30. The Promised Agreement

Outside in Konoha, in front of the Naka Shrine.

The Masked Man, Obito Uchiha, walked up to Itachi. After helping him up with one hand, he spoke indifferently:

"Let's go, Itachi."

"Although there were some minor mishaps along the way, it is over now."

"I will take you to the Akatsuki base first."

"The commotion here just now has likely already caught the attention of Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others."

"It is not wise to stay any longer."

As his voice trailed off, Before Itachi could respond, the Masked Man leaped into the air, carrying Itachi Uchiha over the walls of Konoha to depart.

As he leaped rapidly through the air, the Masked Man's eyes flickered slightly in the dark of the night.

He did not use Kamui to travel.

After all, At this very moment, a person wearing a Fox Ghost Mask was still locked inside his other dimension.

Although he had temporarily trapped him there using Kamui, However, If he were to actually enter that dimension for a one-on-one fight, he might not necessarily win.

No, that wasn't right.

Perhaps he wouldn't be able to win at all.

After all, that guy's various techniques were simply too bizarre.

Whether it was his high-speed movement, the incredibly powerful crescent-shaped slashes, or that immunity to genjutsu...

It was all too strange.

It was enough to be comparable to that brat with the Golden Eyes in the Akatsuki, Chen Xiaoxi.

Right, Speaking of that brat Chen Xiaoxi, The power and aura of these two people seemed completely different.

The person wearing the Fox Ghost Mask who had just appeared gave off a constant, beast-like sense of oppression; he was highly aggressive and extremely dangerous.

Whereas Chen Xiaoxi of the Akatsuki seemed forever shrouded in a thick fog, making him completely impossible to fathom.

Thinking of this, a sudden inspiration struck the Masked Man, and a new idea took root.

His eyes lit up instantly.

What if—

What if, after returning to the Akatsuki, I let that brat Chen Xiaoxi have a head-on fight with this Fox Ghost Mask...

Heh, perhaps—

That would be a rather interesting sight to behold...

As he leaped forward, Beneath the mask, Obito curled his lips into a smirk.

Konoha, Naka Shrine.

Not long after the Masked Man and Itachi Uchiha had left.

Suddenly, A group of figures arrived at the scene simultaneously.

Everyone wore similar gray uniforms, donned various animal masks, and carried identical straight blades on their backs.

They were the Anbu of Konoha, the Hokage's direct-action force.

"Hiss... what on earth happened here?"

"I never expected the entire Naka Shrine to be completely destroyed. So, this was the source of the explosion from earlier..."

"Was there really some kind of great battle here?"

An Anbu member crouched on the ground, looking at the deep fissures in the earth, and drew a sharp breath, sighing:

"Tsk..."

"It is truly hard to imagine what kind of powerful slash could have caused this..."

Just then, Another Anbu member suddenly noticed two corpses in front of the shrine ruins in the distance.

After sprinting over to inspect them, he stood up, turned around, and said in a grave voice:

"It's the Uchiha clansmen responsible for guarding the Naka Shrine."

"They are completely dead."

"Judging by the wounds, they are almost identical to the other clansmen who died in the Uchiha territory."

"The culprit should still be... Itachi Uchiha."

"..."

Upon hearing this, the ANBU members all fell silent.

If these two Uchiha clansmen were killed by Itachi, then who was the person who had just fought him here...

After a moment of silence, one of them spoke:

"Thinking too much is useless."

"Let's go report the situation to Lord Third Hokage."

As the words fell, He took the lead and leaped up, his figure disappearing into the darkness.

The others naturally did not linger and all rushed towards the Hokage Building.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

In a dim basement in Konoha, Danzo Shimura sat calmly in a rattan chair, seemingly still waiting for something.

A moment later, a Root member rushed in and immediately lowered his head, respectfully saying:

"Lord Danzo."

"The Uchiha extermination operation... has concluded!"

"All Uchiha clansmen, except for Itachi's younger brother, Sasuke, are dead."

"According to our members' detection, the eyes of those who awakened the Sharingan have all been gouged out... without exception."

Hearing this, Danzo's expression finally shifted slightly, and he nodded, saying:

"I understand, you may go."

"Wait to see Hiruzen's actions, then report back to me."

"...Yes!"

After respectfully bowing, the Root member withdrew from the basement.

Only then did a faint, almost imperceptible smile begin to appear on Danzo's old face.

It was a success.

Konoha's greatest hidden danger—the Uchiha clan—has finally been uprooted by my hand.

From now on, there will be no possibility of Uchiha rebellion in Konoha!

Under the lamplight, The firelight flickered on Danzo's face, and his smile gradually became more unrestrained.

As expected of the genius Itachi Uchiha and Madara Uchiha, known as the Ninja World Asura, their strength is indeed extraordinary, and their actions are swift.

Hmph...

Next, I just need to wait for that masked man, Madara Uchiha, to come for the Sharingan transaction.

As long as I control the Sharingan, This old man will be the biggest winner tonight!

Time trickled by.

The candlelight on the wall began to dim.

Danzo, who was waiting in the rattan chair, went from initial anticipation to growing impatience.

He slightly raised his eyes and looked at the clock hanging on the wall, his brows furrowed deeply.

What's going on?

That Madara Uchiha...

Didn't he say he would come to trade with me immediately after the operation ended?

It's been almost half an hour, why isn't he here yet?

Did something unexpected happen?

"..."

Just as Danzo was frowning in thought, Suddenly, another Root member rushed into the basement and knelt on one knee, saying:

"Lord Danzo, there's new information—"

"According to our investigation, not long ago, in front of the Uchiha's Naka Shrine, a fierce battle seems to have occurred. The identities of the participants are unknown."

"But—"

"Our members ambushed outside the village discovered someone: a mysterious masked man in black robes suddenly appeared from the direction of Naka Shrine and left Konoha directly with Itachi Uchiha..."

"Hmm?

What did you say?"

"Bang!"

As soon as Danzo heard this, his face instantly changed. He slammed the chair and stood up, enraged and disbelieving:

"You're saying a mysterious masked man left Konoha directly with Itachi Uchiha!?"

"Yes, yes, Lord Danzo!"

The Root member immediately lowered his head and answered nervously, not understanding why Danzo Shimura had suddenly become so agitated.

However, after hearing this confirmation.

Danzo instantly froze. His vision went black, and he slumped back into his rattan chair.

His hands gripped the sides of the rattan chair tightly, veins bulging, as if he were going to crush it.

His eyes, moreover, revealed an unprecedented, intense hatred!

U—

You... are actually setting me up at this time?

What about our agreement?

I used Root to safeguard your plan, and you're actually running off with all the Sharingan?

Leaving none for me?

Beast!

Danzo Shimura gritted his teeth, growing angrier the more he thought about it. Seemingly overwhelmed by rage, he suddenly began to cough violently.

"Cough, cough, cough, cough!!"

After all, he was an old man, over fifty, with one foot in the grave. How could he withstand such a sudden, drastic turn of events?