"Fuga"
Flames consumed the once dark and cold Root base, burning it from the inside out, leaving nothing behind. Not the dead bodies, not the countless dark deeds done by Danzo, and not the horrors carried out by Root.
It was all gone.
Or was it?
Sukuna had made sure that wasn't entirely the case. While burning away the evidence was necessary, he stored away anything useful Danzo had left behind.
From the dark deeds committed by Danzo and the upper council of the village—including their dear Third Hokage-sama—to the mission records of Root's assassinations and treacheries carried out for years, everything was now in his hands.
A very potent stockpile of blackmail material for the future if he needed it, or proof to justify his actions if the situation demanded it.
And that wasn't all he gained from the base.
Uzumaki sealing techniques, copies of many forbidden jutsu, key intel reserved only for the higher management of the village, clan-specific jutsu, materials like chakra metal, Hashirama's cells, and much more.
The place was nothing less than a gold mine of resources. Danzo had been hiding far more than Sukuna initially thought. Root's foundation was deeper, darker, and far more corrupt than he had imagined.
Danzo had also been sitting on assets and cash worth as much as a small hidden village.
"Greedy old bastard." Sukuna couldn't help but click his tongue at that.
While some Uchiha wished to take part in the spoils, all the loot was given to Sukuna.
As agreed, this was the payment for saving Kiyomi and helping the Uchiha clan fight off Danzo. But there were other reasons why he received everything: to ensure his silence about what the Uchiha clan had done here.
If word got out, Sukuna wouldn't be affected in the slightest. The Uchiha didn't even know his real identity. However, the clan itself would be eradicated the next time. This was not just payment for his participation but also to buy his silence.
Another reason—Sukuna had yet to tell them about Itachi. The clan still wanted revenge on the man who had wiped out half their kin, and the only lead they had was Sukuna.
Once everything was done, Sukuna set the underground Root base ablaze with his Fuga, along with all the dead bodies and remaining evidence. Everything burned into ash, never to be found again.
"You should go first. I'll have to stay until the fires die down. Leaving early would disable the barrier, and shinobi outside might notice the flames," Sukuna said to Izumi, who was now officially the spokesperson for the Uchiha clan.
With the Uchiha, things were simple: the strongest handled the clan. Mostly.
Izumi nodded in understanding. Once she retrieved Kiyomi—who was sulking because they hadn't allowed her to fight Danzo—she, along with the rest of the Uchiha clan members, turned and headed home.
"Tomorrow at 6 o'clock. If you're late, then there won't be any Genjutsu classes for you." Izumi said offhandedly before leaving, bringing a wide smile to Sukuna's face.
He spent another two hours there, waiting for the fire to die down before heading back to the village.
"Strange how I didn't find Sai or his brother here," he pondered while wrapping things up. He had searched for both Sai and Shin in the base, even checking among the corpses, but neither was there.
"Most likely they haven't been taken into Root yet, or they were outside on some mission. But at age seven or eight, what kind of mission could they possibly be doing?" Sukuna mused to himself.
...
The Uchiha clan, meanwhile, was elated. They marched back home with victorious pride in their steps.
This battle had boosted their morale after Itachi's massacre. It was a great victory, especially after learning that Danzo had been responsible for their suffering.
While many suspected that the other higher-ups—and even the Hokage—were involved in the clan's downfall, tonight's events had all but confirmed it in their minds. Yet none dared to voice those thoughts aloud.
They all knew their position. Now wasn't the time to act recklessly, but to silently gather strength. Still, that didn't mean they couldn't enjoy their triumph.
Danzo had been one of the culprits behind their tragedy. His death was only the beginning of their revenge. Sooner or later, they would find Itachi, and then he too would face their wrath.
Everyone was happy. Everyone—except one.
Kiyomi was the only one frowning among the cheerful red-eyed clan, frustrated because she had been forced to hide instead of fighting.
She was only eight, but inside, she still carried the memories of an almost eighteen-year-old girl. To her, being treated like a child was infuriating.
As the clan regrouped, Izumi noticed her immediately. She hurried over, her Mangekyo still faintly glowing from exhaustion, but her concern was genuine. "Kiyomi!" she called, grabbing her shoulders. "Are you alright? He didn't hurt you, did he? Did he or his men do anything?"
