The Destruction of the Root

A light drizzle drifted down, making the entire Konoha village appear even more lush and verdant.

After discussing all the details with Kakashi, Feng Yao brought him back to his home once again.

"Kakashi, it is time to fulfill your promise."

Feng Yao sat back down on the dilapidated chair and spoke again. Kakashi did not hesitate; he lifted his forehead protector, revealing his Sharingan, fully prepared for what was to come.

Feng Yao slowly reached out his hand, and Kakashi felt a cold touch press against his eyelid.

I am sorry, Obito. As Kakashi silently apologized to Obito in his heart, Feng Yao had already retracted his hand. Just as Kakashi wondered what the man was up to, "Alright, that is enough."

Hearing that Feng Yao was finished, Kakashi was left completely bewildered. Wasn't he supposed to take my Sharingan? Just a touch was all it took?

Seeing the look of disbelief on Kakashi's face, Feng Yao spoke, "I only needed some cells from your eye. I have no desire to gouge out someone else's eyeball and wear it around."

Hearing this, Kakashi let out a long sigh of relief. This eye not only represented the bulk of his strength but was also the only gift his dear friend Obito had left him.

"System, is this sufficient?"

Feng Yao asked silently in his heart after obtaining the Sharingan cells.

"Yes, you may now attempt to absorb these cells."

Following the system's instructions, Feng Yao absorbed the Sharingan cells he had just collected on his fingertip into his body.

He felt a strange chakra surge from his finger toward his eyes. After a moment of pain, the traces of a Mangekyou Sharingan flashed rapidly across his eyes, though it lasted only for an instant—not even Kakashi noticed it.

He realized that he possessed not only the space-time ocular jutsu of Kakashi's eye but also those of Obito's eye: Intangibility and Kamui.

Just as he was feeling puzzled, the system spoke to him.

"Eyes are meant to be a pair. Since the host has the cells from Obito's eye, you naturally gain the space-time abilities of both eyes. Furthermore, the Sharingan has been assimilated by the host's constitution; you can use these abilities even without your eyes changing appearance."

"There is such a good thing? This is essential for backstabbing people."

This way, when he fought others, they would assume his eyes were ordinary.

Then, he could catch them off guard by unleashing a Kamui; the effect would be perfect.

Feng Yao took a deep look at Kakashi. Sorry, Obito's eyes are already in my possession. You can wait a few hundred days for your trial period to end.

As for the request Konoha made of Feng Yao, there was only one: destroy Root and sever Danzo's right-hand men.

Danzo's confidants were all members of Root, and they were the primary supporters of this war against the Sand Ninja.

In reality, many Jonin and even the pillars of Konoha did not support this operation.

Therefore, the Third Hokage was willing to do anything to stop Danzo's actions, even if it meant sacrificing Danzo and Root, and even if it meant cooperating with a rogue ninja like him.

Feng Yao was to assassinate Danzo, destroy Root, and help re-elect a Hokage. In return, they would provide him with assistance and clear his rogue ninja bounty. Feng Yao also added one extra condition: he would take Neji of the Hyuga Clan with him.

It could not be denied that Neji was a genius in the early stages of the ninja world, but unfortunately, there were too many "hacks" later on, leaving Neji with little room to shine. He intended to recruit Neji under his own banner.

In the end, Kakashi agreed on behalf of the Third. After all, Neji was only a member of the branch family.

The ninja world was often like this; there were no eternal enemies, only eternal interests. A few months ago, both sides were fighting to the death, and today, they were comrades on the same front.

Two days later, just before Konoha was set to launch its offensive, Feng Yao and Kakashi arrived at the Root headquarters. Root was to serve as the vanguard for Konoha's forces this time.

"Then, I leave this to you."

Kakashi said in a low voice, then handed Feng Yao a stack of documents.

After memorizing the information on everyone, he said with a cold chill in his tone.

"From today on, Root will no longer exist."

He walked slowly toward the headquarters. The members of Root in the distance spotted Feng Yao and immediately went on alert. Due to Danzo's rise to power, Root had expanded significantly, numbering nearly a hundred people.

Three Root members stood guard at the entrance.

"Who goes there! If you come any closer, we won't be polite."

One Root ninja spoke first, but Feng Yao showed no intention of stopping.

Seeing that Feng Yao did not intend to answer, the Root members stopped being polite.

"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!"

