Sasuke Captured! Root Blocks the Way!

The lead ANBU did not spare her another glance. "Take him away," he ordered flatly.

Sasuke was dragged forward by force.

The ANBU left.

Sasuke was gone.

The dense forest fell silent again.

Naruto lay motionless on the ground, his left fist clenched and pressed hard into the dirt.

Sakura sat where she was, arms wrapped around herself, trembling like a leaf in the wind.

She no longer cried aloud. Tears streamed silently down her face, and she looked utterly hollowed out.

"Why..." Naruto's voice came muffled through the dirt, shaking uncontrollably. "Why am I so weak... And why does it always... always end like this..."

He could not go on.

Only ragged, stifled breathing remained in the silent forest.

Zuo Hao raced through the trees. He stepped over broken branches without disturbing a single fallen leaf.

His Sharingan spun rapidly in the darkness, tracking the chakra traces left in the air.

He was less than two li from Sasuke and the others.

A faint rustle came from ahead. Almost imperceptible, but it did not escape him.

Zuo Hao stopped abruptly in midair and landed on a thick branch.

Figures emerged without a sound from the shadows of the ancient trees around him.

One, five, ten, twenty.

ANBU in gray-white animal masks appeared among the treetops, from behind trunks, and even from beneath the soil. They surrounded Zuo Hao completely, sealing off every angle. There was not a single gap.

This was no ordinary ANBU patrol formation. It was a carefully laid killing trap.

Zuo Hao's pupils narrowed slightly. His expression did not change, but his fingers curled, ready to reach for the ninja tool pouch on his back.

Their leader stood on a treetop opposite him. He removed his mask, revealing a handsome but cold face.

Yamanaka Fū.

Zuo Hao recognized him.

"Uchiha Sahiro." Yamanaka Fū's voice was as calm as still water. "Come with us quietly. Don't put up a pointless fight. We've already taken Sasuke Uchiha."

The words drove into Zuo Hao's heart like an icicle.

His face betrayed nothing. He merely tilted his head and asked lightly, "You're saying you took Sasuke?"

"Lord Hokage's orders. Orochimaru bit your brother and placed a Cursed Seal on him. He needs to be kept safe." Yamanaka Fū spoke with perfect seriousness. "As his older brother, you should cooperate with us."

Zuo Hao suddenly laughed.

"The Third Hokage? Keep him safe?"

"Since when did Root start protecting people? Does that old bastard Danzo think he hasn't got enough blood on his hands?"

Yamanaka Fū's pupils contracted slightly.

For an instant, the air seemed to freeze.

Two Root ninja behind him already had their hands on their kunai.

But Yamanaka Fū raised a hand and stopped them.

"I know you don't trust us, Sahiro. But the bigger picture comes first. We have your brother. Cooperate, and he won't suffer. Refuse..." He paused, his tone still flat. "You know what I mean."

Zuo Hao's Three-Tomoe Sharingan turned slowly. He stared into Yamanaka Fū's eyes, searching for the slightest opening.

At the same time, he spread his senses in every direction, calculating the position, breathing, heartbeat, and muscle tension of every Root ninja around him.

Twenty of them. All elite.

Yamanaka Fū specialized in sensing and mental techniques. His Mind Body Switch Technique could seize control of anyone's body in an instant.

And hidden in the shadows... Zuo Hao's pupils suddenly shrank.

There was another chakra signature, so faint it barely existed. It seemed to blend into the entire forest, as subtle as leaves breathing.

Torune Aburame.

The man whose body teemed with deadly insects was lurking out of sight.

A chill ran down Zuo Hao's back.

He knew from the original story how terrifying that man was. Nanoscale poisonous insects covered his entire body; a touch could kill. Even Orochimaru would not approach him lightly.

Two against one, with eighteen elite Root ninja besides.

Fighting them alone was not hopeless, but it would cost him dearly.

More importantly, they had Sasuke.

"Well? Have you decided?" Yamanaka Fū was patient. "We don't have much time to waste here."

Zuo Hao slowly lowered his hands and made a show of relaxing.

"Fine. I'll go with you. But I have one condition: I want to make sure Sasuke is still alive first."

Yamanaka Fū considered it, then nodded. "I can take you to see him. But you'll have to surrender all your weapons and ninja tools."

Zuo Hao bent down slowly, unfastened the ninja tool pouch on his back, and tossed it to the ground.

Then he drew the kunai and shuriken at his waist and stuck them into the earth beside his feet, one by one.

His movements were slow and compliant.

Yamanaka Fū watched him, the corner of his mouth seeming to lift slightly. But the hint of a smile vanished almost before it appeared.

"And the three custom kunai hidden behind your waist," Yamanaka Fū said evenly. "There's no point hiding them from me. My senses have picked up every ninja tool on you."

Zuo Hao went still for an instant.

He raised his head. The three tomoe of his Sharingan turned slowly in the shadows as he stared at Yamanaka Fū for a full three seconds.

Then he gave a lazy smile, pulled three black custom kunai from behind his waist, and tossed them onto the ground.

"Enough?"

Yamanaka Fū did not answer at once.

He took a few steps forward and stopped five paces from Zuo Hao. His gaze traveled over him from head to toe, as though inspecting a piece of merchandise.

Silence stretched between them.

"Uchiha Sahiro." Yamanaka Fū spoke suddenly. His tone had changed; the official courtesy was gone, replaced by a faint, icy mockery. "Do you know how Konoha sees the Uchiha Clan?"

Zuo Hao did not answer.

"Your clan was a threat from the beginning. The Sharingan is too dangerous a power. You know what happened that night, don't you?"

He paused, as though checking Zuo Hao's expression.

"That night, your clansmen slaughtered one another. Blood ran like a river. In the end, only you and Sasuke were left. But so what? One of you awakened the Sharingan and still couldn't protect his little brother. The other is lying there, unable even to stand."

Yamanaka Fū did not raise his voice, but every word was a poisoned needle aimed straight at Zuo Hao's most vulnerable spot.

"Would anyone notice the difference if what's left of the Uchiha died out?"

The air went still.

Zuo Hao remained where he was, unmoving. But his fingertips trembled slightly.

"If you ask me, the Uchiha bloodline should have been wiped out completely." A faint curve seemed to touch Yamanaka Fū's lips. "Otherwise, another monster might crawl out of it in ten or twenty years."

The Root ninja behind him let out low chuckles.

They made no attempt to hide their laughter.

"That Sasuke brat is even more pathetic." Yamanaka Fū dropped the pretense entirely and stepped forward. "Orochimaru bit him once, and he rolled on the ground like a dog."

"Even Sakura from your team is stronger than he is. At least she knows how to cry. He can't even manage that."

"You Uchiha brothers are both worthless."

Silence stretched for three breaths.

Then Zuo Hao smiled.