After a long silence, Jiraiya finally asked, "So, Kei-kun, everything you just said… is it true? You've confird the intel?"
Uchiha Kei replied, "Don't underestimate my intelligence network. I guarantee the accuracy of this information—because I have a special intel channel. Orochimaru-senpai can vouch for it."
Jiraiya: "..."
It wasn't that he didn't believe Uchiha Kei—it just felt odd. That line about the intel network… shouldn't *he* have said that? It felt like soone had stolen his catchphrase.
Orochimaru, who was also nad, narrowed his eyes. Imdiately, the image of White Zetsu popped into his mind.
As one of the few who knew White Zetsu had begun pledging loyalty to Uchiha Kei, Orochimaru instantly caught Kei's drift and nodded in support.
"Yes, I can confirm it. Kei-kun indeed has access to a highly classified and reliable intel network."
He left it at that.
Everyone present was curious, but no one pressed further. No one asked what this intel network was or where the information ca from. That was the level of trust Uchiha Kei now commanded.
Once they accepted the absurd story as truth, the room's atmosphere turned grim.
The most hot-headed, Kushina, exploded imdiately: "What the hell is that old bastard Shimura Danzō up to?! Why'd he target Rin and Obito? Is he trying to die?!"
Minato was stunned for a mont, then ssaged: "Kushina, you know about Elder Danzō and Root?"
Her face froze. She'd accidentally exposed a big secret.
Even though she couldn't see Minato's expression, the words alone conveyed his worry.
After all, things were different now. Minato, who now held real power as Hokage's aide, wasn't naive anymore. He understood many of Konoha's darker truths.
He used to think Root was just an Anbu unit reporting directly to the Hokage, with Danzō as its elder and leader.
But now that he had deeper authority, Minato knew the truth: Root was technically under Hokage control—but had trendous autonomy. It was Hiruzen Sarutobi's gesture of trust to his lifelong friend, Shimura Danzō.
That kind of independence was dangerous. Even as Hokage's aide, Minato didn't know what Root had done. The records only ntioned vague missions "for the good of Konoha," including assassinations—but nothing specific.
It was unsettling. When even the Third Hokage himself didn't know the details, it alard Minato.
He'd t Danzō before and didn't like the man. Now he saw Root as a potential threat—especially once Tsunade-sama took over as Fourth Hokage. Root would be a serious problem.
Minato was no fool who blindly trusted everyone in the village. Influenced by Uchiha Kei, and after studying political theory in the spiritual network's Great Library, he understood: Danzō and Root were dangerous. Unprincipled. Capable of anything.
Now that Kushina had admitted a link to Root and Danzō, Minato's first reaction was worry—had they hard her?
It wasn't paranoia. Root had a clear history of "eliminating threats" to Konoha.
Kushina realized her slip-up had made Minato anxious. But they were among allies—people of rank and trust. So she decided to co clean.
"It happened just after I beca the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki," she began. "I was emotionally unstable—Lady Mito had passed, and you were away on a mission. If it weren't for your constant support, Minato, I wouldn't have made it."
Minato rembered. Kushina had been a teenager then—her life was turbulent. He'd stayed by her side the entire ti.
He smiled gently.
But then his smile faded. "So… during that period, did Danzō do sothing to you?"
He didn't even bother calling him Elder Danzō anymore. That alone showed his anger.
Kushina nodded. "Yeah. While you and Kei-kun were out, two masked shinobi ca to and said the Hokage wanted to see ."
"I thought they were Anbu—the uniforms matched. I didn't suspect anything and went with them."
"But they led out of the village. That's when I knew sothing was wrong. I tried to escape—and they attacked."
"I fought back, but I couldn't win. I had to use the Nine-Tails' chakra."
"Then a whole squad jumped —Danzō was leading them. He said I wasn't a qualified jinchūriki, claid I lost control too easily, and that Root needed to keep under surveillance."
"His tone—like I wasn't even human—just pissed off!"
Her anger practically leaked from the screen.
Kurama chid in too, confirming the story. He'd been inside Kushina at the ti, lending her chakra.
Everyone reacted differently. Tsunade muttered curses. Jiraiya sighed, clearly disappointed. Orochimaru just sneered—he wasn't surprised at all.
