Danzo, You've Committed a Crime!

The cool breeze brings tidings, the autumn moon knows no bounds.

As the final golden rays of dusk drew the curtain, the atmosphere on the streets of Konoha beneath the bright moon grew increasingly scorching.

Over a hundred Uchiha, their eyes scarlet, wore expressions of utter disdain, while Shimura Danzo, who had previously stood upon the moral high ground, no longer possessed his former air of righteous indignation.

Reflecting on the "Darkness of the Ninja World" in his prime, he had once turned his hands to summon clouds and rain, causing the White Fang of Konoha to vanish into thin air with a mere flick of his wrist.

During the Night of the Nine-Tails, he had stood alone, his presence so imposing that the Uchiha dared not move a muscle.

How had things suddenly devolved into this?

Even though Danzo possessed enough confidence in his ability to manipulate hearts, facing the multitude of red-eyed youths before him—ferocious as wolves and tigers—he could not help but feel the melancholy of a hero in his twilight years.

"Jin-kun!"

After assessing the situation, Shimura Danzo realized that this man was not like the fools of the past, who would sacrifice their lives for him after a few glib words. His tone softened by three degrees.

"Since you Uchiha insist that they are spies, then please withdraw for today. Once my 'Root' has investigated the matter, I will naturally report it to the Hokage!"

Very well...

After all, as the dignified assistant to the Hokage and bearing the renowned title of the "Darkness of the Ninja World," Shimura Danzo felt he had already given the man before him enough face.

Ptooey!

The response to Shimura Danzo was a glob of thick phlegm, spat onto him without the slightest hesitation.

"Sorry about that, my throat's been a bit uncomfortable lately."

Uchiha Jin's mocking smile held no hint of apology, but before the other could react, he spoke again.

"You just said 'your Root'—it seems you are that 'Darkness of the Ninja World,' Shimura Danzo, right?"

"You..."

Uchiha Jin's previous act of humiliation and his current feigned ignorance clearly infuriated Danzo once more.

Had it not been for the increasingly piercing glare of the red eyes before him, Shimura Danzo would have ordered 'Root' to fight Uchiha Jin to the death on the spot.

Hoo...

Don't get angry; getting sick from rage helps no one!

"Uchiha Jin!"

Silently reciting words to soothe himself, Shimura Danzo, currently under the eaves of another, looked up again and said coldly to Uchiha Jin.

"Do you know who I am? Do you know what you are doing right now?"

"Who are you? Oh, I'm so scared..."

Uchiha Jin impatiently picked at his ear, the mockery in his eyes growing even more intense.

"I am the leader of 'Root,' the assistant to the Hokage of Konoha! Regardless of what misunderstandings exist between us, I hope you think twice before doing something you will regret. Your Uchiha clansmen still have to live in Konoha, after all."

Speaking such "cowardly" words with a tough tone was the absolute limit of what our Lord Danzo could manage.

Looking back over the countless years, it had always been Danzo bullying others; he had never felt as stifled as he did today.

Not even during his assassination attempt on the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had he been as passive as he was now, let alone facing a "wicked Uchiha" brat like Jin.

Lowering his head to a brat was shameful, but it was still better than tearing off the mask with the Uchiha now and sacrificing the majority of 'Root's' foundation—or even potentially losing his own life, the future Hokage of Konoha.

It was simply not worth it!

So what if he was a bit cowardly? Having followed behind Sarutobi Hiruzen for so many years, learning that essence was as easy as turning over one's hand.

Shimura Danzo built up his psychological defenses while staring unblinkingly at Uchiha Jin with a stubborn gaze, maintaining the last shred of his dignity.

"That's it? You're folding?"

The corners of Uchiha Jin's mouth curled into a smile, though he felt a strange sensation in his heart.

That's right.

This barbecue gathering today was not a whim; even this route had been carefully arranged by Jin long ago.

If someone were to look down at Konoha from high above, they would clearly see that the Uchiha compound, the Akimichi BBQ House, and the 'Root' headquarters were actually in a straight line.

