Investigation from the Root

"Oh? Someone dares to move against the Uchiha?"

Uchiha Gento raised an eyebrow, looking down at the two figures on the ground.

Both wore animal masks—one with tiger stripes, the other a Cat.

Uchiha Gento reached down and pulled the masks off, revealing two unfamiliar faces.

Both men had shifty eyes and kept their lips tightly sealed.

"Who sent you?"

Faced with Uchiha Gento's interrogation, both men pressed their lips together, refusing to utter a sound.

Uchiha Gento shook his head, too lazy to ask again.

He formed hand seals.

"Yin Release: Heart-Diverging Door!"

The eyes of one ninja instantly went vacant, as if his soul had been ripped away.

"Speak. Who are you, and who sent you?"

The ninja opened his mouth and mechanically spat out a few words:

"I am... Root..."

Before he could finish, his expression shifted violently.

"Aaaah—!"

He curled into a ball, his hands clawing desperately at his own throat as veins bulged across his skin.

A rattling sound emerged from his throat, as if something were blocking his windpipe.

His body convulsed violently on the ground, legs kicking wildly, his back arching like a bridge before slamming back down.

Saliva mixed with blood foam dripped from the corners of his mouth, his eyes rolled back, and his entire body shook as if electrocuted.

The other conscious ninja turned deathly pale, his pupils dilated, lips trembling as he tried to speak, but not a single word could escape.

His legs went weak, and as he tried to scramble backward, Shisui kicked him to the ground.

Uchiha Gento frowned, watching the struggling man slowly go still.

"They must be from Root. Danzo planted the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal on them; if they leak any secrets, the curse activates."

Shisui stood to the side, whispering his explanation.

Uchiha Gento withdrew his gaze.

"Take these two away and lock them up."

"Understood."

Shisui hoisted the two men up and vanished into the night.

Uchiha Gento stood where he was, staring into the distant darkness, and softly spat out two words:

"Danzo..."

"Are you already unable to resist making a move against the Uchiha?"

Over the next few days, Danzo waited for a report from his subordinates, but none ever came.

It wasn't until this day that Aburame Torune hurried in and knelt on one knee.

"Lord Danzo, the two ninjas we sent to the Uchiha Clan Grounds... have gone missing."

Danzo's hand, which had been flipping through documents, froze.

He turned around, staring at Aburame Torune in disbelief.

His gaze was so cold and sinister that it sent a chill down Aburame Torune's spine.

"Missing?"

Cold sweat beaded on Aburame Torune's forehead, but he steeled himself and nodded.

"Yes... the last place they were seen was the perimeter of the Uchiha Clan Grounds... and then... there was no more news."

Danzo remained silent for a moment before suddenly standing up.

"A bunch of trash! You can't even handle such a small task!"

With that, Danzo rose and headed toward the Hokage Office.

Inside the Hokage Office, the Third Hokage was speaking with his two advisors.

"What do you think about the two Hokage candidates mentioned by the Daimyo?"

Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, surrounded by swirling smoke.

Utatane Koharu was the first to speak.

"Uchiha Gento? Isn't he just someone who got lucky on the battlefield, picked up a cheap victory, and gained a bit of fame to catch the Daimyo's eye? What does he have to compare with Minato?"

Mitokado Homura nodded in agreement.

"Minato is a humble child with great strength, a student of Jiraiya, and the husband of the jinchuriki Kushina. In any case, he is far more suitable than Uchiha Gento."

Hiruzen did not respond, merely puffing on his pipe in silence.

Suddenly, the door was pushed open.

Danzo strode inside.

Hiruzen raised his eyes:

"Danzo, what are you doing here?"

Danzo let out a cold laugh:

"What, am I not allowed to come?"

He swept a glance over the three people present, his voice rising a notch:

"Two of my Root operatives have gone missing in the Uchiha Clan Grounds."

Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura exchanged a look, their expressions shifting slightly.

Hiruzen frowned:

"I have warned you many times not to investigate the Uchiha without cause!"

