Seeing that Uchiha Gogo was still hesitating, White Zetsu continued speaking.
"That ANBU Fox who went with you to the Land of Rain — that guy is rotten to the core.
If he had used Wood Release right away against Lord Madara, would Lord Madara have even bothered with weak Uchiha like you?
Four Uchiha died before Fox finally acted, and even then he saved you reluctantly.
People like Fox are just extensions of Konoha's higher-ups. He was there to monitor you entering the Land of Rain.
Think back carefully — wasn't he the one who led you to Lord Madara?
And didn't he arrive late, only after your team had suffered heavy casualties?"
Uchiha Gogo's breathing grew ragged.
Yes… Fox had been the one to lead them to Uchiha Madara.
Why did Fox know how to find him? They had wandered through the Land of Rain like headless flies. Without Fox's guidance, they might not have found Madara even after another month.
Sensing the moment, White Zetsu pressed further.
"I personally saw you kill an ANBU ninja. How about we work together and kill Fox?"
The moment Gogo heard that this pale creature had witnessed his crime, his first instinct was silence — permanent silence.
He crushed White Zetsu again.
His strength had grown tremendously, but the ANBU deputy commander — the infamous Copper Fox — still weighed heavily on his mind.
When White Zetsu appeared again, Gogo's irritation surfaced. The creature was like something that could never be killed.
"Why do you want to target Copper Fox of the ANBU?" he demanded. "Surely you're not just helping me hide the truth. Give me a reason to believe you."
White Zetsu replied calmly.
"In the past, I could come and go from Konoha whenever I pleased.
The village barrier is the same as it was decades ago when Lord Madara lived there — no improvement at all.
Recently, however, I've run into trouble.
Someone can sense my presence. I didn't know who it was before.
Now I do. Copper Fox mastered Wood Release through experimentation — it must be him.
If I kill him, I regain my freedom to move in and out of Konoha.
And if you kill him, you avenge your teacher and deal a heavy blow to the village.
Copper Fox is the ANBU deputy commander. Two deputy commanders dying in succession would cripple Konoha's power in the shadows.
Gogo… Konoha will never truly trust the Uchiha. The peace you enjoy now is false.
One day, Konoha will bare its fangs and devour the Uchiha who remain within it."
Gogo felt himself swayed.
"I'll consider it."
As soon as he finished speaking, he grabbed the pale figure's throat again and crushed it.
Several white corpses lay on the ground.
Gogo used Fire Release to burn them away.
The bodies were strange — instead of the charred smell of flesh, they burned like dry wood.
Uchiha Tōka rushed over in alarm.
"Brother! Why use Fire Release? Did someone come?!"
Fear flickered across his face, wondering if their killing of an ANBU had been exposed.
"It's nothing," Gogo replied calmly. "Just burning something that shouldn't see the light."
Inside the ANBU base.
Yako stood with Golden Eagle and White Ram, all three staring at a corpse covered by a white sheet.
"Our subordinate's death will not go unanswered," Yako said quietly. "From now on, maintain twenty-four-hour surveillance on the Uchiha compound — monitor Uchiha… Gogo."
Golden Eagle had assumed they would watch the entire clan, not a single individual.
Yako recalled the argument between Uchiha Kagen and Uchiha Gogo in the Land of Rain.
Under Kagen's leadership, the Uchiha had remained relatively moderate, without excessive ambition. Even if the clan discovered ANBU surveillance, Kagen would likely refrain from acting.
But Gogo was different.
He had awakened the Mangekyō and had grown dangerously arrogant.
If anyone was most likely to have killed the ANBU ninja, it could only be Uchiha Gogo.
Very few knew about Gogo's Mangekyō awakening — and Yako was one of them.
He had not reported this to the village, which meant Golden Eagle knew nothing.
"My lord," Golden Eagle said, "I will arrange for Hyūga clan shinobi to monitor him continuously."
"Keep your distance," Yako warned. "Gogo used to lead the interrogation division of the Police Force. Ruthless by nature.
He once failed promotion to Jonin after accidentally killing a fallen shinobi's orphan. Now his personality has changed drastically — cornered dogs bite hardest."
Golden Eagle nodded. "Understood. My people will be careful."
Inside the Root base.
Uchiha Suigiku knelt on one knee, waiting.
