Chapter 165: Chapter 165

The Aburame Clan’s compound.

Shibi sat in silence, his teacup trembling faintly in his hand before he set it down again. His mind was restless.

“I wonder how things are unfolding now…” he muttered, worry etched across his usually stoic face.

Only ten minutes earlier, he had received troubling news—Tsunade had marched out of the Hokage Building with a squad of Anbu. Their destination wasn’t announced, but Shibi knew all too well: Root.

“Father, you don’t need to worry.”

Adjusting his glasses, Shino Aburame spoke in his calm, measured tone. “Lady Tsunade will succeed. She has to.”

If even Tsunade failed, who else in Konoha could possibly save Torune?

Shibi blinked at his son, then let out a soft, self-deprecating chuckle. “It seems age has dulled my composure. You’re calmer than I am.”

Shino hesitated. “…”

Truthfully, he was nervous too. He simply didn’t understand Danzo’s cruelty the way his father did. Shino’s faith rested on instinct—on the reputation of the Legendary Sannin, Tsunade.

“Clan Head!”

A clan member burst into the room, his tone urgent. “Kitazawa has returned—with Torune!”

Shibi’s chest loosened, the weight lifting at last. “It’s done…” he exhaled with visible relief.

“That’s great!” Shino’s composure cracked, his boyish excitement showing through. “I’ll finally see Torune again!”

“Then let’s meet them at the entrance,” Shibi said with a faint smile, his heart softening at his son’s rare enthusiasm.

The two left immediately.

At the gates, Kitazawa walked beside Torune.

“Torune, does it feel strange being back?” Kitazawa asked.

“Yes.” Torune nodded, his voice low.

In Root, there were no holidays. For nearly a year, he hadn’t stepped foot inside the clan compound. Returning now felt like a dream.

“You’ll readjust in a few days.” Kitazawa rested a hand on his shoulder.

“…Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei.” Torune’s tone was earnest. Since Kitazawa was Shino’s mentor, it felt natural to call him senseias well.

Then his expression faltered. “…Kitazawa-sensei, will I have to return to Root?”

His chest tightened at the thought. Root was nothing but endless drills, merciless orders, and death lurking behind every mission. A place where comrades could become executioners overnight.

Kitazawa’s reply was firm. “As long as Lady Tsunade stands, you won’t go back.”

“Torune!”

From a distance, Shino’s voice rang out, uncharacteristically emotional.

Kitazawa smiled faintly. Shino had always been composed beyond his years, but now—for once—he sounded like a boy his age.

“Shino!” Torune broke into a run.

Shibi, however, approached Kitazawa first, bowing slightly. “Kitazawa-sensei… thank you.” His words were heavy with sincerity.

“This was Lady Tsunade’s doing,” Kitazawa deflected modestly.

“Both she and you have earned the gratitude of the Aburame Clan,” Shibi replied firmly. “If ever you need anything, the Aburame will answer without hesitation.”

Kitazawa smiled. “Then I won’t be polite, Clan Head.”

“No need for politeness—we’re family now,” Shibi answered with rare laughter.

As clan head, Shibi always weighed the future of his people. And right now, Tsunade’s rise to Hokage was inevitable. Kitazawa, her confidant, was a man worth standing beside. Already, the clan had reaped two priceless gains: Torune’s return and the Explosive bugs information.

From Danzo, they would’ve received nothing but loss. Even Hiruzen hadn’t shown such generosity. Only Minato Namikaze had, before fate cut him down too soon. Now, another chance had come—and Shibi wasn’t about to miss it.

“Clan Head Shibi,” Kitazawa began, watching Torune and Shino’s reunion. “Have you decided what to do with Torune now that he’s back?”

Shibi raised a brow at the question—strange for Kitazawa to ask.

“Perhaps,” Shibi said after thought, “he could transfer to First Year Class A, under your guidance?”

Kitazawa shook his head. “That wouldn’t suit him. Root’s training has shaped him too differently. The Academy would only feel alien.”

Shibi’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Then what do you suggest?”

Kitazawa’s voice lowered. “Do you recall Lady Tsunade’s past conflict with Danzo… regarding Nono Yakushi?”

Shibi nodded. He remembered the whispers. It was after that incident that many clans realized Tsunade intended to remain in Konoha—and to aim for the title of Hokage.

“Nono-senpai’s adopted son, Yakushi Kabuto, shares a background not unlike Torune’s,” Kitazawa explained. “Next month’s Chunin Exams… I plan to serve as a temporary squad leader with Kabuto. But we’re short one member.”

“Then let Torune join!” Shibi declared without hesitation. “It’s his fortune to become your student.”

Even if Kitazawa called it “temporary,” Shibi knew what it meant: aligning Torune with Tsunade’s camp—an opportunity greater than any other.

