Chapter 6: It's Actually You!
Root remained perpetually sunless, shrouded in eternal darkness.
Black corridors, cramped chambers, faint screams echoing from unknown sources—impossible to distinguish whether this place was reality or some ghostly realm.
Danzo sat cross-legged on faded tatami, his hunched back like a rusted blade.
A single lamp flickered on the table, its dim light casting his silhouette against the wall where it writhed menacingly.
Half his face remained veiled in shadow, emotions unreadable. His single eye half-closed, gleaming dully in the darkness like a crocodile lurking in swamp water.
A shinobi stood at the lamp's edge like a withered log, devoid of living presence. Only the occasional rustling from the insect jar on his back betrayed any sign of life.
Despite the dim environment, he still wore sunglasses, half his face hidden behind a mask in standard Root attire. Only the distinctive insect jar revealed his Aburame clan heritage.
"You're certain it wasn't done by our Root operatives?" Danzo asked slowly.
"Yes, Danzo-sama." Aburame Torune kept his hands folded in his sleeves, his voice utterly flat and cold as any Root member. "I accounted for all Root members and confirmed their locations during the incident. None could have committed the act."
"Moreover, Root members are absolutely loyal to Danzo-sama. They possess no independent thought. Without your orders, they would never attack the Nine-Tails jinchuriki."
"I see." Danzo sighed as if chanting, raising his head as fierce light flashed in his single eye. "So this time, I've been framed by enemies!"
"How truly rare!"
His withered fingers tapped his knee, his voice containing no frustration or anger, only excitement.
"Indeed, the enemy has finally realized that to destroy Konoha, they must first eliminate me and Root!"
"What a pity Hiruzen is senile and foolish, seeing less clearly than our enemies!"
"Alas!" Danzo sighed, lamenting bitterly. "With an incompetent Hokage, Root must work harder!"
"Nara Shikaku is clever. He'll only investigate the Nine-Tails jinchuriki matter without prying further, but we can't let him discover too many Root secrets."
"You deal with him. Have Yamanaka Fu lead a team to track down the Nine-Tails jinchuriki."
After hesitating, he added: "Once you identify the enemy, immediately report the intelligence to our incompetent Hokage. Then before the Hokage's reinforcements arrive, bring back the Nine-Tails jinchuriki."
"Understood!" Aburame Torune bowed and vanished, leaving Shimura Danzo alone, touching the eyes beneath his bandages with satisfaction.
Ah, everything's improving!
The evil Uchiha were finally eliminated, and that old fool Sarutobi finally made an irreparable mistake.
Next, he only needed to turn the tide heroically, capture the Nine-Tails jinchuriki, reveal the truth publicly, then fan the flames and manipulate the victims' families' emotions. Even if Sarutobi wanted to cling to the Hokage position, it would be impossible!
Hehe...
The Hokage position... will finally be mine!
Danzo laughed with satisfaction, already hearing the Hokage robes fluttering in the wind.
His dry laughter echoed through the chamber but was quickly absorbed by Root's corridors, unable to spread. Like all the ambitions he'd consumed over the years, buried deep in this sunless underground.
---
Meanwhile, Yasushi ran through the forest carrying Naruto, watching tree clusters rapidly pass by, his heart still as water without the slightest ripple.
Only the bloodstains on his sleeves indicated his journey hadn't been peaceful.
The Land of Fire was currently the strongest nation, and Konoha the strongest village. Even within the country, security remained tight with patrol teams everywhere, preventing enemies from striking directly at their doorstep.
Though Yasushi knew the village's alert forces intimately and could easily circumvent them, he understood his time window was only a few hours. Once Konoha discovered the Nine-Tails jinchuriki missing, they'd inevitably pursue.
To save time, he traveled straight without detours.
The result meant inevitably encountering Konoha patrol teams face-to-face.
He'd already killed several patrol waves along the way.
Though patrols were merely chunin-led at best, no match for him whatsoever, they avoided direct combat, using various traps and poisons to delay him. The variety of jutsu techniques had somewhat impeded his progress.
Moreover, the Nine-Tails jinchuriki's recovery was too strong. He'd occasionally wake suddenly, making noise and causing trouble.
If it weren't still too early, Yasushi would've gladly cut this brat down.
He had to kill patrols to silence them, suppress the troublesome kid, while being careful not to strike too hard and accidentally kill the jinchuriki, releasing the Nine-Tails.
With multiple concerns, his travel speed inevitably suffered.
While running, Yasushi's ear twitched slightly. Faint rustling came from the left forest. The weight in his palm suddenly increased as the jinchuriki began struggling restlessly again.
"Ah, seriously, troublesome brat..."
Yasushi stopped abruptly, his knuckles striking Naruto's nape precisely, preventing him from waking during combat and causing more chaos.
Too light and he'd wake. Too hard and he'd release the monster. This balance was more dangerous than walking a tightrope.
Then holding Naruto in his left hand, he formed one-handed seals with his right at blinding speed, fire light surging in his throat illuminating the killing intent in his eyes.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive fireball erupted from his mouth, distorting the air as it flew rapidly toward the left forest.
With a thunderous explosion, trees shattered and collapsed, flames surging skyward. But six black figures shot from the burning canopy, landing in a line before the forest, completely unharmed.
Seeing these six in their familiar attire, Yasushi knew his safe escape window had finally closed.
"Ah, so the pursuers finally caught up!"
"Konoha's response speed remains consistent as always!"
Yasushi clicked his tongue, his gaze sweeping over them, identifying their affiliation from their bearing.
"What's this? Not ANBU who came, but Root?"
"So Danzo really is Hiruzen's true love!"
"Even with his grandson murdered, he still trusts him?"
"Can Hiruzen really let Danzo handle pursuing the Nine-Tails jinchuriki?"
"Or did Danzo suppress the information again and send people to execute the mission privately?"
Facing Yasushi's probing, the five remained completely unresponsive.
Yamanaka Fu and Aburame Ryoma exchanged glances before spreading their formation in coordination, advancing toward Yasushi while demanding: "You're not Hatake Kakashi. Who are you? Which village?"
"By doing this, are you declaring war on Konoha?"
"Hehe..." Yasushi laughed strangely twice, forming hand seals. With a puff, he changed appearance again.
Konoha headband, Uchiha fan emblem, blood-red eyes, and that familiar face made Yamanaka Fu stop in his tracks, calling out in shock:
"It's actually you!"
"Uchiha Itachi!"