At night, in the Hatake Clan, Karot gazed at the bright moon alone.
"Host, the Dragon Vein has been successfully absorbed. You can return at any time."
Karot's thoughts were pulled back from the beautiful scenery before him.
"Great, we can finally go back."
The world here gave him a sense of familiar strangeness; he was just a tourist who would eventually have to leave.
Karot slept peacefully, accompanied by the good news.
Early in the morning, Karot headed out to the Mission Hall, the first place Konoha rebuilt. It was a major source of income for Konoha; how could the village develop if it didn't make money, and how could the ninjas be expected to earn a living? Karot came here specifically to make money. Unlike other ninjas who accepted missions, he memorized the number of bandits in the Land of Fire. Now, it was time to start making money.
With this intelligence, Karot knew exactly where the bandits were. The inventor, who had vanished in an instant, never imagined that Karot would use him to make money.
The bandits of the Land of Fire suffered a terrible fate. The big bandits were wiped out by Karot, who pocketed their gold and silver treasures. The smaller bandits fled with their buckets. From then on, a legend was born among the Konoha bandits: if they encountered a ninja wearing red clothes, they should immediately return to the ground and hand over their money with both hands, and they might be able to save their lives. This event is known as the Red Sweep.
Karot made a fortune after a hard day's work.
"Where did you get so much money?"
Kakashi looked completely surprised.
Karot then recounted everything that had happened that day.
Kakashi was speechless with shock. To traverse the entire Land of Fire in a single day, wiping out the bandits—was this something a human could do?
That evening, Karot treated a group of people to dinner: Tsunade, Jiraiya, Team Kakashi, Team Guy, and Hinata. They had a lively meal, Karot, with his amazing alcohol tolerance, managed to get everyone drunk, except for a few girls who escaped his clutches.
"Are you leaving?"
On his way home, Kakashi asked Karot.
Yes, I'm leaving.
Hearing Karot's words, Kakashi's heart skipped a beat. He then asked...
"When?"
"Tomorrow."
Then came silence; the two didn't exchange another word until they entered the room.
After entering the room, Karot immediately changed his clothes.
"Danzo, it's time for you to go."
Danzo during the Nine-Tails' attack, and Danzo didn't appear during Orochimaru's destruction plan either. Pain Danzo Konoha, Danzo the Tenten, claiming every day that he would protect Konoha, but he always avoided fighting. Moreover, Karot is leaving tomorrow; he wants to avenge Hatake.
"Brush."
Karot disappeared into the room, and Kakashi knew it as soon as Karot disappeared.
"Come back safely."
Kakashi knew where Karot was going. Root where Kakashi used to work, heavily guarded, and staffed with a Danzo of killing machines that only obeyed Danzo's orders.
"Brush."
"Give the order to closely monitor the situation at the hospital. I need to know if Tsunade has woken up yet."
"Also, I need to see the Daimyo. While I'm away from the village, you'll be in charge of the Root's operations."
Danzo is issuing orders within Root. Tsunade is unconscious, Jiraiya injured, and the Hokage Position is vacant— Danzo. Having outlived the Third Hokage and Fourth Hokage, and with the Fifth Hokage now in a coma, Danzo doesn't mind letting him remain unconscious. He's already found a scapegoat. He can then use the pretext of avenging the Fifth Hokage to Danzo the Sixth Hokage position.
Danzo was already fantasizing about becoming Hokage.
"Teacher, I am the one most suitable to become Hokage. You've misjudged Hiruzen."
Hahahaha.
After saying that, Danzo began to laugh loudly to himself.
"Excuse me, but your laughter is awful."
Karot's voice rang out; the old man's laughter was simply too grating. Even with his ears covered, it kept drilling in, making it unbearable.
"Who's there? Come out."
Danzo shouted. The fact that the enemy had managed to infiltrate Root, which Danzo was so proud of, enraged Danzo greatly.
"No need to look anymore, just turn around and take a look."
Danzo around and saw Karot waving at him.
"Who are you?"
Danzo asked the question.
"Don't you already know who I am? Don't ask such stupid questions, or I'll look down on you."
Karot knew perfectly well that Danzo had been investigating his identity ever since he appeared in Konoha. Danzo had the ability to identify Root in Konoha, even if it was just a nail Danzo into the ground.
"Alright then! What are you doing here, Karot?"
Danzo no attempt to hide his intentions, directly calling out Karot's name. Root had never ceased its investigation of Karot, sending ninjas to test Karot, but Karot had always managed to defeat them. Had Pain not attacked Konoha, Danzo would have personally gone to Karot's door long ago. Danzo coveted Karot's strength and wanted to recruit him. He believed that once he planted the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal on Karot, he could completely control Karot. Tsunade's coma forced Danzo to postpone this plan, as nothing could compare to his desire for the Danzo Hokage Position.
"Danzo, isn't this obvious?"
Karot shrugged after he finished speaking.
"Not bad, you have good judgment to come and join me."
Danzo praised Karot. Danzo was blinded by the Hokage Position. He believed that Karot already knew that he was going to become Hokage, so he hurriedly came to pledge his allegiance. After all, if he came during the day, he might be discovered by Tsunade's subordinates.
"What are you talking about? Are you stupid? Go see a doctor if you're sick!"
Karot couldn't help but admire Danzo's thought process. "You actually came to seek refuge with me? How can you be so shameless?"
"How dare you! What are you saying?"
Danzo furious. This was the first time someone had called him a fool to his face. Danzo now looked at Karot as if he were a dead man.
"Someone come here."
Danzo speaking.
"Swish, swish."
A dozen or so Root ninjas knelt on one knee behind Danzo.
"Danzo"
"The Root ninja shouted."
"Kill him."
Danzo pointed at Karot and gave the order.
"Yes."
The Root members received the order and immediately unleashed their Root techniques, attacking Karot.
Having worked together on missions for many years, the Root ninjas have developed a remarkable teamwork.
A ninja fired over a dozen Shuriken at Karot retreated several steps to avoid Shuriken. As Karot landed...
"Shadow Imitation Technique."
The Root ninja seized the moment when Karot landed, and their shadows merged together.