Arrested

This was the first argument the two had had since they started dating, and Itachi was momentarily at a loss. Rationally, he knew very well that his girlfriend was contributing to Konoha, and he should fully support her and discuss things with her.

But why...does something still feel off deep down?

Are a man's pride, dignity, and possessiveness really such irrational things?

Itachi couldn't sleep at all. He tried to adjust his mindset, and when he flipped through the book, he realized it was true. His symptoms were like when he felt unwell in this way or that way, he would consult Baidu (a Chinese search engine). The more he searched, the more panicked he became. Even if the age of death could be determined, as long as he kept flipping through those psychology books, he would definitely feel like he was sick.

Male chauvinism seems to be very common. The book says that many men want to hide their lovers away and confine them to their own world. They don't like women to stand out, and they think that dressing up is attracting attention and talking to other men is unfaithful.

"..." Itachi closed the book, feeling slightly relieved that his illness wasn't too serious.

Do such people really exist?

Are these people out of their minds?

Luna, who shared vision with the entity of thought, breathed a sigh of relief as she lay in bed. Thankfully, there were many imposters in this world, and Itachi, being relatively naive, was a good target for manipulation. If he were older and more knowledgeable, he certainly wouldn't be so easy to guide.

It's fortunate that the person wearing the Konoha headband at least offered some reason and evidence. If it were Kenji or Madara, they might have just used genjutsu.

"I wonder how many days my hints will work on him?" Luna decided to skip her beauty sleep and sneaked into the clan's spy bank once again.

Indeed, it is the person who is most likely to feel whether someone is loved or not.

Her feigned affection and admiration were so obviously fake.

>>>>

Everyone wants to make money, and everyone cares about their reputation. Since the business was going to be an investment, it was impossible for three generations to be completely stingy. So, it became a public-private partnership project, and Luna earned the most in the early stages. She didn't put in a single penny, yet she received 50% of the profits for two years.

Fortunately, the beverage shops were particularly popular, especially among young people. It was harvest season, and the prices of various fruits were also cheap. Workshops seized this opportunity and quickly set up, buying fruits and processing them into canned and dried fruits for winter use, which also solved dozens of employment problems.

Having interacted with people from various clans and the Uchiha clan a lot, I didn't find them particularly scary; they were just a bunch of arrogant weirdos with their heads in the air. It didn't matter if they spoke harshly, as long as you paid them.

The fact that the Uchiha's confinement order was practically useless still reached Danzo's ears. He was so angry that he almost stormed into the Hokage's office, cursing Hiruzen for being so weak and incompetent.

"They're plotting a rebellion!" Danzo muttered, his murderous aura almost suffocating the Anbu outside.

Winter arrived amidst the children's anticipation, and winter vacation meant no homework and plenty of time to play. Beverage shops launched a variety of hot drinks, with three branches opening in Konoha alone.

Coffee and hot cocoa were the most popular drinks among the workers and ninjas. A cup in the morning would wake them up, and the milk and sugar in the cocoa would also help them feel a little full.

Women prefer jujube and goji berry tea, hot lemonade, herbal tea, milk tea, and chocolate milk, among other things. Children enjoy various fruit milks, milk tea, and fruit juices.

Even in the cold north wind, they would sell ginger tea cheaply. A cup of it would ward off the cold, warm the body, and prevent colds, earning them a lot of money from various groups.

It's so cold in winter, what if you're still hungry after a hot drink? The neighboring shops have all kinds of cakes and pastries, so you can enjoy warmth and comfort here.

The clan leader who invested money came to spend money several times and thought the model was very feasible, so he decided to let it quickly spread to other parts of the Land of Fire. More workshops hired workers in the winter, and Konoha ushered in a wave of economic growth amidst the winter snow.

Everyone thought the Uchiha were much more pleasing to the eye!

—Nightfall—

The moonlight, fragmented by thick clouds, dappled across the abandoned experimental base on the outskirts of Konoha. Wild grass grew rampant at the entrance, and broken boulders and rotten wood partially obscured a descending staircase, emanating a musty smell of earth and rust. The silence was profound, devoid even of insect chirps; only the pristine white snow shone in the night.

The shadows of the descending stairs twisted, and a snake that should have been hibernating crawled inside. Following its gaze, all was silent. The place was damp and musty. As the snake flickered its tongue, confirming its location, it crawled away until it finally spotted a dim oil lamp in the distance. The flickering flame stretched and shortened its shadow, twisting it into a grotesque shape.

At the end of the passage was a heavy iron door, slightly ajar, through which a pale light and an even stronger smell of chemicals emanated.

Inside, in the collapsed basement, sat an elderly man with short hair.

Danzo Shimura was dressed in the simplest of clothes. His right eye and right arm were tightly sealed under bandages, and his only remaining eye, sharp as an eagle's, vigilantly scanned his surroundings. His cane tapped the soft ground without making a sound.

Orochimaru!

The little snake hissed twice more before opening its mouth, from which crawled a sticky, black-haired, eerie man. He was covered in slime, his kimono hanging loosely, and his pale, sickly face was striking, but his snake-like vertical pupils always sent chills down one's spine.

