Beneath the Village Hidden in the Leaves lies something deeper than soil—Root.
The hidden base of Root exists in the cold, lightless shadows beneath Konoha. In this stagnant darkness where sunlight never reaches, malice is cultivated like fungus.
And the one who nourishes this malice... is Danzo Shimura.
Danzo's relentless pursuit of power and control led him into the abyss, slowly warping him into a man who was neither wholly human nor entirely ghost.
Kakashi sprinted forward with urgent determination, arriving at the concealed entrance to Root's underground facility. Two ANBU-like guards stood in his path.
"Halt! State your business!"
Kakashi pulled out a sealed scroll stamped with the official insignia of the Third Hokage. "I'm here under direct orders from Lord Third. I need to see Danzo immediately."
The two Root operatives exchanged glances, wary and unreadable behind their masks.
"Danzo-sama is currently unavailable. We will relay your presence when he returns."
Kakashi narrowed his eyes beneath his forehead protector. "Tch. I don't have time for bureaucracy."
"What are you planning—?!"
Before they could react, Kakashi blurred into motion.
"Too slow."
With a pair of surgical strikes to their pressure points, the masked guards collapsed, unconscious. Kakashi paused, scanning the environment. Something had pricked his senses—he was being watched. But by whom?
He didn't linger.
Elsewhere, deep in the Hokage Tower, Hiruzen Sarutobi leaned over his crystal ball, watching the scene unfold via the Telescope Technique. He sighed.
"Kakashi… you're always pushing boundaries. Looks like I'll need to intervene myself before this escalates further."
Then, another thought struck him, softening his stern expression.
"But his senses have sharpened. He almost caught me observing… Just how far has he progressed lately?"
The aged Hokage rose from his seat and donned his battle robe. Trouble was clearly on the horizon.
Back underground, Kakashi moved swiftly through the narrow, dimly lit tunnels. He hadn't broken in recklessly—he'd sensed the Hokage watching and understood it as tacit approval. Otherwise, confronting Root head-on would be suicide, even for him.
Kakashi didn't come to fight the entire organization. But if pressed, he would.
"These underground structures… It should be somewhere near the central chamber. If they haven't restructured."
Though he'd never been inside, Kakashi had studied enough Root intelligence during his time as an ANBU captain to visualize its blueprint. That knowledge now guided his path.
Soon, he reached a massive stone door carved with sealing runes. The air was heavy, oppressive.
Without hesitation, he formed a quick Chidori.
"Chidori!"
Lightning chirped loudly, and with a burst of force, the door shattered into fragments.
As the dust settled, the room beyond came into view—a ritual chamber with suppressive seals along the walls. Shackled to a reinforced stone altar was a young man: A.
"Found you."
Kakashi's eye narrowed in recognition and relief. He rushed forward.
"A! Wake up!"
The youth stirred. Blinking against the light, he stared at the masked figure before recognition sparked.
"Kakashi-senpai?"
"You're finally awake. Good. We're getting out of here."
"You… came to rescue me?"
Kakashi snorted. "What do you think, I'm sightseeing down here?"
"…Thank you."
"Save it. We talk later. Time's short."
Together, they fled the chamber, sprinting through the same corridors Kakashi had just navigated.
Meanwhile, a Root ninja arrived before Danzo Shimura's private chamber.
"Danzo-sama! Hatake Kakashi has infiltrated the Root base!"
Danzo's eye narrowed, his scarred face twitching.
"What insolence! Mobilize all available squads. Kakashi must not be allowed to leave!"
"Yes, Danzo-sama!"
The operative vanished into the shadows.
Danzo's expression darkened, his clenched hand trembling with restrained rage.
"Kakashi…!"
Back in the corridors, Root operatives were already mobilizing.
"There they are!"
"Don't let them escape!"
"They're closing in," A warned.
Kakashi glanced behind them. A dozen Root shinobi tailed them with increasing speed.
"Don't engage. Keep moving."
"Right!"
They raced toward the surface. Just ahead, the reinforced steel door to the exit came into view.
"We made it!" A said, but Kakashi didn't share the optimism.
He felt it. A chakra presence, suffocatingly heavy. Waiting.
Kakashi's visible eye sharpened. "Danzo…"
As they burst through the final door, there he stood—Danzo Shimura—surrounded by over two dozen Root operatives.
Jia froze. "Danzo-sama?!"
Danzo wasted no time.
Wind Release: Vacuum Bullet!
He exhaled forcefully. Concentrated bullets of air pressure launched toward them, invisible and deadly.
Kakashi reacted instantly. His hand lit up with lightning chakra.
White Fang: Moonlight Slash!
The electric crescent cleaved through the wind bullets, detonating them midair.
Boom!
The shockwave scattered nearby shinobi like leaves.
Danzo's eyes widened, shocked. That technique… it's Sakumo's!
A gaped at Kakashi, awe plain on his face. He deflected Danzo-sama's jutsu… That was the strength of the White Fang?!
Kakashi steadied his blade, blood thrumming with adrenaline.
"So you're Danzo… Impressive jutsu."
Danzo pointed accusingly. "Hatake Kakashi! You dare trespass into Root and attempt to abduct one of my subordinates? That is an act of treason!"
Kakashi scoffed. "Treason? Your guards lied, said you weren't present. I came looking. Guess they were mistaken."
"You insolent—! Seize him!"
A tried to speak. "Danzo-sama, wait—!"
Danzo cut him off coldly. "Silence! You'll be dealt with later."
The Root operatives closed in. Their killing intent was palpable.
Kakashi's grip tightened on his blade, his Sharingan now active.
"One-on-one, I can handle them. But if this drags on…"
He muttered to himself, "Hiruzen-sama… you'd better get here fast. Because I don't know how long I can hold back."
With that, the fight was about to begin.
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