Minato, Kushina's lover, was ice cold. His eyes glead with killing intent—sothing he normally reserved for enemy shinobi.
Kei raised an eyebrow. "So that happened too, huh? If it's Danzō, though, I'm not surprised. By that point, he was already crippled by the Second Great Ninja War, obsessed with power. Of course he saw the new jinchūriki as a target."
Why didn't this event appear in the 'original story'? Kei guessed Hiruzen probably intervened.
Sure enough, Kushina continued. Root had prepared a sealing squad to capture her, and even with the Nine-Tails' chakra, she couldn't resist.
But then—Hiruzen showed up with Anbu, stopping everything. He placed Root under surveillance and cald Kushina down.
Hiruzen was furious. He and Danzō argued bitterly and nearly ca to blows.
But in the end… Hiruzen relented.
He saw Danzō's injuries and believed his friend had simply gone too far out of trauma. So instead of punishnt, he scolded him and let him go.
Danzō didn't even give the classic "You'll regret this, Hiruzen." Just a cold snort.
Later, Hiruzen apologized to Kushina, explaining Danzō's "sacrifices" for Konoha, and asked her to keep it a secret.
Kushina had agreed—on one condition: as long as Danzō left her and her loved ones alone, she wouldn't press charges.
"Back then," she said, "the way Hiruzen apologized for him… it reminded of how you, Minato, stand up for Kei. I couldn't stay mad, so I let it go."
Everyone fell silent at her bittersweet words. Hiruzen had truly been Danzō's ride-or-die.
But then…
Minato: "And yet, Danzō still betrayed that trust. He broke the promise. He targeted my partner and my loved ones again. Not even Lord Third can protect him this ti."
Tsunade chid in: "If the old man's retiring, he should take his bestie with him. No use keeping a crippled relic around to ruin things."
She'd clearly picked up so new vocabulary from Kei.
Kei nodded. "I agree. Danzō used to be a hot-blooded youth. But ti and shadows have rotted him from the inside out."
"Once, he gave everything to protect Konoha. But after the Second War, crippled and aging, he spiraled into extremism. He's done good—and harm. So, we owe him a dignified exit."
"When I learned he moved against Rin and Obito, I wanted to act. My plan? You all would raid Root with the elders present—catch him red-handed."
"Then, even if he denies it, we'll have proof. Lord Third will be devastated. That's when we demand his removal and Root's disbandnt. A clean slate for Konoha."
Everyone liked the plan. It gave the old guard a graceful exit and allowed a smooth transition.
But…
Jiraiya: "I haven't seen Danzō many tis, but… he doesn't strike as soone who accepts 'graceful exits.'"
Kei smirked. "Then we'll help him exit gracefully."
The aning was clear. No one objected. After all, Danzō started this.
And yes, Kei's plan involved using Rin and Obito—but their safety was guaranteed. Danzō struck first. Kei rely responded.
Orochimaru added, "It's a good plan. If everything goes according to script, we'll end Danzō's reign of power cleanly."
"But… there's been a complication, hasn't there?"
Everyone: True.
And just like that, the mood shifted.
They went from unity against Danzō… to the stunned expression of a grandpa seeing sothing cursed on his phone.
After all… no one expected Uchiha Madara—*dead for decades*—to suddenly rise from the grave.
And he was friends with Obito?
And now, furious about Root capturing Obito, he was heading to attack Root himself?!
This… this changed everything.
It wasn't an internal Konoha matter anymore. It was now an external invasion!
If this got out of hand, things would spiral into chaos.
Madara's identity was too sensitive. If it were exposed, the Uchiha clan's status in Konoha would instantly beco precarious. Everything they'd worked for would unravel.
The only way to preserve peace? The Uchiha had to publicly denounce their rogue ancestor. They'd have to fight Madara themselves—at great cost.
But was that a price they were willing to pay? Would Kei allow it?
The best option: keep the clan out of it entirely. Don't let them get involved. Don't even let news of Madara's assault leak.
Let Madara finish the raid.
Then deal with the fallout.
But for that to work, Madara had to act fast—and soone had to make sure Rin and Obito stayed safe.
Everyone fell into deep, troubled silence.
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