As Bai Ye's thoughts wandered, two Anbu-affiliated ninjas approached him, swiftly closing the distance.
"Who are you?" one of them demanded.
"What is your purpose in coming to Konoha?" the other followed up.
Both were clad in standard Anbu attire, their faces hidden behind masks.
Bai Ye studied them thoughtfully. Given the current timeline, Danzo had already assumed the position of acting Hokage with the backing of Konoha's top brass. He was maneuvering to seize complete control of the village, ensuring all power remained in his grasp.
If Tsunade, the rightful Hokage, were to awaken, Danzo's Anbu would undoubtedly keep a close watch on her.
In other words…
"Have I been caught up in something unnecessary?" Bai Ye mused as he observed the two Anbu.
He recalled the recent conversation between Tsunade and Shizune, realizing that Tsunade could still command a faction of Anbu under Danzo's rule.
The two masked figures exchanged glances, silently communicating their intent.
As Danzo's loyal subordinates, they understood their orders—apprehend the suspicious individual before them and take him in for interrogation.
With that decision made, they reached for their shuriken.
Yet, the instant they moved—
A sudden haze clouded their minds.
When their vision cleared, they found themselves standing on an empty street, shuriken in hand, confusion written across their faces.
"What were we about to do?" one of them wondered.
"Why am I holding this?"
No—wait!
They had been tasked with monitoring someone and reporting to Lord Danzo!
Realizing this, they prepared to leave, but at that moment—
Their eyes locked onto a pair of mesmerizing pupils.
Azure blue at the edges, deep purple at the core, shimmering like a starry sky.
Before they could react, the black-haired young man moved.
It was as if he had sliced through something in the very fabric of space.
The Anbu instinctively took defensive stances, but in the next instant—
A sharp pain tore through them.
Blood poured from their bodies, wounds so severe they knew they wouldn't survive.
One of them coughed violently, crimson staining his mask. He stared at Bai Ye, as if trying to recall something buried in his fading consciousness.
But before he could act, before he could alert nearby comrades—
Their bodies collapsed lifelessly onto the ground.
Bai Ye stood motionless, his expression calm as ever.
Moments before their attack, he had already used Prestige Sleep to peer into their memories.
As expected, these two were Danzo's devoted subordinates.
Since assuming his role as acting Hokage, Danzo had placed Konoha under relentless surveillance through Anbu operatives like these.
Initially, Bai Ye had no intention of killing them.
However, after combing through their memories, he changed his mind.
In the world of One Piece, evil was often overt and blatant.
But in the Naruto world, it thrived in the shadows.
Under Danzo's rule, his subordinates had carried out countless assassinations, genocides, and secret missions, eliminating anyone deemed a potential threat.
And their so-called interrogations?
They were merely executions in disguise.
Once taken by Anbu, there was no escape—no matter whether the captive possessed valuable information or not.
These two had never intended to let Bai Ye live.
Thus, Bai Ye had no reason to spare them.
With a single motion, Ryūjin Jakka ignited, reducing their bodies to ashes.
Now, all he needed to do was wait.
The Fourth Great Ninja War was fast approaching.
But Bai Ye had also uncovered an unexpected piece of information from their stolen memories.
One of Danzo's many hidden bases—
A secret facility containing samples of First Hokage Senju Hashirama's cells.
And more importantly—
A stash of Uchiha Sharingan, untransplanted and waiting to be claimed.
PS:
I originally overlooked a detail—Tsunade was still in a coma when Danzo became acting Hokage. Apologies for the oversight!