Naruto: Troublesome Ninja Haruta

Chapter 115 – Grave Digging? Hunt Down Shisui!

"...You really won't give me a moment's peace, huh?"

---

In the forest behind the Senju clan estate, Haruta stood face-to-face with Shisui, visibly irritated.

Shisui, however, just grinned shamelessly. After three years of being Haruta's scapegoat in ANBU, the two had built quite the rapport.

"I came because I knew you were back. I dropped by so many times, but you were always out."

He shrugged casually, but his expression soon turned serious.

"This little meeting of ours—won't it cause you trouble?"

"Just say you came to discuss intel on Uchiha Obito. Don't overthink it."

Haruta raised an eyebrow, then chuckled.

"Looks like returning to the clan has made you more cautious."

"Some things leave you no choice. You've seen what the Uchiha are becoming, haven't you?"

Shisui sighed. Pressure could shape a man—and in his case, it had.

Especially for someone like Shisui, who believed only he could save both the Uchiha and the village. The burden he placed on himself was immense.

"No kidding. I got a pretty clear look yesterday. Though I have to ask—Itachi didn't say anything to the clan?"

Haruta spread his hands and snarked, "He really lives by the ANBU code. Lord Hokage must adore him."

"Tch. Not everyone's like you," Shisui retorted with a raised brow, though he couldn't help but feel a twinge of doubt about Itachi.

"Anyway, let's cut to the chase. What did you come here for?"

Haruta clapped his hands, and his LV8 Wood Release burst to life.

Vines erupted from the ground, weaving together into a long bench with smooth, fluid motion.

Haruta had gotten pretty good with Wood Release—channeling his inner Tenzo, he was one step closer to being a full-blown "furniture master."

He hadn't tested it in real combat yet, but he was pretty sure he could summon a Wooden Avatar even without relying on Yang Release: Chakra Mode.

"Who knows, maybe I can try pulling off a mini version of True Several Thousand Hands."

Well… a chibi version, at least. He wasn't delusional.

"That's… pretty convenient," Shisui muttered, sitting down casually. Haruta followed with a grin and sat beside him.

After a moment of silence, Shisui looked up.

"You probably know already—I've decided to meet with him."

"I figured."

Haruta nodded. Shisui had hinted at this even before he left for the Land of Water.

"It'll likely happen very soon."

Shisui's voice dropped to a whisper as he covered his mouth with one hand.

"That's why… if possible, for the sake of our three years together, I'd like your help."

...

Haruta's face twitched. This guy's trying to fish for intel from me?

He'd admit it—sure, he always messed with Lord Danzo, but at heart, he was still the man's most loyal underling!

"Sorry, can't help with that."

Recalling the many "debts" he still owed to Lord Danzo, Haruta shook his head immediately.

"You know as well as I do—we've been through a lot, but I have my own stance. I can't leak that kind of info."

"I figured..."

Shisui pursed his lips, clearly disappointed—but not angry.

Haruta had helped him in more ways than one already. Thanks to him, Shisui now had a clearer understanding of the Uchiha's deadlock—and a glimpse of a path forward.

If Haruta didn't want to be pulled in deeper, Shisui had no right to push.

"That said, I do have a suggestion. Some things are best discussed in private."

Just as Shisui was about to give up, Haruta smiled slyly.

"Though, I doubt 'private' will ever be completely private. You know how people are."

"I just want a chance to talk to him one-on-one," Shisui nodded. That had always been his plan—meet with that person alone, figure out his true motive, and decide what to do from there.

Still… the odds weren't great.

"Then that makes things easier. A private conversation shouldn't be too hard to arrange."

Haruta nodded, then smoothly shifted the topic.

"Anyway, let's talk about Obito so you've got something to report. That guy's been controlling the Mizukage and even gathered Akatsuki members..."

As Haruta went off on a detailed, almost gossipy explanation, Shisui started getting a headache.

Wait, is this really what we came here to discuss...?

Still, he didn't interrupt. If anything, this would make it easier to relay to the higher-ups.

But then Haruta said something that made Shisui's eyes go wide.

"You know, the Akatsuki's origin is kind of fascinating. Eight years ago, Hanzō the Salamander teamed up with some mystery guy to wipe them out—but the plan backfired horribly."

Haruta's tone was light, almost teasing.

"Only two people survived that ambush. Tragic, right? I mean, back then, I had it rough too. Everyone was a newbie—no one knew what they were doing."

Eight years ago... everyone wiped out... only two survivors.

