Kakashi: Compared to Getting Stronger, Pride Was Nothing

Through the window, Kyohiko quickly saw Danzo storm out of the room.

They came with high hopes, but left disappointed.

Even without thinking, he could guess the situation at the time; it was nothing more than a "you regret it, I'll fight you" scenario. Fortunately, it was just him and the Third Hokage.

As he left, Danzo glanced Jonin Waiting Room.

Their eyes met, and they parted.

A short while later, Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived.

Once inside, Hiruzen Sarutobi led him into a small room within the waiting room. This room was completely isolated from the outside world and was usually where important missions were issued.

"Kyohiko, there's a task that requires your cooperation to complete."

"Please speak."

Kyohiko nodded.

Hiruzen Sarutobi told him to stand by, he guessed there might be an important mission, so it wasn't too surprising.

The third generation retrieved the Intelligence Scroll.

An open scroll on the table contained information about "Hashirama Cells Research," including details about "Type A," its location, and who was likely in charge of the base.

Kyohiko read it carefully.

Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi was also observing secretly.

He would never have given this information to an ordinary child, much less involve them in a commission of this caliber, but Kyohiko...

He wanted to see what kind of child this was.

After reading it, Kyohiko closed the scroll.

Will the third generation keep "A" in his own hands?

Or perhaps he has a new plan for dealing with "A".

For example, let "A" learn and study "Sage Transformation" from a young age.

Therefore, it was indeed impossible for him to remain in Danzo's hands any longer. As for why he was entrusted with this task...

Worried about Danzo's eyeliner in the Anbu?

Hiruzen Sarutobi away the scroll.

Are you interested?

"Yes, there are, but there are so many Anbu Ninja, why send me?"

Kyohiko pretended not to know.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed.

"You may not understand, but although I am the Hokage, I can't completely control the Anbu. Danzo has many spies over there, and he'll know immediately if the Anbu makes a move."

"For something to be executed from top to bottom, coordination and cooperation at every level are needed. That's the role of a team. Even the Hokage couldn't accomplish anything alone."

Kyohiko answered calmly.

His persona is already established; he no longer needs to play dumb.

Hiruzen Sarutobi paused for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, I forgot... Anyway, I hope this matter can be carried out by someone capable enough, but who won't attract Danzo's attention."

Are you sure I'm not on Danzo's watch list?

Kyohiko was very impolite.

"I will make arrangements, but of course, this will require your cooperation with Tsunade."

Hiruzen Sarutobi a serious expression.

He then sighed, "My views may differ from those of Jiraiya, Tsunade, and you, but we are all working for Konoha and won't let this cause conflict or internal strife. I used to think the same way about Danzo, but now he has disappointed me greatly."

Kyohiko remained silent.

In his view, Hiruzen Sarutobi is a monster of power.

He's definitely stronger than Danzo, but you can only believe half of what he says.

Just like Danzo.

Did Hiruzen Sarutobi not understand Danzo?

We've been partners for so many years!

Hiruzen Sarutobi probably understood Danzo's true nature better than Danzo himself.

It's foolish to genuinely not understand, but it's malicious to feign ignorance.

Kyohiko is even more convinced that Hiruzen Sarutobi used Danzo as a double agent, discarding him when he no longer needed him.

Are you willing to accept the mission?

"You have too little information. There's nothing about the specific strength, personnel composition, or internal situation of the Root base. I can't guarantee that I can find him, but I will do my best to accomplish it."

Kyohiko replied, "Besides, Danzo, I am no match for him."

He has self-awareness.

While their current strength is considerable, they are still far inferior to Danzo.

If Danzo were at the base, he would have no chance of winning.

"He'll be staying in Konoha today and tomorrow, so you don't need to worry. As for the intelligence issue, I'll send someone to help you."

"Yes."

After leaving the Hokage Building, Kyohiko met his "assistant" at home.

It was none other than Kakashi.

I knew it was you.

Go quickly and come back soon.

Kakashi Hand Seals, transforming into Kyohiko's appearance.

Kyohiko chuckled, then pressed himself against the wall, listening intently to his surroundings.

A moment later.

"I'm leaving. You can pick some of the books upstairs to look at; they should be useful."

"This..."

Kakashi was about to refuse.

"I read every day; if you don't, you'll give yourself away."

"Good."

Kakashi watched as Kyohiko vanished in Body Flicker Technique.

