No one outside Root knew of Danzo's plotting. Itachi had just finished his Military Police Force patrol and found an excuse to head to a remote corner of the village.
In a secluded alley, Itachi, now dressed in Root attire, met Danzo, who was wrapped in bandages.
After Danzo swept his piercing gaze over him several times, Itachi bowed and said, "Lord Danzo!"
To earn Danzo's trust, Itachi acted with utmost respect, his eyes filled with admiration and fervor for Danzo, no different from those of the other Root members.
Leaning on his cane, Danzo asked in a low voice, "Itachi, have you grown accustomed to life in the darkness?"
Itachi nodded lightly. "Lord Danzo, I have adapted well."
Itachi was not lying about that. He truly had adapted to Root's environment. Though he had only carried out a handful of missions, he still felt more at home in the darkness than in his idle life with the Military Police Force.
Through his missions over the past few days, he had also come to understand Root's duties.
Root consisted of people who concealed their names and identities, eliminating anything that threatened the shinobi village from within the darkness. They were the roots buried underground, nourishing the leaves.
Itachi agreed with Root's ideals, but not with Danzo's methods or actions.
Being ruthless and underhanded against enemies was acceptable. Using those methods against one's own people went too far.
From what he had learned, the White Fang of the Konoha's suicide had been closely tied to Danzo. During the Night of the Nine-Tails, Danzo had even tried to send Root ninjas to stop the Military Police Force from rescuing the villagers.
Had the Military Police Force truly stood by and done nothing, the Uchiha would likely have faced unimaginable condemnation by now.