't know what was in the document, but judging by the Hokage's reaction, it wasn't something good.

"Yuki, how long have you known about this?"

"Since when? Hmm... I wonder, since when." Closing his eyes and crossing his arms, Yuki tilted his head in thought.

Hiruzen, seeing this, knew the boy wouldn't say anything.

"My mistake, I'll ask again... Yuki, who else knows about this?"

Yuki smiled at his question.

"I wonder about that too. It depends on your answer, Hokage-sama. If your answer is satisfactory, only you and I will know. Otherwise, I might slip and tell Sister Tsunade, Mr. Hiashi, the Nara clan, the Aburame clan, the whole village, and perhaps all the ninja nations... Hihihi." With a cruel smile, Yuki looked at the Hokage; the Anbu hunters were stunned, witnessing the Hokage being threatened, and by a child no less.

"Are you threatening me, Yuki?"

"Oh, this is concerning. I would never dare to threaten you, Hokage-sama."

Yuki turned his gaze and looked at one of his clones.

"You, tell me, am I threatening him?"

"Of course not. Who would dare?" The clone responded, shaking its head. Yuki nodded and looked at another clone.

"And you, am I threatening him?"

"Impossible, I just see an old man giving wise advice to a young one." Yuki nodded and looked at an Anbu hunter.

"Mr. Hunter, tell me, am I threatening him?"

The Anbu hunter trembled a bit, seeing Yuki's eyes; in them, he saw a terrifying creature, fangs bared, looking at him with hunger.

"N-no, I see... nothing," the hunter said with a trembling voice. Yuki smiled cunningly at this.

Turning his gaze back to the Hokage, Yuki spread his arms.

"As you can see, Hokage-sama, no one here is threatening you... I'm just here because I want to be an Anbu captain. No, on second thought, I'd like Hokage-sama to give me full control of Anbu. You can see it as a birthday gift."

Sweat drops ran down Hiruzen's face; he had never felt so defenseless before. Looking at the document, he could see explicit evidence of the Uchiha clan massacre two years ago, along with the story behind it. There were also specific points about holes in Konoha's barrier, important locations, shelters, confidential information about S-rank jutsus, as well as forbidden ones from the library.

There were many things in that document, every secret and high-level missions.

"I wonder what the major clans would think if they knew they could disappear at any moment."

Hiruzen trembled a bit at the thought.

"It could be the beginning of another coup... Hihi, how fun, don't you think, Hokage-sama? Can you massacre all the clans of Konoha? More importantly, do you have the power to do it?... I wonder what the other nations would think when they find out how defenseless Konoha is... Hihi."

(He got me) Hiruzen's shoulders slumped; he knew it was his biggest mistake, the killing of the entire Uchiha clan. He looked at Yuki for a moment before sighing.

(This is my punishment)

The Anbu hunters were confused by all this, but one of them understood.

The Anbu with the pierced shoulder looked at the duo with bloodshot eyes, not wanting to believe what he just heard, but judging by the Hokage's reaction, he knew it was very likely true.

"Still, I don't have the authority for this."

"You have it; you're the Hokage, after all... No, you have to do it! Or else."

Pointing the spark pistol, Yuki looked at the Anbu hunter who had answered his question.

"Eh?"

[Yud Aleph]

*Bang

"Ugh!"

A bullet pierced his abdomen, after which his body was swallowed by darkness, letting out groans of pain; blood flowed on the floor.

Silence fell in the room; Hiruzen and the Anbu hunters stared wide-eyed, horrified by the bloodstains and the cries of the latter.

"Thanks for the meal."

Wiping his mouth, Yuki smiled.

"Yuki... You... Are..."

"The Devourer!" said the Anbu hunter with the fox mask, finishing Hiruzen's words.

"Well, I don't know what you're talking about, Mr. Hunter."

The Anbu hunter was speechless, wondering how thick his skin was.

Hiruzen felt his headache worsening; this 'Devourer' had caused him many problems, being a Class S criminal, but no one knew who he was and what he looked like, unaware that he was under their noses all this time.

"Forget about it; from today, Anbu is yours."

"Good answer."

Snapping his fingers, both Toki Hami no Shiro and the clones disappeared, and the hunters were released.

"Ha, ha,"

Several of them were breathing heavily, pressing the wound in their bodies; drained of chakra and blood loss had affected them.

Hiruzen looked again at Yuki, who was now in his previous clothes.

"Oh? I almost forgot; better not tell Sister Tsunade and that old shadow Danzo... Of course, don't play those little dirty tricks on me either. I believe you're aware that even if you kill me, the bomb will explode." Turning to leave, Yuki glanced back.

"This goes for you too... Big brother Kakashi."

Staring at the Anbu with the fox mask, Yuki tilted his head and smiled.

"After all, you wouldn't want me to visit Rin Nohara's grave. You know, I love learning new jutsus, and there's one in particular I'd love to try – it's called 'Edo Tensei.'"

Kakashi's body trembled at the mention of Rin Nohara's name; the idea of something happening to her grave angered him. However, his body froze at the mention of 'Edo Tensei.'

Hiruzen was also a bit stunned by this, but then he calmed down, thinking it wouldn't be a surprise if the boy knew. There were many more secrets in that document.

"So, you also know about Danzo. What do you plan to do?" Hiruzen frowned a bit, asking, but he also considered the goals of the 'Devourer,' each one related to 'Root.'

(This child)

"This doesn't concern you, Hokage-sama. I'd appreciate it if you didn't get involved."

Yuki's smile had disappeared; his eyes were sharp and fierce.

"I understand."

Looking at Yuki one last time, Hiruzen smiled.

"Well, have a good day."

With a slight bow, Yuki left the room.

No one stopped him; in fact, no one wanted to stop him. They still felt the chills from what had just transpired.

"Go to the hospital and call the Anbu Captain."

"Yes, Hokage-sama."

With a blink, the hunters disappeared. Hiruzen sighed heavily as he sat down.

He felt like he had aged ten years.

"The Devourer... Yuki Uchiha, were we dancing in the palm of your hand all this time?"

With a puff of his pipe, Hiruzen looked at the sky. The alliances with the clans, Tsunade's adoption, the disappearance of the Anbu, the multiple pranks – everything was leading to this.

"Killing him is no longer an option. Tsunade, you've taken in a 'Devourer'... Danzo, you and I created him."

With these last words, Hiruzen closed his eyes.

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TN : Well I am in good mood so another one xD