The Beginning of the Root Division's Downfall

The Third... was like a great tree, old and rotten. He could no longer support Konoha's prosperity!

Minato recalled what Uzumaki Sora had said in that mysterious space two years ago: Konoha had never before had both the Third and Fourth Hokage alive at the same time.

And the Third... He really was far too weak.

Recently, it seemed that even some of Orochimaru's intelligence had been secretly obstructed by the Third's personal Anbu.

But Minato knew perfectly well that the Third wasn't trying to seize power.

Just as an old man nearing the end of his life was always filled with memories, the Third was no longer the Shinobi Hero he had once been. Like all old people, he indulged in his memories.

"Phew..."

He sighed, then composed himself and smiled at Yun, Shisui, and the others. "You can head back. I'll take care of this."

After he spoke, he glanced at the Medical Team, which had already left, and Namikaze Minato vanished from the spot.

"Izumi, was it you who used Summoning to send a Ninja Cat to notify Itachi?"

"Huh? This is..."

"You two used a Ninja Cat to go on dates?"

Izumi's face immediately turned red. She glanced shyly at Itachi and tapped her index fingers together. "We didn't go on dates. We just chat sometimes."

Shisui couldn't take it anymore. He patted Yun on the shoulder and said, "Don't be so harsh on Izumi. If Itachi hadn't sent word so quickly this time..."

Yun grinned and finished his sentence. "If it hadn't been for Itachi, there'd have been more than one dead and two seriously injured on the ground."

Shisui shook his head. "The Mangekyou's power isn't invincible. You've used it, so you should understand the price. Don't abuse that power. Besides, the Uchiha, me, Itachi, and Izumi all need you."

Yun understood what Shisui meant by that last sentence. From Shisui's perspective, if Yun didn't care about going blind, the Mangekyou's power might really be enough to wipe out the Root Division.

But whether they could cover up the bodies in Konoha afterward was another matter.

And if that happened, Yun would have no choice but to defect. Neither he nor the Fourth Hokage would be able to change that outcome.

Itachi, who had been quiet all this time, looked over and said calmly, "Whether it's the Uchiha or the village, you're more useful than I am, Yun. So no matter what, you have to keep up."

Yun scratched his head. The Uchiha's mentally unstable kid from his memories didn't seem so unpleasant after all.

"Got it. I like this village's peace and quiet too. Don't worry."

Night fell, but the Hokage Building remained brightly lit.

Five figures sat in the room, not a sound escaping their lips.

"Shisui, all the meetings about the Uchiha have always included only the four of us, even with my teacher present. You..."

Kakashi hadn't finished when the Fourth Hokage beside him raised a hand to stop him.

He added, "Shisui trusts Yun, so I trust him too."

Those words cut off Kakashi's questioning and showed that the Fourth trusted both Yun and Shisui.

But Shisui, who was no longer the same as before, still replied, "A lot of my ideas have come from Yun. And now he has the strength to help with the Uchiha situation, so..."

Kakashi looked surprised. He glanced at Yun, then asked, "He doesn't have a Headband. Hasn't he graduated yet?"

Shisui nodded. "He's in the same class as Itachi, but Yun doesn't seem to want to graduate early. He thinks school is pretty nice."

Yun turned to Kakashi and said, "If we're talking about a genius, shouldn't you be the one? Kakashi, you graduated at five, became a Chunin at six, and a Jonin at twelve. I couldn't manage that."

Kakashi's usual dead-fish eyes returned. Scratching his white hair, he replied, "Kids these days are getting more and more terrifying."

Terrifying?

Yun didn't answer. He laughed to himself. When your student wraps things up with Six Paths power at seventeen, you'll know what a Konoha Genin is really like.

"Ahem."

The Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, cleared his throat. Once he had their attention, he said, "We've uncovered something through our surveillance of the Military Police Force over the past six months. Shisui, I need you to assess it."

Shisui took the intelligence scroll. The information, translated by the Cipher Squad, made him frown slightly.

Have they already noticed?

Ever since Yun had set the date, Shisui hadn't been idle. Over the past few days, he had visited the Uchiha Jonin one by one.

That move might have stirred the thoughts of Uchiha Nanadai and Yashiro.

Uchiha Setsuna—the man who had been locked up in the High-Security Prison all this time?

"Judging by his age, this man seems to have been part of the Uchiha Clan back in the Second's time. So I'll need your information on Uchiha Setsuna," Minato said.

Shisui set down the scroll. "Uchiha Setsuna was the most influential figure among the Hawk Faction back in the Second's time. If the clan's Hawk Faction plans to break him out, his return will be troublesome."

At the name, Yun thought for a moment. He seemed to recall that this man had belonged to the Hawk Faction and had been locked up in the High-Security Prison many years ago.

Would that old man Nanadai really allow someone with more authority than him to return?

"Has the old guy awakened the Mangekyou?"

Shisui shook his head. "Probably not. Otherwise, Konoha's High-Security Prison alone wouldn't have been enough to hold him."

An Uchiha who hadn't awakened the Mangekyou was no threat.

Yun considered it, then said to Shisui, "If he hasn't awakened the Mangekyou, the two of us should be strong enough."

That reminded Shisui of the Mangekyou he had just awakened. But if he used it, he would go blind before long.

In Shisui's eyes, Yun was just as important as he was.

"Shisui, how much longer?"

Minato's question made Shisui look toward the Uchiha Compound outside the window with a frown. Then he replied, "At the clan meeting four days from now, Yun and I will resolve the problems within the Uchiha."

Kinoe, who hadn't spoken until then, suddenly asked, "Do you need support from Anbu?"

Yun waved a hand. "We don't need Anbu. With enough strength, there might not even be a fight. Besides, the Uchiha are notoriously proud. Anbu showing up might not be a good thing."

Minato thought it over, then looked at Yun. "Ninjas who've come back from the battlefield are all formidable. If the Uchiha really do rescue Uchiha Setsuna, you'll need to be cautious."

The two nodded slightly...

Minato then began coordinating with the Jonin Squad Kakashi was part of and the Hokage's personal Anbu, where Kinoe served.

Those were the two things Minato had accomplished over the past two years, and there would be more to come.

Boom!!!

Without warning, a tremendous blast echoed throughout Konoha, and even the Hokage Building trembled slightly.

The fall of the Root Division had begun!

Watching the Fourth and the others from behind, Yun frowned slightly. So that's how it is? You really do deserve to die!

When Danzo and the Root Division had used his family as leverage, there had been no way they would make it through the night unscathed!

But the information exchanged with his clone, Sora, had filled Yun with a surge of murderous rage.

Uchiha Setsuna was an anime-original character who had been imprisoned all along.

Just to clarify, Izumi's feelings right now are just a child's crush. She won't end up marrying Itachi. Also, there's no incest in this story. Thanks.