"You mean, Obito went on a mission alone, without anyone accompanying him?"
In the dark lair of Root, Danzō once again confirmed with the ninja who had just delivered the message.
"Yes, Lord Danzō, it's only Obito."
"Hatake Kakashi and Uchiha Shisui were escorted to the village entrance."
"However, our people have repeatedly confirmed that the two of them have returned to their homes."
The Root ninja knelt on one knee and reported respectfully.
"Well, the heavens are aiding me!"
Upon hearing this, Danzō raised his crutch and struck the ground, his single visible eye gleaming with excitement.
For over half a year since Minato had taken over, Obito and Shisui had never left the village, making it impossible to carry out his assassination plan.
Unexpectedly, the chance had finally come today. Such an opportunity could not be wasted.
Once he mastered those two Mangekyō, combined with the Hashirama cells Orochimaru had transplanted into him not long ago, who in Konoha could oppose him?
The title of Fifth Hokage was within his grasp — even Hiruzen wouldn't be able to stop him.
"Aburame Tatsuma, gather all Jōnin in Root. Have them split into small groups and slip beyond Konoha's barrier to rendezvous outside."
"This time, I will lead the team myself!"
Danzō's voice left no room for doubt.
He would never underestimate the Uchiha's cursed eyes. That was a power even Lord Tobirama had feared.
Meanwhile, Obito was moving at an unhurried pace through the forest.
"Tobi, do you think that bastard Danzō will really come?"
With Kakashi and Shisui still in Kamui space, Obito was left to chat with Tobi, who clung to him like an unwanted backpack.
"Huh? Who's Danzō?"
"A dog? Obito, when did you get a dog without telling me?"
Tobi tilted his head, genuinely puzzled. He'd searched Obito's house thoroughly and never found one. Could it be Kakashi's? But wasn't his dog called Pakkun?
"Uh, Danzō isn't a dog — actually, no, he is a dog… ah, forget it. You wouldn't get it even if I told you."
Obito gave up trying to explain.
Rustle!
A sound came from the surrounding woods.
"Who?"
Obito halted on a branch, three tomoe spinning in his eyes.
Figures emerged from the trees, encircling him.
The leader's head and right arm were wrapped in bandages, with only one eye exposed.
Shimura Danzō.
"Uchiha Obito, I'll give you one chance. Join Root now, and you may keep your life."
Danzō's tone was condescending, as though granting a favor.
"Join Root?" Obito scoffed. "Why would the deputy head of the Uchiha clan and deputy captain of the Konoha Military Police become someone's pet dog?"
His gaze shifted toward the masked Root operatives behind Danzō — the insult was clear.
"Hmph, the Uchiha are indeed born cursed. Even at death's door, you refuse to repent."
"I'll kill you here and now to remove future trouble!"
"Danzō! Do you dare kill me? You know this counts as treason, right?"
Obito's voice hardened. He had expected this ambush, but the sheer audacity still angered him.
"Do it!"
At Danzō's command, over twenty Root Jōnin charged.
Yet all their attacks passed harmlessly through Obito's intangible form.
"Hmph… Kamui intangibility," Danzō muttered. "Five minutes of phasing — after that, let's see where you run."
Though Obito had once rejected Danzō's probing about his eye technique, the old war hawk had still pieced together part of the truth via the Third Hokage. Minato could refuse him, but Hiruzen? Never.
However, thanks to Minato's deliberate concealment, Danzō didn't know about Kamui's pocket dimension — nor its ability to warp space. Otherwise, this method of attack would never have been chosen.
Sure enough… Kakashi was right. Hiruzen and Danzō were two old war hawks sharing the same nest.
Obito's eyes narrowed. Thankfully, Kakashi had insisted they tweak the Kamui's parameters — halving the intangible time and delaying the warp activation to three seconds — to keep its true potential hidden.
Though Obito was confident he could kill Danzō alone, for safety's sake he decided to release Kakashi and Shisui. If he didn't, Kakashi would never let him hear the end of it.
Space twisted, and the Root ninja instinctively leapt back.
Two figures emerged.
"Hatake Kakashi? Uchiha Shisui?"
"Why are you two here?"
"Don't tell me—"
Danzō's eye narrowed in suspicion, a bad feeling creeping in. At least the one person he dreaded most wasn't here.
"Don't bother looking. Minato-sensei isn't here," Kakashi said coolly.
Before Danzō could relax, Kakashi added, "Because some people aren't worth Minato-sensei's time. Present company very much included."
"You—!"
"Hmph. Such a sharp tongue… hardly befitting Sakumo's son," Danzō sneered.
"Oh, you know my dad? Then you probably also know who spread that fake story about his mission failure… and who used my life as a bargaining chip," Kakashi replied, his voice calm but cutting.
He'd long doubted the official story. White Fang wouldn't end his life over mere public scorn. Not when there were far simpler ways to avoid it — long-term missions, wandering outside the village. No, something had forced his hand.
"Hah… so you figured it out."
"I had hoped to recruit you after taking Obito. You'd have served Root well. But now, I can't let you leave alive."
Danzō's smile was cold.
"Kill them all. Leave no one breathing."
"Yes!"
Kakashi tilted his head slightly, eyeing the closing circle of Root operatives."Wow… twenty against three. And here I thought Root was supposed to be Konoha's elite. What's next, Danzō? Calling in academy kids for backup?"
To be continued....
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