Kakashi darted swiftly through the dense forest, a growing unease tightening in his chest like a vice.
Why does it feel like something is terribly wrong, but I can't quite place it?
"Forget it. I need to return to the village first."
He muttered under his breath and then pushed off a tree branch, increasing his speed in a blur of motion.
The familiar forest scenery zipped past, but the furrow between Kakashi's brows only deepened.
It wasn't long before the gates of Konoha appeared. That familiar view always brought a strange mix of comfort and vigilance.
After slowing his pace, Kakashi flashed his pass at the gate and headed straight for the Hokage's office without delay.
Meanwhile, in a dimly lit rest station, Tenzo — known to Danzo as "A" — sat quietly with a group of Root ninja.
A strange glint passed through Tenzo's eyes as he pulled a small bottle from his cloak, then used Wood Release to conjure a fake Sharingan, placing it into the vial.
"I need to find the truth for myself."
He whispered, then approached a still-unconscious Root ninja, placing a hand on his chest.
The man jolted awake, clutching his throat. "Urgh… what happened?"
"You're awake, senpai."
"A? Wait… I remember we were fighting Hatake Kakashi. Why are we here?"
The Root ninja sat up, clearly disoriented, scanning for any signs of Kakashi.
"I succeeded," Tenzo said calmly. "I threw Kakashi's body into Orochimaru's abandoned lab, set it up like a trap. The Hokage's forces will believe he died."
"…You? You defeated Kakashi?" The Root ninja blinked, skeptical. But when Tenzo displayed the bottle with the forged Sharingan, his doubts subsided.
"Well done… honestly, I thought this mission was doomed."
"Let's return to Master Danzo," Tenzo replied without emotion.
"Right."
Both activated chakra suppression techniques and vanished toward Root headquarters.
Deep underground, inside a shadowy Root chamber, the two knelt before Danzo. The elder shinobi took the vial in silence, inspecting the 'Sharingan.'
But then—
Crack!
Danzo hurled the bottle to the ground, the glass shattering. The "Sharingan" fizzled away, revealing it to be nothing more than lifeless wood.
"A! B! You dare deceive me with this trick?"
Danzo's fury was palpable. His single visible eye narrowed dangerously.
B was stunned. He turned to A in confusion — he had believed it too.
But Tenzo didn't flinch. He rose to his feet, voice trembling but resolute.
"Why, Danzo-sama? Why did you order Kakashi's death? He's our comrade!"
Danzo's face twisted. "A! Root has no comrades — only directives!"
"But isn't Root part of Konoha?" Tenzo cried.
"Root exists apart from the village. Root shinobi have no past. No future. No feelings. No names! Only my orders! Only the mission!"
Danzo's voice boomed through the chamber like a hammer striking iron, but Tenzo stood his ground.
No feelings? No name? No… that's not who I am.
"I am not just Root!" Tenzo shouted. "I am a shinobi of Konoha! I have emotions! I have a name — Tenzo!"
His chest heaved, his courage spent.
Danzo's eyes widened. "What did Kakashi tell you?!"
In rage, Danzo tore the bandage from his right eye, revealing his Sharingan — and cast a genjutsu.
Tenzo collapsed instantly.
"Reinforce his seal," Danzo growled. "Take him away."
"Yes, Danzo-sama," B replied, lifting Tenzo's unconscious body.
Danzo scowled at the broken glass, his voice a low snarl. "Hatake Kakashi… meddling again. The Hatake clan is always a thorn."
Elsewhere, Kakashi walked the streets of Konoha, his eyes fixed on the Anbu mask in his hand. Then suddenly—
Flash!
His pupils dilated.
Tenzo! He's in danger!
Without hesitation, Kakashi sprinted toward the Hokage's office.
Inside, Hiruzen Sarutobi practiced calligraphy, with Uzuki Yugao posted at the door.
"Kakashi-senpai? Why are you in such a rush?"
"Is the Hokage inside?"
Yugao nodded. "Yes, but—"
Before she could finish, Kakashi pushed past her.
"Wait! You can't just barge in!"
Too late. Kakashi had already stormed into the room.
Hiruzen looked up, surprised. "Kakashi? What is it?"
"Lord Third, I visited Orochimaru's former laboratory and encountered the Wood Release user I mentioned earlier — Tenzo. He's from Root. Danzo ordered him to kill me, but he failed and fled."
"What? Danzo again…"
Hiruzen frowned deeply. That Danzo still dared to target Kakashi?
"More importantly, Tenzo has returned to Root," Kakashi added quickly. "If Danzo realizes he failed, he'll execute him. We'll lose a valuable asset — a true Wood Release user. I beg you to intervene."
Hiruzen stared at Kakashi, intense. "Give me one good reason."
"Because the son of the Fourth is nearly four years old. One day, he'll need comrades like Tenzo. Because Wood Release is vital to Konoha. And because… Tenzo is my comrade — and a comrade of Konoha!"
Hiruzen fell silent, then sighed. It was true. Since Hashirama, no one had truly wielded Wood Release. If Tenzo could master it…
"You're right. I don't usually interfere in Root affairs… but this time is different. Yugao, summon Danzo to my office."
"Yes, Lord Third."
"I'm coming too," Kakashi said firmly.
Yugao looked uncertainly at Hiruzen, who simply nodded.
"Let him."
With permission given, Yugao had no objection.
Together, they exited the tower and headed toward the Root hideout.
"Slow down, Kakashi-senpai! I can't keep up!"
"I'll go ahead! Hurry as soon as you can — time is critical!"
And with that, Kakashi vanished in a blur of speed.
Yugao paused, watching the fading trail.
"He really is a legend of the Anbu…"
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