"What crime are you accusing me of?"
Uchiha Shion gave his sister Izumi's hand a reassuring squeeze, then glanced at the headless corpse on the ground. Since the head had been severed cleanly, the mask had fallen away, revealing a pair of wide, lifeless eyes, still frozen in shock.
"They weren't outsiders invading the village? I've heard of the Anbu before—aren't they directly under the Hokage? So then, what is this 'Root' you speak of?" Shion tilted his head, his face the picture of innocence. "Unidentified shinobi told me to follow them, but refused to reveal who they were. The sixth rule of the Academy's Code: always remain vigilant of strangers who suddenly appear before you."
Having said this, Shion turned his gaze to the bandaged elder leading the group. "Speaking of which, none of you seem to be wearing Konoha forehead protectors. Old man, who exactly are you supposed to be?"
"Bang!"
Danzō's cane struck the ground with force. His cold, fishlike eyes revealed no emotion as he replied, "My identity is not something you're permitted to know. But the fact that you managed to take down three of my Root operatives proves it—you've been hiding the fact that you awakened the Sharingan all along, Uchiha brat…"
Shion scratched the back of his head. "Another vague answer, huh? So you're here to drag me off too? This is Konoha. Just how did a group of unidentified shinobi like you manage to invade the village on such a scale?"
The man standing beside Danzō, filling the role of Aburame Ryōma, finally spoke: "We are Root shinobi, trained as the foundation of the Anbu. The ones you just killed… were also Root."
"Uchiha brat, if you surrender quietly, perhaps we can save ourselves the trouble."
At that, Shion felt Izumi's small hand tighten in his grasp. He looked down at her with a soft smile. "Don't worry. Just because they say something doesn't make it true."
He turned his eyes back to the masked men. "The Uchiha clan has always held its own autonomy. The Police Force governs our internal affairs. I've never heard of some mysterious department that can summon me at will—even if I am just a student."
"If you can't prove your identity, you have no right to take me. And right now, you don't seem to have anything to back yourselves up." His voice hardened. "Dispel this barrier. When the Fourth Hokage arrives, the truth will be judged openly."
Danzō gave a slight shake of his head, his expression unreadable. "Killing three of my men does prove your strength. I underestimated you. But I never imagined even a child of the Uchiha could refuse to see himself as part of Konoha."
Shion cut him off coldly: "You don't represent Konoha. Even if you truly are 'Root,' the only one who can speak for this village is the Fourth Hokage."
"Tch…"
Danzō sneered, shaking his head. "The Fourth is too young. He knows far too little of the Uchiha. He cannot grasp how dangerous your clan really is."
His gaze slid past Shion, landing on Izumi. "That's your little sister, isn't it? As her brother, surely you wouldn't want to see her placed in danger…"
He narrowed his eyes further. "Uchiha Shion. Since your father's death, your mother Uchiha Hazuki has returned with you to the Uchiha compound. The choice you make here today will determine the fate of your family."
At his words, the Root operatives silently spread out, surrounding Shion and Izumi at the center.
The street fell into silence, sealed off from the outside world by the barrier—like a battlefield cut away from reality.
In the center, Shion's brow furrowed. His patience was thinning.
Threats?
The last person who had dared to threaten him through Izumi was already in pieces on the ground.
This barrier could cut off the outside, but large-scale Mokuton: Nativity of a World of Trees could sweep away the Root hidden beneath the streets, and with the Flying Thunder God combined with Yanming, the rest wouldn't be a problem.
But killing Danzō outright, and so publicly, didn't align with his plans. Too many corpses would force the Third Hokage to demand explanations.
And as a student, as an Uchiha, he risked having the Yamanaka Clan dig through his memories.
If it came to that…
Defect?
Where would he even go? Wandering the world, living rough? That could never compare to the comfort of life in Konoha.
And besides—his mother and Izumi. They would never want to leave.
If that was the case, then perhaps there was only one choice left. Kill everyone here, including whoever was maintaining the barrier.
So you would dare threaten my family?
Shion glanced at the decapitated corpse nearby, then raised his eyes to Danzō, voice calm and cutting. "Old man, what gives you the confidence to think you can drag me away? Or threaten my family?"
Danzō's fishlike eyes narrowed, then opened just slightly wider. "So you've made your decision…"
"Arrogant Uchiha brat. With your accursed blood flowing in your veins, the greater your potential, the greater the threat you pose to Konoha!"
"Everything I do today is for the sake of the village!"
Shion released Izumi's hand and let out a mocking laugh. "To twist shameless words into righteousness… that really is your style."
As his palms came together—
"Bang!"
The barrier shattered with a sharp crack.
A golden figure appeared instantly in front of Shion.
"Root?"
The calm voice of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, cut through the tension. Shion's hands, still half-formed into the sign for Snake, fell to his sides.
Beside Minato appeared Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi, the latter holding a black ninja cat in his arms.
The moment the three arrived, Izumi's body relaxed in relief. She collapsed weakly to the ground.
The cat in Itachi's arms—her new companion, her "friend" from earlier—meowed softly. Why it was with Itachi at this moment, Shion didn't know.
"Fourth Hokage," Danzō said curtly, not even a trace of courtesy in his tone, "Uchiha Shion has killed Root operatives. I need to bring him back for interrogation. Do you have an objection?"
To him, Minato was nothing more than Hiruzen's soft-hearted student's student—far beneath his own worthiness to be Hokage.
Minato's blue eyes scanned the scene. His gaze lingered on the three Root shinobi—one corpse, two unconscious. His expression flickered slightly in surprise.
Shisui had spoken of Shion's strength, but from the wounds—single, fatal strikes—it was clear: one hit had been enough each time.
That speed… his Shunshin no Jutsu was already at Shisui's level?
A genius surpassing even Itachi. For now, that was a good thing for Konoha.
"Uchiha Shion," Minato said firmly. "Your explanation?"
Shion repeated what he had said earlier, then added, "They claim to be Root, but as a student, I've never once heard of such a division existing within the village."
Shisui stepped forward, his voice calm but sharp: "This is an Academy student we're speaking of. Why exactly, Lord Danzō, have you sought him out? And as far as I know, Root has no authority to simply take villagers away at will."
Yes.
In that instant, Minato's mind seized on Shisui's words.
**********************************************************************************************
Hey everyone! Want to read ahead and unlock up to 100 early-access chapters? 📖Plus, enjoy even more exclusive novels! Join my Patreon now and dive into the adventure!
patreon.com/Rawink00