Konoha beneath dark clouds

In the Land of Rain, at the highest point among the myriad towers, a shattered space revealed a graceful figure stepping out from a dark Vortex.

Three tall, slender figures had already gathered inside the tower.

A red and black Coat couldn't conceal the three people's powerful aura; instead, it added a layer of mystery.

"What did you call me here for?" Tōka asked, her toes barely touching the ground before her heels landed, her gaze sweeping over the faces of the three people in the room.

Deva Path, Konan, and... Orochimaru.

Konan stood silently to the side with her head down. Since she didn't like Tōka to begin with, Konan naturally wouldn't answer him. Meanwhile, Deva Path looked up at Orochimaru.

"Well, there's a mission I'd like Tōka to take with me." Orochimaru licked his lips, revealing a kind smile.

Tōka raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze falling on Orochimaru's words.

That fake laugh is really annoying!

However, Tōka did not intend to refuse. If he was not mistaken, Orochimaru's destination was Konoha.

"Going out for a walk would be good; seeing the rain all the time gets a bit annoying." Tōka pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement.

A hint of surprise flashed in Orochimaru's eyes. It was unexpectedly easy!

He had thought Tōka would refuse, or at least he would want to understand the details of the mission. He had prepared a whole lot of things to say, but now he had nowhere to say them.

"Time is of the essence, you two should set off immediately."

As Deva Path finished speaking, Tōka and Orochimaru left the Tower and walked into the misty rain.

The difference is that one person held an umbrella, while the other stepped straight into the rain.

The Land of Fire, a land covered by a vast Forest.

Coming from the direction of the Land of Rain, two figures dressed in Red Cloud Black Cloak and wearing conical hats with Wind Chime Hat gradually appeared in the Forest.

"Tōka, aren't you curious?" Orochimaru glanced at Tōka walking beside him and asked curiously.

"Curious? Curious about what?" Tōka asked instead of answering.

"This mission in the Land of Fire," Orochimaru said in a deep voice, his eyes narrowing.

"Oh? I thought Orochimaru was going to tell me next!" Tōka smiled and turned to look at Orochimaru, throwing the question at him with a single sentence.

Orochimaru choked upon hearing this; when two people go on a mission together, they should share information.

But when Tōka said something so obvious, Orochimaru felt something was off, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

I took two deep breaths to calm the restlessness in my heart.

Orochimaru spoke leisurely, "I wonder if Tōka is interested in the Sharingan?"

Upon hearing this, Tōka immediately stopped in his tracks.

He certainly knew the purpose of this trip, but he didn't expect Orochimaru to say it so frankly.

The Sharingan, the eye that reflects the soul, is a unique Dojutsu developed from the different inner thoughts of each person. Its immense power made the Uchiha Clan famous among the Five Great Nations.

"Orochimaru's trip..." He knew perfectly well what was going on, but he had to pretend he didn't, and he also had to keep it a secret from everyone.

This person is none other than the snake Orochimaru, Tōka feels immense pressure!

Orochimaru smiled mysteriously, licking his lips and speaking in a sinister tone, "Konoha has decided to Uchiha. Isn't it a waste to have wasted so many experimental materials?"

"It is a pity," Tōka echoed with a smile, uttering three words lightly.

However, the meaning behind those words is completely different. Unfortunately, the "experimental material" you received was just a pile of scrap meat.

Orochimaru chuckled slyly, and the two set off again for Konoha.

At this leisurely pace, they probably won't arrive before Konoha takes action against the Uchiha Clan.

That's why Tōka found it strange.

"At this rate, will we make it?" After hesitating for a while, Tōka finally asked the question that had been on his mind.

"Arriving?" Orochimaru laughed strangely upon hearing this, but did not answer.

Seemingly unconcerned about whether they could reach Konoha before the battle, their expressions grew increasingly relaxed.

Tōka's eyes narrowed slightly as she made up her mind.

Orochimaru's actions were clearly contrary to his expectations; he did not intend to interfere in the battle, yet he still wanted the corpses of the Uchiha clan members.

Danzo!

There was no other choice but this person.

However, Tōka's purpose was not just that. After traveling all the way from the Land of Rain, he was just going to be dismissed with a few words about the corpses of the Uchiha clan?

Dream on!

Rustling...

In the quiet and warm Forest, the two walked silently, outwardly calm, but inwardly harboring their own little schemes.

The White Zetsu that was left in Konoha earlier, disguised as Tōka, is now coming in handy.

Tōka needs right now is to figure out how to separate from Orochimaru without arousing his suspicion.

