Innocent and Weak Roots

"Lord Danzo, should we take this opportunity... to eliminate Uchiha Rekka?"

After Uchiha Rekka was taken away, two Root ninjas knelt on the ground, their tone cautious.

Danzo, however, merely shook his head slightly, his voice low: "No need. Seal off the Uchiha Clan according to the plan. As for Rekka... leave him to Uchiha Itachi."

He paused, "Itachi is my sharpest blade."

The two ninjas nodded silently, but before they could rise, in the next instant, their bodies collapsed to the ground like a pile of dominoes, silently. Their eyes unfocused, their breaths gone.

The air froze for a moment.

"Hmph?" Danzo raised an eyebrow, his gaze like a knife, suddenly looking into the darkness.

"Uchiha Itachi," he slowly uttered the name, his tone carrying undisguised displeasure. "You've been hiding quite deep these past few days, finally willing to show yourself?"

From the depths of the darkness, footsteps slowly sounded. "Itachi's" figure emerged from the shadows, clad in the standard Anbu vest, his face cold, his crimson Sharingan slowly spinning, the three tomoe clear and distinct.

"I was just thinking about some things," he said calmly, his steps firm. "And then, I figured out a way to change Konoha."

Danzo sneered, "You figured it out? You're just an Uchiha, and you dare talk about changing Konoha?"

"Itachi" looked at him, his expression unchanged. "The reason you gave me to exterminate the clan was for the sake of the village, but I've found a better way."

"The way I gave you is the best way!" Danzo's tone suddenly rose. "Don't forget, who saved your life, who kept your brother Uchiha Sasuke safe!"

He approached step by step, his tone icy. "You only have two choices—

First, personally deal with the Uchiha Clan and spare your brother's life;

Second, let Sasuke live in darkness forever, becoming a traitor to Konoha."

"Itachi" was silent for a moment, then suddenly chuckled softly.

"I don't want either of these choices." "Itachi's" voice was light, but like steel needles.

"What did you say?" Danzo narrowed his eyes, killing intent swirling in his aura.

"As long as you are willing to die for Konoha, all disputes can end, can't they?" "Itachi" said softly, different from his usual demeanor, his tone carrying a chill.

"You speak well," he paused, a sarcastic smile appearing on his face. "The so-called 'Will of Fire' you speak of is just an excuse to eliminate dissent."

Danzo's eyes sharpened. "Are you questioning me?"

"It's not doubt," "Itachi" shook his head, "I'm telling you, you're not worthy of saying those four words, 'Will of Fire'."

The air instantly became heavy as iron, as if even breathing carried the scent of blood.

"The Will of Fire is not a fairy tale, it's the iron law of the ninja world," Danzo's voice was low, "Ninjas should give up everything for the village, including themselves."

"Itachi's" gaze was piercing as he stared at him: "Then why is it always us who sacrifice? Why do those in high positions never sacrifice themselves?"

He advanced step by step: "In the end, you're just a selfish politician, using sacrifice and loyalty as tools, yet you never dare to face your own decay."

"Enough!" Danzo couldn't hold back any longer, he stood up abruptly and roared, "Who do you think you are? Even your ancestor, Uchiha Madara, couldn't change anything, and instead died alone!"

"Itachi's" voice was low and cold: "You're wrong. As far as I know, many people once chose Madara, chose his way of pursuing peace. You just don't dare to admit it."

"The Will of Fire you speak of is merely decorating violence with sacrifice, and plundering wealth with loyalty. It's using Uchiha eyes to support your rotten beliefs."

He slowly extended a hand and pointed at Danzo: "Your roots have already rotted."

"Even the Second Hokage once trusted Kagami Uchiha, he was an Uchiha who died for Konoha. And you—you're alive, but only for power."

"You want to sacrifice others? Then start with yourself. I want you dead, to bury you beneath this rotten will. Then I will offer my loyalty to a Konoha that is truly worthy."

"From today onwards, the enemy of the Uchiha Clan is only you."

Danzo's face was flushed, rage erupting like a volcano, he roared, "You're seeking death!"

He suddenly formed hand seals, his hands blurring into afterimages--

"Wind Style: Vacuum Sphere!"

A furious wind, like a roaring beast, burst from his mouth. Spheres of wind shot through the air, carrying a piercing shriek as they tore through the atmosphere, heading straight for "Itachi".

"Itachi" didn't retreat, but advanced. He stepped forward, like an afterimage.

In the blink of an eye, he was close to Danzo, his Sharingan flashing red.

"How—how are you so fast?!" Danzo's heart trembled, his reaction a beat too slow.

Slap!

A crisp sound echoed in the silent space.

"Itachi" delivered a fierce slap to Danzo's face, sending him staggering backward.

"You're too ugly," "Itachi" sneered, "Now, you look much more pleasing to the eye."

"You're seeking death!" In his rage, Danzo formed hand seals again, "Wind Style: Vacuum Wave!"

"Die, you Uchiha bastard," Danzo whispered coldly, killing intent boiling in his eyes.

However—

Snap.

The Wind Blade passed through the body, but only cut open an afterimage.

"Illusionary Shadow?" Danzo's pupils constricted.

