Root Base
As a former member of the Foundation, Uchiha Itachi was naturally familiar with the secret location of its base. With just a few silent leaps, he slipped through a hidden passage into the underground facility.
"Stop right there!"
A cluster of shuriken flew from the shadows, clinking to the ground in front of him—no, in front of the Orochimaru clone created by Itachi.
"Tsk tsk... Danzo, is this how you welcome an old friend?" Orochimaru licked his lips with a sinister smile, ignoring the Foundation shinobi who blocked his path.
"Orochimaru... what are you doing here? Not afraid I'll kill you?" Danzo emerged from the darkness, speaking coldly.
Though the two had long maintained a secret relationship based on mutual interests, Orochimaru boldly barging in like this felt... reckless. Wasn't he worried people would think they were conspiring together? What if Hiruzen Sarutobi saw them meeting in secret under the moonlight and got the wrong idea?
That old man's heart might not survive it!
And if word got out, how would Danzo continue his ambitions in Konoha?
He was, after all, the Hokage's advisor, the leader of Root, and the man poised to become the next Hokage! Associating openly with an S-rank missing-nin like Orochimaru would destroy his image.
"Enough with the act," Orochimaru said dryly. "You've marked all your subordinates with your cursed tongue seal—none of them can talk. If this gets out, both our positions are finished."
Danzo stared at Orochimaru for a long moment. Then, with a wave of his hand, the Root shinobi disappeared, leaving only the two of them.
"Speak. Why are you here?" Danzo said indifferently.
No one came to Root without reason. Orochimaru must want something.
"I need Sharingan," Orochimaru said plainly.
"Need a Sharingan? Just capture a Uchiha yourself." Danzo feigned surprise.
"Oh, drop the act. I know you're planning to wipe out the Uchiha Clan. I'll need quite a few eyes. How about we work together? Once it's done, you take sixty percent, I'll take forty. Deal?"
"Ninety-ten," Danzo said flatly. "I lead this operation. My terms."
"Danzo, don't be greedy—you might bite off more than you can chew. Seventy-thirty. Otherwise, forget it."
"Eighty-twenty."
"Fine," Orochimaru relented, "but I want part of the First and Second Hokage's remains."
"…What for?"
"Impure World Reincarnation."
Danzo's eyes narrowed. "You've perfected that technique?"
Orochimaru smirked. "Why don't you guess?"
"…"
"You give me the remains, and I'll give you half the eyes," Danzo offered.
"No deal," Orochimaru replied. "That technique is my lifeline. If I handed it over and you decided to betray me, where would that leave me?"
Danzo fell silent for a moment.
"Then do me a favor—kill someone," Danzo finally said. "The Hokages' remains will be your down payment."
"Oh? And who does Lord Danzo want dead?"
"Hiruzen Sarutobi."
Orochimaru's pupils shrank. "What?! Do you not realize he was my sensei?!"
"You're one to talk about sentiment," Danzo scoffed.
"No, no. You've misunderstood," Orochimaru said with a twisted smile. "That man was my beloved mentor, a strict teacher and cherished friend!"
"…You'll have to pay extra!"
"Money? How much?" Danzo frowned. He found it odd that Orochimaru, of all people, was asking for money instead of forbidden jutsu.
"Funding is tight these days. I need new lab equipment. Let's go by black market rates. The old man's got to be worth, oh... 350 million ryo? What do you think, Lord Danzo?" Orochimaru licked his lips again.
Asuma Sarutobi was worth 35 million. Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, had to be worth at least ten Asumas. After all, he was hailed as the strongest Hokage in history!
"Three hundred and fifty million?! Why don't you just rob me?!" Danzo growled.
"So how much are you offering?" Orochimaru asked.
"One hundred million. No more," Danzo finally said.
"…Fine. Since we've been partners for years, I'll be generous and accept. But I want the money now."
With a pained expression, Danzo pulled out a scroll and tossed it to Orochimaru. It contained 100 million ryo.
"So, when do we strike?" Orochimaru asked, slipping the scroll away and licking his lips in satisfaction.
"Hmph. No better day than tomorrow. I'll arrange to meet Hiruzen alone. Once he's there, we kill him together—then pin the blame on the Uchiha. That'll give me the justification to command the Anbu to eliminate the clan. Two birds, one stone," Danzo said, clenching his fist, malice flickering in his eyes.
"Fine. I'll follow your lead," Orochimaru replied.
"Then we'll call this operation…"
Danzo stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"The Konoha Collapse Plan!" Orochimaru interjected enthusiastically.
"…No," Danzo growled, face darkening. "Change it."
Orochimaru was a missing-nin, so he didn't care. But he, Danzo, was going to be Hokage. How could he preside over something called the Konoha Collapse Plan?
"Rename it… Operation Sarutobi Downfall."
Orochimaru: "…"
Well, it was a bit of a collapse—for Hiruzen. Getting betrayed by your student and your old comrade? How tragic.
Outside the Village
At the village gates, Uchiha Izumi walked quietly beside Itachi, a bag in hand.
The pale moonlight bathed the pair, casting long, poetic shadows along the road.
Izumi glanced at Itachi, a little lost in thought. In all the years she'd known him, this was the first time Itachi had come to pick her up after work. Her heart fluttered with joy, and a tiny smile crept onto her face.
Had he finally come around?
Her mind drifted to the Nine-Tails' attack years ago—when five-year-old Itachi shielded her with his small arms, keeping her safe amidst the chaos. Back then, even as a child, he seemed so brave… so strong… so cool.
His resolute gaze… that warm embrace… she would never forget it.
Suddenly, Itachi stopped. Izumi halted as well. He reached into his pocket.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Wait… is he going to propose?!
She felt lightheaded. One of her coworkers had proposed to his girlfriend with a ring hidden in his pocket. Could Itachi be doing the same?
But what he pulled out… was a bottle.
A little confused, Izumi tried to rationalize it.
It's fine… it's still a gift… his first gift to me… that counts, right?
She reached out to accept it—but then, right in front of her, Itachi smashed it to the ground.
Izumi stood frozen. "…???????????"
Little boy, are you full of question marks too?
I really thought you'd changed, but clearly, I was delusional. Sorry to get my hopes up!
This blockhead is hopeless, she sighed. If I want to win him over, I'll have to make the first move.
As the smoke from the shattered bottle cleared, a small fridge appeared in front of her.
"It's your favorite milk tea from that café. I kept it for you," Itachi said, opening the fridge and handing her a cup.
Izumi blinked, touched.
It was her first milk tea of the season—and the first gift he'd ever given her.
Under the dim streetlight, their shadows stretched long behind them.
It wasn't clear if Itachi realized… at that moment, he was the only person in Izumi's eyes.