Therefore, the Uchiha Clan's grand, high-profile forced march could not possibly have escaped the notice of the 'Root' members who were constantly monitoring them.

And with the personality of an old schemer like Shimura Danzo, how could he possibly stay put and wait for death? He would inevitably come out to stir up trouble.

It was just that Uchiha Jin had not expected Shimura Danzo to look down on the Uchiha Clan so much that he would try to manipulate them with a few disguised Anbu.

One could only say...

Fugaku... you really are a damn fool!

(Far away in the compound, Fugaku, who was drinking tea with Setsuna, sneezed...)

But in truth, if one thought about it carefully, it wasn't entirely Fugaku's fault. One should blame Konoha for always producing such specific types of idiots.

Like Uchiha Kagami, Hatake Sakumo, Yakushi Nonō, Shisui, Itachi...

Forget it!

Uchiha Jin, who grew angry just thinking about it, shifted his gaze back to Danzo. Seeing that the man thought he had intimidated him and was now preparing to turn and leave, he spoke.

Swish!

Swish! Swish!

Swish! Swish! Swish...

With a light wave of Uchiha Jin's right hand, Uchiha Habara led over twenty jonin to block the path ahead.

"Uchiha Jin, do you truly dare to kill me?"

Shimura Danzo's expression turned incredibly ugly. He turned back to roar at Jin once more, and upon catching sight of Shisui not far away, he added another line.

"Shisui, is the Uchiha clan trying to betray the village!"

The moment these words fell, Shisui, who had been lying on the ground feigning misery, vanished in an instant. The next moment, he appeared beside Jin, pleading, "Jin, today's events are already complicated enough. Don't escalate this any further!"

Caught between the village and his clan, Shisui felt that framing those Root members as spies had already been difficult enough; if he were to stand by while someone attacked a Hokage advisor in this situation...

Thwack!

The response to Shisui was a swift, clean kick from Uchiha Jin, followed by a cold message that manifested in his mind.

"Next time, address me as Great-Uncle!"

"Furthermore, if you interrupt again, I will sacrifice you first, then hack Danzo and that Root trash to death. For now, just watch closely how I deal with him!"

Hmph!

Seeing Shisui lying back on the ground, Uchiha Jin looked once more at Shimura Danzo, who seemed to have regained a shred of his momentum.

"You just said you are the leader of Root and the Hokage advisor of Konoha?"

"I am indeed Shimura Danzo. Uchiha Jin, do not lead yourself astray. Young man, you had better watch yourself!"

Watching Shisui's spineless display, Shimura Danzo felt increasingly uneasy, yet his tone still carried the rigid, overbearing posture of a superior.

"That's perfect!"

Uchiha Jin looked the cold, bandage-wrapped old man up and down, sighing with a look of approval.

"It really is you... Shimura Danzo!"

"What are you trying to do?"

For some reason, under Uchiha Jin's artificial and unrefined performance, the unease in Shimura Danzo's heart grew even more intense.

"Habara!"

Following Uchiha Jin's soft shout, Uchiha Habara, dressed in a white kimono, stepped forward and bowed.

"Present!"

"Do you know Shimura Danzo?"

"I do. The former Hokage advisor of Konoha, the head of the disbanded Root organization, currently supposed to be confined to the Shimura Clan Grounds by the Third Hokage!"

"Good!"

The call-and-response between Uchiha Jin and Uchiha Habara made Danzo, already uneasy, feel his heart turn even colder. Could this guy be planning to...

"How dare you..."

"Danzo, your crimes have been exposed!"

Before Shimura Danzo could finish his sentence, Uchiha Jin interrupted him again, then waved his hand to command the gathered Uchiha ninja.

"Shimura Danzo has violated his confinement order, left the Shimura Clan Grounds without authorization, and is currently suspected of colluding with enemy spies with the intent to harm an Uchiha elder. All members of the Police Force, listen up!"

"Apprehend the suspect Shimura Danzo and bring him to the Police Force for investigation. Anyone who dares to obstruct this, kill them without mercy!"