Orochimaru is incredibly cunning; ordinary methods won't work.

Sudden!

A familiar yet unfamiliar aura suddenly approached, and Tōka, who was at a loss, suddenly had a flash of inspiration. Although it was a trick he was used to, it worked very well!

"I have something to attend to, I'll be leaving for a bit," Tōka said to Orochimaru, pausing in his steps.

"Huh?" Orochimaru looked at Tōka with confusion. Wasn't he just worried about not making it in time? What's wrong now?

"Let's meet up in the town ahead." Tōka's words fell before Orochimaru had a chance to speak, his chakra overflowing and filling the surrounding space.

Immediately afterwards, Tōka's body began to fade, gradually merging into the Void.

Orochimaru narrowed his cold, Snake Eyes strangely. Only after confirming that Tōka's aura had completely disappeared did he begin to walk unhurriedly toward the town ahead.

Tōka is very mysterious. From their first meeting, Orochimaru couldn't see through this little guy.

"I can't see through him," was Orochimaru's only assessment of Tōka.

Deep in a secluded mountain forest, a cluster of black runes flickered before a shady rock, gradually becoming clearer as Tōka's figure appeared.

At the same time, a ghostly figure emerged from the ground covered with weeds and withered branches.

"What are you doing following me?" Tōka asked in a low voice, staring at White Zetsu, who looked unhealthy and pale.

"Lord Black Zetsu sent me, saying you might need my help," White Zetsu said respectfully.

"Heh... that guy seems to know quite a lot." Tōka sneered, then gave the order, "Transform into my form and stay by Orochimaru's side."

Finally, Tōka added a reminder.

"Don't let Orochimaru see through you."

"Yes." White Zetsu nodded slightly, then transformed into Tōka's appearance.

Apart from Tōka and Black Zetsu, no one else knows about White Zetsu's Object Transformation; it's not time to reveal this move yet.

Rustling...

A soft footstep echoed through the Forest. Watching "himself" walk away, Tōka felt a strange sensation rise in his heart.

He gently shook his head, dismissing the chaotic thoughts.

A One Flash of Ice Blue flame-like light appeared in his eyes, and then Tōka's figure disappeared into the depths of the forest.

That night, the moon was dark and the wind was high.

In a corner of Konoha, several ghostly black figures swiftly traversed the streets and silently slipped into the dark, shadowy Dark Alley.

Thump...

Knock knock...

A rhythmic sound rang out, and a figure leaning on a cane emerged from the depths of darkness.

"Danzo."

The ninjas lurking nearby nodded slightly, and even though it was inconvenient to make a sound and reveal their location, they secretly lowered their heads to show their respect for Danzo.

Danzo slightly, his remaining eye sharply scanning the crowd.

Finally, his gaze fell upon a young boy— Itachi Uchiha!

"Are you ready, Itachi?"

"..."

Itachi remained silent; no matter how much time passed, it was impossible to be prepared for such a thing.

Danzo seemed to be asking casually and didn't need Itachi's exact answer.

After a brief pause, Danzo continued, "They will set up a barrier, and nothing that happens inside will be known to anyone."

As for inside...

"Itachi, you can only rely on yourself."

The Third Hokage had always hoped to negotiate peace with the Uchiha Clan, and the extent that Root could achieve was already Danzo's limit.

Itachi Uchiha nodded silently, then turned and leaped high into the air, disappearing into the Uchiha Clan Compound.

The ninja Root Squad ambushed outside the clan's territory, and a barrier isolated everything within the Uchiha Clan Compound.

There was only one thing Itachi needed to do, no, just one word—kill.

Within the Uchiha Clan Compound, everything that could move became immobile.

Whoosh!

A gust of wind flashed by, and Itachi's voice disappeared into the nearest house in the blink of an eye...

The light projected a figure onto the wall. Through the window, a dark shadow flashed by, and with a swift movement, a knife slashed down, severing the figure on the wall in half.

Before they could even scream, a couple inside the house were already lying in a pool of blood.

The shadow wielding the long sword leaped out swiftly, rushing towards the next adjacent room...

The dark sky pressed down, and the bright moon had long since hidden behind the dark clouds. In the dimly lit Uchiha Clan Compound, only scattered lights emanated from the houses.

At that moment, the light became a death knell.

The Konoha Military Police Department, or more precisely, the Uchiha Clan's Konoha Military Police Force, was located on clan territory, close to the village.

