The Third Hokage's office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was exceedingly grave.
"Uchiha Gōka, the owner of Yehuo Snack Shop—I remember him as a kind young man."
"How did he become so ruthless and decisive after becoming the Uchiha clan head?!"
"He just killed two Root ninjas without the slightest hesitation."
"He really kills without batting an eye!"
"Oh! This is bad!"
"Could Uchiha Gōka be going to kill the other two Root ninjas hiding nearby?"
"Danzo, that bastard!"
"I warned him not to send people to monitor Uchiha Gōka."
"But he just wouldn't listen!"
At that moment, even if the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, wanted to rush to Tsunade's house and save the two Root ninjas,
it was already too late.
All he could do was stare helplessly.
Through the crystal ball, he watched Uchiha Gōka streak into the distance...
At a spot some distance away from Tsunade's house.
Two Root ninjas.
"Eh! I think I just saw those two fly out of Tsunade's house."
"Oh? Did the two of them leave Tsunade's house?"
"Yeah... but then they suddenly landed, and the trees and houses blocked our view. We couldn't see them anymore."
"This is really unsettling! I wonder how their reconnaissance went."
"Hey! Nothing could have happened to them, right?"
Just as the two whispered among themselves,
a robust black silhouette suddenly appeared before them in the pitch-black night.
The two Root ninjas wore expressions of utter shock.
"Y-you... when did you get here?"
"Who... are you?"
A cold smile appeared at the corner of Uchiha Gōka's lips.
"You've been monitoring me all this time."
"And yet you still can't recognize me!"
Under the moonlight,
the two Root ninjas quickly recognized the robust figure before them as Uchiha Gōka!
Their faces immediately turned pale with horror.
"Uchiha Gōka!"
"Why