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***
"Itachi?"
Izumi, standing beside the Root member behind the boy, also raised an eyebrow, finally catching sight of Itachi standing directly in front of her.
"Danzo-sama, Izumi Uchiha is here."
The Root member who had brought Izumi into the hall swiftly flitted before Danzo, knelt on one knee, and said respectfully.
"Yes."
Danzo nodded slightly, then raised his eyes and looked at Itachi.
Itachi also turned to look at Danzo, his eyes, which had appeared calm from the beginning, gradually darkened.
He had just refused Danzo's offer, and the Root members had brought Izumi in.
Clearly, this was a premeditated plan by Danzo to coerce Itachi into submission.
Unable to lure Itachi into Root, Danzo began to use those around him to achieve his goal.
In Itachi's memory, this was Danzo's usual tactic.
As if reading the expression in Itachi's eyes, Danzo's gaze flickered with a hint of triumph.
In Danzo's eyes, Itachi was a genius on par with, if not surpassing, Shisui.
Itachi's thinking was incredibly rigorous, his considerations almost impeccable.
Therefore, in his eyes, both Itachi's threat and value were far greater than he had anticipated.
Therefore, even if the methods he employed today would tarnish the reputation of Konoha's leadership, he had to allow Itachi to join Root.
As long as Itachi agreed, even if his father, Fugaku, and the Hokage learned of what had happened, nothing could be done to him.
Danzo's gaze shifted from Itachi to Izumi.
Seeing Danzo's gaze, Izumi's delicate brows furrowed slightly.
Both the surroundings of the Root headquarters and Danzo's presence created a profound sense of discomfort.
However, Izumi still bowed respectfully to Danzo, saying, "Greetings, Danzo-sama."
Whether within the Uchiha clan or after becoming a ninja and meeting the Hokage, Izumi had never before, in her ninja career, performed such a formal greeting as a Root member would.
Therefore, her gesture was the highest level of courtesy she could expect of a superior.
This was also a deliberate attempt by Minato to mitigate the unequal relationships that sometimes existed among the village's ninja due to differences in rank.
Minato's thoughts on this matter weren't his own, but rather the Third Hokage, who was about to pass the throne to him after the Third Shinobi World War.
"I heard that during the recent mission to escort the client from the Land of Stone, despite being a newcomer, you performed quite well,"
Danzo said to Izumi, not arguing with Itachi about etiquette as he had earlier.
Upon hearing this, Izumi straightened up and glanced at Itachi standing nearby.
She was still wondering why Elder Danzo, one of the village's high-ranking officials and someone who rarely appeared in public, would suddenly order her to be brought to such a place.
And from what Danzo said, was it because of the mission a few days ago?
She looked at Danzo and replied, "I'm only doing my job as a ninja. I'm still far behind anyone else on the team."
"Haha," Danzo chuckled, then added, "Very good."
"I heard you've already awakened your Sharingan, and you possess such a peaceful mindset. You're far superior to the so-called geniuses of some of the village's larger clans."
"I'm very optimistic about your talent, so as a village elder and high-ranking official, I'd like to invite you to join Root."
He spoke the same words he had just spoken to Itachi, but as his words drifted by, his eagle-like eyes remained fixed on Itachi.
"What is Root?"
Izumi questioned, vaguely aware that while Danzo seemed to be recruiting her, his attention was fixed on Itachi, who was standing beside her.
Although she didn't understand the situation, Izumi saw Itachi's face tense slightly from the corner of her eye, and she knew something was amiss.
"Root is filled with people just like him."
Danzo lowered his eyes and gestured to the Root member kneeling before him.
The latter stood up and turned to face Itachi and Izumi.
"He was once a Konoha ninja, just like you."
"But the village needs more than just ninjas like you. There are many missions that can't be carried out in your current form."
"These missions must be completed, otherwise the village will be in danger."
"So, as Konoha ninjas, many like him have sacrificed their past, their future, their emotions, their names, and even their very existence to protect the village."
