"Are you saying the Sharingan appeared in the Nine-Tails' eyes?"
Shimura Danzo's voice was flat, his face unreadable.
"Yes, Danzo-sama," the Root operative replied. "During the change from vertical pupils to round pupils, there were clear traces of the Sharingan. Our men witnessed it directly."
The ninja knelt on one knee, masked and clad in the standard Root garb, black undersuit, gray-white over-armor, red-marked mask.
Though similar to ANBU, Root's masks varied more widely, not limited to animals. In truth, disguising between the two was simple; Root was originally ANBU's training division, only nominally under ANBU command.
Danzo's expression darkened. "What of the Police Force?"
"I reported here the moment I received the news. I haven't confirmed yet."
"Go. Now."
"Yes."
The operative vanished into the gloom. A minute later he reappeared, kneeling again.
"Danzo-sama, I have confirmed it. The Police Force is evacuating villagers. Most of their jonin are absent, only a few are leading squads."
"Hmph." Danzo's eyes narrowed. "So they plan to send their main force to the Nine-Tails battlefield. We cannot allow that."
He raised his cane slightly, his voice turning colder.
"The Sharingan appeared in the beast's eyes. Suspicion falls heavily on the Uchiha. Relay my command; Fugaku is to keep his men on evacuation duty only. They are not to approach the Nine-Tails."
"Understood."
"And summon all Root operatives. Stand by for my orders."
The Root ninja departed. Alone, Danzo murmured to himself:
"This could be my chance… The Fourth Hokage's rise forced me into retirement. But if I hold back my forces until the Nine-Tails is weakened, then strike at the decisive moment… all glory will be mine. Konoha saved by Root."
A faint smile tugged at his lips. "Would Minato dare deny me restoration then? And with Hiruzen's support…"
No, timing was everything. Too early, and Root would be crushed. Too late, and credit would vanish. He would wait until Hiruzen and Minato had spent their strength, then deliver the final blow.
Danzo left the underground base, climbing the mountain ridge behind Konoha. From there, he gazed down at the chaos below, where the Nine-Tails rampaged through the village.
He did not for a moment consider the possibility of Minato's death. The Yellow Flash was famed across the shinobi world. When it came to survival, who could surpass him?
Sacrifice for the village? That was rhetoric.
In Danzo's eyes, no true leader sought death if there was still a path to live.
Meanwhile, Gen had gathered twenty-two of the Uchiha clan's senior jonin in Fugaku's courtyard.
The elders, too old for direct combat, led squads in evacuating villagers. Mikoto, Fugaku's wife and a jonin herself, had also gone to lead a protection unit.
Fugaku stood tall before his assembled men.
"The Nine-Tails is tearing our village apart. As Konoha's strongest clan, it is our duty to face the most dangerous battlefield!" He raised his right hand high. "For the honor of the Uchiha!"
"For the honor of the Uchiha!" the jonin roared back, their hands rising as one.
Without fear, without hesitation, they followed Fugaku's lead as he leapt forward. The group streaked through the night, shadows slicing across rooftops and trees.
But before they reached the battlefield, a masked Root operative landed in their path, voice cold and sharp as a blade.
"Stop."
Fugaku gestured, and his clansmen halted. His eyes narrowed. "Root?"
"Yes. Danzo-sama has ordered, no Uchiha are to approach the Nine-Tails. You are to focus solely on evacuation and village defense."
The Uchiha jonin erupted in anger.
"What?!"
"Why forbid us from fighting?"
"Unacceptable!"
Even Fugaku's jaw tightened. He could not afford to show weakness before his clansmen. "Reason?"
"Because the Sharingan appeared in the Nine-Tails' eyes," the Root ninja replied icily.
Shock rippled through the Uchiha ranks.
"Impossible!"
"That's a lie!"
"Since Madara, no one has controlled the Nine-Tails!"
Fugaku himself stiffened, unsettled. Could it be… someone in the clan had awakened the Mangekyō? He believed that might suffice, unaware only the Eternal Mangekyō could dominate the full beast.
The Root operative continued flatly, "Multiple witnesses confirmed it. Return at once. This is Danzo-sama's order. Will you disobey him?"
Hesitation flickered across Fugaku's face, and even Shisui lowered his gaze. Danzo was no minor figure, he had long worked beside the Hokage, and Root's reputation for ruthlessness made defiance dangerous.
But before Fugaku could yield, a sharp voice cut in.
"Wait, Clan leader."
Gen stepped forward, eyes hard, voice carrying across the courtyard.
"Brothers, let me ask you, tonight, is there anyone missing from our clan's ranks?"
One by one, the jonin responded:
"All my men are here."
"Mine too."
"Same here."
Soon, every voice had joined, until the courtyard rang with certainty.
"Every Uchiha stands here tonight. None are absent!"
Gen's eyes locked on the Root ninja. "So whoever controlled the Nine-Tails; if they bear the Sharingan they are not of Konoha's Uchiha! At most, they are a remnant of Madara's line!"
Fugaku seized the cue, his voice rising: "Yes! This has nothing to do with the Uchiha clan of Konoha!"
The Root operative's tone did not waver. "Regardless. Lord Danzo's order stands. Retreat, or be marked as insubordinate."
Fugaku faltered, torn between pride and caution.
And then...
Ptoo!
A loud spit of contempt rang out, sharp and defiant…