Attempted Infiltration

Root Base.

"Heh, as expected, a bunch of idiots."

Danzo looked at the report in his hand and sneered.

The report detailed the situation around the Uchiha Clan Grounds today, the intelligence coming from within, and Shien's movements.

Although Danzo did not know what had been discussed inside the Hokage Office, the fact that the Third Hokage had not summoned him meant there was nothing serious.

"Send another team to monitor the Uchiha Clan Grounds tonight!"

A Root member below reminded him, "The Third Hokage only issued an order yesterday..."

Danzo waved a hand, cutting him off. "He has no authority over Root's affairs!"

He paused. "Send some unfamiliar faces. Bring back more useful intelligence."

"Yes!"

The Root member opened his mouth, but ultimately left.

Danzo snorted coldly, his eyes full of malice.

He had often defied orders in public while complying in private. As long as the matter was settled in the end,

he would not face any punishment at all.

He had worked through the entire night yesterday, yet not only had he failed to obtain a single Sharingan, he had also lost so many subordinates.

How could Danzo possibly swallow that humiliation?

Since the biggest thorns, Fugaku and Itachi, had left, the rest were naturally just a rabble.

He would never let this chance to wipe out the Uchiha Clan completely slip away!

The night was as black as ink, and all was silent.

Six ghostlike black figures used the heavy darkness as cover, silently making their way toward the Uchiha Clan Grounds.

Their bodies were wrapped in black skintight combat suits, their faces covered, with no identifying marks whatsoever. They were Root members under Danzo.

Their movements were a textbook example of stealth. Every step precisely avoided dead branches and fallen leaves.

They moved fluidly through the shadows of buildings and beneath the cover of trees, as though they themselves were part of the night. They made almost no sound, displaying an exceptionally high level of professionalism.

Among them, five members were clearly more seasoned, their movements carrying the steadiness and ruthlessness honed through years of training.

While keeping watch on their surroundings, their eyes would occasionally and discreetly sweep over the figure at the very rear of the group.

He was an especially young-looking member, somewhat slight in build, and he even wore a pair of round-framed glasses.

Despite his young age, his movements were not sluggish in the slightest. He followed the group's pace closely like a shadow, displaying abilities that did not match his appearance.

Like drops of ink melting away, the six swiftly and covertly entered a dense forest roughly a thousand meters from the Uchiha Clan Grounds, concealing themselves completely beneath the thick canopy.

"We'll finalize the infiltration plan here."

The captain, codenamed "Owl," crouched down and casually used a Kunai to sketch a simple outline of the Uchiha Clan Grounds in the soft earth.

"We'll infiltrate in three groups."

Owl drew three winding dotted lines across the sketch with his Kunai.

"Team A will follow me in through the abandoned western waterway. The smells there are mixed, making it easier to hide."

"Team B will enter from the edge of the southern commercial district, using the buildings' shadows."

"Team C—Mirror, you'll join Team C. Search for a gap where the eastern woodland meets the clan wall. The vegetation is dense there, but be especially wary of any traditional Uchiha traps."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over every member. "Remember, the highest-priority mission is:

confirm the exact number of people remaining in the Uchiha Clan Grounds, the distribution of their main combat forces, and the identity of the ninja who used that powerful Genjutsu. Unless exposed, engaging in combat is strictly forbidden. If you are discovered..."

Owl's voice was icy to the bone.

"Team B will create chaos and draw attention. Teams A and C will use the opportunity to withdraw."

"If withdrawal is impossible, take your own lives and erase all traces that might reveal information about Root."

"Yes!"

"Move out!"

At Owl's command, the six figures silently dispersed once more.

Like ink dropped into still water, they quietly closed in on the Uchiha Clan Grounds, shrouded in death and secrets.

Just as Team A approached the abandoned western waterway, an immense and unfamiliar force suddenly descended.

The two men felt their vision go black, and then knew nothing more.

Shisui, wearing a mask and cloak, glanced at the people collapsed on the ground.

He gestured to the Hyuga Clan members following him, telling them to leave someone behind to handle the aftermath.

The others followed him toward the other two teams.