"You probably haven't heard of them before today, but these people, like you, use their strength and even their lives to protect this village."
"The village is a mighty tree, and they are the roots entrenched in the dark soil," Danzo said firmly, like a preacher delivering an incendiary message.
To an ordinary person, these words might not seem like much, but Izumi had been striving to become a ninja since childhood, and she had witnessed her father's silent dedication to the village over the years.
However, among ninjas, those who truly achieved fame and recognition were always rare.
Most ninjas remained unknown, but at least their fellow Konoha ninjas knew of their existence.
However, as Danzo had said, before today, she had never heard of Root, let alone the existence of such a group of people secretly protecting the village.
Compared to ninjas like her, these unknown ninjas were far more respectable.
"Danzo," Itachi glared at Danzo.
He knew full well that with his experience, he could easily lure a recent ninja academy graduate like Izumi into Root.
His goal was to use Izumi to pressure Itachi into accepting his invitation.
In his heart, Itachi did not deny the existence of Root and its ninjas.
He was most aware of the darkness within the village and understood the need for such a group to eliminate potential threats to its existence.
But the reason Izumi was recruited by Danzo was because of him.
Although the choice was Izumi's own, regardless of the final outcome, Itachi found it difficult to imagine or accept that Izumi might become a Root ninja.
It was then that Itachi truly realized that during their years together, he had become accustomed to the girl who was always by his side.
Reason told Itachi that whether it was an ordinary Konoha ninja or a Root ninja, they all had their own meaning, and they shouldn't be judged based on subjective factors.
However, at this time, Itachi's inner emotions were gradually overwhelming his rationality.
Itachi couldn't accept that the gentle smile on the girl's face would disappear from then on, and she would become a cold-blooded killer without any emotion in her heart.
(The plot of this chapter may disappoint some readers, but why do you think Itachi will directly fight Danzo?)
...
"What do you think, Izumi Uchiha? As a ninja of Konoha, are you willing to become like them and sacrifice everything to protect the village?"
Danzo observed Izumi's expression, which was already fluctuating wildly.
He knew she was wavering.
Izumi didn't dare meet Danzo's eyes.
She stared at the Root ninja kneeling before him, her heart in a fierce struggle.
Clearly, she was undecided about whether to refuse the Konoha elder's invitation.
At that moment, Itachi, standing beside her, suddenly reached out and grasped her hand.
Izumi's pupils dilated slightly, her body akin to an electric shock, as she looked at Itachi.
Itachi shook his head at Izumi and said, "You don't have to respond to Danzo-sama!"
"Uchiha Itachi!"
Seeing Itachi intervene in his seduction, Danzo stared at Itachi, his voice lowered.
"Danzo-sama, I have great respect for you and the ninjas who secretly protect the village."
Itachi looked directly into Danzo's eyes and said, "But I feel that by recruiting Root members this way, you're forcing your will on others."
"I won't interfere with Izumi's choice, but at least I believe the selection process should be fair."
He turned his head to look at the girl beside him, a tenderness flickering in his eyes.
"Izumi, I hope you understand that darkness and light are always opposites."
"Indeed, we shouldn't only have light in our hearts and ignore darkness."
"But if we are in darkness, we must not lose the light within ourselves."
"Whatever you choose, I hope you will remember this."
Itachi gripped Izumi's hand, unconsciously tightening it.
A sudden sense of nervousness gripped him.
At the same time, Itachi glanced at Danzo, his eyelids lowered slightly.
His dark eyes, an unknown mixture of emotions welled up.
Izumi looked at Itachi, who was completely different from his usual self, and felt the warmth of his hand.
Any uneasiness or restlessness in her hesitant eyes instantly subsided.
Izumi raised her gaze to Danzo and said, "Danzo-sama, I believe the ninjas of Root are all great, but please forgive my selfishness. I still can't give up everything."
"My mother's health has always been poor. After I became a ninja, she's worried about two people, not just my father. I can't abandon her."
"Besides, I can't bear to leave my teacher and my companions, so I can't agree to your request."
