Kakashi's expression darkened, and the chakra around him stirred.
The Anbu answered directly to the Hokage. For Root shinobi to discover their whereabouts while they were carrying out a secret mission was no mere overstep—it was an open defiance of the Hokage's will.
What exactly was Root trying to do?
"Don't be so tense, Lord Kakashi."
The middle-aged man's face was expressionless, his tone firm and unwavering:
"I only learned of your whereabouts by chance while reporting Lady Tsunade's information."
As he spoke, he pulled a scroll from inside his clothes and held it out to Kakashi.
"This contains detailed information about Lady Tsunade's whereabouts."
Kakashi inspected the scroll. Only after confirming that the markings were accurate and there were no traps did he slowly unroll it.
It not only showed the exact route Tsunade had taken after leaving Tanzaku Town, but also included several clear photographs.
In the photos,
Tsunade, her blonde hair shining, was walking into an old-fashioned hot spring inn beside Shizune.
The inn's name:
Jade Spring Inn
"Lady Tsunade is in Hot Spring Town, in the Land of Hot Water."
The Land of Hot Water was known as "the country that forgot war." It was not very large, but it was famous throughout the world for its many natural hot springs.
And Hot Spring Town was the Land of Hot Water's most renowned city.
Naturally, a place like that was not short on casinos.
Kakashi quickly finished reviewing the information in the scroll, his wariness easing somewhat.
The intelligence was detailed and accurate. The Root shinobi's story checked out.
"Kazuhiko, we're going to the Land of Hot Water."
Kakashi turned to Kazuhiko behind him and was about to set off when the middle-aged man called out to him again.
"Wait."
The man narrowed his eyes at Kazuhiko:
"Before you go, Lord Danzō has a message for Uchiha Kazuhiko. Of course, it has nothing to do with your mission to find Lady Tsunade."
Kakashi's expression turned wary again.
Though Root officially fell under the Hokage, it was secretly controlled by Danzō. It had long since become a mysterious force beyond the Anbu's oversight.
"You're Uchiha Kazuhiko, right? Lord Danzō has recognized your talent. With your abilities, you're wasting your potential in the Uchiha Clan. You could truly make the most of your talent by joining Root. What do you think?"
Kazuhiko scoffed inwardly.
"Just happened to find you" was obviously an excuse.
From the moment he'd helped Shota awaken the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, Danzō had had his eye on him.
Passing along information about Tsunade was just a pretext. The real goal was to approach him openly.
"I'm not interested in joining Root."
Kazuhiko refused without a second thought.
What good intentions could Danzō possibly have in asking an Uchiha to join Root?
Anyone could guess what he was plotting.
He was simply coveting the secret behind awakening the Three-Tomoe Sharingan and hoping to use it to further develop the Sharingan.
Even if he failed, Kazuhiko would still provide him with a steady supply of Sharingan test subjects.
"There's no need to reject the offer so quickly."
The middle-aged man took out another scroll and handed it to Kazuhiko.
"Why not look at this first, then decide? This is a 'welcome gift' Lord Danzō prepared especially for you."
Kazuhiko glanced at Kakashi, took the scroll in front of him, and unrolled it.
What was recorded on the scroll was data from human experiments on the Uchiha Sharingan!
It contained detailed physiological data on the test subjects, including fluctuations in their chakra, changes in their emotions, and reactions in their ocular tissues.
Materials involving human experimentation belonged to the field of forbidden research.
Human experimentation was absolutely prohibited in Konoha.
Kakashi's pupils contracted sharply. How could Danzō dare to conduct such horrifying experiments?!
Wasn't he afraid the Uchiha Clan would come after him, or that the Hokage would punish him?
Kazuhiko was just as puzzled. Why would Danzō casually hand over such incriminating material to an Uchiha?
And do it right under the nose of an Anbu Captain who possessed the Sharingan, no less.
Guess when you're favored, you can act without fear?
Then they saw the name on the document, and both of them immediately understood.
Senju Tobirama.
Kakashi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. So these were the Second's research materials.
I thought Root had been conducting human experiments on the Uchiha's Sharingan.
Kazuhiko stared at the bloodcurdling experimental data, utterly speechless.
As expected of the naturally evil Senju Old Ghost. He really didn't treat us Uchiha like people.
Did our lives just not count?!
They conducted human experiments out in the open and practiced blatant racial discrimination. Konoha's skies were darker than ever.
So furious I was shaking.
When would we Uchiha finally be able to stand tall?
"Well?"
Seeing Kazuhiko's grave expression as he examined the scroll, the man assumed he was tempted.
"These are all precious records left behind by the Second. No one could get their hands on them otherwise. Join Root, and you'll gain access to even more extensive, detailed experimental data. That should be a great help to your Psychological Medicine research."
"Of course, Root doesn't conduct human experiments or research forbidden techniques. These are precious legacies of the Second, so you can rest assured about where they came from."
If you don't conduct human experiments or research forbidden techniques, where did Danzō get the Hashirama Cells and Sharingan in his body?
So his name is Nicholas Senju Uchiha Shisa Shimura Danzō, huh!
Senju Old Ghost, who would've thought you'd one day end up taking the blame for Pot Kage?
The Shinobi World would probably be a lot more peaceful without Danzō and Root.
Kazuhiko looked expressionlessly at the Root shinobi.
"So?"
The man paused, then offered his final bait:
"So, join Root. This is where you can truly make your mark. Lord Danzō will give your research his full support—whether you need confidential information, funding, an independent laboratory, or the finest equipment. He can even provide the 'test subjects' you need."
Kazuhiko tossed the scroll back to him.
"I refuse. None of that interests me."
Confidential information was completely useless to him.
There was no one in the entire Naruto world who understood the Sharingan better than he did.
Not even Senju Old Ghost.
Kazuhiko ignored the man and turned to Kakashi.
"Let's go."
"Wait, then take a look at these."
The man tossed out two more photos: one of Kazuhiko kissing Kurenai Yuhi goodbye, and another of an application for an assistant position at the clinic.
Kazuhiko was utterly confused. What was the point of showing him these two photos?
Was he trying to threaten him with Kurenai's application to be his assistant?
Did Konoha think it had any say in the Uchiha's affairs?
"What are you getting at?"
"You arranged for her to work by your side because you love her, right? Join Root, and Lord Danzō will help you clear away every obstacle standing between you and this woman. She has plenty of admirers, and they're stronger than you, with better connections."
Was this supposed to be a beauty trap?
Was that really how you used one?
You're trying to tempt me with something I already have? What kind of person would even come up with that?
What, if I don't agree to join Root, can Danzō help Sarutobi Asuma get together with Kurenai Yuhi instead?
Kazuhiko was utterly speechless. He turned and walked away.
Sure enough, the world was just one big amateur operation.
You call that a test? Which official could resist such temptation?
The man had never expected things to turn out like this. He could only watch as the two of them walked away.
Before you continue