Reincarnated as Itachi Uchiha at the Start

"You've committed a crime. Come with us."

Several Root operatives, wearing their trademark cat and dog masks, appeared beside the Konoha Memorial Stone, surrounding the old man who had just cried out in grief.

"What crime have I committed?" the old man shouted back, completely unafraid.

"Yeah, what crime? What right do you Root people have to arrest him?" The surrounding villagers grew furious.

"Heh. You want to know the charges? Fine, we'll let you die with clarity," one Root ninja sneered.

"Disturbing public order, illegal assembly, unauthorized protest and demonstration, inciting disorder in Konoha, false accusation, slander against the higher-ups, endangering public safety—pick one. Every single one of them is enough to make you suffer."

"If you're smart, come with us quietly. Tell us who's behind you, and you might avoid interrogation and torture."

"I didn't—I didn't do anything! Stop making things up! I was just crying out in front of my child's grave. How is that illegal?!" the old man defended himself fiercely.

"Yeah! He was just grieving at his child's grave. How is that a crime?" The nearby villagers could no longer stay silent and began shouting in solidarity.

"Hmph! The Konoha Memorial Stone is a sacred and honorable place. You, a commoner, caused a public disturbance here, damaging the village's image and disturbing the martyrs' rest. That alone is a crime!" the Root ninja said coldly, completely devoid of emotion.

"Heh. Damaging the image? We don't feel that way. I think someone's feeling guilty."

"I bet this old man hit a nerve with his words, and now they're sending lackeys to get rid of the witness," someone said sarcastically.

"What now? You Root people dare arrest someone in broad daylight, in front of all of us? Do we not matter to you at all?"

"I'm telling you—while we're here, none of you are laying a finger on him!"

"That's right!" The villagers of Konoha gathered together, standing protectively behind the old man.

"Me too. If you want to take him, you'll have to step over my corpse first!"

Even passing civilian shinobi stood up. They had long had enough of Root's ways.

"Heh. Just you?" The Root ninja sneered again.

"Yes, us! We believe he did nothing wrong!" the villagers and shinobi shouted in unison. At this moment, they were united, eyes blazing with fury. Not a single one of them backed down.

"We don't care what you think. We care what Danzo-sama thinks. If he says the old man is guilty, then he is. Not even the gods can save him. Get out of the way, now!"

The Root ninja drew his kunai, killing intent surging.

"We'll say it again—refuse to move, and you'll be treated as accomplices!"

"Think carefully about your families! Your loved ones!"

"If we arrest you, who's going to take care of your children?!"

"Even if not for yourself, think about your families!"

"Heh. Can I consider that a threat?"

Instead of being afraid, the villagers of Konoha were enraged. The words only fueled their fury.

Root's specialties were false accusations and using family as leverage to coerce obedience.

"When they tried to wipe out the Senju clan in Konoha, I didn't speak out… because I wasn't a Senju.

"When they abandoned the Uzumaki clan, I didn't speak out… because I wasn't an Uzumaki.

"Later, when they slandered Sakumo Hatake, I didn't speak out… because I wasn't his friend.

"After that, they oppressed the Uchiha and Hyūga clans. I didn't speak out… because I was a civilian.

"Finally, when the Nine-Tails incident and the human experiments were exposed, and my family died because of it… I finally decided to stand up!

"I've spent years petitioning and seeking justice.

"But in the end, no one ever stood up for me."

Hearing this, the Root ninja's heart turned cold. Even the Hokage's ANBU hidden in the shadows were shaken by those words.

"Captain, I can't take this anymore! I truly can't watch Root behave like this any longer! Let us go down there!"

An ANBU clenched his fist and spoke through gritted teeth, wanting nothing more than to jump down and stand with the villagers.

But the ANBU captain pressed him down firmly.

"I understand how you feel. But without direct orders from the Hokage, we cannot act recklessly."

"Damn it!" the ANBU cursed, glaring hatefully at the Root operatives below.

Though they held back, their hearts were wavering. The old man's words had clearly moved them.

"Now that you stand in front of me like this… I am happy," the old man said, looking at everyone with gratitude.

"I know how Root operates. For the sake of your families, I'm willing to go with them."

He bowed to everyone to show his thanks, then stepped forward calmly to face the Root operatives. With fearless resolve, he said seriously:

"I will go with you. But I hope you'll spare these honest villagers. They are innocent."

One of the Root ninjas flinched when he met the old man's gaze. Guilt made him look away in shame. But moments later, shame turned to anger.

Why should I be afraid of him?

He snapped back, "It's not up to you to decide who's innocent. Only Danzo-sama decides that. We'll investigate after we return—who knows how many of these people are your accomplices?"

"That's right—we're Grandpa's accomplices! If you've got the guts, arrest us all!"

"Yeah, come on then!"

A few enraged villagers held out their arms and shouted defiantly.

"You really think we won't?"

The Root ninja's voice grew darker. Did they think Root was made of mud?

"Let them go. I'll go with you."

The old man stepped forward and blocked the villagers.

"Hmph!"

A Root ninja gave a cold snort and grabbed the old man's arm, trying to drag him away by force.

The villagers shouted, eyes burning with righteous fury:

"Grandpa, you don't have to be afraid! We're here—Root can't do anything to you!"

Some tried to hold him back, some tried to block Root, some tried to plead with him.

But the old man simply shook his head and smiled. In full view of the crowd, he extended his hand toward Root.

The Root ninja looked at each other, their faces tense.

They looked again at the angry villagers—and suddenly, inexplicably, they hesitated. No one dared lay a finger on the old man.

At last, the Root squad leader clenched his teeth and prepared to do it himself.

But the old man smiled with contempt, straightened his back, and walked in front of them.

"I know Root well. This won't be my first time inside. I know how it goes—torture until I submit. Fine. I'll lead the way."

The villagers of Konoha watched him leave, knowing full well that there was little chance he would return.

They followed after Root, eyes full of anger and sorrow.

"Grandpa, don't go with them!"

"If you go, you won't come back!" someone cried out in despair.

"If I do not return, then I do not return!" the old man shouted.

"I was unfortunate enough to live in this dark age of Konoha—suffering under the extreme persecution of the Third Hokage and Root. That experience has scarred me for life.

"And through that pain, I've come to understand this:

"In the shinobi world, our fates are intertwined.

"If we don't stand for truth, don't speak up for justice, don't defend fairness—if we turn a blind eye to others being wronged, oppressed, and persecuted—then in the end, it will be us who pay the price."

Each of the old man's words struck deep into the hearts of the Root ninjas.

When they looked into his fearless eyes, several of them couldn't help but lower their heads in shame.

Then suddenly, without warning, one of them grabbed the old man's collar and clutched his throat. Bloodshot eyes glaring, he shouted ferociously:

"Say another word and I'll kill you!"

Another Root member, unable to restrain himself, punched the old man hard in the stomach.

The old man's body bent like a shrimp, but his gaze remained unyielding.

Even with blood gushing from his mouth and his breath ragged, he still managed to cry out in front of the villagers:

"If we do not break the silence—we shall perish within it!"

PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/ReadJin