What Danzo dares not do, Root dares to!

Outside Konohagakure, the setting sun cast long shadows, its golden-red halo shimmering on the quiet pond's edge.

Uchiha Rei stood silently by the pond, his gaze piercing the sunset glow to land on a utility pole not far away.

Uchiha Itachi crouched high above like a crow, silent and vigilant.

Rei didn't make a move immediately.

A living Uchiha Itachi is more valuable than a dead one. Rei thought to himself.

The situation was chaotic, and he still needed Itachi as a card to stir the pot. Even so, he hadn't given up on controlling Itachi.

His pupils spun gently, the Mangekyo Sharingan quietly activated. He raised a hand, drawing a gleaming magatama from his spiritual space: the Yasakani no Magatama.

It was one of the Uchiha Clan's legendary "Three Sacred Treasures," capable of unleashing powerful genjutsu from a distance. The magatama floated gently in his palm, vibrating slightly as if in communion.

Uchiha Rei whispered a hand seal, calmly aiming at Uchiha Itachi high above.

"Genjutsu Mark."

An imperceptible stream of genjutsu light flowed from the Yasakani no Magatama, silently striking Uchiha Itachi. Simultaneously, a Genjutsu Mark quietly appeared within the vest Itachi wore.

"As long as he's within a thousand meters of me, I can sense his position," Uchiha Rei chuckled softly. "It's like strapping a timed radar to him."

With the mark complete, he slowly withdrew his hand, his gaze calmly turning towards Sasuke by the pond.

Before he could take a few steps, Uchiha Itachi on the utility pole twitched his brow, as if sensing something. His figure flickered, vanishing from his spot in an instant.

Uchiha Itachi knew he was no match for Uchiha Rei. If he were discovered and they clashed, he likely wouldn't even have a chance to escape.

Yet, he also sensed that this fellow clan member was not an evil person like Danzo.

He wouldn't easily attack Sasuke.

Even if he did, Itachi couldn't stop him.

If Uchiha Rei knew his thoughts, he would probably be so angry he'd grit his teeth. Good people should be held at gunpoint; good people should do good deeds.

"Sasuke, let's go back. The village... and everyone, they're all waiting for you."

By the pond, Uzumaki Naruto had finally persuaded Sasuke. The two stood up, dusting the dirt off their pants.

Uchiha Rei slowly approached, his gaze gentle. "Sasuke, Uchiha Yue asked me to escort you home."

Sasuke shook his head slightly. "I... I want to find my brother and persuade him to come home."

Uchiha Rei didn't argue. He just looked up at the empty utility pole and said in a light tone, "I think if you go home, Uchiha Itachi will come home soon too. Perhaps he's looking for you right now."

Sasuke fell silent, then nodded slightly after a moment.

The twilight deepened, stretching the shadows of the three figures long. Uchiha Rei held Uzumaki Naruto's hand in one and Sasuke's in the other, walking slowly towards the village in the dusk.

Outside Konohagakure, the wind blew through the trees, making a "rustling" sound.

Sasuke lowered his head, his mind heavy. Where was his brother?

Naruto, on the other hand, was in a daze. Today's experience felt like a dream: someone took him to eat ramen, eat popsicles, someone held his hand so he wouldn't be alone...

No one has ever spent time with me like this before, he thought. Is this... really not a dream?

Reaching the fork in the Konoha street, Uchiha Rei stopped and looked at Naruto.

"Uzumaki Naruto, we part ways here."

Naruto blinked, a hint of reluctance in his eyes. He slowly let go of Uchiha Rei's hand, hesitated, and then looked at Sasuke.

"Sasuke, you have to come to school tomorrow... Everyone misses you."

Hearing this, Sasuke lowered his head, his hands clenched. He wasn't used to expressing his emotions, only burying his head deeper.

"Sasuke," Uchiha Rei reached out and nudged him, his tone gentle yet with a hint of sternness, "Have the demeanor of the Uchiha Clan."

"Mhm..." Sasuke nodded, and after a long hesitation, waved gently at Naruto.

