46 A serpents ploy

"Woof! Woof woof woof!!!"

Danzō's demonic, guttural barks stunned everyone present. What was this outrageous display? Some kind of bizarre performance art? Under the shocked gazes of his own Root ninja and the Uchiha, Danzō lunged, not like a shinobi, but like a rabid animal.

"Sir, what are you doing?!"

"Ah!!!"

In an instant, Danzō's teeth were tearing at the throats of his former subordinates, a spray of hot blood painting the ground. Only Captain Terai remained, shivering in abject terror.

Just as the chaos reached its peak, Madara and Shiro slowly walked onto the scene.

"Lord Madara, Shiro-dono…" Fugaku greeted them respectfully.

"Yes," Madara nodded. "From this day forward, Danzō is a dog under my son's command. For the injustices the Uchiha have suffered, let him atone with what remains of his miserable life."

So that's it. Fugaku and the others finally understood. It was Madara's doing. A wave of profound, satisfying vindication washed over them. Watching Danzō, their tormentor, rip apart his own men, Fugaku trembled with a grim excitement.

Madara waved a dismissive hand. "Alright, all of you, go back and rest. You have to be up in the morning to tend to my son's vegetables."

"Yes!"

After Fugaku and the others departed, the grim work on the battlefield was also concluded. Terai's body was mangled beyond recognition. The Root ninja, known for their absolute loyalty, had not once raised a hand against their leader, even as he tore them to pieces. In that moment, the Anbu Root, the shadowy foundation of Konoha's darkness, was completely erased from the world.

White Zetsu clicked its tongue. "Tsk, tsk, tsk… I bet Danzō's body will be in terrible pain tomorrow. Madara, you are too cruel. To make him move, you fed him twenty military ration pills!"

"Hmph!" Madara snorted coldly. "What was I to do? After using the Mangekyō, Danzō couldn't even crawl. Was I supposed to have my son drag him back by force? He is just a dog now. His life is worthless. Allowing him to live is the greatest kindness the Uchiha can show him."

"Hehe, that's true," White Zetsu said, scratching its head with a smile.

Shiro took the leash back into his hands. "Father still loves me."

"Of course," Madara replied. "By the way, son, how did you know that Danzō possessed the Sharingan?"

Shiro hadn't expected the question. A quick idea flashed through his mind. "It was Obito nii. When I sleep with him, he often tells me bedtime stories."

"I see. So Obito did manage to do something useful." After saying this, Madara frowned. The ground was littered with corpses, the air thick with the coppery smell of blood. "White Zetsu, deal with these bodies." To prevent Shiro from being exposed to the disgusting scene, Madara lifted the boy onto his shoulders.

"Come on, son. Show me the way. Let's go back to bed. If Obito can tell you a bedtime story, then so can I. I will tell you of my own childhood."

"Okay!" Shiro was instantly interested. To hear the story of Madara from the man himself was far better than reading it in any book.

"Let's go home." Madara carried Shiro on his shoulders and slowly disappeared into the darkness.

White Zetsu looked at the carnage, gnashing its teeth and muttering to itself, "There's so much meat, we can't possibly finish it all. I should call Black Zetsu over…"

"Mikoto, we're back."

"Mother, brother…"

The voices of Fugaku and Itachi echoed from the courtyard. Mikoto quickly dressed and walked out of the bedroom, her face etched with worry. "You're finally back! Why are you so late? What did Lord Madara want with you?"

"Nothing much. He simply told us some of the lost secrets of the Uchiha." Fugaku and Itachi exchanged a look. They would not tell her about the Hashirama cell transplant, nor would they speak of the Root's attack.

"Oh… that's good. I thought Lord Madara had sent you on some dangerous mission." Mikoto patted her chest, her anxiety gradually easing. With her husband and son back safely, she could finally breathe again.

Fugaku sat at the door, taking off his shoes. "We were so loud, yet Sasuke is still not awake. His awareness… is truly poor."

