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"Senpai, what is going on?" Although Shuuzawa looked utterly confused, he had no choice but to obey the Third Hokage's orders.
After assembling, he couldn't help but quietly ask Yuugao beside him. In truth, he had already formed a rough guess in his mind.
Judging by the timing, it was most likely the matter of Kinoe turning into Tenzo.' Regardless, it was necessary to confirm the details.
"According to Kakashi-senpai's report, there is a suspected Wood Release user from the Root who tried to kill Kakashi-senpai," Yuugao explained without any hesitation toward Shuuzawa.
She didn't know much about the Root or Danzo.
Originally, after their assembly was dismissed, she had planned to go home and prepare for tonight's gathering.
However, she happened to run into Kakashi and noticed he was injured, so she tried to take him for treatment.
That led them to meet the Third Hokage, and they were ultimately assigned a mission.
"The Hokage wants Danzo-sama to meet with him and sent people to find you because you once trained there and are more familiar with the area."
"But Kakashi-senpai seemed unwilling to wait too long and went ahead on his own." As expected! Shuuzawa nodded slightly upon hearing this.
So it really was that matter. Before heading to Sunagakure, Hiruzen Sarutobi had mentioned that Kakashi would be handling something related to Orochimaru, which had already made him suspicious.
Despite all the chaos he had caused, this event still unfolded as expected.
"Wait, I remember that Kakashi never had good negotiations with the Root."
Suddenly, Shuuzawa recalled something, and his interest was immediately piqued.
This was a rare opportunity! "We should move quickly. The Hokage is gathering others, but we should reinforce Kakashi-senpai first!"
Yuugao had no idea what Shuuzawa was thinking. She grabbed Shuuzawa's hand and started running forward, unable to hold back her question.
"Also, what exactly is the Root like?"
"The Root, huh..." Shuuzawa instinctively tightened his grip on Yuugao's hand, momentarily noting how smooth it was before shaking his head and answering.
"It's the elite training base for the Anbu, but it's also an incredibly terrible place."
"The strictest discipline, the most brutal training, and the bloodiest missions. Kakashi-senpai going there alone could be dangerous, even with the Hokage's official documents."
"Does Konoha really have a place that isn't under the Hokage's direct control?" Yuugao seemed startled.
She knew that Danzo was Konoha's Hokage Advisor and held an extremely high position.
But even so, shouldn't he still be under the Hokage's authority? "Who knows." Shuuzawa shrugged.
Danzo had even attempted to assassinate Hiruzen Sarutobi and got away with it!
Of course, that probably had something to do with Hiruzen's sentimental nature.
Besides, Danzo had been keeping a low profile since the massacre caused by Nagato, which had significantly weakened the Root.
Otherwise, given Danzo's usual methods, he likely wouldn't even regard Hiruzen Sarutobi as a threat.
[New Mission Acquired: Reinforce Kakashi]
Shuuzawa glanced at his task list and nodded in satisfaction before gripping Yuugao's small hand even tighter.
"Let's pick up the pace. Kakashi-senpai might end up fighting them, so we must be ready for battle at any moment!"
"Understood!" Yuugao nodded seriously, though she also glanced at her hand being held. Was Shuuzawa gripping it too tightly?
"Kakashi, I didn't expect you to come here on your own!" At the Root's base, Danzo glared at Kakashi, who had just rescued Kinoe, and his eyes were full of hatred.
After meeting Shuuzawa, he deals with Kinoe's situation.
The fact that Kinoe possessed Wood Release and had developed self-awareness was something he absolutely couldn't tolerate!
However, he never expected Kakashi to come with an official order from Hiruzen Sarutobi, clearly intending to take Kinoe away!
He was already furious with Kakashi. When he had attempted to assassinate Hiruzen Sarutobi in the past, Kakashi had interfered.
Now, Kakashi dared to come to the Root's base alone to steal his most valuable subordinate.
With both old and new grudges piling up, Danzo had reached his breaking point.
"You dare trespass into the Root and attempt to take one of my men? Don't think I'll let you go so easily!"
Kakashi's gaze was sharp as he surveyed his surroundings. He quickly realized that the area was already heavily surrounded by Root shinobi.
All of them had drawn their weapons, and it was clear that the moment Danzo gave the order, they would immediately attack!
"Danzo-sama, Kakashi—" Kinoe saw the dire situation and tried to speak, but Danzo cut him off harshly.
"Shut up! Don't think you'll get away with this either!" Without hesitation, Danzo signalled for the Root shinobi to take action!
He didn't want to waste time dealing with Kakashi or Kinoe.
He knew Kakashi's official order was real, and who knew when Hiruzen Sarutobi might personally intervene?
He had to resolve this quickly—perhaps he could even claim Kakashi's Sharingan as a prize!
"Be careful!" Kakashi immediately warned Kinoe while preparing for battle. But just then, he suddenly froze and looked up.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Bullets!"
