CHAPTER 134: CHAPTER 134

Root Headquarters

Danzo’s fingers closed around the scroll on his desk. As always, he began his day by reading the latest report on the Uchiha clan’s movements.

His eyes narrowed. ’What exactly is Tsunade planning?’

Ever since her return, the Uchihas had been unusually quiet. That silence irritated him. No conflict meant fewer excuses for Root to act. But worse—Tsunade had been in the village far longer than expected.

’Does she actually want to become Hokage?’

Danzo’s fists clenched.

When Minato, the Fourth Hokage, died in the Nine-Tails’ rampage, Hiruzen had stepped back into the role to stabilize the village. Everyone knew it was temporary—he was too old to hold the position for long.

There were only three serious candidates for Fifth Hokage: Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Danzo himself.

Danzo had been confident in his chances. The other two had spent years away from Konoha, showing no interest in the title. But Hiruzen had repeatedly rejected him.

’You’ll regret this, Hiruzen,’ Danzo thought bitterly.

If Sarutobi wouldn’t hand him the hat, Danzo could wait. He had patience. He had time.

But Tsunade’s return complicated everything. She had the kind of charisma he could never match. Luckily, she’d seemed uninterested in power—until now.

A knock broke his thoughts.

"Come in," Danzo said sharply.

A masked Root operative entered and knelt. "Danzo-sama. Anbu recently reviewed the records on Yakushi Kabuto."

Danzo’s brow furrowed. "Why would Hiruzen want Kabuto’s file?"

"It wasn’t the Hokage," the operative replied. "It was Lady Tsunade. Anbu acted on her orders."

Danzo stood abruptly, an icy premonition settling in his gut. She had wasted no time seizing authority. Could she be Hokage by tomorrow?

"Hokage-sama has granted Lady Tsunade temporary control over Anbu," the operative added.

"Temporary," Danzo repeated, slightly reassured—but not much. This was a signal, and the other clans would notice. The tide was turning against him.

He slammed a fist onto his desk. Wood splintered; the table cracked in two.

’Damn it! Minato’s death should have cleared the way, and now Tsunade stands in my path.’

Danzo forced himself to think. Why Kabuto?

Kabuto was the adopted son of Nono Yakushi—someone Tsunade had been spending time with. And Root had assigned Nono a mission to the Land of Earth, departing today.

"Bring Nono Yakushi to me," Danzo ordered. "And watch Anbu—see if they send anyone out of the village."

Moments later, the Root agent returned. "Danzo-sama... Nono Yakushi has already been taken by Tsunade. We couldn’t intercept her."

Danzo’s expression twisted with rage. "So, you want to challenge me, Tsunade?" His killing intent filled the room.

"Kill Yakushi Kabuto," he said coldly. "If she wants him, she won’t have him."

The operative nodded without hesitation—Root’s loyalty was absolute.

"Wait," Danzo added. "Root won’t move directly. Leak Kabuto’s whereabouts to Iwagakure. Let them do the work."

Root was powerful, but so was Anbu, and a clash risked captured operatives having their memories read by the Yamanaka clan. That could expose too much.

"Hiruzen. Tsunade," Danzo muttered darkly, stroking his right eye. Everyone believed it blind. In truth, it housed Shisui’s Mangekyō Sharingan—Kotoamatsukami, the ultimate tool for bending another’s will without them knowing.

He had never dared use it. Not yet.

When the operative left, Danzo’s fury echoed in the empty office.

—

Nightfall—Near the Land of Earth

After a day’s travel, Kitazawa and Kakashi finally stopped. They needed rest—especially Kakashi, whose Sharingan had been active all day.

"No fires," Kakashi warned. "We’re close to the Land of Earth. Iwagakure shinobi could be anywhere."

"I know," Kitazawa said, pitching the tent. "Got anything to eat?"

"Rice balls. Sushi."

"I’ve got snacks—potato chips, lollipops, cookies." Kitazawa grinned.

"Why are you carrying snacks on an Anbu mission?" Kakashi asked.

"They’re for the kids. I teach at the Academy, remember?"

Kakashi blinked. "...I don’t eat snacks."

Once inside the tent, Kakashi bit into a rice ball. "If you’re an Academy teacher, why join this mission?"

"This is about Yakushi Kabuto—a Root operative and Nono Yakushi’s adopted son."

Kakashi listened quietly as Kitazawa explained.

"I see. But you’re a medical-nin—you shouldn’t be here," Kakashi said.