Hyuga Hayato looked at the two men lying on the ground, so shocked that his jaw dropped.

Who exactly was this Uchiha night watchman? He had not even seen the man make a move before the Root members went down.

Soon after, thuds came in succession from the edge of the commercial district and the eastern woodland.

In less than a minute, Hayato's teammates had already returned carrying the Root members.

Every Hyuga Clan member wore an expression of amazement.

"Hayato, take these people and follow this lord. We'll continue standing guard."

Hyuga Shu gave the cloaked Shisui a reverent look before quickly issuing the order.

"Got it."

Like carrying sacks of grain, Hayato slung three people over each shoulder.

Shisui glanced at him and made a gesture, signaling him to follow.

[Ding! A minor change has been detected in the fate of plot character "Sasuke Uchiha." The first stage of world feedback has been achieved!]

[Reward issued: Sasuke Uchiha's Swordsmanship Technique (Future)]

Huh? Shien froze as he checked the reward.

There was even a future version?

In an instant, countless sword techniques rapidly flooded into his mind.

It was as if countless flashes of blade light were sweeping through his consciousness.

It was actually the swordsmanship Sasuke used as an adult.

Shien stood up, drew the long sword at his side, and spun it through two flourishes.

Honestly, adult Sasuke's swordsmanship was entirely unorthodox, completely geared toward actual combat.

But without the Uchiha Clan's systematic instruction, it was ultimately lacking by a degree.

Still, Sasuke could not be blamed. After all, everyone in his clan had died. Even if he wanted to learn, there was nowhere to do so.

Shien was not picky, though. If he had to train it himself, that would take a great deal of time.

Moreover, he formed several hand seals with the fingers holding his sword, and the Chakra within his body began flowing correctly.

It was Sasuke's one-handed hand seals after losing an arm.

"Knock, knock, knock..."

A knock sounded outside. Shien had instructed them that these next few days would be extremely dangerous, so they were to call for him directly if anything happened.

"Clan Head, we captured six spies."

When Shien arrived, Hayato had already brought the six people into the room.

Under the bright incandescent lights, everyone could clearly see the six figures clad entirely in black.

All six were tied to chairs now.

Qingchuan was interrogating them.

The so-called interrogation consisted of prying open a Root member's eyelids and casting a Genjutsu on him.

Then the man spilled everything like beans from a bamboo tube, answering whatever he was asked.

"Whose men are they?" Shien asked as soon as he arrived.

Qingchuan first bowed to Shien before replying, "They are Root members. They came to investigate the clan's specific circumstances."

Shien sneered. Danzo truly refused to give up.

He shifted his gaze and swept his eyes over the six people.

"Hm?"

From the corner of his eye, Shien suddenly noticed that one of those who had not yet been interrogated wore round glasses.

He walked over and pulled down the man's face covering.

Qingchuan was somewhat surprised by the other party's youthful face.

But Shien recognized him immediately.

"Yakushi Kabuto! Hahaha..."

Seeing Yakushi Kabuto practically deliver himself to the doorstep, Shien burst out laughing.

Qingchuan asked in confusion, "Clan Head, is he useful?"

Shien nodded repeatedly. "Yes, very useful."

As he spoke, he pried open Kabuto's eyelids and poured powerful ocular force into his eyes.

Yakushi Kabuto felt as though his thoughts had been stretched into rubber, then thrown into a whirlpool.

Spinning and spinning without end...

He clutched his head and painfully opened his eyes.

As his consciousness gradually returned, he remembered that he had come to investigate the Uchiha Clan Grounds.

He was horrified. He had no idea what had happened; he had simply lost consciousness.

He quietly opened his eyes and discovered that he was still outside the Uchiha Clan Grounds.

He had not been captured.

What is going on? Why wasn't I captured?

Then he noticed that his captain, Owl, was also lying unconscious not far away.

"Search over there and see if there's anyone else..."

Sounds of voices and searching came from nearby.

Yakushi Kabuto hurriedly went to Owl's side, covered his mouth, and woke him up.

When Owl opened his eyes, they too were filled with shock.

Kabuto made several hand signs. Owl nodded, and before the searchers arrived, they quietly withdrew.