Chapter 322 - To Each his Own

Leaf Village. Kensei's Home.

The real Daichi was meditating and gathering as much chakra as he could. As he was in his meditative state he suddenly gained memories of his clone in Orochimaru's base. The Genin looked at the clock and let out a deep breath.

'3:00 am. I can't waste much more time. I need to get to Danzo before the Hokage. If he finds Shisui's eye there is a good chance he'll destroy it.'

Without wasting another second Daichi created two shadow clones. 'Using Shadow clones is the safest option. With my Hyper cognition skill and Analyze skill, I'll be able to avoid attacks while still fighting at optimum state. If the Hokage is going after Danzo then that warhawk must already be aware of it or at the very least will be soon. He'll be prepared. I can't get caught in their crossfire. I'll have to get to Danzo before the Hokage or anyone else with him.'

The moment the clones came to life they made a seal for the special transformation jutsu and smoke covered them.

Daichi gazed at the two new figures and smiled. 'Monkey D Dragon. You're a mysterious figure when I left my old world. It's the reason I chose you. No one will be able to figure out your origin because your identity technically doesn't exist here.'

The gamer ninja took several items from his inventory and handed them to his clones. "Stealth gear. They'll help you even if it's only a little bit."

The clones nodded. "Based on the intel we got, those reanimations knew two entrances to the Root. But since they failed the mission I don't know if Danzo sealed those entrances. There is a good chance the intel might be outdated."

Daichi nodded as he understood the worries of the clone. "Yes. But we won't know till we check it out. And if those entrances are blocked go to plan B."

"That will delay us." The other clones crossed his arms and frowned.

"Yes. But we have no other choice. Let's go. We shouldn't waste anymore time." Daichi gave the order and the two clones vanished.

'Avoiding the Hokage's ninjas and Root and getting to Danzo might not be easy. Still, I've taken all the precautions I can and made sure to maximize my odds by learning that jutsu. It's nowhere near perfect. But for the moment, this will have to do.'

—-

The two disguised clones were moving through the forest and made sure to use their skills to avoid the patrol units. Their stealth skills, combined with their special gear helped them stay invisible to the ninjas roaming the village. The two shadow clones went in different directions, headed for the two entrances they knew about.

It took approximately 15 minutes for them to get to their destination.

One of the clones looked at the large boulder in front of him. 'This is it. Time to see if Danzo slipped up or not.'

Daichi examined the area and immediately used 'observe' skill. The information he found made him frown behind his mask. 'Damn it. Not only did he seal this entrance, he also put a trap in for anyone trying to get in.'

The clone immediately sent the message via the new communication array jutsu he developed.

'Danzo sealed this location and even set up a trap here.'

'Hold on. Let me see if that's the case here too.' The second clone replied and examined the area. The information his system showed him made him annoyed as well.

'This isn't good. That geezer sealed this area too. He isn't taking any chances.'

The real Daichi was at home watching everything. 'Damn it. I knew things wouldn't go that easy for me.'

Suddenly his clone sent another message that surprised the Genin.

'My observe info showed another new entrance created near my location. It even showed me the activation seals.'

Seeing that message, a grin wide enough to split his face appeared on Daichi. 'A fortune in misfortune. Observe skill is so OP.'

'What are you waiting for? Go!'

Receiving the order, the clone immediately moved to the new location. It was a plane field with trees covering it from all sides. The 'Dragon' clone quickly made the needed seals to open the entrance.

A moment after he made the final seal the ground parted ways and stairs formed.

Just then a new system message appeared.

[You have found a Key Dungeon. Retrieving the key to the dungeon… Key to this dungeon has been placed in the inventory.]

'It opened. And I got a dungeon key as a bonus. I'm going in. I've placed a marking nearby. I'll leave the entrance open. Make sure you close it behind you.' The clone sent the message and quickly disappeared into the darkness.

A few seconds later another clone appeared near a jutsu seal and quickly followed. After he entered the base he weaved the counter seals and made sure to close the entrance.

Daichi's raid on Root. Time 3:18 am.

—-

A couple of minutes after Daichi's clones infiltrated the Root base several Anbu ninjas began converging at multiple entrances. Near main headquarters of Root there were two prominent ninjas geared up for battle.

Hiruzen and Jiraiya were leading a large team of Anbu ninjas and surrounded the locations given by his spy in Root.

"All teams are getting into position. In just a few minutes we'll be ready." An Anbu ninja reported to the kage.

Hiruzen nodded and the masked ninja disappeared. Once they were alone the toad Sannin turned his attention to his sensei's unusually grim face. "You're really going through with this huh."

"Yes." Came the short reply from the Hokage.

"This was something that should have been done the moment you knew about his attack on her two years ago. But you waited…" Jiraiya glanced at the man from the corner of his eyes and he expressed nothing that would give away his thoughts.

Hiruzen didn't look at his former student but still addressed him. "What are you trying to say?"

"It's just… The timing of this attack. It's strange is all…" Jiraiya commented nonchalantly.

"What about it?"

"This isn't just about guarding against Danzo and making a preemptive strike against him, is it? You want to use this incident as a two prong strike, don't you?"

Hiruzen was silent as he listened to his student.

The white haired Sannin continued. "It's not the Hokage's forces that's going to attack Danzo. It's Orochimaru's. Right? A narrative like that will certainly unite the village if spun right. And if for any reason, information comes up and leaked that he's in another country, you'd have a legitimate reason to send your ninjas to neighboring nations to look for her. You won't have to deal with much backlash on Danzo's death from inside the village and you can send teams beyond the border in a much more open manner."