Earlier, Izumi hadn't had time to ask anything beyond a quick glance to ensure Kiyomi's safety. Now, all her worries spilled out.
Kiyomi shook her head quickly. "No. I'm fine. Not a scratch."
Izumi let out a sigh of relief. "Thank the Kami-sama. You were taken right under our noses… I feared the worst."
Kiyomi pressed her lips together. "I said I'm fine. But…" She glanced at the rest of the Uchiha, still celebrating. Her tone hardened. "I don't understand. What was this all about? Who exactly was that man? Why did the clan risk everything to attack him? Why was I even targeted?"
Izumi blinked, surprised. "You… that masked man didn't tell you anything?"
"No. That jerk just woke me up by… I don't even know how. It felt like my nose was on fire. Then he dragged me to you all before tossing me into that space of his. It was horrible!" Kiyomi snapped, her frustration bubbling over.
"One moment I was home, the next masked shinobi were dragging me away. Then I was trapped inside Su—… I mean, that strange dimension the masked person used. I have no idea what it was. He just dumped me there while everyone else fought. I don't even know why."
Izumi snorted quietly to herself. 'Of course that brat hadn't explained anything to Kiyomi, just dragged her around like baggage.'
'Just wait. You want training in Genjutsu, right? I'll give you an excellent Genjutsu to train with. Hmph…' She smirked to herself, already planning revenge for all the times Sukuna had annoyed her today—especially that last comment about Itachi.
Her expression softened when she saw Kiyomi's seriousness. She lowered her voice. "That man was Danzo Shimura. An advisor to the Hokage… but more than that, he was the shadow pulling strings behind the village. He wanted the Uchiha clan gone. Tonight, we ended him—and with him, the biggest threat to our people."
Kiyomi's brows furrowed. "So… he ordered the attacks? He's the reason Sasuke and I were hunted? Wait—was he behind what Itachi did that night?" Her mind reeled, recalling the corruption of the Jujutsu Council in her previous world. She immediately grasped the parallel here.
Izumi nodded firmly. "Yes. It was him. As for Itachi, I still don't know… but undoubtedly Danzo was involved. I heard it from his own mouth."
Kiyomi fell silent, processing it all. Then, her tone sharpened. "And the masked man? The one who helped me… He was my age, wasn't he? Who is he?"
Izumi's eyes narrowed slightly. "We don't know. He's powerful, dangerous… but for some reason, he sided with us. He even helped us against Danzo in the end."
Kiyomi looked away, hiding her expression. She knew far more about Sukuna than Izumi could ever imagine—his real name, his cursed powers, truths no Uchiha could understand. But the binding vow between them forced her into silence.
'That bastard tricked me into a binding vow when I wasn't ready. Shameless. I'll get back at him. King of Curses or not, I don't care.' Her Uchiha pride bristled.
What could he do, kill her? She had already died once. No big deal.
"…He helped me," Kiyomi admitted quietly, almost to herself. For all her fury, irritation, and pride, she couldn't deny that fact. And it left her confused.
"Tsk. Annoying guy."
Izumi studied her but chose not to press further. "Whoever he is, we'll keep an eye on him. For now, what matters is that you're safe."
Kiyomi's fists clenched. "Safe? I was shoved aside! What could possibly happen to me? Hmph… I wanted to fight too, Izumi. I wanted to stand with you. To stand with all of them!" Her voice cracked, frustration spilling over. "But instead I was useless. Weak. Just someone to protect."
Izumi's eyes softened. "Kiyomi…"
"No!" Kiyomi shook her head. "You don't understand. Every time, I'm told to stay back. To wait. To hide. I don't want that anymore. I want to fight with you. I want to grow strong enough that no one can push me aside again."
"Sigh, not even a teenager and already this much trouble. At this rate, she won't get any men in the future," Izumi muttered like an older sister worrying about her little sister's prospects.
A tick mark formed on Kiyomi's forehead at that.
"Wait, what about Sasuke?" she blurted suddenly, anger shifting into clarity. She remembered he had been injured.
"Don't worry. That masked brat healed Sasuke too. He's as good as new. Just resting from blood loss. He's safe," Izumi reassured her calmly.
Kiyomi let out a long breath. But her mind drifted back to Sukuna.
What was he after? Helping her, helping Sasuke, even helping the entire Uchiha clan like this?
'What's his angle?'
xxx
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