A figure emerged from the dense forest.
The newcomer wore the standard Uchiha uniform, arms folded across his chest, his dark eyes deep and bright.
Fugaku Uchiha!
Utatane Banfeng fixed Fugaku with a sinister glare and said coldly, "Captain Fugaku, why are you here?"
Fugaku was the captain of Konoha's Military Police Force.
Leaving the village required the Hokage's approval.
Yet Root had received no intelligence lately that Fugaku intended to leave the village.
In other words—
Fugaku had left the village without authorization!
And Fugaku had appeared before them, forcing the Root ninjas to become wary.
Fugaku's eyes were cold and sharp as lightning as he spoke each word distinctly.
"I came to hunt Root."
"Hahaha!" Utatane Banfeng burst out laughing.
He was young and reckless, confident in his own strength. Even if he could not defeat Fugaku, he believed he could still escape safely.
So Utatane Banfeng ordered, "Kill him!"
Root and the Uchiha had always been like fire and water.
Combined with Root's recent attacks on Uchiha clansmen, the relationship between the two had worsened to its freezing point.
Utatane Banfeng also wanted to eliminate Fugaku and claim credit from Danzo!
One Root ninja tried to persuade him. "Captain Utatane, Fugaku Uchiha is the head of his clan. Shouldn't we make long-term plans and devise a thorough strategy first?"
The fearsome reputation of the Fierce Eye still intimidated the other Root ninjas.
"Are you questioning my judgment?!" Utatane Banfeng shouted furiously. He then slapped the Root ninja who had just spoken. The latter dared to be angry but did not dare to voice it.
The others were even less willing to speak.
Utatane Banfeng was hot-tempered, moody, and obsessed with glory. His subordinates all feared him.
"Kill Fugaku Uchiha!"
"Kill!"
At his command—
All the Root members charged at Fugaku.
Just then—
Fugaku's three-tomoe Sharingan shifted into an inverted spiral pattern.
Mangekyō Sharingan!
He slowly spoke to every Root member.
"Shackle!"
The Root ninjas became like wooden puppets, completely unable to move.
The power of Fugaku's left Mangekyō Sharingan could freeze everything within a certain range except himself for three seconds.
He named it "Shackle"!
"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
A surging fire dragon burst from Fugaku's mouth. Several Root ninjas let out miserable screams before perishing in the sea of flames.
"Anyone who dares touch our Uchiha—whether Root or Anbu—will meet the same end!"
The loss of one Jonin—
And three elite Chunin—
Was enough to make Danzo's heart ache with rage!
The Grief-Stricken Utatane Koharu
Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted to keep Root's attack on Genya and Itachi tightly under wraps.
But walls had ears.
This extremely vile incident was ultimately leaked.
A Root Jonin and a Chunin had actually attacked two six-year-old Uchiha children.
Had Fugaku not arrived in time—
The two might already have gone to Yomi.
It was simply outrageous!
As time passed—
The matter gradually gained momentum.
Many villagers even waited directly outside Sarutobi Hiruzen's office to lodge complaints against Root.
This left Sarutobi Hiruzen in a very passive position.
After this incident—
Whether they were members of great clans—
Or ordinary villagers—
Everyone feared that Root would attack them.
Or abduct their children.
Recently, whenever night fell, nearly all parents forbade their younger family members from going out, fearing danger.
As a result, Konoha's nights became especially quiet.
Public opinion continued to intensify.
And Root's reputation in Konoha gradually worsened.
Danzo, as Root's leader, began trying to remedy the situation.
For instance, he used the influence of Root and the Shimura Clan to secretly control public opinion in the village and gradually downplay the matter.
Becoming Hokage had always been Danzo's dream.
Though Danzo had grown old, his determination to become Hokage had never changed.
Danzo did not want this incident to excessively damage his reputation within the village.
Under the influence of multiple forces—
And because most people were rather forgetful—
As time passed—
Everyone gradually forgot about the incident.
But Itachi did not forget.
Instead, it continued to weigh heavily on him.
After all, that incident had truly inflicted deep trauma on Itachi, as though his entire worldview had been reshaped.
Root had clearly attacked the two of them.
Yet in the end, no punishment was imposed on Danzo or Root due to insufficient evidence.
This also made Itachi clearly realize—
Konoha could not be trusted.
Only one's own strength was reliable.
The so-called Will of Fire was empty nonsense, nothing but lies.
Meanwhile, Genya's daily life continued as usual.
Every day, aside from using chakra to exchange for energy points and upgrade his Kekkei Genkai—
He studied diligently in class.
Or went to the library whenever he had nothing else to do.
His strength and store of knowledge—
Were constantly improving.
Late at night.
Root.
Utatane Koharu hurried anxiously to a secret chamber.
She had received intelligence from Root.
Her most beloved junior had died tragically in the Land of Grass.
The moment she received the news, she rushed over.
Inside the secret chamber—
There was Danzo, Orochimaru, and several Root ninjas.
On a stone platform deeper inside—
Lay four corpses.
All were wrapped in white cloth.
When Utatane Koharu entered the chamber and saw the bodies covered in white cloth, she could barely remain standing. She staggered and nearly fell.
The usual sternness and harshness had vanished from her aged face.
They had been replaced by terror.
Led by a Root ninja—
Utatane Koharu came before one of the corpses.
She gathered her courage and lifted the white cloth.
Inside was a corpse burned black like charcoal.
It was a horrific sight.
Yet Utatane Koharu still identified the body through certain features.
Besides, Danzo had no reason to deceive her.
"My little Banfeng!" Utatane Koharu cried out in heart-wrenching grief, her wail echoing through the chamber.
She then rushed before Danzo, violently shaking his shoulders as she demanded furiously.
"Danzo, didn't you say you would protect Banfeng? How did he die now?!"
"Danzo, you failed to keep your promise! You're a liar who never keeps his word!"
Utatane Koharu had never borne children.
Thus, she had regarded the outstanding younger member of her clan, Utatane Banfeng, as her own son.
And now, her most beloved junior had been burned to charcoal and died so miserably. How could she not be overwhelmed with grief?!
"Koharu, I'm sorry." A trace of guilt surfaced on Danzo's gloomy face.
Utatane Banfeng had been Danzo's student.
Now that he had died unexpectedly—
Danzo also felt deeply pained and guilty.
Before you continue