"Do it. Why aren't you moving?"
There was no response.
Danzo felt as if he had given an order to thin air. No one moved. No one answered.
He turned his head.
The Root operatives were staring at him coldly—expressionless, unmoving, their eyes devoid of obedience.
"…You're rebelling?"
As those icy gazes met his, it felt like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over Danzo's head. His entire body went cold.
The dreams—his grand vision, the Hokage's seat, the future he had already tasted—shattered in an instant.
From heaven to hell.
The pain of it nearly drove him mad.
"You—!" Danzo roared. "Aburame! Root! Why aren't you acting? Kill that Uchiha brat—now!"
"Kazemaru Yamanaka, I order you to kill Uchiha Sasuke!"
"Terai! You dare disobey me?!"
Even Sasuke, still reeling from Danzo's earlier words, snapped back to reality and stared in shock.
Internal conflict…?
Aburame stepped forward, representing Root, and spoke calmly.
"Lord Danzo. In the past, we followed you without hesitation. We abandoned everything—our names, emotions, pasts, even our futures. All that remained was the mission."
"We believed in you. We stained our hands with blood, handled the filth and darkness of the world, and convinced ourselves it was all for Konoha."
"Even after Root was disbanded, we held onto that belief—that Root would one day be reborn, still buried deep in the soil of Konoha."
"But in the end… it was you, Lord Danzo, who betrayed the will of Root first."
Six years....
Six years since Root was disbanded.
Those who had been raised as tools slowly recovered their emotions and wills. Yet Danzo's indoctrination had been deep—Root still lived in their hearts, waiting only for a single order to take root again.
But this time—
Danzo had allied with outsiders to destroy Konoha.
It was like a thunderbolt.
To the Root operatives, their faith collapsed in an instant.
They nearly broke.
Until someone stepped forward—gave them clarity, direction, and a new meaning to stand by.
"…Me? Betray Root?"
Danzo laughed in disbelief. "Ridiculous. I created Root. How could I betray it? How could I betray myself?!"
But the resentment in the Root operatives' eyes was undeniable.
To them, Danzo—the so-called 'root of Konoha'—was now the one trying to tear Konoha down.
"I see now," Aburame said quietly. "You've always believed Root belonged to you. No wonder."
The last trace of hesitation vanished from his eyes.
"Why wouldn't Root belong to me?" Danzo shouted. "I built it with my own hands! I recruited you, trained you! Isn't it mine?!"
Panic crept into his voice.
He could feel it—whatever loyalty remained was draining away with every word he spoke.
"Lord Danzo," Aburame said coldly, "you've disappointed us."
The other Root operatives shared the same expression.
"We're done here. We'll go support Konoha—where Root truly belongs."
With that, they vanished in a blur, disappearing from the training ground.
"Why…?" Danzo screamed hoarsely. "Why are you abandoning me?! What did I do wrong?!"
From the distance, Aburame's voice drifted back.
"Because Root is the root of Konoha. Not the root of Shimura Danzo."
Danzo stood frozen, his face blank.
Was there really a difference?
Wasn't Root his?
Wasn't Konoha his?
"Hahahaha!" Sasuke suddenly laughed out loud, genuine and sharp. "How does it feel, Danzo? Abandoned by your own men—like a stray dog."
Danzo's gaze snapped back to him, overflowing with hatred.
"Don't get smug, Uchiha Sasuke. You and I are the same. Your entire clan—your parents—you lost them too. You're just as pitiful."
"I don't believe a single word you say," Sasuke replied coldly, settling into a fighting stance.
No interference. One-on-one.
This was his task—and he would finish it.
"The signal's up. Move."
On the high platform, Kazekage Rasa's eyes turned sharp. He glanced at the Fourth Raikage A, then past him to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Onoki and Yagura reacted as well.
Five Kage-level figures tensed at once.
Whoosh!
Two Sand jonin moved simultaneously. Smoke bombs detonated with a bang, shrouding the platform in thick smoke.
Clang!
Kunai collided, sparks flying.
Konoha jonin beside Hiruzen leapt back, alarm flaring in his eyes.
"Hokage-sama—!"
Too late.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had already been seized, a kunai pressed tightly against his neck by a Sand jonin.
Rasa appeared nearby, his chakra surging.
On the rooftops, Yagura and his guards observed calmly. On the opposite side, Onoki and his guards retreated to higher ground, watching with interest.
Only the Fourth Raikage A remained seated, two guards at his side, fingers tapping the railing thoughtfully.
"Nirvana Temple Technique."
White feathers drifted down across the arena.
Civilians fell asleep instantly.
"Release!"
"Dispel!"
Ninjas across the stands formed seals, breaking the genjutsu.
In the arena, Rock Lee froze mid-motion, staring in confusion.
Shiranui Genma landed beside him, face grim.
Gaara, sealed inside his sand sphere, remained unaware—isolated in darkness.
"Kazekage," Hiruzen said calmly despite the blade at his throat, "are you trying to start a war?"
"This has nothing to do with me," Rasa replied flatly. "I'm just an observer."
He glanced at the Sand jonin restraining Hiruzen.
"As agreed, the Third Hokage is yours. Don't disappoint me."
"And make sure you don't lose him to Konoha."
With a grin, the Sand jonin leapt onto the rooftop with Hiruzen.
"Hokage-sama!" The Konoha jonin rushed forward—
"Move!" Another Sand jonin intercepted him.
Fury erupted. The Konoha jonin overwhelmed his opponent—
"Magnet Release: Gold Dust Spear!"
A golden spear shot forward—
"Not happening."
A slender fist smashed through it, shattering the gold dust in midair.
Tsunade stood there, green robe flowing, the bold kanji GAMBLE emblazoned on her back, blond hair shining.
"Tsunade-sama!" the Konoha jonin cried in relief.
"Seriously?" Tsunade snapped at Rasa. "You break the agreement, drag two villages toward war, and act surprised? Kazekage, did sand get into your brain?"
A tall man in red robes, white hair flowing, wooden clogs clacking as he stepped forward.
"Sunagakure's getting impatient, huh?" Jiraiya said, scratching his head. "We're supposed to be allies. Or did you forget that, Kazekage?"
"Jiraiya-sama!" The Konoha jonin cheered again—this time fully relieved.
The storm had truly begun.
-------------------------
For advanced chapters, visit patreon.com/Varnok