Root's "Illegal Construction"

The night was dark and windy, and the abandoned industrial zone on the outskirts of Konohagakure was dead silent.

This place used to be a ninja tool processing plant established during the Second Hokage's era. It was later abandoned due to environmental pollution and aging equipment, and had been neglected for years.

But tonight, it was being watched intently by dozens of pairs of eyes.

"Three o'clock, ten meters underground, there's a strong Chakra barrier reaction."

A member of the Hyuga branch family's Police Force squatted on a dilapidated chimney, veins bulging at the corners of his eyes, his Byakugan emitting a faint glow in the darkness. "Moreover, I'm seeing a lot of human Chakra reactions... mostly children, and in poor condition."

"So it's here."

Uchiha Fugaku stood on higher ground, his deep blue police uniform flapping in the night wind.

Behind him stood Namikaze Minato and Nishikawa Tetsu, along with thirty fully armed elites of the "new Police Force."

"Operation Codename: Sweep Away the Black."

Fugaku coldly uttered two words. "Reason: Investigation of missing persons and..."

He glanced at Nishikawa Tetsu beside him.

Nishikawa Tetsu said earnestly, "And the investigation of major fire safety hazards. According to the village's building codes, the underground structure here constitutes illegal expansion, and we have the right to demolish it."

"..."

The Uchiha clansmen around twitched their mouths. What a load of crap about fire hazards, only you could come up with that excuse.

"Operation!"

At Fugaku's command, Namikaze Minato's figure vanished instantly.

"BOOM--!!!"

A loud noise shattered the night's tranquility.

There was no stealth, no assassination.

Namikaze Minato directly unleashed the airflow from an incomplete, but still stone-shattering, Rasengan onto an iron door disguised as a warehouse entrance.

The heavy iron door was blown away like paper, revealing a deep, dark passage behind it, and Root guards inside with looks of shock.

"Who are you?! How dare you trespass..."

Two masked Root ninjas had just drawn their swords and hadn't even begun to form hand seals.

"Konoha Police Force, routine inspection."

A flash of gold.

Two precise hand chops landed on their napes.

The two Root elites collapsed limply without even a grunt.

Minato stood behind them, a apologetic smile on his face. "Sorry, I'm in a hurry, so I won't be showing my identification."

"Go!"

Fugaku waved his hand, and the police force members behind him charged in like hungry wolves.

This was their first battle after the reorganization, and they were attacking the Root, who were usually sinister and looked down on others. This mixed squad of Uchiha and Hyuga members was like they'd been injected with adrenaline.

"Don't move! Hands on your head and crouch!"

"Is that a forbidden ninja tool? Confiscate it!"

"Is this evidence too? Take it away!"

The underground base instantly descended into chaos.

Although the Root ninjas were well-trained, they had never expected to face such a large-scale assault from within the village.

Moreover, the attackers were operating under the guise of Police Force enforcement, leaving them unsure whether they should fight back lethally.

"Damn it! Stop them!"

A Root squad leader roared, "This is Lord Danzo's..."

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

Uchiha Fugaku didn't bother listening to his nonsense, unleashing a massive fireball that forced the squad leader to retreat.

"Danzo? This is public property!" Fugaku declared righteously. "Any act of private excavation and imprisonment of villagers within Konoha's underground is a betrayal of the Hokage!"

Hanging out with that kid Tetsu all the time is really rubbing off on me. I can't believe I just said that.

Taking advantage of the chaos at the front, Nishikawa Tetsu led a few Nara clan ninjas straight towards the archives and supply warehouse.

"Tetsu, that's the Root's data room, guarded by the sealing squad," a Nara clansman whispered.

"The data isn't important. It's a bargaining chip between the Hokage and Danzo. We wouldn't be able to handle it if we took it, it would just be trouble," Nishikawa Tetsu said, his eyes fixed straight ahead. He bypassed the data room and turned towards the supply warehouse. "We're here for the practical stuff."

"According to the thermal imaging and metal detection, this should be filled with Chakra Conductive Metal and Explosive Tag raw materials."

Nishikawa Tetsu stood before the supply warehouse door, looking at the complex sealing jutsu inscribed on it, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Four Symbols Seal? If it were before, I really wouldn't be able to do anything."

He took out the Chakra Storage Belt from his pocket, connected it to the Stinger Armguard on his left hand, and then pulled out a special chisel engraved with reverse unsealing jutsu.

"Minato! Come help me! Charge me up!"

The flash that had been clearing the area in front instantly flashed back.

"Coming!"

With a massive influx of Chakra, the chisel in Nishikawa Tetsu's hand erupted with a blinding light and fiercely pierced the sealing node.

