Six years after the Nine-Tails Attack in Konoha.
In the Hokage's tearoom, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat solemnly on the dais, looking seriously at his old comrade below.
"Tonight, the Uchiha are having another gathering."
Danzo hinted at something deeper.
"I'm aware of the gathering, but it's a normal clan ritual for them. I can't interfere in that matter."
"What ritual! This is clearly a discussion about rebellion. They are using this to incite the entire Uchiha Clan's hatred towards Konoha, using this hostility to solidify the clan's unity!"
Seeing that hints weren't working, Danzo directly stated his viewpoint. In short, the Uchiha matter must be suppressed with a firm hand.
"I won't let that happen."
After speaking, a man walked out from the large door behind them.
He was Uchiha Shisui, the hero known as "Shisui of the Body Flicker" from the Third Great Ninja War, and also the descendant of a former comrade of the two Konoha elders present.
"Shisui, I leave this matter to you."
"Yes! If the Uchiha Clan discusses rebellion, I will use these eyes to rewrite everyone's minds."
Kotoamatsukami, the strongest genjutsu capable of unconsciously altering a target's cognition. By voluntarily revealing such a heaven-defying ocular jutsu to Konoha's leadership, Uchiha Shisui's loyalty to Konoha Village was undeniable.
Therefore, Hiruzen Sarutobi believed this matter would surely have a good outcome.
"Even if you use this ocular jutsu to alter Fugaku's consciousness alone, the Uchiha's discontent likely won't subside."
"It's fine. As long as the Uchiha are willing to change, we will change accordingly. We can gradually adjust our attitude towards the Uchiha then."
Danzo couldn't help but snort coldly in his heart. Nothing he said now would be of any use.
"Yes! That is also my wish."
Shisui replied.
"I will dispatch an Anbu to assist you. I leave everything in your hands, Shisui."
Thus, this meeting that would decide the fate of the Uchiha Clan came to an end here.
[Time to act]
Danzo stood up, intending to leave.
"Wait, Danzo. I have something to ask you."
By now, Shisui had already left. The tearoom, as before, contained only these two old men.
"When Orochimaru defected some time ago, Kakashi Hatake intercepted him at the last moment. That unfilial disciple of mine said some things at the time. Are you interested, Danzo?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't look at Danzo but silently gazed at the teacup in his hand.
"Just the ravings of a rogue Ninja."
Danzo immediately felt uneasy. Orochimaru's successful escape not long ago had also been unexpected. That man knew far too much.
But at that time, he only had one operative, Tenzō (Yamato), barely usable. While Amane's various abilities had been superficially boosted, sending her would have been like delivering a gift to Orochimaru.
After that incident, the Root was surrounded layer upon layer. If he hadn't always valued Amane as a pawn, he would have lost both Tenzō and Amane that very day, with all his hard work becoming a wedding dress for the Third Hokage.
"Ravings, you say... After this Uchiha matter is settled, disband the Root."
This was an idea the Third Hokage had harbored for a long time, but he simply hadn't been able to implement it before.
"What?! Do you know what you're doing, Hiruzen?!"
Danzo couldn't hold back. This was a direct move against him.
"In the past, the Village faced internal and external troubles. We had to use every method to stabilize the situation. But now, it's no longer necessary."
"Naive! Do you truly believe in Uchiha Shisui?! Are you so certain those eyes of his won't one day be used on you and me?! Controlling and eliminating all potential threats is the very foundation of Konoha's stability to this day!"
After that, no matter what rhetoric Danzo used, the Third Hokage's attitude remained exceptionally resolute, forcing Danzo to accept the order and withdraw, his mood deeply troubled.
In the end, he was not the Hokage.
A dangerous glint flashed in Danzo's eyes as he swiftly moved to a location that was secret even within the Root.
[Freeing up your hands, are you? That's assuming Uchiha Shisui actually succeeds. But for now, perhaps I should transfer Kyū.]
As long as Amane remained in his hands, even if unused, she could exert a degree of influence. Therefore, he absolutely could not leave any handle for Hiruzen Sarutobi to reclaim her!
