Outside the police building in the Uchiha clan, a confrontation was unfolding in front of the medical room.
On one side stood the Uchiha, wearing azure blue high-necked robes with the Uchiha clan emblem embroidered on the back. On the other side were ninjas clad in masks and gray vest armor. Although their numbers were few, their presence was imposing.
The ninja leading the group, his mask shaped like a wolf's face, spoke coldly,
"Uchiha, are you here to disobey Lord Hokage's orders?"
A murmur rippled through the Uchiha Guards. Most had gathered after hearing the commotion but were unsure of what was happening. They were now being accused by this group of ANBU, and it made them uneasy.
In Konoha, especially in public matters, no one dared to openly oppose the Hokage. But even so, it was too much for the Uchiha to simply step aside and let themselves be intimidated.
Seeing their hesitation, the masked ninja didn't waste any more words. He motioned for his team to move forward and attempt to break through.
As the two groups closed the distance, some of the Uchiha Guards began to part, clearly reluctant but too intimidated to resist.
With expressions of anger and frustration, the crowd reluctantly split to allow the intruders to advance.
"An order from Lord Hokage?" one of the Uchiha muttered, his voice sharp.
Then, an indifferent voice came from behind the crowd,
"I believe it's an order from Danzo-sama."
"WHAT?"
At the mention of Danzo's name, the mood shifted dramatically. The Uchiha Guards' anger boiled over, as if they were ready to unleash everything they had been holding back.
"So it's that bastard Danzo…"
"These aren't ANBU; they're Root ninjas!"
"No wonder they're so silent and arrogant…"
"Get out of Uchiha! This is no place for you to act like this…"
With the anger of the Uchiha Guards swelling, they closed ranks again, surrounding the Root team.
The leader of the Root ninjas, a captain, paid no attention to the Uchiha's jeers. His sharp gaze locked on a white-haired figure standing at the back of the crowd.
"Traitor," he sneered. "How dare you show your face?"
The person he addressed was none other than Yakushi Kabuto. Though few from the Uchiha clan had infiltrated the ranks of Root, Kabuto's presence was unmistakable.
To those who had once been his comrades, the cold, indifferent aura he gave off, mixed with the faint smell of death, was unmistakable. They could see through the mask of his calm exterior.
Kabuto lowered his head slightly. The reflection off his glasses obscured his eyes, but his voice was clear and cold.
"Traitor? Don't be ridiculous. I've always been a subordinate of Lord Orochimaru."
He paused, then added with a hint of mockery,
"Besides, you're not here to clean up the house. You're after the medical materials for Orochimaru's surgery, aren't you?"
Kabuto's voice took on a more playful tone, as he continued,
"It's truly outrageous. You want to steal the research from the three Uchiha Jōnin who nearly died, just like that?"
"Heh, so you're taking advantage of Master Orochimaru's absence, aren't you?"
The Uchiha Guards exchanged glances, remembering a clan member who had been mysteriously and severely injured not long ago.
Most of the Uchiha clan didn't receive direct communication from Fugaku due to their lower rank, but after the Battle of the Hidden Cloud, news of Orochimaru's "physical enhancement surgery" — which had been used to heal Shisui's eyes — had spread among the Uchiha.
Now, with Yakushi Kabuto's words, it was clear: the operation that had been blocked by the two Hokage advisors was still being carried out in secret. Furthermore, with Danzo's apparent interest in the project, it seemed the operation had already yielded significant results.
As these realizations sank in, the Uchiha Guards' expressions grew darker. The tension was palpable as they turned their anger toward the Root ninjas.
The masked captain of the Root team frowned. Kabuto's provocation had struck a nerve, and if he used his usual harsh methods, the Uchiha would undoubtedly retaliate.
Suddenly, a burst of wind announced the arrival of new figures. Several ninjas wearing animal masks appeared in front of the Uchiha Guards. The leader of the group spoke sternly:
"Master Hokage has ordered that all human experiment data from Orochimaru be handed over to the public. All relevant personnel are to be taken to the Hokage Building for disposal."
Without further warning, several of the Root ninjas moved swiftly toward Yakushi Kabuto, intending to restrain him.
But before they could act, a figure stepped forward and blocked their path.
It was Uchiha Shinsuke. Grabbing the nearest ninja's outstretched arm, he glanced at Kabuto and asked,
"Are they Anbu or Root?"
"Hard to say."
Kabuto replied, his voice steady. Despite the situation, his expression remained calm.
Shinsuke was momentarily taken aback but quickly understood.
It wasn't clear whether these ninjas were from Root or Anbu, but the orders could be coming from someone other than Danzo.
The Root captain, feeling his authority challenged, tightened his grip, eyes narrowing in anger.
"How dare you stop me? Are you betraying the village?"
Before he could finish, Shinsuke released his hold, but not before giving him a pointed look.
"Betraying the village? Let's get one thing straight: I'm going with you. After all, the people who underwent that operation must also be considered 'relevant personnel,' right?"
The Root captain was caught off guard for a moment. After a brief pause, he nodded.
"Fine, you come too."
He gestured to another group of Root ninjas. They moved swiftly into the medical room without any resistance from the Uchiha Guards, whose attention remained fixed on Shinsuke.
One of the guards spoke up, their voice tinged with concern,
"Captain, have you undergone the surgery?"
"Yes," Shinsuke replied, his tone reassuring.
"Master Orochimaru's surgery greatly increased my strength. This isn't some inhumane experiment. You don't need to worry. I'll explain everything to the Third Hokage."
He didn't mention whether other clan members had undergone the procedure, but his calm demeanor was meant to comfort the others. There was a brief moment of silence, as if some were considering stepping forward, but they were deterred by Shinsuke's commanding presence.
In truth, Shinsuke was puzzled. It had been a while since the incident had occurred, yet there was no sign of the clan leader, Fugaku.
The Root captain didn't respond to Shinsuke's words. When the medical team emerged from the room, he took the two of them and led them away from the Uchiha compound.
After they had walked for a while, something didn't feel right to Shinsuke.
He quickly jumped onto a nearby treetop and called out,
"This isn't the way to the Hokage Building. Where are you taking us?"
The Root ninjas responded without a word, surrounding Shinsuke as they prepared to act.
But before Shinsuke could react further, Yakushi Kabuto didn't attempt to escape. Instead, a new figure appeared before them — an older man with a cane, his face grim.
"Danzo…" Kabuto greeted him, smiling faintly as he performed the customary Root salute.
Danzo's expression was as dark as ever. He approached Kabuto and slapped him across the face.
"Slap!"
Kabuto staggered and fell to the ground, his cheek swelling immediately. But he didn't flinch. He calmly retrieved his glasses, placing them back on his face without a word.
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