According to the records:
Uchiha Rin's father was Jōnin Uchiha Tetsuya. He had died six months before the Nine-Tails Incident during an escort mission, and his body was buried in the Uchiha clan cemetery.
Her mother, Miyuki, was a registered Special Jōnin of Konoha. She died during the Nine-Tails Incident while treating the wounded, and her remains were later buried alongside her husband.
As for these details, the ANBU could not fully verify them—but both individuals did exist in the official records, and their times of death aligned perfectly.
Afterward, Uchiha Rin was formally taken in by the clan. Several women were assigned to take turns caring for her until she turned three, after which she began living alone—up until now.
Reading this far, Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned.
Everything in the report appeared normal.
An orphan who had lost both parents during turbulent times, raised according to clan customs.
Every timeline matched seamlessly.
Every detail made sense.
And yet—
As he continued reading, the appendix on the final page caught his attention.
Three years ago, one evening—
Five-year-old Uchiha Rin was attacked by two villagers on her way home from school along a narrow path.
A witness reported hearing the disturbance and immediately alerted the ANBU.
But when the ANBU arrived—
There were no attackers.
And no Rin.
The path was completely empty.
Except—
For two trees.
Two large trees stood abruptly in the middle of the road.
According to nearby residents, those trees had not existed that morning.
Even more strangely—
Examination revealed that both trees were approximately fifty years old.
The surrounding soil showed no signs of disturbance.
It was as if they had always been there.
The ANBU recovered several strands of Rin's hair near the roots, confirming her presence at the scene.
As for the attackers—
They were never found.
During that period, the village was undergoing reconstruction, with frequent population movement.
The disappearance of a few vagrants or outsiders would not have drawn much attention.
But the strangest part was this—
After thorough investigation, the ANBU confirmed that the two attackers were neither registered villagers nor known drifters.
It was as if their existence had been completely erased.
The only evidence they had ever been there—
Were those two unnatural trees.
The report concluded:
"This incident contains multiple unexplainable anomalies. Continued observation is recommended."
Note:
"Due to the lack of genetic samples from Uchiha Obito and Nohara Rin, no comparison can be made regarding possible relations."
...
Hiruzen slowly lowered the scroll.
His fingers tapped lightly against the desk.
A five-year-old child—
Facing two attackers—
Could not possibly have escaped unharmed.
Which meant—
There had to be a fourth person at the scene.
Someone who had eliminated the attackers instantly—
And erased all traces before the ANBU arrived.
"Uchiha Mo…?"
Hiruzen murmured.
It was possible.
That hidden Uchiha had the capability.
But then—
Who were the attackers?
"…Danzō. Was it you?"
His gaze turned cold.
In all of Konoha—
The only person who would target a Uchiha orphan—
Was that old friend.
Just as he reached for the third scroll—
Bang!
The office doors were slammed open.
Shimura Danzō strode in, his cane striking the floor, his expression dark as storm clouds.
"Hiruzen! Why did you withdraw ANBU surveillance from the Uchiha clan? Do you even understand the current situation?!"
Hiruzen slowly looked up.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
"It is precisely because I understand the situation that we need to change our strategy."
"You came at the right time."
"I have something to ask you."
Danzō frowned.
Something felt… off.
In the past, Hiruzen would either respond with that infuriating patience—
Or assert his authority as Hokage.
But now—
He was too composed.
Those eyes—
No longer warm—
But deep.
Unreadable.
Danzō instinctively grew cautious.
His mind raced through recent actions:
Increased surveillance on the Uchiha.
Monitoring Uchiha Mo and Uchiha Shūjin.
Experiments within Root.
Last month's operations…
But none of those—
Should have provoked this reaction.
"What are you getting at?" Danzō narrowed his eye.
"If this is about trivial matters—"
"Three years ago."
Hiruzen cut him off.
"Uchiha Rin was attacked on her way home."
"You know about this."
"Was it you?"
"…Uchiha Rin?"
Danzō repeated the name, searching his memory.
After a few seconds—
Recognition dawned.
"Oh. That Uchiha prodigy?"
His tone was dismissive.
As if she were insignificant.
"Did she do something wrong? If so, hand her over to me. I'll make sure she—"
"Enough!"
Hiruzen slammed his hand onto the desk.
For a brief moment—
Anger flashed in his eyes.
Danzō's disregard for life—
Was something he would never accept.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
Then he shoved the scroll forward.
"Look at this."
"Trees appearing out of nowhere. Attackers vanishing without a trace."
"Do you think this is normal?"
Danzō reluctantly picked up the scroll.
As his eye scanned the report—
Tree age: fifty years.
No soil disturbance.
Detailed anomaly logs—
His pupil shrank.
"This… this is impossible…"
His grip tightened.
His hand trembled ever so slightly.
This phenomenon—
Was unmistakable.
Wood Release.
And within Root—
There was still one survivor of those experiments.
Hiruzen noticed the reaction instantly.
But his own thoughts never strayed toward Wood Release.
To him—
Those experiments had long been deemed failures.
Every subject had died.
Wood Release was a lost power.
Impossible to replicate.
"Judging by your reaction…"
Hiruzen spoke slowly.
"…you seem to know something."
Danzō snapped his head up.
A flicker of panic crossed his eye.
He realized—
He had overreacted.
His carefully controlled composure—
Had slipped.
"I… I wouldn't know."
He forced his tone steady.
But Hiruzen knew him too well.
That hesitation—
Was guilt.
Or knowledge.
"Danzō…"
Hiruzen stood.
Disappointment filled his voice.
"You've gone too far."
"For the sake of eliminating the Uchiha… you would even target a five-year-old child?"
Danzō opened his mouth—
But no words came.
This time—
He was actually innocent.
He coveted the Sharingan.
He wanted the Uchiha gone.
But this—
Was not his doing.
"Hiruzen, you—"
"Enough."
Hiruzen waved his hand, weary.
"From today onward—Root is forbidden from taking any action against the Uchiha."
"This is a direct order from the Hokage."
Danzō's eye flashed with anger.
But as he glanced again at the report—
He suppressed it.
There was something more important now.
Something he needed to confirm.
Three years ago—
Had "Kinoe" acted on his own?