The claim of "being exposed" was merely a pretext to make him feel more at ease accepting the situation.

but.

He hesitated for only a moment before going upstairs.

The Second Hokage's Notes.

Even if it's just some basic knowledge, it's still an invaluable asset. If it can make me stronger and play a greater role in future missions and battles, what's wrong with accepting this gift?

Like in the past few days, being weak and helpless leaves one with no choice but to compromise with their companions, which is truly tragic.

He didn't want to be the one being rescued again!

Upon reaching the upper floor, Kakashi glanced around and noticed a large number of books piled on the bookshelves on the left, while the other side had relatively fewer, and the notes on the book titles were relatively new.

"Is this Kyohiko's research notebook?"

Kakashi recognized the source of the handwriting.

He glanced at the books and, just by looking at the titles, knew they were all Kyohiko's Ninjutsu notes.

He still wouldn't look at anything that involved Kyohiko's secrets.

Kakashi's gaze swept across the Senju Tobirama's notebook.

Under Kyohiko's organization, the books on the bookshelf were categorized into four types: Ninjutsu, swordsmanship, Genjutsu, and Taijutsu, with some miscellaneous notes on the far side.

He reached for the "Ninjutsu" section.

night.

Not too far from Konoha, a mountain village and a Wild Temple came into view.

Qianlin Temple.

According to Hiruzen Sarutobi's description, this Wild Temple is the entrance to the base where "Kou" is located, and there are many mechanisms and traps below.

but.

The helper that Hiruzen Sarutobi mentioned did not appear.

Kyohiko waited for a while, but there was no sign of anyone appearing, so he decided to stop waiting.

He pressed himself against the ground, using Chakra to enhance his hearing.

After a while, Kyohiko heard faint footsteps coming from underground.

Northeast.

Underground behind the temple.

In addition, there were some footsteps heard above the temple.

There are quite a few people patrolling!

He bit his finger, Hand Seals, and contracted his Chakra output.

A moment later, a small Toad appeared.

Kyohiko didn't know Jiraiya's infiltration techniques, but the little Toad were obviously more concealed than humans, at least enough to fool some ninjas who didn't know about the Toad of Mount Myoboku.

He whispered, "Could you help me find the underground entrance to the temple up ahead?"

The Toad nodded.

Kyohiko Body Flicker Technique, and in the blink of Body Flicker Technique, he crept up above the temple and placed the little Toad on the roof.

The little Toad hopped all the way across.

The Wild Temple were overgrown with grass and teemed with small animals, but the Toad wasn't particularly noticeable.

Kyohiko used his Transformation Technique to hide himself, listening to the rhythmic bouncing sounds below.

His enhanced hearing allowed him to hear sufficiently subtle sounds and even sounds from relatively distant locations.

A while later...

"There's an entrance behind the Stone Faces in the main hall."

A few minutes later.

Laugh!

A dark shadow flashed overhead, followed by a patrolling ninja who instantly collapsed silently, dragged into the shadows.

A moment later, two people emerged from the shadows.

One is a ninja with an ordinary appearance.

The other one resembled the Root ninja from earlier.

Kyohiko couldn't possibly search for them one by one, so--

The best solution is to let the people below create chaos on their own, and let "A" come out from the inside.

This is a tactic of "beating the grass to scare the snake."

He had his clone hide, while his transformed main body maintained the previous route and continued to follow the patrol.

Then, some time passed.

"Ah!"

A scream came from the corner.

Kyohiko immediately sprang into action, rushing into the main hall, where a man appeared wielding a knife.

Who are you?

"There's an intruder outside, their swordsmanship is extremely strong, we..."

As soon as Kyohiko finished speaking, the wind howled behind him, and a blade was already slashing towards him.

The next instant, the person who had been blocking him immediately drew his knife to block him.

"Who are you?"

"Hand over 'A' or we'll kill you all!"

The clone's voice was deep.

Kyohiko quickly ran towards the passage.

A fierce battle erupted inside the hall.

He ran inside, shouting, "Something's wrong! Someone's trying to steal 'A'!"

Chaos quickly erupted underground.

Kyohiko hid in the shadows and waited quietly.

After a while, the members of the Root quickly ran outside, completely unaware of him hiding.

"The Root is still very immature!"

"Too..."

Kyohiko listened quietly to the sounds outside, carefully distinguishing each chaotic noise.

However.

