Danzo's expression had gone stiff.
Anger was there, sure, but beneath it lurked something uglier. Confusion. Disbelief.
That jutsu should never have been common knowledge. Even within the Uchiha, it was classified as forbidden. Very few people had ever known of it, and Danzo was certain the stone tablet recording it had been destroyed after he acquired it.
By all logic, even Uchiha Sasuke shouldn't have known its name. And yet Fujimoto Tōma hadn't just recognized it. He had described its function perfectly.
"How do you know about that technique?" Danzo demanded.
"A guy named Kishimoto told me," Tōma replied calmly.
Danzo stared at him. Who in the world was Kishimoto? And why would someone like that know about Izanagi?
Before Danzo could press further, Tōma spoke again, tone light but sharp.
"Stalling for time? Waiting for your two subordinates to make their move?" He smiled faintly. "Too late. They've already run into their clan heads."
Danzo's pupils shrank.
"I figured you'd try something like that," Tōma continued. "After all, if you're going to cheat, you might as well expect the same treatment."
Danzo no longer cared how Tōma knew. At this point, it felt like the young man knew everything.
If Itachi had told him about Izanagi, that was one thing. But Yamanaka Fū and Aburame Torune? Their existence was classified even within Root.
Danzo's face darkened.
If Torune was present, then his nano-scale poison insects could silently wipe out everyone in the room. Even Tsunade wouldn't be able to produce an antidote fast enough.
Yet Tōma had spoken as if it were already resolved.
Which meant that the moment Tōma had stepped upstairs, Fū and Torune had already been removed from the board. Teleported away. And judging by his words, they hadn't gone alone.
Yamanaka Inoichi and Aburame Shibi had gone with them.
Danzo clenched his jaw. Even he wouldn't pretend Fū and Torune stood a chance against their own clan heads.
Clan leaders didn't earn that title by accident.
Far outside the village, in a stretch of barren mountain terrain, five figures stood facing one another.
Yamanaka Inoichi looked at the masked shinobi across from him and sighed.
"Fū," he said quietly, "it's not too late. Leave Root. Come back to the clan."
The masked man was silent for a moment. Then he raised a hand, one bound with a small cloth doll, and slowly removed his mask.
Inoichi froze.
It had been years since he'd seen that face.
"Yamanaka Inoichi," Fū said coldly. "The one who's lost his way is you. Only Danzo-sama can lead Konoha down the correct path."
Inoichi's eyes softened with regret.
"I see," he murmured. "Tōma was right. You've been completely brainwashed."
Fū had once been one of the Yamanaka clan's brightest talents. Otherwise, Danzo would never have chosen him.
"I don't have time for this," Fū said, forming seals rapidly. "Danzo-sama is in danger."
Before Inoichi could react, Fū completed the jutsu and locked eyes with him.
"Forgive me, Clan Head."
"Mind Transfer Puppet Technique."
Inoichi's eyes widened. He tried to dodge, but it was already too late.
A moment later, "Inoichi" stared down at his own hands.
"This body isn't mine," Fū's voice echoed from it, "but a clan head's mind is a perfect fit. You'll stay in the doll for now."
Using Inoichi's body to return to Danzo would be perfect. Given Inoichi's connection to Fujimoto Tōma, it might even create an opening.
"That line," a calm voice said behind him, "was supposed to be mine."
Fū felt the world spin.
When his vision cleared, he was staring at Yamanaka Inoichi. The real one. Standing calmly. Unrestrained.
Fū realized, with creeping horror, that he couldn't move.
The one trapped inside the doll wasn't Inoichi.
It was him.
"That's impossible," Fū tried to shout. His body wouldn't respond.
"You removed your mask on purpose," Inoichi said, picking up the doll. "You wanted me to notice it and focus on your setup. Clever. But I don't use that technique often, which makes countering it easier than you think."
He glanced at Fū's unconscious body.
"You'll stay in there until this is over. After that, the Hokage will decide your fate."
Inoichi turned toward the second battlefield.
Even he felt uneasy at the sight of the sky-darkening swarm of insects.
That fight, however, ended quickly.
Aburame Shibi stood facing Aburame Torune, studying the poisonous insects with quiet awe.
"Your poison strains are impressive," Shibi said. "They're nearly on Shikuro's level."
Torune said nothing.
His insects, once unstoppable, were being completely intercepted by Shibi's kikaichū. He already knew the truth.
He wouldn't be going anywhere.
"It's over," Shibi said simply.
Among the Aburame, battles were straightforward. Once one side's insects became ineffective, victory was no longer possible.
Shibi had been clan head for decades. There wasn't a poison strain he hadn't seen, especially ones derived from Shikuro's line.
Once the kikaichū adapted, that poison would never work on the Aburame again.
Torune had lost the moment the fight began.
"Torune," Shibi said gently, as his insects closed in, "you can still turn back. Shino and I are waiting for you."
Torune hesitated.
On one side was the family that had raised him. Though not Shibi's son by blood, he had grown up in their home. Shino was his brother in everything but name.
On the other side was the man he had sworn his loyalty to.
Shibi turned slightly. "Shino. Speak to the Hokage for him later."
"Yes, Father," Shino replied, nodding. He was close enough to Tōma that the request would carry weight.
"Finished?" Inoichi asked as he arrived, carrying Fū's body.
"Yes," Shibi replied.
"Then let's head back," Inoichi said. "It's a long walk to Konoha."
"The Hokage likely didn't want Torune's insects anywhere near civilians," Shibi said. "Even if I can counter them, a crowded area would be dangerous."
"That makes sense," Inoichi said, nodding.
He couldn't help but wonder how Fujimoto Tōma had known all of this. But some secrets weren't meant to be pried into.
Shibi glanced at him. "I haven't congratulated you yet. You found yourself an excellent son-in-law."
Inoichi laughed, pride unmistakable.
"Luck, mostly."
"Not really," Shino said seriously. "Those two have been close since childhood."
Inoichi chuckled. "Let the younger generation sort out their own lives."
Talking easily, the group began their return toward Konoha.
The real battle, elsewhere, was nearing its end.