Tenzō

When Yukimi rushed into the depths of the cave with Kakashi and Uchiha Yatsuhashi, Sano Yuji had already vanished, leaving the place empty.

The scene was left with nothing but a few messy beds.

"The... the children have all been moved by Sano Yuji," Gota said, slumping in defeat. "According to our agreement, we were only responsible for kidnapping the children and imprisoning them here; then, members of Root would come to collect them. Sano Yuji has come to handle the handovers several times before."

"I know where he went!" Yukimi suddenly raised her head. "I secretly followed him once before. It's a secret laboratory hidden deep in the mountains. I can take you there!"

Since Gota needed to stay behind to comfort the remaining clansmen, Yukimi led the two of them toward the secret laboratory.

Along the way, Yukimi chirped like a happy little bird, asking Uchiha Yatsuhashi questions incessantly. Because of the gentle impression he had left when he helped stabilize her body, she felt no fear toward him at all.

"Big Brother Yatsuhashi, you're so amazing now!" She had completely forgotten the crisis from moments ago. "How did your eyes turn red just now?"

Watching the once gaunt and frail little girl who had now regained a healthy complexion, Uchiha Yatsuhashi felt his heart soften and patiently answered her naive questions. He even introduced her to the unique Kekkei Genkai of the Uchiha Clan.

"Is it the same as the curse of our Iburi Clan?"

Uchiha Yatsuhashi nodded. "The smoke transformation of your Iburi Clan is likely an unstable Kekkei Genkai as well."

Hearing this, Yukimi jumped for joy. "Then I'll become a ninja as strong as Big Brother Yatsuhashi in the future to protect our clan!"

A gentle smile appeared on Uchiha Yatsuhashi's lips. "Then you'll have to work hard at your training!"

Meanwhile, the scene at Danzo's secret laboratory was quite different.

Sano Yuji had cast genjutsu on the children, and at this moment, they were all sealed within scrolls, sleeping soundly.

Handing the scrolls to a Root jonin wearing a dark vest, he complained with dissatisfaction, "Weren't you notified to relocate long ago? Why haven't you finished moving yet?"

A masked Root jonin, who was directing his subordinates in the transport, replied coldly upon hearing this: "With so many precision instruments and experimental data, how could we just move them on a whim? I have already reported to Lord Danzo, and the Root reinforcements sent to support us will arrive soon. When that time comes, we only need to kill Kakashi and the others on the spot, and we can pin everything else on that rogue ninja, Orochimaru."

Just as the two were conversing, a youthful yet icy voice echoed from the laboratory entrance.

"A bunch of trash."

A figure walked in slowly; he was small in stature but wore the specialized uniform of Root. The newcomer was Tenzō of the Iburi Clan, Yukimi's younger brother. Because of Uchiha Yatsuhashi's intervention back then, Tenzō had not only survived the rejection reaction from the Hashirama Cells transplant, but he had also inherited the power of the First Hokage perfectly. However, his personality had changed drastically as a result, and he considered himself a savior bearing a dark destiny, the one who would rescue the Iburi Clan.

Sano Yuji wanted to retort, but he was stopped by the Root jonin. "Sano, this is Tenzō, an elite jonin recently promoted by Lord Danzo. He has perfectly inherited the Wood Release power of the First Hokage."

Seeing the formidable Tenzō, Sano Yuji shut his mouth in resentment.

Tenzō glanced at Sano Yuji, his eyes filled with disdain. "Truly trash. I told you to stall for time, so why did you lead them to the laboratory?"

When he had first arrived at the laboratory entrance, Tenzō had already sensed Uchiha Yatsuhashi and the others rushing toward their location.

"What did you say?!" Sano Yuji was furious and was about to retort when he saw Tenzō raise his palm.

"Wood Release: Cutting Technique!"

He slammed his palm into the ground, and several sharp, massive wooden spikes instantly burst from the earth!

In the blink of an eye, Sano Yuji's body was pierced through.

"Ugh..." Sano Yuji looked down at the wooden spike in his chest, his eyes filled with disbelief.

However, the wooden spike that had pierced Sano Yuji's body did not stop there.

The next second, it began to grow and divide frantically inside his body.

Watching Sano Yuji's life force completely extinguished.

The Root jonin nearby was filled with shock and anger: "Tenzō! What are you doing?!"

"Hmph."

Tenzō let out a cold snort, his eyes behind the mask devoid of emotion.

"Lord Danzo's order is 'leave no one alive'."

His tone was as indifferent as if he were crushing an insignificant ant.

"Trash like him doesn't deserve to live; we can just pin all the evidence on that traitor Orochimaru afterward."

The Root jonin dared not say more, quickly packing and sealing the remaining experimental equipment.

These items were the indispensable core of the Hashirama Cell Transplantation Project.

They were far more important than the life of a traitor.

Just as Tenzō prepared to completely erase the traces of the laboratory.

Uchiha Yatsuhashi, Kakashi, and Yukimi arrived at the scene.

The Root jonin looked at Kakashi and the others.

He prepared to retreat with the scrolls, "Tenzō, stop them!"

Kakashi was about to pursue, but Tenzō had already blocked his path.

Yukimi looked at the masked youth, "Tenzō! Brother Yatsuhashi said that the Hokage would help our Iburi Clan!"

Tenzō's eyes narrowed slightly behind his mask, his gaze falling upon the familiar Uchiha Yatsuhashi.

He could sense a terrifying power contained within this Uchiha.

It was an aura that made even him tremble.

"It seems you have also obtained incredible power."

Tenzō sneered, "We don't need others to help us; I am the savior of the Iburi Clan!"

"You think you have the power to save our clan..."

Having said that, Tenzō pointed arrogantly at Uchiha Yatsuhashi: "Then let's see whose power is superior!"

Uchiha Yatsuhashi looked back at Kakashi and whispered: "Captain, go after those people and the data; leave this to me."

A surge of fighting spirit rose within his heart as well.

Uchiha Yatsuhashi wanted to test whether his own Mangekyo Sharingan was stronger or weaker than this Wood Release.

Moreover, if Kakashi stayed here, it would be troublesome if the secret of his Mangekyo were exposed.

Kakashi took a deep look at Uchiha Yatsuhashi before chasing after the Root jonin.

After all, as a ninja, completing the mission was the priority.

He muttered in his heart, Hold on, Yatsuhashi, wait for me to return!

At this moment, only Uchiha Yatsuhashi and the arrogant, unbridled youth Tenzō remained in the laboratory.

"Yukimi," Uchiha Yatsuhashi said softly, "step back."

Yukimi looked at Uchiha Yatsuhashi with concern before obediently hiding behind him.

"Brother Yatsuhashi, be careful!"

Then she shouted at Tenzō, "Tenzō, don't forget how Brother Yatsuhashi treated us in the past!"

"Hahahaha, don't worry, sister, I know what I'm doing!"

Tenzō laughed wildly, and the surrounding ground seemed to respond to his call.

Countless trees began to burst forth frantically.

"Come, Uchiha Yatsuhashi!"

"Let me see if you have the qualifications to make me fight seriously!"

In an instant, the entire laboratory was swallowed by the crazily growing giant trees.

Countless thick branches, like giant pythons, lunged toward Uchiha Yatsuhashi to crush him!