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Kagaya sat powerlessly on the ground. Three days—what was he supposed to do?
With his head lowered, Kagaya kept thinking. Should he take his own life?
---
Elsewhere, Danzō quickly returned to the underground depths of Root, stopping in front of a cell where a man and a woman were imprisoned—Kagaya's parents.
Danzō spoke coldly.
"Have you considered what I told you?"
Takayuki stared at Danzō intensely.
"Is what you said true?"
"Of course it's true. Can't you see? Given the current state of affairs between the Uchiha and the village, do you really think your family can walk out of here alive? Uchiha Kagaya is a genius, and I value him. I don't want to see him die, so I'm offering to save him. If you two die in this cell, Hiruzen won't be too harsh on a child, especially with me pleading on his behalf. Kagaya could live. But as long as you're alive, Kagaya won't be released. You two are the real targets of this arrest. Kagaya was just incidental. Do you honestly believe a kid like him could kill two Root members? Don't be ridiculous. This was just a setup to justify capturing you, a warning to the Uchiha clan."
Takayuki shook his head calmly.
"No, your words don't add up. The village should be trying to ease tensions with the Uchiha, not issuing warnings at a time like this."
Danzō's eyes narrowed as he spoke coldly.
"Do you really think the village is unaware of the Uchiha's plans for a coup?"
Takayuki's eyes widened. If the village knew about the Uchiha's coup intentions, a warning to the clan under such circumstances would make sense.
"But there's one thing I don't understand. Our family is just an ordinary one within the Uchiha clan. Would arresting us really intimidate the entire clan?"
Danzō looked at Takayuki as if he were an idiot.
"Are you truly that naive? It's a warning, not a declaration of all-out war. Of course, they'd target an insignificant family. Arresting a prominent one would mean no turning back with the Uchiha. I have no interest or need to deceive you. Your family is as good as dead here. I'm only trying to save Kagaya because I admire his talent. Believe it or not, that's up to you."
With that, Danzō turned and left.
Yuko looked at Takayuki with worry.
"Takayuki, what do we do now?"
Takayuki, clearly shaken by Danzō's words, frowned.
"Our family… we've likely become a sacrifice in the struggle between the village and the Uchiha."
With no access to outside information, Danzō's seemingly flawless argument began to convince Takayuki.
"What about Kagaya?" Uchiha Yuko asked anxiously.
"He's probably been arrested too. If we, his parents, have been taken, Kagaya likely hasn't escaped."
"Then… then ask Danzō if just one of us dying is enough. Let me die in exchange for Kagaya's life. He's still so young; he can't die. I've lived long enough. I've experienced everything I wanted—meeting you, having Kagaya. I'm happy. I'm content."
Takayuki gently rubbed Yuko's head.
"Silly Yuko."
---
The next day.
Hokage's Office.
Shisui visited the Third Hokage again.
"Lord Hokage, I have something to discuss."
The Third nodded, gesturing for Shisui to continue.
A moment later, the Third looked at Shisui in shock.
"You're saying you plan to use Kotoamatsukami to alter the Uchiha leadership's mindset and prevent the coup?"
Shisui nodded.
"Yes."
The Third frowned.
"Are you confident it will work?"
Shisui replied calmly.
"I'm highly confident it will succeed."
"Will there be any negative consequences?"
"I'll only use Kotoamatsukami to change their thoughts about the coup, nothing else. There won't be any negative effects."
"In that case… very well."
---
Another day passed.
Counting the day Danzō visited Kagaya, today was the third day. By tomorrow, Danzō would come for Kagaya, and Kagaya had to make a decision today.
But before Kagaya, two others had to make their choice.
Danzō stood outside the dark cell.
"Have you decided? After today, even I won't be able to save Uchiha Kagaya."
No response.
Danzō frowned, raising his voice.
"You're not answering? Don't you want to save your son?"
Still no response.
Realizing something, Danzō ordered the cell opened. It was too dark to see inside from where he stood; he needed to go in.
Soon, Danzō entered and saw Takayuki holding Uchiha Yuko, both lying still on the ground. Dried blood was visible at the corners of their mouths. Here, an ordinary pair of parents had died.
Perhaps they had acted too decisively, but…
"Hmph, saves me the trouble."
Danzō had never intended to let Kagaya's family leave alive. Convincing Kagaya's parents to take their own lives was merely a way to have a plausible explanation for the Third Hokage.
Perhaps Takayuki had sensed Danzō's faint killing intent, leading to their swift decision to die. Maybe, just maybe, their deaths would soften the Third's stance and result in Kagaya's release.
In the end, what were they? Just an utterly ordinary family in this world—a Chūnin and his wife. In the ninja world, such a pair was powerless against true strength.
Before her death, Yuko had asked Takayuki a question.
"Takayuki, do you think we can leave this place alive?"
Takayuki shook his head.
"I know a bit about Danzō's character. Once we're in Root, the chances of leaving alive are slim to none. I just don't know how Kagaya's doing… that kid. If he dares die, I'll skin him alive!"
Yuko smiled faintly.
"Yes, you're right, Takayuki. Kill me."
"Why?!"
"We're going to die anyway. I'd rather die by your hand. Besides, if I die now, in my heart, it'll be for Kagaya. My death won't be meaningless."
"No! Danzō's words sound reasonable, but they might not be true. If he's lying, our deaths would be for nothing!"
"Takayuki, you said it yourself—do we have a choice?"
That single sentence stunned Takayuki. Yes, as he'd said, they had almost no chance of leaving Root alive. In that case, with death inevitable, did they have any choice?
Root was different from Anbu. Many left Anbu alive, but very few ever walked out of Root.
Danzō bent down. He remembered Takayuki had a Sharingan. But just as his hand reached to pluck out Takayuki's eyes, he stopped.
Better not. Danzō was self-serving, but not brainless. If he openly took the Uchiha's Sharingan now, the clan's hatred for him would skyrocket. He didn't want to make himself a target just yet.
He'd wait.
"Someone, clean up these two bodies and return them to the Uchiha. Say they couldn't handle the pressure of the cell and took their own lives."
"Yes, sir!"