Itachi smiled. "Father, you are too hard on him. He is just a child. It is normal for him to sleep so soundly." With that, Itachi tiptoed toward the bedroom, not wanting to disturb Sasuke.

Mikoto smiled as she put away their shoes. "Itachi, Sasuke is not at home. He went out to train. You don't have to be so cautious."

"What?" Fugaku and Itachi were both shocked. "Training? He hasn't come back yet, at this hour?"

Seeing their panicked expressions, Mikoto was unconcerned. "He was worried about you and couldn't sleep, so he went out to distract himself. What's wrong? Isn't this normal? Don't you and he go out to train every night?"

On any other night, it would have been fine. But tonight was different. The clan's territory had been invaded by Root. Fortunately, Fugaku and the others had intercepted them, but they knew the enemy would have scouted the entire area first. Sasuke was most likely in grave danger.

Itachi's heart tightened. He quickly put his shoes back on and ran out the door. "Father, Mother, I'm going to find Sasuke! Don't worry!"

Watching Itachi's anxious figure disappear, Mikoto was startled. "My love, what's wrong with Itachi? Did something happen outside?"

Uchiha Fugaku's expression was grim. After a moment of silence, he sighed. "It's nothing. Perhaps Itachi simply missed his brother after a long day. Don't worry, he will bring Sasuke back soon."

In the woods bordering the clan's land, Itachi's figure flashed through the trees. He had only one destination: the clearing where he and Sasuke usually practiced. Sasuke, please, don't be in any trouble! he prayed silently. Soon, he arrived. The training ground was unusually quiet; even the chirping of the night insects had fallen silent. But he could faintly hear a sound he did not recognize—the dry, slithering rasp of scales on bark.

"Sasuke!" Itachi shouted, his eyes scanning the clearing. No one responded. Then, he saw them. Two figures, lying on top of a large boulder. It was Izumi and Sasuke. He was very familiar with this rock; it was where they would often sit and rest with Izumi.

Seeing Sasuke so close, his life or death unknown, a pain lanced through Itachi's heart. He wanted to rush over, but his calm, analytical mind told him to be cautious, to scan the area for traps. At that moment, a cold wind gusted through the trees, carrying a hoarse, familiar voice.

"Tsk tsk tsk… Itachi, I knew you would take the bait if I used your brother and your little friend."

Hearing that voice, Uchiha Itachi's face darkened. It was Orochimaru. "You," he said, his voice cold as ice as the Sannin emerged from the shadows. "What do you want with me?"

"Hehe…" Orochimaru's long, serpentine tongue darted out, licking his lips. "Why, to get you, of course."

"Itachi, I greatly admire your body. Let us make a deal. I will spare the lives of your brother and that girl in exchange for yours. What do you say?"

"What do you want with my body?"

"To achieve eternal life," Orochimaru hissed, his hands spread wide, his expression one of pure, fanatical desire. "You are the perfect vessel I require to realize my ideals. Come, become one with me, and you will experience a pleasure you have never known."

Itachi was unmoved, his gaze like chips of obsidian. "Stop speaking in riddles. I will say this one more time: let my brother go."

"Hehe." Orochimaru smiled playfully. A giant snake shot out from his sleeve, its massive coils wrapping around Sasuke's unconscious form. "Itachi, I have no desire to fight you. It would pain me to see any flaws on your perfect body. Just do as I say. Otherwise, your brother's life will be… tsk tsk…"

"You are so naive, Orochimaru."

Itachi's eyebrows twitched, and in the next second, the entire scene shattered.

"Ghh! This is…!" Orochimaru suddenly found he could not move. The snake had not wrapped around Sasuke at all. Their positions had been reversed. Sasuke and Izumi were now safely behind Itachi.

"An illusion? When…!" Orochimaru's eyes widened, unable to believe what was happening.

"Orochimaru," Itachi's voice was a cold whisper. "In the face of my eyes, everything you do… is useless."