"Hello. I'm the ninja newly reassigned here. My name is Shisui Uchiha. I look forward to working with you."
By the riverbank inside Konoha, Shisui introduced himself with a gentle smile. Ren, however, showed no surprise at all.
After his meeting with the Third Hokage, he was already certain that his boss, Danzō, had reached some sort of tacit understanding with his old friend.
After all, Ren had already been transferred into ANBU. If Danzō failed to achieve his objective now, wouldn't Ren have been given away for nothing?
For someone like Danzō—who took pride in ruthlessness and refused to lose even a mutual bite-fight with a dog—that was absolutely unacceptable.
"Shisui-senpai… I didn't expect it would be you."
Yugao looked genuinely surprised.
Shisui was only a little older than she was, yet he had entered ANBU under the title of a genius. Unlike most Uchiha, he lacked that signature arrogance, and his reputation within ANBU was excellent.
Someone like him—why would he be assigned to their squad?
Yugao had assumed that after the reorganization, someone like Hayate or another shinobi with a similar background would join instead.
"Operational needs, most likely," Shisui replied with a smile.
"The Hokage said this team performed exceptionally well, but suffered losses during the mission. He felt I'd be a good fit with the two of you."
His words were modest—so modest that even Ren, an experienced workplace veteran, raised an eyebrow.
In Ren's memory, this Uchiha "hero" wasn't exactly known for having the best judgment.
He always seemed to soften when he should stand firm—and when it came time to be soft, he became unyielding. His eventual suicide was the clearest example: even ghosts couldn't have dragged him back.
But at least for now… he didn't seem bad.
"Senpai, my name is Ren. I look forward to working with you."
While his thoughts wandered, Ren still smiled and nodded politely.
No matter what Shisui was like, Ren's Root assignment was essentially complete. Later, he could always muddle through a report and count it as "repaying Lord Danzō's careful cultivation."
Besides, Shisui had the Mangekyō Sharingan.
If things truly went sideways, at least there'd be someone strong to cover the retreat.
After a brief chat, the three of them became acquainted. Yugao might appear cold, but she was warm-hearted beneath the surface.
As for Shisui—he was practically the kind of Uchiha the Second Hokage would have loved: approachable, friendly, and entirely lacking in airs.
Still, Shisui seemed to be holding back a question. After hesitating for a moment, he finally asked quietly,
"Yugao… Ren… when I came over earlier, I noticed you were with that kid?"
"You mean Naruto?" Ren blinked.
Yugao looked a little awkward. They'd only interacted briefly, but she had the strange feeling that Naruto wasn't nearly as bad as the rumors claimed.
"Yes," Shisui nodded.
Recalling the Third Hokage's words—and the village gossip—he felt obligated to warn his new teammates.
"You've probably heard the rumors too. That child is said to be… ominous."
Here we go again.
Ren and Yugao exchanged a glance.
Ren's eyes were full of amusement.
Yugao's face, however, was filled with discomfort.
Their expressions didn't escape Shisui's notice. He frowned slightly, confused.
Did I say something wrong?
"Shisui-senpai," Ren asked calmly, "may I ask you a question?"
"Of course."
"Senpai," Ren said evenly,
"you're going a bit too far. Are you… questioning the Hokage's decision?"
"—?!"
Shisui Uchiha's expression changed instantly.
Root Headquarters, Underground — Konohagakure
The underground base of Root was dark and oppressive, its very air heavy with suppression.
Even though towering structures and expansive training grounds had been built within—and several Root trainees were drilling inside—the atmosphere remained unchanged.
Danzō Shimura, however, liked it this way.
In his view, Root should exist beneath Konoha's shadow, its roots buried deep in darkness.
And it should use any means necessary to eliminate threats to the village.
Whether his beliefs were right or wrong didn't matter.
It was enough that he believed in them.
"That brat should have already delivered the items to Orochimaru… and should now be teamed up with Shisui Uchiha."
Inside his office, Danzō flipped through documents while thinking quietly.
"Hmph. Boy, you'd better perform well. I've paid a considerable price for this."
The idea of Uchiha entering ANBU was utterly unacceptable to Danzō—despite the fact that he once had a fellow disciple named Kagami Uchiha.
And Shisui… was Kagami's descendant.
"Yamato should be moving by now. Kakashi's eye…"
Danzō touched the bandages covering his blinded eye, deep in thought.
He could, in theory, use Kagami Uchiha's eyes that he had preserved—but the fact that Kakashi could wield Obito Uchiha's eye suggested something else.
Either that eye was special… or Kakashi himself was.
Either way, Danzō wanted Obito's eye reclaimed.
It would also serve as a test of Yamato's combat ability.
Back then, when Yamato had attempted to assassinate Hiruzen Sarutobi, he had been defeated by Kakashi in a single exchange.
Did that mean Wood Release was inferior to the Sharingan?
That was something Danzō could not accept.
"This time, Yamato must gain something."
With that thought, Danzō looked back down at his documents.
As Root's leader—and Konoha's advisor—he had access to vast amounts of intelligence, allowing him to plan how the village might benefit.
"The Land of Rain… still mired in conflict. Hanzō betrayed me, forced me to rebuild Root—now he's hiding like a turtle?"
"The Land of Earth… Ōnoki plans to push south again? Good. Let his conflict with Sunagakure intensify. Maybe I can fan the flames."
"Yakushi Nono's intelligence work is excellent. As expected of the 'Wandering Witch.'"
"But she's also a liability. Asking for photos again, is she?"
"The Land of Wind… Kabuto's intel says Kirigakure is harassing Sunagakure?"
"The Land of Water remains impenetrable… yet we obtained intelligence here."
"That Scorch Release user, Pakura, is performing well against Kiri—but how will Rasa handle pressure from both Kiri and Iwa?"
"Investigate further. If possible, eliminate her. After all… Scorch Release is troublesome."
"The Land of Lightning… Kumogakure remains as ambitious as ever. They've set their sights on the Land of Frost's secret techniques. Rabid dogs, the lot of them."
Toward the other villages of the shinobi world, Danzō held a single, equal opinion:
He wanted them all destroyed.
Unfortunately, his old friend Hiruzen Sarutobi did not share this view.
So Danzō could only operate as the stirring hand in the shadows—plotting, assassinating, manipulating.
All of it was for Konoha.
And, naturally, also for paving the way for his own ascension.
One day, he would conquer the shinobi world.
"Hiruzen… you're far too soft."
Danzō muttered sincerely.
But what he never could have imagined—
Was that a familiar voice suddenly spoke behind him, calm and low.
"Is that so? Perhaps. But I think… you've gone a bit too far as well, Danzō."
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