The Crow That Delivered a Letter

Without Uchiha Itachi, Kakashi and Jiraiya had gone silent too. The Third Hokage might as well have been deaf and blind. The intelligence his Anbu brought back was worse than what Danzo's Root provided.

More importantly, if Uchiha Itachi had also slipped beyond his control, there was no telling what he might do next.

At least Itachi was a rogue ninja. Even if he caused a catastrophe in another country, Konoha could not be blamed for it.

But what if he chose to return to Konoha?

"Quick! Put Sasuke Uchiha under strict watch. Keep him in our hands!" Danzo shot to his feet and barked the order at Yamanaka Feng beside him.

Outsiders might believe Sasuke Uchiha was a survivor Itachi had overlooked, but the Hokage and the Elders knew the truth: Sasuke's survival had been the condition Itachi set in his bargain with the Third Hokage.

Itachi had traded the lives of his entire clan for his younger brother's survival. To keep Itachi in check now, they had to keep a firm hold on Sasuke.

Yamanaka Feng immediately acknowledged the order and moved to leave the Hokage Building. But the instant he opened the door, the Third Hokage slammed a hand onto his desk.

The Hokage said nothing. His Anbu understood him all the same. They formed a human wall across the doorway, blocking Yamanaka Feng's path.

"Hiruzen, what is the meaning of this?" Danzo asked quietly.

The Uchiha Clan's last survivor mattered, but not so much that no village or clan would dare try to bring him into its bloodline. Even Hiruzen's own Sarutobi Clan had considered it.

In truth, Lu Yu had no need to pay Sasuke particularly close attention. Even the Third Hokage had barely needed to concern himself with the boy.

But that held true