4 Chapter 4

At this time, inside the Hokage building, Hiruzen sat in contemplative silence, waiting for a report from his son Shinnosuke.

Moments later, the hushed stillness was shattered by the arrival of an Anbu Ninja, their shadowy silhouette a harbinger of ill tidings.

But instead of his son or daughter-in-law, it was another Anbu team leader who knelt before Hiruzen, their voice trembling with trepidation.

"Lord Hokage," the Anbu leader stammered, their words punctuated by fear, "the team led by Shinnosuke... When we arrived, All, all of them were killed, and Mr. Shinnosuke's head was missing!"

A thunderous boom resonated through the Hokage's office as Hiruzen's world seemed to tilt on its axis.

His aged heart hammered against his chest, and waves of dizziness threatened to engulf him as he struggled to comprehend the news.

In a blur of motion, he surged from his seat and raced through the corridors of the Hokage building.

In less than ten minutes, Hiruzen stood upon the solemn threshold of the Uchiha clan compound, his mind reeling with a maelstrom of emotions as he braced himself to confront the unfathomable truth that awaited him within.

The remains of the Anbu ninjas, including his son and daughter-in-law, lay scattered amidst the wreckage, their bodies cruelly ravaged and their identities obscured by the cloak of death.

But most chilling of all was the absence of Shinnosuke's head, a grim testament to the brutality of the unknown assailant.

His kindly visage of the Third Hokage was gone, replaced by a dark and foreboding countenance suffused with a palpable aura of menace.

His confidants, usually steadfast in their loyalty, shrank back in fear at the sight of their leader's transformation.

Even in his old weakened state, Hiruzen exuded an aura of power and authority that instilled fear in equal measure.

His reputation as the legendary "God of Shinobi" was not unfounded, and in this moment of crisis, his presence alone was enough to send shivers down the spines of those in his midst.

Amidst the palpable tension, a hesitant voice broke the oppressive silence. "We, we don't know," the Anbu member stammered, his gaze averted in shame and confusion. "When we arrived, it was already..."

The anbu member tried to explain, but was unable to find an answer.

Hiruzen's expression darkened further, his eyes ablaze with a mixture of grief and righteous indignation.

The Anbu team had already searched the Uchiha compound, but couldn't find any clues to unravel the mystery shrouding the scene.

Before long, another small team of Anbu rushed over.

"Hokage-sama," one of them reported, breathless from their haste, "Uchiha Sasuke remains alone in the Uchiha clan estate, but he's like a specter now, fallen into a severe coma, and..."

Pausing briefly, the Anbu member hesitated before delivering the unsettling news, "There are Root ninjas that have arrived, led by Lord Danzo."

Danzo's presence in the Uchiha compound, was also because he coveted Sharingan.

Hiruzen had to keep him in check, to prevent Danzo's future power from swelling to the extent of threatening him.

Meanwhile, Danzo's Root operatives brazenly scoured the Uchiha residences, seizing any possessions deemed valuable.

As for Uchiha's extermination, Konoha also needed a scapegoat. 

While Uchiha Itachi could easily be blamed for the majority of the atrocities, one person still needs to be responsible for the inducement.

This person is Danzo.

Throughout Konoha's history, Danzo had often took the blame for the village's darker deeds.

....

At this time, at the end gate of the village, two Anbu fell to the ground.

They were no match for Naraku, whose Sharingan alone was enough to render them helpless, with a mere glance.

Naraku harbored his own grudge against Konoha, yet he didn't see the need to kill Anbu before him.

As he crossed the threshold of the gate, prepared to vanish into the enveloping darkness, a calm voice pierced through the night from behind him.

"Hey, you..."

In that moment, Naraku paused.

After the devastating Nine Tails incident, the Uchiha clan found themselves relegated to the outskirts of Konoha, isolated in the shadows of the village.

Without someone of significant power, garnering attention from the rest of the populace proved to be an arduous task.

Yet, amidst the darkness of the night, this mysterious presence stirred, disrupting the peace of the village.

Naraku, slowly turned his head to face the enigmatic figure emerging from the shadows.

Then the figure stepped into the faint moonlight, revealing their identity.

Cloaked in black robes and adorned with an unmistakable orange-black mask bearing a swirling pattern, stood Uchiha Obito.

Naraku placed his right hand on the handle of Kyōka Suigetsu's sword ready to wield it.

Sensing Naraku's readiness to strike, Obito swiftly raised his hands in a gesture of non-aggression, taking a cautious step back to diffuse the tension. "Wait, don't attack me," he urged, his tone betraying a hint of sincerity. "I don't mean to fight you."

With a wary gaze, Naraku maintained his defensive stance.

"Are you just trying to waste my time?" he retorted icily.

Obito's demeanor shifted, a glint of genuine curiosity gleaming in his eyes.

"Hehe, it's nothing," he chuckled lightly, his tone tinged with intrigue. "I am very interested in you."

As the sounds of Konoha ninja grew nearer, Obito choose to retreat, not wanting to reveal himself.

Obito's left eye began to swirl within his mask, a vortex of energy enveloped his form, pulling him into its depths.

Without another word, he vanished into the ether, leaving behind a thought, "I didn't expect that there would be such a variable, and it will definitely become more interesting in the future. Sooner or later, we will meet again."

With Obito's departure, Naraku's grip on Kyōka Suigetsu's sword lossened. 

He sensed the approaching presence of the Konoha shinobi, in the distance.

Choosing to bide his time and avoid unnecessary conflict for now, Naraku dashed into the forest, his form melted seamlessly into the moonlit.

....

The Anbu's efficiency was high, and the list of Uchiha's deaths was be sorted out swiftly, the only dead body that has not been found was Uehara Naraku's.

Hiruzen's brow furrowed in surprise and intrigue at the mention of this person, a rumored supporter of the Uchiha rebellion.

Naraku had risen to the rank of Jōnin at a mere sixteen years of age, and had garnered him a reputation as an elite among shinobi.

However, his son's and the anbu's deaths rose unsettling questions about Naraku's true strength and motives.

Could it be that he had been concealing his true power all along?

If this was the case, even Hiruzen can't help of being frightened of his potential.

Recognizing the imminent threat posed by Naraku's unchecked abilities, Hiruzen wasted no time in taking decisive action.

Immediately, Hiruzen issued wanted warrants for the two surviving Uchiha individuals overnight, their crimes outlined for all of Konoha to see.

Uchiha Itachi, designated S-class rebel, crime, slaughtering the entire Uchiha clan.

Uehara Naraku, designated S-class rebel, crime, stealing Konoha's high-level secrets and mercilessly eliminating several Anbu team members.

The news of the wanted warrants spread among the ranks of Konoha's Anbu members.

Dozens of shinobi were mobilized overnight, their mission clear: apprehend Naraku at all costs.

For Itachi, the wanted warrant was just a smoke screen, there was an escape route arranged for him.

But for Naraku, this was a real pursuit.