Deep within the Konoha's Root base, the cold, damp air seemed to have solidified.
The flickering light of torches cast twisting, swaying shadows on the rough stone walls, unable to dispel the chill that penetrated to the bone.
Kabuto knelt on one knee on the cold ground, head bowed, reporting to Danzo, who sat shrouded in shadows.
His voice was steady and clear, betraying no emotion, "...In summary, the Land of Stars's Ninja Academy currently implements a five-year education system with annual expansion. Students primarily come from war orphans within the country and talented commoner children, recently also absorbing some descendants of ninja clans from the newly annexed territories. Their outstanding graduates, such as Kimimaro and Morishita Shunji, have already reached the level of Chunin or even Special Jonin, with astonishing potential."
As part of the new generation of Star Ninja, Kimimaro and the others often carried out missions outside, having some contact with Ninjas from Iwagakure and Sunagakure, so this wasn't exactly a secret.
Kabuto even reported intelligence about the remnants of the Kaguya and Uzumaki Clans living in the Land of Stars, which satisfied Danzo to some extent.
"At the Jonin-level, the known core figures include: Commander Uchiha Hikari, whose strength is unfathomable, suspected to possess the Mangekyo Sharingan, Internal Affairs Minister Uzumaki Kanon, a remnant of the Uzumaki Clan, skilled in sealing techniques and administrative management, National Construction Minister Gotta, an Earth Release Expert, and under the Ministry of Defense, the couple Natsuhi and Hotarubi, former Hoshigakure's Jonin, with both Elite Jonin-level strength... As for the Star Anbu, I apologize, my clearance is insufficient."
"Militarily, after annexing the Land of Swamps, Land of Darkness, and Land of Snow, the Land of Stars' territory and population have significantly increased, strategic depth expanded, and national power markedly enhanced. Their conventional Ninja force now exceeds five hundred-"
Kabuto reported in detail everything he had seen and heard over the past year, from education to military, economy to internal affairs, logically clear and rich in content.
However, Danzo, seated above, showed no trace of satisfaction on his wrinkled face.
Instead, a flash of impatience crossed his single eye.
"I have no interest in these superficial matters." Danzo's cold voice interrupted him, like a blunt knife scraping stone, "What about Shura? What have you found out about him? His true identity? His goals? The source of his power?"
Kabuto's heart sank slightly, but his expression remained respectful, "My deepest apologies, Danzo-sama. Shura's movements are extremely secretive. He rarely appears in public, even in the Star City. Daily affairs are mostly handled by Uchiha Hikari, Uzumaki Kanon, and others. At my current clearance level, I simply cannot get close to his inner circle. Information about him is scarce."
Danzo's single eye stared fixedly at Kabuto, as if trying to see through him, inside and out.
Silence fell like a massive pressure enveloping Kabuto.
After a long while, Danzo spoke again, his voice betraying no joy or anger, "Then, has the Land of Stars shown any special movements towards Iwagakure recently? Signs of large-scale military mobilization?"
Kabuto thought carefully and replied cautiously, "During my infiltration period, I did not observe any large-scale military action plans by the Land of Stars targeting Iwagakure. Small-scale clashes and friction along the new border have indeed increased, but these fall within the scope of routine standoffs between border patrols and have not escalated."
Another suffocating silence.
Danzo's fingers lightly tapped the armrest of his chair, emitting a monotonous tap-tap sound.
He clearly hadn't obtained the information he most wanted to confirm, or that could set his mind at ease, from Kabuto.
"Enough." Danzo finally waved his hand, a hint of barely perceptible irritation in his tone, "You are dismissed. You've worked hard on this mission. Take a vacation, rest for a while. Remain in the village on standby until new orders arrive."
"...Yes, Danzo-sama." Kabuto lowered his head, concealing a cold glint in his eyes.
'A vacation?'
'On standby?'
'This was just house arrest in all but name.'
'This old fox Danzo had ultimately become suspicious of me, unable to trust me completely.'
He bowed respectfully, stepped back, turned, and left the oppressive room.
When he walked out of the Root Base and felt the not-so-warm sunlight on the streets of Konoha Village again, he understood clearly that he had temporarily lost his freedom.
It also meant Danzo was likely planning something he didn't want Kabuto to know about or interfere with.
…
The next morning, the Uchiha Clan's compound.
The early morning light was faint, dew still clung to the grass and trees in the courtyard.
Sasuke had already been practicing Taijutsu in the yard for a long time, his movements swift and fierce, carrying a relentless, never-say-die ferocity.
Sweat dampened his black hair, sticking to his forehead.
Itachi stood quietly under the eaves, wearing his Anbu attire, watching his younger brother's striving figure. Complex, indescribable emotions swirled in his black eyes… gratification, affection, and a deeply hidden, unspeakable heaviness.
"Brother!" Sasuke finished a set of exercises and, seeing Itachi, immediately ran over, his face excited and expectant, "Do you have time today? Practice with me! We have practical sparring class at school today. I must defeat that Menma!"
Hearing the name 'Menma', Itachi's eyebrow twitched almost imperceptibly.
He had heard this name from Sasuke more than once. He believed this person is the rival and target Sasuke had set his sights on in class.
For his proud younger brother to care so much about someone, even challenging him repeatedly despite failures without giving up, this boy named Menma was probably not simple.
