Konoha's Root headquarters lay steeped, as always, in sunless chill and deathly silence.
The air carried a stale mixture of ink, medicine, and blood. Dim candle flames flickered along the walls, stretching the figures walking among them into twisted, eerie shapes.
In the innermost secret chamber, the atmosphere was even more oppressively heavy.
Shimura Danzō leaned on his cane, his lone exposed left eye as sharp as a hawk's as he stared fixedly at the uninvited visitor who had suddenly appeared at Root's outer security perimeter, called himself "Sai," and brought an unconscious blond boy with him.
The boy wore Konoha's standard black, close-fitting combat uniform, though some details of its design differed slightly. His bearing was composed, his eyes so calm they barely shifted-typical Root style, yet... something was wrong.
What set Danzo's alarm bells ringing even louder was the utterly natural excitement and reverent affection this boy calling himself "Sai" had shown upon seeing him, as though they came from the heart, along with his words: "Lord Danzo, your subordinate Sai has finally seen you again!" It all felt far too... natural, which only made it more unsettling.
Danzo had commanded Root for years. He knew every ninja under him, living or dead, inside out. There was absolutely no one named "Sai"!
Genjutsu? Some sophisticated Transformation Technique? Or... something else? Countless thoughts flashed through Danzo's mind.
"Sai?" Danzo's voice rasped like sandpaper. "You're my subordinate? Why don't I know you? Surely I haven't fallen under genjutsu!" As he spoke, chakra circulated secretly through his body, ready at any moment to strike and kill or activate Izanagi.
Faced with Danzo's undisguised suspicion and killing intent, Sai's expression did not change at all. He retained the peculiar calm of a Root ninja, merely bowing slightly as he spoke sincerely. "Lord