*Clink.*
This was the sound of a Kunai making intimate contact with the ground, and also the signal of a flesh-and-blood person bidding farewell to this world.
[Although dying is terrifying, this way of dying should be considered merciful.]
After being struck by the Cutting Technique, several branches would extend from within the body, piercing through the internal organs until death.
This was the only kindness Amane could currently offer.
At this moment, the Root's training ground was already a sea of blood. Over twenty people were neatly restrained on the field by golden chains, and each one of them had been personally ended by Amane using this method.
Ever since the successful transplantation of Hashirama cells that day, while Amane gained super-strong buffs, she was also subjected to even more intense treatment.
On the very day she could run and jump, she was given the forbidden jutsu Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu, and then continued to focus on the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu and the First Hokage's Wood Release.
Amane accepted these aspects willingly.
After all, in the Ninja World, power ruled. In this regard, Amane was even grateful to Danzo for giving her this opportunity.
However! Amane could not accept Danzo's "mental" training.
Danzo specifically brought in people from who-knows-where. At first, he said they were death row inmates or spies, but later he just brought people without saying anything.
In any case, the goal was singular: kill.
Including today's batch, Amane conservatively estimated she had taken nearly a hundred lives with her own hands. Now, when killing these people, she didn't dare to think too deeply, and it further solidified her resolve to escape.
She was genuinely somewhat afraid. As a normally educated youth from the 21st century, Amane understood the terror of the word "habit."
Hadn't Kakashi, after joining the Anbu, shown killing intent towards Guy, the only one who gave him warmth at the time? It was a chilling thought.
And this was precisely the Uzumaki Amane that Danzo intended to mold in the next step.
[Damn it! Why hasn't the Kakashi Anbu Arc arrived yet? If my calculations are right, it's been almost six years since I came to this world!]
Amane couldn't understand why there wasn't the slightest sign of that event happening. She hadn't even seen Yamato's face in this Root organization. Could it be that this arc was truly just filler and not part of the main history?
But how could Amane know? It wasn't that the event hadn't triggered, but that Danzo had never considered using her, this pawn, for it. At that time, Amane had just undergone the Hashirama cell transplant. Her configuration looked impressive on paper, but there were too many unstable factors.
"Good, it seems you can now use the Adamantine Sealing Chains as well."
Her masked face snapped towards Danzo, releasing killing intent, but Amane immediately gasped a few times, forcing the murderous aura down.
"Apologies, Lord Danzo."
"It's fine. Kyū, I have a mission for you now."
!
Amane's heart jolted in shock, followed immediately by a surge of joy!
A change was coming? This Danzo was sending her out? Could it be the end of the Kakashi Anbu Arc, where she was to stop Orochimaru's defection? Or to replace Yamato in seizing Kakashi's Sharingan?
Although both missions were suicidal, as long as she showed her face during the process, there was a great chance she could be officially recognized!
[Naruto~ I'm coming! This time, I'll become the Iruka in your heart, and then make everyone in the Ninja World bow to me!]
"I am dispatching you to the Land of Water."
????
Huh?
Amane began to recall if she had forgotten some event.
Why send her to the Land of Water? She could understand being sent to the Land of Lightning during this period, given the Hyuga Hizashi incident. Could Danzo be cooperating with Obito at this time?
That couldn't be right; the two of them wouldn't get along. So, was she being sent to the Land of Water to gather intelligence? Be a spy like Kabuto? Would Danzo dare let her roam freely?
"The Hidden Mist Village in the Land of Water was formerly known as the Village of the Bloody Mist, a Village that implemented high-pressure, bloody rule. Because of this, many Ninjas from the Village defected. However, recently we received intelligence that some changes seem to be occurring within the Hidden Mist Village."
Danzo slowly relayed the intelligence about the Land of Water.
[I see. If I calculate the time, the Uchiha massacre is about to begin. In the itachi shinden, his first battle after joining the Akatsuki Organization was with Jūzō Biwa against the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura. That battle even produced a famous scene.]
