Underground in Konoha, inside the Root Organization's headquarters.
Yamato Arata—now inhabiting the body of Obito Uchiha—had no idea what was brewing deep beneath the village.
Danzo Shimura sat in his usual chair, his crutches resting beside him, the faint rustle of robes and whispers in the dark like the breath of death itself.
"The rise of the Hidden Village is no longer just a possibility. It's a reality," Danzo said coldly. "Uchiha Yu has risen to power and become a sixth shadow, standing alongside the Five Kage. They're recruiting defectors and outcasts from the major villages. Now is the time to drive a wedge into their ranks."
His lone visible eye shifted to the young girl kneeling before him.
"Do you know why you, someone with no prior field experience, were chosen for this mission, Xiyan?"
The girl—nine years old, with striking purple hair and eyes hardened by loss—lowered her head. Uzuki Xiyan. Her older sister, Uzuki Xiyang, had been labeled a rogue ninja after killing her comrades. Ever since, Xiyan had faced bullying, isolation, and a life of hardship.
Now, Danzo had extended his hand to her.
Root was darkness. And in his eyes, when innocence was tainted, it became potential.
Many children in Root had similar shadows inside them—festering pain, trauma, and broken loyalty. Perfect soil for seeds of control.
Xiyan's voice, far too calm and cold for her age, replied:
"I understand. My sister was corrupted by Uchiha Yu, killed her team, and defected. Danzo-sama wants me to bring her back to Konoha."
Danzo's eye narrowed.
"Wrong."
His tone cut through the air like a blade.
"Your sister, Uzuki Xiyang, can never return to Konoha. From the moment she betrayed the village, she was nailed to its pillar of shame."
Xiyan's breath hitched.
"You have only one mission," Danzo continued. "You will defect from Konoha, pretending to follow in your sister's footsteps. Infiltrate the Hidden Village. Use your status as her younger sister to win Uchiha Yu's trust. And when the time comes… kill him. Bring his eyes back to me."
Xiyan clenched her small fists. "Can I really do that? Even the Hokage couldn't stop him."
Danzo's voice dropped to a near-whisper.
"Every powerful man has a weakness. Trust is the most vulnerable point. When he lowers his guard around you, that's when you strike."
He leaned forward, his tone more sinister.
"You don't need to rush. Wait until you've grown. Use your appearance—your beauty—as your weapon. You and your sister are both beautiful... that alone is an advantage."
Xiyan understood the unspoken implication: seduction.
She knew all kunoichi in Root were trained to use their bodies if necessary. But for a conservative girl like her… it made her stomach turn.
Danzo, however, knew human nature well.
He dangled the bait she couldn't ignore.
"If the mission succeeds... Konoha will pardon your sister."
Her eyes widened. Her resolve wavered.
"But… won't he suspect me?" she asked quietly.
"I've already arranged everything," Danzo said. "Due to your sister's crimes, you've been abused and discriminated against by the village. Eventually, you snap. You defect. And then…"
His voice darkened again.
"During your defection… you kill your childhood sweetheart. Moonlight Hayate."
"What?!"
Xiyan's face went pale. Her entire body stiffened.
"That's between me and Hayate! It has nothing to do with him!" she shouted.
Danzo's voice turned cold.
"It's not about you. It's about Konoha. Sacrifices are necessary. Bring him in."
Thud!
Two Root operatives dragged in a young boy bound hand and foot—Moonlight Hayate. He was unconscious but breathing.
Clang!
Danzo tossed a ninja blade at Xiyan's feet.
"Kill him. With your own hands."
Her face contorted with anguish.
"No… I can't… I won't!"
Danzo barked, "Don't forget—we gave you shelter when the village turned its back on you. If you want to survive in Root, show me you have the darkness required. This will decide your sister's fate!"
Xiyan gasped for breath, her heart pounding so hard she clutched her chest and fell to the ground.
"Xi… Yan…"
A weak voice called to her.
Xiyan looked up.
"Hayate…"
"Don't… do it," he said, eyes pleading.
Tears welled in her eyes. Her hands trembled as she picked up the sword. She stood on unsteady legs and approached him, step by painful step.
"Xiyan… please…!"
"I'm sorry… Hayate… I'm so sorry… AAAAAHHHH!!!"
Shlick!
The blade pierced flesh.
Blood sprayed across the stone floor.
Moonlight Hayate's lips trembled. "Don't fall into darkness… alone…"
His pupils dilated. The life drained from his eyes.
Just like that, the wind passed in the night. The moon shone down upon the name that had once meant strength and light.
Thud!
Xiyan collapsed, staring at her blood-covered hands, stunned into silence.
Danzo stood, expression unreadable.
"Good," he muttered. "From this moment forward, you are a non-listed operative of Root. To ensure your freedom and preserve cover, I won't implant the Tongue Binding Curse on you. But don't disappoint me."
He grabbed her chin and lifted her face. Her tears had dried. Her eyes were empty.
"Now… take his head and report to the Hidden Village. Make sure to injure yourself along the way. Konoha will send pursuers to chase you—just for show."
And so, Uzuki Xiyan set off—carrying Hayate's severed head in a bloodstained sack. Her path was now darkness without end.
Moments later, a Root elite, Terai, appeared before Danzo.
"Danzo-sama. The assassination of the unborn Uchiha in Mikoto's womb… failed."
"What? You couldn't even handle a pregnant woman?"
"It was Uchiha Itachi," Terai explained. "He's already awakened his Sharingan at just five years old. He discovered us and delayed our mission long enough for the rest of the clan to arrive."
Danzo's expression twisted.
"The son of Uchiha Fugaku… Five years old and already awakened the Sharingan? That's unheard of in Uchiha history."
His eye flickered with calculating malice.
"Though the mission failed, we still managed to kill three Uchiha clan members and extract their Sharingan," Terai added, presenting a container with six glowing red eyes.
Danzo nodded slowly.
"Good. These will replenish the eyes I used up during my battle with Lin Yu."
He removed the iron plate and bandages from his right arm, revealing sockets where multiple Sharingan had once been. One by one, he embedded the stolen eyes into the vacant spots.
Then, he covered his right eye with a hand and whispered to himself:
"The basic Sharingan is no longer enough. I need… the Mangekyō Sharingan."
His gaze darkened, filled with ruthless ambition. The gears of a new scheme had begun to turn.