Here's the extra Chapter!
Well done guys.
Next Goal: 1500 PS
==================
"How is this possible?!"
Inside the Hokage's office, under the shocked gazes of the assembled Jonin, even Jiraiya was left dumbfounded.
Vines visibly sprouted rapidly from the floor, swiftly engulfing the chairs. The two sitting on the chairs, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, panicked and quickly got to their feet.
With a series of crackling sounds, the two chairs were instantly consud by the vines.
At this mont, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu couldn't hide their fear.
"Wood Release!"
In just an instant, the vines spread rapidly around the Hokage's office, transforming into decorative patterns.
"When did the Hokage's office beco a place where so many Jonin stand while others sit and act superior?"
After completing this, Shirou's expression remained indifferent, while Tsunade, standing nearby, burst into laughter, showing no rcy.
"Exactly. The Shinobi world has always respected strength. Back when my grandfather and granduncle were here, no one dared to act superior based on seniority."
"You—!"
At this mont, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu were both shocked. However, when they saw Shirou's cold, detached gaze, their pupils shrank.
That icy gaze, combined with the terrifying chakra that erupted with just the lift of a finger, reminded them of soone.
The Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama!
And this person was clearly from the Senju clan... and even knew Wood Release.
"This chakra's intensity—it feels just like the Second Hokage's!"
The two swallowed nervously. After all, they still vividly rembered the tactics of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama.
Looking at Tsunade with grim expressions, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu finally understood her trump card.
The Senju clan had been lying low for so many years, only to unleash such a devastating move!
"Jiraiya, as a Jonin of Konoha, your duty is to obey the Hokage's orders, not to bring outsiders here to question them!"
Shirou's cold gaze never once landed on the two elders. Instead, he calmly looked at Jiraiya.
Among all the Jonin present, Jiraiya felt this the most. He was already drenched in cold sweat.
The terrifying chakra explosion earlier had been aid at him. That oppressive feeling made his scalp tingle.
He realized that he might only stand a chance if he entered Sage Mode.
At the sa ti, it beca crystal clear in everyone's minds: their Fifth Hokage wasn't just keeping a man.
She had brought out the Senju clan's ultimate weapon to Konoha.
With Shirou standing in support, Tsunade finally felt the long-lost sense of soone having her back. Her confidence soared as she looked around the room and coldly demanded:
"Now, as the Fifth Hokage, does anyone here have any objections? Who supports? Who opposes?"
Well, under these circumstances, who would dare oppose?
Kakashi sighed softly. He had no choice but to step forward.
"Hatake Kakashi, Jonin of Konoha, supports the Hokage's decree."
"Support!"
"Seconded!"
"Seconded!"
"The Hokage is wise!"
"The first rule of the ninja code is to obey the Hokage's orders!"
"Seconded!"
With unanimous agreent, the assembled Jonin all nodded in approval. It was clear that the Fifth Hokage was no longer soone to be trifled with.
The Ino-Shika-Cho trio—Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka—had already made a decisive sacrifice, giving up their positions and interests as Jonin leaders. This was their way of signaling that they were staying out of the conflict. Though it seed a bit unprincipled, their attitude was at least sincere—they had surrendered their benefits entirely. What more could you ask for?
Moreover, their reasoning for this stance was in the na of Konoha's stability.
Over ti, Tsunade had firmly taken control of Konoha's Anbu forces, and with Hatake Kakashi serving as the Jonin leader, she had consolidated power over Konoha's critical departnts, leaving only the Root division outside her grasp.
If Jonin could foresee this, how could Tsunade not have anticipated it?
Tsunade's gaze swept across the room as she boldly declared:
"According to the Anbu's investigation, the Root division has been secretly oppressing and intimidating Konoha's ninjas while researching the village's Kekkei Genkai. As the Fifth Hokage, I hereby announce:
Effective imdiately, Danzo is relieved of his duties, and the Root division will now be under the command of Senju Shirou!"
The room fell silent as everyone's eyes widened in shock. Jiraiya's face turned pale, and he was about to speak out when he noticed Tsunade's resolute gaze. At that mont, he seed to understand sothing.
"Researching the village's Kekkei Genkai?"
Jiraiya's face twisted in shock, and the other Jonin was quick to react as well.
Although Konoha was known as the largest ninja village, the number of Kekkei Genkai users within the village wasn't that high—it was sothing that could easily be counted.
