Danzo's big move

After returning to Konoha, Uchiha Rìtiān could not calm down for a long time.

He tucked the scroll for the Flying Thunder God Technique securely against his body. It was far too important; he absolutely could not let anyone else know about it.

And then there was what that member of Akatsuki had said-Danzo was about to make a big move.

What kind of move? Something targeting the Uchiha?

The more Rìtiān thought about it, the more uneasy he felt.

No, I have to find out what Danzo is planning.

His eyes shifted, and an idea came to him.

"System, is there any way to gather intelligence on Root?"

Ding! The Host is advised to use a Listening Seal, which can monitor sounds around the target.

"How many Show-Off Points does a Listening Seal cost?"

Not expensive. Just 100 Show-Off Points each.

Rìtiān's mouth twitched. You call 100 not expensive? Why don't you just rob me!

But... for the sake of intelligence, I'll bite the bullet.

"Give me three!"

Ding! Deducted 300 Show-Off Points. Obtained Listening Seal x3.

Three tiny seals appeared in Rìtiān's hand, as thin as cicada wings and almost invisible.

Rìtiān nodded in satisfaction. With these, he would not have to worry about Danzo pulling any tricks.

The next question was how to get the Listening Seals into Root.

Going straight in was out of the question. It was too dangerous.

Rìtiān thought for a moment, and his eyes suddenly lit up.

That's it! Don't I do business with Root? I can use a delivery as an opportunity to plant the Listening Seals.

He put his plan into action at once.

The next day, Rìtiān brought a batch of Chakra Flashlights to Root, making the delivery himself.

The Root ninja guarding the entrance froze for a moment when he saw Rìtiān.

"What are you doing here?"

"Making a delivery." Rìtiān pointed to the crates behind him. "Lord Danzo ordered these. I brought them over myself."

The Root ninja hesitated, but let him in anyway.

After all, Rìtiān was now Root's "official supplier," personally approved by Lord Danzo.

Rìtiān followed the ninja inside, looking around as he walked.

The Root Base was even larger than he had imagined, its passages branching in every direction like a maze.

"What are you staring at? Hurry up!" the ninja guiding him said impatiently.

"All right, all right." Rìtiān withdrew his gaze, but secretly memorized the route.

The ninja stopped outside a storeroom.

"Put everything here. Once we check the quantity, you can leave."

Rìtiān nodded and began unloading.

While the ninja was not paying attention, he secretly stuck a Listening Seal to the bottom of a crate.

First one, done.

Once the count was finished, Rìtiān dusted off his hands.

"All right, everything's accounted for. I'll be going, then."

"Wait." The ninja suddenly stopped him.

Rìtiān's heart lurched. Did he notice?

"What is it?" he asked, feigning composure.

"Lord Danzo wants to see you," the ninja said expressionlessly.

Rìtiān breathed a sigh of relief. Luckily, he had not been caught.

But... why does Danzo want to see me?

Was that Akatsuki member really right? Is Danzo about to make a big move?

Rìtiān followed the ninja to Danzo's office.

Danzo sat in a chair, reading a document.

When he saw Rìtiān enter, he raised his head, his gaze sinister.

"You're here."

"What did you want to see me about, Lord Danzo?" Rìtiān asked respectfully.

Rather than answering, Danzo handed him the document.

"Take a look at this first."

Rìtiān took the document, and his pupils abruptly contracted as he read it.

The document read-Proposal for the Establishment of the Konoha Military Police Force.

Rìtiān's heart lurched.

The Konoha Military Police Force?

Wasn't that established by the Konoha High Command in the original story to monitor and isolate the Uchiha Clan?

On the surface, it gave the Uchiha power, but in reality, it set the Uchiha Clan against Konoha's people.

What does Danzo mean by showing me this?

"Lord Danzo, this is..." Rìtiān asked, feigning confusion.

"This is what I proposed to Lord Hokage," Danzo said flatly. "The Uchiha Clan is powerful. Establishing a police force and putting them in charge of Konoha's public security would put their abilities to good use."

Rìtiān sneered inwardly. You make it sound so nice, but isn't it really just to suppress the Uchiha?

On the surface, however, he still pretended to look enlightened.

"So that's it! You truly are farsighted, Lord Danzo!"

Danzo narrowed his eyes and stared at Rìtiān for a long while.

"Do you really think so?"

"Of course!" Rìtiān's face was sincere. "The Uchiha Clan should contribute to Konoha!"

Danzo fell silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "I hear you're very close to Shisui?"

