Leaf Village, the dark base of the Root division.
At this time, the relieved Danzo Shimura had not yet gone home and still sat calmly in the Root base, as if he still held command over it.
It must be said, Hiruzen Sarutobi truly did favor Danzo. For such a huge scandal, he had only received a verbal reprimand.
"Danzo-sama, it seems Orochimaru-sama's counterattack was truly sharp this time," said the person sitting across from him, the current head of the Anbu — and Hiruzen Sarutobi's daughter-in-law. "Being able to shake the Leaf Village from thousands of miles away truly lives up to his name."
"He managed to pull all the major clans of the Leaf into the fray, even causing the Hyuga clan to split. The branch family has become a knife in our hands, but the notoriety has fallen squarely on Root. No one would ever guess that this is all his doing, right, Danzo-sama?"
Her voice echoed in the dim room. Danzo let out a cold, muffled humph. He had truly been caught off guard this time, with no chance to react.
Now, all the major clans believed he was behind it — but it was Orochimaru who had profited the most.
Holding the power of the Hyuga branch family, the support of the Uchiha, and a host of loyal ninja, Orochimaru's momentum was now unstoppable.
"I've already been suspended by Hiruzen," Danzo said sourly, sarcasm thick in his voice. "I'm just here to pack up and make arrangements for Root. From now on, the Anbu Chief will temporarily take over."
The Anbu Chief shook her head with a smile. "Elder Danzo jokes. Though Lord Third has suspended you, the official order has yet to be issued. Until then, Root is still under your command."
Having played political games his entire life, how could Danzo not understand what she wanted? He sneered inwardly but outwardly maintained his ignorant façade. "What do you want me to do?"
The Anbu Chief smiled quietly. "Elder Danzo, what else can I say? Isn't this what both of us have always wanted?"
"Orochimaru is already on his way back. Elder Danzo, haven't you prepared everything? This time, let's make sure that snake never rises again."
As her voice faded into the dark room, Danzo's exposed eye flickered coldly. Watching her leave, he sneered:
"Short-sighted woman. Coming to Root personally — you've handed me the handle to drag you down with me. This time, I'd like to see how Hiruzen plans to pin the blame solely on me."
"Orochimaru... it's your fault for being too uncontrollable."
In the depths of Root, under Danzo's quiet command, dark preparations were already underway.
Meanwhile, at the village borders...
The Land of Lightning had signed a peace treaty. The so-called "extortion for Hyuga bodies" through the threat of war was merely political theater — a despicable tactic to tighten control over the Hyuga Clan. If the Third Hokage had conceded, the prestige of the Leaf would have crumbled.
But now, the Hyuga Clan was fractured. There was no need for further pressure.
Through diplomatic means, the drama with the Land of Lightning was resolved, and the borders had stabilized once more. Orochimaru, a Kage-level threat himself, had also returned from the front lines.
Yet within the thriving Leaf Village, a new storm was quietly brewing.
The Hyuga main family had gone silent after the incident, focusing inward, stockpiling resources, and hastily rebuilding their strength.
The Hyuga branch family, however, had now entrenched itself firmly under the Uchiha Clan's banner. Supported by the village higher-ups, this new force had begun to rise rapidly.
Inside the prison controlled by the Uchiha Police Force's Seventh Division...
A hurried Uchiha Itachi dashed out, his expression grave, moving far faster than a normal Genin.
"Big Brother Shisui!" he called, spotting his elder brother.
Shisui turned, shocked. "Itachi? What's wrong? We were just supposed to train!"
They had agreed to train here today — yet Itachi arrived in a panic. Though only seven years old, Itachi's maturity far exceeded his peers.
"Big Brother Shisui," he said, struggling to catch his breath, "what's going on with the imprisoned young men?"
Shisui's face instantly changed. In a flash, he used the Body Flicker Technique to appear in front of Itachi.
"Itachi! Why did you go into the prison?" he asked sharply.
Taking a deep breath, Itachi responded solemnly:
"I heard from Big Brother Shisui that many heroes returned from the front lines and were imprisoned due to mental instability. I wanted to see for myself..."
