Soon after Uchiha Haru, Kurenai Yuhi, and Yugao Uzuki returned from their mission, word of their experiences began to spread throughout the village.
In particular, the battle between Haru and Kurosuki Raiga—one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist—drew widespread attention and astonishment.
After all, while most villagers already knew Uchiha Haru wasn't weak, no one had imagined him to be this strong.
Defeating Kurosuki Raiga in a head-on confrontation? That was something no one expected.
Within the younger generation of Konoha, aside from prodigies like Uchiha Itachi and Hatake Kakashi, few had ever been considered freakishly talented. Now, there was Haru—a rising monster.
News of the event spread rapidly, and in no time, Uchiha Haru's name became the center of attention in Konoha.
It triggered widespread discussion among the villagers and shinobi alike.
And from that buzz, two clear factions began to emerge.
One side became fervent supporters of Haru. They were thrilled that Konoha had birthed yet another powerhouse. Someone with the skill and discipline to potentially stand beside—or even rival—Itachi and Kakashi.
Notably, this group consisted largely of kunoichi and civilian girls.
Uchiha Haru's cool demeanor, his mysterious aura, his preference for solitude, and of course, his strikingly handsome face—all of it only served to fuel his growing popularity with the opposite sex.
The other faction, however, was far more skeptical.
They didn't doubt that Haru had fought and killed Raiga. That had been witnessed by both Kurenai and Yugao, and their reputations left no room for doubt.
What they questioned was Raiga's strength.
Some speculated that Raiga simply wasn't as powerful as rumors claimed. If he could fall to Haru, then surely others could have taken him down, too—if only they'd been given the chance.
This faction's voices were loudest among shinobi like Sarutobi Asuma and Gekko Hayate.
Both sides held firm in their beliefs, and neither could convince the other.
Meanwhile, the eye of the storm—Uchiha Haru—was entirely unaware of the village-wide uproar surrounding him.
After completing his mission, he went straight to report to Uchiha Fugaku, the clan head.
As always, he was granted two days' leave for rest and recovery.
Of course, Haru wouldn't waste that kind of time. With the simulation system on cooldown, he focused entirely on refining his ninjutsu and taijutsu, pushing himself further with relentless dedication.
What the rest of the village thought of him didn't matter. Not even slightly.
But Haru's indifference didn't mean others weren't paying attention.
Far from it.
At that very moment, deep within the hidden corridors of Root, a covert division of Konoha's ANBU…
Danzo Shimura sat in silence, absorbing the information.
"Did Uchiha Haru truly kill Kurosuki Raiga of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen?" Danzo asked, voice low and cold.
His face was mostly obscured by the white bandages wrapped tightly around his head. His left eye was hidden, and the only visible one radiated hostility and suspicion.
Standing before him was a young boy of around thirteen, face calm and emotionless.
He had delicate features and long black hair tied back in a loose tail. Pale skin, dark eyes.
Two faint tear troughs marked his otherwise flawless face.
Uchiha Itachi.
"Yes. Raiga was indeed killed," Itachi answered plainly.
His voice was even—neither fast nor slow, neither emotional nor robotic. He spoke with the calm certainty of someone who saw only facts.
Danzo narrowed his lone visible eye.
He was well aware of Raiga's level. Though not quite Kage-class, Raiga was significantly more powerful than a typical elite jonin.
And yet… he had fallen. Defeated and killed by someone Konoha had previously regarded as an ordinary jonin.
That alone spoke volumes about Uchiha Haru's true capabilities.
If Haru belonged to any other clan, Danzo would be planning how best to recruit him. To nurture such potential would be a strategic advantage for the entire village.
After all, to kill a member of the Seven Swordsmen at just fifteen or sixteen? That level of talent placed him just a step behind even Itachi or Hatake Kakashi.
But of course… he was Uchiha.
A pity.
"What do you think of Uchiha Haru?" Danzo asked, studying Itachi carefully.
"I've had little personal interaction with him," Itachi replied. "All I know is that during our academy days, he was considered a prodigy—on par with senior Hatake Kakashi. But over time, he faded from the spotlight. He became reserved, a loner. Never formed bonds, never made friends."
Itachi spoke from memory, but carefully omitted a few things.
He didn't mention that both Fugaku and Shisui held Haru in high regard.
Nor did he mention the times he had quietly observed Haru and noted the striking contrast between his quiet demeanor and his sharp mind.
Because what made Haru dangerous wasn't just his strength—it was his mind. His foresight, his discipline, his ability to disappear into obscurity… and still survive.
Danzo, of course, knew most of this.
He, too, recalled that Haru had once been the talk of the academy.
A genius not because of sheer talent, but because of how he applied himself.
What no one realized was that Haru had the mind of an adult all along—he was a time traveler. Though his body was young, his will and wisdom were not.
He had known from the beginning about the future: the coup, the massacre.
And so, he'd poured everything into training—into surpassing his limits through sheer force of will. He didn't rely on natural talent. He built himself through suffering.
As time passed, his supposed "mediocrity" was simply him hiding in plain sight. He allowed the world to forget his name.
Only now, against a real threat like Raiga, had he been forced to reveal himself.
Danzo leaned back, lost in thought.
Was this what Haru had planned all along?
To hide. To wait. To grow in silence.
If so, then Uchiha Haru wasn't just strong.
He was dangerous.
Danzo narrowed his eye again and turned toward Itachi.
"Itachi, how does Uchiha Haru compare to you? If the day comes—can you kill him?"
"Yes," Itachi answered without a moment's hesitation.
His voice was calm. Unshakable.
Danzo's thin lips curved into something that might've resembled a smile—if it weren't so devoid of warmth.
"Good."
He stepped forward and placed a hand on Itachi's shoulder.
The gesture was light, but there was weight behind his words.
"Remember… you can only choose one: Uchiha or Konoha."
"Either you stand with your clan, rebel, and die with them…"
"Or you stand with us—and save your brother's life, by helping us cleanse the village before the revolt begins."
"You've already made your decision. Don't disappoint me now."
Itachi's eyes flickered—pain and conflict dancing briefly across his face.
But he said nothing.
He turned and walked away, swallowed by the shadows of Root's cold halls.