Shisui's pupils shrank slightly.

He didn't need further confirmation—the implication was enough.

"Well, that's all I've got for now. Go prep for your meeting."

Haruta stood, stretched lazily, and clapped Shisui's shoulder with a grin.

"And hey—go home early. It's mosquito season. Especially nasty this time of year."

With that, he turned and strolled back toward the Senju estate.

Shisui sat there for a moment, deep in thought, before quietly standing and walking away.

He understood Haruta's message. And now, he knew what he had to do.

Watching Haruta's figure disappear into the distance, Shisui whispered:

"Thank you… Haruta."

Haruta, of course, had no idea what Shisui was thinking.

Not that I said anything useful. Man's just being dramatic.

Though, as he walked away, Haruta couldn't help but grumble.

"Always interrupting my downtime… one of these days, I really will dig up your ancestors and lecture them too."

But his mood quickly improved—because he had just found a lead.

"Even if it happened over a hundred years ago and the records are vague… the wording is just too interesting."

In those dusty scrolls, one mission stood out. The Senju clan had led other families into battle—not unusual in itself.

But this entry was written in thick, bold ink, ending with a dramatic line:

> "A successful operation that delivered a heavy blow to the morale and pride of the Uchiha clan, paving the way for future victories."

That kind of language was hard to ignore.

"No matter what the truth is, I should go take a look. Before the Uchiha fall… and while I've still got some free time."

But then it hit him—Wait… would this technically count as grave digging?

With Shisui's matter settled, Haruta returned to his favorite activity—slacking off.

Since he wasn't being assigned missions, it was the perfect time to focus on his own growth. Especially understanding this whole "bloodline mutation" thing.

Honestly, he hadn't felt any major difference yet.

The system hadn't offered any real explanation either, leaving him completely in the dark.

"I mean, sure, it's a good thing overall. But what does it actually mean?"

Haruta frowned, thinking it over.

Maybe it was a step toward some form of higher-dimensional life?

In his mind, regardless of whether this world had chakra or not, the essence of life shouldn't be any different.

"Even so-called gods in this world… are probably just lifeforms that evolved further and wield greater power."

He already understood the evolution path of the Ōtsutsuki: devour life, gain strength, ascend higher.

The Divine Tree worked by draining an entire planet's life force, condensing it into a fruit that enabled evolution.

"My mutation's probably a similar process. Chakra fusion, enhanced physical stats… maybe that's why it's called 'mutation' and not 'evolution' yet."

He clenched his fist lightly. Still not enough.

Maybe the term would change from "mutation" to "evolution" once he reached the next threshold.

He needed to keep observing—whatever the system was hinting at had to be important.

It wasn't about brute strength or speed—he could boost those with points. True changes were more subtle.

"Like… am I gonna become immortal or something?"

Muttering to himself, Haruta strolled toward a nearby forest.

After his chat with Shisui, he received word—Danzo wanted to see him.

Apparently, the old man had been waiting for days, looking for the right moment.

Haruta, of course, didn't rush to meet him.

His excuse? He was writing mission reports.

So he delayed a whole week. Right when Hiruzen was about to be discharged from the hospital and Danzo was about to lose his patience—Haruta finally made his move.

---

"Lord Danzo, long time no see."

In the heart of the forest, Haruta found the familiar, robed figure of Danzo—draped in black, face as stern as ever.

Haruta smiled and bowed slightly.

"I thought you'd decided not to see me at all."

Danzo's expression was stormy, his eyes fixed coldly on Haruta.

"You really needed an entire week to write your report?"

"Lord Danzo, it wasn't just the report—I also had to deal with Uchiha-related matters."

Haruta had deliberately delayed the meeting. He was waiting for things with Shisui to settle. And now, the timing was just right.

"Our mission was to investigate Uchiha Obito. We've made some new discoveries, and the Uchiha are also seeking answers. So…"

"Uchiha Obito, huh. Hmph."

Danzo let out a cold snort. He'd always kept a close eye on anything related to Obito. After Sarutobi Hiruzen was hospitalized, Danzo took full advantage of the moment to dig deeper into the situation.

He didn't know the full details, of course. But he learned enough—like how Obito had taken control of the Mizukage and turned all of Kirigakure into a bloodstained puppet show.

And how Jiraiya—that brainless fool—brought the Fourth Mizukage back to Konoha.

"That lunatic... actually had the guts to control a Kage."

Danzo's tone was full of disgust, but also just a hint of fear. Obito had done the unthinkable—and done it silently.

