Root base, deep corridor.
A piercing alarm shattered the midnight silence.
It tore through the air, echoing in the narrow underground passages, signaling the highest level of danger.
"What's going on?"
"Quick! Notify everyone! Lord Danzo might..."
The alarm instantly spread throughout the entire Root base.
The dormant undercurrents were fully awakened; ninjas in the base leaped up, donning masks and wielding weapons, rushing through the corridors—yet unaware of what had happened or what to search for.
Chaos thus began.
Morning.
Sunlight pierced the thin mist, spilling onto Konoha's rooftops.
Akashi Sora climbed out of bed, stretching lazily. A good night's sleep; last night's "intense exercise" left no fatigue.
He had a shadow clone prepare breakfast while the original washed up and changed into casual clothes. Heading out, he wandered the village. The usually peaceful Konoha was filled with tension today. Anbu ninjas patrolled streets; civilians whispered; ninja academy teachers held emergency meetings.
He spotted several Jonin from his cohort. Worry etched their brows; some squad captains gathered members for new vigilance tasks.
"Sora, you heard?"
Yamanaka Kaede jogged up, anxiety on her face. She wore standard ninja attire today, hair tied extra tight.
"Yeah, heard about it." Sora showed appropriate concern, tone steady. "Lord Danzo missing? How could that happen?"
"The village is in total chaos. Root directly answers to the Hokage; now their leader suddenly vanishes. Heard the Hokage was furious enough to smash his desk." Kaede lowered her voice unconsciously. "Anbu and police force mobilized last night for carpet search, but no clues yet."
"Yeah, too strange. Someone infiltrated Konoha and kidnapped Lord Danzo?" Sora feigned doubt. "But who has that capability?"
"No idea." Kaede shook her head. "But Captain Kakashi notified us—emergency meeting this morning to discuss vigilance plans."
"Oh, got it." Sora nodded. "I'll grab some food, eat on the way."
"Yeah, okay."
Kaede seemed to remember something and called him back.
"Sora, did you notice anything off in our clan last night?"
"Oh?" Sora looked puzzled.
"Just... Father was mysteriously discussing something with elders. Seemed... excited?" Kaede uncertain.
Sora understood inwardly. The Yamanaka clan was Konoha's intelligence core; Danzo's disappearance removed a massive long-term threat. Yamanaka Inoichi was naturally in good spirits. But he just smiled.
"Maybe something good's happening in the clan."
Kaede thought about it, agreeing, mood relaxing slightly. They walked together a bit; Sora excused himself to buy breakfast and parted.
Sora bought meat buns, eating as he walked.
He didn't head straight to Anbu base but to the grove at the third training field. He knew someone was more unsettled than him now.
Sure enough, deep in the woods, Uchiha Itachi stood alone in casual clothes, a suppressed aura around him.
"Itachi, you're here too."
Sora's smile bright, tone lively—as if carefree. Half-eaten bun in hand.
Itachi turned, face solemn.
"Danzo really vanished?" Itachi asked low. Not questioning—confirming.
"Should be real." Sora sounded surprised. "Big news. Wonder who pulled off silently abducting Lord Danzo in Konoha."
Itachi stared straight at Sora.
He knew Sora was acting.
Overnight, Root leader mysteriously disappears—no fight, no clues. Illogical. Combined with Sora's words last night, he had an answer.
"You did it?" Itachi whispered.
Sora tilted his head "confusedly," biting his bun, mumbling.
"What did I do? I slept soundly last night, even dreamed of feasting in Myoboku—nearly choked on bugs."
He lightly emphasized "dreamed of Myoboku"—reminding Itachi of his sage status and alibi.
Itachi's pupils contracted slightly.
He didn't pursue.
Sora continued: "But now the village is buzzing. Heard the Third Hokage raged, cursing high-ups bloody."
He stepped beside Itachi, patting his shoulder.
"How about it? No one's watching the Uchiha clan now, right?"
Itachi silent a moment.
"True... but the Hokage will investigate doubly hard."
"Investigate all they want." Sora shrugged. "Directionless investigation is just headless flies. With such upheaval, the Hokage must stabilize first."
"An opportunity." Itachi said.
"Yeah, opportunity." Sora agreed. "So next, follow the plan—talk to Clan Leader Fugaku."
Itachi nodded.
"What will Fugaku do?"
Sora smiled deeply.
"He'll see hope."
As they spoke, hurried footsteps approached. An Anbu ninja rushed up, reporting to Itachi.
"Raven! Captain Kakashi summons—emergency meeting in office now!"
"Understood." Itachi nodded.
The Anbu left quickly.
Itachi looked at Sora, complexity in eyes.
"I'm heading to the meeting. You..."
