**Chapter 77: The Plan Begins**

Yugao hesitantly looked at Itsuki and softly asked, "Can the pain of... having your 'egg' broken drive someone insane?"

Danzo, after all, had chased Itsuki while naked and swinging a sword, trying to cut him down.

At that time, Danzo had definitely lost his mind.

His eyes were bloodshot, almost to the point of shedding tears of blood.

Itsuki glanced back at her and let out a chuckle: "Heh."

The breaking of an "egg"—in every sense—can indeed make someone collapse.

Back then, even if Danzo didn't go mad over his own "egg," he would have done it for the sake of his dignity. He was ready to kill Itsuki for it.

Otherwise!

If word got out in Konoha that Uchiha Itsuki had shattered Danzo's "egg," how could he still show his face in public?

"Do you know how powerful that move is?"

"No idea," Yugao answered honestly.

"You know Tsunade, right?"

"Of course! Who in the ANBU doesn't know about the legendary Sannin?"

"Tsunade helped treat Danzo. She assisted in his treatment, but if you had her personally handle the matter, she'd probably smash the other 'egg' with a single punch. If the Third Hokage tried to stop her, his 'egg' would shatter too."

"In this regard, I have full confidence in Tsunade," Itsuki said with a grin. "Though it was a medic-nin from Root who was the primary one responsible for Danzo's treatment."

"He assessed Danzo's injury, and Tsunade provided the treatment plan."

"After the treatment was over, Danzo's 'egg' became as unique as his eyes."

"And!" Itsuki continued, "Since then, Tsunade always smiles at me when she sees me."

"Not just because I dealt with Danzo, but also because she's worried I might try the same thing on her, though she doesn't have an 'egg.'"

Yugao blinked, "Not even Lady Tsunade could fully treat it?"

"Who knows? But some things, once broken, can't really be fixed."

Yugao pursed her lips and said, "You're really shameless, going for *that* part."

Itsuki shrugged, "Taking down Danzo isn't something to be ashamed of."

Yugao was puzzled, "So, that's the end of it?"

Itsuki spread his hands, "Once the treatment was done and Danzo regained his sanity, what else could happen? What's he going to do—bite me? The only thing he could do was cover it up."

Yugao was stunned, "Didn't Lord Third Hokage try to get justice for Danzo?"

"Did you forget that Danzo made the first move? He sent people to kill me. I only blew up one of his 'eggs'—I'm the one who got the raw deal here."

"But there was no evidence, right?"

"And is there evidence that I'm the one who did this to Danzo?"

Yugao fell silent.

The reason she was so shocked was because, in Konoha, when had Danzo ever suffered such a big loss? Yet this time, he actually endured it?

Itsuki, with a deeper meaning in his voice, said, "Yugao, what stands behind facts is strength. Once you have strength, you can make the facts whatever you want them to be."

"The Uchiha just happened to have that strength."

At that time, Fugaku was still young and in his prime. He could offer some compensation, but handing over Itsuki's life? That was a dream.

And as for Shisui, he was even more defiant—he never compromised with the Third Hokage. He dared to plan a rebellion; did he fear a threat?

Nonsense!

As for the third Uchiha leader, Zongyi, his relationship with Itsuki was the closest. Naturally, he wouldn't abandon Itsuki either.

Faced with the firm stance of the Uchiha, Danzo had no choice but to endure it.

Just like the case with Hyuga Hizashi.

If the Hyuga clan had been united and firmly resisted the Hokage back then, the Hokage would've had no choice but to back down.

After all, they were the second-largest clan in Konoha.

The ancient Hyuga clan also had over thirty Jonin within their ranks.

When Sarutobi Hiruzen sacrificed Hizashi, he could only hint at it; he didn't dare say it outright.

Otherwise...

What would happen to the Will of Fire?

The longstanding principles of Konoha's shinobi would have been destroyed by their own creators.

...

Konoha!

"Damn you, Uchiha Kazuki! I swear I'll make sure you die, no matter what!"

Danzo muttered to himself.

No matter the cost, Uchiha Kazuki...

Must die!

After a frenzied outburst of curses, he began voicing his grievances. Danzo seemed to grow tired and, after a moment, raised his head to look at the ninja in front of him.

"Why are you still here? Don't you have a mission to complete?"

"I'm on it!"

The ninja snapped back to reality, quickly responded, and prepared to leave.

Danzo's demeanor was frightening.

Plus, the ninja had never seen this side of Lord Danzo before.

He even began to wonder if this was truly the same dark shadow of the village.

"Actually, no."

Danzo slowly said, "For this mission, I think Ao would be a better fit."

"Huh?"

The ninja was startled and was about to speak when he suddenly sensed something was off.

Danzo's gaze was filled with coldness and killing intent.

"Lord Dan... Danz—"

Splat!

Splat!

Blood sprayed everywhere.

Danzo wiped the blood off his cane without expression and fell silent.

The entire confinement room was so quiet, you could hear a pin drop.

...

BOOM!!!

With a loud explosion...

Kazuki let go of Yugao from his embrace and said with a grin, "It's started."

"You're insane!"

Yugao murmured as she looked at the explosions happening in Kumogakure.

Fiery blazes were rising all around.

Many places in Kumogakure had been bombed.

Kazuki turned his head and looked at the ANBU ninja behind him, saying, "You guys go as well. Follow the plan."

"Yes!"

The ANBU squad captain responded and led the team away, heading towards Kumogakure.

"Who goes there?"

As soon as the squad captain approached the village, they were immediately spotted.

With the village under attack, the guards were even more on edge than usual.

Especially at the gates, where heavy security had been posted.

"Konohagakure, ANBU!"

The squad captain declared, "Lord Raikage should have informed you. Let us through."

"Konoha's ANBU?"

The eyes of the Kumogakure shinobi were practically burning with rage.

They had just fought a battle with these Konoha ANBU earlier. During what was supposed to be a conversation, the Konoha ANBU had ambushed them, and then, like madmen, attacked without holding back. In the end, they had even used explosive tags to take everyone down with them.

Their losses were tremendous, with dozens of comrades dead.

Now, these Konoha ANBU had returned.

Will it never end?

More than ten Kumogakure shinobi immediately stepped forward, confronting the Konoha ANBU.

"What is the meaning of this, Kumogakure?"

The ANBU squad captain said coldly, "We came here in good faith."

"Spare me!" one of the Kumogakure shinobi spat in anger, "Good faith? You Konoha bastards deserve to die!"

"Bastard!"

One of the ANBU behind the captain burst out angrily and stepped forward, saying, "We came to cooperate! Don't think for a second that Konoha is begging Kumogakure for anything."

"Silence!"

The squad captain barked, then turned to the Kumogakure shinobi and said, "Is there some kind of misunderstanding? We had an agreement!"

The Kumogakure shinobi exchanged looks.

In truth, they had their doubts as well.

About the earlier group of Konoha ANBU.

They had been talking when, all of a sudden, the Konoha ANBU launched an attack—and then fought like they had nothing left to lose.

What had they done to provoke such a reckless assault?

Why were they so desperate!?

(End of Chapter)