Aburame Tatsuma raised his hand, chakra surging into an insect cocoon. Countless bugs swarmed out, blanketing the area.
Soon they located a target. The chakra signature matched Kyohiko perfectly. Hiruzen had sent him with Shibi? No wonder ROOT’s forces crumbled.
But an eight-year-old infiltrating ROOT’s base? "Pathetic!" Tatsuma’s expression darkened. ROOT’s current members lacked specialized techniques. Only the two elites he’d sent earlier stood out, yet even they fell quickly.
"Your turn." Shibi’s gaze hardened. "As clansmen, surrender and I’ll spare you!"
"For Lord Danzo!" Tatsuma shouted without hesitation, chakra erupting as his insects multiplied into a dark cloud. He feared Kyohiko more than Shibi.
Then a water dragon erupted from Kyohiko, guided by his hands into a spiraling torrent. The Water Dragon Bullet technique’s arc was breathtaking, its sheer power undeniable.
Tatsuma attempted evasion but Shibi’s insects had breached his defenses, creating a vulnerable gap.
Tatsuma redirected his swarm yet sensed an approaching presence. Too fast!
The dragon’s spinning head struck his abdomen, blasting him through his own defenses. Before he could recover, Kyohiko appeared behind him.
Below, Shibi stared in awe. He had been just support. Kyohiko’s tactics were flawless—the water dragon manipulated mid-flight, its direction altered seamlessly. Even Shibi couldn’t have countered such precision.
Now Tatsuma’s body was riddled with Shibi’s insects, but Kyohiko’s fist connected before they could multiply. The sheer force overwhelmed the insects, sending Tatsuma crashing before Shibi.
Kyohiko landed beside him. "Help!"
"On it." Shibi’s insects neutralized Kyohiko’s invaders swiftly. Without immediate action, they’d consume his chakra and burst out—the Aburame clan’s signature lethality.
Kyohiko exhaled. "Thanks, Shibi-senpai."
"My gratitude to you. Without you..." Shibi glanced at Tatsuma’s motionless form, sighing heavily. Another prodigy lost to Danzo’s fanaticism.
"Tatsuma, what a waste."
"He might still live—but we must hurry." Kyohiko managed a weak smile.
Shibi hesitated before nodding. "Let’s go."
"Conveniently, I have two more." Kyohiko’s shadow clones arrived, dragging a young girl and boy—Yakushi Nonō and Yamato.
Shibi raised an eyebrow. "You spared her?"
"Figured she could be saved. Most in ROOT had no choice." Kyohiko explained, then frowned. "The real issue is Danzo’s cursed seals."
The Tongue Eradication Seal. Beyond silencing secrets, it psychologically bound them to Danzo.
Shibi observed Kyohiko thoughtfully. Despite hardship, he retained compassion. Remarkable. Kyohiko’s water dragon had evoked Tobirama’s legendary prowess—a sight Shibi never expected to witness.
"Ah! Let me seal him." Shibi produced a scroll, weaving hand seals. Moments later, black patterns spread across Tatsuma, drawing his insects into a gourd-shaped vessel.
An insect-sealing technique? Novel. But only effective against uncontrolled swarms.
"This only works on rogue insects?"
"Yes. Typically for our own swarms. Never imagined using it against a clansman..." Shibi sighed heavily.
Kyohiko tested his mobility, summoning a toad to assist with transport. Chatting idly with Shibi, he avoided delving into Aburame secrets. Their symbiotic insect techniques offered little for his current needs. Better maintain this alliance.
With limited chakra, Kyohiko summoned Gamatetsu—the toad carrying Yamato while Kyohiko supported Nonō.
"Let’s move before pursuit arrives."
Meanwhile, deep within ANBU headquarters, Danzo followed Hiruzen into a secure research chamber where Jiraiya and Tsunade awaited.
"Unique constitution, but uncontrollable. Transplantation risks are catastrophic." Tsunade gestured to a grotesque creature—a mutated boar, its flesh grotesquely overgrown, howling mindlessly.
"Shinobi recipients might harness it." Danzo interjected.
Tsunade glared. "Experiment on our own? Sacrifice hard-trained ninja?"
"Necessary costs!" Danzo retorted firmly.
Tsunade scoffed, turning to Hiruzen. "Sensei, is this the ’necessary darkness’ you spoke of?"
Hiruzen remained silent, mentally cursing Danzo.
"Foreign ninja could suffice." Danzo persisted.
Jiraiya laughed. "Disappearances would spark investigations—escalating to war. Is that your plan?"
"You fail to comprehend! With sufficient power, we dictate terms!" Danzo’s conviction was unshakable. To him, only strength ensured survival—current peace was mere pretense.
Hiruzen intervened. "Could he master it as a shinobi? Minimize berserk episodes?"
"Possible." Tsunade seized the diversion, detailing her progress stabilizing Kinoe’s chakra while Jiraiya explained sage chakra principles.
As the Professor, Hiruzen grasped the implications instantly. Kyohiko’s suggestion held merit. Training Kinoe could yield a powerful asset, even potentially founding a new clan—though another volatile bloodline like the Uchiha posed risks.
Hiruzen massaged his temples. "Cease research. Place him under ANBU supervision. Jiraiya, oversee his training."
"Understood." Jiraiya agreed readily. Despite ideological differences, he wouldn’t sabotage village interests.
Danzo’s scowl deepened. Hiruzen never intended to grant me control. This was merely a display. His influence within ANBU had dwindled to near irrelevance, retaining only training and interrogation divisions.
"Danzo, let’s go." Hiruzen departed.
Danzo followed silently, sensing something amiss. Hiruzen’s uncharacteristic openness felt calculated. He’s stalling me.
"Did you send operatives to my base?"
"Your base?" Hiruzen feigned ignorance. "You established an independent organization under training division guise?"
Danzo cursed inwardly—his slip exposing ROOT’s existence. "Necessary for Konoha. Unregistered operatives avoid diplomatic complications abroad."
"And enable domestic operations, correct?" Hiruzen’s tone turned icy. "How many secrets do you keep from me?"
"You already know. Yes, I founded ROOT—for Konoha’s sake. Our networks span nations, gathering critical intelligence..." Danzo detailed ROOT’s contributions, his gaze softening. "Hiruzen, our methods differ, but our goals align."
Hiruzen’s expression eased. Their conversation continued—Danzo oblivious to the raid on his base. By dawn, Kyohiko had breached ROOT’s defenses, capturing three key personnel.
When Danzo learned the truth, his mood soured further. Outmaneuvered.
"Danzo, cease this feud. Surrender ROOT to unified command." Homura advised gently.
Koharu nodded. "ROOT has value, but your recent actions angered Hiruzen. We’ll intercede once he cools down..."
"Enough!" Danzo stormed out. Their message was clear—even his allies disapproved of his extremism.
ROOT—his life’s work—I won’t relinquish it! If necessary, I’ll rebuild ROOT—even a new Konoha!
He departed with grim resolve.