Danzo stood over Hiruzen's seemingly lifeless body, a cruel smile twisting his lips.
"No way. He just... killed the Hokage," one of the Anbu agents whispered, his voice trembling with disbelief.
Danzo kicked Hiruzen's body with a smug sneer. "I've finally done it... I've killed the Hokage. Now, it's time for a new era."
He turned to the paralyzed Anbu agents. "Get rid of the body. I have a village to run."
The agents remained frozen, their minds still reeling from the shock.
"Incompetents. I'll replace you all with the Foundation."
Just then, a chorus of caws filled the air. Hiruzen's body dissolved into a flock of crows, scattering into the night sky. Danzo's eyes widened in disbelief.
"This level of genjutsu, even with my Sharingan active... Itachi Uchiha," he growled, his voice laced with a mixture of anger and admiration.
Suddenly, his hand, grotesquely adorned with stolen Sharingan eyes, shattered like glass, blood splattering onto the rooftop. He whirled around, his remaining eye frantically searching for the source of the attack. The Anbu agents transformed into Itachi clones, their Sharingan blazing.
"Itachi Uchiha," Danzo snarled, "do you dare attack a Leaf elder?"
Itachi ignored his protests, unsheathing a tanto. "This was Shisui's," he said, his voice cold and emotionless. "He died because of you. Now, feel the pain you've inflicted through my Tsukuyomi."
With a swift motion, Itachi plunged the tanto into Danzo's leg, eliciting a gut-wrenching scream. The other Itachi clones followed suit, their weapons finding their mark on Danzo's body.
'I know this isn't justice, but it's vengeance,' Itachi thought, his eyes burning with a cold fury. 'Thank you for being a part of my plan, Danzo. Watch from hell as the village moves on and spits on your name.'
The world snapped back into focus, and Danzo collapsed, defeated and broken, at the Hokage's feet.
Itachi wiped a trickle of blood from his eyes, turning to face Hiruzen.
"If not for your information about Danzo's whereabouts, he would've had the upper hand," Hiruzen acknowledged, his gaze fixed on the unconscious Danzo, a kunai still embedded in his chest.
The Hokage's mind flashed back to the warning Itachi had given him earlier, a wave of gratitude washing over him. The preemptive strike had prevented a deadly confrontation, saving countless lives.
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Moments earlier, the Hokage's office was cloaked in a tense silence. Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, sat contemplatively in his chair, the weight of responsibility etched upon his aged features. He awaited an update from Itachi Uchiha, the ANBU captain dispatched to track down the movements of Danzo Shimura, the enigmatic leader of Root.
The silence was abruptly shattered as a masked ANBU operative materialized from thin air, the distinctive Sharingan blazing within his eyes. It was Itachi.
"I have located Danzo," Itachi's voice was steady, his tone betraying no emotion. He paused, waiting for Hiruzen's acknowledgement before continuing. "It's not Arashi he's after. I believe this is all a diversion, a carefully orchestrated ploy to weaken the village from within."
Hiruzen leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "And what do you think his true objective is?"
"I suspect he's planning to strike at you, Lord Third," Itachi's words hung heavy in the air.
Hiruzen's eyes widened momentarily, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. "Danzo may be many things," he mused, "ambitious, obsessive, power-hungry... But he's not a fool. He already attempted to assassinate me once, and failed."
Itachi nodded in agreement. "True, but that was a different Danzo. He was more calculated, more restrained. There are rumors that prolonged exposure to potent genjutsu has left him mentally unstable. He's desperate, and desperation can lead to reckless actions."
Hiruzen lit his pipe, the aromatic smoke curling upwards as he absorbed this unsettling information. "Very well," he said finally, "what's our course of action?"
Itachi outlined his plan, his voice a low murmur. "Today, the Uchiha Police Force will be strategically dispersed throughout the village, creating the illusion of vulnerability. Danzo will likely see this as an opportunity to launch a direct assault. I will shadow you throughout the day, remaining undetected. When you confront him, try to draw him out, force him to confess his intentions. When he inevitably retaliates, I will subdue him with my genjutsu."
Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, contemplating Itachi's strategy. He was impressed by the young ANBU captain's ability to formulate such a comprehensive plan under such pressing circumstances.
'Itachi's tactical brilliance is truly remarkable,' he thought to himself. 'He may be young, but he possesses the wisdom and foresight of a seasoned veteran.'
