074 Shadows? Roots? Who Bears the Blame for Whom?

At the Uchiha clan grounds, outside the Police Force headquarters, a tense standoff was unfolding before the door of the infirmary.

Facing the men in deep blue high-collared robes, each bearing the clan’s fan crest embroidered on their backs, stood a small group of masked shinobi clad in grey flak vests. Though fewer in number, their presence was no less intimidating.

The wolf-masked leader spoke coldly, “Uchiha, by blocking our way here, are you defying the Hokage’s orders?”

There was a stir among the Uchiha Police Force. Most had gathered at the commotion, unclear about the situation. Accused so bluntly by this squad disguised as the ANBU, a flicker of hesitation ran through them.

In the Leaf Village, at least on the surface, no one dared openly oppose the Hokage.

Even so, the Uchiha would not back down without a fight, nor would they disgrace their family by yielding to a mere threat.

Seeing this, the wolf-masked ninja said no more. Leading his team forward, he made to force his way through.

As the gap closed, some among the Uchiha wavered, uncertain about actually raising a hand to stop them. Rage twisted their faces, yet the crowd parted to either side.

“The Hokage’s orders?” A cool voice rose from behind the crowd. “I fear these are Lord Danzo’s orders, aren’t they?”

“What?” The Uchiha officers, hearing this, felt a surge of suppressed anger erupting anew.

“So it’s that bastard Danzo...”

“These aren’t ANBU at all, they’re Root operatives...”

“No wonder they refuse to say a word and act so high-handedly...”

“Get out of Uchiha territory! This isn’t a place for you to run wild...”

As if to vent all their previous frustration, the Uchiha Police Force, bristling with fury, once again surrounded the Root squad.

Yet the Root captain ignored their taunts, his sharp gaze instead locking onto the white-haired youth behind the crowd. He spoke with icy disdain, “Traitor, you dare show yourself?”

The newcomer was none other than Kabuto Yakushi. Few among the Uchiha had ever joined the ANBU or Root, so they couldn’t distinguish between them, but for Kabuto, that was no issue.

Those who had killed their own comrades in the village couldn’t hide that cold, bloodstained aura from another kindred spirit.

Kabuto lowered his head slightly, glasses glinting and hiding his eyes, but his voice rang clear from his throat.

“Traitor? Don’t be ridiculous. I’ve served Lord Orochimaru from the beginning.”

“And in any case, you’re not here for some purge. You want the surgical data in the infirmary—Orochimaru’s research, isn’t that right?”

He paused, a note of mockery in his tone. “How shameless. This knowledge nearly cost three Uchiha jonin their lives, and you think you can just take it?”

“Ha. You’d only dare such a thing while Lord Orochimaru is away, isn’t that so?”

The Uchiha exchanged glances, recalling the clan member who had recently suffered a mysterious, grave injury.

Most had not been informed by Fugaku in private, but after the war with the Cloud, word of Orochimaru’s “physical enhancement surgery” for Shisui’s eyes had spread within the clan.

Now, with Kabuto’s words, they immediately realized the operation the Hokage’s advisors had tried to halt was still being carried out in secret.

Moreover, seeing Danzo’s covetous behavior, the surgery must have yielded significant results.

As this thought struck them, the Uchiha’s stares toward the Root shinobi grew darker and more hostile.

Beneath his mask, the Root captain frowned. Kabuto’s provocation had turned the tide; to try brute force again would likely provoke the Uchiha into open conflict.

Suddenly, with a rush of wind, several more masked shinobi in animal masks arrived. Their leader announced, “By order of the Hokage: all of Orochimaru’s human experiment data is to be submitted to the village. Those involved are to be taken to Hokage Tower for questioning.”

With that, they flickered forward, moving to apprehend Kabuto.

At that moment, a figure stepped between them.

Jinsuke Uchiha caught the would-be captor’s hand, then looked back at Kabuto and asked, “Are they ANBU or Root?”

“It’s hard to say,” Kabuto replied with a small smile, his composure unshaken even at the prospect of being taken to the Hokage.

“Hard to say?” Jinsuke was taken aback for a moment before understanding Kabuto’s meaning.

The men might be Root, but the orders weren’t necessarily only from Danzo.

The Root captain tried to pull his hand free, only to find his arm trapped as if bound by iron. His eyes flashed with menace. “You dare obstruct us? Are you planning to defect?”

Before he could finish, his hand was released. Contempt flickered in his eyes. “Good, you—”

“Spare me,” Jinsuke interrupted, eyes narrowing. “I’ll go with you as well. Since I’ve undergone the surgery, that surely makes me a person of interest.”

The captain frowned, surprised, but after a brief pause said, “Very well, you come too.”

He signaled another Root squad, who broke from the encirclement and entered the infirmary.

The Police Force, however, was focused only on Jinsuke. One of the jonin couldn’t help but ask, “Captain, have you really had the surgery?”

“I have,” Jinsuke nodded, reassuring his clanmates who looked on with excitement, envy, or worry. “Lord Orochimaru’s procedure made me much stronger. It’s nothing like those human experiments you fear. Don’t worry—I’ll explain everything to the Third Hokage myself.”

He made no mention of whether other clan members had undergone the procedure; he even stopped another Uchiha jonin from speaking with a glance.

He and Kabuto would be going to the Hokage, but someone else needed to stay behind and brief the clan leader.

In truth, Jinsuke felt a sense of unease. The incident had been going on for some time—why hadn’t the clan head appeared?

The Root captain made no comment on Jinsuke’s words. When the group from the infirmary returned, he led the two men out of Uchiha territory.

After traveling through the woods for some distance, Jinsuke realized something was wrong.

He abruptly broke away from the group, leaping onto a branch and calling out in a low, steady voice, “This isn’t the road to Hokage Tower. Where are you taking us?”

The Root operatives said nothing, but their squads moved to surround him.

Kabuto, however, made no attempt to escape. For before him stood a man with a cane, his face cold and sinister.

“Lord Danzo,” Kabuto greeted him with a smile, bowing in the manner of Root.

Danzo’s face was dark as thunder. He walked up to Kabuto and slapped him hard across the face.

With a resounding crack, Kabuto staggered and fell to the ground, his cheek swelling red and high, but he seemed unfazed. He simply picked up his glasses, slipped them back on, and looked up again.