Success and Retreat

At the speed of a Lightning Clone, assassinating Danzo while he was on guard had been basically impossible.

But Danzo had actually stared blankly into the Sharingan on his own. To Uchiha Mo, that was no different from offering up his neck for the blade. How could he possibly let such an opportunity pass?

Mo frowned at the glass bottle in his hand. By now, nearly the entire Root base was covered by sensory abilities. Only Danzo's office had been spared. And because of Danzo's orders, even though Mo had erupted with chakra again just now, the Root members outside had shown no reaction.

But conversely, that meant Mo would have almost no chance of escaping under normal circumstances, much less taking this Sharingan with him. And if this eye remained here, it might bring trouble to the Uchiha.

And even without this Sharingan, there was a good chance the Uchiha had already drawn attention...

After thinking for a moment, Mo decided to take a risk.

He placed the bottle containing the Sharingan into his ninja tool pouch, then suddenly raised his right hand, bit open his thumb, and immediately slashed across his left palm.

Boar - Dog - Rooster - Monkey - Ram

"Summoning Jutsu!"

"Bang!"

Black markings spread out, followed by an explosion of smoke. A white-furred ninja cat appeared.

(PS: The blood of the Impure World Reincarnation and Shadow Clones is simulated with chakra, so Shadow Clones can also use the Summoning Jutsu. Feel free to ask if you have questions; I can make an explanation post if needed.)

It turned to inspect the surroundings before looking up at Uchiha Mo and asking in puzzlement, "Eh? Only one died this time. Mo-kun, did you change your ways, meow?"

Uchiha Mo shook his head without further explanation and handed the glass bottle containing the Sharingan to the white ninja cat.

"Mai, deliver this bottle and the corpse on the ground to the original body."

The ninja cat lowered its head and licked the fur on its right forepaw, then raised its head and balanced the glass bottle atop it.

"The original body? Forget it... I can take the bottle, but that corpse is way too big for me to carry, meow."

Mo frowned slightly. "What if I chop him into pieces? Can you take him then?"

"..."

The ninja cat's crystal-clear eyes stared straight at Uchiha Mo. After a long silence, it suddenly blurted out, "Are you an idiot?! Look at my size, then look at this dead guy! Even if you minced him into mush, I still couldn't carry him! Ah... meow."

Only after speaking did the ninja cat belatedly add its verbal tic, then glared at Uchiha Mo with some irritation.

After pondering for a while, Mo nodded.

"Got it. Then you can go first."

The moment he finished speaking, Mai vanished in an instant with an explosion of white smoke, without saying another word.

Mo stared silently at Danzo's corpse for a while. Then a blood-red flame suddenly ignited in his palm as he slowly walked over...

About fifteen minutes later.

A sharp shout suddenly rang out from Danzo's office.

"Someone!"

The voice carried out, and before long, a Root member wearing a purple-patterned mask and armored vest appeared at the doorway.

He looked up. Danzo Shimura was seated on the stone chair with his cane braced before him, his posture no different from usual.

"Lord Danzo!"

The man dropped to one knee and lowered his head as he called out solemnly.

Danzo Shimura slightly lifted his eyelids at the words, then leaned on his cane and said, "Have the people outside maintain the sensory field until tonight. If they run low on chakra, have them take Soldier Pills. Also, no one is allowed to discuss what happened in Root today. Understood, Dog?"

The Root member codenamed Dog immediately nodded and replied solemnly, "Understood. I will inform Tiger."

"Mm."

Danzo nodded, then waved a hand. "Go."

As soon as he spoke, Dog immediately turned and left. But just as he was about to reach the door, a low voice suddenly called out to him again.

"Have someone investigate Orochimaru's whereabouts, especially what he did after leaving Root today. Come see me once you find out..."

Danzo's single eye narrowed slightly. Faint killing intent radiated from him, while a dangerous gleam flickered in his eye.

Dog's body stiffened before he answered in a low voice, "Yes!"

"..."

The footsteps gradually faded away, and the eyes of Danzo Shimura, seated in the chair, suddenly began to contract slightly.

Naturally, this Danzo was Mo in disguise, using the Transformation Jutsu. Though it was far inferior to Orochimaru's Vanishing Facial Copy Technique, Mo's Transformation Jutsu was not something an ordinary person could see through at a glance.

The brief contact had involved some risk, but not much.

After using Clairvoyance to confirm the surrounding situation, Mo glanced at the floor below. Danzo's ashes were hidden in the concealed compartment that required the cane to open, but the cane had already been destroyed by him.

After one final check, Mo exploded into smoke with a bang, disappearing from the secret chamber...

Uchiha Clan District.

The boy in a high-collared combat robe slowly approached a house near the Naka River.

He stepped into the courtyard and looked up.

The courtyard was crowded with figures. Dozens of people bearing the flame fan crest on their backs stood silently there. At the front stood a slightly hunched old man, with a short-haired boy with a youthful face beside him.

"Shisui, you're home."

Uchiha Mo called out softly, and the crowd instantly turned their heads in unison.

Shisui immediately rushed over with a delighted look on his face.

"Brother!"

Uchiha Setsuna's body trembled at the sight. He waved his hand and said, "It's fine. Everyone, disperse."

The others exchanged puzzled looks, but after a brief hesitation, they gradually left the courtyard.

Once the crowd had dispersed, Setsuna strode over to Mo. He first looked him over from head to toe, only speaking after confirming that Mo bore no obvious injuries.

"How did it go?"

"I slaughtered Danzo," Mo said indifferently.

"?!"

Uchiha Setsuna wanted to loudly ask whether he had misheard, but instinct stopped him. He warily glanced around before leaning closer to Mo and asking, "You really killed him? Then why hasn't the village reacted at all?"

"He's dead beyond doubt. Even his corpse was burned to ashes. No one knows yet, so don't ask any more questions, Great Elder."

"..."

"I understand."

Hearing that, Setsuna did not ask further questions. He nodded knowingly and said nothing more.

Mo glanced at the serious old man, then reached out and grabbed Shisui by the shoulder.

"It's time to go home."

"Ah... okay!"

Shisui nodded belatedly. As he followed Uchiha Mo away, he turned around and waved to Setsuna.

"Goodbye, Great Elder!"

Setsuna smiled and waved back, only dropping his smile after the two disappeared around the corner.

"Brother, my Sharingan evolved to two tomoe." Shisui grinned and looked up. His large eyes turned blood-red, two black tomoe quietly rotating within the crimson.

"..."

"When did that happen?"

"While you left the Naka River to look for Dan... that person."