Outside the Hidden Cloud.
Yako stood on the peak of a mountain, watching the village through a telescope.
The Eight-Tails was absurdly tough—still fighting through the night without showing signs of exhaustion.
Around the beast buzzed countless specks—Cloud shinobi, darting in like mosquitoes, gritting their teeth and charging anyway.
One blur of blue lightning that repeatedly slammed into the beast—that was the Third Raikage.
Yako glanced at C beside him, also watching through a scope.
'You're lucky to still be breathing.'
Finally, by dawn, the battle ended.
The entire southwestern quadrant of the Hidden Cloud had been reduced to rubble.
Luckily, the village was spread across mountain peaks. Low population density.
If this level of destruction had happened in Konoha, a fifth of the village would be dead.
By noon, Yakushi Nonō arrived atop the mountain where Orochimaru and Yako were stationed, bringing the most accurate post-battle intel.
This time, she was disguised as a vibrant teenage girl. Even her eyes sparkled with youthful sweetness—utterly flawless.
If she hadn't revealed herself, no one would've known it was her.
Nonō walked up to Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru-sama. Eight Cloud jōnin dead. The Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki—is also confirmed dead. The Hidden Cloud has already begun selecting a new host.
Including the ANBU squad that was guarding the Jinchuriki, the total death toll is over sixty."
Orochimaru nodded repeatedly, clearly pleased.
Nonō continued, "Orochimaru-sama, the entire village is like a live Explosive Tag—ready to blow. Everyone's shouting for war with Konoha. Should we be preparing as well?"
"Heh. Their fury only proves how successful my operation was," Orochimaru said. "War is the Hokage's concern. Unless I'm made commander, it has nothing to do with me."
With that, Orochimaru departed, satisfied.
Nonō watched the three of them walk away, unease stirring in her heart.
Were they truly not afraid of war with the Hidden Cloud?
A war meant thousands of deaths.
And Fox… she'd tried to catch his eye, but he'd turned away, rejecting her completely. He still clearly distrusted her.
They didn't rush on the return trip.
Eighteen days later, the trio arrived just outside Konoha.
Orochimaru turned to C. "Spread the word. Tell the Root agents that I triggered the Eight-Tails rampage. That the Hidden Cloud suffered massive losses."
C nodded, then added hesitantly, "Orochimaru-sama… with J, F, and the others gone, I'm afraid Root won't have many agents left to help amplify your reputation."
"That's your problem. I only care about results."
Yako thought: Orochimaru—cold, cruel, but fair.
At least he didn't play favorites.
"Fox, with me. We're going to the Hokage's office."
"Understood."
C watched the two depart, then headed off to find Danzo.
—Root Base—
C stood before Danzo.
Danzo began, "According to the plan, once J, F, and the others located the target, they were to lure the culprit to Orochimaru. You were to assist in eliminating them. So why did they disappear?"
News of the missing four had already reached Root in advance.
C replied, "Sir, I received a hawk message from J and immediately sought out Orochimaru.
But by the time I found him and tried to confirm J's location, the hawk could no longer track him.
I suspect that during the full moon, J, F, X, and R were all killed. They weren't a match for the enemy.
A mysterious Fire Release user eliminated our four Root operatives.
I'd like to go to the Land of Iron to search for their bodies, but… Orochimaru-sama doesn't consider it worth the time."
Danzo frowned.
He hadn't sent anyone to recover the bodies either.
Because at this point—Root only had two operatives left: C and K.
The once mighty Root, once overflowing with elite shinobi, had been reduced to a shell.
A stood as Orochimaru—technically still half-Root, but he never participated except in laboratory work.
Former C—Aburame Ryōma—had died in Uzushio.
T and G had died in the Land of Rivers.
J, F, X, and R—all slain in the Land of Iron.
ANBU's downsizing had already weakened Danzo's hold, but now Root had suffered catastrophic losses.
C glanced at Danzo, wondering if the man was thinking what he feared—all the wrong people had died, and the ones who should've died were still standing.
He and K weren't strong enough to manage Root's many covert missions.
What the village needed most from Root was its spy network—maintaining contact with operatives in other nations.
But expecting just C and K to handle a network that once required many… was absurd.
"Danzo-sama, should we begin recruiting new Root operatives?"
Danzo didn't answer.
Root performed many deeds that couldn't be exposed—missions that required absolute trust.
But the Shimura clan had suffered heavy losses under his watch. Recruiting more Shimura shinobi wasn't feasible.
The rebuilding of Root would have to rely on a technique mentioned in the Second Hokage's notes: the Tongue Curse Seal of Silence.
Unfortunately, Uzushio's lab had been destroyed before he could obtain it.
Now, he'd have to find a way to get it from Tsunade.
Danzo lowered his eyes, face grim.
Who was responsible?
He'd once suspected Tsunade, White Fang, or perhaps the Uchiha.
But this killer—so ruthless, so unrelenting—went beyond political rivalry. This was annihilation.
Tsunade was currently sheltering the Senju inside Konoha's hospital, clearly avoiding conflict.
Hatake Sakumo was bold, but he was building public support and followers—he wasn't reckless.
This level of hostility against Root did nothing to benefit him. And he wasn't the type.
The Uchiha...
The Second had warned him: "The Uchiha are a clan driven by hatred—and the ones most likely to be consumed by it."
Had someone emerged among them—a true extremist?
Of the suspects, the Uchiha now seemed the most likely.
"Where's Orochimaru? Why hasn't he come to see me?"
C answered immediately, "Orochimaru-sama and Fox went to the Hokage's office."
"Fox didn't return to ANBU first?"
"No, Orochimaru-sama specifically had him accompany him."
Danzo scowled.
Did Orochimaru actually want to be Hokage?
Why was he growing so close to ANBU?
He asked, "Based on the mission—what's your evaluation of Fox's strength? Is he getting too close to Orochimaru?"
C hesitated, then said, "During the mission, Orochimaru triggered the Eight-Tails' rampage. But…
But the Wandering Miko claims that Fox took a direct hit from the Third Raikage!
He was in full Lightning Release Chakra Mode—clad in the Lightning Armor.
Fox tanked it head-on, was blown dozens of meters away, and got back up like nothing happened.
The Raikage, proud as he is, made no attempt to hide the details of that night.
While Orochimaru drew Hidden Cloud's fear, Fox's performance sparked heated debate among their jōnin.
But they all agreed on one thing:
The Copper Fox lives up to the title 'Absolute Defense Copper Fox.' His defense is terrifying."
Danzo's expression shifted, becoming deadly serious.
He'd been watching Fox for some time—had always considered him one of Yellow Dog's prized attack dogs.
But now he realized…
He'd underestimated him.
Fox's strength far exceeded that of any other ANBU Division Captain.
Even Yellow Dog couldn't withstand a direct hit from the Third Raikage.
Even Danzo himself, or Hiruzen, would've had to dodge and counter—never take that head-on.
Just like Orochimaru, Danzo had misjudged Fox.
"Come," he said. "We're going to the Hokage's office."
C was secretly delighted.
So many Root had died, and yet here he was—personally accompanying Danzo to the Hokage's office.