A fine drizzle fell, making the entire village of Konoha look even greener and more lush.
After going over all the details with Kakashi, Feng Yao once again brought him back to his home.
"Kakashi, it's time to make good on your promise, isn't it?"
Feng Yao sat back down in the old, battered chair and spoke again. Kakashi didn't hesitate. He lifted his Forehead Protector, revealing his Sharingan. He was ready.
Feng Yao slowly reached out. Kakashi felt a cold hand touch his eyelid.
Sorry, Obito, Kakashi silently apologized to his friend.
By the time he finished apologizing, Feng Yao had already pulled his hand back. Kakashi had no idea what the other man was up to.
"All done."
Hearing that Feng Yao had finished, Kakashi stared at him in confusion. Wasn't he after his Sharingan? Was a single touch all it took?
Seeing Kakashi's incredulous expression, Feng Yao explained, "I only need some cells from your eye. I don't want to pluck out someone else's eyeball and wear it."
Kakashi breathed a deep sigh of relief. That eye represented most of his strength, and, more importantly, it was the only gift his dear friend Obito had left him.
System, is that all it takes? Feng Yao silently asked after obtaining the Sharingan cells.
Yes. Try absorbing them now.
Following the system's instructions, Feng Yao absorbed the Sharingan cells that had just stuck to his fingertip.
He felt a strange chakra travel from his finger to his eyes. After a brief moment of pain, traces of the Mangekyō Sharingan flashed across his eyes—but only for an instant. Even Kakashi hadn't noticed.
He realized he'd gained not only the space-time ocular jutsu of Kakashi's eye, but also those of Obito's eye: Intangibility and Kamui.
As he wondered how that was possible, the system explained:
"The eyes naturally come as a pair. Now that the host has Obito's eye cells, he can acquire the space-time abilities of both eyes. Furthermore, the Sharingan has been assimilated into the host's body. He can use its abilities even when his eyes don't change."
What a lucky break. This is perfect for catching people off guard.
That way, when Feng Yao fought someone, they would think he had ordinary eyes.
Then he could surprise them with Kamui. The effect would be incredible.
Feng Yao gave Kakashi a long look. Sorry, Obito. I've already got both your eyes. You can wait a few hundred days for your trial period.
Konoha had only one request of Feng Yao: destroy Root and cut off Danzo's right-hand men.
All of Danzo's trusted followers were members of Root, and most of those who supported the war against the Sand Ninja this time were Root members as well.
In reality, many jonin and even the village's key pillars opposed the operation.
That was why the Third was determined to stop Danzo at any cost—even if it meant sacrificing Danzo and Root, even if it meant working with a rogue ninja like Feng Yao.
They asked Feng Yao to assassinate Danzo and destroy Root, then elect a new Hokage. In return, they would provide him with assistance and clear his rogue-ninja status. Feng Yao also made one additional request: he wanted to take Neji Hyuga away from Konoha.
There was no denying that Neji had been a genius during the early part of the story. It was just a shame that later on, with so many characters gaining powerful advantages, Neji had little room to show what he could do. Feng Yao wanted to bring him into his ranks.
In the end, Kakashi agreed on behalf of the Third. Neji was, after all, only a member of the branch family.
That was how the ninja world worked. There were no eternal enemies, only eternal interests. Just a few months ago, the two sides had been fighting to the death; now they were allies.
Two days later, just before Konoha was set to launch its attack, Feng Yao and Kakashi arrived at Root's base. Root was serving as the vanguard of Konoha's forces.
"I'll leave this to you, then."
Kakashi spoke in a low voice and handed Feng Yao a stack of documents.
After memorizing everything in them, he said coldly, "Root ends today."
Then he walked slowly toward the base. The Root members nearby spotted Feng Yao and immediately went on alert. Since Danzo's rise to power, Root had grown considerably. It now had close to a hundred members.
Three Root members were guarding the entrance.
"Who are you? Take another step and we'll show no mercy."
One of the Root ninja spoke first, but Feng Yao didn't even slow down.
