On the way back, with Uchiha Ran and Uchiha Ruka moving together—
A figure suddenly blocked their path.
She was a blonde woman dressed in a nun's habit, wearing round-framed glasses. Her presence felt both elegant and mysterious.
Her golden hair shimmered faintly in the sunlight, each strand catching the light as if it were alive. Beneath the loose robes of the nun's attire, her slender figure was subtly outlined—it took only one glance to tell she was a refined, intellectual beauty.
The round glasses obscured her eyes, making it impossible to read what lay beneath them. That air of secrecy she carried naturally drew people in, stirring an instinctive curiosity.
"Uchiha Ran?" the woman asked softly.
…?
Hearing Ran's name, Ruka immediately shot him a sideways glance.
"Ran-san," she said slowly, her tone carrying an inexplicable edge, "since when did you get to know such a… cultured-looking big sister?"
The woman then turned her gaze slightly.
"You're Uchiha Ruka, right?"
…?
"You know me too?"
Ruka was genuinely surprised. She rarely returned to Konoha—yet someone recognized her so easily?
Seeing their confusion, the woman calmly explained.
Her name was Yakushi Nono.
It wasn't a name many people had heard before, because she belonged to Root, under Danzo Shimura.
According to Nono, Danzo wanted to know what today's large-scale Uchiha gathering was about. That was why she had been sent—to bring Uchiha Ran to Root for an explanation.
"Hold on," Ruka frowned. "If Danzo wanted to see Ran, shouldn't this be done quietly? Why say it so openly—and in front of me?"
Anyone at the upper levels of the Uchiha knew full well that Danzo and the clan were fundamentally at odds.
If Ran was reporting to Danzo, why involve her at all?
As if reading Ruka's thoughts, Nono spoke again.
"Uchiha Ruka, you're wondering why I explained this to you as well."
She didn't wait for an answer.
"Danzo-sama is extremely suspicious—cautious, ruthless, and paranoid. He trusts no one and tolerates no margin for error. Everything must follow his will before he feels at ease."
"He placed curse seals on everyone in Root. I was… fortunate enough to remove mine by chance. Danzo-sama still needs my abilities, so he chose to tolerate me."
"…Wait," Ruka interrupted. "What does that have to do with us?"
She couldn't understand why Nono was sharing something so sensitive.
Nono continued calmly.
"You may not know this, but I am a spy. I've always served Danzo-sama—and Root."
"You may also not know that the only way to truly leave Root… is death."
"So?" Ruka's suspicion deepened.
"Once, I had no choice but to assist Danzo-sama," Nono said quietly. "But now—I want to be a good person."
"…Why choose us?"
"Because you are Uchiha."
Her voice was steady.
"You are the ones Danzo-sama fears the most. And you should know—no matter what you do, no matter how much you think you're helping him—Danzo-sama will never truly trust the Uchiha."
That much was undeniably true.
Danzo trusted no one but himself—not even the Third Hokage.
Nono went on to say that Ran, as an Uchiha, clearly had value to Danzo; otherwise, she wouldn't be acting as a messenger.
She then made her proposal.
She would become Ran's informant—his mole within Danzo's inner circle.
In return, when the day came that she left Root, she wanted the Uchiha's support.
Especially financially.
Her dream was to become the head of an orphanage—and that required funding.
"I agree."
Ran accepted instantly, smiling.
The speed of his response startled Ruka.
This idiot…
Did he just agree because he likes this big sister?
After all, Nono had once been a legendary spy. Who could say this wasn't another layer of deception?
Ruka immediately shot Ran a sharp look.
Seeing her concern, Ran gave her a calm glance in return—relax.
To the current Ran, neither Yakushi Nono nor Danzo Shimura posed any real threat.
He was genuinely curious.
Let's see what kind of mess you people can stir up.
With that, Ran gestured for Ruka to leave.
"Tch… men really are heartless," Ruka muttered. "Even boys are the same."
With a flash of movement, she vanished.
"Nono-senpai," Ran said lazily, "I should warn you—doing business with the Uchiha always comes at a price."
As he spoke, his gaze slowly swept over Nono, openly and thoroughly.
Up and down.
Carefully.
So carefully that Nono eventually felt uncomfortable, her cheeks flushing red.
"Y–You… what kind of price do you want?" she asked softly.
Ran, of course, wasn't fooled by her expression. He knew full well she was the famed Wandering Shrine Maiden of espionage.
"I assume you can obtain the full personnel list of Root," Ran said calmly.
"Bring me a copy. Consider it your token of loyalty."
"No problem."
Nono agreed without hesitation.
For her, acquiring Root's personnel data wasn't difficult at all.
Besides, she wasn't placing all her bets on Ran alone.
Still—
Her instincts told her one thing very clearly:
Uchiha Ran was a premium partner.
As she led Ran toward the Root base, Nono suddenly spoke again.
"Uchiha Ran… there's something I must warn you about."
"Danzo-sama is extremely dangerous. You shouldn't get too close to him."
Hearing that, Ran felt only sympathy for Danzo.
Lord Danzo… there are traitors among your own people.
Your partner Orochimaru is draining your funds dry.
Your best employee, Yakushi Nono, is willing to sell Root's secrets just to escape.
And me?
I just want to turn Root into something like a distillery organization.
I really look forward to the day you realize everyone in Root has turned on you.
That expression on your face—
it'll be priceless.
I'm such a thoughtful employee, after all.
Knowing how hard you've worked for Konoha, for Root, without ever retiring—
It's only right that I take the initiative and help you along.
So moving.
Truly.
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