At that moment, a powerful Wind Release technique erupted from the top of the Root's base, instantly knocking several Root shinobi to the ground.
"Who's there?!" Danzo was momentarily alarmed.
He was already anxious about his old friend showing up, even though he refused to acknowledge him as the Hokage.
However, when he looked up and saw the masked figure, he was absolutely furious! Even with the mask on, he could tell—it was Shuuzawa!
Was this brat actually attacking the Root? Was he rebelling against him? But Shuuzawa didn't have time to care about Danzo's fury.
Like a bolt of lightning, he and Yuugao swiftly cut through the Root shinobi along their path, quickly making their way toward Kakashi.
With his Level 7 physical abilities and chakra reserves, he was experiencing an unprecedented level of combat prowess!
Moreover, since the Root shinobi had focused entirely on Kakashi and Kinoe due to Danzo's orders, they never expected an ambush from behind.
As a result, Shuuzawa seemed utterly unstoppable—each punch, each kick, each swift dodge and counterattack was perfectly executed, flowing effortlessly.
His seamless assault sent Danzo into a rage.
"Kill them!" Without hesitation, Danzo commanded, and only then did a portion of the Root shinobi turn toward Shuuzawa.
"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!" Shuuzawa quickly formed hand seals and slammed his hands together.
Instantly, the ground beneath several Root shinobi transformed into a swamp, dragging them down before they could react.
Some managed to leap away in time, but a barrage of kunai and shuriken soon followed, targeting Shuuzawa and Yuugao!
"Senpai, let me borrow your sword." Shuuzawa dodged an attack, swiftly catching Yuugao's sword.
As he wielded it, he murmured under his breath. The blade danced in his hands, creating dazzling arcs of light.
With a series of crisp metallic clashes, he deflected the majority of the incoming projectiles!
Meanwhile, he and Yuugao successfully reached Kakashi and Kinoe. "Damn it!" Danzo clenched his fists tightly.
He couldn't understand Shuuzawa's intentions, but his fury clouded his thoughts.
"Fine! Fine!" He muttered darkly before suddenly shouting, in that case, none of you are leaving here alive!"
"Just who do you think you're keeping here, Danzo?" A voice suddenly interrupted.
Danzo stiffened, then quickly looked up. Anbu now surrounded the entire Root base. It was as if cold water had been poured over him.
But when he saw Hiruzen Sarutobi standing among them, his blood ran cold. Was the Hokage attacking the Root?
"Danzo, I know you hate Kakashi, but you've gone too far this time." Sarutobi Hiruzen did not descend but continued looking down at Danzo from above.
"I don't want a situation where we have to take the lives of fellow Konoha shinobi. You should understand that."
Damn it, speaking as if he's so righteous. Have you forgotten what Root is for? Danzo couldn't help but mutter in his heart.
But he knew he absolutely couldn't say that out loud—nor could he acknowledge Hiruzen's words.
"What are you talking about, Hiruzen? I have no prejudice against Kakashi. He trespassed into Root's base of his own accord!"
"Trespassed?" Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head and spoke in a deep voice.
"I issued a summon for you, but I heard you pretended to be absent. That's why he came in to find you, isn't that right?"
Danzo remained silent. He didn't understand why his old friend was pressing him like this.
However, after glancing at Kinoe standing there and Shuuzawa positioned in front of Kakashi's group, a thought suddenly occurred to him.
Could it be that Hiruzen was deliberately forcing him to hand over Kinoe to Shuuzawa? That kid performed exceptionally well in Sunagakure!
"It seems there was a miscommunication when delivering the order. This is the first I've heard of it."
Though his mind was racing with other thoughts, Danzo remained stubborn. "In that case, let's consider the matter with Kakashi settled."
"I summoned you for something else," Sarutobi Hiruzen had no intention of letting Danzo brush this off so easily.
He pondered for a moment before continuing. "You should know that Wood Release is a power the village has longed for."
"We once conducted high-risk experiments just to obtain it. Yet you've been keeping this power hidden within Root. Can you tell me why?"
Danzo's heart skipped a beat. As expected, it had come to this! He could no longer maintain his calm facade and immediately spoke up in defence.
"I did it for protection and cultivation, nothing more. I had no intention of concealing it, and besides, such matters don't require a report, do they?"
"But Danzo," the Third Hokage touched the brim of his hat, speaking with a calm yet irrefutable tone.
"The Jinchuriki is about to enter the academy, and the sealing techniques of Wood Release are becoming more crucial for the village."
Danzo had no response. The moment the Jinchuriki was involved, everything changed! What could be more important than the Jinchuriki?
But without Kinoe and his Wood Release, how was he supposed to control the Jinchuriki in the future?
"So, this was all planned out—using this incident to force me into submission before the Hokage while also taking Kinoe away?"