Seeing that Feng Yao had no intention of answering, Root's guards didn't hold back.
"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!"
The earth beneath Feng Yao's feet suddenly turned to liquid. It was an Earth Release ninjutsu designed to trap an opponent.
Whoosh!
Almost as soon as the jutsu took shape, Feng Yao vanished. As the Root members searched for him, several trident Kunai flew toward them.
While dodging, one of them noticed the strange markings on the Kunai—but it was already too late. Feng Yao used Flying Thunder God to teleport to the Kunai.
"Triple Flying Thunder God Slash!"
The three guards at the entrance were killed instantly. Holding a Kunai, Feng Yao strode into the base like a reaper come to claim their lives.
The moment he entered, the Root members spotted the intruder.
"An intruder! Earth Release: Earth Shore Return!"
"Fire Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
The ground shifted violently. Countless stone pillars burst from the earth, trying to skewer Feng Yao, while flames appeared around his body.
But the ninjutsu passed straight through him, leaving not a scratch. Feng Yao had used the Kamui in his right eye to send his body into the Kamui Dimension. It was the eye's Intangibility ability.
"What happened? Is it genjutsu?"
"It's not genjutsu. You're just too weak."
As he spoke, Feng Yao began forming Hand Seals. He bit his finger and summoned the strongest force he could call forth.
"Summoning Technique: Five Underworld Ghosts!"
After a tremendous cloud of smoke erupted, the Five Ghosts' enormous bodies burst through the entire base.
The Five Ghosts roared in unison. Seeing that things were going badly, the Root members hurried to send someone to report to Danzo.
But the messenger had barely run any distance when a Silver White Wolf charged out and sank its teeth into his neck.
"We can't beat him! Why haven't any jonin come to help?"
A man who seemed to be one of Root's squad leaders cried out in panic.
Feng Yao sneered. "Why do you think no jonin have come?"
The man froze. After a moment's thought, he shouted in alarm.
He realized that the other jonin in Konoha had joined forces to move against Danzo.
"Everyone, run! We have to get back to Lord Hokage!"
"It's too late. Underworld Domain!"
A dark red barrier spread outward from the Five Ghosts until it enclosed the entire Root base.
This was a finishing move the Five Ghosts could use when working together. It temporarily sealed off the space, and doubled their strength within the domain.
"Five Ghosts, kill them."
Roar—
The five colossal monsters charged into the crowd, reaping lives across the battlefield as easily as chopping melons and vegetables.
Each of them fought in a different way.
Evil Ghost wailed where it stood. Those with weak spirits collapsed to the ground, unable to move as they waited for death.
Slaughter Ghost and Corpse Ghost went on a rampage through the crowd.
"What are these monsters?!"
"Damn it, we can't break the barrier!"
"No! That ghost is draining my chakra!"
The barrier became a living hell. Many of the slain rose again and charged at their former comrades.
That was Corpse Ghost's ability.
In less than half a stick of incense, Root had been almost completely wiped out.
Just then, Feng Yao spotted a man still fighting, sketching all kinds of beasts with a brush.
It was Sai, who was still a member of Root.
He ordered the Five Ghosts to stop attacking Sai.
With a single Flying Thunder God Technique, he appeared beside Sai. Sai summoned several enormous Ink Tigers from his sketchbook and sent them snapping at Feng Yao.
Feng Yao dodged by using Intangibility, then grabbed Sai by the shoulder and pulled him into the Kamui Dimension.
Sai's abilities were unusual, and he was quite strong. Feng Yao could bring him into his ranks.
As for teaching him, Feng Yao could deal with that after things had settled down in Konoha.
He looked around. Apart from Feng Yao himself, not a single living creature remained in the area.
Feng Yao ordered the Five Ghosts to release the barrier, then quickly left. Before long, several jonin arrived, including Kakashi and Asuma.
They sighed. They hadn't gone to Root's aid. They had to stop the coming war and protect Konoha from destruction.
Root had had no names, no emotions, no past and no future. Its members had lived only for their missions, supporting Konoha's great tree from the shadows. From this day on, Root was gone.
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