Making a Move on the Root (Seeking Follow-ups)

"Let's rest for a bit."

After saying this, Kakashi directly dropped the kunai in his hand and sat down on the ground.

He was barely holding on now—after all, he was only six years old, and both his stamina and chakra had reached their limits.

"Your kenjutsu has improved quickly. I was using almost full strength just now."

Kakashi wasn't lying about that; he wouldn't stoop to flattering an employer just for the mission fee. Just now, he had used Lightning Release to boost his speed and Wind Release to sharpen his slashes, holding nothing back.

But Uchiha Yoichi had blocked every single one. He had also wrapped finger-thick arcs of lightning around his own blade.

Although Wind Release countered Lightning Release, Uchiha Yoichi was also stronger. If Kakashi tried to use Wind Release to overpower the lightning on Yoichi's blade, Yoichi would simply rely on his raw strength to overpower him in return.

Even though Uchiha Yoichi's kenjutsu had no formal techniques or forms, his speed was fast and his strikes were heavy. Paired with the extreme velocity of his Lightning Release Chakra Mode, Kakashi felt that if he had to counterattack, he absolutely wouldn't last—he'd have to fall back on ninjutsu.

"Then let's rest. Eat something to recover, and we'll continue later."

Uchiha Yoichi wrote on a piece of paper, then brought over a food box filled with nutritious meals.

Fresh ingredients, freshly grilled meat, various fruits, and some medicinal soups that didn't taste too terrible.

Uchiha Yoichi didn't care about money. In a world with supernatural power, acquiring wealth was far too easy. Those nobles hoarding money? They were all just stockpiling it for him.

Kakashi didn't stand on ceremony either. Over the past few days, he had been mooching off the food Uchiha Yoichi bought. Still, he was a little curious—even though ninjas weren't short on cash, was spending this lavishly really okay?

But just as Kakashi was about to enjoy the meal, a note was suddenly pushed in front of him: "Your father is also very good at making money. Your family just lives frugally."

This guy.

Kakashi sighed inwardly. He seriously suspected Uchiha Yoichi was from the Yamanaka Clan. Otherwise, how could he answer whatever was on Kakashi's mind every single day? It was terrifying.

After eating and resting, Kakashi suddenly spoke up: "Do you know the rumors in the village?"

"You mean the rumors about me using my teammates, or even deliberately abandoning them? I know."

Kakashi paused, then continued: "Did someone tell you? Forget it—this was something my old classmates from the Ninja Academy told me. Even they know about it. Probably a lot of people in the village have heard by now. It was only spreading among a small group before, but this time it's moving too fast."

Uchiha Yoichi had naturally heard it from Kakashi's thoughts. During This Period, aside from home and this training ground, he barely went anywhere else. He only just found out the rumors had spread.

"Let them talk. Those ignorant fools can only believe these rumors anyway."

Kakashi was taken aback and asked curiously: "You don't care?"

"Why would I care about them? If they dare say it to my face, I'll kill them. Then they'll learn what happens when you run your mouth without the strength to back it up."

"What if the person spreading the rumors is stronger than you?"

"Then I'll remember it. Once I'm stronger than them, I'll kill them then!"

Kakashi fell silent after hearing that. He didn't think Uchiha Yoichi was joking. With the way he trained so relentlessly now, getting stronger was only a matter of time.

Just from the improvement in kenjutsu alone, Kakashi already felt a sense of pressure.

A week ago, this guy hadn't even started learning kenjutsu. A week later, he was already on the verge of overwhelming him.

'I should train harder too. I'll ask my father for advice sometime and learn deeper levels of kenjutsu.'

"Let's continue training."

Before Kakashi could finish his sentence, both he and Uchiha Yoichi turned their heads at the same time, looking in another direction.

Soon, three ninjas emerged from the forest. They all wore masks different from animal motifs, dressed in Anbu gear, and the leader wore a black trench coat.

The three quickly arrived in front of Uchiha Yoichi and Kakashi. The Anbu in the black coat spoke: "Uchiha Yoichi, we are ninjas of Root. We have something to discuss with you!"

Kakashi understood immediately—this was a signal for him to leave. But after seeing Uchiha Yoichi nod, he got up and walked off to the side.

