Inside the Uchiha Clan Shrine, the clan crest on the wall looked especially solemn in the dim light.
Uchiha Sanpo's fingers rubbed against the kunai at his waist.
He deliberately lowered his voice, but its sharpness remained impossible to hide. "Elder Yashiro, I found something interesting."
Uchiha Yashiro slowly set down the scroll in his hand, parchment rasping against the wooden table.
His fingers lightly tapped the edge of the scroll, revealing his inner unease.
Uchiha Sanpo pushed a document across the table. "Sarutobi Hiruzen's so-called 'installment payments' are nothing but a trap. They emptied the village treasury long ago and are waiting for Clan Head Fugaku to take office and shoulder the blame."
Uchiha Yashiro's fingers trembled slightly as they touched the document.
When he saw the numbers—3,823 fallen ninja, 598 seriously wounded, and a compensation shortfall of 17.68 billion ryo—
The teacup exploded in his hand, and scalding tea splashed across the table. "These... parasites! How dare they use the blood money of our fallen comrades..."
Uchiha Sanpo's Three-Tomoe Sharingan glimmered with a bloody red light in the darkness. "Since they have already made their move, we should strike back. I suggest we eliminate Konoha's Root and Shimura Danzō, expose their darkness to the public, and clear the way for Clan Head Fugaku to become Hokage."
The veins on Uchiha Yashiro's neck bulged one by one, and the fury in his eyes nearly became tangible. "Sanpo, what is your plan?"
Uchiha Sanpo's gaze was icy, his voice terrifyingly calm. "Many Root members are war orphans. Their parents died for Konoha, yet their children not only received no compensation, but were forcibly recruited into Root at the age of five or six. According to the intelligence I gathered, ever since Sarutobi Hiruzen became Hokage, a total of 1,432 children have been sent into Root. Yet there are only around a hundred Root members left. In other words, Root's casualty rate exceeds ninety percent."
Uchiha Ryuka suddenly punched a pillar and snarled, "These scum deserve to die!"
Uchiha Sanpo deliberately paused, observing everyone's reactions before continuing. "I also found that Root has been secretly researching Hashirama Cells. Shimura Danzō's right arm not only contains Hashirama Cells—it has even been implanted with several Three-Tomoe Sharingan. The right eye hidden beneath his bandages also contains a Three-Tomoe Sharingan."
Uchiha Yashiro slammed his palm onto the table and sprang to his feet, making the tea set rattle loudly.
His Sharingan activated uncontrollably, its three tomoe spinning wildly. "Damn it! They even dared to assassinate members of our Uchiha Clan! What else would they not dare to do?! Shimura Danzō must die!"
Uchiha Yusuke spoke in confusion. "Wait. When outsiders transplant our Uchiha Clan's Sharingan, they cannot deactivate them, and the eyes continually consume chakra. Why would Shimura Danzō implant so many Sharingan?"
Uchiha Sanpo let out a faint sigh. "Because he learned our Uchiha Clan's Forbidden Technique: Izanagi! And Hashirama Cells generate massive amounts of chakra and are extremely invasive, so only Three-Tomoe Sharingan can be implanted to suppress them!"
Uchiha Yashiro paced back and forth inside the shrine, his footsteps especially clear in the silent space. His right hand was already resting on his ninja tool pouch, a habitual gesture whenever he was preparing to act.
"Damn it, damn it! Shimura Danzō must die! Sanpo, hurry up and tell us how to deal with Shimura Danzō and Root!"
Uchiha Sanpo lightly tapped the tabletop with his fingers, the rhythm as steady as if he were calculating something.
"We can promise the Hyuga Clan a Konoha advisor position once Clan Head Fugaku becomes the Fourth Hokage, and have them cooperate with us in wiping out Root. After all, their Byakugan can see through things. Root also has someone who can use Wood Release now, so I need to contact the Senju Clan as well. They may not have many members, but they still have considerable influence. We should have them join us too."
Uchiha Ryuka suddenly cut in. "Root actually managed to get Wood Release? How strong is that person?"
Uchiha Sanpo smiled faintly. "Don't worry. He is only nine years old. He has the strength of a jonin, but his actual combat ability is somewhat weaker than Hatake Kakashi's."
Uchiha Ryuka's shoulders visibly relaxed. "That's good, then."
Uchiha Yashiro returned to his seat and slowly sat down.
His eyes narrowed slightly, and his voice carried an unquestionable resolve. "Sanpo, when will we begin?"
Uchiha Sanpo stood up and pressed both hands against the table. "I'll contact the Hyuga Clan and the Senju Clan shortly. I need Yusuke to turn Root's information and Shimura Danzō's crimes into leaflets."
Uchiha Yusuke immediately protested. "You want me to do errands? No way. I want to attack the Root Base."
Uchiha Yashiro shot him a look, and Yusuke instantly wilted like a deflated ball.
"I understand... I'll go print the leaflets..."
Seeing Uchiha Yusuke's expression, Uchiha Sanpo said with a smile, "Tonight, we will arrest Shimura Danzō. Ryuka will lead the team, cooperate with the Hyuga Clan and the Senju Clan, and attack the Root Base in the Forest of Death. Once you succeed, send up a signal for reinforcements. I want Konoha's citizens to enter the Root Base and see what Root has been doing."
At those words, Uchiha Yashiro abruptly rose to his feet.
He looked at everyone with an unwavering gaze, his voice turning ice-cold. "I have only one demand... Even if Sarutobi Hiruzen personally tries to stop us, Shimura Danzō must die."
Uchiha Sanpo nodded solemnly. "Shimura Danzō must die, and Root must be exposed. I will nail the names of Sarutobi Hiruzen and those other higher-ups to Konoha's pillar of shame."
A while later, Uchiha Sanpo emerged from Hyuga Hiashi's home... looking pleased. It seemed the negotiations had gone very well.
Next, he headed toward the Senju Clan compound.
Senju Akagi's voice trembled. "What... Say that again?"
Uchiha Sanpo calmly replied, "Root's live experiments with Hashirama Cells have already produced a successful case. Nine years old, male. Before entering Root, his name was Yamato."
Senju Akagi's chakra leaked out uncontrollably, making even the table begin to tremble. "That is... my nephew... He disappeared from the village three years ago... I never thought he had entered Root."
Uchiha Sanpo fell silent at the right moment, giving him time to process the information.
"The conditions?" Senju Akagi finally asked, his voice hoarse.
"Tonight, the Senju Clan must send people to assist us and the Hyuga Clan in attacking the Root Base. Afterward, the child will be returned to the Senju Clan. Of course, I hope the Senju Clan will support Clan Head Fugaku in becoming the Fourth Hokage."
Senju Akagi's shoulders trembled slightly. Only after a long while did he calm down. "Tonight, forty Senju clansmen will cooperate with you. But I want to kill Shimura Danzō with my own hands."
"You cannot kill Shimura Danzō. You are no match for him. He has not only transplanted Hashirama Cells... but also several Three-Tomoe Sharingan..."
Before you continue