Chapter 23: Waves and Twists

Shimura Danzo, clan head of the Shimura clan, assistant to the Third Hokage.

Of course, there was another identity unknown to the public — the leader of Root! Hearing this name, the whole crowd erupted; the killing intent that had been brewing instantly dissipated.

"It's Lord Danzo — how could he be here? Could it really be that the Hokage is the one not letting us enter the Village?"

"Damn it."

"How can this be!"

A man's name, a tree's shadow.

As ninja of Konoha, who did not know Danzo's great name?

He merely stood there, and the crowd's faces changed; fear filled their hearts, their spirits sinking.

"Shisui Uchiha, are you questioning the Hokage's orders?"

His voice was low as he let Shisui Uchiha stand beside him, several masked ninja surrounding them, watching Shisui's every move with deadly focus.

"This subordinate would not dare. It is merely that the crowd's emotions are hard to contain. Hui was only worried that everyone might be deceived by spies. I ask Lord Danzo to decide."

Danzo glanced at Shisui with some surprise, then swept his gaze over the crowd.

Hui's face was unfriendly, not showing the slightest fear as he met Danzo's gaze.

"Hmph~"

Evil Uchiha!

Seeing Uchiha Hui's utter disrespect, Danzo gave a cold snort and said in a deep voice: "This is the Hokage's order. You are not to enter the Village now. Await further orders!"

"Everything is as Lord Danzo commands."

Danzo had spoken, and Shisui, keeping Sima Yi's instructions firmly in mind, did not object.

"Hmph~"

Hui merely gave a cold snort as well, silently calming his breath.

The crowd sighed, hearts unwilling, but under such heavy-handed authority they could only comply.

"Not allowed to enter the Village? When did this old man ever hear of the Hokage giving such an order? Or is someone falsely transmitting the Hokage's command?"

Swish swish swish~ several dozen figures rushed over from the direction of Konoha. Two Root ninja immediately stepped forward to block them, but were sent crashing to the ground in an instant.

Several dozen people surrounded the Root ninja tightly. The one at the head stepped out slowly — his face aged, also leaning on a cane, yet his aura was terrifying.

"Elder!"

Seeing who had come, the Uchiha clansmen revealed expressions of surprise one after another.

The one who had come was none other than the Great Elder of the Uchiha clan. The several dozen people around him were all Elite Forces ninja of the Uchiha clan, among whom two in particular had astonishing auras.

Danzo's face changed, and he asked aloud: "Why are you here?"

What the Uchiha Great Elder had brought was no random group — they were members of the Police Department.

He looked toward a Root ninja, but saw that person shake his head to indicate he did not know.

The Uchiha Great Elder paid no heed, turning instead to look at Shisui. "Hmph, disgraceful thing! People of Uchiha, follow me!"

Having said this, he turned and left, paying no attention whatsoever to Danzo's unsightly expression.

With a sharp ring, the Root ninja drew their blades one after another, eyeing the Great Elder with hostility.

"Hahaha, what — you want to make a move against this old man?"

The Great Elder gave a cold laugh, utterly unconcerned by the host of Root ninja. But so long as he stood there, the Uchiha clansmen present had a backbone to rely on.

Uchiha Hui, Uchiha Jin Huo, and the others activated their Copy Wheel Eyes in unison, staring fixedly at Danzo, staring fixedly at every Root ninja.

Just waiting for a single order! Between Shimura Danzo and the Uchiha Great Elder, whose strength was greater? Without question, so long as the Third did not intervene, the strength the Great Elder commanded could easily wipe the entire Shimura clan from Konoha.

Danzo knew this well — the Uchiha's power could not be underestimated. But if he simply let them leave like this, where would his face be placed in the future?

"People of Uchiha, publicly attacking the Anbu — what are you trying to do?"

Just then, the situation changed once more, as several more people walked over from afar.

Shisui's gaze shifted slightly. Danzo gave a cold snort, his chest puffing up just a little. The Great Elder's eyes lowered slightly, the hand gripping his cane tightening just a touch.

It really is that stinking woman!

Hui looked past the newcomer toward those behind her, cursing silently in his heart.

"Whether it is the Anbu or something else entirely, Advisor Koharu should know perfectly well in her heart."

The newcomer was none other than one of the Hokage's advisors, Koharu. And following behind her were unmistakably the Eastern Front Medical Squad Captain Kaharu and two Anbu members!

The Great Elder responded verbally, but in his heart felt somewhat vexed. If it were only Danzo, he could have taken everyone away by force.

Others might not know about Root, but could Shisui and the Great Elder be unclear about the other's identity?

Even if they fought and killed every one of these Root ninja, the other side could do nothing to him — because Root was, by its very nature, an existence without identity, unknown to the world.

But Koharu's appearance with the Anbu forced the Great Elder to abandon this idea. Her appearance truly and tangibly represented the Hokage's will.

If he remained forceful, perhaps they could enter, but on the Hokage's side — "Don't change the subject. Shisui Uchiha, immediately take them to the rear to set up camp and await the next order!"

Koharu, knowing the Uchiha Great Elder was a tough opponent, simply bypassed him and issued the order directly to Shisui.

The Hokage's advisor's order, Shisui could not refuse, nor could he refuse. He glanced at the Great Elder, saw his expression was calm, and lowered his head in acceptance.

"How can this be!"

"Why won't they let us in?"

"Lord Hokage, how could he—"

Seeing the matter settled, the crowd's hearts were as dead as ashes. It was merely entering the Village — they could not understand what it was all for. Among them were also veterans who had participated in many wars; they were even more vexed. Clearly they had been able to enter the Village smoothly before, so why this time, after so many twists and turns, must they still wait here? What were they waiting for? But the order had been confirmed, and not wanting to be treated as rogue ninja, they could only obey.

The crowd sighed and slowly turned back.

Whoosh~ suddenly, another Anbu appeared by Body Flicker before Shisui and the others. He had a head of silver hair, shining brilliantly in the setting sun.

"By order of the Hokage: the villagers have been evacuated. Shisui Uchiha is to immediately lead the ninja army into the Village, and along the way restrain his subordinates from colliding with the villagers."

The sudden turn of events left everyone dumbfounded. Danzo was stunned for several seconds before stepping up to the Anbu, asking in an incredulous tone: "Monkey, what does this mean?"

"This is an order from the Hokage-sama. Everyone, carry it out!"

His tone was flat, and the moment he finished speaking he vanished with the Body Flicker Technique, offering no explanation whatsoever.

"Hahaha, since it's an order from the Hokage, Shisui, don't you dare delay—execute it at once!"

The Elder let out a loud laugh, swept his gaze over the two of them with a touch of mockery, then leaned on his cane and left.

The clansmen he had brought with him followed closely behind, heading off in the direction of Konoha.

Danzo's face darkened. He had only just opened his mouth to say something when a Root member came to his side and whispered in his ear.

Only then did Danzo come to his senses. He stared at the Elder's retreating back with a sullen gaze, gave a cold snort, and turned to leave.

Almost at the same moment, an Anbu ninja also hurried to Koharu's side and whispered something into her ear as well.

"What?"

She cried out sharply in shock, then immediately looked toward Konoha.

This place was no more than three li from the gates of Konoha; anyone with good eyesight could stand on tiptoe and see clearly what was happening over there.

They saw that over a thousand people had already gathered near the gates of Konoha, a dense, packed crowd, all gazing toward this spot.

Some of them were from the Uchiha, some were simply ordinary civilians from within Konoha's inner districts; they had come here only to wait for the family members who would return safely from the battlefield.

(End of this chapter)