"His Mangekyō Sharingan... It's a terrifying power. Controlled the Fourth Mizukage without anyone noticing."

Haruta caught that key detail immediately. A thought flashed through his mind, and he spoke up, voice heavy.

"If I hadn't gotten lucky and noticed something was wrong, and if Kirigakure didn't have a Byakugan to help confirm it—we'd have been used as scapegoats by Genji."

If things went well, they were heroes who'd helped "purge the corrupted." But if it went wrong, they were just tools—collateral damage in a hidden war.

"You're still too young. Besides, Jiraiya led the team. That idiot doesn't know what caution is."

Danzo grunted, clearly displeased with Jiraiya.

"But… to bring back the Three-Tails? That's something. Genji put us in a tough spot. That bastard's as cunning as ever."

"Agreed. Still, it's a shame I couldn't get my hands on that Byakugan."

Haruta nodded, then slyly began planting seeds.

"Lord Danzo, we managed to secure negotiations with Kirigakure. There's a chance they'll become future allies. The Fourth Mizukage and the Three-Tails—how we handle that is still up in the air. But with everything they've done, we should raise the stakes."

He leaned in slightly.

"A main branch Byakugan could earn us favor with the Hyuga clan… and might even pave your path to becoming Hokage."

"Besides, with their help, Konoha wouldn't have to worry about anyone being manipulated by a Mangekyō user ever again."

Haruta's tone was measured, deliberate. He emphasized the importance of the Byakugan, the danger of Obito's control, and the political value of taking something back from Kirigakure.

And Danzo—ever the schemer—caught on instantly.

Byakugan.

Mangekyō control.

Hyuga goodwill.

Mangekyō manipulation, undetected.

All the key points snapped together in Danzo's mind like puzzle pieces.

Kirigakure screwed them over? Fine. Then it was only natural to retaliate. And if Konoha had done them a favor, they owed compensation.

The Byakugan? Rightfully Konoha's to reclaim.

And if he could offer that eye to the Hyuga clan... their gratitude, their alliance—it would be his.

Not to mention, if the Mangekyō really could manipulate people to that degree...

If only he had one for himself...

His eyes sharpened, but he looked back at Haruta, suddenly suspicious.

"You planned this, didn't you?"

"Lord Danzo, I don't understand what you mean."

Haruta played dumb with expert-level innocence, shaking his head.

"Everything I say is for the benefit of the village. Reclaiming the Byakugan helps all of us, doesn't it?"

"Does it, now…?"

Danzo narrowed his eyes. He was sure Haruta was feeding him subtle hints—but this brat wasn't giving him anything to grab onto.

Still, whether Haruta meant to or not, he'd offered up a valuable strategy.

Whether Danzo acted on it was up to him. After all, recently… a certain pair of Mangekyō eyes had been floating within reach.

"Let me ask you a question."

Danzo's voice dropped as a thought took root.

"Between you and Uchiha Obito, who has the upper hand? And between Shisui and Obito?"

"Lord Danzo, didn't the First Hokage defeat Uchiha Madara?"

Haruta didn't answer directly, though he was sorely tempted to say "Don't you dare underestimate Wood Release."

Still, his answer was enough to satisfy Danzo. The man gave a small nod and reached into his robe.

With a flick, he tossed a scroll to Haruta.

"Next time I summon you, don't keep me waiting. The next mission might be critical—I won't tolerate delays."

"And take this. I've been meaning to give it to you for a while."

"Understood, Lord Danzo."

Haruta caught the scroll, tilting his head.

"And this is…?"

"Read it yourself. Oh—and my condolences."

Danzo glanced at him out of the corner of his eye before turning and walking away with his men.

He had considered leaving someone behind to observe Haruta's reaction—but knowing how sharp Haruta's senses were, he thought better of it.

Once they were gone, Haruta unrolled the scroll and scanned it.

His face was unreadable—but inside, a cold smirk curled his lips.

Just as I thought… Your version's outdated, Lord Danzo.

Sunlight filtered through the trees, illuminating the scroll in Haruta's hands.

> "Yakushi Nono and Yakushi Kabuto—presumed ambushed by Orochimaru. One confirmed dead, one missing."

So Danzo was behind on current intel. And clearly, Sarutobi Hiruzen was deliberately keeping him out of the loop.

Looks like the old man's really done with you, huh?

Not a bad thing, in Haruta's opinion.

The seeds of suspicion were growing. Danzo was being pushed out of key decision-making circles.

And someone like Hiruzen wouldn't sever ties completely—but once the exclusion began, the rest would fall into place.

