Naruto: I am Uchiha Shirou-Chapter 254: Naruto: I am Uchiha Shirou []

The Root.

Following the turmoil in Konoha, the elite forces of the Root division were fully deployed, leaving the already dark and secretive base even more desolate.

"Lord Danzo, only one person returned from the two dispatched squads. The target, Uchiha Fugaku, displayed immense strength... he even awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan."

Inside the secret chamber, Shimura Danzo's face was initially filled with anger and heartache upon hearing of such heavy losses among his elite Root forces. However, the moment his eyes landed on a single Mangekyō Sharingan in their possession, his expression turned greedy.

"Mangekyō! The Uchiha are far too dangerous. In just a little over a decade, three pairs of Mangekyō have appeared. Fortunately, this time, the Root acted quickly..."

What is this loss compared to the acquisition of a Mangekyō Sharingan?

Danzo's anger dissipated, replaced by excitement and greed.

"Why didn't you bring back the other one?"

"Lord Danzo, Uchiha Fugaku summoned a raven through sheer desperation to destroy his eye. If not for the Squad Leader risking his life... we wouldn't have even secured one. However, the other eye has already been contaminated with the collected nano-level virus."

Hearing that the second Mangekyō had been destroyed, Shimura Danzo showed a hint of regret.

But it was just as well that it was destroyed.

"Mangekyō!"

Inside the secret chamber, Danzo stared at the grotesque eye floating in a glass tube. His exposed eye burned with greed. Beneath his bandaged hand, he slowly began unwrapping the cloth concealing his other eye.

As the ugly scarred eyelid slowly opened, a Sharingan with three tomoe was revealed. Danzo's raspy voice broke the silence:

"It's time to replace my eye with a stronger one. With this, the Uchiha clan's Mangekyō will no longer be a threat!"

Danzo's raspy laughter was filled with greed and excitement.

It was as if fate itself was favoring him. The recent Nine-Tails incident not only implicated the Uchiha but also dragged Minato Namikaze into its chaos.

And now, he had obtained a Mangekyō Sharingan!

Who in Konoha could challenge him now?

"Immediately notify the medical-nin. Prepare for the eye transplant!"

"Yes, sir!"

Danzo could hardly contain his eagerness to replace his eye with the more powerful Mangekyō. After all, he was about to execute his plan.

Meanwhile, as the Root base was left momentarily vulnerable, a figure in disguise, wearing a mask, took the opportunity to infiltrate it. Moving skillfully, the figure navigated the secretive base with ease.

"From the missions ordered by the Third Hokage, I've already infiltrated this place a few times in secret. The barrier's weak points and the layout are still the same."

Hiding behind a pillar, Minato Namikaze, the masked infiltrator, carefully observed his surroundings.

There was no way he would allow the Root to grow unchecked and pose a threat. If he had allowed them to develop to this point, it was because everything was under his watchful eye.

If he truly knew nothing about the Root, then he wouldn't be fit to hold the Hokage's position.

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The Root, being a subdivision of the ANBU, had many of its members originating from the ANBU itself. Not only were there spies planted by the Third Hokage, but Sarutobi Hiruzen would also occasionally send people to infiltrate and investigate the Root's operations.

With overt surveillance, covert infiltration, and spies in place, Danzo's Root couldn't operate without the Third Hokage knowing.

"What's this?"

Minato's sharp eyes noticed a dim light flickering inside a sealed chamber. Two Root operatives solemnly placed a sealing tag on the door before leaving.

Hiding in the shadows, Minato observed everything. His brows furrowed as he sensed something alarming.

"With sealing tags of this level... and a faint scent of blood lingering in the air. They must've just returned from a mission."

Once the Root operatives had left, Minato's figure flickered to the sealed chamber's entrance. With practiced precision, he performed a series of hand seals to remove the sealing tag without alerting anyone, as if he were entering his own home.

"These are the intelligence reports from the Third Great Ninja War... and information on the Uchiha clan!"

Inside the chamber, Minato's expression turned grave as he scanned through scroll after scroll of critical intelligence, particularly the detailed reports on the Uchiha clan.

Every scroll contained information about Uchiha members, all of whom were high-ranking jonin. The Root had been preparing for something.

"The war has just ended, and the village is already plotting against its people. Does such an organization even deserve to exist?"

Staring at the densely packed intelligence scrolls, Minato fell silent. He understood the necessity of the Root's existence, as many matters couldn't be handled in the light.

But targeting comrades within the village—this was crossing a line.

"This is research on the Aburame clan's nano-scale toxins... and the Sharingan... and even the Senju..."

Judging by the order of the scrolls, Minato realized these were the Root's current top priorities. Otherwise, such classified information wouldn't be stored here.

"These actions are what will truly destabilize the village..."

As he carefully sifted through the dark chamber, Minato suddenly caught a faint, metallic scent of blood. His pupils narrowed in response.