“Thank you for your trust.” Kitazawa inclined his head. “In a few days, send Torune to the Academy. I’ll introduce him to Kabuto, and we’ll begin special training.”

“Of course. Shino will take him,” Shibi answered without pause.

Kitazawa gave a final nod. “I won’t intrude on your reunion further. I’ll take my leave.”

“Stay for a meal, at least?” Shibi offered quickly.

“No—I still have matters to handle,” Kitazawa declined, turning to leave.

Shibi watched his retreating back and sighed with admiration. “It truly has to be Lady Tsunade. The gains she’s given us… the last Hokage to bless us so was the Fourth himself.”

And now, the Aburame Clan stood at the threshold of another era.

Meanwhile, Konoha itself buzzed with unrest.

The mission to rescue Kabuto had been quiet, carried out in the Land of Earth. But this time? A direct assault on Root’s base—right in the Forest of Death, minutes from the village. The clash between Anbu and Root was so fierce even sensory-nin could feel it ripple through the air.

Konoha Military Police Force.

“Clan Head.” Yashiro Uchiha’s voice was grim. “That is the situation.”

Fugaku exhaled slowly. “…An earth-shattering event.”

Tsunade, leading Anbu, stormed Root’s stronghold. A battle broke out. Konoha hadn’t seen such audacity in years.

“Good!” Tekka Uchiha burst out. “Danzo and his Root dogs have hounded us for too long—finally, they’re paying the price!”

“Reckless words,” Yashiro snapped, glaring at him. “Where’s your sense of decorum?”

Still, Fugaku noticed the faint curl of satisfaction in Yashiro’s eyes.

Tekka shrank a little under the rebuke. “I’m just saying… Itachi himself fought Root shinobi! If it were me—” His voice trailed into envy.

If given the chance, he would’ve gladly stormed Root himself.

Fugaku cut through the heat of the moment. “Yashiro, tighten our ranks. No one from the clan is to act rashly. Root may have stumbled, but they’re far from finished. We cannot be careless. Especially with Itachi involved.”

“Yes, Clan Head.” Yashiro inclined his head.

“I’ll return home for now.” Fugaku rose.

In Yashiro’s account, one detail lingered in his mind: Kitazawa.

Why had a mere academy instructor been present in such a confrontation? The answer was obvious—his ties to Tsunade ran deeper than expected. Perhaps he was already her disciple, though not yet publicly declared.

For now, Fugaku decided against a direct approach. Instead, he would learn through his sons: Sasuke, and Itachi, the eyewitness. Yashiro’s reports were secondhand, after all—critical details could have been lost.

And Fugaku Uchiha was a man who missed nothing.

It was Sunday.

Sasuke didn’t have to attend the Academy, so he spent the morning in the courtyard, practicing the Genjutsu: Unknowing Fire—a technique his brother, Uchiha Itachi, had taught him.

“Father?”

Startled by approaching footsteps, Sasuke turned his head. For a moment, he froze in surprise.

“Itachi isn’t back yet?” Fugaku asked when he saw his younger son training alone.

“No,” Sasuke replied, then tilted his head curiously. “But… Father, why are you home at this hour?”

“I had something to take care of,” Fugaku answered briefly. After a pause, he asked, “How are you getting along with Kitazawa?”

“Getting along?” Sasuke blinked, taken off guard. After thinking it over, he admitted, “It’s… fine, I guess.”

“If the opportunity arises, you should try to strengthen that bond,” Fugaku advised.

“Alright.” Sasuke nodded, still a little puzzled. Kitazawa had helped him a lot, after all—so it wasn’t a bad idea.

Suddenly, Sasuke’s eyes lit up. “Oh! Kitazawa-sensei’s birthday is next month! I was thinking of giving him a Ninjutsu as a gift.”

“He likes Ninjutsu?” Fugaku asked, his tone thoughtful.

“I’ve given him some Fire Release techniques before. He accepted them happily, so… I think he does,” Sasuke said, though not with complete certainty.

“In that case,” Fugaku nodded, “I’ll pick out one for you to give him.”

Although Sasuke was the Uchiha clan’s second heir, the strongest techniques he could gift were B-Rank at best. Fugaku, however, had already decided—Kitazawa would receive an A-Rank Ninjutsu.

Being in the shinobi world wasn’t simply about strength on the battlefield; it was also about human ties and diplomacy. Yet, under the relentless pressure of Danzo and Root, the proud Uchiha clan rarely engaged in such niceties. They refused to lower themselves before weaker clans.

But with Lady Tsunade, things were different. The saying went: Never rovoke a Medical Ninja, especially the greatest one. And Tsunade’s strength and status were beyond question.

“Perfect!” Sasuke beamed. He had been troubled over what to gift his teacher, and his father had just solved the problem for him.

