155. Make the Move!
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Late Night. Root HQ.
Danzo was livid.
He stormed into his underground chambers, face twisted in frustration.
"Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!!"
Even Shimura Homura and Koharu, his supposed allies, had turned their backs on him. The reason? They claimed he'd "betrayed" their circle by siding with Tsunade too often.
Hypocrites! Danzo thought bitterly. 'They think I enjoy playing errand boy for that woman?!'
Their cold dismissal echoed in his mind.
"You didn't even invite us into your discussions with Tsunade."
The insult stung more than he admitted. Now, he had no allies. No influence. Only his pride… and his secrets.
He struck the floor with his cane.
"Enough," he muttered.
He called for Root.
"Investigate Neji's lab again. Confirm whether that pair of Sharingan is real."
"Yes, sir."
As his subordinates departed, Danzo sat back in his shadowed chamber, eyes burning coldly.
Tsunade wants war? Then war it is.
---
Later that Night. Hidden Leaf Village.
Four figures slipped through the darkened rooftops of Konoha, moving like wraiths.
Their destination: Neji's isolated research lab.
"Our intel says he's at the Hyuga compound tonight," their squad leader whispered.
"Move fast."
They fanned out silently.
Perimeter clear. Traps minimal.
They breached the lab, shadows slipping inside like smoke.
---
Back at the Hyuga compound, Neji stirred in his bed.
He opened his eyes and smiled faintly, eyes shifting toward the distant lab.
You took the bait.
Hanabi rolled over, half-asleep. "Neji-niisan…?"
"Did I wake you?" he asked gently, patting her head.
"You've been gone so long," she mumbled. "I missed you."
"I know. But this is the last time, Hanabi. You're getting older. No more sneaking into your big brother's bed, alright?"
"Mmh… okay."
She snuggled back under the covers.
Neji stared at the ceiling, smile fading. Let the trap trigger.
---
Inside the Lab.
The Root operatives swept the first floor. Nothing.
But then an entrance to a basement level.
Bingo.
Descending carefully, they found a dim room filled with jars, tools, and eerie silence.
Something bubbled faintly in the background.
The air was thick with sterile tension.
Then—"Captain. Over here."
A faint glow pulsed beneath one of the sealed jars.
They used a kunai to break the barrier carefully and held up a light.
There it was.
Three-tomoe Sharingan. Staring back at them.
One operative gasped and instinctively stepped back.
But after closer inspection, he nodded solemnly.
Confirmed.
The team regrouped.
No theft. No interference.
Just observation.
And then… they vanished.
---
Back at Root HQ.
Danzo listened as his operatives confirmed it.
Sharingan. Real. And it matches the missing eyes from the Uchiha Massacre.
That had been over seven years ago.
Back then, Danzo had assumed Itachi had taken them. But now Neji?
Danzo tapped his cane, deep in thought.
A prodigy like him… just like Itachi.
He stood.
"Prepare a report. Leak it… but subtly."
"Sir?"
"We don't need Tsunade's head to fall. Just her knees to buckle. And the Hyuga? Let them sweat a little."
---
The Next Morning.
Neji stepped outside his room, stretching.
Only to find his uncle, Hiashi, standing grimly outside with two masked ANBU flanking him.
The mood was ice cold.
"Hyuga Neji," one ANBU said sternly, "You're to come with us. Now."
"Where to?" Neji asked, calm.
"You'll be informed upon arrival."
Hiashi stepped in. "This is against protocol. You cannot detain a Leaf shinobi without proper authorization—"
Another ANBU cut him off.
"Hiashi-sama, unless you're prepared to obstruct official ANBU orders, please step aside."
Hiashi's jaw clenched. But he moved.
Neji nodded at him reassuringly before turning to leave with the ANBU.
Behind them, Hanabi clutched her father's sleeve, wide-eyed.
"Father…?"
Hiashi sighed, grim. "I'm going to see the Hokage. Don't worry, Neji will be fine."
---
Meanwhile. At the Hokage's Office.
The door slammed open.
Tsunade was already on her feet, furious.
"DANZO! Who gave you permission to send ANBU after Neji without my order?!"
The old warhawk stood there, perfectly calm.
"As a village advisor, I have the authority to act on behalf of Konoha's safety."
"You mean you have the gall to act unilaterally," she snapped.
Danzo scoffed. "If you refuse to act when threats arise, someone must."
At that moment, Hiashi burst in.
"Fire Lord Tsunade, what is my nephew being accused of?"
Tsunade answered calmly, eyes still burning at Danzo.
"I've already dispatched a unit to retrieve him. He'll be returned shortly."
She glanced back at Danzo. "But let me make this clear: until I'm no longer Hokage, you don't move a damn inch without my say-so."
Danzo grunted, clearly displeased.
The room went silent.
The question on everyone's mind now was:
Whose authority would decide Neji's fate…?
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