No wonder the usually reserved Hyuga clan had been so decisive this ti. No wonder the Fifth Hokage, Tsunade, who had seed uninterested in power, had suddenly changed her stance.
Sotis, the imagination was more dangerous than the reality.
At that mont, everyone's thoughts began to connect the dots. They were convinced that the Fifth Hokage's sudden, forceful actions must have been triggered by so major revelation.
Their suspicions were confird monts later when Tsunade issued her next command, leaving no room for doubt:
"Due to the unique nature of the Root division, I am forming a Special Task Force composed of Jiraiya, Hatake Kakashi, Hiashi Hyuga, Might Guy, Yamanaka Inoichi... You are to imdiately investigate Root and assist Senju Shirou in taking control!"
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
The nad Jonin responded their expressions a mix of tension and excitent.
It was clear that this was a sign of trust.
"This is bad!"
"We're dood!"
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu turned pale, their faces drained of all color. Just as they were about to speak, they caught sight of Shiou's cold, unyielding gaze.
Fear took hold of them.
They had to warn Danzo imdiately!
Exchanging glances, they realized they weren't a match for this force. Only Danzo could deal with this threat now. They could only hope it wasn't too late—if Danzo delayed any longer, even his base of operations would be gone.
...
Root Division.
"Move quickly! Begin the operation!"
"Nara Shikaku, you're in charge of sealing the area. Yamanaka Inoichi-senpai, you handle... Jiraiya-sama, co with !"
As the fifty-strong Konoha Jonin Task Force surrounded and sealed off the Root division, Hatake Kakashi displayed exceptional leadership, calmly issuing orders.
The man who had once served in both the Root and the Anbu, Kakashi Hatake, sealed off the entire Root base in just a short mont.
"What are you doing?! What do you want?!"
"By order of the Hokage! The Root has been researching the bloodlines of villagers. All mbers are hereby ordered to surrender. Anyone who resists will be executed as a traitor!"
Although those in the Root had been trained as tools, they were all brainwashed to remain loyal to Konoha.
When the order was given that any resistance would label them as traitors, most of the Root mbers hesitated and allowed themselves to be captured.
They were emotionless tools—or perhaps numbed to emotions—but they were not without thought.
Even so, there were still so Root mbers fanatically loyal to Danzo, who angrily confronted the Konoha shinobi storming in.
"No one is allowed to set foot in here until Lord Danzo returns!"
"We have the Hokage's orders!"
"No! Without Lord Danzo..."
As the standoff continued, a flash of lightning streaked through the air. In an instant, before the astonished gazes of Kakashi, Jiraiya, and others, the rebellious Root mbers dropped to their knees, their eyes lifeless.
"It seems the Root has truly beco a private militia for rats lurking in the shadows."
In the dimly lit Root base, Shirou's calm voice echoed. At this mont, no one dared to underestimate him anymore.
The lightning had been too fast! So fast that no one present could even see it.
Even Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Might Guy were sweating coldly.
"So fast! If he were an enemy, I might have been killed in an instant!" Kakashi thought to himself, knowing he could only counter such speed if he prepared in advance.
Might Guy was equally shaken, replaying the mont in his mind.
"I'd probably need to open the Seventh Gate just to keep up... but is that his limit?"
Jiraiya's unease deepened as he thought about the Senju Clan. To think that such a powerful shinobi still existed within their bloodline, and yet there wasn't even the slightest intel about him—it was terrifying. Truly worthy of being the once greatest clan in the ninja world.
"What terrifying chakra... and that lightning release... I'd need Sage Mode just to stand a chance..."
As the rebellious Root mbers collapsed and were taken into custody, the entire Root base was quickly brought under control.
The Root was no longer just an assassination unit. It had evolved into a departnt integrating espionage, spying, assassination, research, and dical operations.
"Look! There's a barrier around this laboratory."
"Carefully break it down! Don't damage anything inside."
"Damn it! What is this?!"
"Oh god! How many of our comrades have been killed by the Root over the years?!"
When the barrier was breached and the team entered the deepest part of the Root's research base, the faces of the jonin involved in the mission turned pale. What followed was a mixture of terror and fury.
Inside were nurous corpses suspended in tanks—so of them familiar faces.
There were also several ongoing experints. Containers held grotesque Sharingan, and large jars contained the Inuzuka Clan's ninja dogs, their once-fierce eyes now lifeless.