This place is home to the strongest members of the Uchiha Clan, Jonin and Chunin, who, after activating their Sharingan, can even fight opponents of higher levels.

Swish swish swish!!

Countless dark figures swept through the air, their movements as agile as those of nimble apes.

Pfft!!

Two fingers shot out, piercing through the air. The two Uchiha guarding the Konoha Military Police Force gate fell to the ground, their eyes wide as they lay in pools of blood, seemingly unable to comprehend what had just happened.

Despite the decline of the Senju clan, the Uchiha Clan remained the largest clan in Konoha, despite being ostracized by the village.

The Uchiha Clan's family emblem represents power, and the Konoha Military Police Force is a place where the strongest Uchiha Clan gather.

The two men guarding the Konoha Military Police Force never expected this day to come.

Someone actually dared to attack the Konoha Military Police Force!

Thump...

Knock knock...

From the depths of darkness, a gloomy man with half his face wrapped in bandages slowly walked out. The man who appeared outside the Konoha Military Police Force was none other than Danzo.

The man known to the world as the Darkness of the Ninja World.

"What the Third Hokage cannot do, the Root will do!" Danzo suddenly opened one of his exposed eyes, his gaze flashing with a sinister glint.

He openly told Itachi that the Root Squad was only responsible for the barrier outside the Uchiha Clan Compound to prevent anyone from escaping.

Secretly targeting the Konoha Military Police Force —that's Danzo's style.

To achieve one's goals, one will stop at nothing.

Danzo didn't trust Itachi, and he didn't believe that Itachi was strong enough to wipe out the Uchiha Clan. Therefore, Danzo decided to "help" Itachi.

After dealing with the Uchiha Clan's Konoha Military Police Force, the remaining henchmen should be no problem for Itachi, given his strength.

Upon reaching the entrance of the Konoha Military Police Force, Danzo stopped and stood still, his sharp eyes piercing into the building.

The arrogant and conceited Uchiha, after so much time has passed, still haven't noticed the deaths of the two ninjas guarding the gate.

An arrogant and conceited race, possessing talents bestowed upon them by heaven but failing to make good use of them.

"Since you have lost your usefulness, entrust your power to me." Danzo's lips curled up slightly, revealing a cold and sinister smile.

A cold wind swept through the darkness, and a biting chill enveloped the body.

The howling Cold Wind whistled past my ears, like the wailing and howling of a vengeful ghost.

Finally, Danzo slammed his cane down and let out a low growl.

"Move them! Leave no one alive!"

"Yes!"

With a single, decisive word, dozens of dark figures rose from the ground, nimbly leaping over the wall and rushing into the Konoha Military Police Force building.

The members of the root have no names, no self, only a task.

The objective of the mission is the enemy; to complete the mission, even teammates can be sacrificed.

In order to ensure that as many mission targets as possible are killed in the first instance, the members of the Root Squad did not use any powerful Ninjutsu.

Instead, they resort to their usual infiltration tactics, using Tachi, Kunai, Shuriken to hunt down mission targets.

In the dead of night, within a few breaths, the guards surrounding the Konoha Military Police Force building were all slaughtered.

It must be said that the Root Squad was very skilled at infiltration and assassination, mainly because the Uchiha Clan ninjas were too careless.

A qualified ninja can be found even within a village, in clan territory, or in the Konoha Military Police Force, where an attack is least likely.

We must also remain vigilant, at least while on duty, and pay attention to our surroundings.

Danzo stood there casually in the square outside the Konoha Military Police Force building, his sinister eyes staring blankly at the corpses that had been killed and dragged out.

The Konoha Military Police Force is filled with the elites of the Uchiha Clan, and all the official members have awakened the Sharingan, reaching the two- Tomoe or even the Three Tomoe.

Danzo's gaze shifted downwards, landing on the corpse at his feet.

In his view, these people would not only die in obscurity, but would also become a part of his power!

"You corrupt clan, your greatest value lies in handing over your Sharingan to me!"

Danzo's single eye made no attempt to conceal his greedy gaze; his purpose was simple, clear, and direct.

He's got his Sharingan!

Sudden!

"Who are you people?!" A clear, melodious voice interrupted Danzo's daydreaming.

In the middle floor of the Konoha Military Police Force building, a Kakkō appeared, followed by a petite figure who forced back a member of the Root Squad before breaking through a window and exiting.

Her lithe figure flipped in the air, then touched the ground with her toes and sank down to absorb the impact of the fall.

"We've been discovered? Well, it doesn't matter anymore." Danzo glanced at the girl calmly and murmured in a somber tone.