Aoki and Yamakaze were chasing down the two remaining Root members.
Suddenly, a furious roar echoed from the entrance of the Root base in the distance.
"Stop!"
The voice was filled with authority and power, especially in its rage, striking awe and fear into anyone who heard it.
But…
Aoki and Yamakaze exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with resolve.
Kill!
Slash!
Slash!!
Their samurai swords struck without hesitation, cutting down the two Root ninja on the spot!
Yoru watched and gave a slight nod.
It seemed his two subordinates had truly grown under his command…
Yoru was very pleased.
But the dark figure in the distance erupted with rage so intense it seemed to set the ground ablaze!
"Damn you!"
The figure closed in instantly, hands raised. From their palms, arms, shoulders, and even their entire body, countless dark shadows surged forth, spreading toward Aoki and Yamakaze, engulfing them!
"This is…"
"The Aburame clan's parasitic insect technique?!"
The two were startled but quickly activated their Sharingan, preparing to defend.
But in that split second—
Yoru's figure flashed in front of them, shielding them. Lightning crackled around him, like a thunder god descending, unleashing a storm of electric light that spread in all directions!
Boom!
With a deafening roar, the swarm of parasitic insects forming a black mist was obliterated, reduced to ashes by the sizzling, buzzing lightning!
"Uchiha Yoru! It really is you!"
The figure now stood close, backed by over a dozen elite Root ninja.
The leader wore a black cloak and hood, with pitch-black sunglasses that made him seem to melt into the darkness.
A curse-seal-like mark adorned his face, now pale with surging fury.
Yoru, of course, recognized him.
Aburame Ryoma.
Root's second-in-command.
Though Ryoma had little screen time in the original story, Yoru didn't underestimate him in the slightest.
Back in the day, Ryoma's partner in Root was none other than Orochimaru himself.
Both were Danzo's right-hand men.
To earn the trust of both Danzo and Orochimaru, Ryoma's strength was undeniable!
After Orochimaru's defection, Ryoma became Danzo's most powerful confidant.
But he wasn't the most favored or valued.
That title belonged to the one Yoru had just ruthlessly killed…
"Kinoe."
The bearer of the First Hokage's unique Wood Release technique, personally trained by Danzo, seen as his ultimate trump card for the future…
But now, it was all for nothing.
Kinoe had been struck down by Uchiha Yoru in broad daylight!
And even as Ryoma arrived, Yoru's men hadn't stopped, killing two more Root ninja!
How could Aburame Ryoma accept this?!
"Uchiha Yoru! Even as Police Force captain, you have no right to interfere with Root's operations!"
"And to kill in front of Root's base?!"
Yoru replied calmly, "I've explained once. I won't repeat myself."
"In short, those killed by the Police Force deserved to die."
Ryoma's anger boiled over. "What crime did Kinoe commit?!"
Before Yoru could answer, Aoki spoke up loudly.
"Grave-robbing, stealing corpses, desecrating the dead, and insulting the living."
Ryoma's heart jolted!
They'd tracked it down this quickly?
How was that possible?
Danzo had strictly ordered all actions to remain secret, not even alerting the Hokage.
And Kinoe, though young, was highly skilled and meticulous. He shouldn't have left any traces…
But if it was this man…
Nothing was impossible!
Though shaken, Ryoma stood his ground, showing no fear or retreat.
"Hmph, Kinoe never did such things. And even if he did, that crime doesn't warrant death!"
Yamakaze sneered. "What about…"
"Participating in forbidden human experimentation?!"
"That's a heinous, inhumane crime by any standard in the ninja world!"
Ryoma's face paled further!
"What proof do you have?!"
Yoru said coldly, "My Sharingan is proof enough."
"You!"
"Uchiha Yoru! You're too arrogant!"
"Do you think your word alone is enough to convict Root and kill at will?!"
Yoru replied, "I also have a witness."
"A witness? Where?"
Ryoma demanded.
Yoru pointed behind him.
"Her."
Everyone followed his gesture to a figure behind Ryoma.
A ninja, fully covered in a black cloak and hood.
But Yoru, with just a glimpse of half her face, had already seen through her true identity.
"The director of the Leaf Orphanage…"
"Yakushi Nonou."
The figure trembled violently.
Aoki and Yamakaze exchanged a glance, puzzled.
The director of the Leaf Orphanage?
Why was she with Root?
Yoru, of course, knew that Yakushi Nonou was originally a Root member.
Known as the "Wandering Miko," she was an elite spy in Root's intelligence division.
Though skilled, her inability to fully suppress her emotions earned Danzo's disdain. Eventually, she left Root to become the orphanage's director.
Danzo initially opposed her departure.
But later, he realized the orphanage needed one of his own.
Because…
Root needed fresh blood.
These war orphans, unaware of their own identities, were perfect for brainwashing and training from a young age into loyal killing machines!
Nonou refused, but how could she stand against Danzo?
Kabuto Yakushi was a prime example.
Danzo used the two to threaten each other, forcing Kabuto to become a spy in other nations.
And Nonou couldn't escape Root's coercion either.
The moment Yoru identified her, he pieced together the truth.
Danzo and Root…
They were using these orphans as test subjects for inhumane human experiments!
Edo Tensei required more than just corpses.
It needed living sacrifices.
Danzo, desperate to keep his forbidden jutsu research hidden, wouldn't even touch the death-row prisoners in the Anbu's cells.
That was Hiruzen's domain.
But Danzo had his own reserve.
The orphanage.
These orphans were either turned into tools for assassination and espionage, like Kabuto, or subjected to brutal training, forced to kill each other, like Sai and Shin.
To Danzo, these children—lacking identity or belonging—were never human.
They were tools, machines, dolls, puppets!
Using them as sacrifices was the safest way to ensure no leaks.
Yoru took a deep breath.
Using war-torn, homeless, broken orphans as subjects for forbidden jutsu and human experiments…
This was an unforgivable, filthy sin!
A true crime against humanity!
From this moment, Shimura Danzo and all of Root…
Had lost any right to exist.