Danzo emerged slowly from the darkness, revealing a pale, almost corpse-like face.
He had endured severe rejection reactions, but his strong constitution and luck allowed him to gain the powerful vitality of Hashirama's cells.
Sarutobi Hiruzen would age.
He would not.
He would maintain his physical prime for a long time — like Tsunade, whose body aged slowly.
"B," Danzo said, "what important intelligence do you have?"
"Lord Danzo," Suigiku replied, "Uchiha Gogo's personality has changed drastically. He may have mastered the Uchiha clan's ultimate power."
Danzo's eyes gleamed.
"Explain."
"You once taught me the conditions required to awaken the Mangekyō.
In the Land of Rain, his teacher Uchiha Dōma died protecting him and his brother.
The emotional shock fits the necessary conditions.
I suspect Uchiha Gogo has awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
His personality shifted from a quiet interrogator into someone high-profile and aggressive.
Even Clan Head Uchiha Kagen yields to him.
His standing within the clan has risen rapidly — ranked second only to the clan head."
Danzo nodded repeatedly.
His luck had been excellent lately. He had just obtained Wood Release — and now information about a Mangekyō.
"And his attitude toward the village?" Danzo asked.
"Extremely negative," Suigiku said. "He has become an extreme hardliner. Those around him are Uchiha dissatisfied with the village.
They resent the mundane patrol duties of the Police Force — chasing thieves, dealing with drunks.
They want to become Jonin, Guardian Captains, village leaders. They demand status equal to their strength."
Danzo's gaze turned cold.
"Continue monitoring him. Anyone who harbors resentment toward the village must be eliminated.
In a few days, design a mission. Lead him somewhere isolated. I will handle him personally."
"Understood, Lord Danzo."
Danzo paused.
"B, your child was born, wasn't it?"
Suigiku lifted his head, joy evident.
"Yes, my lord. A boy. I named him Shisui."
Danzo nodded. "While monitoring others, ensure your own safety. You are a father now."
"Thank you, my lord."
As Suigiku departed with the Body Flicker Technique, Danzo made a silent vow.
Uchiha Gogo's Mangekyō would be his.
And Suigiku possessed great ocular talent as well. Killing the child might push him into awakening his own Mangekyō.
Four Mangekyō Sharingan…
He rolled his right shoulder.
A face of Senju Hashirama lay embedded there. His body could withstand even more Sharingan.
He summoned C.
"What is the progress of Orochimaru's independent laboratory?"
"My lord, A's laboratory has taken shape. He is currently searching for experimental subjects."
"I am revoking Orochimaru's codename. He is no longer Root's A. Give that designation to the infant Tenzo — raise him well."
C froze inwardly. A one-year-old receiving the title of "A"?
Danzo continued.
"After delivering the final batch of supplies, cut all support to Orochimaru.
He will learn that without me, he cannot even obtain test subjects.
Even if he succeeds, I will expose him.
He will return to me — and understand that without me, even forbidden techniques are useless."
"Yes, my lord!"
Danzo disappeared back into the darkness.
The current Konoha meant nothing to him anymore.
After years of dirty work, Root and the Shimura clan had suffered repeated losses.
Only by accumulating power in the shadows could he become the Fourth Hokage after Sarutobi Hiruzen.
He would surpass Hatake Sakumo. Surpass Orochimaru.
Konoha's future belonged to him.
Midday, October 14.
Uchiha Kagen walked out of the Hokage Tower with a grim expression.
He had just recommended Uchiha Gogo for promotion to Jonin.
The Third Hokage rejected it outright.
Hiruzen remembered Gogo — former head of interrogation for the Police Force.
Gogo had killed a war orphan during interrogation, leaving a terrible reputation.
Because of that stain, the Third Hokage declared that Gogo would never become a Jonin.
And since the Land of Rain mission had not been considered successful, no promotions would come from it.
Kagen argued, but the Hokage refused to yield.
Back at the compound, he summoned Gogo and explained the rejection.
What unsettled him was Gogo's calm reaction — as if he had expected it.
"Clan Head, it doesn't matter. If the Third Hokage believes I will never be promoted, let him believe that.
I'll make him bow with my own methods. I will make every Jonin feel inferior when they face me.
Konoha is rotten to the core. I will become one of the leaders of the next era — perhaps even Hokage."
Kagen froze.
Hokage?
Was he serious?