📖 Chapter 10: The Night Before Silence
The village was too quiet.
Not peaceful.
Waiting.
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Night had fallen over Konoha.
But the lights were fewer than usual.
Streets empty.
Windows closed.
Doors locked.
Something was coming.
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Deep underground—
Cold stone walls.
Dim torches flickering.
The Root base.
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Roronoa Zoro stood still.
Arms crossed.
Eyes half-closed.
Listening.
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Footsteps echoed.
Slow.
Measured.
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Danzo Shimura entered.
"…You're late."
Zoro said without looking.
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Danzo ignored the tone.
"…Your next mission."
Zoro smirked slightly.
"…Finally."
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A pause.
Then—
Danzo stepped closer.
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"The Uchiha Clan District."
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Zoro opened his eyes.
"…What about it?"
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Danzo's voice remained calm.
"…No one enters."
A pause.
"…No one leaves."
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Silence.
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Zoro's eyes sharpened.
"…That's it?"
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Danzo studied him.
"…Can you do it?"
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A faint wind moved through the underground halls.
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Zoro clicked his tongue.
"…Tch."
A step forward.
"…I don't fail missions."
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Danzo nodded slightly.
"…Good."
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Then—
He turned away.
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"Tonight… defines everything."
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Silence.
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🌒 Outside – Konoha
The air was colder.
Heavier.
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Zoro walked alone.
The village felt different now.
Not home.
Not even a battlefield.
A stage.
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The smell of something faint—
Burned oil.
Old wood.
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He stopped.
"…Something's off."
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From a rooftop—
A shadow moved.
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Itachi Uchiha
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"…You accepted it."
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Zoro didn't look up.
"…A job is a job."
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Itachi watched him.
Silent.
"…Even if you don't know what it is?"
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Zoro's hand rested on his sword.
"…I'll figure it out."
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A pause.
Itachi's voice lowered slightly.
"…You won't."
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Zoro looked up this time.
Eyes sharp.
"…Try me."
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The wind passed between them.
No fight.
No movement.
Only tension.
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Then—
Itachi turned away.
"…Stay where you were assigned."
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Zoro frowned.
"…Giving me orders now?"
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No answer.
Only silence.
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And then—
He was gone.
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Zoro exhaled slowly.
"…Weird guy."
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But—
Something stayed.
A feeling.
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Warning.
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🌑 Uchiha District – Midnight
The gates stood silent.
No guards.
No movement.
---
Zoro stood at the entrance.
Waiting.
Watching.
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The night deepened.
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Then—
A sound.
A scream.
Distant.
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Zoro's eyes narrowed.
"…Tch."
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Another one.
Closer.
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Then—
Silence.
Heavy.
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The smell reached him.
Blood.
Fresh.
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Zoro's grip tightened.
"…What the hell is going on…"
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A shadow moved behind the buildings.
Fast.
Precise.
---
Zoro turned—
But it was gone.
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Another scream.
Cut short.
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His foot moved forward—
Then—
Stopped.
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Danzo's words echoed:
"No one enters."
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Silence.
---
Zoro stood still.
Muscles tense.
Instinct screaming.
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"…This is wrong."
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More sounds.
Running.
Crying.
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Then—
Nothing.
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The village outside remained silent.
Like nothing was happening.
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Zoro's breathing slowed.
Controlled.
---
But his eyes—
Burned.
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"…Tch."
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Minutes passed.
Or hours.
Time felt broken.
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Then—
The gate opened slightly.
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A small figure stumbled out.
A child.
Covered in blood.
Eyes wide.
Broken.
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"…Help…"
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Zoro froze.
For a second—
Just one.
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Then—
He moved.
Fast.
---
He caught the child before they fell.
"…Who did this?"
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The child trembled.
"…Red eyes…"
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Zoro's expression changed.
Sharingan.
---
Before he could ask more—
The child collapsed.
Unconscious.
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Silence.
---
Zoro looked back at the district.
Dark.
Dead.
---
Then—
A presence.
Behind him.
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He turned instantly—
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A figure stood there.
Blood on his clothes.
Eyes calm.
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Itachi Uchiha
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Silence.
Long.
Heavy.
---
Zoro's voice dropped.
Cold.
"…You did this?"
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Itachi didn't answer.
Which was answer enough.
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The air shifted.
---
Zoro's grip tightened.
---
For a moment—
Everything felt like it would explode.
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Then—
Itachi spoke.
"…Stay out of this."
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Zoro's eyes sharpened.
"…Too late."
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A pause.
---
The child in his arms moved slightly.
Alive.
Barely.
---
Itachi's gaze lowered—
Just for a second.
---
Then—
Back to Zoro.
"…You don't understand."
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Zoro took a step forward.
"…Then make me."
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Silence.
---
The wind passed.
Carrying the smell of blood.
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Itachi closed his eyes.
"…Not tonight."
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Then—
He vanished.
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Zoro stood there.
The child in his arms.
The silence behind him.
The truth in front of him.
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"…Tch."
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His jaw tightened.
"…What did you drag me into…"
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⚠️ The Choice
The wind shifted.
But this time—
It carried something else.
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Footsteps.
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Multiple.
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Zoro's eyes sharpened instantly.
"…!"
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From the shadows—
Figures appeared.
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Masked.
Silent.
---
Root.
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Surrounding him.
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A voice echoed:
"…Orders from Danzo-sama."
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Zoro didn't move.
"…Figures."
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"Leave the child."
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Silence.
---
Zoro's grip tightened slightly.
"…No."
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A pause.
---
The air changed.
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"He is a witness."
"…And a liability."
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Zoro slowly raised his head.
Eyes cold.
---
"…Say that again."
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The tension snapped.
---
Weapons moved.
Chakra surged.
The ground trembled.
---
The child stirred weakly.
"…Don't…"
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Zoro's expression shifted.
Just slightly.
---
Then—
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The pressure exploded.
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BOOM.
---
The ground cracked violently.
Root agents froze mid-step.
---
Air—heavy.
Unbearable.
---
Zoro stood still.
Dominant.
Unshaken.
---
"…I don't follow your rules."
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A step forward.
"…And I don't abandon the weak."
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Silence.
---
Then—
One Root agent moved anyway.
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Big mistake.
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Slash.
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Fast.
Clean.
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He fell instantly.
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The others hesitated.
Fear.
Real.
---
Zoro's voice dropped.
Cold.
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"…Anyone else?"
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Far away—
Watching—
Danzo Shimura
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"…So you chose."
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A pause.
"…Good."
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His hand tightened.
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"…Now we eliminate you."
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🔒😈 END OF CHAPTER 10
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