First came Biwa, then came heaven, slashing the Tailed Beast like an immortal!
[But since the timing is close, it means the genjutsu on the Fourth Mizukage is about to be discovered and dispelled by Ao.]
Amane already had some guesses about what Danzo wanted her to do and couldn't help but feel a tinge of regret inwardly.
If she had been living normally with Naruto, perhaps she could have tried to do something about this matter. Unfortunately, now she could only be manipulated by Danzo.
But then again, if she had been living normally with Naruto, the current Amane might not even have mastered the Three Basic Jutsu proficiently.
[Fortune and misfortune are intertwined.]
Amane sighed inwardly while continuing to listen to Danzo's instructions.
"If the Hidden Mist Village abandons its previous policies, its power will increase rapidly in a short time. That is a threat to Konoha."
After saying this, Danzo handed Amane two scrolls.
One was a map of the Land of Water, along with contact codes for various bases and some local precautions.
The other was a Water Release Ninjutsu scroll, recording over ten common Hidden Mist Ninjutsu.
"Kyū, this is a long-term mission. You are to enter the Land of Water, understand the situation, and periodically feed intelligence back. Of course, you should know the limits. You must never expose your Wood Release Ninjutsu or Sealing Jutsu!"
Sealing Jutsu was different from ordinary Ninjutsu; the learning threshold was high. For an average Ninja, knowing some basics and having a superficial understanding was impressive. A Ninja capable of using Sealing in Real combat could not have appeared out of thin air.
As for Wood Release, that went without saying—it was the signature of the God of Shinobi.
"Am I going alone?"
A light flickered in Amane's eyes.
This mission sounded oddly "lenient."
Something was wrong!
"We once assisted the Village of the Bloody Mist in its policies towards Bloodline Limit Clans. Your identity will be prepared for you once you arrive there."
Wow, As expected is the pot hokage, even participating in the persecution of Bloodline Limit Clans.
After speaking, Danzo fell silent for a moment before continuing:
"If you are captured by the enemy and escape is impossible, you know what to do."
"Yes! Leave no corpse behind."
A technique that could instantly incinerate the body. This move wasn't even a Ninjutsu but a special self-immolation drug unique to the Ninja World. Therefore, unless one completely lost the ability to resist, it was unsolvable.
Learning this move was prioritized even before Chakra extraction.
"I value you highly. So far, you have never disappointed me. Kyū, I hope I have the day to recall you. Go."
[Ah, I'm a bit moved. Just kidding.]
One cannot erase emotions. In Amane's view, Danzo's words were just like her own gratitude for his training over the years.
One thing is one thing.
Tossing Danzo's words to the back of her mind, Amane unconsciously quickened her pace, soon arriving outside.
Shielding her eyes with her hand, her pupils slowly adjusted to the somewhat dazzling sunlight. Amane slowly looked into the distance.
There, an endless forest exuded a vibrant, life-filled green stretching to the horizon. The sound of clean rivers rushing reached her ears. The air seemed to carry a faint hint of floral fragrance, washing away the scent of iron she had grown accustomed to underground in the Root.
And most importantly, the distant, now very small, close-up of the Hokage Rock.
[My eyes! They actually want to tear up? Is this girl's body influencing me? No! Absolutely not now!]
Apart from being hit in the face during training or when the pain was truly unbearable, Amane had never shed tears in all these years. Yet now, merely bathing in the sunlight and looking at the distant Hokage Rock made her feel an uncontrollable, aching softness in her eyes.
"Let's go. Listen to my commands on the road. I will also train you in espionage capabilities."
The Root member beside her was Danzo's protection and surveillance, codenamed T.
After saying this, he immediately performed a Body Flicker towards a direction.
[In the end, I endured until this situation arose. As long as I break the Tongue Binding Seal, I can live openly and honestly as Uzumaki Amane.]
Unable to resist, she glanced back once more at the hometown of this life. With determined eyes, Amane followed.