The Root ninja urgently stepped forward, his voice trembling with anxiety. With everything Danzo had just revealed about Uchiha Souji's supposed schemes, he was desperate for a solution.
"Danzo-sama," he pleaded, "we can't just sit and wait, right? If we delay any longer, we may lose our last chance! This is an outright conspiracy!"
Danzo's expression shifted immediately—his earlier frustration turning into a look of cold triumph.
"It's only Uchiha Souji," Danzo said with a scoff. "He is merely repeating old strategies from the Sengoku era. Nothing I cannot counter."
He reached for a new scroll on the table and tossed it toward the Root shinobi.
"The key to breaking his so-called plan is right here."
The Root shinobi eagerly picked up the scroll, unrolling it with anticipation. His eyes widened.
The document detailed the history of a Konoha Chūnin—a certain man named Mizuki.
Even the Root ninja felt stunned as he read the file.
Mizuki was… pathetic.
A man so desperate for recognition that he tried to exploit the tragic deaths of Iruka's parents to gain sympathy from the Third Hokage.
A man who abandoned his comrades mid-mission, then lied about their deaths to save himself.
A man who attempted to obtain a teaching license at the Academy multiple times—and failed each time.
A man willing to betray the Leaf to join Orochimaru in search of power.
He would do anything—anything—to get ahead.
"Mizuki is a man made for Root…" the ninja thought. "Why wasn't he recruited earlier?"
But then the shinobi finally understood: Mizuki's history was so dark that even the Academy had rejected him.
A perfect pawn.
He looked up. "Danzo-sama, do you mean… we can recruit this man? Use him against Uchiha Souji?"
One of Danzo's eyebrows twitched violently.
Use Mizuki to fight Uchiha Souji?
Was this subordinate an idiot?
Danzo gripped his cane tightly, restraining the urge to beat him senseless.
"You fool," Danzo hissed. "Do not give that Chūnin so much credit."
He pointed at the scroll.
"Mizuki is not a weapon against Souji—he is Souji's next target!"
The Root shinobi froze.
Danzo continued, "Some time ago, Mizuki attempted to kill Uchiha Souji to gain Orochimaru's favor. He failed miserably."
He grunted.
"If it were you fools, you would have killed Mizuki on the spot and rushed to claim credit."
He leaned forward, voice dropping to a chilling whisper.
"But Souji didn't kill him. He left Mizuki alive.
Not only that—Souji even left him a token, instructing Mizuki to return after 'awakening.'"
The Root shinobi's eyes widened.
"What? Why? What use is a disgraced Chūnin?"
Danzo let out a long, dramatic sigh. How could his subordinates be so dense?
"You idiots… cannot you see? Mizuki is exactly the kind of pawn Souji needs."
Danzo lifted a finger and began his explanation—slowly, painfully slowly.
"Mizuki is ambitious. His heart is dark. His morals are twisted. He is a man desperate enough to betray Konoha at any time."
Danzo continued:
"Because he is a careerist, he can be easily manipulated."
"Souji will use Mizuki to do things the Uchiha clan cannot do themselves."
"For example—Souji can send Mizuki to recruit criminals, stir up unrest, or even publicly insult the Uchiha."
The Root ninja blinked. "Publicly insult the Uchiha…? But why would Souji want that?"
Danzo smirked darkly.
"To manufacture conflict, of course."
He struck his cane against the floor.
"Once Mizuki slanders the Uchiha, Souji and the clan will step forward looking pitiable and oppressed.
Their 'victim' status will grow.
Public sympathy will shift in their favor."
He raised his voice:
"If Konoha retaliates, they become the oppressors.
And if they do nothing, Souji looks even more justified!"
Danzo's eye gleamed with paranoia.
"He has set a perfect trap. A cycle that strengthens the Uchiha narrative—and Souji's leadership."
The Root leader was practically trembling.
"That child," Danzo whispered, "is a monster.
A strategist like Uchiha Madara reborn."
The Root executives shivered. The room felt ice-cold.
If a seven-year-old could manipulate the entire village like this…
What would he become at age sixteen? Or twenty?
One Root commander slammed his hand on the table.
"Danzo-sama! I will go now! I'll take Mizuki's head myself!"
He stood up aggressively and prepared to storm out.
Danzo raised a hand sharply.
"Sit down."
The commander paused, confused.
Danzo gritted his teeth.
"If you kill Mizuki, we lose Souji's pawn. We lose his next move. And then Souji will shift tactics in a way we cannot predict."
He took a deep breath.
"And worse—the Uchiha clan's protection of Souji is stronger than ever. Not even a fly can enter their grounds. We need a way to infiltrate."
Danzo lifted his cane.
"So listen carefully."
He spoke slowly, like scolding a child:
"We will not kill Mizuki.
We will reward Mizuki."
The Root ninja stared, not understanding.
Danzo continued:
"Give him money. Give him the best living conditions. Give him special training. Heel him. Feed him. Raise him."
"Make him our inner spy, watching Uchiha Souji's every move from the inside."
"When the time comes, after we gather enough evidence…
we will strike.
Souji will be destroyed in one blow."
Danzo's voice echoed through the chamber.
"Now!
You!
Immediately go and secure Mizuki! Train him, reward him, and then send him to get close to Souji!"
The senior Root member saluted and turned around. But before leaving, he turned back with admiration glowing in his eyes.
"Danzo-sama… you are truly extraordinary. A hero of this era! Even if Uchiha Madara returned, he would not match your brilliance! The Hokage position—"
Danzo suddenly narrowed his eye.
"…Are you done?"
The Root shinobi nodded proudly.
And then—
He suddenly felt a crushing pain in his chest.
He couldn't breathe.
His heart seized.
He collapsed to the floor.
Danzo placed his cane back on the ground with a heavy clack.
"Idiot."
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