Northwest of Konoha.
The ruins of an old battlefield.
This had once been a temporary camp during the Third Shinobi World War. Later abandoned, only broken walls, scorched earth, and collapsed watchtowers remained.
Under the night sky, wild grass swayed in the wind.
A figure emerged from the dense forest.
Shimura Danzō.
His right arm was gone, his face deathly pale, and his presence was far weaker than before.
But his single eye remained cold and sinister.
Only four surviving Root operatives followed behind him.
The great Darkness of Konoha had now become an A-rank rogue ninja.
To Danzō, this was the greatest humiliation.
And all of it was thanks to Uchiha Shingetsu.
"Uchiha Shingetsu..."
Danzō gritted his teeth.
That name had become the deepest thorn in his heart.
Just then, space distorted.
Spiral ripples appeared.
The Masked Man stepped out of the void.
"What a sorry state you're in, Danzō."
Danzō's lone eye turned cold.
"You're not doing much better yourself."
Shisui's sword wound still lingered on the Masked Man's shoulder.
Though it was not severe.
To him, it was still a humiliation.
He had wanted to intercept Itachi.
Instead, he had failed to get Itachi, the Kamui fluctuations had been recorded, and his blood had been left behind.
Uchiha Shingetsu.
That nine-year-old brat had already ruined too many of his plans.
The Masked Man looked at Danzō.
"You asked me here because you want to cooperate?"
Danzō said coldly:
"We have a common enemy."
The Masked Man smiled.
"Uchiha Shingetsu?"
Danzō did not deny it.
"He cannot be allowed to live."
The Masked Man said flatly:
"On that point, I agree."
Danzō continued:
"But killing him alone isn't enough."
"The Uchiha have now completely strayed from their original path."
"Shisui is alive, Itachi has been pulled back into