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Ken's Sage Body sharpened every one of his senses.
The instant he felt danger, he warned Itachi and darted away like a nimble cheetah.
Itachi reacted just as fast.
With a sharp whoosh, he flashed five or six meters to the side.
A cloud of pitch-black mist spread across the spot where they had just been standing.
The fish in their bucket inhaled it—and within seconds, their eyes rolled back as they fainted.
Not poison… more like some kind of sedative.
A cold, emotionless voice drifted out from the forest.
"Pretty quick reactions."
Two figures stepped out of the dense trees, one in front, one behind. They wore dark gray jackets and animal masks, their gazes icy as they locked onto the boys.
One was tall and broad, the other lean, a short sword strapped to his back.
"Anbu? No… Root."
From the details of their clothing, Ken immediately identified them, his guard rising to the highest level.
Root operatives were at least chunin-level.
Some were even jonin.
Yamato. Sai. Both had come from Root.
Dangerous.
Ken narrowed his eyes.
Why were Root agents attacking them?
Was he the target… or Itachi?
But one thing was certain.
If they were making a move so openly, then either they were absolutely confident they'd win—or they didn't care about provoking the Uchiha.
Either way, that spelled trouble.
"We're Uchiha from the village. As Root operatives, why are you attacking us?" Itachi demanded coldly. Having spent years by Fugaku's side, he understood Konoha's power structure well enough to recognize them too.
The Root ninja only sneered in response.
Originally, they'd planned to use a sedative developed by Orochimaru to knock the boys out and take them away.
But the two had reacted faster than expected, and their first move had failed.
The tall Root ninja's eyes turned cold. His code name was Kuro.
"According to intelligence, Root suspects you two are spies planted by another village. We're taking you in for interrogation."
Danzo's order had been to capture Fugaku's child.
Sasuke was always within the Uchiha compound, making him hard to touch. That left Itachi as the primary target.
And according to reports, the other boy—Uchiha Ken—was also highly valued by Fugaku.
If they captured both…
Fugaku would lose his mind.
That was exactly what Lord Danzo wanted.
As for the aftermath?
Root ruled the shadows of Konoha. Danzo would handle it.
Watching them close in step by step, Itachi stayed on guard and snapped, "If you claim we're spies, where's the Hokage's arrest warrant?"
According to Konoha protocol, without clear evidence, apprehending "spies" required authorization from the Third Hokage.
The only answer he got was a pair of disdainful smirks.
Itachi had always believed in the Will of Fire.
Wasn't Root created to protect the village?
Then why were they targeting them without reason?
For the first time, a chill crept into his heart.
Sensing the danger closing in, Itachi spoke quietly, "We can't beat them. Split up and run."
"At least one of us—"
…Wait?
Where'd he go?
Ken was already seven or eight meters away.
Itachi stood there, completely dumbfounded.
After everything Ken had just said earlier, Itachi had started to think of him as someone he could trust.
…Apparently not.
"Run already."
The breeze carried Ken's voice back to him.
So much for friendship.
"Heh. If I let you escape, where would that leave Root's reputation?"
Whoosh! Whoosh!
The two Root ninja split into afterimages, each chasing one of them.
…
Using the Body Flicker Technique, Itachi raced through the forest.
Suddenly, a sharp sense of danger hit from behind. His hair stood on end. He stomped the ground and dodged to the right.
A cold flash of steel sliced past.
Slash!
The blade cut clean through a tree as thick as an adult's thigh.
One second slower, and Itachi would've been split open.
"Where do you think you're going?" The Root ninja with the short sword—code name Shin—blocked his retreat, a mocking grin on his face, like a cat toying with a mouse.
Itachi was only six or seven.
Yes, Kakashi had made chunin at six… but how many Kakashis existed in the entire ninja world?
Itachi lowered his stance slightly.
Perfect combat posture.
A kunai flashed into his hand.
His eyes sharpened like a hawk's, locked onto his opponent.
From the exchange just now, he'd already judged it—
Chunin-level.
He himself was only a bit above genin.
There was a gap.
But he wouldn't just give up.
If it came to it, he'd fight to the death.
Seeing him still resist, Shin's eyes turned cold as he rushed forward, blade gleaming. In an instant, dozens of slashes enveloped Itachi.
He specialized in swordsmanship.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Steel rang out as blade met kunai, the sharp echoes filling the forest.
"Not bad," Shin thought, slightly surprised. The kid was stronger than expected.
"But you've lost."
With a cold smile, he vanished—and reappeared behind Itachi, slashing down.
Bang!
Itachi disappeared.
A rotting log took his place.
"Fast substitution!"
Shin reacted instantly, slashing to the side—splitting Itachi's figure midair.
But Itachi was already forming hand seals.
A massive fireball roared out.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
Shin's expression tightened. The boy's combat flow was tight, one move chaining into the next.
But he was still just a child.
A chunin wouldn't fear him.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"
A roaring water dragon surged forward.
Fire and water collided, exploding into thick steam.
The battle continued.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Metal rang out again and again.
But Itachi was only six.
His body was still developing. His stamina and chakra were running dry fast.
That one fire technique had already consumed most of what little chakra he had.
He knew it too—and tried to end things quickly.
But rushing led to mistakes.
Shin seized an opening and slammed the back of his blade into Itachi's chest.
Itachi was sent flying three or four meters.
Their orders were to capture him alive.
Otherwise, that strike might've killed him.
Itachi hit the ground hard.
Pain exploded in his chest. His face went pale, his body trembling uncontrollably.
"You should've just come quietly," Shin sneered. "Now you get a beating for nothing."
"Was it Danzo who ordered you to act against the Uchiha?"
At that moment—
A voice, cold as ice, cut through the air.
Shin froze.
He turned—
A middle-aged man stood there, short black hair, clad in a Konoha jonin flak jacket.
In his crimson eyes, three black tomoe slowly spun.
In an instant, Shin was caught in a genjutsu. His eyes went vacant as he collapsed, foam bubbling from his mouth.
Mikoto had mentioned that Ken and Itachi had gone fishing for snakehead fish. Fugaku happened to have time, so he came to take a look—
Only to witness this.
"Father… a Root ninja is chasing Ken…" Itachi said through the pain, pointing in the direction Ken had fled.
A terrifying killing intent burst from Fugaku.
"....."