Haruta's job was simple now—sit back, observe, and add a little fuel to the fire here and there.

Maybe he was a master of stoking flames. He didn't have much status, sure, but the Senju name still meant something.

And the captains he worked under? All very receptive to "constructive input."

By the time he returned home, he was humming to himself.

Opening the door, he was greeted by the sight of Tsunade's flawless figure draped across the couch.

Slender waist, generous curves, and that tight white shirt—it practically screamed luxury and danger in one package.

Her long legs rested casually on the table, her porcelain skin glistening in the afternoon sun. Haruta couldn't help but gulp.

This woman is built like a summer peach—sweet, juicy, and impossible to ignore…

"...You're back?"

Tsunade lifted her head lazily, glanced at him, then flopped back down.

"You little brat. Skipping out on ANBU again? Just running around doing whatever you want?"

"Not like you're thrilled to see me, Sensei," Haruta shrugged.

"And besides, you're the one who told me to 'get out more.'"

"Tch."

Tsunade froze. Then she remembered—yeah, she had said that.

With a grunt, she changed the subject.

"So. What did Uchiha Shisui want with you? Don't forget what I told you—the Uchiha situation is a powder keg right now."

"You did say that."

Haruta sat beside her with a smirk.

"He's part of the team that was tracking Uchiha Obito. After leaving ANBU, he couldn't follow up on the mission. Plus, considering it's his clan, it makes sense they'd want to stay in the loop."

"...I see."

Tsunade leaned back, mulling it over.

"The old man and Jiraiya both said you're smart. The kind who doesn't need to be reminded twice."

"Even if you've got close ties with the Uchiha—you'd better know where to draw the line. Don't follow in my grandfather's footsteps."

Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara… That story still made people uncomfortable.

Some within the Senju clan had even whispered that the First Hokage was a traitor.

A thousand years of bloodshed between Senju and Uchiha—and then he and Madara were all buddy-buddy?

What, was Madara secretly a pretty girl or something?

Still, Hashirama had been too strong. And so was Madara. Without the First Hokage, the entire shinobi world might've been under Uchiha rule.

So even if the clan had their gripes, no one dared speak them aloud.

Haruta had read those bits in some old scrolls. Most of it was glorifying propaganda, but occasionally, some "subtle criticism" slipped through.

"Don't worry, Sensei. I get it."

Haruta rolled his eyes mentally but nodded obediently.

Then he raised a brow.

"By the way, Sensei—have you thought about that thing I asked?"

"You mean… Wood Release?"

Tsunade blinked, then suddenly frowned.

"You still haven't let that go? Do you think Wood Release is something you can just activate on a whim?"

"But… aren't you the least bit curious? Don't you want to try?"

Haruta chuckled and reached out.

Buzz—

A vibrant, life-filled green chakra surged in his palm, warm and radiant.

The energy made Tsunade sit up instantly, eyes narrowing with awe.

Such precise Yang Release control… it even left her speechless.

"Incredible. With chakra like that, you'd be an unstoppable medical ninja."

"Eh, I'll pass. With you and Yugao around, I think we're covered."

Haruta waved it off immediately. Medical jutsu wasn't his thing—and frankly, it was a waste of his potential.

He healed fast enough with his own chakra. Helping others? At most he could just blast chakra into them. He was better at sending people to the next world, not dragging them back from it.

"I'm not expecting you to reach my level, Sensei. But if you could unlock Wood Release… it'd be a win for both the Senju clan and Konoha, wouldn't it?"

Tsunade shot him a glare.

Not expecting her to reach his level?

Those words stung her pride. Maybe even ignited something deeper—her old, long-buried competitive spirit.

Of course, what really got Tsunade thinking was how perfectly that chakra might pair with medical ninjutsu.

She did want to awaken Wood Release, no doubt. But she knew better than most how difficult that was. After all, she'd seen the results of the experiments in Konoha.

So many people had died trying, and even now, there had only been one confirmed success. And compared to Haruta, who awakened it naturally on his own, the results felt… pitiful.

So, over time, her obsession with Wood Release had faded.

But now? With a living example sitting beside her, radiating natural energy and power—maybe, just maybe, she could give it a shot.

"…Fine. I'll try. But I need to make some adjustments first."

In the end, Tsunade nodded, though she clearly wasn't planning on diving in right away.

"I feel fine overall, but I've been slacking lately—my body isn't exactly at its best."

"And I still have to watch over the old man. If something goes wrong mid-experiment, things could get messy."

