Kakashi Takes Action

Ren emerged from a corner at that moment.

When Shisui and the Uchiha Clan ninja spotted Ren, the hearts they had been holding in their throats finally settled.

Although they had vaguely seen that Ren seemed to be a Shadow Clone, his real body might not necessarily have been absent.

Ren's reappearance was undoubtedly cause for celebration.

Shisui walked up to Ren, then froze.

"Clan Head, your eyes..." Shisui stared at Ren's eyes in astonishment.

His exclamation drew the eyes of the other Uchiha Clan members toward Ren's eyes as well.

The three tomoe in Ren's Sharingan had vanished. In their place was a circle with three straight lines extending outward, somewhat similar to Madara's younger brother Izuna's, though the proportions were slightly different.

"Ah, these? Things were just too dangerous. Luckily, I awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan in the face of mortal peril."

Ren casually made up an excuse.

There had been danger my ass. Since he knew Danzo possessed the Reverse Four Symbols Seal, he had used a Shadow Clone from the very beginning.

But he couldn't exactly tell them that he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan because he had killed those Root members and Danzo, could he?

What would Shisui think? What would the rest of the clan think? What would Konoha's other ninja think?

Shisui would not treat him differently because of it, but he would surely have some concerns.

And what if the clan members followed his example and became bloodthirsty maniacs one after another?

Besides, other Konoha ninja were present. If they learned the truth, they would have only one thought: the Uchiha Clan truly was an evil clan.

Seeing that his excuse had fooled everyone, Ren did not delay any longer.

Ren walked straight up behind Hiruzen Sarutobi and, unusually, dropped to one knee with his fists clasped.

Then he loudly declared, "Director of the Konoha Military Police Force, Uchiha Ren, reporting to Lord Hokage: rogue ninja Danzo Shimura has been put to death!"

Still mourning the death of his close friend, Hiruzen Sarutobi turned around and looked at Uchiha Ren, who was showing him such respect for the first time.

Hiruzen Sarutobi suppressed his emotions. His years in politics had taught him that Ren's words were meant for him, while this display was for everyone else to see.

The branches that had emerged from Danzo's body and the Sharingan on his arm were sins that could never be washed away. Konoha's ninja would not feel the slightest regret over Danzo's death.

This brat's words are meant to provoke me, while this respectful attitude is for Konoha's ninja to see.

Are you trying to make me lose my composure and punish you over Danzo's death, thereby damaging my prestige?

Not a trace of displeasure appeared on the Third Hokage's face. Smiling warmly, he grabbed Ren's arm and helped him up.

"Director Ren truly is young and promising. You exposed Danzo's true nature and eliminated a major hidden danger for Konoha."

Now that Danzo was dead, there was no point dwelling on it. What mattered most was stopping the Uchiha Clan from growing stronger. Konoha did not need such a united and powerful ninja clan.

As Hiruzen Sarutobi helped him up and praised him, Ren knew his scheme had fallen through.

Old fox. Even your close friend's death cannot make you lower your guard in the slightest.

When one plan failed, Ren immediately came up with another. "Lord Hokage, there must be a large amount of evidence at rogue ninja Danzo's hideout. Time is of the essence, so I will go gather the evidence first."

With that, he turned to leave.

How could Hiruzen Sarutobi agree? Earlier, Ren had used several boxes of utterly insignificant documents to smear Danzo this badly. If he got his hands on crucial evidence, Hiruzen himself would probably be smeared beyond recognition too.

In truth, the Third Hokage had misunderstood Ren. Ren had already intended to abandon such methods of fabricating rumors. After all, power he could not control was better left unused.

Ren wanted the files so he could completely confirm Danzo's crimes and leave him no way to turn things around.

Hiruzen Sarutobi hurriedly grabbed Ren's arm. "Clan Head Ren, leave it to the Anbu. Danzo was, after all, a Konoha elder. Some of the Konoha secrets in his possession are not suitable for public disclosure."

Put plainly, it meant: Kid, forget it. Your rank is not high enough. Stay out of this. I will handle it.

Ren felt as sick as if he had swallowed a fly. At last, he understood how Danzo had felt back then.

I wonder how Danzo managed not to beat Hiruzen Sarutobi to death every time he said, 'I am the Hokage.'

As he thought of the dead Danzo, Ren finally gave himself an answer. Maybe he just couldn't beat him.

Feeling the same frustration Danzo had once felt, Ren did not have Danzo's nerve to shout, You'll regret this! He could only say helplessly, "Then I'll trouble you, Lord Hokage."

Yet Ren still held a faint hope in his heart. Now I can only rely on you, Senior Kakashi.

Time returned to the moment Danzo had just entered the battlefield.

Kakashi had arrived early and had been watching from the shadows the entire time.

Neither Root nor the Konoha Military Police Force left Kakashi with a good impression. Having carried out missions with Tenzo, he knew of Root's darkness. As for the Konoha Military Police Force, it was entirely because of their arrogance. They were completely different from Obito.

If he truly had to choose a side now, Kakashi would likely choose the Uchiha Clan. After all, it was Obito's clan. Besides, there was that somewhat baffling clan head.

Kakashi did not know what purpose lay behind Ren's goodwill toward him, but he was certain that Ren bore him no ill will.

As he watched the battle, his thoughts wandered. As the fight continued, the destruction caused by the ninjutsu grew increasingly severe.

Finally, the hidden entrance to Root revealed itself.

Looking at the pitch-black opening and seeing that everyone's attention was fixed on the combatants, Kakashi found himself locked in an internal struggle.

One little voice said, Didn't you say you were only here to watch and wouldn't do anything? Have you forgotten?

Another little voice said, But the entrance is right there. If you go in, you can learn the truth about Father. Are you really just going to watch?

Kakashi stood silently where he was, trapped in indecision.

In the end, his emotions overcame his reason. Kakashi concealed himself and slipped into Root with extreme stealth.

Ren, who was likewise hidden in a corner, smiled when he saw the fleeting figure.

After infiltrating the Root base, Kakashi briefly got his bearings before quickly arriving at the underground hall.

This newly constructed Root base was much smaller than the previous one, but fortunately, the layout was nearly identical.

Following the memories in his mind, Kakashi headed straight for the archive room.

He casually picked up a file scroll and opened it to read the title: Hashirama Cells...

Not this one. Kakashi was about to toss it aside, but after hesitating for a moment, he ultimately put it away.

Sharingan Experiment Records? Not this one.

Land of Earth Spy List? Not this one.

Time continued to pass, and the scrolls grew older and older.

Finally, Konoha's White Fang... This was it.

Kakashi immediately unfurled the scroll in his hands and rapidly read through it.

He soon found the crucial information.

Mission: Assassinate the Kazekage

Mission members: Night, Tanuki, Fox...

Mission issuer: Danzo Shimura

Mission rank: S

Special request: Due to the extreme difficulty of the mission, additional personnel are required. Konoha's White Fang excels at assassination. Requesting that Anbu member White Fang be added to the mission.

Applicant: Danzo Shimura

Approved by: Hiruzen Sarutobi

Final result: Mission failed.

There was also a record of Danzo arranging for "Night" to accuse White Fang of abandoning the mission because it had failed.

At the end of the scroll: White Fang committed suicide.

Ninja comment: Cowardly, timid, unwilling to sacrifice himself—Danzo Shimura.

At that moment, Kakashi's eyes were filled with hatred.