Chapter 10: The Hunter Becomes the Hunted
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Danzo thought he could keep sending assassins after me.
Big mistake.
I wasn't going to sit around waiting for the next attack.
This time, I'd be the one setting the trap.
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The Bait – Spreading False Intel
Shisui and I stood atop a quiet rooftop, watching the village from above.
"I have to admit," he said, arms crossed. "This plan of yours? It's risky."
I smirked. "You mean genius."
Shisui sighed. "What did you do?"
I pulled out a small slip of paper—a forged letter.
It was "leaked" to certain people in the village, designed to look like a secret message passed between informants.
The contents?
> 'I have proof of Danzo's illegal operations. Meet me at the abandoned warehouse near Training Ground 44. Midnight.'
Shisui raised an eyebrow. "That's… not subtle."
"Exactly," I grinned. "Danzo's paranoia won't let him ignore this."
Shisui nodded slowly. "So, we're counting on him sending another assassin?"
"Not just any assassin," I said. "This time, he'll send someone strong. Someone he trusts."
Because if Danzo thought there was actual evidence against him, he wouldn't leave it to a random grunt.
He'd send a specialist.
Which meant—we'd finally get a look at his stronger operatives.
Shisui exhaled. "Alright, I'll back you up. But don't die."
I smirked. "Please. Like that's possible."
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The Trap is Set
Midnight arrived.
The abandoned warehouse was quiet—too quiet.
I sat alone in the dimly lit room, acting as bait.
A single lantern flickered beside me. Shadows danced along the walls.
Then, I felt it.
A presence.
Faint. Controlled. Moving through the darkness with trained precision.
Root had arrived.
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The Assassin Reveals Himself
A whisper of steel.
In an instant, three kunai shot toward my head.
Without looking, I tilted my head slightly—they embedded themselves in the wooden crate behind me.
Silence.
Then—a figure appeared.
Unlike the last assassin, this one radiated killing intent.
His mask was blank, but the aura around him was suffocating.
He spoke in a flat, emotionless tone. "You made a mistake revealing this information."
I smirked. "And you made a mistake coming here alone."
A pause.
Then, in a flicker of movement—he attacked.
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A Deadly Dance
His speed was impressive.
One moment, he was standing still. The next, he was inches from my throat.
But I was faster.
I ducked under his blade, twisting my body mid-motion. My foot shot out—a sweeping kick aimed at his legs.
He jumped over it, twisting in the air—throwing shuriken mid-spin.
Tch. Efficient.
I deflected them with a kunai, but he was already coming at me again.
His fighting style was precise. Calculated. No wasted movement.
But that was also his weakness.
He was predictable.
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The Counterattack
As he lunged again, I did something unexpected—I didn't dodge.
Instead, I stepped into his attack.
His blade scraped past my cheek—but that one moment of surprise was all I needed.
My hand shot out, grabbing his wrist.
His eye widened behind the mask.
Too late.
I twisted his arm, forcing him to drop the kunai. At the same time, my Chakra Scalpel sliced across his shoulder—severing key tendons.
His arm went limp.
For the first time, he hesitated.
And that was the end of it.
With a single well-placed strike to the side of his neck—he collapsed.
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Interrogation – Uncovering Danzo's Plans
Shisui landed beside me, arms crossed. "You really don't hold back, huh?"
I shrugged. "He started it."
Shisui glanced at the fallen assassin. "So, what now? We kill him?"
I shook my head. "No. He's more useful alive."
I crouched down, gripping the Root operative's collar. "You have two options. Talk, or I let Shisui here mess with your mind."
The assassin's breathing was shaky, but he remained silent.
I smirked. "Alright, option two it is."
Shisui activated his Sharingan. "This is going to hurt."
The assassin flinched. Then—he broke.
"Wait!" His voice cracked slightly. "I'll talk!"
Shisui deactivated his Sharingan. "That was fast."
I grinned. "They always break when they realize they're not the ones in control."
I tightened my grip. "Now, tell me—what is Danzo planning?"
The assassin swallowed hard. "Danzo… is accelerating his plans against the Uchiha."
Shisui tensed.
I narrowed my eyes. "Go on."
"He doesn't trust the clan. He's… he's already begun gathering people for a preemptive strike."
Shisui's fists clenched. "That bastard."
I exhaled slowly. So, Danzo was moving even faster than expected.
That meant we had to act first.
I met Shisui's gaze. "It's time we hit back."
Shisui nodded. "Agreed. Let's take the fight to him."
The war against Root had truly begun.
And this time?
I wasn't holding back.
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End of Chapter 10
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