Anbu Headquarters.
Shinji, along with Karin, Haku, and Mumei, were in the archives room, finalizing their registration.
After completing the process, the four donned Anbu uniforms, officially becoming members of Hidden Leaf's Anbu.
They moved to the mask room.
Shinji glanced around and casually picked up a cat-faced mask.
Karin hesitated before selecting a fox-faced mask from the shelf. Haku smiled and chose a goofy-looking dog-faced mask.
When it was Mumei's turn, she deliberated for a while.
Karin said: "Mumei, haven't picked one yet?"
Mumei nodded: "Yeah, there are too many masks. I'm not sure which to choose!"
Since they'd be teammates, Shinji's introductions helped Karin and Haku quickly bond with Mumei.
Mumei was a straightforward person, and like Karin and Haku, she wasn't born in Hidden Leaf, so the three naturally gravitated toward each other.
Knowing Karin and Haku were Shinji's subordinates in every sense, Mumei was friendly with them. In just a few days, the trio had grown close.
As Karin and Haku advised Mumei on her mask choice, Shinji picked up a crow-faced mask from the shelf, toying with it.
The crow-faced mask resembled a medieval plague doctor's, with a distinct beak-like feature.
Mumei saw it and approached: "I'll take that one!"
Shinji smiled, handing her the crow-faced mask.
Mumei put it on and asked: "How do I look?"
Shinji studied her. With the Hidden Leaf Anbu uniform, the crow-faced mask, and her slender frame, Mumei exuded a unique, mysterious aura.
Karin said: "It's great, very—"
As Karin searched for the right words, Haku interjected: "Very fitting for an Anbu!"
"Exactly!" Karin nodded.
Mumei looked at Shinji.
Shinji nodded with a smile: "It suits you."
After choosing their masks, they left the mask room.
Normally, Hidden Leaf Anbu needed to request codenames from superiors for confidentiality, as members addressed each other by codenames.
But due to Shinji's negotiations with the village leadership, his team was uniquely independent, answering only to him, and he only to Koharu. Thus, no codenames were assigned, and no missions were issued yet.
At the Anbu building's entrance, Mumei asked: "Shinji, what's next?"
Karin and Haku looked to him as well.
Shinji said: "Our team is highly independent, so don't worry about forced missions. Next—"
Swish swish.
At that moment, two Anbu hurriedly returned from outside, rushing toward the second-floor offices.
Shinji, mid-sentence, paused. He recalled that those second-floor offices belonged to Anbu teams directly under the Hokage. The haste of those Anbu suggested something major had happened.
He exchanged a glance with Haku and Karin.
They nodded subtly and quietly followed.
Moments later, Haku and Karin returned, whispering: "Shinji, bad news. Danzo went to the hospital to summon Sasuke for questioning. Sasuke attacked, not only using ninjutsu in the hospital against regulations but also assaulting Danzo and the accompanying Anbu."
Mumei frowned slightly.
She knew 'Uchiha Sasuke' was the brother of Uchiha Itachi, who massacred the Uchiha clan, so her impression of Sasuke wasn't favorable.
Shinji didn't seem too surprised.
Ever since Danzo's return, he'd expected him to target him and Sasuke.
It was inevitable. Danzo, Shinji, and Sasuke were irreconcilable enemies, with no room for compromise.
For Danzo, as his influence in the village waned while Shinji and Sasuke rose in prominence, his sense of crisis would only grow.
If he didn't act now, he'd lose his chance. Striking first was his only option, or he'd face retribution from the Uchiha.
Shinji asked casually: "What's Sasuke's situation now?"
Haku shook his head: "He lost to Danzo and was detained by the Anbu!"
Shinji remained calm.
One side was meticulously prepared, the other stripped of dojutsu. Sasuke's defeat and capture weren't surprising.
Karin said: "Shinji, Danzo's coming for you Uchihas. Be careful—you're likely his next target!"
Haku agreed: "Yeah, we should prepare!"
"Prepare!?" Shinji chuckled: "Why prepare? If he's looking for trouble, I'll meet him head-on!"
"What!?"
Haku and Karin were stunned.
They hadn't expected Shinji, facing such a complex situation, to not only stand his ground but actively stir up conflict.
Shinji glanced at them: "Are you scared?"
Mumei puffed out her chest: "I'm not afraid of some Danzo!"
Karin shook her head: "I'm not either!"
Haku laughed: "Didn't you just say? Our team only follows your orders!"
Hidden Leaf Hospital.
As Sasuke was defeated and detained, the crowd gradually dispersed.
Danzo's lips curled slightly. His timing was impeccable, and everything unfolded as planned.
Sasuke's attack on him, an advisor elder, was a grave offense, essentially sealing his fate.
"Next is Uchiha Shinji!"
He smirked coldly.
Compared to Sasuke, whose dojutsu was depleted and condition poor, Shinji was clearly a tougher opponent. That's why Danzo targeted Sasuke first, hoping to implicate Shinji through him and eliminate both remaining Uchiha in the village.
Swish swish swish.
As Danzo plotted how to interrogate Sasuke and frame Shinji, four Anbu suddenly descended, surrounding him.
Danzo grew wary, scanning them: "What are you doing?"
The dispersing crowd paused, sensing the four Anbu's aggressive intent.
Then, Shinji, wearing the cat-faced mask, said calmly: "Shimura Danzo, your crimes are exposed! We have evidence of your collusion with Orochimaru and your plot against the Third Hokage. Come with us for questioning!"
"What!?"
Before Danzo could react, the surrounding crowd erupted.
Most of the hospital's patients were injured from the recent battle. Hearing that Danzo colluded with Orochimaru and plotted against the Third Hokage, their shock and anger were palpable.
Danzo recognized Shinji's voice, grinding his teeth: "Uchiha Shinji!"