"Even if Sarutobi-sensei is recovering well now, there are a lot of things waiting for him when he returns. It's better to wait a little longer."

"Naturally. Lord Jiraiya really overdid it this time."

Haruta nodded solemnly. Hiruzen had been so pissed he landed himself in the hospital. Sure, he was stable now—but high blood pressure was no joke.

And with the Fourth Mizukage now a major diplomatic headache—and Haruta sneakily advising Danzo behind the scenes—it was only logical Tsunade would want to keep an eye on things.

"...Seriously, where did you get this personality from?"

Tsunade shot Haruta a sharp look.

"You cause all this trouble, and then somehow pin it on Jiraiya? Poor guy's just out there taking the blame for you!"

She really didn't know how to feel about this kid. His ability to deflect responsibility was first-class.

Thinking back on Haruta's past, she finally realized—he probably learned it from Danzo.

Only Danzo had that level of professional-grade scheming.

"…Enough. Go deal with your own stuff already."

Tsunade shook her head with a sigh.

"Of all people to model yourself after, you picked Danzo? You could've at least learned from Jiraiya!"

"Got it, Sensei. I'll be sure to study under Captain Jiraiya more closely."

Haruta's eyes lit up. And before Tsunade could backpedal, he added:

"Oh, and one more thing—once you're free, how about we take a trip out of the village?"

"Hm?"

Tsunade's eyes narrowed. What's this about? Who's he planning to drag into trouble this time?

"Just for the experiment, Sensei. It's safer to do it outside Konoha. If something goes wrong, and someone comes looking for you, it could get messy."

Haruta spoke with conviction, then smiled casually.

"Besides, I've been digging through those scrolls you gave me. Found some pretty interesting stuff."

"Thought I'd take the chance to go check it out. Might even dig up some treasure."

Treasure?

Tsunade's face twitched. Is this brat really that greedy?

Still, it sounded like he was planning to go on his own. She had no real grounds to object.

"Treasure, huh? Sounds more like you're grave-robbing."

Tsunade rolled her eyes and flopped back onto the couch.

Haruta, meanwhile, stared at her in mock shock.

How'd she guess...?

---

While Haruta continued his leisurely "slacker arc," the Third Hokage had officially returned to his duties.

But what awaited him... was more trouble than he could've possibly imagined.

Even while "relaxing," Haruta had kept a pulse on what was happening outside. He was still ANBU, Tsunade's disciple, and technically Jiraiya's subordinate—it wasn't hard to get intel.

"Sarutobi-sensei's probably not in a great mood. Kirigakure's giving us all kinds of grief."

On a bustling street in Konoha, Kakashi sat on a bench, dead-fish eyes staring at Haruta.

"And now we've got Suna stirring things up too. The entire shinobi world knows we've got the Fourth Mizukage—the Three-Tails Jinchūriki—in Konoha."

"Mmhmm. Nothing surprising there—we knew that would happen before we even came back."

Haruta lounged beside him, looking unbothered.

"That's why we can't miss the chance to retrieve that Byakugan. No matter what, we need to gouge it out from that guy Ao."

"..."

Kakashi gave him a long, deadpan stare. Seriously? Now?

"You're really just like Danzo, you know that? He said the same thing—retrieve the Byakugan. He even reached out to the Hyuga clan."

"Eh?"

Haruta blinked, tilting his head.

"Our ANBU operations are that broad now? We're even surveilling the Hokage's advisors?"

"..."

Kakashi's stare intensified.

"You unbelievable bastard. Danzo met them openly. Everyone in the village knows about it. You've been slacking that hard?!"

"I mean, first of all—we're not in charge of ANBU. Second, we're just grunt shinobi. No need to empathize with the higher-ups."

Haruta sat upright, suddenly energized. This topic? Oh, he could go off.

Before his reincarnation, he was a corporate veteran. He'd been punched by the fist of capitalism more times than he could count.

In the office, you just want a stable job. Your boss wants to cut costs and squeeze output.

In ANBU, you want to complete your mission and grow stronger. Your boss wants no drama, no casualties.

It was always a contradiction.

Try to be too empathetic with leadership? You turn into Uchiha Itachi.

Even Hiruzen didn't plan to wipe out the whole Uchiha clan. His goal was to cut off the leaders, let the rest lose their edge, and repopulate under Konoha's hand.

A little kindness. A little guilt-tripping. Boom—controlled loyalty.

But Itachi? He went full grim reaper.

"Classic deflection."

