"What kind of monster… did Lord Danzo provoke?!"
The overwhelming fear nearly shattered Yamanaka Fū's very soul.
His will screamed at him not to speak—
But for some reason—
His mouth opened on its own.
At that moment, a trace of relief surfaced in his heart.
No matter what—
He couldn't reveal anything about Danzo.
Because of one reason:
The Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal.
Under that seal, he could never expose any information about Danzo.
But in the very next second—
Fū said something that even he couldn't believe.
"…It was under Lord Danzo's orders."
The moment those words left his mouth—
His pupils dilated violently.
"What… what just happened?!"
"I didn't want to say it—so why did my body say it anyway?!"
"What about the seal?! Isn't it supposed to stop me from revealing anything about Lord Danzo?!"
A chilling realization crept into his heart.
He couldn't understand—
That under Raiden's overwhelming aura—
A mere seal was meaningless.
His own will had already collapsed.
How could a seal that binds the mind still function?
"Danzo?"
Raiden tilted his head slightly.
"Why is he bothering me? Does he have nothing better to do?"
"Lord Danzo… is the leader of Root. He protects Konoha from the shadows. As long as something threatens the village, we will do whatever it takes… Your presence was deemed a threat, so he ordered your elimination."
Fū spoke fluently—
Despite not wanting to say a single word.
At that moment—
It felt as though his body no longer belonged to him.
Even his soul seemed to have betrayed him.
Aside from a faint trace of self-awareness—
He was nothing more than a puppet.
"What kind of ability is this…?"
"Why… why did I betray my beliefs so easily?!"
His mind screamed.
But it was useless.
Raiden asked—
And he answered.
"I don't like being ambushed."
"I also don't like people harboring killing intent toward me."
Raiden spoke calmly.
"Because of my personality, I've destroyed many places."
"Because of my nature, I became a 'monster' in the eyes of countless people… a being everyone feared."
"For that reason…"
"I came to understand loneliness."
"A loneliness of being completely alone."
"I don't like loneliness."
He spoke as if talking to himself.
"But I don't fear it either."
"Because loneliness… is also a kind of realm."
Raiden murmured.
"So I won't change who I am because of it."
Then—
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"Tell me."
"Where is Danzo?"
At those words—
Fū's entire body trembled.
"No… I can't say it!"
"If he goes after Lord Danzo—he'll definitely kill him!"
"This person is a monster… his strength can't even be described!"
"Even the Tailed Beasts… might not compare to him!"
"I absolutely can't reveal Lord Danzo's location!"
His thoughts roared in defiance.
But—
His body did not obey.
"Lord Danzo… is in the underground Root headquarters. He usually takes new members to secluded areas for training."
The moment he finished speaking—
Shame filled his eyes.
He didn't want to say it.
But he couldn't stop himself.
"Is Root entirely under Danzo's control?"
"If he dies… will no one bother me anymore?" Raiden asked casually.
"Yes…"
Fū answered without hesitation.
"Lord Danzo is the core of Root. Even after the Hokage ordered its disbandment following the Uchiha incident, with the support of the two advisors and our loyalty, he remains its leader."
"If Lord Danzo dies… Root will cease to exist."
The secrets of Root spilled out effortlessly.
Even Fū himself couldn't understand how easily he was speaking.
"I see…"
Raiden nodded.
"So if I deal with Danzo, the trouble will be gone."
"One last question."
"Where is Root located?"
Fū felt his heart sink.
He understood—
Raiden intended to go directly to Root.
To drag Danzo out—
And erase him.
"He's insane…"
"Root is part of Konoha!"
"If he destroys it, that's equivalent to invading the village!"
Yet—
Deep down—
Fū knew.
Raiden could do it.
"I can't say it… If I do, it won't just be Danzo's problem…"
"If he loses control… if he triggers chaos…"
"Konoha itself might be destroyed!"
His mind screamed.
But—
It didn't matter.
"Root's entrance… is in the southeast of Konoha… about seven hundred meters into the southeastern district…"
"…There's an entrance there."
"Good."
Raiden smiled faintly.
"Looks like I need to stretch a bit."
He stepped closer.
"I've said it before."
"Anyone who tries to kill me… must bear the consequences."
"Now…"
"It's your turn."
Fū's pupils shrank to pinpoints.
He felt death approaching.
In his eyes—
Raiden became the embodiment of death itself.
That extended finger—
Was like a reaper's scythe descending upon him.
"It's over…"
Despair filled his heart.