"Who gave you permission to send people to the Uchiha?"

Danzo's face darkened instantly:

"My ninjas were merely passing by the Uchiha district when they were detained; their fate is currently unknown!"

He stepped forward, staring at Hiruzen:

"Hiruzen, have you grown senile? Have you forgotten what the Second Hokage said back then?"

"The Sharingan of the Uchiha clan relies on the power of hatred; they are inherently dangerous! We must control them!"

"Look at what you are doing now!"

"Uchiha Gento is about to become Hokage!"

His voice grew increasingly shrill:

"How can we possibly hand the village over to the Uchiha!"

Utatane Koharu immediately chimed in:

"Danzo is right. The Uchiha's power has indeed expanded too rapidly recently; it is time to suppress them."

Danzo seized the opportunity to add:

"Regardless, I am going to launch an investigation into the Uchiha. Do not try to stop me!"

With that, he flicked his sleeve and turned to leave.

Hiruzen watched his retreating back, his eyes flickering as he remained silent.

Upon returning to Root, Danzo issued a direct order:

"Send three skilled operatives this time. Under the guise of investigating the missing ninjas, bring Uchiha Gento back to me."

He paused, a cold, sinister curve touching his lips:

"If he dares to resist... hmph, that will give me the perfect excuse to deal with him!"

The next day, Uchiha Clan Grounds.

Uchiha Gento stood at the edge of the construction site, watching Goumu Ganweng direct the craftsmen in the final finishing touches.

"Tomorrow, by tomorrow these two buildings will be ready for use!"

The old man patted his chest in assurance.

Uchiha Gento nodded, already calculating the work to be done once they were operational.

Just as he was thinking, a commotion suddenly erupted ahead.

He turned to look and saw the brothers Inabi and Tekka blocking the middle of the road, facing three ninjas wearing animal masks.

The one in the lead wore an Eagle Face mask, with a Fox mask to his left and a Cat mask to his right.

"Move! Move! Move!"

The voice of Eagle Face came from behind the mask, as if he were shooing away a stray dog.

"We of Root are conducting official business in Konoha with the highest level of authorization! Anyone who blocks our path is asking for death!"

"Tell me immediately where Uchiha Gento is!"

Upon hearing this, Inabi glared at the three of them:

"What do you want with Uchiha Gento?"

The tall, thin ninja in the Fox mask stepped forward, tilting his head with a mocking, sarcastic tone:

"Oh? The Uchiha really have such high airs. Do we of Root have to report to you when we conduct business? Are you Uchiha even worthy?"

He looked Inabi up and down:

"Wearing a Police Force vest, do you really think you're something special?"

"Move aside! Otherwise, we won't mind dragging both of you away!"

"You!!!"

Inabi was burning with rage and about to snap when a voice came from behind:

"What's going on?"

Inabi turned around to see Uchiha Gento and immediately spoke up:

"Gento, these three Root ninjas are here to arrest you!"

Eagle Face turned to look at Uchiha Gento, sized him up, and then let out a scoff:

"Oh? You're Uchiha Gento?"

He tilted his head:

"Two of our Root members have gone missing in your Uchiha territory. We suspect you are involved. Come with us immediately and cooperate with the Root investigation!"

He paused, then added:

"Don't think about refusing. Our way of inviting people might not be very gentle."

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Gento glanced at the three of them and replied:

"What kind of things are you to be worthy of investigating me?"

"What did you say!"

"How dare you look down on our Root! We are under the command of Lord Danzo!"

"Even the Hokage has to give some face to our Root's Lord Danzo! Who do you think you are, just a clan head of the Uchiha!"

"I'm telling you, today you're coming with us whether you like it or not!"

Uchiha Gento continued with disdain:

"Danzo is nothing! He has no authority to investigate me, Uchiha Gento!"

"You three had better get out of the Uchiha territory before I lose my temper."

"Otherwise... bear the consequences!"

The three Root ninjas exchanged glances and then spoke:

"Show him a taste of our power, attack!"