Kakashi sighed and rubbed his temple.

"Things are getting worse. I've been assigned to the Kiri delegation. Lord Jiraiya, Lady Tsunade, and Yamato are going too."

"But you? You get to stay in the village and nap."

"I wanted to go. But Lord Hokage said no. Want to go talk him into it for me?"

Haruta gave Kakashi his best puppy-dog eyes.

Kakashi just stared at him like he was crazy.

"Let's not. The old man already made up his mind. If you go, we'll probably have to carry Genji back in chains."

You showing up to peace talks? Not a chance. Sarutobi-sensei just got out of the hospital. Let him rest, for heaven's sake.

"…Shame. I was looking forward to it."

Haruta pouted a little, though inwardly, his thoughts were spinning.

No wonder Danzo's getting ready to move. The window is wide open.

He'd already sent instructions for Haruta to prepare—no doubt something big was about to go down.

Shisui hadn't said anything, but that probably meant he didn't want Haruta involved.

"With so much chaos outside the village, even if something happens inside… they'll just let it slide."

If Shisui dies, he dies. The village can't afford to stir the pot. And as long as it wasn't internal—officially, at least—it wouldn't be pursued.

The Uchiha would take the hit. Their pride would burn—but they'd be too shocked to retaliate.

A warning shot. But…

The pride of the Uchiha would twist that warning into an insult. And once a clan is fully riled up, you can't pacify them without consequences.

Even if Uchiha Fugaku wanted to turn back, he probably couldn't.

When a crowd demands blood, leaders have no choice but to march toward the abyss.

"Well, good luck out there, Kakashi-senpai."

Haruta gave a cheerful wave.

"Thanks. Honestly, I just want things to calm down."

Kakashi stretched, gazing up at the sky. After a pause, he turned back to Haruta with a curious look.

"…By the way, Haruta. What's your dream?"

"My dream?"

Haruta blinked. The question felt oddly familiar. After a beat, he gave the answer he'd always had ready:

"Simple. Marry a few wives, live comfortably. Didn't Buddha say, 'A life without indulgence is a life without joy'?"

"..."

Kakashi nearly choked. Buddha said WHAT now?!

Sure, the shinobi world didn't enforce monogamy—but was it really okay to just say it like that?

"What's with that look?"

Haruta smirked and shrugged.

"C'mon. I awakened Wood Release. Even if I didn't want to, the Hokage would probably make me marry more to 'optimize the next generation.'"

"This is about genetics, Kakashi-senpai. You wouldn't go against the Hokage, would you?"

"..."

---

That night, the air was cool.

In a secluded forest near Konoha, Uchiha Shisui walked alone, his footsteps silent.

On a tree branch above, a nightingale tilted its head, chirping curiously at the midnight visitor.

But Shisui paid it no mind. His Sharingan was active—three tomoe spinning slowly as he scanned his surroundings.

He was on his way to meet Danzo. And he knew—this meeting would not end well.

He had thought it over countless times. Considered every angle.

He could use Kotoamatsukami to rewrite Danzo's will… but tampering with someone's mind came with risks.

Too many contradictions, too many chances to be exposed.

And if he was caught, the consequences could be catastrophic.

So… he never intended to leave this forest alive.

This meeting wasn't just to negotiate. It was to gather intel, to create an opportunity.

To make sure, one way or another, things moved forward.

So when he heard that cold voice echo in the woods—

"Uchiha Shisui. I heard you wanted to see me?"

—he stepped forward without hesitation.

When Shisui arrived at a desolate temple hidden deep in the woods, a cold, raspy voice drifted out from the shadows beside the ruin.

Under the pale moonlight, he looked up and saw a solitary figure standing in front of a weather-worn stone lion, back facing him. There was no mistaking it—it was Shimura Danzo.

And that... was his target.

"Lord Danzo."

Shisui bowed his head slightly in greeting, his voice calm, but his eyes flicked cautiously around the area.

The dense forest surrounded them on all sides, save for the clearing where the temple stood. It had clearly been cleared on purpose.

In other words, he had no way of knowing how many enemies lurked within the trees. But no matter how he looked at it, this meeting wouldn't end peacefully.

"A Uchiha seeking me out? Now that's amusing," Danzo said, slowly approaching.

Two shadowy figures followed at his sides, cloaked in darkness. Their presence was chilling—deadly silent, yet oppressive.

When Danzo stopped just three meters away, his sharp gaze looked down on Shisui like a blade.

"Well, here I am. Speak your piece. You don't have much time."