Hiruzen was silent for a few moments before he spoke. "Do you have a problem with my methods?"

"It's just… I know as the Hokage you have to do certain things to protect the village but still… This strategy… It doesn't seem like your style… Well, whatever the case, since we've come this far I suppose we can't turn back can we?" Jiraiya shrugged his shoulders and decided to end the conversation. He stepped forward and examined the hidden protection seals Danzo placed around his headquarters.

Hiruzen looked at the white haired ninja and quietly sighed. 'Despite how he portrays himself to the others, he's not an idiot. And he certainly knows me well. It seems after this, I'll have to introduce him to Tobirama sensei.'

A few minutes went by and Anbu ninja appeared near the Hokage. "All teams are in place, Lord Hokage."

Hiruzen nodded. "Begin."

The Anbu nodded and sent a signal to the other teams. Immediately all of them began to break the barrier and protection seals around the base and began to rush into the hidden lair.

Hiruzen's attack on Root. Time: 3:32 am.

—-

The Hokage Monument.

The space began to swirl in a vortex and soon a figure cloaked in black appeared on one of the monuments. High atop the stone visage of Minato Namikaze, Obito stood cloaked in shadows. His gaze, sharp and unyielding, scanned the Hidden Leaf Village sprawling below him. Few moments later Zetsu emerged from the ground beside him.

"Madara, Hiruzen Sarutobi, accompanied by a team of ANBU and Jiraiya, are launching an assault on Danzo's base," Zetsu whispered..

The masked ninja chuckled when he heard that. "So this was the plan. I think I understand why the Hokage scattered his ninjas in such a fashion earlier. I'd wager that some of them are Root ninjas."

"So that's a clean up mission?" The white half asked.

"It's possible. It's not like they haven't done it to traitor shinobi during the wars." Black Zetsu agreed with that assessment.

Obito's Sharingan didn't waver from the village, his expression unreadable beneath his mask. "Hiruzen is still a formidable foe, even in his old age. And Danzo is equally crafty. I'd be pleased if those two could kill each other but… Jiraiya's involvement complicates things," he mused, his tone laced with both respect and disdain.

Zetsu shifted, his voice taking on a cautionary tone. "There's more. Itachi Uchiha remains a variable we cannot overlook. His loyalty to this village is unquestionable."

A smirk curved beneath Obito's mask. "Itachi, huh? He's merely a pawn in the grand scheme, yet his eyes... they could pose a threat if he chooses to intervene. He's grown far stronger than I anticipated during these years."

The masked ninja remembered the threat Itachi made. For a split second Obito's fists clenched in anger. 'He might have been a grave threat but that Illness he caught is incurable. At best he'll only be able to prolong his life for a few more years. After that…'

Zetsu's form shifted and turned to look at the village. "And your primary target? Danzo. He possesses Shisui Uchiha's Sharingan. It's a formidable weapon. Are you going to destroy it?"

"The Kotoamatsukami," Obito mused aloud. "Control over the mind is a powerful ability. Danzo is aware of its power; he won't give it up easily. That makes him dangerous."

"If that Sharingan falls into the Hokage's hands, things could spell trouble for us." The plant creature was anxious about that possibility.

But Obito had a different perspective. "Hiruzen isn't someone who would use such means. If… no. When he confronts Danzo, he'll find out about its existence and he'll make sure to destroy it. I have to get that eye before that happens."

Zetsu nodded, the layers of his voice overlapping like dark leaves rustling. "Danzo is cautious, surrounded by his own ninjas — the Foundation. He has recalled the majority of his forces. They are not to be underestimated."

"Nor am I, Zetsu. My plans have been set in motion long ago," Obito responded, confidence brimming in his voice. "Danzo will fall tonight. Whether by my hands or his old comrade's. But no matter what I'll have that eye and with it, I can manipulate the tides of war discreetly."

Zetsu nodded in agreement. "Then the stage is set. We might be able to advance our plans considerably."

Obito turned his eyes from the village. "Yes. It's a possibility. But it depends on the success of this mission."

"Are you going to attack right now?"

Obito shook his head. "No. Let's see how Hiruzen and Jiraiya handle the Root. They are a good diversion. I'm not interested in trash fish."

"Those seals Danzo placed are hard to get by. But he was at the east section of the base in one of the lower floors around half an hour ago." Zetsu informed the man.

Obito crossed his arms and nodded. Suddenly Zetsu got information from one of the white Zetsu placed near the Root base. "It seems someone else has joined the chaos." Zetsu spoke.

The masked ninja turned his head and glanced at the creature with his visible eye.

"An unknown has entered Danzo's base a few minutes before Hiruzen's team. We don't know if he's friendly to Danzo or not. He knew the seals to close the entrance barrier. Based on his outfit, he didn't look like Root. He had a greenish black cloak and a mask in the shape of a dragon head. I was able to barely sense him. So he should be formidable." Zetsu informed him.

"Hmmm… Maybe Danzo's Ace or a new player on the board?" Obito pondered for a few seconds. "Regardless. I won't allow anyone to interfere. It seems it's time I visited that warmonger."

The pair vanished into the chakra-infused shadows, leaving the village unaware of the impending chaos that was about to unfold.

Obito's attack on Root. Time: 3:37 am.

—-------------

Author's Note.

If you like my story and want to read ahead, then check out my P.a.T.R.E.0.N page. I've uploaded up to 30 additional chapters there.

Patre on.com/MonkWithAPen (No space)