In a way, Itachi was even somewhat grateful for this person's existence. He had become an external motivation driving Sasuke to constantly grow stronger.
However, he was destined to disappoint his brother today.
He shook his head gently, a perfectly measured hint of apology on his face. "Sorry, Sasuke. The Anbu has many tasks to handle today. Next time, okay?"
The light in Sasuke's bright eyes dimmed instantly. His small mouth pouted slightly, but he still nodded understandingly. "...Okay. Go do your work, brother. I'll definitely beat him on my own!"
Just then, their mother, Mikoto's gentle voice came from inside the house, "Itachi, Sasuke, breakfast is ready!"
At the dining table, the atmosphere seemed warm but was vaguely oppressive.
Fugaku had already left… clan affairs had been numerous lately, and he always left early and returned late.
Sasuke, eating his onigiri, asked curiously, "Mom, what has Dad been so busy with recently? We hardly ever see him."
Mikoto smiled gently, wiping a grain of rice from the corner of his mouth, "There are many things in the clan that Dad needs to handle. Sasuke, be good, don't distract Dad, okay?"
Sasuke said "Oh," then looked at Itachi, who was eating silently, "Brother, are Anbu's missions very busy?"
Itachi's hand holding the chopsticks paused almost imperceptibly, then returned to normal. He let out a soft "Hmm," saying no more.
He just ate his meal silently, as if swallowing all his emotions.
After breakfast, the two brothers left under their mother's gaze.
At the compound's entrance, they parted ways. Sasuke headed towards the Ninja Academy, while Itachi went in the other direction.
However, Itachi did not leave immediately.
He turned into a small alley, confirmed no one was around, and his figure vanished silently.
The next moment, he had soundlessly appeared in a large tree beside the path leading to the Ninja Academy, the dense foliage perfectly concealing his presence.
Wearing his Anbu's mask, his gaze followed his younger brother's small, receding back through the mask's eyeholes.
He watched Sasuke enter the school, join his classmates on the training ground, start bickering with that blond-haired Naruto again, and walk unconvincedly up to that black-haired, spiky-haired boy with a lazy expression, loudly issuing a challenge.
'So that's Menma?' Itachi's gaze lingered on that boy for a moment.
'He didn't seem particularly remarkable at first glance, his Chakra felt ordinary too, but for some reason, when that boy occasionally looked around, there seemed to be a calmness in the depths of his eyes that didn't match his age?'
Just then, Menma on the training ground seemed to turn his head unintentionally, his gaze sweeping precisely towards the general direction where Itachi was hiding.
Even though it was far away, Itachi, beneath his mask, instinctively held his breath, a strange thought flashing through his mind: 'My imagination?'
Mission time was approaching, so he could stay no longer.
Itachi took one last deep look at Sasuke, then his figure vanished silently from the tree, speeding towards the Hokage Building.
Shortly after Itachi disappeared, Menma on the training ground frowned slightly, subconsciously touching the back of his right hand.
For a moment just now, he had indeed felt an extremely subtle, yet emotionally complex, gaze fixed on him.
Simultaneously, the seal on the back of his hand grew slightly warm… it was Kabuto sending an urgent message through the Chakra Seal Network.
Menma's consciousness connected to the seal network: 'Kabuto? What is it?'
His current response, in Kabuto's perception, was naturally from 'Shura'.
Kabuto's information was quick and clear: 'Shura-sama, I have returned to Konoha Village and reported to Danzo. However, Danzo does not fully trust me. He has placed me under house arrest and surveillance under the guise of a vacation.'
'Danzo is inherently paranoid, so this move is not unexpected,' Menma's consciousness responded calmly.
Kabuto continued his analysis: 'I speculate that Danzo's action likely means he is planning a major operation in the near future and does not want me, a potential unstable factor, to know about it or interfere. He will probably send other, more secretive spy channels to infiltrate the Land of Stars. We need to strengthen our internal screening.'
Menma was silent for a moment. His consciousness quickly flashed through the original timeline and the recent abnormal atmosphere in Konoha Village, especially the oppressive, storm-brewing feeling within the Uchiha Clan.
'Understood. Continue your infiltration, monitor Root's movements, and report to me at any time.' Menma added another sentence: 'If there is danger, do not force yourself. Retreat immediately. I will arrange for someone to extract you.'
Kabuto hadn't expected to receive such an assurance. He instinctively wanted to politely refuse: 'Sir, I will try my best to-'
'I promised Menma I would keep you safe.' Menma's voice was steady, carrying an irresistible authority, but it made Kabuto's heart tremble, feeling a surge of warmth.
He really wanted to go see Menma now, to see everyone at the orphanage, but his current identity wouldn't allow it!
"Understood, Sir. I will be careful." After saying this, Kabuto cut the connection.
In the Konoha's Ninja Academy, looking at Sasuke bickering with Naruto, Menma's thoughts had already drifted towards the Uchiha Clan's compound.
'It's Year 58 of Konoha Calendar now. The Uchiha Massacre Night is this year. It seems that rat Danzo can no longer restrain himself.'
'Since Danzo and Sarutobi Hiruzen have prepared the script and actors for this 'Massacre Night', then I should also notify the audience to prepare and take their seats.' Menma narrowed his eyes, already beginning to look forward to it.