Killing a Root Operative

"Hiruzen, the punishment for the Uchiha Clan was far too lenient."

After the Third Hokage issued the punishment, although the Uchiha Clan knew it was deliberate targeting, it was not particularly severe for them.

Danzō questioned him directly. Especially regarding the alliance between the two sides, he vehemently denounced the Uchiha Clan.

"You should understand that if the Third Kazekage investigates this matter and discovers the truth, the alliance we worked so hard to forge will fall apart!"

He always assumed the darkest possibilities. The two Hokage advisors beside him turned to look at each other, waiting for the Third Hokage to give an explanation.

"You are all too impatient. War is about to come, and the Uchiha Clan is a rare source of combat power that can help ease the village's burden."

"Besides, Orochimaru, whom Uchiha Yū follows, has already shown signs of leaning toward the Hokage faction. There is no need to target them so aggressively."

Taking a puff from his old pipe, the Third Hokage spoke leisurely. The Uchiha Clan had always been an issue the village could not avoid. Even during the Second Hokage's time, they had merely been suppressed rather than truly driven away.

That would not benefit either side.

"Sarutobi is right. The most urgent matter is stabilizing the village."

"I also support this proposal. Danzō, there is no need to be so anxious."

Both Hokage advisors agreed, leaving Danzō with no choice but to let the matter drop. He finally left the Hokage's office in anger.

Yet after leaving, he did not return immediately. Deep in the corridor, an ANBU operative waited silently.

"It has now been confirmed that Uchiha Yū is highly talented. Before he fully sides with the Uchiha Clan, make sure to recruit him into Root!"

A crucial piece was only safe when held in one's own hand. Sooner or later, Sarutobi would understand that what I did was truly right!

Back in his little house, Uchiha Yū pondered the conversation from earlier. The Uchiha Clan would face discrimination for some time to come; he just did not know how long it would last.

"Caw! Caw! Caw!"

The crow circling overhead let out a piercing cry. You looked up, his Sharingan reflecting the crow's figure as their vision connected.

"Hmm? Who would come here at a time like this?"

As the person approached his residence, Uchiha Yū saw his face. An ANBU operative...

No! The man's presence was exceptionally cold and sinister.

Thinking of Danzō, known as the darkness of the ninja world, it seemed the man could no longer wait.

"Uchiha Yū? I did not expect you to live in such a remote place."

He looked at You with contempt. Root's prejudice against the Uchiha Clan ran deep.

"Lord Danzō orders you to join Root. This is an order!"

The unquestionable tone reached Uchiha Yū's ears, and a smile inevitably appeared at the corner of his lips. Under the lamplight, it carried a trace of mockery.

"Can the rat hiding in the shadows no longer remain hidden?"

"If you truly want me to join Root, then have your master come himself!"

"You? You are not qualified!"

The other man was an elite chunin. If Uchiha Yū killed him outside, it would cause some trouble. But this was where he had lived for years. Even an elite jonin would collapse to his knees under the assault of the intense radiation here!

"How dare you! You dare disrespect Lord Danzō!"

Holding kunai in both hands, Kaizuke's face twisted beneath his mask. Just as Lord Danzō had said, the Uchiha Clan were all arrogantly foolish idiots. He would teach this brat a lesson and let him know Lord Danzō's terror.

Yet Uchiha Yū showed no intention of dodging.

Seeing this, Kaizuke gave a contemptuous snort. As expected, he was just a brat who did not even understand the basics of combat.

He wanted to capture the other without effort, only to see Uchiha Yū calmly raise one hand.

"Kneel!"

As Kaizuke was wondering what he meant, a stabbing pain suddenly spread through his entire body, as though he had fallen into a bed of thorns.

"Aah!"

A scream rang out from inside the house. Uchiha Yū looked at him impassively and casually lifted him up.

"Bastard! What did you do to me? Why can't my body sense chakra?!"

It was not just that he could no longer sense chakra. He could barely breathe now, and something was draining away his life force.

Pain flooded his mind, making Kaizuke's body convulse uncontrollably. All he could see was Uchiha Yū's cold, emotionless gaze.

He stretched out a trembling hand in blind panic, like a plea for help before death. Unfortunately, the response he received was You's palm.

"The moment you stepped into the place where I live, your life and death came under my control."

With a light wave of his hand, the man's body turned into a lump of mangled flesh, then vanished into ashes beneath the intense radiation.

After killing Kaizuke, Uchiha Yū stared ahead with narrowed eyes for a long while. The crow descended from the sky, circling as though voicing the killing intent in his heart.

"Whew!"

"Now is not the time to fall out with Danzō, but I will remember this debt."

On You's kill list, Danzō ranked near the top. Whether it was his actions against the Uchiha Clan or against You himself, everything the man did was revolting.

"Caw! Caw! Caw!"

Stroking the crow in his arms, You knew sleep would be impossible tonight.

When Kaizuke failed to return for an entire day, Danzō, in the Root base, knew that something had happened.

He did not think Uchiha Yū had killed Kaizuke. It was too absurd for a genin to kill an elite chunin. He was more inclined to believe that the Uchiha Clan had discovered Kaizuke's infiltration and either killed or imprisoned him.

"Those damned Uchiha. Letting them live in the village is like keeping a ticking bomb."

He thought that no matter how tightly the Uchiha Clan protected Uchiha Yū, there would eventually be a moment of carelessness. He had to bring Uchiha Yū into Root!

Just as Danzō was deep in thought, a ninja wearing a fox mask flashed behind him, dropped to one knee, and respectfully said:

"Lord Danzō! The Sand Village has declared war on the Rain Village!"

"What?"

Danzō, whose thoughts had been interrupted, immediately snapped back to attention upon hearing this. Since when had the Sand Village become so bold? Had they received that batch of supplies and, with Konoha's support, agreed to take the lead in battle?

"Understood. I will go discuss this with the Third."

The clash between the two villages was no different from setting off a powder keg in the ninja world. During this period, every force in the ninja world had been keeping each other in check. But once one side fell into chaos, that balance was shattered as well!

Tonight, it was not only Uchiha Yū who could not sleep. Many people were anxiously preparing for the coming war.

Although the flames of war had not yet reached Konoha, everyone knew that Konoha would have to enter the war within a month at most!

The Hokage's office was brightly lit tonight!

Ninja came and went, gathering in one place. They needed to discuss the recent situation and devise a way to respond.