The One Who Killed a Root Member

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

After the Third Hokage issued the punishment, though it was clearly deliberate targeting, it was not particularly severe for the Uchiha Clan.

Danzo confronted 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 uncovers the truth, the alliance we worked so hard to form will fall apart!"

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

"You are both too anxious. War is about to break out, and the Uchiha Clan is a rare source of combat power that can help relieve the village's pressure."

"Besides, Orochimaru, whom Uchiha Yuu 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. Stabilizing the village is the most urgent matter."

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

With both Hokage advisors agreeing, Danzo could only let the matter drop. In the end, he stormed out of the Hokage's office.

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

"Now that Uchiha Yuu's talent has been confirmed, make sure to recruit him into Root before he fully sides with the Uchiha Clan!"

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

Returning to the small house where he lived, Uchiha Yuu considered the contents of today's conversation. The Uchiha Clan would suffer 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 piercing cries. Yuu 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 home, Uchiha Yuu saw his face. It was an ANBU operative...

No. The man's aura was exceedingly cold and sinister.

Thinking of Danzo, known as the Darkness of the Shinobi World, it seemed he could no longer wait.

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

He looked at Yuu with contempt. Root's prejudice against the Uchiha Clan had long since taken root in its members' hearts.

"Lord Danzo orders you to join Root!"

The unquestionable tone reached Uchiha Yuu's ears. A faint smile inevitably appeared at the corner of his lips, carrying a touch of mockery beneath the lamplight.

"So the rat hiding in the shadows could no longer stay hidden."

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

"You? You are not worthy!"

The other man was an Elite Chunin. If Uchiha Yuu killed him elsewhere, it would cause quite a disturbance. But this was the place where he had lived for years. Even an Elite Jonin would fall to his knees under the assault of the intense radiation!

"How dare you disrespect Lord Danzo!"

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

Yet Uchiha Yuu showed no intention of dodging.

Seeing this, Kaizuke snorted. As expected, he was just a child who did not even understand the basics of combat.

He intended to capture him effortlessly, but then saw Uchiha Yuu calmly extend one hand.

"Kneel!"

As Kaizuke wondered what he meant, he suddenly felt stabbing pain throughout his body, as though he had been thrown into a thicket of thorns.

"Aah!"

A scream rang out from inside the house. Uchiha Yuu watched him impassively and casually lifted him up.

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

Not only could he no longer sense chakra, but he could barely breathe. Something was draining away his vitality.

Pain flooded his heart, making Kaizuke's body convulse uncontrollably. All he could see was Uchiha Yuu's cold, merciless gaze.

He stretched out a trembling hand in panicked desperation, as though pleading for help before death. Unfortunately, the only response was Yuu'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 pile of mush, then vanished into ash beneath the intense radiation.

After killing Kaizuke, Uchiha Yuu stared silently for a long while. The crow above circled down, as if voicing the killing intent in his heart.

"Whew!"

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

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

"Caw, caw, caw!"

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

When Kaizuke had not returned after an entire day, Danzo, in the Root base, knew something had gone wrong.

He did not think Uchiha Yuu had killed Kaizuke. It was far 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 time bomb."

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

Just as Danzo was pondering the matter, a ninja wearing a fox mask flashed behind him, dropped to one knee, and spoke respectfully.

"Lord Danzo! Sunagakure has declared war on Amegakure!"

"What?"

Danzo, whose thoughts had been interrupted, immediately came back to his senses upon hearing this. Since when had Sunagakure become so bold? Had they received that batch of supplies, and with Konoha's assistance, were they willing to take the lead in battle?

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

The clash between two villages was no different from lighting a powder keg in the Shinobi World. During this period, all factions had been maintaining a delicate balance. Once one side fell into chaos, that balance was broken as well!

Tonight, it was not only Uchiha Yuu who could not sleep. Many people were anxiously preparing to deal with the coming war.

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

Tonight, the Hokage's office was brightly lit!

Ninja came and went, gathering together to discuss the recent situation and devise a response.