"This is an illusion. When?" The Root Ninja was suddenly startled. By the time he reacted, his limbs had been embedded in the tree trunk, rendering him unable to move.
"Of course, I released it the moment I stepped into this courtyard. Your disguise is too poor," Kirito appeared in front of the Root Ninja at some point. Under the latter's astonished gaze, Kirito delivered a swift whip kick to his lower body.
With a scream of "Ahh," the Root Ninja collapsed.
The severe pain automatically broke the illusion, and the Root Ninja, now covering his lower body in agony, convulsed and rolled on the ground. The area was stained with blood.
He was no longer a man.
Kirito crossed his arms, looking down at him, asking knowingly, "Tell me, who sent you to sneak into Konoha, and why did you attack me?"
"I'm from Danzo..." The Root Ninja began, intending to say that Danzo had sent him to summon Kirito. But before he could finish, Kirito kicked him again, his voice turning into a sharp, pained scream.
Uchiha Izumi, hearing the continuous cries from inside the house, ran out. Seeing Kirito, she breathed a sigh of relief. However, she glanced at the Root Ninja writhing on the ground in pain and asked in confusion, "Kirito, what happened?"
"It's nothing, just caught a spy from an enemy nation. I'll take him to Hokage right away," Kirito blocked Izumi's view and delivered another sharp kick. The Root Ninja twitched a few more times, too weakened by pain to speak.
"Oh, okay," Uchiha Izumi replied without much suspicion, adding, "Then come back soon, dinner will be ready shortly."
"Of course, I'll be back soon," Kirito said, picking up the Root Ninja as if he were a sack and disappearing from the courtyard, heading for the Hokage building. Before leaving, he left a shadow clone behind for safety.
Meanwhile, in a building not far from the Uchiha clan's territory...
The ANBU ninjas responsible for monitoring the Uchiha clan saw Kirito through surveillance and were startled. "Captain Kakashi, it seems Kirito has captured a Root ninja."
Kakashi's face twitched, "You all stay here and keep watch. I'll go check it out."
"Yes, Captain Kakashi," the ANBU members responded in unison, and in an instant, Kakashi disappeared from the building.
Soon, Kakashi caught up with Kirito, who had just left the Uchiha clan's area. "Kirito, what's going on?"
"Oh, Captain Kakashi. Just caught a spy from an enemy nation who attacked me. I was about to turn him over to the Hokage. Since you're here, I don't need to make an extra trip," Kirito casually dropped the Root Ninja at Kakashi's feet, speaking seriously despite his nonsense.
Kakashi glanced at the bloodied state of the Root Ninja and realized he was no longer intact. With a sigh, he explained, "He's not a spy. He's a Root Ninja."
"A subordinate of Danzo-sama? Really?" Kirito feigned surprise, then asked, "But why did he attack me out of nowhere? He didn't even say a word before striking me from behind. I was inches away from death."
The Root Ninja, who had already endured more than enough, mentally groaned. *I barely said a word and you attacked me—why exaggerate?*
Kakashi, having served in Root before, knew their ways. Hearing Kirito, he quickly pieced things together.
"You've never dealt with anyone from Root before, so you may not know. That's just their standard greeting method. Even in ANBU, new members are tested this way. You were the only exception. I think Lord Danzo likely wants to summon you."
Kakashi then turned to the Root Ninja, asking, "Is that right?"
The Root Ninja nodded weakly, unable to speak after his ordeal.
"See, you should've told me earlier!" Kirito exclaimed. "I asked him but he refused to answer. Even if Danzo-sama summoned me, he should've at least said so. Look what happened—what a tragedy." Kirito shrugged innocently.
Kakashi didn't know how to respond. This was the first time he'd encountered such a situation. "You know where the Shimura clan's territory is. Danzo-sama is waiting for you there. You should go see him. I'll take this man to the medical department and explain everything to Hokage-sama and Danzo-sama."
"Thanks a lot, Kakashi-senpai." With that, Kirito disappeared in a flash.
"He moves fast," Kakashi muttered, looking at the spot where Kirito had vanished. With a sigh, he picked up the injured Root Ninja and headed toward the medical department.
At the same time...
At the Shimura clan residence, the sky darkened with looming thunderclouds.
Just like in the original story, Danzo summoned Uchiha Itachi.
Using Itachi's brother, Sasuke, as leverage, Danzo assigned him the grim task of wiping out the Uchiha clan, leaving only Sasuke alive.
The outcome was certain. After painful deliberation, Itachi, cornered and with no choice, agreed.
"I'm glad you made the right choice for the village," Danzo said with satisfaction. "But in addition to the Uchiha clan, there's one more person you must kill."
"Who?" Uchiha Itachi asked, his voice void of emotion. At this point, his heart was numb. His sole focus was protecting Sasuke and avoiding civil war.
But when Danzo handed him the target's information, Itachi was shaken.
Fear briefly flashed in his eyes.
Kirito Fujiwara.
He was one of the very few individuals Itachi couldn't fully gauge.
"What's the problem?" Danzo smirked, his aged face twisting into a cruel smile. "He should be one of the easiest for you to deal with. After all, your Sharingan specifically counters his genjutsu."
"You know as well as I do that Kirito is aware of the truth about the Uchiha. If he leaks it, it'll be a massive threat to both you and the village."
"No, there's no problem," Uchiha Itachi said, shaking his head.
Despite his fear of Kirito's power, Itachi accepted the mission, trusting in his Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Good. The operation will proceed tomorrow night, under the full moon. For now, I've suspended Kirito's mission to monitor the Uchiha. Let him enjoy one final evening with Uchiha Izumi. When everything is settled, I expect you to ensure he dies as a hero while protecting Konoha."
Danzo's eyes gleamed as he added, "It's all for the village."
(End of Chapter).
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