In that instant, Uchiha Itachi's figure blurred and dissipated like ripples on water, never having truly existed. The next moment, a chill suddenly pressed close to Danzo.

"Too slow."

The voice was low and cold, devoid of any warmth. "Itachi" had appeared behind Danzo at some unknown time, his palm striking like lightning towards Danzo's other cheek.

Bang!

Danzo flew back like a tattered sack, crashing heavily against the rock wall behind him, the loud noise echoing. He spat blood, one side of his face caved in, his complexion deathly pale.

"How is this possible... this speed..." Danzo struggled to support himself, his eyes filled with shock.

"It can't be Taijutsu! No one can be this fast with Taijutsu!" Danzo roared.

He suddenly waved his right hand, Chakra surging, and a signal was quickly sent.

Four dark figures emerged from the shadows of Root, the elite of Root.

They silently formed a square, trapping Uchiha Itachi in the center.

"You think I have no experience dealing with the Mangekyo?"

Danzo's voice was sinister, his gaze as fierce as a venomous snake. "In 'Root,' your Mangekyo is already useless!"

He shouted:

"Sealing Technique: Four Pillars Prison!"

The four Root ninja formed hand seals simultaneously.

Four pillars of light shot up, trapping "Itachi" within a Chakra sealing space. It was a restrictive barrier capable of disrupting senses and weakening Genjutsu.

At the same time, the four Root ninja attacked simultaneously, Ninja Swords, Kunai, and Poisonous Insects flying together, their coordinated tactics flowing like water as they all charged towards "Itachi."

"Itachi's" expression remained cold, his voice calm, "Let you all witness the true power of the Uchiha."

His fingers danced, forming hand seals with extreme speed.

In just one second, the movements of the four ninja faltered, their eyes suddenly unfocused, as if their souls had been ripped away, falling into endless darkness.

Their bodies went limp and they collapsed on the ground, their consciousness trapped in the Illusionary Realm.

"You..." Danzo was furious, his Chakra erupting again.

"Wind Style: Vacuum Great Ball!"

Danzo roared, and a massive air bullet shot towards "Itachi" with the force of a rocket launcher.

"Itachi's" figure flickered, but the wind bullet grazed past him--

"Bang!"

The wind bullet directly pierced the four Root ninjas still trapped in the genjutsu, exploding them on the spot, flesh and blood flying.

"You actually... killed your own subordinates!" "Itachi" whispered coldly.

"They all died for the will of Konoha!" Danzo gritted his teeth and roared.

"Is that so? Did the Root ninjas die for you, or for your dirty lust for power?" "Itachi's" gaze grew colder, "I'm tired of your 'Konoha Supremacy' rhetoric."

"Now, let me show you the true Flames of the Uchiha."

His eyes slowly rotated, the Mangekyo Sharingan emitting a red glow. The next moment, countless black Flames ignited from his pupils, transforming into inextinguishable flames that completely enveloped Danzo.

The flames, independent of air and unaffected by wind, seemed to possess consciousness, tightly wrapping around Danzo's body.

"Ahhh--Damn it!" Danzo roared, and on his right arm, a Sharingan suddenly closed its eye.

"Izanagi!"

His figure instantly distorted, the moment of death rewritten, returning to reality.

"I can only use my trump card..." Danzo panted, raising his right eye, the Mangekyo Sharingan in his eye socket spinning madly.

"Kotoamatsukami!"

A silent genjutsu struck, instantly penetrating "Uchiha Itachi's" mind, shining like golden light, completely surrounding him.

"Uchiha Itachi's" movements abruptly stopped, his eyes vacant, as if controlled by Kotoamatsukami.

"Control... successful?" Danzo approached, a smug glint in his eyes.

But--

"Did you think... I would let you see the real me?"

"Uchiha Itachi" slowly smiled, his head suddenly turning, a full 180 degrees, an extremely bizarre movement.

"Roar..."

His body self-destructed on the spot, Chakra exploding, Flames flying wildly. Danzo was forced to dodge, but was still sent flying and slammed to the ground by the impact of the flames.

He struggled to his feet, only to find the world had subtly changed.

The battlefield was both strange and familiar, with flashing blades, blood, and earth-shattering roars.

"This is..."

"Shimura Danzō." An aged voice sounded from behind him.

He turned and saw a silver-haired ninja clad in armor standing behind him, wielding a Ninja Sword.

"Teacher... Senju Tobirama?" Danzō's mind was greatly shaken.

Tobirama's face was filled with pity.

"I once thought you were my most loyal disciple... unfortunately, I was wrong."

"You do not possess the Will of Fire. You are merely a selfish power-seeker."

Before his words fell, a flash of the blade descended, striking towards Danzō's neck.

"No!" Danzō cried out in alarm and suddenly woke up, only to find himself still in the same place.

"Again..."

The next moment, Senju Tobirama drew his sword again and approached him.

This scene repeated, and repeated again.

Each strike was a negation of him.

"I am the true Will of Fire!!" he roared, wanting to break free but unable to move.

In reality, Shimura Danzō knelt on both knees, his eyes vacant, his body trembling. Truly a naive and weak Root!