“Keep training,” Fugaku said, patting Sasuke’s head. “I’ll go find Itachi.”

Hokage’s Office

The moment Tsunade left, Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a long sigh of relief.

Although she was his student, her fiery temper was something even he struggled to handle. And worse—this time, she had been in the right, which left him no ground to pull rank as her teacher.

“Hokage-sama.”

An aide stepped in. “Lord Danzo will be here shortly.”

The headache returned instantly. “They never give me a moment’s peace,” Hiruzen muttered, rubbing his temples.

Sure enough, the doors opened.

“Hiruzen!” Danzo snapped immediately, his voice thick with resentment. “Tsunade went too far this time!”

“Oh? And how so?” Hiruzen replied coolly.

“She stormed into Root headquarters with her people and even injured my men! Isn’t that excessive?” Danzo demanded.

“It was your Root operatives who disobeyed my direct order,” Hiruzen shot back with rare sharpness. “Tell me, Danzo—is Root yours, or is it Konoha’s?”

“Of course, it belongs to Konoha!” Danzo replied with a hardened face. “Everything I’ve done is for this village!”

Hiruzen’s gaze was unimpressed. “I’ve heard that line too many times.”

Danzo tried another angle. “If you wanted Torune Aburame, you could have asked me directly. Instead, Tsunade used this as an excuse to target me.”

“Would you have handed him over if I had asked?” Hiruzen sneered. “Over the years, Root has committed countless things it should not have.”

“Hiruzen,” Danzo said gravely, “if you truly wanted him, I’d give him to you. Root exists for Konoha’s sake.”

“Enough.” Hiruzen’s tone was like steel. “I just finished speaking with Tsunade. Every Root recruit you’ve taken in violation of regulations must be returned immediately.”

Danzo stiffened in outrage. “What? Impossible! Without them, Root would be crippled!”

“Don’t forget,” Hiruzen countered without hesitation, “Root’s original roster was seventeen. How many have you gathered now? This isn’t up for discussion. You will comply.”

“Hiruzen!” Danzo’s voice rose. “Where there is light, there must be shadow. Root’s existence is indispensable!”

“I’m not dissolving Root,” Hiruzen said icily. “I’m simply ordering the release of those you took unlawfully. Or—do you want me to disband Root altogether?”

Danzo froze. The threat rattled him to his core. To hear such words from Hiruzen himself… it felt like facing a stranger.

“Hiruzen,” he growled, teeth clenched, “you’ll regret this.”

But he no longer dared to push further. Once Hiruzen made up his mind, nothing could change it.

“Danzo,” Hiruzen cut him off, his voice sharp as a blade, “I am the Hokage, you will do as ordered.”

Bang!

Danzo stormed out, slamming the door behind him. Half of Root’s power would soon be gone—an unprecedented blow.

“Haru,” Hiruzen said, staring at the broken doorframe, “send the repair bill to Danzo’s account.”

Anbu base near the Hokage’s Building

Itachi stood at the window, silently watching Konoha bustle with life. A sigh escaped him.

Earlier, he had a rare chance to stand close to Danzo. That encounter confirmed his suspicion—Shisui’s stolen eye rested in Danzo’s socket.

Danzo, not being of Uchiha blood, could not deactivate the Mangekyō Sharingan. At close range, the subtle wrongness was obvious to Itachi, especially since Shisui’s other eye remained in his possession.

Yet revenge was impossible. To strike now would ignite a war between the Uchiha and Konoha.

But there was hope. With Lady Tsunade rising to Hokage, her disdain for Danzo could open the path for reclaiming Shisui’s eye.

At that moment, Itachi’s senses sharpened. He turned toward the door.

“Itachi.”

Fugaku entered.

“Father,” Itachi greeted, surprised but already guessing the reason for his visit.

“Why did Tsunade bring you along to Root?” Fugaku asked directly. He trusted his son’s intelligence too much to waste time on pretenses.

“It was because of the mission to the Grass Village,” Itachi explained calmly. “Kakashi-senpai and I accompanied her then. Perhaps she judged our strength suitable.”

“I see.” Fugaku had half-expected Hiruzen’s involvement, which would have been a matter worth deeper consideration.

“If Tsunade gives you more missions, do your best to accept them,” Fugaku advised after a moment of thought.

“I understand.” Itachi hesitated, then added, “There’s something else…”

He told his father of Hiruzen’s decision to cut down Root.

“What?” Fugaku’s eyes widened in shock.

This was a blow Root had never suffered before—their numbers slashed by more than half. For them, it was devastating.

But for the Uchiha clan? It was a reprieve, a sudden lightening of the pressure that had suffocated them for so long.

Without question, this was a new shift in Konoha’s balance of power.

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