Danzo looked at the report in his hand, feeling as if his heart was bleeding.
More than ten years ago, he had confidently led a group of Root Ninja to the Land of Rain to win over Hanzo the Salamander, hoping to increase his chances of becoming Hokage.
All the Root elites died there, and he himself barely escaped.
Forced to restart from scratch, Danzo went through a period of anxiety before finally creating Kinoe, who possessed Wood Release.
He had eagerly hoped this boy would allow Root to rise again and enable him to contend for the Hokage seat.
However, not only did the assassination of Sarutobi Hiruzen fail, but then Kinoe even developed personal feelings for Kakashi?
What was even more infuriating was that Sarutobi Hiruzen later demanded Kinoe.
Faced with this situation, Danzo immediately caved.
You want him, fine, but what's the meaning of surrounding Root with a group of Anbu?
Do you think I wouldn't give him to you?
Thus, 'Kinoe' was gone, now renamed 'Tenzo'.
Despite such a heavy blow, Danzo didn't despair. Covertly, he and Orochimaru thoroughly researched the power of Wood Release, and then he fulfilled his teacher's long-cherished wish by eliminating the entire Uchiha clan.
He felt such a feat should be sufficient, but unexpectedly, Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately discarded him like he had squeezed up all his value.
Root was temporarily disbanded, and he was also temporarily suspended. Although he still retained a considerable number of people, it was incomparable to the past.
Unexpectedly, due to special reasons, he was reinstated with limited authority. He then hardened his heart and sent the remaining elites to the Kirigakure, hoping to gather intelligence on Obito or seize the Mangekyo Sharingan.
But now, his people disappeared without a trace?
And all of them were gone!
"These inherently evil Uchiha..."
Danzo cursed, his forehead twitching constantly, and the hand holding the intelligence clenching tightly.
There weren't many people left in Root now. Besides his personal guards and a few powerful individuals, the rest were just children who still needed training.
"Root needs to replenish its talent pool..."
Danzo was troubled, but just then, Yamanaka Fu cautiously approached him and whispered, "Danzo-sama, Lord Hokage has sent someone over."
"Again?" Danzo frowned.
He wanted to curse a bit, but looking at the scroll in his hand, he ultimately chose to remain silent.
He had no more trump cards, and his plan had failed. It was time to give Sarutobi Hiruzen an explanation.
"Since you're so eager, I'll let you see everything in Kirigakure as well."
Thinking this, Danzo turned to Fu and said in a deep voice, "Go tell that fellow to deliver a message to Hiruzen."
"Root has fulfilled its mission and obtained sufficient intelligence."
In Konoha, at a training ground.
Takemi had just arrived to report when he saw Kakashi and Jiraiya standing together.
Takemi nodded to Kakashi, then looked at Jiraiya with a puzzled expression.
"Oh, Jiraiya-sama, you're here too?"
"What kind of talk is that, kid? Can't I come and see you?"
Jiraiya snorted before continuing, "You little rascal, you've caused Kakashi and me to be constantly scolded by old man lately. You're really something."
Takemi chuckled indifferently, but when he thought of Naruto's dejected expression after school these past few days, he found it somewhat amusing.
Clearly, he was probably being trained quite harshly by Iruka at school. Perhaps not just him, but all the students couldn't escape it, right?
At this moment, Kakashi took out a short sword and handed it to Takemi.
"Successfully graduating and completing your first mission, these are all moments worth remembering."
"But I never had a gift for you. Consider this making up for it."
"This sword was once my father's personal blade, and I used it for a while, but I no longer do."
"Since you've learned my Kenjutsu, I'm passing it on to you. I hope you'll use it well."
Jiraiya blinked, and in his mind, the image of that spirited man, known as 'Konoha's White Fang', seemed to reappear.
It was a pity that so many things had happened back then, and he found it difficult to comment.
He actually strongly agreed with Sakumo's actions. Comrades were the most precious for a Ninja.
However, during wartime, missions took precedence. One couldn't abandon critical missions to save comrades, as that would lead to more Ninja dying.
So he could only sigh, then chuckled playfully in a teasing tone, "No way, you're really giving this sword to this kid?"
Kakashi nodded, his exposed eye curving.
"I no longer use it. Rather than letting it gather dust at home, it's better to give it to someone more suitable."
"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei."
Takemi took the sword and nodded seriously, then slowly drew the short blade.
The sword wasn't long, but it was incredibly sharp, glinting faintly in the sunlight. Clearly, Kakashi had gone to some trouble to have someone repair and re-polish it.
And Takemi could feel that the sword had excellent Chakra conductivity. Thinking of this, the Chakra in his body stirred slightly.
Instantly, the sword was covered in a layer of purple lightning.
"The Chakra conductivity is extremely great, and does more Chakra increase the sharpness and toughness of the blade?" Takemi felt it for a moment, muttering to himself. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on novelFirｅ.net
He was now even suspecting that the reason Kakashi's sword had broken back then was due to insufficient Chakra infusion.
Shaking his head, he stopped the Chakra infusion, then put the short sword away, and bowed slightly to Kakashi.
"I won't let this sword be tarnished, Kakashi-sensei."
"Alright, alright, you two, that's a bit too sappy." Jiraiya pouted, shaking his head to interrupt the two, then chuckled.
"Use this sword well, kid. Just don't disgrace it, after all, its previous owner... was a hero."
Takemi nodded, then asked with some confusion, "By the way, Jiraiya-sama, are you here to give me a gift too?"
"Hmph, wait until you become a Chunin or Jonin."
Jiraiya rolled his eyes before continuing, "The old man demanded it, telling me to come check on your training progress."
"Honestly, that's the Flying Thunder God Technique. If it were that simple, it wouldn't..."
"I've made some progress."
However, before Jiraiya could finish speaking, Takemi interrupted him.
His words instantly made both Jiraiya and Kakashi's eyes widen.
"Progress, you mean..."
"Jiraiya-sama said that the difficulty of the Flying Thunder God Technique lies in Chakra control, and of course, spatial perception."
Takemi smiled and took out a kunai. He gripped the kunai, and the Chakra in his body began to subtly surge.
"Such things are profound and indeed confusing, but I'm quite lucky. I've slightly found that feeling."
As he spoke, he held the kunai upright. To the astonished gaze of Jiraiya and Kakashi, a peculiar seal had appeared on the kunai.
The next moment, Takemi threw the kunai behind them.
With a surge of Chakra, in an instant, Takemi's figure vanished from their sight, and his voice came from behind them.
"I think I can perform a basic use of this Jutsu now!"
Takemi's voice wasn't loud, but it seemed to stun the two into silence.
They turned their heads blankly, looking at Takemi with a kunai in his hand. For a moment, a golden figure appeared in their minds.
They both murmured softly, their eyes filled with remembrance, nostalgia, and disbelief.
But just at this moment, an Anbu quickly rushed over.