The moment Uchiha Kei mobilized his forces, the entire village was caught off guard.
No one had expected him to make a move so soon.
When Danzō Shimura received the news, he was delighted.
Based on past experience, whenever Kei’s faction went out, they usually numbered only a few dozen people.
Danzō had been racking his brain trying to lure Kei into exposing himself.
Now his target had conveniently stepped out on his own.
Without bothering to gather more detailed intelligence, Danzō immediately assembled every Root operative he could mobilize.
Just over a hundred men.
His plan was simple: Intercept Kei on the road.
Kill him.
One hundred against a few dozen.
The advantage is mine.
Attack.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was equally surprised.
Judging from his understanding of young people, someone who had just staged such a spectacular public performance and won the admiration of the entire village should have been basking in the spotlight.
A youth of Kei’s age ought to have been celebrating.
Holding banquets.
Enjoying his newfound fame.
Frankly, Hiruzen wouldn’t even have been surprised if Kei had gathered people to begin writing his biography.
Instead…
The boy had assembled all of his followers and marched out as though preparing for war.
Without any obvious objective.
That was what puzzled Hiruzen.
Even stranger…
Their route pointed directly toward one of Root’s facilities.
Did Danzō do something behind my back again?
Or…
Did Kei somehow learn about the hint I only just gave the Uchiha elders?
For the first time that day, Hiruzen felt uneasy.
Not terrified.
Just uneasy.
Then he calmed himself.
Let’s watch.
They’re not marching on the Hokage Building.
They’re not coming after me.
Whatever happens between Kei and Danzō…
Isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
If they really clashed…
Root could test Kei’s true strength.
At the same time…
Kei might expose exactly what Danzō had been hiding all these years.
Either outcome benefited the Hokage.
Elsewhere…
Uchiha Fugaku was just as bewildered.
Together with his wife, Mikoto Uchiha, he was visiting the home of Kushina Uzumaki.
Mikoto and Kushina had long been close friends.
That gave Fugaku the perfect excuse to visit.
More importantly…
It allowed him to strengthen his relationship with Minato Namikaze.
The previous day, the two men had spent hours discussing the war.
The more they talked…
The more they admired one another.
It had almost felt as though they regretted not meeting sooner.
Now they finally had the chance to continue that conversation.
The four of them chatted happily.
From personal friendships…
To ideals…
From childhood memories…
To recent events…
Then suddenly…
The Uchiha Clan erupted into commotion.
Fugaku froze.
…Wait.
Why wasn’t I informed about such a major clan operation?
Am I not the Clan Head?
A new dilemma immediately presented itself.
Should I rush back?
Or should I stay here and pretend everything is proceeding according to my plan?
Fugaku once again found himself trapped in indecision.
Kei, meanwhile, was completely baffled.
I’m just moving house.
Why is everyone panicking?
As expected…
People with guilty consciences feared every knock at the door.
Leading all two hundred of his followers, Kei openly departed Konoha.
His destination…
Naka Shrine.
The shrine had long served as the Uchiha Clan’s sacred place of worship.
But ever since Madara Uchiha left the village…
Few people had bothered to maintain it.
It was also the ancestral birthplace of the Uchiha.
When Konoha had originally been founded, the village had been built roughly halfway between the ancestral lands of the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan.
For that reason…
Naka Shrine lay outside the village walls.
Ordinarily…
Any shinobi leaving Konoha required official authorization.
Since everyone usually obeyed the rules…
The village gates were lightly guarded.
One or two Chūnin.
Perhaps a Special Jōnin.
That was more than enough.
After all…
Who would dare cause trouble at Konoha’s main gate?
Today, however…
The gate guards lost their nerve.
Not one of them stepped forward to question Kei.
They simply watched as the Uchiha marched out.
Quietly muttering among themselves.
“These people are even more arrogant than Root…” “At least Root skips the registration process by sneaking out through their hidden barrier exits.” “The Uchiha don’t even bother hiding it.” “They really don’t take Konoha seriously.” “…” “Then again…” “Konoha belongs to them too, doesn’t it?” “Why should they report to anyone?” “Maybe we’re the ones meddling where we shouldn’t.” “Forget it.” “Let them do whatever they want.” No sooner had the Uchiha left…
Than another group burst through the gates.
Root.
In the past, Root had always maintained at least the appearance of secrecy.
Today…
They were in far too much of a hurry.
They didn’t even bother using their hidden exits.
They simply charged straight out the front gate in pursuit of the Uchiha.
The gate guards exchanged glances.
Looks like Danzō’s really panicking.
When Danzō had first heard Kei was leaving the village…
He had been thrilled.
He had originally been on his way to consult Hiruzen about how to eliminate Kei.
Instead…
He dropped everything.
Gathered every available operative.
And rushed after him.
Only after catching up…
Did he realize the horrifying truth.
This wasn’t Kei’s usual patrol.
Normally, Kei traveled with three or four personal bodyguards…
Supported by another twenty or so elite followers.
This time…
More than two hundred Uchiha had mobilized.
Fully armed.
Complete with supply wagons and logistical equipment.
This wasn’t a patrol.
It was a military march.
…No.
Absolutely not.
I can’t fight this.
Danzō immediately decided to withdraw.
At the same time…
He shot a murderous glare at the subordinate who had delivered the report.
The poor man felt utterly wronged.
“Lord Danzō…” “You left before I could finish my report.” “According to Root regulations…” “I wasn’t permitted to interrupt.” Before Danzō could decide how best to punish the unfortunate agent…
Something even worse happened.
The marching Uchiha changed direction.
Straight toward one of Root’s bases outside Konoha.
That base wasn’t merely a training camp.
It also housed Root’s classified archives…
And countless secrets that could never be allowed to see the light of day.
Danzō’s expression changed instantly.
“No…” “They’re coming for me?” “They’re trying to raid Root’s headquarters?” That absolutely cannot happen.
If fighting broke out there…
It wouldn’t matter who won.
The Hokage would be forced to intervene.
And once he did…
Everything hidden within Root would inevitably be exposed.
No.
I can’t let them get any closer.
Ignoring the fact that most of the men he had assembled were little more than expendable Genin, utterly incapable of standing against Kei’s elite force…
Danzō nevertheless led them forward.
He positioned his men directly across the road between Konoha and the Root compound.
His intention was obvious.
Delay the Uchiha.
Even if it meant sacrificing the majority of his own subordinates.
As long as they could hold out until Hiruzen arrived…
It would be worth it.
What had begun as an assassination…
Had somehow turned into a desperate delaying action.
Ironically…
Danzō still considered himself fortunate.
“Thank goodness I acted quickly.” “Otherwise…” “This would have turned into a complete disaster.”
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