"Goodbye, Naruto," he said softly, like a gust of wind.

After saying goodbye, the two continued towards the clan compound.

The sky had completely darkened. The Uchiha Clan compound was now the core of Konohagakure's political games.

In the afternoon, when Uchiha Rei first brought Uzumaki Naruto into this place, he had felt several chilling gazes, as if hidden daggers were aimed at them.

The Sharingan and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, once combined, everyone knew what that meant.

The beginning of another Nine-Tails' Rampage. As the night deepened, the houses on both sides gradually receded into shadow, and the street was deserted.

Walking along the street, as they approached the core area of the Uchiha Clan Compound, the once lively street gradually became deserted, and the air seemed to condense with a strange pressure.

Just two more blocks to reach the Uchiha Clan Compound. But Uchiha Rei suddenly stopped.

"Wait." His eyes were sharp, his brow furrowed, and a familiar, malicious Chakra washed over him.

"They're here."

A few seconds later, a squad of black-clad Root shinobi appeared silently.

"Uchiha Sasuke," one of them stepped forward, ignoring Uchiha Rei, and spoke directly to Sasuke, "Lord Danzo wants to see you. You'll come with us."

The other party's tone left no room for negotiation.

Uchiha Sasuke stood frozen for a moment, looking up at Uchiha Rei with eyes full of panic and a plea for help.

He knew exactly what "Root" was, and what "Danzo" represented.

Even a genius like his brother, Uchiha Itachi, could only bow his head in the face of Root.

Danzo, the leader of Konohagakure's Root, was the second most powerful figure after the Third Hokage.

And Uchiha Rei was just a "normal" Jonin. What could he do against Root, against Danzo?

"It seems you truly don't take me seriously," Uchiha Rei said slowly, a slight curve to his lips, but without any hint of a smile.

The Root captain's gaze sharpened. "We know you, Uchiha Rei."

His voice was deep and cold. "Lord Danzo's orders are not something you can disobey."

"Oh?" Uchiha Rei chuckled, a glint of cold light flashing in his eyes. "I am also acting under orders. My mission is to safely escort Uchiha Sasuke home. Isn't fulfilling a mission the duty of a ninja?"

The air instantly solidified. There was no wind, yet a chill seemed to sweep through the surroundings.

"Prepare yourselves," the Root captain commanded. The Root ninja behind him drew their weapons in unison, forming a battle formation with tight formations and their auras merging into one.

They weren't afraid of Uchiha Rei.

Intelligence indicated he was merely a Jonin who hadn't recovered from serious injuries, barely clinging to life with medicine granted by the Third Hokage, possessing only the strength of a Konoha Genin.

"Attack." If the opponent dared to obstruct them, they would strike.

However, this was a sensitive time. The relationship between Konoha and the Uchiha Clan was at a breaking point, and a single misstep could trigger a full-scale conflict. If Root's actions escalated the conflict at this moment, or even led to combat, it was likely not what Danzo desired. After all, within Root, every action represented Danzo's will, and Danzo's will was Root's creed.

"Uchiha Rei, this is your last chance," the captain said coldly and sternly.

"You have two choices."

"First, hand over Sasuke."

"Second, face Lord Danzo's wrath."

There was a moment of silence.

"I choose neither."

Uchiha Rei's voice was soft.

It seemed to drown out everyone else in the stillness.

Sasuke blinked, looking up at Uchiha Rei beside him.

At this moment, he felt an unprecedented sense of security, a feeling... that even surpassed the safety his brother provided.

He actually dared to openly defy Danzo, to openly refuse Root's orders. That man, who even Uchiha Itachi had to bow his head to, he dared to defy him.

Even his brother had to bow his head.

"I didn't expect..."

"After awakening the Mangekyo, I'm not doing as well as before."

"A mere Root, and you dare make me choose?"

"Danzo wouldn't dare make me choose, but Root dares!"

"I have a problem with making choices. Since you're making me choose... then I'll choose neither."