Outside Konoha Village, atop Kikyo Mountain.
"Capture her."
Danzo waved a hand from the darkness. Dozens of figures surged from the woods behind him, charging toward the blue-purple-haired figure standing at the mountaintop.
"Who's there?!"
Konan suddenly leaped backward as countless paper shuriken whirled forward, briefly halting the Root ninja.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere!"
But then Danzo's most practiced Wind Release sliced through the air.
Like a barrage of projectiles, it sealed off every route Konan could use to evade.
"Konoha people?!"
The instant Konan realized it, a chill ran through her entire body, and her movements stalled for a moment.
This time, she had infiltrated the Land of Fire alone.
Yahiko and Nagato had both said they wanted to accompany her to see their teacher's wedding, but unusual troop movements in the Rain Ninja Village had held them back. She could only come quietly by herself.
When she had released the paper crane earlier, she had focused only on avoiding Konoha's detection and ensuring it could find Wuye's residence, overlooking everything around her.
Until this moment, when Konoha Anbu ninja had surrounded her...
Could he have arranged all of this?
She could not help thinking so.
After all, this was within Konoha's territory, and she was being attacked by Konoha Anbu. No matter how she looked at it, Hyuga Wuye, the Fourth Hokage, could not possibly be unrelated...
"Urgh!"
Unable to dodge in time, her shoulder was struck by a Vacuum Sphere, leaving a deep gash as blood poured out.
"Hmph."
But she suddenly spun, and the outer garment on her body burst apart, revealing another layer beneath.
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"
Countless paper shuriken spread across the sky, blanketing several hundred meters ahead.
Every Root ninja was forced to evade or block them. Even Danzo frowned.
Konan