"Should we inform Danzo-sama and temporarily abandon this?"
Fu frowned deeply, as at this point in time, retreating now would mean all their efforts would be in vain.
"No!"
Torune shook his head and said, "I just need to keep expanding the range."
With that, Torune immediately formed hand seals, and the Chakra insects that were scattered around instantly dispersed in all directions.
Watching the number of Chakra insects around him gradually increase, Shinji remained motionless.
Was he discovered?
No, if he had been discovered, there wouldn't have just been an increase in the detection range of the Chakra insects.
Was it his momentary perception that triggered the Chakra insects' inherent alertness?
So, Torune intended to use this to exert pressure, making him nervous and expose a weakness?
As thoughts flashed through his mind, Shinji noticed that the Chakra insects, which had been spreading outwards, were now flying back.
Hmm?
What's going on?
The next second, a single Chakra body entered Shinji's perception range.
Sensing the volume of this Chakra, his eyes narrowed slightly.
Shisui had appeared!
Shinji looked through the branches and leaves at the sky, realizing it was almost dusk.
— — —
Shisui, who was heading towards Naka Shrine, frowned after entering the dense forest. He sensed many eyes watching him from within the trees.
Just as he was about to stop, he noticed these gazes gradually disappear.
He flipped onto a tall treetop, crouched down, and watched with a serious expression as ninjas gradually emerged before him.
Torune, with hand seals formed, stepped out slowly, surrounded by Chakra insects constantly returning to his body.
Fu, beside him, spoke, "Shisui, Danzo-sama wants to see you."
Shisui did not respond, but instead looked around, his gaze finally settling on Torune as he demanded, "You killed them?!"
Torune was startled by these words, then said coldly, "Danzo-sama wants to see you. Come with us."
As Torune's words fell, several Root ninjas instantly appeared around Shisui, surrounding him.
"Slaughtering fellow village ninjas is a grave crime." Shisui roared, about to form hand seals and take down the people in front of him.
"Stop!"
Fu quickly shouted, "Shisui, are you trying to betray the village?!"
Shisui's movements paused upon hearing this. Although he had no such intention, the Uchiha clan was already viewed with suspicion by the higher-ups. If he were to act here, the advisors would use this incident as a reason to further pressure the Uchiha clan.
Seeing Shisui hesitate, Fu quickly spoke again, "They were only knocked out. After all, Root's operations do not allow for detection."
Saying this, Fu gestured with his eyes to Torune beside him.
Torune nodded in acknowledgment, then took a step back and instantly disappeared.
A second later, he reappeared in his original spot, but with an Anbu ninja in his hand.
"You can check." Torune said, throwing the Anbu in front of Shisui.
Shisui glanced left and right, then jumped down.
Coming before the Anbu lying on the ground, he reached out and felt his neck. His pulse was beating, he was alive.
Shisui stood up, looked at Torune and Fu, who had come before him, and said, "Lead the way."
Torune and Fu exchanged glances, then led Shisui away in another direction.
The surrounding Root ninjas instantly disappeared again.
Sensing the gradual departure of the group, Shinji immediately leaped and landed beside the Anbu still lying on the ground.
Shinji frowned as he looked at the Anbu in front of him. He had seen this person's mask before. He was said to be an old-timer who had been in Anbu for several years.
He squatted down and removed the Anbu's mask from his chin. Then, he held his chin and, with a forceful movement, made the Anbu's jaw joint open, revealing his tongue.
Indeed… Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal.
If a Root Ninja is controlled by genjutsu or attempts to reveal secrets about Root, this cursed seal activates, killing the cursed individual.
Danzo's reach is long, and it seemed Hiruzen didn't even know about it?
Shinji stood up and shook his head. He wasn't interested in such matters, but he would need to be more careful when performing missions in Anbu later.
Now, he was going to witness Shisui being deprived of his Mangekyo. Perhaps he could even make Danzo suffer.
— — —
Shisui, following behind Torune and the others, observed his surroundings and realized that this was the Naka River basin, near Naka Shrine.
Under the dusk sky, Danzo sat on a rock, resting with his eyes closed.
"Danzo-sama, Shisui has been brought." Torune stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and said respectfully.
Danzo slowly opened his exposed single eye and looked at Shisui standing before him. No, it would be more accurate to say he was looking at Shisui's eyes.
Shisui felt slightly uncomfortable with Danzo's gaze but still asked, "Is something the matter, Danzo-sama?"
"The assembly time is almost here, and I need to complete Hokage-sama's mission."
Danzo stood up, came before Shisui, and said coldly, "If you were to cast your ocular jutsu on Fugaku and persuade the Uchiha clan, but the village remained unchanged, what would you do?"
Shisui frowned upon hearing this and replied without hesitation, "Hokage-sama has already promised me that he will change the village's usual approach."
"Heh…"
Danzo sneered at this, seemingly mocking Hiruzen and the naivety of Shisui before him.
"But what if someone like me, who is deeply suspicious, is unwilling to make easy changes? Then, at that time, what will you, Shisui, do?"
As soon as Danzo spoke, Shisui's heart tightened.
Yes, if the advisors disagreed, could Hiruzen push it through?
"But, Danzo-sama…"
"At that time, would you, Shisui, also use your Kotoamatsukami on me?" Danzo said as he approached Shisui.
Shisui lowered his head slightly upon hearing this, wanting to retort, "No, I…"
However, momentarily distracted by the question, Shisui didn't notice the greedy look in Danzo's eyes as he drew closer.
"Your Sharingan, I shall take it!"
Danzo's frenzied tone, coupled with his left hand lunging towards his eye, finally brought Shisui back from his daze.
"I apologize!"
Shisui's eyes instantly turned into red Sharingan, and he released a genjutsu towards Danzo.