"Crack."

The seal shattered.

The large door boomed open.

What greeted their eyes was a mountain of supply crates.

"Are those... Puppet Parts from Sunagakure? And Explosive Clay from Iwagakure?" a Nara clansman exclaimed in shock, "Root actually hoarded so many spoils of war?"

"They're 'Confiscated Supplies' for the Police Force now."

Nishikawa Tetsu waved his hand, quickly taking out a stack of pre-prepared Sealing Tape, "Put them on! Move everything! Be quick, that old geezer Danzō is probably already on his way!"

While Nishikawa Tetsu was frantically "stocking up," the situation on the main battlefield suddenly became oppressive.

A chillingly cold Chakra, accompanied by the sound of a Cane hitting the ground, emanated from the deepest part of the base.

"Uchiha Fugaku..."

Shimura Danzō, the man hidden in Konoha's shadows, finally appeared.

His face was grim, his single eye filled with killing intent, and he was followed by over a dozen Root Jonin exuding an elite aura.

"Who gave you the guts to dare touch my Root?"

As he appeared, the surrounding air seemed to solidify. The ordinary Police Force members immediately felt difficulty breathing; it was the pressure unique to battle-hardened powerhouses.

Fugaku's expression stiffened. He subconsciously wanted to activate his Sharingan to resist, but he remembered Nishikawa Tetsu's instructions—don't confront head-on, uphold the "law."

"Advisor Danzō."

Fugaku, bearing the pressure, produced the "Public Order Reinforcement Order" drafted by Nara Shikahisa and signed by the Third Hokage:

"The Police Force received numerous reports from villagers claiming illegal confinement and missing persons cases here. We are here to investigate on the Hokage's orders."

"Investigate?" Danzō sneered, glancing at the messy base around them, "This is an investigation? This is robbery!"

"I am cultivating talent for the village!"

"Does cultivating talent require locking up seven or eight-year-old children in cages?!"

Namikaze Minato, who had just returned, interjected angrily.

He pointed to a cell that had just been broken open behind him, where over a dozen emaciated children with vacant eyes were huddled.

They had IV tubes inserted, clearly undergoing some cruel experiment or training.

This scene completely ignited the rage of all the normal ninja present, especially the Uchiha and Hyuga clansmen.

"This is Root's 'cultivation'?"

A member of the Hyuga branch family clenched his fist, "They don't even spare the children..."

Danzō's expression turned even more grim. Being exposed like this in public made even him feel troublesome.

"To protect Konoha, some sacrifices are necessary," Danzō said coldly, "What do you ignorant fools living in the sunlight understand about 'Root'?"

"Kill them."

Danzō didn't want to waste any more words. The Root elites instantly drew their swords.

Fugaku's pupils constricted, and he was about to open his eyes.

A voice, old yet authoritative, came from the entrance.

"Stop, Danzō."

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, arrived with two squads of his personal Anbu, at the "most opportune" moment.

He wore his Hokage robes and looked at the messy scene, as well as the children locked in cages, a flicker of pain and disappointment in his eyes.

"Hiruzen..." Danzō looked at his old friend, his gaze sinister, "These eyes will eventually ruin this village."

"That's a problem for later."

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood in front of Fugaku and took a deep puff from his pipe, "But for now, the Police Force's actions are legal. Danzō, you've gone too far."

"Take these children away and send them to the hospital," the Third Hokage ordered.

"Yes!" The Anbu ninja quickly acted.

Danzō stared intently at Fugaku, then glanced at Nishikawa Tetsu, who was directing people to empty his warehouse, his Cane almost snapping from anger.

"Good, very good."

Danzo laughed in extreme anger, then turned and walked deeper into the darkness. "Uchiha Fugaku, and that brat named Nishikawa Tetsu... I'll remember you."

"Hiruzen, you will regret this!"

"Danzo, don't forget, I am the Hokage!"

"Bang!" Nishikawa Tetsu, who had rushed over to watch the show, added a sound effect in his mind.

This was more like it!

Half an hour later.

The Police Force returned with a full haul.

Nishikawa Tetsu was counting the spoils of this operation.

"Three hundred jin of High-Purity Chakra Metal, two tons of Explosive Tag Raw Material, and various Rare Medicinal Materials..."

Nishikawa Tetsu showed a satisfied smile. "We're rich."

Although Fugaku still felt a chill down his spine from facing Danzo directly just now, he couldn't help but curve his lips upon hearing this.

"This time, we not only weakened Root, but also established our authority, and more importantly..."

Fugaku glanced at the children who had been rescued.

"We stood on the side of justice."