After a long while, Sasuke slowly woke from his unconsciousness. He rubbed his still-dizzy head and looked around, only to find that everyone was gone.
Sasuke suddenly became alert, his heart undergoing a violent upheaval. What happened before? Why did my brother attack Tahm when he clearly had such a good relationship with everyone?
He recalled the utterly unfamiliar brother he had seen that night and remembered his words: "This is only the beginning."
What did he mean?
A stabbing pain filled Sasuke's heart. Even at his young age, he faintly sensed that his brother seemed to be leaving him forever.
Sasuke hurriedly climbed to his feet and ran home anxiously, as if seeking some kind of answer.
It was already deep into the night. No one was around. In the heavy darkness, there was only a bright full moon hanging high above and a pair of blood-red eyes opening in the shadows.
The running boy still did not know that a far greater despair awaited him at home.
Konoha's Root base was a place of darkness built beneath the bustling village. Aside from a few high-ranking officials, those who knew of this place were either dead or living corpses.
As if deliberately giving Tahm a tour, Danzo led him through many areas before finally stopping in the middle of the underground base, at Danzo's office.
"Have you memorized the layout?" Danzo asked Tahm.
"Yes!" Tahm answered respectfully.
"From now on, you are no longer the Hyuga family's summoning beast," Danzo said unhurriedly. "Starting tonight, this base is your home. Serving me is the sole meaning of your life!"
"Yes, Lord Danzo!" Tahm wholeheartedly agreed with Danzo's near-cult-like brainwashing.
Danzo continued coldly, "Abandon your former name. The people of Root have no names, only code names."
"From today onward, your