Although the Root operatives technically answered directly to Shimura Danzo,
on the surface, they still operated under the name of the Hokage.
"Hmm? Classmates?"
The Third Hokage sighed softly.
It really had been a chaotic year.
But…
Those kids were too young to understand what was going on.
And if Sasuke got caught up in it all—
what a tragedy that would be.
"Hmph," Danzo scoffed coldly. "They're just a bunch of brats.
Ignore them. Let them do what they want. They'll figure it out—or not."
The Genin received the order and, seeing that the Third Hokage hadn't objected, assumed the issue was settled.
He turned to leave.
But just then—
Hiruzen took one last puff from his pipe, exhaled a slow ring of smoke, and asked an extra question:
"I remember… that Sasuke boy doesn't have many close friends.
Who exactly did he invite?"
Hearing this, the Genin paused and listed the names:
"There's… Yoruha from the Yamanaka clan,
Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Choji,
Hyuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino, Uzumaki Naruto,
and… a civilian girl of unknown identity."
The Third Hokage's pipe slipped out of his mouth and hit the floor with a clack.
Pig–Deer–Butterfly trio!
Inuzuka's hound-user!
Aburame's insect-user!
A Hyuga with the Byakugan!
The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki!
And Yoruha—the once-in-a-century prodigy from the Yamanaka clan!
Sasuke Uchiha invited all of them to his house? Tonight?!
If anything went wrong tonight…
Konoha might actually explode.
There was no way this would just be pinned on Uchiha Itachi.
Not if the heirs of so many prominent clans were involved.
Even Danzo would be dragged into the fallout.
"Danzo," the Third Hokage said quickly, "rally the Root operatives.
We're going to the Uchiha district immediately."
"We cannot allow these children—the future of our village—to get caught up in the Uchiha clan's affairs!"
The Uchiha massacre was already underway.
Hiruzen knew full well he'd eventually push all the blame onto Uchiha Itachi.
But the other clan leaders weren't idiots.
If their kids got hurt or killed in the process…
There'd be hell to pay.
Especially with Naruto present.
He wasn't just a kid.
He was the Nine-Tails' Jinchūriki.
Danzo glanced at the Hokage, eyes cold.
Innocent kids, huh?
Just earlier, when Danzo suggested leaving them to fend for themselves,
Hiruzen had stayed silent.
But now that he knew who they were?
Now he wanted to protect them?
What a performance.
Hats off, Hiruzen Sarutobi. On acting skills alone—you're truly a master.
The Uchiha clan lived in the forested outskirts of Konoha—
a remote, almost isolated part of the village.
Because of the clan's special status and increasing tension with the village leadership,
most parents often warned their children:
"Stay away from the Uchiha."
So to be invited to a barbecue at Sasuke's house tonight?
That was practically unheard of.
Naturally, the kids were all hyped.
Well—except for Yoruha and Hinata.
"Yoruha-kun…" Hinata whispered, her voice quiet but urgent.
"I used my Byakugan just now. There are a lot of ANBU hiding around us.
I think… we're being watched."
Her cute, worried expression made Yoruha smile.
He gently patted her soft, short hair.
"Don't worry. The ANBU are here to protect the village.
With them around, we'll be safe."
Truthfully,
Yoruha felt guilty.
This mission had dragged Ino and Hinata—and others—into dangerous waters.
But so far, everything had unfolded exactly how he predicted.
Konoha's higher-ups weren't going to leave them exposed.
Not when the group included:
Elite clan heirs,
A Jinchūriki,
And a few top-tier future ninja.
If anything happened to them tonight,
the political blowback could shake the entire village.
The Uchiha clan's extermination was already set in motion.
But if the kids from the other clans were hurt too?
Even Shimura Danzo wouldn't survive the consequences.
Still—
Yoruha made a mental note:
If I find out the Third Hokage didn't send anyone to protect us tonight…
I'll pull the plug on this sign-in mission and make up a reason to get everyone out of there.
No hesitation.