Night fell, and the weather turned slightly cool.
At the Anbu base in Konoha, nightingales perched atop the trees, swiveling their heads and letting out soft hoots. Their piercing gazes fixed on the grass below, hoping to spot nocturnal animals such as mice or grass snakes.
On the upper level, a shadowy figure left the central building with a short blade strapped to his back, quickly disappearing into the night.
Inside the room, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, lit his pipe and sat in silence, lost in thought.
The person who had just visited was Shisui Uchiha, and he had said something Hiruzen had never expected.
At Root, Shimura Danzō looked at the masked subordinate before him, his expression grim as he pondered something.
After a long while, he spoke. "You're saying that Shisui Uchiha went to see Hiruzen and claimed that he could stop the Uchiha Clan's rebellion?"
"Yes!"
The masked ninja answered without raising his head, maintaining his half-kneeling posture.
"I understand. You may leave now," Danzō said quietly.
The ninja bowed and withdrew without another word.
Watching the door close, Danzō shut his eyes and contemplated for a moment before suddenly saying, "Goshawk."
"At your service."
A man silently emerged from the shadows behind him. He wore a goshawk mask, his gaze cold and sharp as a drawn blade. He was the very ninja who had once stopped Konoha's White Fang from meeting Danzō.
"What do you think of this? Things have reached this point—what method could Shisui Uchiha possibly have to stop the Uchiha from rebelling? They have already reached the point where the arrow is on the string and must be loosed."
Danzō asked in confusion. He had no need to hide his thoughts from this trusted confidant, and he was accustomed to seeking