Something stirred in Rìtiān's mind. Here it comes. Now we're getting to the point.

"Yes, Shisui is really nice. He even teaches me the Body Flicker Technique," Rìtiān said with a smile.

"Shisui... is a genius." Danzo's voice grew low. "What a pity..."

A pity?

Alarm bells rang in Rìtiān's mind. What does Danzo mean by that?

Ding! The Host faces a critical choice:

Option one: play dumb and pretend not to understand. Reward: survival chance +5%.

Option two: probe Danzo to find out what he really thinks. Reward: intelligence +1.

Option three: directly demand to know whether Danzo intends to harm Shisui. Reward: courage +5, Danzo's killing intent +10.

Rìtiān's mind raced.

Option three is definitely out. That would be asking to die.

Option one is safe, but I won't get any intelligence.

I can only go with option two.

"I choose option two!"

Ding! Choice successful. Obtained intelligence +1.

Rìtiān raised his head and looked at Danzo with a puzzled expression.

"Lord Danzo, what's a pity?"

Danzo stared at Rìtiān for a long while, then suddenly smiled.

"Nothing. I just feel that Shisui's talents shouldn't be wasted on those pointless things."

Pointless things? Something stirred in Rìtiān's mind.

By pointless things, does he mean Shisui's efforts to bring peace between the Uchiha and Konoha?

Is Danzo... trying to turn Shisui? Or does he want to... get rid of him?

Rìtiān did not dare think any further.

"All right, you can go." Danzo waved his hand. "This batch is good quality. Bring more next time."

"Yes, Lord Danzo." Rìtiān bowed slightly, turned, and left.

Once outside the Root Base, Rìtiān let out a long breath.

His back was already soaked with cold sweat.

That scheming old bastard Danzo really is up to no good.

No, I have to warn Shisui to watch out for Danzo.

And Itachi, too. I have to warn him as well.

Rìtiān did not dare delay and immediately went to find Shisui.

In the woods around Naka Shrine, Rìtiān found Shisui training.

"Shisui!" Rìtiān ran over, panting.

Shisui stopped his Ninjutsu and looked at Rìtiān with a smile. "What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?"

"Shisui, I have something important to tell you." Rìtiān lowered his voice. "You need to watch out for Danzo!"

Shisui froze for a moment. "Lord Danzo? What happened?"

"I just went to Root to make a delivery and heard Danzo mention you. His tone... wasn't quite right," Rìtiān said, weighing his words. "I feel like he might have something in mind for you."

Shisui fell silent for a moment, then smiled.

"Don't worry. I'll be fine."

"Lord Danzo's methods may be a little ruthless, but he does it for Konoha, too."

Rìtiān grew anxious. "Shisui, you can't think that way! That scheming old bastard Danzo-"

"Rìtiān." Shisui interrupted him, his tone serious. "Some things aren't as simple as you think."

"The relationship between the Uchiha and Konoha is very complicated."

"All I can do is try my best to change all this."

Looking into Shisui's determined eyes, Rìtiān was filled with mixed feelings.

He knew that this was the kind of person Shisui was.

Gentle, kind, and full of love for others.

Yet that was precisely why his eventual end was so tragic.

No, I can't let Shisui die!

Absolutely not!

"Shisui, no matter what, you have to be careful," Rìtiān said solemnly. "If you run into any danger, you have to tell me right away!"

Shisui froze for a moment, then smiled.

"All right. I promise."

Rìtiān nodded, but the unease in his heart only grew stronger.

He knew that the wheels of history had already begun to turn.

The Uchiha's fate, Konoha's fate, and his own fate...

Everything was about to undergo tremendous change.

And what he, Uchiha Rìtiān, could do was strengthen himself as much as possible before the storm arrived.

Only by being strong enough could he protect the people he wanted to protect.

Ding! The Host's firm resolve has triggered a hidden mission: change the Uchiha's fate.

Mission requirement: prevent the Uchiha Clan Massacre.

Mission rewards: Mangekyō Sharingan (evolution path of your choice), Show-Off Points +10000.

Failure penalty: the Uchiha Clan is massacred, and the Host falls into eternal suffering.

Rìtiān clenched his fists.

Change the Uchiha's fate?

It'll be difficult, but...

I, Uchiha Rìtiān, accept!

Just then, a signal flare suddenly rose in the direction of Konoha.

The red signal flare burst in the sky.

That was... the emergency assembly signal!

Shisui's expression changed. "Something's happened!"

Rìtiān's heart lurched, too.

Could it be... Danzo's big move has come this soon?