Seeing that Izumi was still lost in thought, I couldn't help raising my voice and calling her again.
Only then did Uchiha Izumi snap out of it, looking confused as she asked, "What did you just say, senpai?" It wasn't until I repeated myself a third time that she seemed to wake from a dream. Excitedly hugging my arm, she nodded again and again to show her agreement.
Seeing Izumi's eager expression, Uchiha Chen's lips curled into a slight smile. He reached out and gently took her hand. The two exchanged a smile, and then, under her astonished gaze, the Sharingan in his eyes spun rapidly, transforming into the Mangekyo Sharingan in the blink of an eye!
The space around them seemed to twist and tremble. Amid the distorted scenery, Uchiha Chen and Izumi were slowly absorbed and vanished, as if they had never been there at all.
Meanwhile, in another corner of Konoha, Root had spent the past few days withdrawing most of its members who were monitoring the Uchiha Clan, following Danzo's orders in an orderly fashion. Only a handful remained to continue the bare-minimum surveillance, diverting Hiruzen Sarutobi's attention.
Even so, Hiruzen Sarutobi was still puzzled by Danzo's recent unusual behavior. He summoned Danzo several times, trying to coax some useful information out of him.
Whenever they met, the two traded verbal barbs. On the surface, all seemed calm, but beneath it, undercurrents swirled.
Before sunrise that morning, Danzo was jolted awake by urgent knocking at his door. His eyes snapped open. Once he saw that the visitor was from Anbu, he felt a little displeased, but then seemed to remember something. He got up at once, quickly put on his clothes, and followed the Anbu member to the Hokage Building.
After all, the Fourth Hokage's wife was about to give birth, and the escort personnel and guards needed to be finalized that day.
The meeting room was filled with arguments. Some believed security should be strengthened, while others worried that excessive protection would cause unnecessary trouble. After a heated debate, they finally settled on a plan.
They would set up their operation in a secluded cave far outside the village. Even if something went wrong, the village would not be affected too badly.
A temporary barrier would be established in the cave, with the Barrier Team at its center. The medical ninja, led by Biwako Sarutobi, would be ready to assist Uzumaki Kushina during labor at any time. A squad from Anbu and another from Root would maintain a tight perimeter around the area, ensuring nothing went wrong.
This was the best plan they could reach through negotiations. After all, even if the Nine-Tails went out of control, it wouldn't be able to damage the village.
Meanwhile, the Third Hokage and the others, stationed in the village, would have plenty of time and means to control the situation. After the meeting, Danzo was about to leave when Hiruzen Sarutobi, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu stopped him.
"Danzo, it's been a long time since we all sat down for a chat," Hiruzen Sarutobi said with a smile.
"Indeed. It brings back memories of the old days," Mitokado Homura chimed in.
"If you have something to say, just say it," Danzo replied. He knew they hadn't called him over just to chat.
"Haha, it's nothing serious. We just feel like you've changed quite a bit lately," Utatane Koharu said with a laugh.
Danzo knew the three of them wanted to find out why his attitude toward the Uchiha had changed so dramatically. He gave a few perfunctory answers, then used the excuse that he still needed to arrange tonight's Anbu personnel to finally extricate himself.
Leaving the Hokage Building, Danzo gazed at the village and silently weighed his next moves.
Back at Root, Danzo sat in a chair identical to the one in the Hokage's office, his gaze indifferent as he issued an order to the empty air.
Danzo had specifically commissioned the chair himself. It was indistinguishable from the one in the Hokage's office. After all, to the old Danzo, sitting in this chair was no different from sitting in the Hokage's seat.
Though it was merely a way of comforting himself, there was no denying that he was practically a little Hokage within Root.
"Bring the Third Squad to me," Danzo said in a low voice. He rested one hand on the desk in front of him and quietly waited for the Third Squad to arrive.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
A moment later, faint sounds rang out, and several figures appeared before Danzo like ghosts. He looked up and saw the members of the Third Squad, all wearing standard-issue masks. Their expressions were solemn beneath them, and they were clearly ready to accept a mission at any moment.
Danzo nodded in satisfaction. "Good. You were reasonably quick this time."
As he spoke, he rummaged through his sleeve and took out a tightly sealed mission brief.
He casually tossed it to the squad leader and said in a low voice, "Your mission is to guard the Fourth Hokage's wife during childbirth. There must not be a single mistake!
If the situation gets out of our control and we can't ensure Konoha's safety, then... kill Uzumaki Kushina..." Danzo paused, a resolute glint flashing in his eyes.
A vicious look crept across Danzo's gloomy face. He drew his hand across his throat, making it clear that she was to be killed without mercy.
"Yes!"
The Root squad leader's expression was cold, and his response was brief and clear, without the slightest hesitation or doubt. To them, Danzo's orders were absolute, no matter how dangerous or unreasonable they might be.
They had to realize that if things went badly, they would be killing the current Hokage's wife!
This was undoubtedly an extremely risky mission. Killing the Yellow Flash's wife right under his nose would be like snatching food from a tiger's mouth.
Though this was a last resort, the Root members didn't back down.
All their feelings had long since been ground away. Only Danzo's orders mattered to them. As for the Third Hokage, the Fourth Hokage, and the others, they were worth nothing in their eyes.
Hearing their crisp response, Danzo waved his hand. The figures below darted away like ghosts and vanished in the blink of an eye.
Their speed was so great that all he could see was dust swirling through the air before slowly settling and blending with the dirt around it.
After everyone had left, Danzo sat alone in his chair, lost in thought. His eyes were closed, as if he were pondering something important—or perhaps simply enjoying the calm before the storm.
Just then, a figure quietly appeared behind Danzo. She slowly raised one foot, as if testing something.
Danzo sensed something amiss behind him. He was about to use the Body Flicker Technique to get away, but then seemed to remember someone or something, and his body stiffened in place, unable to move.
The figure had clearly realized that Danzo had noticed her presence. But rather than stopping, she clenched her teeth in anger, summoned all her strength, and kicked him hard, as if trying to leave him with a mark he would never forget.
When the kick landed, Danzo toppled over like a rubber doll, pitching forward in an awkward heap. Yet his expression didn't change in the slightest. Instead, a hint of confusion rose in his heart. The force of the kick felt a little off.
Seeing this, the newcomer couldn't help feeling a surge of excitement.
She had no idea that Danzo had fooled her with his superb acting.