Ever since his father and best friend had died.
Hatake Kakashi had never been interested in anything, but... his teacher's child seemed to be nearing school age, didn't he?
He shouldn't keep wallowing like this either.
He had once thought he would remain depressed for the rest of his life, but later, he realized he had underestimated the power of time. It seemed... there was nothing left he couldn't let go of. He pushed open the door and stepped outside, only to quickly discover that everyone was looking at him with pity.
"Did you read too much Make-Out Paradise last night?"
Kakashi suspected he was still half-asleep, until he ran into Might Guy, who patted him on the shoulder and said in a solemn, heavy tone:
"Kakashi, I know you must be furious, but don't do anything rash!"
What?
Only then did Kakashi finally learn the truth from Might Guy. His lazy eye was now like a cold sword covered in dust, gleaming with sharp, frigid light!
"Kakashi, what are you doing?!"
Might Guy was stunned. He had actually failed to catch Kakashi.
"Guy, if you consider me a friend, stay out of this."
Kakashi's voice was icy. He moved like lightning, erupting with astonishing speed, like a blue bolt streaking across the sky before vanishing into the distance!
Might Guy's expression turned grave.
For that brief moment.
He seemed to have seen again the sharp edge of that boy who had become a Jonin at twelve!
At the same time, similar events unfolded elsewhere. A crow flew noisily out of Konoha.
At a gambling house on the border of the Land of Fire.
A blonde young woman innocently and adorably told the furious gamblers, "Uncles, that auntie just ran in that direction."
After the gamblers had left.
The blonde young woman revealed a sly smile. "Heh, a bunch of idiots. You think you can catch me?"
Shizune emerged from the corner of a building, a pink pig perched atop her head.
But at that moment.
A kunai came slicing through the air!
The two women narrowed their eyes but did not move. The kunai had not been meant as a sneak attack.
"Lady Tsunade, there's a note attached to it."
Shizune calmly removed it. The moment she unfolded it, her expression changed drastically, and she handed it to Tsunade.
"Lady Tsunade!"
In an instant.
Tsunade's expression remained unchanged, yet she resembled a volcano on the verge of eruption, like storm clouds gathering before a torrential downpour!
Her cloak fluttered in the wind as she said coldly, "Return to the village!"
Root.
For the past two days, Danzo had been studying Living Corpse Reincarnation. However, Living Corpse Reincarnation was a ninjutsu created upon the foundation of Body Modification, so before he could use it, he first had to undergo Body Modification.
Thus, he had sought out Orochimaru and undergone Body Modification.
Now, he could be said to possess a body similar to Orochimaru's!
But after returning.
He felt terrible. His face was as sinister as a night owl's, and every trace of his good mood had vanished without a trace!
"Who did this?!"
Danzo roared, "Who killed the ninjas of my Root?!"
He was practically going mad. The Root ninjas had been cultivated through countless rounds of selection, recruitment, and training since his youth, producing so many elites.
They were the work of his entire life, his hope for advancing into the Ninja World.
And now, they had been destroyed overnight!
"No matter who you are, I will kill you!"
Danzo's gaze immediately swept over the surroundings, trying to find some trace of evidence.
But soon, surprise appeared on his face, followed by astonishment, and finally, fury!
"Lightning Release?! Could it be Hatake Kakashi? He is Konoha's most skilled Lightning Release ninja."
"No, Vacuum Sphere?"
Danzo sucked in a cold breath. Had members of the Shimura Clan rebelled and sought to replace him?
But he quickly came to his senses.
"Someone is framing me!"
"No, these Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms are far too seasoned. Without more than a decade of training, no one could execute such powerful Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms. Could the person behind this be from the Hyuga Clan?"
He shook his head again.
"Impossible. The Hyuga Clan has always acted like a bunch of old turtles. They never do anything unless it's foolproof. How could they be so ostentatious?"
Danzo's cold triangular eyes contained fury, agitation, and a trace of... paranoia.
It seemed that anyone could be the culprit behind this.
"Who exactly is behind this?! Could it be... the Uchiha Clan?"
No.
This matter had to be investigated thoroughly.
Root was not Root for me alone. It was Konoha's Root!
Thus, an hour later.
Akira, Uchiha Akira, and Uchiha Itachi arrived at the Hokage's office. Without question, that old thief Danzo had come to complain to Hiruzen Sarutobi again.
They were accompanied by.
Hatake Kakashi, the Hyuga clan head, and many other clan heads.
Yet for some reason, just as Shimura Danzō was about to make trouble, he felt that the gazes of the various clan heads were somewhat off.
Hiruzen Sarutobi explained what had happened.
A trace of astonishment appeared in his cloudy eyes as he cautiously said, "Therefore, I did not summon everyone because I suspect you, but to investigate and uncover the true culprit behind this! We absolutely cannot allow the person who slaughtered all of Root to roam free!"
He spoke in a deep voice.
His expression carried an authority that did not need anger to command respect!
Like a majesty that could still intimidate the plains even in old age!
"We understand."
At this moment, Nara Shikaku, a steadfast supporter of the Hokage's faction, took the lead admirably.
Calm and methodical, he said:
"A murderer like this hiding in the village poses a tremendous threat to the village as well. The Nara Clan will fully cooperate with Lord Hokage's decision."
Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Chōza nodded at the same time. "So will we!"
In matters like this, the Hyuga Clan had always cooperated while never getting themselves involved. This time would naturally be no different. Hyuga Hiashi wore a calm, dignified smile.
"The Hyuga Clan will certainly cooperate fully."
After all, it had nothing to do with the Hyuga Clan.
"Then we'll start with the Hyuga Clan."
Shimura Danzō's face was grim. His snake-like gaze sent chills down one's spine as it settled on Hyuga Hiashi, instantly leaving him bewildered.
What?
Was Danzo sick?
How could the Hyuga Clan possibly have done something like this?
With politeness and composure, he reminded him, "Lord Danzo, are you mistaken? The Hyuga Clan has always followed the village's rules and would never do such a thing. Lord Danzo can begin with someone else."
Hyuga Hiashi was somewhat displeased.
Start with them?
Did Danzo think the Hyuga Clan was easy to bully?!
"What? Is Clan Head Hyuga feeling guilty because he's a thief?"
Uchiha Akira sneered from the side. "Why not start with my Uchiha Clan instead!"
He was proud and righteous, his voice ringing out with force:
"My Uchiha Clan has always been open and aboveboard. We fear no investigation!"
He looked thoroughly righteous as he said it!
As though it were absolutely impossible for them to do something so despicable!
"No need."
Seeing how candid and proud Uchiha Akira appeared, Danzo immediately stopped suspecting him.
The Uchiha Clan did not have the brains for this.
The Uchiha Clan could be ruled out first!
Danzo's gaze remained fixed on Hyuga Hiashi as he coldly enunciated each word:
"We will start with the Hyuga Clan. Clan Head Hyuga, how many members of the Hyuga Clan can use the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms? And what were they all doing yesterday?"
In an instant.
Hyuga Hiashi understood.
Damn it.
This was aimed at him!
And from the looks of it, they clearly had solid evidence!
Before you continue