The Hokage exhaled a plume of smoke, his resolve solidifying. "Let it be done," he declared, his voice firm. "We will turn Danzo's desperation against him, and protect the village from his insidious schemes."
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Back on the rooftop, members of the Uchiha Police Force arrived, their movements swift and efficient. They quickly apprehended Danzo, securing his hands with cuffs.
"Hokage-sama," Fugaku declared, his voice firm, "rest assured, Danzo will not see the light of day again."
Hiruzen nodded, a flicker of satisfaction crossing his weary features. "Fugaku," he said, his tone sincere, "the Uchiha Clan has proven itself today. With Danzo's confession, there's no reason for your clan to be marginalized within the village."
Fugaku's surprise was evident. "Thank you, Lord Third," he said, bowing deeply.
"Proceed to arrest anyone in league with Danzo," Hiruzen instructed, his voice regaining its authority. "However, spare the children he recruited into his Foundation. I will deal with them."
"Yes, sir," Fugaku agreed, bowing once more as the Third Hokage walked past him.
Itachi followed Hiruzen to a secluded hideout outside the village, their footsteps silent in the night. Two Anbu agents guarded the entrance, stepping aside to allow them passage.
Inside, another masked Anbu operative awaited them. Though his face was concealed, his distinctive white, spiky hair was a giveaway.
Lord Third stood before the two Anbu agents, his hands clasped behind his back. "It's good to see you, Kakashi," he said, his voice carrying a hint of relief. "The Uchiha situation has been resolved. When word spreads about their cooperation, especially given the history, they will undoubtedly be seen as heroes and gain the village's respect."
"Understood, Hokage-sama," Kakashi replied, his voice muffled by his mask.
Hiruzen turned his attention to Itachi. "Itachi, I have a question for you."
"Yes, Lord Third?"
"You employed a powerful genjutsu to neutralize Danzo during his attack on me. Am I correct?"
"Yes," Itachi confirmed, his tone even. "The jutsu is called Tsukuyomi, awakened when Shisui died. Within its realm, I control time, space, and the subject's experience."
"Time and space... That's formidable," Hiruzen mused, a hint of awe in his voice.
Kakashi observed Itachi thoughtfully. Something felt amiss, as if there was more to the story than Itachi was revealing.
"We'll reconvene tomorrow," Hiruzen finally said. "You're both dismissed for now."
"Yes, Hokage-sama," they responded in unison, disappearing in a blur of motion.
Itachi and Kakashi made their way to the locker rooms, the weight of the day's events still lingering in the air. The usual bustle of the Anbu headquarters was noticeably absent, the silence amplifying the gravity of their recent mission.
"Most of the shinobi should be returning soon," Itachi remarked, breaking the quiet as he reached for his locker.
"It's hard to believe everything unfolded as it did," Kakashi agreed, a hint of weariness in his voice as he leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
"You're referring to Danzo?" Itachi inquired, his tone carefully neutral.
Kakashi nodded. "The last time I saw him, he looked like a walking corpse."
Itachi paused, a flicker of sadness crossing his features. "Well, he managed to break free of the genjutsu. Even the Rinnegan has its limitations."
"Maybe," Kakashi countered, his single visible eye narrowing in suspicion. "Or maybe not. Something else could be at play."
Itachi met Kakashi's gaze, a silent challenge passing between them. "Something else?"
"Don't take me for a fool, Itachi," Kakashi's voice was firm, his posture straightening. "You have them, don't you? Shisui's Mangekyou Sharingan."
Itachi's expression remained stoic, but his grip on his locker handle tightened. 'He knows about Kotoamatsukami. That's all he needs to piece it together.'
He nodded slowly. "Shisui entrusted them to me to protect Arashi."
"That much I gathered," Kakashi acknowledged. "But what I want to know is, who did you manipulate? The Hokage or Danzo?"
Itachi's frown deepened, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. "Your analytical skills are sharper than I gave you credit for," he admitted. "You've deduced this much from a single piece of information. Impressive."
He shut his locker, his movements deliberate. "Let's head to Naka River. I'll walk you through every step of my plan."
A tense silence fell as they left the locker room, their footsteps echoing through the empty corridors. The weight of their shared secret hung heavy in the air, a testament to the sacrifices made and the difficult choices that lay ahead.