Quietly stepping forward, he moved past a bookshelf filled with scrolls. What he saw next made his breath catch in his throat.

Five bodies lay on cold, metal tables.

Each body was missing parts, and their purple-black skin indicated poisoning.

"These injuries... nano-scale toxins from the Aburame clan. The sealing tags on the bodies must be to preserve them and extract more information..."

Just as Minato exhaled in relief that the corpses were being used for research, the light shifted and illuminated their faces.

His pupils shrank, and his expression changed drastically.

"Uchiha Fugaku!"

Minato's disbelief and shock were evident as he stared at the scene before him. As the light shifted further, he recognized the other faces.

Each of the five corpses had a dark, hollow cavity where their eyes had been. The sight was both horrifying and grotesque.

Minato, who had faced countless enemies in battle, felt fear for the first time. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

"The Root... What exactly are they trying to do? Lord Third!"

In the dim light, Minato's face was illuminated with a mixture of shock and rage, his blue eyes blazing with fury.

He was well aware of the Root's nature. Without the Third Hokage's tacit approval, the Root wouldn't dare to engage in such large-scale, sinister activities.

What enraged him was the fact that this wasn't for the stability of the village at all. Instead, it would plunge Konoha into deeper conflict and chaos.

The actions of the Third Hokage and the Root were only sowing the seeds of further disaster.

Silently, Minato moved through the dark base, passing through various secret chambers. Finally, he paused and took one last look at the sinful place before disappearing without a trace.

Using the Flying Thunder God Technique, he left no evidence of his infiltration.

Not even the Root base could detect his presence, as his Flying Thunder God markings were still there.

...

The next day in Konoha was filled with the sorrow of recovering from disaster.

At the same time, a rumor began to circulate. It claimed that the Nine-Tails had been under the control of the Sharingan, which had caused the disaster.

This seemingly casual piece of information caused a ripple throughout the village.

The Uchiha clan, tasked with maintaining order in the village, felt the brunt of it.

Suspicion. Fear. Isolation.

The various looks directed at them filled the Uchiha with anger and frustration.

Under the gloomy, rainy sky, it seemed as though Konoha itself was mourning.

Countless black-clad shinobi made their way toward the memorial stone to honor the heroes who died in the war, as well as those who perished defending the village the previous night.

Countless Konoha shinobi displayed expressions of sorrow as the Memorial Stone Cemetery gained far too many new gravestones after the Third Great Ninja War.

"You gave your lives to protect the entire village, to protect the future of Konoha..."

The hoarse and heavy voice of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, echoed above, as countless shinobi bowed their heads in silence, listening to the mourning for the fallen.

"The war brought great loss to Konoha, but we must face the future... At tomorrow's jonin meeting, I will nominate a new Hokage and announce my retirement..."

Before the Memorial Stone, the Third Hokage, accompanied by Konoha's top officials, the major clans, and Jonin, all mourned deeply. In the end, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, solemnly announced his decision to step down and nominate a successor.

As the crowd of mourners gradually left the Memorial Stone, the entire village of Konoha sank into a somber and sorrowful atmosphere, beginning the arduous work of rebuilding.

Under the dreary drizzle, in front of a gravestone, a five-year-old child with a baby slung over his shoulder stood with his head bowed in grief. The infant in his arms was still asleep, seemingly unaware of the earth-shattering changes that had occurred in his life.

"Itachi, Sasuke still needs you. The village needs the Uchiha clan. You cannot let yourself be lost in sadness right now."

Hearing this familiar voice, Uchiha Itachi—who had already been to the battlefield—took a deep breath, suppressing his sorrow. Slowly, he raised his head and looked at the teacher standing before him.

"Shirou-sensei, the rumors in the village... if they aren't handled properly, what will happen to Sasuke?"

Even at such a young age, Uchiha Itachi had already thought deeply about many things, proving his brilliance.

That day, when he was hiding with Sasuke in the shelter, Shirou had appeared using the Flying Thunder God Technique, taking Sasuke away under the cover of a powerful genjutsu, unnoticed by the grieving people around them.

From his upbringing, Sasuke's one night of crying upon returning, the strange marks on his abdomen, and Shirou's lack of secrecy, Itachi knew just how important Sasuke was to the village now.

"Itachi, Sasuke becoming a jinchūriki is the best protection for him, as well as for the Uchiha clan and the village."

Shirou glanced deeply at Itachi before shaking his head.

"You don't need to worry too much. Although Sasuke's identity is special, we are Uchiha. I will arrange for someone to take care of Sasuke daily. At the same time, Shisui, Kakashi, and a Senju shinobi will join you as Sasuke's guardians."

When Itachi heard that Sasuke would still be under his care, the five-year-old child couldn't help but show gratitude.

"Thank you, Shirou-sensei!"