"Me? Of course I'm going." Sora smiled harmlessly. "I'm Anbu too, newly promoted Jonin."
He shrugged, leisurely following Itachi.
He knew a fierce power struggle over the vacuum had just begun.
He needed to play his "little sun" role well, waiting in the shadows.
Sora and Itachi arrived at Anbu base one after another.
In the office, Kakashi sat solemnly, other squad captains beside him. All Anbu members—including logistics—present, silent.
Kakashi's face grim, unprecedentedly serious. He scanned the room.
"You've all heard about Lord Danzo's disappearance?" Kakashi's voice low.
No response.
"The Hokage takes this extremely seriously—orders Anbu to spare no effort finding Lord Danzo's whereabouts, dead or alive—bring back clues."
He paused, scanning again.
"From today, Konoha enters highest alert. All Anbu squads adjust tasks immediately. Not just pursue Danzo, but guard against potential internal or external threats."
Danzo's disappearance caused waves in Konoha weirder and vaster than the Nine-Tails chaos.
A war without smoke.
Anbu and police turned Konoha upside down madly.
Yet found nothing.
No body, no blood, no struggle.
Only clue: the surviving Root ninja's hazy memory of a "spatial confinement."
A black-robed man in orange spiral mask.
A mysterious enemy using space-time ninjutsu.
These keywords made Konoha's high-up meeting room oppressively tense.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's pipe unlit for three days.
His aged face full of fatigue and confusion.
That masked man again?
Why kidnap Danzo?
What was their goal?
Endless questions, no answers.
Village ninjas panicked.
An enemy silently infiltrating Root and taking Danzo could infiltrate anywhere, take anyone.
Including the Hokage.
This unknown fear was worse than open enemies.
But beneath the chaos clouds, undercurrents shifted.
Uchiha surveillance clearly decreased.
All attention locked on the "Danzo disappearance" mystery.
No one cared about police minor moves.
Konoha's leaders, after initial shock and rage, began new power plays.
Danzo dead.
Root leaderless.
The massive underground power system had a huge vacuum.
Who fills it?
Who gets a share?
Sora saw it all.
He remained the energetic Anbu Jonin—diligent attendance, joining searches, fruitless returns.
Listening to colleagues' guesses about the "masked man," showing perfect worry and curiosity.
Inwardly calculating shifts calmly.
Finally, on the fifth day of Danzo's disappearance, new appointment came.
Hokage office.
Sarutobi Hiruzen personally announced Hatake Kakashi as Anbu Vice-Chief, overseeing some daily operations and intelligence.
Kakashi stood center, silver hair messy.
Clearly unprepared.
"Hokage-sama, I..."
"Kakashi, extraordinary times." Hiruzen interrupted. "I need someone trustworthy to stabilize Anbu."
"You're Minato's student; I trust your ability."
Kakashi silent.
He accepted the heavy appointment.
Kakashi's first act as Vice-Chief: summon Sora to his new office.
"Sora."
Kakashi pointed to a file on desk.
"From today, you're captain of Anbu Third Squad."
Sora blinked, "shocked" expression.
"Me? Squad captain? Vice-Captain Kakashi, aren't I too young?"
"You're already Jonin." Kakashi leaned back, head propped. "And I became Vice-Chief—someone must replace me."
"Your strength and merits—everyone sees. You deserve it."
Kakashi's reasons flawless.
Sora stopped declining, standing straight, standard salute.
"Yes! Will complete tasks, Vice-Captain Kakashi!"
He paused teasingly on the title.
Kakashi waved helplessly.
"Go on. Your team—same members."
"Understood!"
Sora left office, smile bright as noon sun.
Plan advanced another step.
Anbu Third Squad lounge.
Yamato meticulously cleaning tools; Yamanaka Kaede leaning wall, eyes closed resting; Uchiha Itachi quietly wiping short sword in corner.
Door kicked open.
"Everyone! Your new captain has arrived!"
Sora hands on hips at door, smug grin.
Kaede rolled eyes. "You take wrong meds?"
"Kaede-senpai, mind your tone with superior." Sora cleared throat seriously.
He stepped center, thumping chest.
"Just now, I, Akashi Sora, formally appointed Third Squad captain by Vice-Captain Kakashi!"
Yamato paused, surprised looking at Sora.
Itachi's wiping hand stilled briefly.
"So." Sora heavily patted Yamato and Itachi's shoulders.
"Work hard for me!"
"This captain won't shortchange you!"
Exaggerated actions, arrogant tone—pure upstart vibe.
Yamato's expression complex, but nodded.
Itachi silent, resuming wipe.
Finally, Sora grinned nearing Kaede.
