After leaving the Hokage Building, Danzo grew angrier the more he thought about it.
The Third Hokage's decision had left Danzo furious, but he couldn't find a good reason to argue against it.
Hiruzen had already given him a chance, letting him lead the Root Ninja in pursuit of Obito. He had rejected the proposal himself and forfeited control over the Mangekyō Sharingan.
He couldn't even say anything about it.
Who knew where Hiruzen had learned to be so cunning? Had he been infected by that evil Uchiha?
Now, Danzo didn't even dare say, "Hiruzen, you'll regret this." He was afraid Koharu and En would look at him strangely, damaging his image and hurting his chances in the next Hokage election.
Uchiha Youhu, you have earned your death.
Danzo thought viciously.
Back at the Root Office,
Danzo found Uchiha Itachi waiting outside his office. Only then did he remember that he had planted one of his own in Kakashi Squad: Uchiha Itachi.
Though Itachi had graduated from Root, he had always been Danzo's man.
Perhaps he could learn the details of yesterday's battle from Itachi.
Danzo gestured for Itachi to follow him into the office. Then he sat on the sofa and said, "Itachi, you're here. Tell me exactly what happened last night. Was the Masked Man really Uchiha Obito?"
"Yes."
Itachi nodded and stood respectfully before Danzo, beginning his account of what had happened the night before.
Itachi had actually wanted to discuss Obito with Shisui.
Of all the shinobi in Konohagakure, the only one Itachi could trust was Shisui, the mentor who had guided him through life. They shared a dream: to mend the rift between the clan and the village.
But Shisui had left on a mission and wouldn't be returning to the village anytime soon.
If Brother Shisui had been there, they might really have been able to stop Obito yesterday. At the very least, they could have learned what he was trying to do.
Itachi had a feeling that Obito hadn't attacked the village as the Masked Man out of a desire for revenge.
But with Shisui away, all he could do was seek Danzo's advice. Danzo was deeply sinister, but he understood the rules governing the Ninja World better than anyone.
Most of what Danzo did was for the sake of the village.
"So that's what happened last night? The Hokage certainly left a lot out."
After hearing Itachi's report, Danzo sneered. Then he said, "Itachi, the Hokage will soon assign Kakashi Squad another mission to pursue Obito. You'll go with them."
"My request is simple: do your best to kill Obito and bring me the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"Besides that, I suspect Youhu and Kakashi may be traitors. They'll soon contact Obito in secret. If you catch them doing anything of the sort—"
"You can ambush them and bring their Sharingan back."
"Danzo-sama, Captain Kakashi and Youhu can't be traitors. And the Sharingan belongs to the Uchiha..." Itachi frowned, unhappy with Danzo's order.
"Only in my hands can the Sharingan be put to the best use."
Danzo had noticed Itachi's discontent, so he continued:
"Just follow my orders. If Kakashi and the others really collude with Obito and try to overthrow the Hokage Building, do you think the village can withstand another upheaval?"
"If you're worried, the Sharingan can be entrusted to the Third Hokage instead."
"Yes, Danzo-sama."
Itachi finally nodded and accepted the mission.
But he had grown more suspicious of Danzo. Was Danzo truly devoted to the village? Why was he always coveting the Sharingan and antagonizing the Uchiha?
To keep the village stable, shinobi who threatened its stability could be sacrificed.
That was how he and Shisui had killed the Anbu Jonin who had defected. To preserve the village's stability, the Hokage Faction had to suppress the Uchiha Clan and keep a constant watch on their every move.
But if he looked at things from a wider perspective, could Root be sacrificed for the sake of Konoha as a whole?
And for the sake of the Ninja World, could Konoha, forever caught in the whirlpool of conflict, be abandoned to preserve peace?
Itachi couldn't figure it out, and he couldn't find a clear answer.
Danzo's heart held only a twisted Will of Fire. Shisui cared only about the clan and the village. Captain Kakashi and Yamato spent every day thinking about the next volume of Icha Icha Paradise.
It seemed he had only Youhu and Obito left to turn to.
Youhu had always harbored some inexplicable hostility toward his family. His only remaining choice was Obito, who had left the village long ago and now operated under the identity of the Masked Man.
Perhaps Obito could give him the answer he wanted.
From ten in the morning until six in the evening,
Youhu had enjoyed a full night's sleep.
Though his schedule was backward, at least he had gotten eight hours of quality sleep. What could you expect? Anbu was a militarized organization in a time of peace.
Having time to rest was already a blessing.
Youhu had begun to miss the easygoing days he had spent in the Security Force. That nine-to-five life had been sheer bliss.
But the Security Force's good days were about to end.
Tiehuo had decided to challenge Fugaku at the next clan meeting and push through major reforms in the Security Force. They wanted to stage a coup while working only eight hours a day?
Everyone would be working twelve hours minimum. If you didn't work hard, you weren't a real Uchiha.
After a quick wash, Youhu noticed a Ninja Technique Scroll on his desk.
Sensing White Zetsu's Chakra, Youhu called out, "Bodyguard, what's this Ninja Technique Scroll?"
White Zetsu emerged from the wall, beaming.
"Just call me Afu, Lord Youhu. Lord Obito asked me to bring you this Ninja Technique Scroll so you can get stronger. He said not to go getting yourself killed in Konoha."
What kind of name was Afu? Could he do the Crow Kick, too?
Youhu grumbled inwardly, then opened the Ninja Technique Scroll. It contained a technique called Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame, with a learning difficulty of B rank.
Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame.
Youhu knew this technique all too well.
It was the Fire Style Uchiha Madara had used against the Allied Shinobi Forces—a single man unleashing the firepower of an entire Fire Style squad. It was not only powerful, but had an astonishingly wide range.
Still, he remembered that the clan library also had this technique.
But since Obito had sent it to him, Youhu happily accepted it. After all, it wasn't easy for Obito to think of ways to win people's hearts.
Otherwise, after serving as Mizukage for so many years, he wouldn't have had only Kisame Hoshigaki following him.
What a waste of Kirigakure's strength.
After accepting the Ninja Technique Scroll, Youhu asked White Zetsu Afu, "Afu, can you still fit inside my ring? You're too big now. It'll be hard for you to stay by my side and protect me."
"I can't change back."
White Zetsu Afu shook his head. With his original body away, he had no idea what to do.
"Then what do we do? Without you by my side, I can't pass messages to Brother Obito whenever I need to..."
Youhu looked troubled. Then, as if he had thought of something, he said, "Why don't we sign a Summoning Contract? Then whenever I want to send Brother Obito a message, all I have to do is summon you."
"Well..."
White Zetsu Afu hesitated, but the excited Youhu had already dragged him over.
Afu tried to escape using the Mayfly Technique, only to discover that he couldn't move at all. He could only watch helplessly as he was pulled into the barrier and forced to sign the Summoning Contract.
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