With so much activity, distinguishing which one belongs to "A" remains quite difficult.

Also, what about the helpers mentioned by the third generation?

As he pondered this, the chirping of insects grew closer.

Um?

Wrong!

Just as Kyohiko was about to draw his sword, the insects had already reformed and transformed into one person.

"It's me."

"Senior Shibi?"

Kyohiko was surprised.

Before him stood Shibi Aburame, whom he hadn't seen for some time.

The Shibi Aburame.

"You were sent by the Lord Hokage, weren't you?"

He couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "To find the passage by yourself and come up with such a method, forcing them to take action on their own and forcing A out... If it were just you alone, this would indeed be the best solution."

"You flatter me, senior. I was merely doing my best."

Kyohiko remained as polite as ever.

The Shibi Aburame, "I've found him. Come with me."

He then headed deeper into the base.

Kyohiko quickly followed.

Not long after--

"You..."

"Don't lay a hand on us! We're on the same side!"

Kyohiko spoke in a low voice, raising his hand to indicate that he had no weapon.

Upon hearing this, the other party immediately drew his knife.

The next moment, he saw the other person waving his hand, with his other hand forming a strange hand seal. Immediately, his vision blurred, as if several people were rushing towards him.

Not good!

It's Genjutsu!

He immediately dispelled the Genjutsu, but--

The other person had already grabbed his throat, suddenly increasing the force, and then plunged a knife into his heart.

Shibi Aburame to the side, was deeply shocked.

Genjutsu?

Genjutsu using a single hand Hand Seals...

When did Konoha's Anbu produce such a master of Genjutsu?!

Who is this young man?

Shibi Aburame racked his brains but couldn't connect Kyohiko with any of the Anbu. He was suspicious but didn't ask. Instead, he silently led the way.

He then killed three more people.

"Senior Shibi, don't you have a better route?"

Kyohiko remained silent.

"No, he is guarded by Aburame Tatsuma and Danzo's confidants. This is the only way to find him."

"Shibi Aburame said."

"Then what are you hiding?"

Kyohiko immediately stepped forward, "If they don't come out, you check for traps, and we'll charge in together!"

"..."

The Shibi Aburame silent.

At this moment, he raised his finger, and the worm returned to his body. Then, Shibi Aburame was very surprised and said with a look of astonishment, "You are Kyohiko?"

How could that be!

Although Kyohiko has already been promoted to Jonin, he's still so young, how could he receive a mission of this level?

"Yes."

Kyohiko nodded.

Shibi Aburame found it hard to believe, but judging from the feedback from the Kikaichū, it was indeed Kyohiko's Chakra aura.

While appearance can be altered and aura can be concealed, Chakra is very difficult to fake.

He found it hard to believe, but he had no choice but to accept it.

No wonder this guy keeps calling me "senior"...

There aren't many younger people in the Anbu than me, and even fewer who possess both Genjutsu and swordsmanship of this caliber. It seems like an outsider has arrived.

"Are you confident?"

"Trust me, if there's only Aburame Tatsuma and one other trusted confidant inside the base, we can just storm in, steal it, and escape. What's the point of hiding?!"

Kyohiko is very confident.

He fought against Aburame Tatsuma last time.

That guy is a master of stealth and assassination, but he's not much of a threat in a direct confrontation. This time, with Shibi Aburame's help, the advantage is enormous.

They have the skill of stealth...

Those who were transferred out of town will probably all be coming back!

Shibi Aburame immediately nodded.

The two no longer hid their relationship.

Immediately, the Kikaichū a path and destroyed the trap, allowing the two to continue forward.

Then, a dozen or Root members surrounded the area from various passages, forming layers upon layers of encirclement.

Shibi Aburame raised her hand, about to use the Kikaichū the way.

The next instant, Kyohiko Hand Seals, raised his hand, and drew his sword—

Three brief movements.

Konoha Style: Willow!

To the members of Root, dozens of figures rushed towards them at incredible speed.

However.

In reality, the swarm of insects instantly overwhelmed them.

Kyohiko Body Flicker Technique killed one person.

Immediately, the blades were sheathed, and he and Shibi Aburame forward, sweeping all before them.

Shibi Aburame amazed.

After seeing through the other party's methods, he felt that Kyohiko's Genjutsu was not particularly complex or sophisticated, but its strength lay in its suddenness.

One-handed hand Hand Seals.