Izumi bowed deeply to Danzo and glanced at Itachi, words echoing in her heart.
"Itachi, I won't leave you alone again. Let's protect our village, our family, and our companions together!"
Seeing the hesitation in Izumi's expression suddenly disappear, Danzo realized he had been defeated by Itachi.
Danzo had believed he had enough confidence to lure Izumi into action, but Itachi's words had reaffirmed her resolve.
In other words, Itachi understood people's hearts better than he did, or at least understood Izumi's thoughts better than he did.
"Danzo-sama, since Izumi has made her own decision, if there's nothing else, we'll be leaving," Itachi said.
His gaze lingered on Danzo for a moment.
When he looked away, a flicker of disdain crossed his face.
While it was to achieve his own goals, Danzo, as a high-ranking official in Konoha, resorted to such despicable tactics against his own village's ninjas, a loss of dignity.
He knew Root had always been a target for the Fourth Hokage, but he hadn't yet found a reason to directly disband it.
Even if the Hokage knew about Danzo's summons to Itachi and Izumi, it would have been nothing more than a conversation with numerous points.
"Goodbye," Izumi said to Danzo, and then prepared to leave with Itachi.
Danzo stood there, his aged face trembling.
He was being repeatedly rejected by Itachi and Izumi, especially his inability to control Itachi.
Danzo perceived this as a significant threat.
Seeing Danzo's lack of response and the strange expression on his face, clearly lost in thought, Itachi grew wary.
Today's meeting should not only be initiated by Danzo alone, but also include the will of the other two elders.
If it was just Danzo alone, he would not dare to do anything out of fear of the Fourth Hokage.
But the prejudice of the three high-ranking officials of the village against the Uchiha has accumulated for decades, and even though a lot has changed now that the Fourth Hokage has come to power, it is precisely because of this that they feel even more dissatisfied.
At this time, when Danzo was still hesitating in his heart, the Root member in front of him had already locked eyes with Itachi and Izumi.
Itachi took a step forward, blocking Izumi in front of him, and confronting the Root member from a distance.
He tried his best not to reveal all his strength here, because it would only deepen the suspicion of Danzo and the other two high-ranking officials.
"Danzo, what are you doing?"
At that moment, another voice echoed from outside the hall.
By the time it reached Itachi and the others, a slightly stooped figure, yet imbued with an inexplicable majesty, had already stood before Izumi.
"Third Hokage."
Itachi had sensed the arrival of someone before Danzo.
Based solely on his voice and figure, he was absolutely certain of the identity of the elderly man, whose temples were covered in white hair.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi!
"Hiruzen."
Danzo's eyes darkened at the sudden arrival of the old man.
How could the Third Hokage, with his strength, not see through the tense atmosphere in the hall?
However, when he appeared, Itachi had already relaxed.
This was because Itachi knew that while the Third Hokage might not be as impartial as the Fourth Hokage in his treatment of the Uchiha, he absolutely disagreed with Danzo's approach.
Danzo didn't respond to Hiruzen.
He glanced at Itachi and Izumi behind him, then looked back at Danzo and said, "Does Minato know you brought them to Root headquarters?"
Seeing Danzo still silent, Hiruzen already had his answer.
"Let them go," Hiruzen looked at Danzo sternly, his voice slightly grave.
Danzo hesitated for a moment, then waved his hand gently.
"Take them away."
Swish!
The Root member in front of him approached Itachi and Izumi.
"Former Hokage!?"
Izumi finally recognized Hiruzen.
Since he hadn't appeared often in recent years since his retirement, some of the newcomers to the village didn't recognize him.
"Let's go," Itachi said, still holding Izumi's hand and gently pulling.
Although Izumi was surprised by the Third Hokage's sudden appearance, she knew it was best to leave as soon as possible.
Led by the Root member, Izumi and Itachi exited the hall.
As the two of them stepped out, Itachi heard the Third Hokage's deep voice behind him.
"You can no longer manipulate Root without permission and do anything outrageous!"
....
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