"Those are Sharingan... so many of them!"
"That's Ota! Wasn't he reported killed in action? Why is his body here?!"
"Danzo!" One of the Abura Clan mbers, upon seeing experints involving nano-level poison insects, erupted with anger. Those were the Abura Clan's secret techniques!
"It's over. This ti, it's over."
Seeing the horrific scenes in the Root base, Jiraiya turned pale with fear. The amount of evidence uncovered here was enough to destroy Danzo.
Although Jiraiya didn't care much for Danzo, he knew that Danzo cornered like a desperate animal, coupled with Tsunade's uncompromising thods, would undoubtedly provoke the Sarutobi Clan and its allies.
This was a clear prelude to upheaval in Konoha!
"Seal everything imdiately!"
Kakashi's face darkened as he took in the scene. Though he had once worked in the Root and had witnessed its darkness, he never imagined it was this corrupt.
"Wood Release?! The Root has been experinting with cells from the First Hokage!"
In the deepest part of the research base, they found a half-ford body in a tank. Its features were strikingly similar to the First Hokage, but the other half had been assimilated into writhing tree vines. Alarms beeped incessantly from the machine monitoring it.
Everyone's scalp tingled at the sight. It was now clear why Lady Tsunade had unleashed such ruthless asures without hesitation. It was because the Root had been conducting insane experints on bloodlines—including Wood Release, as well as almost every other Konoha bloodline and secret technique.
"Kakashi..."
Even Might Guy, usually so passionate, fell silent at the sight. The scenes before him were too horrifying, leaving him cold and numb.
"Kakashi, is this what you served in when you were part of the Root?"
For the first ti, Might Guy understood why he was deed unfit for the Root or Anbu. Why Danzo had once told him he wasn't dark enough.
Kakashi took a deep breath and sighed.
"Guy... perhaps unchecked power makes people increasingly greedy. The Root is no longer the force that once protected Konoha."
Shirou, cold and emotionless, surveyed the Root's monstrosities. It was clear this world's Danzo had grown even more insane over the years.
"Secure the entire scene. No one is permitted to touch any of the Root's records. Everything is to be locked down!"
At Shirou's command, the jonin present imdiately shouted orders and carried them out.
The evidence alone was enough to destroy the Root. The rest of the dark secrets, even the Jonin feared to examine, lest they be implicated.
"So many Sharingan..."
Among the crowd, Hyuga Hiashi, usually calm and composed, couldn't help but feel a chill as he saw the wall of Sharingan. A terrifying thought crept into his mind.
Why, exactly, had the Uchiha Clan been wiped out?
Was it really because of a coup? Or was it due to the greed for their Sharingan?
"Byakugan! Damn you, Danzo!"
Hiashi's fury erupted as he spotted a Byakugan in the Root's research base—still attached to a half-dismbered corpse. That corpse belonged to a Hyuga Clan jonin who had fallen in the Third Great Ninja War. It had been believed that to protect the last Byakugan, the jonin had chosen to perish in an explosion alongside the enemy.
But now, the horrifying truth was laid bare.
...
As Konoha's leadership underwent a massive upheaval, two elders, Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, returned to their clans pale and trembling with fear.
"Danzo's actions in the Root cannot be covered up! With Tsunade's temperant, she's sure to retaliate against us!"
"I told Danzo not to be so reckless, but he wouldn't listen!"
"Have you contacted Danzo?"
"It's too late! We've been collaborating with him for years... and the Sarutobi Clan..."
Mitokado Homura's face darkened, his trembling hands adjusting his glasses betraying his unease.
"Tsunade is ruthless. She's given us no chance to destroy the evidence in advance."
"What should we do now?"
Koharu Utatane was already in complete panic. If the Root's secrets were fully exposed, she couldn't even bear to imagine the consequences of the things they had colluded on with the Root over the years.
For those who had sat in high positions for a long ti, perhaps they were not afraid of death, but what they feared most was being dragged down, losing all their power, and losing respect in the eyes of others.
"Contact the Sarutobi clan! The Sarutobi clan has also been deeply involved in the matters of the Root. We must join forces first, or else Tsunade will pick us off one by one! And where is Danzo? What's he still doing in the Land of Fire at a ti like this?"
When it ca to Danzo, Koharu even began cursing furiously.
"Danzo! If you don't co back now, you're going to beco a rogue ninja!"
Reviews
All reviews (0)