Any movement of the other hand could trigger Genjutsu, making it virtually impossible to defend against.

even.

If he hadn't been Kikaichū, he might have also fallen into a hallucination just now.

Where did this kid learn that?

Kurenai Yuhi?

Are the two of them that close?

Shibi Aburame outwardly silent, but inwardly she was constantly speculating and pondering.

As they ventured deeper into the territory, many members of the Root pursued them from behind, but they were unable to keep up.

When we reached the location described by Shibi Aburame--

Aburame Tatsuma and his men slipped away through the previously disguised back door, leaving behind a large number of Explosive Tag.

"Boom!"

A few minutes later, on the mountain.

Upon hearing the violent explosion, Aburame Tatsuma's lips curled into a slight smile.

Behind him, a female ninja grabbed "Armor," a hint of sadness flashing across her face, before she said worriedly, "The base has been destroyed, our people..."

"It is their honor to dedicate themselves to the cause of adults."

Aburame Tatsuma answered indifferently.

Then, he turned his head and glanced at the female ninja out of the corner of his eye.

Let's go.

As soon as he finished speaking, his expression suddenly turned ugly.

Immediately, his figure split into countless insects.

The Kikaichū spread in all directions, transforming into a giant wall.

However.

In the darkness of night, a black fog descended.

Buzz buzz buzz!

This is a battle of insects.

Aburame Tatsuma's face darkened. "It's you!"

"Aburame Tatsuma, you actually followed Danzo!"

The Shibi Aburame.

"Snort."

Aburame Tatsuma snorted coldly.

Then he whispered, "Let's go!"

"Yes!"

The female ninja behind him picked up "Jia" and ran.

Shibi Aburame's face turned pale.

Are you going to keep making the same mistake?

"Who says adults are always wrong? Konoha needs roots, it needs darkness. Everyone is working for Konoha's future. You're all being too narrow-minded, especially the Lord Hokage..."

Aburame Tatsuma's tone grew increasingly high-pitched and admiring, "He doesn't understand that person at all!"

As he spoke, the Kikaichū erupted and attacked the Shibi Aburame.

This is a battle of Kikaichū.

We will win!

Aburame Tatsuma is resolute.

He didn't think he would lose to Shibi Aburame, especially since Shiki had already used up a lot of Chakra and insects on her way here.

not to mention.

They succeed as long as the other side doesn't get "A".

The advantage is in my hands!

Aburame Tatsuma, but soon his face went from confident to ugly, and then to ashen.

Something bad happened later!

"You won't stop me!"

"For Danzo!"

The female ninja spoke with a firm tone, but after she Hand Seals, what appeared in her hands was Medical Ninjutsu.

Chakra Scalpel!

Kyohiko glanced at it and frowned slightly.

Yakushi Nonō?

No.

She probably doesn't have this name yet.

If it really is her, then we could try to get her to help...

Kyohiko suppressed his murderous intent.

The moment the opponent charged at him, he slowly drew his sword, forming a hand Hand Seals with one hand, his arm moving like a willow branch.

Then...

Several figures split off from Kyohiko and rushed towards her at extremely fast speeds, arriving in front of her almost instantly.

Wow, so fast!

The female ninja was shocked and immediately slashed out in all directions.

However.

The figure she struck was merely an afterimage.

Clone Technique?

Dance of the Crescent Moon?

She thought quickly and immediately drew her Kunai to defend herself.

but...

Still empty!

How could that be?

No, Genjutsu!

Yakushi Nonō immediately dispelled the Genjutsu, and her vision returned. However, the other person was already in front of her, with a hand on her forehead.

Bang!

She was struck and slammed to the ground, losing consciousness.

On the other side, Jia also broke the Genjutsu. He clasped his hands together, and wood grew out from under Kyohiko's feet.

But.

The blade was drawn and instantly sliced through all the wood.

What a sharp knife!

Terrified, A was about to change tactics and use Wood Release to protect himself while waiting for rescue when his opponent Body Flicker Technique in front of him and smashed the hilt of his sword against his forehead.

Before he lost consciousness, he vaguely heard...

"You seem to have used too much force, but it's just a mild concussion, nothing serious."

He had only one thought in his mind.

Her voice sounds so young.

Like...

She's not much older than him.

A fell into a complete coma.

Kyohiko created Shadow Clone to watch over the two, and then went to provide support to Shibi Aburame.