Root.
Since being removed as Root leader by Hiruzen last time, Danzo had moved with some loyal followers to a base he had established before. It was not as grand as the previous base, but the advantage was that Hiruzen did not know its location.
Inside the underground base at this time, Danzo sat in the main seat with a gloomy face.
The right arm and left palm that had been severed by Shinji were now reattached, appearing as pale white prosthetics cultivated with Hashirama cells.
Danzo had been thinking about who was the one who had severed his right arm and stolen Shisui's eye. It was obvious that the person's first strike severed his right arm. This indicated that the person knew him very well and was aware of what he had on his right arm.
But who could it be?
Orochimaru?
The only person Danzo could think of was Orochimaru, after all, Hashirama cells were cultivated by Orochimaru. And the only one who knew he had transplanted a Sharingan onto his right hand was Orochimaru.
But it's impossible. After all, he and Orochimaru had a collaboration. Even though he was no longer the overt leader of Root, he could still mobilize resources, and there was no need for Orochimaru to stab him in the back now.
Just as Danzo was deep in thought, a series of hurried footsteps interrupted him.
Thump... Thump...
In the dim underground space, the sound of footsteps grew increasingly sharp as they approached from a distance.
Danzo frowned and looked over.
He saw Torune had arrived before him, kneeling on one knee and saying, "Danzo-sama, all the lines we put out have been cut."
Danzo, who had been interrupted, now had an even worse expression on his face as he inquired with a cold tone, "What do you mean?"
Torune had never seen Danzo with such an expression, and for a moment, he spoke everything he knew, "Just now, I was trying to contact the mole in the Anbu, but I received no response. And it's not just this one, almost all the moles haven't transferred any information."
"Also, when I returned, I saw that the entire Konoha was on high alert. I heard it was a command issued by the Third Hokage."
"High alert, issued by the Hokage."
After hearing the report, only those two phrases remained in Danzo's ears.
Hysterical words came from his mouth, his tone filled with indignation and defiance
"Hehehe—hahahahaha!!!!"
"So it was you, Hiruzen, who was behind this!"
"Why! Why did you become Hokage, and still come to ruin my good deeds!"
"Clearly, Kotoamatsukami in my hands can exert its greatest use, I refuse to accept this!"
"I am the one who should be Hokage, I am the Hokage who can lead Konoha to become the strongest ninja village in the Ninja World! This is unfair!"
As Danzo roared frantically, the remaining Root ninjas knelt on the spot one by one without saying a word.
After a long time, after Danzo had finished venting.
Torune, who was kneeling below, lowered his head and asked, "Danzo-sama, what should we do now?"
Danzo closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Pass the word, pack your things and leave Konoha immediately."
Danzo knew he had no chance now, only by escaping could he possibly turn the tables.
Torune looked up in disbelief, asking with a slightly flustered tone, "Danzo-sama, are we defecting?"
"Hmph! Shut up!"
"This is not defection. Hiruzen is a tumor in Konoha, and we need to lie low for now. As long as there is a chance, we will return as the saviors who rescue Konoha."
After speaking in one breath, Danzo felt very relieved, as if he deeply understood the heavy responsibility he now bore of saving Konoha from distress.
Then he ordered with a cold tone, "Execute the order!"
"Yes! Danzo-sama!"
After Danzo's words, the Root ninjas, as if they had become missionaries, all responded loudly.
...
In less than a quarter of an hour, the remaining thirty-odd Root ninjas had all packed their bags.
Danzo was carried on Fu's back as he looked back at his base.
"When we evacuate, burn this base to prevent pursuit."
...
The Root ninjas rapidly fled from the Root base.
The last Root Ninja was just about to form hand signs to use Fire Release when a calm voice sounded behind them.
"Danzo, by the order of Third Hokage, you and Root, all rogue ninjas, will be captured."
"Who?!"
Danzo, who was originally on Fu's back, quickly ordered Fu to turn around and look behind him upon hearing this.
He saw Itachi slowly removing his mask and walking out from the dense forest. And in the dense forest, countless shadowy figures jumped out.
Before long, Danzo and ten or so Root ninjas were surrounded by the Jonin class led by Ino-Shika-Cho, the Anbu led by Itachi, and the Uchiha Police Force.
Danzo couldn't believe that Hiruzen's people had found their location so quickly and tracked them down.
As if remembering something, he turned his head and looked at the expressionless Torune with bloodshot eyes, shouting, "Torune! You dare to betray me!"
"Release!"
Itachi raised a single finger in a timely manner, releasing Torune from the Genjutsu.
In an instant, the expressionless Torune's pupils constricted sharply, and then he covered his neck in pain.
The Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal only activated after Danzo reacted and Itachi released the Genjutsu.
"Danzo-sama! I didn't..."
Torune collapsed to the ground, desperately reaching out and opening his mouth, wanting to tell Danzo that he hadn't betrayed him but he couldn't say a word.
"Danzo, give up resisting and come back with us."
Shikaku, who was standing by, stepped forward and spoke at this moment, glancing at the Root ninjas who were on guard against them.
Among them were members of various large and small Konoha clans, who were now glaring at them as if they were enemy ninjas.
"Stop now to avoid greater losses for Konoha."
Hearing this, the Uchiha Police Force were somewhat unhappy, as Danzo was the culprit who had harmed the genius of their clan.
However, Itachi, who was standing beside Shikaku, just tilted his head and glanced at them, and the people of the Uchiha Police Force quieted down. At this time, Itachi's Sharingan displayed a pattern in the shape of a spinning Shuriken. His crimson pupils coupled with his cold face gave off a feeling of being enchanting and dangerous.
The current Itachi had successfully evolved his Sharingan into the Mangekyo Sharingan when he saw Shisui at the medical department.
Seeing Itachi's eyes, Danzo clearly understood what kind of power the so-called Mangekyo Sharingan possessed. However, he showed no fear at all, instead looking at Itachi's eyes with a greedy expression.
As long as...
As long as I can get this eye, I can succeed!
Danzo stumbled off Fu's back, raised a finger pointing at Itachi, and shouted with a crazed expression, "All Root ninjas, listen to my command! At all costs, seize Itachi's eyes!"