Assassination

"These are three Ninjutsu Scrolls. If there's anything you don't understand, the three of you can discuss it together. If you still can't make sense of it, come ask me."

"Yes, teacher."

After leaving the Training Ground, a Shadow Clone appeared without a sound. It made a circuit of Konoha Street and returned home, while Fugaku used the Transformation Technique to buy a Demon-Face Mask before slipping out of Konoha unnoticed.

It was a simple trick to clear himself of suspicion.

There was only one main road from Konoha to the Capital. Fugaku hadn't heard Root's exact target, so he searched along that road, keeping to the trees as he moved slowly forward.

At noon, a squad of Konoha shinobi caught his attention. Concealing himself with Black Mist Invisibility, he took a closer look. Their leader was Elder Ito.

Ito was very likely Root's target. He held some influence within the Elders Council and had rejected proposals from the Third Hokage and Danzo several times.

Most recently, at a Konoha leadership meeting, he had rejected Danzo's strategy for the Land of Rain. The Elders Council had unanimously backed Ito, leaving Danzo thoroughly embarrassed.

Fugaku had thought Danzo would find a chance to eliminate Elder Ito, but a year had passed. If he hadn't suddenly spotted him, Fugaku might have forgotten the matter entirely.

He hadn't expected to see Elder Ito here after all this time. If Root really was after him, Fugaku had to admire Danzo's patience.

Fugaku adjusted his own plan. He widened the distance between them, released Black Mist Invisibility, and followed far behind from within the Forest.

Several Kunai bearing Explosive Tags suddenly shot out of the Forest ahead, straight toward Elder Ito at the front of the squad.

Explosions ripped through the squad amid cries of