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, although 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 pursues 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 give an explanation.

"You are being far too hasty. War is about to arrive, and the Uchiha Clan is a rare source of fighting strength that can help ease the village's burden."

"Besides, Orochimaru, whom Uchiha You follows, has already shown that he leans toward the Hokage faction. There is no need to target them so aggressively."

Taking a drag 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 only been suppressed rather than truly driven away.

That would not benefit either side.

"Sarutobi is right. The urgent priority is stabilizing the village."

"I also agree with 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.

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

"We have now confirmed Uchiha You's talent. Before he fully sides with the Uchiha Clan, we must recruit him into Root!"

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!

Back in his small home, Uchiha You considered the conversation from earlier that day. 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 harsh cries. You looked up, his Sharingan reflecting the crow's figure as their vision connected.

"Hm? Who would come at a time like this?"

Once the person drew near his home, Uchiha You saw his face. It was an ANBU operative...

No! This person's aura was extremely cold and sinister.

Thinking of Danzo, known as the Darkness of the Shinobi World, it seemed that man had already run out of patience.

"Uchiha You? I didn't expect you to live in such a remote place."

He looked at You with contempt. Root's prejudice against the Uchiha Clan had long been deeply ingrained.

"Lord Danzo commands you to join Root. This is an order!"

The unquestionable tone reached Uchiha You's ears. A smile inevitably curved his lips, carrying a hint of mockery beneath the lamplight.

"Has the rat hiding in the shadows finally been unable to 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 You killed him elsewhere, it would cause quite a stir. But this was where he had lived for years; even an Elite Jonin would fall to his knees under the assault of high 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 You showed no intention of dodging.

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

He intended to capture him effortlessly, only to see Uchiha You calmly extend one hand.

"Kneel!"

Kaizuke was still confused when a sudden stabbing pain spread through his entire body, as though he had fallen into a bed of thorns.

"Aah!"

A miserable scream came from inside the house. Uchiha You watched him expressionlessly, then casually lifted him up.

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

Not only could he not sense chakra, but he was now struggling even to breathe. Something was draining away his life force.

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

He reached out in frantic desperation, like a final plea for help before death. Unfortunately, You's palm was all that answered him.

"The moment you stepped into my home, your life and death came under my control."

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

After killing Kaizuke, Uchiha You stared intently for a long while. The crow overhead circled down, as if voicing the killing intent in his heart.

"Huff!"

"It is not yet time to fall out with Danzo, but I'll remember this debt."

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

"Caw! Caw! Caw!"

Stroking the crow in his arms, You knew that sleep was destined to elude him tonight.

When Kaizuke failed to return for an entire day, Danzo, in the Root base, knew that something had gone wrong.

He did not think Uchiha You had killed Kaizuke. It was simply 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 detained him.

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

Even if the Uchiha Clan guarded Uchiha You tightly, there would eventually be a moment of carelessness. He had to recruit Uchiha You into Root!

Just as Danzo was considering the matter, a ninja wearing a fox mask flashed behind him. Dropping to one knee, he said respectfully:

"Lord Danzo! Sand Village has declared war on Hidden Rain Village!"

"What?"

Danzo's thoughts had been interrupted, but the moment he heard those words, he snapped back to attention. Since when had Sand Village become so bold? Had they received that batch of supplies and, with Konoha's support, become willing to take the lead ahead of schedule?

"Understood. I'll go discuss this with the Third."

A war between two villages was no different from lighting a powder keg in the Shinobi World. During this time, all factions had been maintaining a balance, but once one side descended into chaos, that balance was broken as well!

Tonight, Uchiha You was not the only one unable to sleep. Many people were anxiously preparing for war.

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

The Hokage's office was brightly lit tonight!

Ninjas hurried back and forth as they gathered together. They needed to discuss the recent situation and devise a response.