"Why would someone as busy as Lord Danzo come here to wait for me?" Orochimaru's lips curled slightly upwards, and on his long, pale finger was a ring inscribed with the character "Void." Seeing that the other didn't answer, he casually summoned a snake to sit on, his smile clearly visible: "Why aren't there any Root guards with you?"

Danzo snorted coldly, his gaze icy and slick: "Watch your words, Orochimaru. I'm not at the point where you can mock me at will."

"Heh~ Where is the reward I want?" Orochimaru just smiled. Danzo actually used the Uchiha clan as a bargaining chip, how delightful.

He was about to obtain the genius container he had been longing for!

The two old acquaintances knew each other's personalities and found each other particularly annoying. They had both betrayed each other before, but now, for their own interests, they were getting together again to plot.

As for whether he will betray us again?

There's no doubt about that; both sides will.

Danzo believed that this was Konoha, his own territory, and that Orochimaru couldn't cause any trouble. Anyway, with Hiruzen there, he would definitely be the first to rush in.

As for Orochimaru? He felt that with the enemy both in the open and in the shadows, stealing a few Uchiha clans back would be a piece of cake. He could also casually greet his long-lost teacher and tell him about his growth – a perfectly acceptable form of entertainment.

Bang!

Danzo disappeared; what appeared was a shadow clone.

Orochimaru fell into a brief silence, then let out a hoarse laugh. The once mighty leader of Root, now a toothless tiger. Clearly, Konoha has produced a formidable figure; but who is it...?

The fact that Danzo is still alive proves that the teacher is still so soft-hearted. Therefore, the person who is leading this case to seek justice is definitely not the teacher.

Orochimaru's golden eyes burned with intense desire; the thought of the Uchiha's bloodline limit made him lose his senses. Even though he had studied the Sharingan extensively, he had never actually touched the Mangekyou Sharingan.

"Is he an Uchiha? A rare... all-rounder." Orochimaru thought carefully for a moment, his golden eyes brightening even more, and the playful smile on his lips gradually widening.

Itachi, who joined the Anbu, is the only suspect in order to gain access to information about Konoha's higher-ups.

—Two days later—

The dark, deep underground cell was filled with a musty smell. Luna opened her eyes and scanned her surroundings, spotting ninjas dressed as ANBU members not far away. Having seen many ANBU members, she could easily tell that these were Root members.

[Oh dear, Danzo has learned to use double insurance now.] She glanced at the small drum next to her and kicked it.

The boy woke up with a sob, his eyes widening in shock at his surroundings and the ropes binding him. He hurriedly turned his head and saw Luna silently watching him, her feet still on his shoulders. He belatedly realized they had both been kidnapped, and he wanted to say something but was afraid of being overheard.

"Now that you're awake, find a relatively comfortable position to sit in." Luna leaned lazily against the stone wall, pulling her feet back in.

"Sister Izumi, we..." Sasuke saw her speak and started to speak too, knowing that pretending to be unconscious was no use anymore.

"Obviously, who are you and I best suited to threaten?" Luna gestured with her chin towards the outside, explaining to Sasuke what Root was and who their leader was.

"Why?" Sasuke looked blankly at him. The naive Sasuke didn't understand why Root was trying to control his brother.

The Root members guarding the two: ...

“We should know soon enough.” Luna yawned, a smile playing on her lips as she looked at the boy’s worried face. Her tone was teasing, a far cry from her usual gentle and virtuous manner: “Young man, why are you making such a face? Don’t worry, you’re Itachi’s younger brother. If I were to make an example of Itachi, I would die first. Even if it’s just to control Itachi, you will live.”

Sasuke's pretty and cute little face scrunched up as he rolled his eyes at Luna: "What nonsense are you talking about? My brother will definitely come to save us, and so will Father, and the Uchiha clan."

After saying that, the boy scurried around a few times, moved to Luna's side, and forced a smile against her. The smile was stiff, and his body was trembling.

He knew that Izumi was trying to comfort him, even though her words weren't pleasant to hear. But he was a man, and at times like this... he should protect the girl, protect Izumi.

Seeing the little black cat, who was terrified but still trying to hold on, Luna nodded politely. Sasuke, a child raised in a peaceful era, seemed so weak and vulnerable compared to other, more powerful chakra reincarnations.

Even after he reaches his complete form, Sasuke still doesn't exude any domineering aura.

Da da da!

Footsteps approached from afar. Sasuke whirled around and saw an old man leaning on a cane, half his body and eyes wrapped in bandages. A strong killing intent emanated from him, and Sasuke's heart pounded. He instinctively swallowed hard.

"Isn't this Lord Danzo? When did the Third Hokage release you? There was no announcement to the whole village." Luna glanced at the trembling little black cat, a sarcastic smile playing on her lips.

"I don't need anyone's permission to go anywhere!" Danzo sneered. The Uchiha girl's eyes were truly annoying.

Wait a little longer!

We'll dig out her Sharingan later.