Konoha's mornings always carried a hint of everyday life. The morning mist had yet to disperse, but fragrant scents were already wafting from the breakfast stalls along the streets. The Hyuga Clan head stood at the entrance to the clan compound, his snow-white kimono spotless, the forehead protector on his brow glinting coldly in the morning light.
"Clan Head, this is the unusual situation discovered by last night's patrol." A Branch House ninja dropped to one knee and presented a scroll with both hands.
He unrolled the scroll, and his brows gradually furrowed. It detailed the disappearances of five genin and two chunin from the Hyuga Clan over the past three months—clansmen whose deaths had originally been classified as mission casualties, yet whose death reports were riddled with suspicious details.
"Danzo..." The Hyuga Clan head closed the scroll, his voice as cold as ice. "Investigate it. Use every hidden channel we have. I want to know what Root has been doing lately."
Meanwhile, at the training grounds of the Uchiha Clan District, the Uchiha Clan head was guiding the younger generation through Fire Release practice. His Sharingan suddenly spun, catching sight of a dark figure atop a distant tree.
"Clan Head, there is an urgent matter." The dark figure landed. It was an intelligence agent.
Huangyan gestured for the training to continue and led him to a secluded spot. After hearing the report, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan narrowed slightly. "What did you say? Three clan members who awakened the Sharingan have been secretly detained by Root?"
"Yes. Rumors like this are spreading everywhere, and they sound quite convincing. They say Danzo is conducting Sharingan transplant experiments..."
Huangyan's fist clenched with a crack, the magatama in his eyes spinning madly. He recalled the rainy night three months ago, when the clan's most