[Two weeks later.]
That's all Fugaku gave them before he would unleash the scroll.
Two weeks before war—or peace—would be forced upon the village.
Shina didn't wait.
---
Whispers in the Dark
Within the underground corridors of the ANBU headquarters, Shina stood beside Itachi and Tenzo—one of the few ANBU captains not handpicked by Danzo.
Tenzo glanced at the scroll copy on the table, then back to Shina.
> "You're asking me to turn against my orders."
> "I'm asking you to choose what's right," Shina replied. "Danzo is preparing something. You know it."
Tenzo didn't deny it. Instead, he folded his arms.
> "I've seen strange seal tags on supply orders. Training exercises that don't show up on the ANBU schedule."
> "New recruits?" Itachi asked.
Tenzo nodded. "Too young. Too obedient."
Shina stepped forward.
> "Root is alive. Danzo is creating something worse than before. We can't wait for permission."
Tenzo studied him for a moment, then sighed.
> "You'll have support. Quietly. But if this collapses—"
> "It won't," Shina said. "We'll handle the rest."
---
Planting Seeds
Over the next days, Shina and Itachi quietly approached select ANBU agents—those disillusioned with the elders, those loyal to the Will of Fire but not its corruption.
They called it the Silent Split.
A code phrase passed in briefings, field reports, and disguised mission memos.
> "Silent Split: active."
It meant: watch Danzo. Block his moves. And wait for the signal.
---
Fugaku's Growing Doubts
Meanwhile, Fugaku's meetings with the Hokage grew more strained.
Sarutobi was cordial—but distracted. Defensive.
> "What you're asking for," he told Fugaku, "borders on coercion."
> "What Danzo is doing," Fugaku countered, "borders on treason."
The Hokage said nothing.
But behind the scenes, he summoned Jiraiya and Homura.
> "We need to contain the Uchiha situation before it spreads."
> "Contain how?" Jiraiya asked sharply. "With diplomacy—or with force?"
Sarutobi hesitated too long.
---
An Ambush in the Forest
It happened three nights later.
Shina and Tenzo intercepted a Root supply team near the outskirts of the Forest of Death. They were supposed to be transferring "training materials."
But what they found in the crates chilled Shina's blood.
> Dozens of blank-eyed children, each with a numbered seal burned into their shoulder.
> "This is beyond recruitment," Tenzo muttered. "He's manufacturing soldiers."
A whistle sounded—then kunai rained down from the trees.
Root had set them up.
It was a trap.
---
The Fight for the Future
The ambush exploded into a violent clash. Tenzo fought with Wood Release, holding the enemy at bay, while Shina cut through the darkness like lightning.
One Root agent grabbed a child hostage—
—but before he could vanish, a shadow stepped between them.
Itachi.
A single glance. Tsukuyomi.
The agent collapsed in seconds.
Shina grabbed the scroll from the supply team leader's satchel. Inside: blueprints, notes, and a chilling phrase scrawled at the bottom:
> PROJECT KOTO, PHASE II: MASS INDOCTRINATION COMPLETE.
---
End Scene: The Fuse is Lit
Back at the Uchiha compound, Shina dropped the new evidence onto Fugaku's table.
> "Your two weeks are up."
Fugaku read the scroll in silence.
Then, for the first time, he looked afraid.
> "This… this is war."
Shina's voice was cold, measured.
> "No. This is proof. What you do with it now… decides whether we burn this village to the ground."
---