Konoha's light shone upon almost everyone, yet it missed the few who had once longed for that light. Forgotten by the light, they could only struggle in darkness and survive alone.
Kato Osamu leaned lightly against the rock wall of the dark chamber, as though he understood something.
"The three great shinobi villages are besieging Konoha... No wonder Root is so vigilant..."
"Hiruko... He really chose a fine time..."
The Root shinobi guarding the door had a faint blue glow in his eyes as he softly uttered words that seemed not to belong to him.
Perhaps Hiruko had completed his research into the Cursed Seal some time ago. He had likely been plotting his defection for a long while.
But...
This war had come a little too conveniently...
In the dim chamber, Kato Osamu sat quietly in a corner. His eyes suddenly shifted as he sensed Danzo approaching. Yet Shimura Danzō's increasingly close emotions seemed to carry immense fury.
"Wei... The leader summons you!"
The Root shinobi named Chi slowly opened the door to the dark chamber. The faint blue light in his eyes met Kato Osamu's gaze, revealing an equally inscrutable expression.
Following behind Chi, he arrived at the familiar underground space. Like every other part of Root, it remained dim and gloomy, with candlelight flickering faintly...
Kato Osamu had lost count of how many times he had met Danzo, yet every encounter seemed to bring a new feeling—beneath Danzo's calm face, he was raging, seemingly searching for a way to vent his fury.
"Wei! Where did A-Three go? And where were you when Hiruko defected?"
The shinobi behind Danzo was concealed beneath a mask and cloak, his face invisible. Only his icy voice carried not the slightest emotion.
Danzo, seated atop the platform, remained silent. He merely stared