When vengeance takes root, reason begins to rot.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had tried his best to suppress the incident—Root's attack on Kai and Itachi. But no secret stays buried forever.
The truth… leaked.
A Root jōnin and a chūnin had attempted to abduct two six-year-old Uchiha children. If Fugaku hadn't arrived in time, they would already be dead.
Unforgivable.
As days passed, the matter spread. It fermented. It escalated.
Some villagers even gathered outside the Hokage's office, filing complaints against Root. Hiruzen was pushed into a corner.
After this, fear spread throughout Konoha—not just among the great clans, but ordinary civilians as well.
What if Root targeted them next?
What if their children were taken?
At night, the village fell silent. Parents no longer allowed their children outside. An invisible tension hung over Konoha.
Meanwhile, Root's reputation plummeted.
Danzō was forced to act.
Through Root and the Shimura clan's influence, he quietly manipulated public opinion—suppressing discussion, diluting the incident.
Becoming Hokage had always been his ambition. Even now, he had not given up. He would not allow this scandal to ruin his standing.
Under layered pressure—and the natural tendency of people to forget—the storm gradually faded.
But Itachi did not forget.
If anything, it cut deeper.
That day had shaken him. Reshaped him.
Root had attacked them. Yet in the end… "insufficient evidence."
No punishment. No justice.
He understood now.
Konoha was not reliable. Only strength was.
The so-called Will of Fire—empty words. Nothing more than an illusion.
As for Kai, his life returned to routine.
Every day, he converted chakra into energy, upgrading his bloodline. He attended classes and visited the library.
His strength, his knowledge—steadily rising.
…
Late at night, within Root headquarters, Koharu Utatane hurried into a hidden chamber.
She had received urgent news.
Her most cherished junior… was dead.
Inside stood Danzō, Orochimaru, and several Root shinobi.
On a stone platform, four bodies lay side by side, covered in white cloth.
The moment Koharu stepped in, her body trembled. She nearly collapsed.
The usual sharpness in her expression was gone—replaced by fear.
Guided forward, she stopped before one of the bodies.
Her hands shook as she pulled back the cloth.
A charred corpse.
Burned beyond recognition.
Horrific.
Yet she knew.
From what little remained, she recognized him.
And Danzō had no reason to lie.
"My… my Itamine…!"
Her scream tore through the chamber—raw and broken.
She rushed at Danzō, grabbing his shoulders, shaking him violently.
"You said you would protect him!"
"How is he dead?!"
"You broke your promise!"
"You liar!"
Koharu had no children. She had treated Utatane Itamine as her own.
And now, he lay before her—burned to ash.
How could she accept it?
Danzō's face darkened. Guilt flickered in his eyes.
"I'm… sorry."
Itamine had been his student. Promising. Favored.
If he had known, he would have sent someone else. Any other jōnin—it wouldn't matter.
But him…
No.
And yet, regret meant nothing now.
He was gone.
"Heh…"
A low, chilling chuckle echoed.
Orochimaru.
"Death is irreversible, Koharu-sama. Please… restrain your grief."
His tone carried thinly veiled mockery.
He had never liked Itamine. The man had even defied him before.
Dead?
Good riddance.
Koharu ignored him.
Her eyes locked onto Danzō—burning.
"Who killed him?"
"I want their name."
"I will avenge him!"
Her voice was sharp. Absolute.
She would mobilize everything—her clan, her influence, anything.
Danzō glanced at a Root shinobi.
The man stepped forward.
"Based on our investigation…"
"Squad leader Itamine encountered a Kage-level opponent proficient in Fire Release."
"He was killed… instantly."
"…Fire Release… Kage-level?"
Koharu froze.
Few in the Five Great Nations fit that description.
One name surfaced.
Hiruzen.
But she immediately dismissed it.
Impossible.
There had to be someone else.
"A Fire Release expert…"
"If it was Uchiha Fugaku working with Uchiha Shisui…"
Her expression twisted.
"It must be the Uchiha!"
Rage exploded within her.
She turned, ready to gather forces—to take revenge.
"Calm down."
Danzō stopped her.
"Shisui has been on covert ANBU missions. He couldn't have done it."
In truth, Danzō had suspected the Uchiha as well.
But analysis said otherwise.
No joint operation. No evidence.
And Shisui—loyal to the Will of Fire—wouldn't attack fellow Konoha shinobi.
As for Fugaku alone… killing Itamine so effortlessly?
Unlikely.
The theory collapsed.
"Then tell me—WHO?!" Koharu roared.
Grief. Anger. Helplessness.
All twisted together.
"I will find out," Danzō said.
A promise—with no certainty.
Because even he did not know.
And some truths… were better left buried.
Koharu stood there in silence.
Then slowly, she turned and walked out.
Her heart was heavy.
Her resolve—unyielding.
No matter what, she would find the killer.
And make them pay.
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