"Itachi, go back now. Until Sasuke grows strong, he will need your protection. At the same time, I will also take Sasuke as my disciple."

Gently ruffling Itachi's hair, Shirou smiled with satisfaction. This child would one day become the protector of the Uchiha clan.

"I understand, Shirou-sensei!"

However, when Itachi raised his head, Shirou's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise before he sighed in amazement:

"Itachi, you are truly a genius. But for now, don't reveal those eyes to others. For the use of the Sharingan, you can consult Shisui more."

As Itachi raised his head, his pupils revealed a single tomoe Sharingan. Even Shirou couldn't help but marvel at Itachi's genius—awakening the Sharingan at such a young age.

Watching Itachi return with Sasuke, Shirou shook his head slightly.

"Shirou, the Third Hokage has visited the Hyūga clan. It seems the main family has already made their decision..."

A black umbrella was held up. Standing beside him, Mikoto wore a solemn expression. Uchiha Shirou, however, remained calm and nodded slightly.

"What about the other shinobi?"

"Some other shinobi are also showing signs of movement. However, under the rumors about the Nine-Tails, without sufficient evidence, they likely won't support us."

Mikoto's voice was heavy, hinting that while some shinobi who had previously leaned toward the Uchiha might not turn against them, they would likely remain neutral under the weight of the Nine-Tails' suspicion.

After all, the Nine-Tails incident was a heavy accusation.

Anyone with a brain would suspect that the Uchiha had neither the opportunity nor the reason to orchestrate such an event. However, under the relentless spread of rumors—similar to what had happened to the White Fang—public opinion had become a sharp double-edged sword.

"Ignore them. The innocent will prove their innocence."

Shirou's calm response was followed by the two walking through the rain toward the Konoha Police Force headquarters.

"There may not have been evidence before, but some people have conveniently placed the evidence on themselves. Our Uchiha Sharingan is not so easily taken."

"Spread the word. Tomorrow, the Police Force will assemble to attend the Jonin meeting!"

Mikoto nodded solemnly, her expression filled with determination.

"We will win!"

Noticing a trace of worry in Mikoto's gaze, Shirou chuckled lightly, a mocking smile on his lips:

"What do we have to lose?"

The situation was becoming more amusing. Even before he had made a move, others were already destroying themselves. Shirou couldn't help but look forward to the Jonin meeting the next day.

"Tsunade, Kushina, and the Senju clan should return tomorrow. It seems our dear Third Hokage is eager to step down."

Looking up at the gloomy sky, Shirou cast a glance at the distant Hokage building, smiling faintly.

"The dark clouds over Konoha will scatter, giving way to a new sky."

...

Hokage Building.

"Hiruzen, this time we must act decisively. We cannot give the Uchiha any chance to rise again!"

"Indeed. With the suspicion of controlling the Nine-Tails, the Uchiha are far too dangerous!"

In the Hokage's office, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, the two elder advisors, wore cold smiles, as if they were already celebrating their victory prematurely.

Even Danzo Shimura, standing nearby, exuded quiet confidence. He gently touched his still-aching eye and then retrieved a scroll from his robe.

"Hiruzen, leave the Uchiha to me. This is the perfect opportunity to push them to the outskirts of the village under strict surveillance."

As Danzo outlined his plan against the Uchiha, both Homura and Koharu nodded in agreement.

Sitting in his office, Sarutobi Hiruzen gazed out the window at the Hokage Rock, his expression distant and uncertain.

After tomorrow, would his era truly end?

Having grown accustomed to looking at the Hokage Rock every day, he couldn't help but feel a sense of reluctance.

"Hiruzen?"

Snapping out of his thoughts, Hiruzen turned to his three old comrades, his expression grave as he nodded. "Prepare for the worst at tomorrow's jonin meeting!"

"Don't worry, Hiruzen. Most of the village's elite have already returned."

"Exactly. The Uchiha have lost the trust of the people!"

Confident in their victory, Homura and Koharu seemed certain of the outcome. Meanwhile, Danzo smirked coldly, nodding as he added fuel to the fire:

"Hiruzen, Uchiha Fugaku has been... dealt with. Some even suspect it's an internal purge by the Uchiha to silence dissenting voices."

Danzo, ever the opportunist, didn't miss the chance to stoke further discord.

Hiruzen took a deep breath, his nod signaling approval of Danzo's plan.

The years of cooperation between the two made their intentions clear without words.

Fugaku's removal had been perfectly timed, and Danzo felt a sense of relief. Hiruzen, after all, didn't know that the Sharingan he had obtained was a Mangekyō.

Danzo smirked inwardly, confident that he had outmaneuvered Hiruzen. While the Hokage thought he was playing at a higher level, Danzo believed himself to be several steps ahead.

This confidence led Danzo's gaze to the Hokage Rock outside, a fiery ambition burning in his remaining eye.

"Hiruzen, this time... I will win!"