In the shadowy depths of the Root base, dimly lit by flickering torches, a Root ninja knelt before Danzo, delivering an important report.
"You're saying that Obito left the village alone? No escort?" Danzo asked, his voice low and intense.
"Yes, Lord Danzo," the ninja confirmed respectfully. "Only Obito departed. Kakashi and Uchiha Shisui were seen escorting him toward the village gate, but our operatives have verified that both returned to their homes immediately after."
Danzo's eyes gleamed beneath the bandages covering half his face. Gripping his crutch tightly, he struck it against the floor with force, excitement radiating from his body.
"Heaven favors me!" he declared, a twisted grin forming on his face.
For over six months, since Minato had assumed the role of Hokage, Obito and Shisui had remained inside the village. Their constant presence together had rendered Danzo's previous assassination plots impossible to execute. But now, at last, an opportunity had presented itself—an opportunity too perfect to ignore.
Once he obtained the two Mangekyō Sharingan, combined with the power of the Hashirama cells recently transplanted by Orochimaru, Danzo believed no one in Konoha would be able to stand against him. Not even the current Hokage. The position of Fifth Hokage would be his, and not even Hiruzen could deny it.
"Aburame Ryoma," Danzo commanded coldly, "gather all available Root Jōnin. Split them into small teams and have them move stealthily outside the village boundaries. I'll lead the operation myself."
He would take no chances. The Uchiha's eyes—those cursed Sharingan—were dangerous, especially the Mangekyō. Danzo knew better than to underestimate them. After all, Uchiha Madara had once wielded those same eyes, and even Tobirama Senju, Danzo's idol, had feared them.
---
Meanwhile, outside Konoha's forest perimeter, Obito moved forward at a leisurely pace through the treetops. With Kakashi and Shisui currently resting within the safety of the Kamui dimension, Obito had no one to talk to but the ever-chatty Afei.
"Hey, Afei," Obito said, hands behind his head. "You think that bastard Danzo will really fall for this?"
"Huh? Danzo?" Afei replied, confused. "What's that? A dog? Obito, when did you get a dog? You didn't even tell me!"
Obito sighed. "Danzo isn't a dog. Well... actually, he is a dog... ah, never mind. You wouldn't understand even if I explained."
Afei tilted his head. "Wait... is this about Kakashi's dog? What was his name again? Parker?"
"No! Just drop it, Afei," Obito groaned.
But before their banter could continue, a rustling sound echoed from the woods ahead.
Rustle—
Obito halted, instantly leaping onto a high branch and activating his Sharingan. Three tomoe swirled in each eye, alert and deadly.
"Who's there?"
Dozens of figures began to emerge from the trees, surrounding Obito in a tightening circle. Their chakra signatures were all familiar—Root operatives. At the center stood a man shrouded in bandages, revealing only his right eye: Shimura Danzo.
"Uchiha Obito," Danzo announced arrogantly, his voice dripping with authority, "I'm giving you a chance. Join Root now, and I'll spare your life."
Obito raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "Join Root? Me?" He scoffed. "Why would I, deputy head of the Uchiha clan and deputy chief of the Konoha Security Force, stoop so low as to become your lapdog?"
He glanced at the masked shinobi behind Danzo. His gaze made his meaning clear—those loyal to Danzo were nothing more than mindless mutts.
Danzo's expression twisted with anger. "The Uchiha are truly cursed with arrogance. Even when death is at your doorstep, you still refuse to repent."
"Then kill me," Obito snapped. "Let's see if you've got the guts. But remember, what you're doing here—this is treason. Attacking a fellow Konoha shinobi? A high-ranking officer of the village? You're crossing a line."
Danzo narrowed his eyes. "Enough. Kill him!"
More than twenty Root Jōnin surged forward, launching coordinated attacks from all directions.
But none of their attacks landed.
Their weapons and jutsu passed harmlessly through Obito's body, as if he were a ghost.
Danzo's face darkened. "Kamui Hollow... five minutes of invincibility. But once those five minutes are up, let's see how you escape then."
He remembered how Obito had refused to reveal his eye abilities when asked months ago. But later, Danzo had extracted limited information from Hiruzen. Thanks to the former Hokage, Danzo learned just enough to make this attempt—though not enough to fully understand Obito's capabilities.
What Danzo didn't know was that Obito possessed two Kamui eyes, far superior to the single version seen in the original timeline. Thanks to Kakashi's advice, Minato had helped reduce the Hollow time to two and a half minutes, and the activation delay for Kamui had been extended to three seconds, making it more balanced and difficult to detect.
Still, Obito knew he couldn't drag this out forever. As powerful as he was, there was no need to take risks. It was time to bring in backup.
A spiral of distortion formed in the space ahead of him.
The Root shinobi instinctively stepped back, wary of the unknown technique. From the vortex, two figures emerged—Hatake Kakashi and Uchiha Shisui.
"What?! Hatake Kakashi? Uchiha Shisui? Why are you here?!"
Danzo's face paled. A sinking feeling gripped his chest.
It's a trap...
His worst fears were confirmed.
But, at least, Minato hadn't shown up. Danzo knew if the Yellow Flash joined the fight, he would have no chance of survival.
"Don't look for him," Kakashi said casually, seeing the panic in Danzo's face. "Minato-sensei isn't here."
Danzo's shoulders relaxed slightly—only for Kakashi to speak again.
"Because someone like you... isn't worthy of his attention."
"You insolent brat!" Danzo snapped. "You're nothing like your father."
"Funny you say that," Kakashi said, his tone chilling. "Since we're talking about my father, maybe you can help confirm something."
Danzo's brow furrowed.
Kakashi continued, "You were the one who spread false reports about my father's failed mission, weren't you? You blackmailed him—threatened my life to force him into submission. Isn't that right?"
Danzo said nothing.
"I've thought about it for years," Kakashi said, his voice quiet but heavy. "There's no way the great White Fang, a hero who crushed the Sand's elite, would kill himself over a little public backlash. No... it had to be something else. Something personal."
Danzo's silence spoke volumes.
"He could've left the village, taken a long-term mission, disappeared. But he didn't. Because he was afraid for me."
Kakashi's Sharingan flared. "You orchestrated his downfall... and now it's your turn."
Danzo let out a cold chuckle. "So you've figured it out. I had hoped to bring you into Root after taking Obito. Your skills would've been useful. But now? I can't let you live."
His voice dropped to a deadly whisper.
"Kill them all. Leave no one alive."
"Yes, sir!" the Root operatives roared.
---
The battle erupted with explosive speed.
Dozens of Root Jōnin swarmed the trio, launching a barrage of jutsu. Fireballs lit up the forest, wind blades tore through trees, and earth walls erupted to trap their movements.
Obito slipped through attacks effortlessly, using his Kamui Hollow to avoid damage while striking with ruthless precision. Kakashi, with his Sharingan and Lightning Blade, moved like a phantom, cutting through enemy ranks. Shisui unleashed his legendary speed and genjutsu, turning the battlefield into a nightmare for the enemy.
Danzo watched the chaos from a distance, his hands trembling beneath his cloak. His carefully laid trap had backfired—he was outmatched, outnumbered, and exposed.
And worst of all?
Minato wasn't even here.
That fact alone stabbed at his pride more than any blade.
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To be continued...
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