So.

This took an inordinately long time.

24

"So, did I miss anything?"

Inoichi sighed, before handing Shikaku a piece of paper. "Only this."

I looked, seeing three thick black lines above four smaller, equally thick ones. ROOT's Cursed Seal.

Shikaku frowned. "So, it was Danzo."

"You don't seem particularly surprised, Shikaku."

He shrugged, "Of the 8 the suspects I had, Danzo was in the top three, alongside Orochimaru and Itachi."

"Indeed." Hiruzen's voice cut in. "And because of this, I can no longer tolerate his continued actions and defiance of my orders."

I could feel the undercurrent of cold anger in his voice. The last time I'd heard him like this had been when Naruto had been put into hospital.

"Then…"

"Yes." Hiruzen said, his tone a remarkable impression of a glacier. "A mark has been placed on Danzo's head."

Naught but a subdued "Yes, Hokage-sama." met his words.

"As such, we will be moving on his compound in 15 minutes."

Shikaku looked up. "You know where it is?"

"Few things happen in this village that escape my attention." Came the deadpan reply. "Danzo was not as a subtle as he thought he was."

He pointed towards an area on the maps, outlining a section near the edge or the village. "In this part of the village, there is an alleyway that connects to the sewer system. Enter the area, turn right and move up 38.6 meters, then turn left and continue another 12.8 meters. On the wall that you stop by is an illusion that Danzo uses to hide the entrance. Ryuu-san and his team will open it without alerting Danzo or his ROOT; and we will then go in and kill Danzo, as well as any ROOT that cannot be easily captured."

"Shibi-san, I'm assigning you to run interference and scouting. I want you to drain the Chakra of every Root Member that you come across, and I want you to use your insects to locate anything of interest." Hiruzen said.

Shibi, in absence of words, simply nodded.

"Chouza-san, I want you to assist him. The compound is reinforced enough that you may use A-ranked Earth Jutsu without worry. Make sure that nobody gets away."

"Yes, Hokage-sama."

"Inoichi-san, Shikaku-san, you shall be disabling and disorientating Danzo's forces. Ryuu-san and his team will be assisting you in the capture."

Twin confirmations met his words.

Hiruzen looked at them. "Good. You may prepare whatever you need, but make sure that you're at the site in 12 minutes. Dismissed."

Nodding, the clan heads vanished in a puff of smoke.

Wordlessly, the Hokage turned to me, simultaneously producing a notepad and pen from… somewhere, before handing it to me.

"You informed me that that you had the ability to sense when others die. To how far does that ability range?"

I shrugged, before starting to write. 'Throughout the village and a fair way into the forests surrounding it, though I don't exactly know the limits.'

He nodded. "Does it extend underground?"

Can't hide a Heart from the Heartless. 'Yes.'

"How many people have died since the massacre, then?"

'Two. Both of which were above ground inside the hospital.'

"I see."

Just then, one of the ANBU interrupted. "Hokage-sama, the array is complete."

He nodded, an odd expression on his face. "Good, thank you Rai-san. All of you, prepare for the raid."

He took a breath, before speaking. "This ends today."

Though it wasn't present in his voice, I felt a deep note of sorrow in his Heart, before it vanished in a wave of cold anger.

"Come, we have work to do."