Hunting Root

Chen did want to grow stronger quickly, but when he thought of the damnable system, he really didn't dare ask it for anything.

Over the next few days, Chen spent his time training.

As for Sasuke, Chen hadn't seen him again since visiting Uchiha Fugaku.

While training, Chen passed the fourth year since arriving in the Naruto World. With the end of that year, he was five years old.

"System, are Root members really around here?"

Wearing a mask, Chen was lying in ambush in a remote forest in the Land of Fire.

In fact, he had been waiting here for three days. He hadn't seen a single person—or even a bird.

"Don't worry. They'll be here soon."

Chen was about to say something when he sensed someone approaching.

There were three of them, but he couldn't tell how strong they were.

Still, anyone who could join Root was at least a Chunin.

"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Technique!"

The B-rank ninjutsu burst forth, and the Root member at the front was swallowed by flames before he could react.

The other two immediately dodged backward, but two Shadow Clones appeared almost at the same time.

"Way of Destruction No. 33: Pale Fire Drop!"

The two Shadow Clones used Kido simultaneously. The next moment, the two unlucky men were killed just as quickly.

"Looks like I overestimated these three. They're only Chunin."

"Isn't that great? Then you can't say I set you up. This system has always been very conscientious."

"I believe you."

"Believe me, or I'll make you appear in front of Orochimaru.

"Anyway, Orochimaru is nearby."

"Orochimaru is nearby?"

"Yeah. He's probably here to look for Danzo. Those three were carrying information."

Chen was a little speechless. He couldn't help wondering if he'd offended something sinister. Why did he keep running into Orochimaru?

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Chen used Fire Release to destroy the bodies, making sure Danzo wouldn't find any clues.

He opened the system and checked the mission panel, but the mission was still incomplete.

Apparently, those three weren't the only enemies.

"The real targets are coming. This is the last group."

"You're not setting me up, are you? There isn't an Orochimaru or some other powerful enemy among them, right?"

"There's one who might be troublesome, but he isn't that strong."

Chen was speechless at that.

He could sense someone approaching now. They seemed to have noticed something was amiss and were coming straight toward him.

Seeing this, Chen stopped complaining about the system and hid himself instead.

Before long, three Root members appeared. One of them wasn't even wearing a mask.

"How could it be him? Why is Aburame Torune here?"

The enemy who had arrived this time was Aburame Torune, one of Danzo's trusted aides.

"Secret Technique: Poison Mist Technique!"

Before Chen could attack, Aburame Torune struck first. He had clearly noticed Chen.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

A huge fireball appeared, instantly burning up all the venomous insects. Chen's position was completely exposed as well.

The two Root members charged at Chen from either side.

Instead of retreating, Chen charged forward. Asauchi appeared in his hand, and he went straight for the two men.

"Genjutsu: Hell Viewing Technique!"

Just as they were about to pass each other, Chen suddenly cast a genjutsu.

His genjutsu wasn't top-tier, but it still made the two men hesitate for an instant.

That moment of hesitation was enough to keep them from attacking in time.

"Flowing Fire Blade!"

Flames coated the blade. With a single slash, Chen cut one of the Root members in half, and the burning body fell from the air.

Seeing his comrade die, the other Root member didn't react at all. He immediately turned and attacked Chen.

"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"

A powerful B-rank Lightning Release ninjutsu shot straight toward Chen.

However, from the moment Chen attacked, he had planned to strike once and retreat.

So as soon as False Darkness appeared, Chen used Flash Step to get away.

He dodged the attack with Flash Step and quickly formed hand seals at the same time.

"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Technique!"

He unleashed the B-rank ninjutsu again, but his opponent charged straight into the attack.

Chen had thought the man would at least be injured, but when he emerged from the flames, he was completely unharmed.

"Damn it!"

Chen used Flash Step again to put some distance between them, but Aburame Torune took the opportunity to charge at him.

Chen knew that the insects Aburame Torune controlled were nanoscale. If they touched him, they would eat away at his cells.

Chen had no desire to experience that.

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"

"Secret Technique: Poison Dragon Storm!"

A poison dragon formed from purple mist slammed into the Water Formation Wall. To Chen's surprise, the wall slowly turned purple.

"Damn it. I thought they could only infest cells. How can they get through Water Release too?"

Chen realized that Aburame Torune was different from the one he knew.

But that wasn't a problem for Chen.

Using the Water Formation Wall for cover, Chen used the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Chen escaped safely, but Aburame Torune looked grave.

"This guy is strong, and that strange Body Flicker Technique of his must be what Kakashi described. It looks like we've found our target."

Aburame Torune spoke to the Root member beside him, who nodded.

"His Fire Release is powerful. Even the Uchiha might not be able to match it, but unfortunately, that kind of Fire Release is useless against me."

As he spoke, the Root member charged straight at Chen.

Seeing this, flames once again ignited along the Asauchi in Chen's hand. He immediately swung at the man.

"Kid, I told you your Fire Release is useless against me. And that sword of yours is too dull."

"Really? Who told you I was trying to cut you?"

Before the words had even left his mouth, the flames on the Asauchi suddenly changed, forming a cage of fire.

"So that's it. You're trying to trap me with flames. But, kid, you can't get through my defenses."

The Root member spoke with undisguised contempt.

"Is that so? Maybe other people's flames can't break through Earth Release: Hardening Technique, but that doesn't mean you're invincible."

"Way of Destruction No. 33: Pale Fire Drop!"

Though Chen had lowered Pale Fire Drop's power by skipping the incantation, an attack at point-blank range was clearly more than an ordinary person could withstand.

Of course, that might also have been because Kido didn't belong to the world of shinobi.

The unfortunate Root shinobi was struck in the torso by Pale Fire Drop, which punched a hole through him. Even his spine vanished. He was unmistakably dead.

"Damn it! Don't think you're getting out of here alive!"

As he spoke, Aburame Torune headed toward the corpse from earlier.

"Forbidden Technique: Pot Poison Technique!"