Root Base Camp
A masked shinobi wearing a cat-faced ANBU mask knelt on one knee before Shimura Danzo. His voice was calm but respectful.
"Lord Danzo."
Shimura Danzo, seated in his usual position, looked down at the kneeling shinobi with a cold gaze. His voice was devoid of emotion.
"Aburame Ryosuke, your assessment mission is to bring back Uchiha Tunan."
Danzo's fingers lightly tapped the wooden armrest.
"If the situation requires it, you may extract his Sharingan after eliminating him... but doing so will lower your evaluation."
His single visible eye bore into Ryosuke.
"Only by passing this test will you be formally recognized as a member of Root. But should you fail..."
Danzo didn't finish the sentence. He didn't need to.
"Understood, Lord Danzo."
Aburame Ryosuke rose, turned, and walked away without hesitation.
Once Ryosuke had left, another Root operative silently emerged from the shadows, kneeling before Danzo. His voice was low and steady.
"Lord Danzo."
Danzo barely shifted his gaze.
"Shihei, observe from a distance. If ANBU or the Uchiha become suspicious, activate the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal immediately."
He paused, his voice dropping to an even colder tone.
"We cannot afford unnecessary complications."
"Understood."
---
Konoha Under the Winter Moon
The cold winter moon cast an icy silver glow over Konohagakure.
Inside the quiet Uchiha district, patrol teams strolled leisurely, chatting among themselves.
The war had ended, and the village's shinobi had inevitably relaxed their vigilance.
"Have you heard about Uchiha Tunan?"
"What about him?"
"He graduated early. Passed the academy exam at six. He'll turn seven in a few months and is already a genin."
"Tch, he's a genius, but let's not forget—that's Uchiha blood for you."
One of the shinobi scoffed.
"But have you noticed? He keeps his distance from the clan and aligns himself with the village elders instead."
"Well... can you blame him?" another ninja interjected. "After what happened to his family?"
"That's unrelated to the Uchiha."
"You sure about that? Listen, this is top-secret information, so don't spread it."
The others leaned in.
"His parents, Yanbu and Nanako, treated him harshly since birth, seeing him as weak. He never received their love. Then, when he finally found someone who cared—Tianxiong—Tianxiong was murdered by Uchiha Tetsugo."
The first ninja frowned.
"That doesn't sound right. I remember Tunan grieving at his parents' funeral. Looked like he was genuinely crying."
"Strict parents can push a child toward seeking warmth elsewhere, but that doesn't mean he hated them."
The second ninja nodded.
"That makes sense when you put it that way."
The third ninja hesitated.
"Wait a second... where exactly did you hear this 'top-secret' information?"
"My mother mentioned it at lunch the other day. She heard it from a senior Konoha official."
The first ninja raised an eyebrow.
"The other day? But wasn't your mother out shopping with mine?"
There was a brief silence.
"Uh… Never mind, just a bug flew by."
Above them, a small swarm of kikaichū insects flew silently, unnoticed, toward the Uchiha district.
---
The Uchiha District
The Uchiha compound was divided into two areas:
The Inner District, resembling a small town, with high property values and bustling commerce.
The Outer District, more rural, with open fields and narrow roads, home to lower-ranking Uchiha and commoners.
Uchiha Tunan's home was at the very edge of the district. His parents hadn't bought a home in the clan's center—not due to lack of wealth, but because they had wanted the best property. Unfortunately, Konoha's rapid expansion had driven up prices, and their ambitions had outpaced their resources.
Now, hidden in the treetops near the edge of the Uchiha district, a dense black mass of kikaichū clustered together.
A masked figure crouched on a sturdy branch, scanning the area.
"That should be his house."
Aburame Ryosuke's masked face showed no emotion. With a swift hand seal, he vanished, reappearing at the doorstep of Uchiha Tunan's home.
---
The Confrontation
Inside, Uchiha Tunan's eyes snapped open. The three tomoe in his Sharingan spun rapidly.
Root… or ANBU?
If it were ANBU, it might be an order from Sarutobi Hiruzen.
But if it were Root…
Tunan's gaze flicked toward a small test tube in his drawer—inside, a pair of stolen Sharingan floated in preservation fluid.
Someone arriving unannounced at this hour isn't here for a friendly chat.
All at once, the doves Tunan had stationed around the village opened their eyes, their vision linking to his own.
Hokage's office—empty.
No activity. It's not Hiruzen.
No time to hesitate.
The door creaked open.
Tunan's hand blurred as he flung a kunai.
Clang!
The kunai met steel mid-air. Sparks flickered in the darkness as Aburame Ryosuke deflected the strike.
Just as Ryosuke prepared to release his kikaichū, Tunan took a step back, lowering his head in apparent regret.
"My apologies, ANBU-san. I mistook you for an intruder."
Ryosuke's thoughts raced.
He thinks I'm ANBU? This kid must have had dealings with ANBU before.
That made things easier.
His voice remained cold.
"Uchiha Tunan, Lord Hokage requests your presence."
Tunan relaxed his stance, appearing compliant.
"Of course. I appreciate your escort."
Ryosuke cautiously approached, placing a firm hand on Tunan's shoulder—outwardly preparing for a Body Flicker, but in reality, sending kikaichū into Tunan's body.
The mission was going smoothly.
Then—
Something was wrong.
His insects flared in alarm.
Genjutsu!
Ryosuke instantly dispelled it. He was still at the door—Tunan's hand mere inches from his chest.
"Got you."
Lightning crackled.
Raiton: Pulse Shock!
Electricity surged through Ryosuke's body. He gritted his teeth as the jolt momentarily paralyzed his limbs.
"Tch—"
With a flicker, he substituted himself with a nearby log. His real body reappeared on the roof.
"Fast."
Ryosuke narrowed his eyes at the young Uchiha, who now stood in the courtyard.
The Wind Demon Shurikens embedded in the walls and ground had blocked off his escape routes.
"This kid... He's no ordinary genin."
Ryosuke swiftly formed hand seals.
"Hijutsu: Mushi Dama."
From his body, a flood of kikaichū erupted, forming a black cloud as they swarmed toward Tunan.
The battle had begun.