Once Kakashi was gone, Aburame Ryoma continued: "Uchiha Yoichi, the rumors about you in the village are spreading wider every day. Even Root has caught wind of them. But to Lord Danzo, this is nothing. As long as you hand over the Lightning Release Chakra Mode Nintaijutsu and join Root—"

"Stop talking."

Uchiha Yoichi took off his Metal Mask, then let out a sigh. When he opened his eyes again, they were already a Two Tomoe Sharingan.

"Root really is low and shameless. First, you spread rumors about me, then you show up pretending to be good Samaritans offering a solution, using the rumors as leverage to demand my Lightning Release Chakra Mode.

Oh, and you also want to absorb me into Root to study the Sharingan? Let me hear what else you're planning. Send me on difficult missions—if I succeed, I continue; if I fail, you retrieve my corpse. Truly worthy of Root!"

Aburame Ryoma's expression shifted beneath his mask. Fortunately, he was wearing one—but in front of Uchiha Yoichi, wearing a mask or not made no difference.

"Uchiha Yoichi, do not maliciously slander Root and Lord Danzo. We are the ones who protect from the shadows."

Zzzzap!

Like a sudden, piercing cry.

Uchiha Yoichi's entire body erupted with crackling lightning, and in an instant, he Shunshined straight at Aburame Ryoma and his two companions.

"Uchiha Yoichi, you dare!"

Aburame Ryoma's heart tightened. He hadn't expected Uchiha Yoichi to actually attack them—and at such incredible speed!

A distance of over ten meters was crossed in an instant!

"Insect Sphere!"

Aburame Ryoma quickly formed hand seals, releasing a cloud of insects as black as ink from his body. At his command, they surged forward like tidal waves, layer upon layer, rushing toward Uchiha Yoichi.

Once wrapped by the insect swarm, the only outcome was to have all one's chakra devoured and die.

But the thunderous roar suddenly intensified. A dazzling bolt of lightning and arcs of electricity bursting in all directions broke through the Insect Sphere. Then, Uchiha Yoichi, taking advantage of the two other Root ninja being unable to use their jutsu in time, slammed a heavy fist into Aburame Ryoma's face.

Crack!

Boom!

The mask shattered, and Aburame Ryoma himself was sent flying over ten meters by Uchiha Yoichi's punch.

The other two Root ninja snapped back to attention at that moment, both shouting "Looking for death!" in anger. One drew a blade and slashed, while the other leaped back to prepare a jutsu.

But Uchiha Yoichi wouldn't give them the chance. The lightning light around his body surged again, his speed like a thunderbolt.

Moreover, the lightning coiled around his body could defend against ordinary attacks. He used his fists and palm-blades to beat back both men again.

Uchiha Yoichi said coldly, "Get lost. Seeing you Root scum makes me sick. I wouldn't give the Lightning Release Chakra Mode to a dog, let alone you. I'll be reporting this to Elder Kenji."

"Uchiha Yoichi—"

"If you want to fight, come on. But I'll kill you even if it costs me my life!"

Uchiha Yoichi drew his ninja blade. The lightning light surging around his body never faded; instead, it grew fiercer.

Just then, Kakashi Hatake arrived. Though he hadn't heard what was said between them, Uchiha Yoichi suddenly throwing a punch startled Kakashi.

"Laying hands on Root—I will report this to Lord Danzo. Even if you're from the Uchiha Clan, you won't escape unscathed!"

Aburame Ryoma touched the wound on his face, then glanced at Kakashi. The white hair and the familiar short blade—he recognized this as the son of Konoha's White Fang.

And this place wasn't too far from Konoha. The commotion from the jutsu would draw the Anbu.

After the three Root members left, Uchiha Yoichi sat down, his whole body aching. Continuously releasing a massive amount of Lightning Release chakra far beyond what he could handle was no small burden.

He could feel that even his muscles were damaged!

But hearing that shameless idea from Root had truly made Uchiha Yoichi angry enough to act impulsively.

Kakashi asked, "Are you alright? What are you going to do next?"

"Beyond my body's limits. A couple days of rest should fix it. Let's call it here for today. I'm going to find the clan elders now."

Uchiha Yoichi picked up the Metal Mask from the ground. Before putting it on, he said to Kakashi one last time: "Kakashi, the mastermind spreading those rumors about me is a Root ninja. Remember what they did today. You might run into the same kind of trouble I did."