Root Ninja

"Sooner or later, there'll come a day when you want it."

Instead of backing away, Kawafune stepped forward and lifted Tsunade's chin with his right hand.

Their eyes met. Tsunade looked at the handsome face so close to hers, still wearing a hint of a wicked smile.

Her face flushed red. She turned her head away, her voice soft.

"Kawafune-kun, I'm hungry."

Nawaki was dumbstruck, his mouth hanging open. Was this really his sister?

Could she have been possessed by something filthy?

"Haha, come on, Nawaki. Let's eat."

Kawafune laughed heartily and slung an arm around his future brother-in-law's shoulder. Whether Nawaki was willing or not, he dragged him straight toward the dining hall.

Tsunade followed behind with her head lowered, lost in thought.

At the same time, in a hidden underground chamber somewhere in Konoha.

The chamber was quite spacious, with only a single chair in the center.

A middle-aged man sat upright in the chair. An X-shaped scar marked his chin, and a trace of viciousness showed in his eyes.

Below him, a ninja wearing a strange mask knelt on one knee.

"My lord, the Third Hokage has approved the Hatake Clan's land."

"Just as I expected, Hiruzen has no intention of letting me rest easy."

"But he underestimates me too much."

"This may not be a bad thing for me. Proceed according to the plan."

The middle-aged man above waved a hand. The ninja below vanished from the spot in a single leap.

"Hiruzen, the seat of Hokage is mine."

As he spoke, the man rose to his feet, clenched his fist tightly, and revealed a savage expression.

As Kawafune ate with the Hatake Clan, he had no idea that the hospital had yet to be built, yet trouble was already coming one after another.

The five people at the table ate with great enjoyment. Kawafune had raised the Hatake Clan's dining standards by several levels at least.

"These are Potsticker Dumplings."

"This is Chive Pocket."

"This is Brown Sugar Steamed Cake."

Tsunade and Nawaki were like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden. With one glance exchanged between the siblings, they had already made up their minds.

From now on, whenever they had time, they would never miss a single Hatake Clan breakfast.

"Nawaki, slow down. Aren't you afraid of choking?"

Seeing Nawaki roll his eyes as he stuffed himself with steamed cake, Kawafune hurriedly poured him a cup of fresh milk. This quality of life was simply unmatched.

Tsunade looked at her disappointing little brother and was almost too embarrassed to acknowledge him. She silently ate a Chive Pocket. This thing was damn delicious.

After breakfast, Tsunade got up and took her leave. There were still many matters to worry about regarding the hospital, while Kawafune seemed unable to help with anything other than money.

In the Training Hall, Nawaki began his usual set of horse stance practice and basic Sword Art.

Kawafune began moving between the stone table and the large tree, as though recreating yesterday's scene.

Suddenly, Sakumo and Kawafune both raised their heads and looked toward a corner of the Training Hall.

"Who's there?"

Kawafune moved even faster. The Eight-Faced Han Sword flew out, and he was already there.

In the corner, a ninja wearing a strange mask had the Eight-Faced Han Sword pressed against his neck.

He felt the tangible killing intent of the man before him and the bone-chilling cold of the blade. He did not dare move an inch.

In an instant, sweat covered the face beneath his mask.

Sakumo arrived at the corner a few seconds after Kawafune.

Nayuki and the Ghost Mastiff stood beside Nawaki, while many sword-wielding Samurai emerged from every corner of the Hatake Clan compound, their faces full of vigilance.

"Who sent you?"

Kawafune applied pressure with his hand. The blade cut a line of blood across the man's neck, and blood flowed down his throat into his clothes.

"Lord Danzo sent me to deliver this to you."

Suppressing the fear in his heart, the Root ninja took a letter from his robes and held it out to Kawafune.

At his younger brother's signal, Sakumo took it.

"A man from Root?"

Kawafune demanded sharply, making no effort to conceal his killing intent. He had not expected Danzo to leap out so impatiently.

"Yes. The letter has been delivered. Kill or flay me as you see fit."

"Danzo truly has some fine methods."

"Then don't blame me when you go to hell."

Kawafune drew his sword across the man's neck and walked away without looking back.

"Clean this up. What am I paying you for?"

"Can any stray cat or dog enter my Hatake Clan like it's their own backyard?"

Even after killing the man, Kawafune's anger remained. Was this all the Clan Samurai he had spent so much money raising could do?

"All hidden and open sentries are to report to the Ancestral Hall for punishment. If there's a next time, there will be no mercy."

Sakumo frowned at the corpse lying in a pool of blood, handed the envelope to his younger brother, and hurried away.

"Yes, Second Young Master."

On closer inspection, these Samurai were only in their teens. The oldest was likely no more than twenty. They were all impoverished children Kawafune had taken in.

Their strength varied, and they were capable enough of guarding the home, but against a special organization like Root, they were still lacking.

"It's fine. Keep practicing."

Kawafune walked over to Nawaki and patted his head, comforting his future brother-in-law.

He had not seen the bloody scene just now, but he had clearly seen the corpse carried away from the edge of the Training Hall.

A faint but intimidating killing intent still radiated from Kawafune. For the first time, Nawaki saw another side of this big brother.

He was far from as sunny and gentle as Nawaki had thought. Not just anyone could receive his smile.

Looking at Kawafune's handsome smiling face, Nawaki smiled too. Fortunately, this man might become his brother-in-law.

Having calmed himself, he resumed practicing his sword. One day, he would no longer be a child who needed to stand behind women.

"Kawafune, is everything all right?"

When Nayuki spoke to Kawafune, the Ghost Mastiff edged even farther away. Its senses were sharper than Nawaki's.

"It's fine. What comes next isn't something small fry like that can handle."

Upon hearing Kawafune's answer, Nayuki left with the Ghost Mastiff.

Holding the envelope, Kawafune flickered to the stone table and sat down. A servant had already begun bringing him tea.

He opened the envelope and took a sip of tea.

The more he read, the more mocking his expression became.

Shimura Danzō invited Kawafune to meet at a tavern, saying he had an important matter to discuss.

To deliver a letter, he treated his subordinate's life as worthless. Only Danzo could do something like that.

At some point, Sakumo returned and sat across from Kawafune.

"How did you punish them, Brother?"

"Twelve in total. Twenty lashes each, with three months' pay docked."

"After they recover, they'll undergo an additional half year of training."

Sakumo drank tea as well. He had gone to deal with those Samurai. They had been raised by the clan, and if they lacked strength, they had to train.

Otherwise, today's leniency would become tomorrow's rot.

"That'll do. Danzo has invited me to meet him."

Kawafune had no objection to his brother's punishment. They ate and drank at his expense while drawing hefty monthly wages. Their lives were far more comfortable than a ninja's.

"If he wants to meet, then let him come here. Does he take the Hatake Clan for some roadside stray?"

Sakumo had already been extremely dissatisfied with Danzo's actions. What kind of person sent a subordinate to sneak in just to deliver a letter?

"Just as you say, Brother. What harm is there in letting him wait awhile?"

Kawafune had his own plans. He had three guesses as to what Danzo wanted, but he did not know which level Danzo was on.

Smiling, he clenched the envelope and letter in his hand. When he opened his palm again, only a clump of ashes remained.