To Decide Victory and Death

To Decide Victory and Death

Xu Fan slowly put a question mark in his mind.

Why was Kakashi here?

This had nothing to do with him.

If he hadn't jumped out midway, Xu Fan would have already dealt with these Root Shinobi, okay?

"These people are Root Shinobi trained by Danzo."

Kakashi straightened his slanted forehead protector, revealing his left eye hidden in the darkness.

Facing several Root Shinobi at once while ensuring Xu Fan was unharmed, holding back was clearly unrealistic.

"I'll protect you. Don't worry."

As Kakashi spoke, he remained vigilant toward the Root Shinobi gathered here.

This was not the first time an incident like this had happened.

Back when the Third Hokage resumed his position, Danzo had sent his Root to assassinate him.

But just like that time, Kakashi would never allow them to succeed.

"Why are you here?" Xu Fan could not help asking.

In his impression, Kakashi at this time was not the warmhearted sort. Quite the opposite.

Because of Obito and Rin's deaths, he had never been able to forgive himself.

It was also because of their deaths that Kakashi had voluntarily joined the Anbu, carrying out extremely dangerous missions in the hopes of finding release through death.

"It was the Third Hokage's order."

Kakashi fell silent for several seconds before slowly invoking the Third Hokage.

In truth, the Third Hokage had never issued an order to protect Xu Fan.

Besides carrying out various missions, the Anbu under the Third Hokage were also responsible for ensuring the Jinchuriki's safety.

And today, Kakashi had happened to be on duty.

While observing the Jinchuriki, Naruto Uzumaki, he had noticed something unusual about Root.

What he had not expected was that Danzo's Root intended to secretly execute Xu Fan.

Though he did not understand Danzo's purpose, Kakashi's instincts told him that if the Third Hokage learned of this, he would never allow such a tragedy to happen.

Fortunately, when Kakashi caught up, these Root Shinobi had only just drawn their kunai to attack Xu Fan.

"Didn't you see me take out two Root Shinobi earlier?" Xu Fan frowned. If Kakashi had seen what had just happened, he should not have thought Xu Fan needed protection.

"Watch out, they're coming!"

Suddenly, the eight Root Shinobi moved at once. Their leader made a hand gesture, ordering them to spread out and form up again.

Three of them rushed Kakashi directly, wielding longswords as they chopped down or swept sideways. They deliberately staggered their approaches, attacking him from the left, right, and front at the same time.

The intentions of these three Root Shinobi were obvious. Even if they failed to kill him in one strike, they could suppress Kakashi as much as possible and create opportunities for the others.

Xu Fan swept his gaze over the others' positions. Although he did not have a Sharingan like Kakashi's, his basic attributes were stronger than Kakashi's.

He abruptly retreated several steps, putting distance between himself and Kakashi. His five fingers clenched into a fist as he smashed it toward the first person to approach him.

Under the effect of outwardly released Chakra, Xu Fan's fist formed a Chakra gauntlet that struck the Root Shinobi's blade head-on.

Bang!

The sound exploded between them, followed immediately by the sword shattering.

"Hah!"

Xu Fan stepped forward in a bow stance and threw another punch directly into the man's abdomen.

But the other Root Shinobi were no pushovers. In their minds, the concept of companions did not exist.

Even when acting together, they did not care whether the others lived or died.

To them, the only question was whether a Root Shinobi's death had value.

If he could create an opportunity for the coming assassination, then his death would be worthwhile.

In less than a breath, the remaining four Root Shinobi charged in from different directions.

One of Root's blades even pierced straight through the Shinobi in front of Xu Fan, all so that the sword running through his companion's chest could stab Xu Fan in the throat.

Utterly inhuman.

Xu Fan stared coldly at the vicious blade stabbing toward him. He understood that these Root Shinobi had long ceased to be human, and could never become human again.

Their existence had only one purpose: to clear obstacles for Danzo.

Clack!

Relying on Chakra's defensive strength, Xu Fan grabbed the blade with one hand. Then, with a hard shake, he sent his Chakra shooting back along the weapon.

Boom!

With a deafening crash, Xu Fan snapped the blade in half, spun around, and hurled it out.

Whoosh!

Xu Fan's movements were clean and decisive. The broken sword flew straight into the left eye of the pursuing Root Shinobi, piercing through the back of his head.

Thud!

The Root Shinobi did not even have time to groan before he fell stiffly at Xu Fan's feet.

The remaining Root Shinobi were also shocked by Xu Fan's skill.

Let alone a student who had yet to graduate from the Ninja Academy, even a true Jonin might not have fought with such smooth precision.

Most importantly...

Every one of Xu Fan's moves targeted vital points.

He was neither afraid nor nervous, as if he had already weathered countless storms and understood what a ninja's life-and-death battle truly was.

To decide victory and death!

Decisive and ruthless!

"You brought this on yourselves," Xu Fan said coldly, his hands rapidly forming seals.

This was the only ninjutsu he had mastered.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

As the final word burst from Xu Fan's throat, a mass of flames rapidly erupted from his mouth, forming a huge sphere.

But unlike Sasuke, Xu Fan did not merely maintain the fireball burning in front of him.

With a forceful shake, Xu Fan detached the Great Fireball from himself. It rolled forward, slammed into the two Root Shinobi, then continued roaring into the nearby forest, burning them to ashes.

"Whew..."

Xu Fan let out a deep breath and turned around, only to see Kakashi fighting back and forth with the last three Root Shinobi.

Just as expected of you.

Xu Fan could not help rubbing his forehead.

The title of Mr. Fifty-Fifty truly lived up to its reputation.

He could fight anyone to an even match.

"Need a hand?"

Xu Fan shook his head helplessly and had no choice but to ask.

Although Kakashi was still not at a disadvantage against the three Root Shinobi, and victory was only a matter of time.

Xu Fan did not have that much time to waste!

He still had to get up for school tomorrow morning!

And the body he had transmigrated into was only thirteen years old!

If he did not sleep early, how was he supposed to grow taller?

Girls cared a lot about leng... about height!

Yet the voice coming from behind made Kakashi freeze.

What did he mean, need a hand?

Wasn't I the one protecting him?

With that thought, Kakashi subconsciously glanced back. With his Sharingan, the glance did not affect his ability to block the enemy's next wave of attacks in the slightest.

However, after only one glance, he nearly froze on the spot.

Several Root members lay crookedly at Xu Fan's feet, unable to move.

There was no need to think to know what had happened.

For a moment, the image of that man appeared in Kakashi's mind.

Itachi Uchiha!

Xu Fan was a genius on the same level as him!

He might even surpass him!