Danzo clenched his fists tightly. He had been forced into this corner solely because he wasn't the Hokage!
If he were, who would dare pull something like this against him?
"So, Danzo, I plan to assign him to the Anbu. Root was originally just a training ground for the Anbu, wasn't it?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen, oblivious to the storm raging in Danzo's mind, continued speaking in his deep voice.
"You've already provided many outstanding shinobi to the Anbu—Shuuzawa, for example. I hope you can continue to be generous."
"But as a token of gratitude, I can overlook everything that has happened today, and I can even grant you what you previously requested."
What did I previously request? Danzo immediately realized he was referring to Shuuzawa's interactions with Naruto.
But after losing Kinoe, how could he pretend to be grateful? Danzo was seething with rage. He lifted his head and glared at Sarutobi Hiruzen. "Fine,n let's do it this way."
In the end, Danzo backed down. With Anbu surrounding Root's base, who knew what other measures had been put in place?
He was genuinely worried that his old friend would use this opportunity to dismantle Root entirely!
"However, I want to speak to him alone. After all, he was trained under me." Danzo extended a finger toward Shuuzawa.
"That's fine," Sarutobi Hiruzen, satisfied with how things were unfolding, did not object. However, he still issued a reminder.
"We'll be waiting for him outside. After all, he is a member of Anbu."
With that, he decisively waved his hand, signalling for all Anbu to leave the area, leaving only a grim-faced Danzo behind.
This was outright stealing his subordinates!
"Shuuzawa." Yuugao seemed a bit uneasy.
It was her first time witnessing such high-level political manoeuvring, and it made her nervous. She had no idea what Danzo wanted with Shuuzawa.
"Don't worry. Wait for me outside." Shuuzawa patted Yuugao's shoulder lightly before walking straight up to Danzo without hesitation.
"What exactly are you doing?" The moment everyone had left, Danzo could no longer hold back.
"Are you planning to betray me like Kinoe did? Don't forget—your academy is still waiting for funding, and don't forget that the cursed seal on you cannot be undone!"
What a joke. Yakushi Nono is in Iwagakure, and my cursed seal was undone a long time ago.
Shuuzawa inwardly scoffed but decided he should play along for now. He calmly removed his mask and spoke in a solemn tone.
"Danzo-sama, I haven't forgotten. I was just conducting a test."
"A test?" Danzo almost laughed in anger. Does helping Kakashi take someone away count as a test?
"That's right, a test." Shuuzawa nodded seriously.
"Danzo-sama aims to become Hokage. That has always been my goal as well."
"Otherwise, I wouldn't have worked to find allies for you in Sunagakure, giving you the chance to control them."
Danzo was momentarily speechless. When I think of it, Shuuzawa's previous actions seem to be in his favour.
"But to become Hokage, one must have capable bodyguards."
Shuuzawa lifted his head and looked at Danzo with utmost seriousness before scanning the Root members around him—especially those who were dishevelled after crawling out of the Swamp of the Underworld.
He shook his head slightly and murmured, "But I am deeply disappointed. They couldn't even hold their own against me."
"If trouble arises in the future, how will they protect Danzo-sama?"
"What?" Aburame Ryouma, who was standing nearby, was dumbfounded.
If anyone else heard this, Shuuzawa might not have walked out of Root alive! Even Danzo was momentarily stunned.
Injuring his comrades, effectively letting Kakashi and Kinoe escape, and now this justification? Yet, when he thought about it, it actually made sense!
Shuuzawa wasn't from any prominent clan and had been sent to Anbu on Danzo's orders as a sleeper agent.
Yet, he had single-handedly reduced Root to this state?
Even if it was a surprise attack, even if he had the advantage, there was no denying that Root's performance had been abysmal.
Could it be that this kid was actually the most loyal one?
"I see."
After a long pause, Danzo finally nodded.
After all, Shuuzawa still had weaknesses he could exploit—Yakushi Nono, just like Yakushi Kabuto. He could still be controlled.
"It seems I misunderstood you. You've done well. Indeed, the current Root members are lacking. They need even more intense training."
Shuuzawa nodded in agreement, though inwardly, he felt bad for these Root members.
No doubt Danzo would push them to the brink, refining them through sheer brutality. But in the long run, that worked in Shuuzawa's favour.
When he eventually took over Root, wouldn't he inherit an elite force?
"All right, you may leave. Don't keep the others waiting." Though he was still displeased, Danzo spoke with a composed expression.
"One more thing. Don't forget who you are. Understood?"
"Danzo-sama, I have always upheld your will. Every action I take is for the sake of Konoha's Root."
Shuuzawa responded fluently, which made Danzo feel much better. Today had been unbearably frustrating.
However, in a certain dimensional space above them, a masked man was silently observing everything.
"So, this boy… is Uchiha Shisui's teammate?"
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