Deep inside Root Base, Danzo sat in the shadows, his single eye gleaming with icy killing intent.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi..." Danzo ground his teeth. "You actually chose to trust that brat instead of me?"
Laid out before him was the order the Third Hokage had just issued: remove Danzo from all his positions and launch an investigation into him.
"Ridiculous... utterly ridiculous..." Danzo laughed in fury. "I devoted my entire life to Konoha, and now I'm being kicked aside?"
Danzo rose and paced back and forth across the room. His anger had reached its peak, and madness was consuming his reason.
"That Uchiha Xingye... What did he give you to make you reach this decision?"
Danzo abruptly stopped, a trace of malice flashing in his eye.
"If you show me no mercy, don't expect me to show you any."
Danzo pressed the button on the table.
A few seconds later, three Root members appeared in the room and knelt respectfully on the floor.
"Lord Danzo, your orders," the lead Root member said quietly.
Danzo looked at his loyal subordinates, a complicated glint in his eye. These children had been trained by him from a young age to become the sharpest of blades. They knew only obedience, with no thoughts or feelings of their own.
"I have one final mission," Danzo said solemnly. "Are you willing to carry it out?"
"Lord Danzo's orders are our mission," the three Root members answered in unison.
Danzo nodded, a trace of satisfaction flashing in his eye.
"Good," Danzo said. "I want you to attack the Uchiha Clan Compound and kill Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Xingye."
The Root members didn't hesitate. "Understood."
"Also," Danzo continued, "this attack must create chaos and make all of Konoha believe the Uchiha Clan is plotting a rebellion."
"Understood!"
Danzo waved his hand, and the three Root members disappeared into the shadows.
Watching them leave, Danzo sat down in his chair, a cold smile tugging at his lips.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi, I'll show you what 'Konoha's interests' really mean."
"Uchiha Xingye, you think you can change anything? Tonight will be your end."
What Danzo didn't know was that Xingye had every one of his moves under control.
In the Uchiha Clan Compound's meeting hall, Xingye stood before a map, calmly assessing the situation.
"Danzo has made his move," Xingye said coolly. "He sent three Root members to attack the compound and stage a false rebellion."
Fugaku slammed his hand on the table in anger. "That old fox! Even now, he dares to strike first!"
"Father, that's exactly what I wanted," Xingye said calmly. "Danzo's anger has driven him to make a foolish move. We can use this chance to destroy his influence completely."
Itachi asked, "Brother, how should we respond?"
"Simple," Xingye said. "Let them attack, but don't let them succeed. Instead, we'll capture them and make sure Danzo's plan fails completely."
Xingye walked over to the map and tapped several spots with his finger.
"These are the routes Danzo might use to attack. We've already set an ambush. The moment the Root members appear, take them down."
Fugaku nodded. "I've already put the clan members on alert."
"Good," Xingye said. "The key to this operation is making sure every member of Konoha's High Command sees that Danzo is the one threatening Konoha's peace."
A look of understanding flashed in Itachi's eyes. "Brother, you want Danzo to dig his own grave in front of Konoha's High Command?"
"Exactly." Xingye nodded. "Danzo thinks he can frame the Uchiha, but he doesn't know we're fully prepared."
Xingye looked up at the night sky, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
"Danzo, your final battle is about to begin."
The night in Konoha was unusually quiet, broken only by the occasional chirp of insects.
Three Root members approached the Uchiha Clan Compound without making a sound. They were among Root's finest assassins, skilled at concealment and ambush.
"Closing in on the target," the lead Root member whispered. "As planned, we attack Fugaku first, then kill Xingye."
The other two nodded, preparing to act.
Just then, countless pairs of Sharingan suddenly lit up around them.
"You've come to the wrong place."
Xingye emerged from the darkness, his Sharingan activated, three tomoe spinning in his eyes.
"Uchiha Xingye!" The Root members were stunned. "How did you know we were coming?"
"I've known your plan inside out for ages," Xingye sneered. "Danzo sent you to stage a false rebellion, but you don't know I've already exposed his plot to Konoha's High Command."
The Root members' expressions darkened.
"Whatever the case, our mission is to kill you," the lead Root member said. "Even if we die, we'll complete it."
The three Root members attacked at once, combining ninjutsu and Taijutsu seamlessly.
But Xingye was ready.
He activated his Sharingan and Byakugan at the same time, their eyes gleaming with different colors.
Lightning Style: Chidori Sharp Spear!
Blinding lightning pierced one Root member through the chest. He fell without even having time to scream.
The other two saw what happened and prepared to retreat.
"Trying to escape?" Xingye sneered. "Too late."
Xingye appeared behind them in an instant, his Sharingan tracking their movements.
"Not one of you is leaving tonight."
Lightning Release: Senbon!
Countless tiny lightning needles shot from Xingye's hand, striking the vital points of the other two Root members with pinpoint accuracy.
All three were down, unable to fight.
Xingye walked over to them and looked down at the Root members coldly.
"Tell Danzo," Xingye said, "I know every detail of his plan. Konoha's High Command knows what he's plotting."
"Tonight is his end."
The Root members didn't dare talk back. They could only submit to Xingye.
"Take them to the Hokage Building and have the Third Hokage interrogate them personally," Xingye told the Uchiha clan members who had arrived.
The clan members nodded and took the three Root members away.
Xingye remained where he was, looking toward Root Base in the distance.
"Danzo, your time is up."
Inside Root Base, Danzo waited anxiously for news.
"Why haven't I heard anything yet..." Danzo muttered. "They should have succeeded by now."
Suddenly, the door flew open.
A Root member rushed in, his face ashen.
"Lord Danzo... this is bad..."
Danzo frowned. "What happened?"
"The Root members who launched the attack... were captured," the Root member said, trembling. "And... the Hokage already knows."
Danzo was shocked. "What?!"
"Yes, Lord Danzo," the Root member continued. "Xingye anticipated your plan. He had people lying in wait around the compound. All three Root members were captured, and they've already been taken to the Hokage Building."
Danzo's face turned deathly pale.
"Impossible..." Danzo muttered. "How could he have known?"
"And..." the Root member said, trembling, "the Hokage has already ordered... your immediate arrest."
Danzo's body went limp, and he collapsed into his chair.
It was all over.
His plans, his ambitions, his entire life—all ruined by a ten-year-old child.
"Uchiha Xingye..." Danzo ground his teeth. "You've destroyed everything I had..."
"Lord Danzo, what should we do?" the Root member asked.
Danzo fell silent for a moment, a trace of madness flashing in his eye.
"I won't admit defeat just like that." Danzo stood up. "I have one last trump card."
"Izanagi..."
Danzo looked at his right arm, where Shisui Uchiha's Sharingan was embedded.
"As long as Izanagi still exists, I still have a chance."
[System Notification: Danzo is preparing to use Izanagi. Danger detected.]
The system's alert sounded in Xingye's mind.
Xingye was standing outside the Hokage Building, waiting quietly.
"Danzo, do you think Izanagi can save you?" Xingye murmured. "How naive."
Xingye had made every preparation. No matter how Danzo struggled, he couldn't escape defeat.
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