"Kaede-senpai, how about it? Time to bribe your new leader?"
He winked.
"Don't show goodwill now—careful, I'll make things hard later."
Kaede's cheeks flushed slightly.
She annoyedly pushed his leaning face.
"Get lost!"
"Hahaha!"
Sora laughed, surveying his "subordinates."
Uchiha Itachi: future pawn.
Yamato: Wood Release user.
Yamanaka Kaede: Yamanaka intelligence channel.
Perfect.
This squad increasingly shaped his future core.
"Alright! No more joking!"
Sora serious.
"To celebrate my promotion—and Vice-Captain Kakashi's!"
"Tonight, Akimichi BBQ Q—my treat!"
"Let's go!"
Night fell.
Akimichi BBQ bustling.
Their private room atmosphere peak lively.
"Cheers!"
Sora raised glass high, face flushed.
"To our bright future!"
"Cheers!"
Yamato and Kaede raised glasses.
Itachi lifted tea, clinking.
Grill sizzled, aromas overflowing.
Sora fully unleashed—devouring meat, boasting Myoboku "adventures" to Yamato, describing Fukasaku as violent old man chasing him with staff.
Bickering with Kaede, saying her violence means no marriage.
Kaede pinched his arm angrily; they tussled laughing.
Yamato watched, rare relaxed smile.
Danzo's death—like removing heavy shackles.
Future uncertain, but now momentary freedom.
Only Itachi remained quiet.
Small bites, occasional tea sips, watching Sora perform.
He knew this sunny boy hid a calm, mad soul.
Single-handedly stirring Konoha's storm, uprooting greatest tumor, then casually feasting, celebrating promotion on enemy bones.
This mindset, these methods...
Itachi raised tea, hiding complex emotions.
Perhaps entrusting Uchiha future to this man was right.
"Itachi, spacing out? Eat meat!"
Sora clamped charred beef tongue into Itachi's bowl.
"Don't just drink tea—at your age, growing time."
Itachi snapped back, looking at meat, then Sora's cloudless smile; finally chopsticked it in.
Then, room door slid open.
Hatake Kakashi entered, still in Anbu uniform, mask off—revealing eternally sleepy face.
"Yo, all here."
Listless greeting, exuding "burnt out" fatigue.
"Vice-Captain Kakashi!"
Sora immediately jumped up from his seat and gave an exaggerated salute.
"Why are you so late! We've been waiting for you for ages!"
Kakashi glanced at him, his dead fish eyes showing no emotion.
"There's nothing I can do. I just finished a meeting with the Hokage. The village is a complete mess."
He sat down next to Sora and poured himself a drink.
"You're relaxed."
"Of course!" Sora puffed chest proudly. "I strictly adhere to the principle that subordinates should not disturb their superiors' work! You see, to celebrate your promotion, I specially gathered everyone together to hold this grand celebration banquet for you!"
Kaede muttered: "Clearly you just wanted BBQ..."
"Ahem!" Sora pretended not hear; hooked Kakashi's neck, lowering voice.
"By the way, junior apprentice ."
Kakashi's drinking froze.
"Now that you're such a high-ranking official, shouldn't you show some respect to your senior?" Sora winked. "For example, could you turn a blind eye to my mission reports from now on?"
"Get lost."
Kakashi uttered a single word succinctly, pushing Sora's head.
"Is there any progress in the investigation?" Sora asked casually as he served Kakashi some food.
Kakashi shook his head and took a swig of wine.
"No. The other party is like a ghost. Apart from knowing that he knows space-time ninjutsu, we know nothing else."
His voice carried a deep sense of powerlessness.
"The Hokage suspects that it was done by a Kage-level ninja from another village, with the aim of instigating a war."
"Truly terrifying." Sora feigned fear. "Good thing Konoha has Hokage and Vice-Captain Kakashi here; we'll definitely be able to turn the tide!"
Kakashi ignored his flattery and just kept eating.
The promotion did not bring joy.
What it brings is a mountain of responsibility and endless troubles.
The barbecue feast lasted until late at night.
All drank plenty; even restrained Yamato flushed.
Under Sora's deliberate guidance, Third Squad atmosphere unprecedentedly harmonious.
No longer just mission comrades—like friends drinking, eating together.
The hustle and bustle of the barbecue feast subsided, and Konoha returned to silence.
The next day, the sun shone brightly.
Anbu HQ, Vice-Captain office.
The newly appointed Kakashi Hatake had two heavy dark circles under his eyes and exuded an aura of utter despair.
He pushed scroll across desk.
"Sora, your first task as captain."
Sora stood straight, energetic smile, loud voice.
"Guaranteed completion!"
Kakashi listlessly waved his hand.
"Read the content first."