Though young, Itachi's mind was frighteningly sharp.
"But Big Brother Shisui... those prisoners... many are around my age!"
His voice trembled slightly.
"They couldn't all have committed crimes. Why are they locked away separately? What exactly is going on?"
Shisui sighed deeply, a bitter smile on his face.
"Itachi... maybe Big Brother Yoru was right. You are the son of the Clan Leader. You deserve to know everything."
Activating his three-tomoe Sharingan, Shisui looked around cautiously.
"Come. To the waterfall."
Without another word, they vanished into the trees.
At the secluded waterfall — the same place where Shisui would one day meet his tragic end — the truth poured out.
"...Itachi, now you know," Shisui said, his voice heavy. "Everything we did was for Konoha."
Though he, Yoru, and Orochimaru had defied direct orders by intercepting Root's operations, they had no regrets.
"Those children are living beings."
He spoke with pride, but as the words sank in, Itachi's face turned pale.
"No!" Itachi burst out suddenly, his eyes wide with terror. "Shisui... are you saying those children were captured by Root? Are you absolutely sure?"
Alarmed, Shisui nodded. "Yes. They were taken by Root. But Yoru and I saved them. And don't worry — no actual Konoha ninja were among them."
Itachi's face twisted in horror.
"I recognized two faces!" he said urgently. "One was the son of the Fire Daimyo who visited the village. The other was from the Nara Clan — a senior from my Academy class!"
Both had been rendered mute.
"How could Root dare to touch the Daimyo's son... or the Nara Clan!"
Shisui staggered, as if struck by lightning.
"Itachi... are you absolutely sure?"
"Yes!"
Panic seized Shisui. This wasn't just a crime — it was treason.
"This is bad... Shisui gasped. "Very bad! We've been set up!"
Without another word, he used his fastest Body Flicker to race back toward the Seventh Division.
Left alone, Itachi gritted his teeth, then followed.
Police Department, Seventh Division Office Building.
Though under official Police Force jurisdiction, everyone knew the Seventh Division was effectively Orochimaru's private army.
Inside the office, Uzuki Yugao served tea diligently, her assistant work impeccable. Recently, she had begun to radiate a new maturity.
"Kakashi, look at Guy's spirit — and then look at yourself," Uchiha Yoru teased, sipping his tea lazily.
Kakashi's dead-fish eyes remained indifferent.
Bang!
The office door slammed open. Shisui stormed in, Sharingan spinning wildly.
"Kakashi Hatake! What do you have to say for yourself!"
In a flash, he grabbed Kakashi by the collar, shocking everyone.
Yugao reacted first, quickly closing the door behind her.
Inside, tense silence reigned.
Uchiha Yoru stood slowly, his voice calm but cutting:
"Shisui. Explain yourself."
Still gripping Kakashi's collar, Shisui snarled:
"Brother Yoru! In the prison — two children! One from the Daimyo's palace! One from the Nara clan! Kakashi investigated — but the intel was fake! We've been set up!"
Yoru's face darkened instantly. Even Kakashi's expression stiffened.
"Do you realize what you're saying, Shisui? Can you bear the consequences?"
Yoru's mind raced. A plot to frame Orochimaru was already in motion.
Kakashi, too, finally understood. Orochimaru was the real target.
Yoru slammed his teacup down, shattering it.
"Bad news!" he roared. "Master Orochimaru!"
If this exploded, Orochimaru would be branded a traitor!
"Rumors say Jiraiya has returned," Yoru said grimly. "Go! Tell Hyuga Hizashi to find Jiraiya! We need help!"
"Kakashi! Shisui! Go now! Warn Master Orochimaru — before it's too late!"
Boom—
The office window shattered as the three shot out like arrows, vanishing into the Leaf night.
Behind them, Uzuki Yugao stood frozen, heart pounding.
Jiraiya? Orochimaru? The Daimyo? The Nara?
Her mind whirled. She didn't understand everything — but she knew this:
The Leaf Village was about to be rocked to its core.
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