Kitazawa knew he was right. But some debts—like the one he owed Nono—were worth the risk.

"It was Lady Tsunade who taught me medical ninjutsu," Kitazawa said.

With a light chuckle, he added, "But tell me—does Lady Tsunade strike you as just any ordinary medic-nin?"

Kakashi Hatake paused, momentarily caught off guard. Still, doubt lingered in his eyes.

If this kid really had such talent, why wait until now to reveal it?

"Not hungry?" Kitazawa asked, holding out a bag of chips.

"...Thanks."

Kakashi hesitated before taking them.

"You’re welcome," Kitazawa replied with a small smile. "We’re teammates now, after all."

"After dinner, we’ll take shifts on watch," Kakashi said evenly. "I’ll cover the first half of the night. You take the second."

"Alright."

By the third day, they reached the nearest town to Iwagakure.

"You stay here. I’ll infiltrate alone," Kakashi stated.

"Think you can convince Kabuto by yourself?" Kitazawa countered.

"One more person means one more risk of exposure. I just need to explain my intentions—he’ll believe me."

Kitazawa smirked. "He’s Root, you’re Anbu, and this involves Nono-senpai. He won’t be swayed that easily. Besides, my strength isn’t half-bad. If you don’t trust me, at least trust Lady Tsunade."

Kakashi wavered.

"The war’s long over. Iwagakure won’t be as vigilant," Kitazawa offered. "We blend in with a merchant caravan and walk right through the main gate. No barriers there."

"...Fine." Kakashi finally nodded. He trusted Tsunade enough.

The plan was set.

The "villages" of the Five Great Nations were more like bustling cities, and their ninja clientele meant caravans were constant. Finding one to blend into was easy—two swift knockouts and a Transformation Technique later, they were in.

At the gates, the guards merely recorded their names. No thorough checks.

Kitazawa couldn’t help recalling Hanarin—a Lock-Front Village spy who once infiltrated Konoha disguised as a wandering singer. She had admired Kakashi once, though their paths had no happy ending.

Once inside Iwagakure, they slipped away from the caravan.

"We have to move fast," Kakashi warned. "The caravan will notice two missing soon."

Kitazawa nodded.

The scroll from Tsunade held Kabuto’s location—an unassuming two-story wooden house—and even a simple map. Anbu efficiency saved them hours.

Kakashi scanned the area. "No Jonin nearby."

Kitazawa stepped up and knocked.

The door opened to reveal a young boy with silver-white hair. Even without having met before, Kitazawa knew—this was Yakushi Kabuto.

"Who are you?" Kabuto asked warily.

"We’re from Konoha. Lady Tsunade and Yakushi Nono sent us to bring you home," Kitazawa replied swiftly.

Kabuto froze, the weight of the message sinking in.

"Root could make their move any moment," Kitazawa pressed.

"Why should I believe you?" Kabuto narrowed his eyes. In Root, tests of loyalty were common—and deadly.

"Your glasses. Your name. Both were given by Yakushi Nono," Kitazawa said. "If you don’t believe me, leave a Shadow Clone. In thirty minutes, someone will try to kill you."

Kabuto’s expression darkened. Few knew the story behind his glasses.

"...I’ll believe you for now." He created a Shadow Clone.

"Let’s move," Kakashi urged.

They slipped out of the village—but halfway to the border, Kabuto halted, his body tensing.

"The clone’s gone. Not Root—three Jonin and three Chunin from Iwagakure."

"A borrowed knife," Kitazawa muttered. "Danzo must have sold you out."

"It’s not that easy to outrun them," Kakashi said grimly. "Iwagakure has top-tier trackers."

He bit his thumb, slammed a palm to the ground, and with a puff of smoke—Pakkun appeared.

"Lead us. Warn if enemies are close," Kakashi ordered.

Without hesitation, Pakkun bounded ahead, his sharp nose keeping them safe—until the earth beneath them split open.

A forest of stone spears erupted upward.

"Earth Release!" Pakkun barked. "He’s underground—I couldn’t scent him!"

"Earth-Style Wall!" Kakashi slammed his hands together. A massive barrier rose, canine heads etched into its surface. The spears struck hard, cracking it.

Kitazawa vaulted atop the wall, heat flaring around him. "Fire Release—Great Fireball Jutsu!"

The blazing sphere slammed down, scorching the ground—but the enemy dodged at the last second.

Shadows flickered in from all sides. The rest of the six-man Iwagakure squad appeared, surrounding them.

Kakashi’s gaze hardened. This... would not be easy.

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