The morning breeze carried dew. The lingering glow of starlight reflected upon the water, a long rainbow swept across the mountain mist, and the world had turned white.
Kato Osamu stood among countless Root shinobi. His black hood concealed his body, making him seem no different from the Root shinobi beside him.
"Target: the Land of Grass! Infiltrate the Stone Shinobi battlefield in squads! Everyone, act according to your mission scrolls!"
In front of the Root base, nearly all the Root shinobi had gathered. Their gazes were fixed entirely on A-Three atop the platform.
"Depart!"
Kato Osamu could no longer remember which generation of A-Three the ninja issuing orders from the platform was, but it no longer interested him in the slightest.
He merely watched the Root squads continuously depart, while quietly observing his own Root squad, which remained motionless.
Four Jonin, all elites of Root. Each radiated the standard cold, sinister aura. Kato Osamu could sense that they were not as calm as they appeared; they seemed faintly excited.
Thud...
Apart from their squad, all the other Root shinobi had vanished. Kato Osamu remained silent until the expected sound of a cane rang out...
"Depart..."
Danzo's deep voice came from within the Root base. Yet that alone seemed to excite the four Jonin. Their eyes held a trace of fervor, but they did not dare look directly upon their leader's radiance, only suppressing the slight tremors in their bodies.
"Yes, Leader!"
Some people's thoughts could never be understood by others. Kato Osamu had never understood why someone like Danzo could earn his subordinates' loyalty...
As they advanced at a slow pace, Danzo seemed to glance briefly at Kato Osamu but said nothing further. The four Root shinobi followed behind him, while Kato Osamu kept his head lowered, faintly surrounded