["That's right! The real body! It's someone from Root! We checked and found that both bodies had Root's curse mark on their tongues."]
"Thanks for the help. I'll handle the rest."
After speaking, Kaito released the Shadow Clone Technique and appeared in front of Hinata in an instant.
"Kaito! Who are they? Were they here for me?" Hinata asked, unusually serious and not her usual shy self.
"No, just some sewer rats. Nothing important. I'll take you home," Kaito said, gently stroking her lavender hair with a soft smile.
He knew Hinata had likely noticed the two shadow clones. With the Byakugan's prowess in reconnaissance, it was hard to hide anything from her.
But this was the dark side of Konoha—something he didn't want her involved in. As long as Hinata was safe and happy, that was enough.
"Oh, I understand," Hinata replied quietly, a bit frustrated.
"Ah—!" Hinata let out a soft yelp as Kaito suddenly picked her up in a princess carry.
Blushing furiously, Hinata curled up in his arms. Kaito didn't care about the looks and whispers around them, continuing on confidently. Hinata, however, buried her head into his chest like a shy little quail, not daring to look at anyone.
At the Hyuga compound, Kaito gently set Hinata down and leaned in to whisper, "We're home, Hinata."
Her face turned crimson as she ran toward the house without saying goodbye, disappearing through the gates.
Kaito chuckled warmly. "Too cute. A few more years and she'll be mine."
The two Hyuga guards stared daggers at him as he walked off calmly.
The moon hung high in the sky, stars scattered like glitter.
Standing on a rooftop, Kaito closed his eyes. Electromagnetic waves spread from his body like a tide, enveloping the entire village of Konoha in an instant.
He was searching for Danzo.
As the leader of Root, Danzo kept his whereabouts extremely well-hidden—even most jonin didn't know where he was based. Maybe only the other village elders did.
But Kaito wasn't worried. When Danzo had shown himself earlier, Kaito had already scanned and memorized his unique magnetic signature using his electromagnetic sensing.
As long as Danzo was still in the village, he wouldn't escape tonight.
One by one, the human signatures passed through Kaito's mind. He filtered them until—there it was.
Danzo.
"Tch. Filthy rat," Kaito muttered with disdain.
He pinpointed the location—underground. Surrounded by other signatures.
Root's base.
"Full moon again. Perfect night… for an execution," he said coldly, looking up at the sky.
With a flash, he vanished.
In a quiet forest area on the outskirts of Konoha, Kaito silently eliminated the Root sentries standing guard.
Activating Moon Step, he rose into the air, hovering with ease.
He wore a Root operative's animal mask, stolen from one of the downed guards.
On the ground stood a shadow clone, fists crackling with red lightning, chakra flaring like a full moon. The sheer intensity distorted the air around it.
This wasn't like the Thunder Fist he used during his spar with Hiashi Hyuga—this was its full potential.
"How many of you are ready?" Kaito asked, turning his head to look at the shadow clones now appearing beside him in the air.
"All ready, real body," one of them replied.
Each of the four shadow clones held a massive Rasengan in hand—infused with both wind and lightning chakra.
"Then let's begin. Tonight, Root disappears from Konoha," Kaito said in a chilling, emotionless tone.
He extended his hand.
Red lightning crackled to life in his palm, growing brighter and more volatile with every second as he pumped more chakra into it.
Crack—Crack—BOOM!
The red lightning surged upward, shooting straight into the night sky like a flare.
A beacon.
A warning.
Or a declaration.
The sudden eruption of energy caught the attention of countless Konoha shinobi. Those who recognized the scale of the chakra rushed toward the source.
["Let's begin."] Kaito ordered his shadow clones.
He increased his chakra output even further, and the lightning beam expanded, dense and blinding like a red pillar piercing the heavens.
He knew the longer this took, the more ANBU and jonin would arrive. He had to move quickly.
Deep underground in the Root base, Torune was chewing on a banana when his expression changed.
"This chakra… Something's attacking the Root base!"
He vanished instantly.
Inside the dim Root command room, Danzo leaned on his cane, gazing at a photo with a heated glint in his eyes.
"Bring those two girls back… Maybe I can make them part of Root."
A sinister grin spread across his face as he imagined capturing Kaito's companions.
"Lord Danzo! Something's wrong! There's an S-rank ninjutsu being activated right above us!" Torune shouted as he reappeared.
"Tch… How bold. I want to see who dares strike my Root! Assemble all units—we're moving out!" Danzo barked, his face darkening.
Meanwhile, the clone on the surface gave a wicked grin.
The twin Thunder Fists—like crimson moons—slammed into the ground with explosive force.
Directly above Root's headquarters.
BOOOOOM!
Red lightning and chakra burst through the ground in a thunderous eruption, shaking the very foundations of Root's underground fortress.
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