The soil beneath Feng Yao's feet suddenly turned into liquid; this was an Earth Release jutsu specifically designed to trap enemies.

Swish.

Almost the moment the Earth Release jutsu took form, Feng Yao vanished. Just as the Root members were searching for his whereabouts, several three-pronged kunai flew toward them.

As they turned to dodge, they noticed a strange seal on the kunai, but it was already too late. Feng Yao used the Flying Thunder God to teleport to the location of the kunai.

"Triple Flying Thunder God Slash!"

The three men at the entrance were killed instantly. Feng Yao walked into the headquarters holding a kunai, looking like an Asura coming to claim lives.

The moment he stepped through the door, the members of Root collectively discovered the intruder, Feng Yao.

"Intruders! Earth Release: Earth Shore Return!"

"Fire Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"

The ground underwent a violent transformation as countless stone pillars erupted from the earth, attempting to impale Feng Yao, while flames simultaneously engulfed his body.

Yet, these ninjutsu passed perfectly through Feng Yao's body, failing to leave even a single scratch. This was Feng Yao utilizing the Kamui of his right eye to shift his body into the Kamui dimension—the ability of Intangibility.

"What is going on! Is this a genjutsu?"

"It is not a genjutsu; it is simply that you are too weak."

As he spoke, Feng Yao began weaving hand seals. After biting his finger, he summoned his strongest combat force.

"Summoning Jutsu: Five Underworld Ghosts."

Following a massive burst of smoke, the entire stronghold was shattered by the immense bodies of the five ghosts.

The five ghosts roared in unison. Seeing the situation turn dire, the members of Root scrambled to send someone to report to Danzo.

But before the runner had gone far, a Silver White Wolf lunged out and snapped the man's neck.

"It's no use, we are no match for him! Why hasn't any jonin arrived to provide support?"

A man who appeared to be a squad leader within Root said anxiously.

Feng Yao let out a scoff upon hearing this: "Why do you think that is? Consider the reason why not a single jonin has come."

Hearing this, the man opposite him froze. After a brief moment of realization, he roared.

He understood that this was a coordinated operation by the other jonin of Konoha against Danzo.

"Everyone, flee with all your might! We must return to the side of the Hokage!"

"It is already too late. Underworld Domain."

A dark red barrier expanded outward from the Five Underworld Ghosts until it had completely enveloped the entire Root base.

This was a lethal technique the five ghosts could perform in tandem, briefly sealing off space while doubling their combat power within the domain.

"Five Ghosts, slaughter them."

ROAR—

The five behemoths charged into the crowd, reaping lives on the battlefield as easily as slicing through melons and vegetables.

Their methods were as varied as they were brutal.

The Evil Ghost let out a wail where it stood, causing those with weak mental fortitude to collapse to the ground, paralyzed and waiting to be harvested.

The Slaughter Ghost and the Corpse Ghost began a frenzied massacre directly within the ranks.

"What are these monsters!"

"Damn it, the barrier won't break!"

"Oh no, my chakra is being drained by that ghost!"

The interior of the barrier became a living hell; many of those who had been killed stood back up, charging at their former teammates.

This was the ability of the Corpse Ghost.

In less than half an incense stick of time, the entirety of Root had been decimated.

At this moment, Feng Yao spotted a man who was still persisting, using a brush to draw various beasts.

This man was Sai, who was still a member of Root at this time.

He ordered the five ghosts to cease their attacks on him.

With a Flying Thunder God, he arrived at Sai's side. Sai summoned several giant Ink Tigers from his sketchbook to tear at Feng Yao.

After dodging with Intangibility, Feng Yao grabbed his shoulder and sucked him into the Kamui dimension.

Sai's abilities were quite unique and his strength was not to be underestimated; he could be taken as a subordinate.

As for the matter of re-education, that could be handled once things in Konoha had settled down.

Looking up at his surroundings, aside from Feng Yao himself, there was not a single living creature left in this place.

Feng Yao ordered the five ghosts to dispel the barrier and then departed rapidly. Not long after he left, many jonin appeared on the scene, including Kakashi, Asuma, and others.

They heaved a sigh. They had not come to rescue Root; they were here to prevent an impending war and ensure that Konoha would not vanish.

Without names, without emotions, without a past, and without a future—with nothing in their hearts but their missions—the Root that had supported the great tree of Konoha from the shadows ceased to exist from this day forth.