Each Different

With a cold snort, Uchiha Madara's gaze turned icy. "Come out, you little rats. Don't make me come over there and drag you out myself."

Wind and rain lashed against the trees, causing the foliage to sway incessantly. There was no sound, as if the area were completely empty.

Madara said nothing more. He suddenly threw a punch; he used no ninjutsu, but chakra was highly condensed at his fist, forming a sphere of energy that was blasted outward.

A booming explosion echoed, and the entire tree tilted backward. Three figures immediately scrambled out from the shadows, landing in Madara's courtyard, all wearing cat-faced masks.

Madara paused, subconsciously glancing at Uchiha Shin before narrowing his eyes. "Root?"

Shin shrugged, which was the best answer he could give.

The three Root ninja exchanged glances, not daring to leave easily. They hadn't expected to be flushed out like this. They had been tailing Uchiha Shin for quite some time, and since everything had been peaceful until now, they had naturally assumed they hadn't been discovered.

It seemed the other party had known all along and simply hadn't spoken up.

"Who sent you to tail Shin? Hashirama or Tobirama?" Uchiha Madara asked in a chilling voice. He did not kill the three ninja; some lines had not yet been crossed to the point of total hostility.

Hearing the question, the three Root ninja hesitated. The one standing in the middle said, "It... it is the order of the Hokage."

Bang!

The three ninja were sent flying instantly, slamming hard into a distant wall. They groaned in unison as their ribs shattered, and large mouthfuls of blood spilled from their lips.

"Get out. Get out now. Go back and tell Hashirama that he must give us Uchiha an explanation, or this matter is far