Still Human

"What is wrong with you? The most forbidden thing in Root is disobedience," the Cold Root Ninja, having shaken off the genjutsu, glared at the short Root ninja behind him, his voice thick with fury.

"No... I... it's just, I'm sorry, Captain." The short Root ninja shook his head and drew a kunai. From the day he became a member of Root, he should have understood that he could never possess emotions again. Even if the scene before him was unbearable... obeying orders was always the priority.

Uchiha Chiba took a deep breath, the wound in his lungs seemingly tearing open again. He gritted his teeth against the agonizing pain in his chest and wove hand seals.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

BOOM!!!!

The wall behind Uchiha Chiba shattered instantly. The moment he released the Great Fireball, the attached explosive tags detonated as well.

"Run!" Uchiha Chiba gritted his teeth, his scarlet Sharingan eyes locked onto the Cold Root Ninja.

Behind Chiba, Konan bit her lip and ran out, trembling. She looked back at the figure who was only a head taller than her.

They were both ninjas.

Yet this ninja named Chiba was able to protect her, a child who couldn't even be considered a ninja...

Konan's figure vanished into the rain.

"Water Style: Water Severing Wave!"

The Cold Root Ninja wove hand seals, completely unruffled. A ring of water vapor effortlessly swallowed the rolling heat of the Great Fireball, the clash of water and fire hissing loudly.

"Kid, if you want to blame someone, blame yourself for being born into the Uchiha clan." The Cold Root Ninja moved with incredible speed. In a single breath, his short blade, radiating a cold glint, was raised high.

HUM!!!!!

Uchiha Chiba's brain emitted a buzzing warning, and his body grew light—it was the limit of what his body could achieve before danger struck.

Heh... after finally transmigrating... to not even see the Hidden Leaf Village... how... incredibly unlucky. Uchiha Chiba exhaled and gently closed his eyes.

CLANG!!!!!

A long moment passed.

The sensation of a blade meeting his neck never came. Uchiha Chiba opened his eyes.

He saw the short Root ninja blocking the Cold Root Ninja's short blade.

"Chen, are you trying to betray Lord Danzo?" The Cold Root Ninja's blade sparked against the short Root ninja's weapon.

"I'm sorry, Captain. My conscience is uneasy. I used to think Root was the same as the Anbu. The moment I was branded with the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal, I felt lost. Until the Second Shinobi World War, and until now, every time... every time I drew my blade against a fellow villager, my hands would tremble..." Tears streamed from beneath the short Root ninja's mask as he seemed to have made up his mind. "Every night, I dream of those fellow villagers who died by my blade. They look at me with hateful eyes, asking why I would strike down my own people! This time, I want to be a human being and protect the people of this village!"

The short Root ninja exerted all his strength.

The moment he knocked the Cold Root Ninja back, he wove hand seals.

"Wind Style: Great Wind Palm!"

Uchiha Chiba gritted his teeth and stood up, suddenly feeling a suction force around him. The terrifying pressure pulled the raindrops toward them in scattered points!

"Water Style: Water Formation Wall!"

The Cold Root Ninja slammed his hands onto the ground.

A wall of water instantly erupted from the earth.

"Root does not allow for emotions. You can die along with that brat." The Cold Root Ninja instantly closed the distance to the just-risen Uchiha Chiba. In his eyes, the mission took priority over dealing with a traitor.

His hand clamped tightly around Uchiha Chiba's throat.

Chiba could feel the terrifying power radiating from that large hand.

"Damn it!" Uchiha Chiba gritted his teeth and swung his kunai, but his body was too weak; even basic resistance was a struggle.

"Don't let your guard down, kid! You can't die yet!" The short Root ninja planted his feet and delivered a heavy, powerful kick directly into the Cold Root Ninja's face!

BANG!!!!!

The Cold Root Ninja was sent flying backward instantly.

The short Root ninja helped Uchiha Chiba up, just about to ask if he still had the strength to run.

Suddenly—

"Water Style: Water Prison Technique!"

SPLASH!

On the ground, a sphere of azure water trapped Uchiha Chiba's body inside. Bubbles burst in his throat with a buzzing sound. This was bad...

"Earth Style: Earth Spear!"

The short Root ninja made a quick judgment, weaving hand seals with his free hand, attempting to use an earth spear to shatter the sturdy defensive barrier of the water prison.

"Chen, your chakra isn't exactly abundant anymore, is it?" The Cold Root Ninja flew out from the curtain of rain, his short blade pressing hard against the kunai of the ninja called Chen.

"Captain, you're about tapped out too, aren't you? You trapped the kid in the water prison only because you were afraid he'd escape. When it comes to taijutsu, I won't lose to you." Chen gritted his teeth, blood trickling down his arm from the pressure.

"The kid only has two minutes left. I've sensed it; his chakra is bottoming out too. He can hold on in the sealed water prison for two minutes at most. Once that time passes, he's dead for sure. Chen, can you kill me?" The Cold Root Ninja laughed, a hint of relief and helplessness flashing in his tone. He pushed off the ground, and for a moment, he actually forced Chen downward!

What immense strength!

Chen gritted his teeth. His arm, already injured from the immense pressure, was trembling uncontrollably. As expected, his supposed proficiency in taijutsu was nothing more than a bluff; for a Root ninja tasked with assassination, learning simple, lethal techniques was all that mattered.

"New Moon Style: Eye Gouge."

The Cold Root Ninja twisted his right hand, and Chen, caught by the momentum, was jerked violently upward.

Squelch!

The Cold Root Ninja's short blade traced an arc through the air before landing with surgical precision in Chen's eye socket. In just a few exchanges, Chen's right eye had been gouged out.

"Aaaah!!!!" Chen didn't dare cover his right eye. Battles between jonin were exceptionally dangerous, even without the use of ninjutsu. An experienced Root operative knew exactly when to strike to maximize the value of the kill!

Damn it!

Inside the water prison, Uchiha Chiba's mind raced: Right now, that short Root ninja who helped me is losing ground. If he dies, I'm truly finished. I have to find a way to help him!

The combatants, locked in their fierce struggle, failed to notice a thing.

Beside the abandoned house, a pair of eyes watched them intently.

Clang!!!!

Sparks flew as metal scraped against metal.

"Only one minute left, Chen. Your right hand is nearly useless, and I've already gouged out your right eye. Your defeat is sealed." The Cold Root Ninja didn't bother with fancy swordsmanship; he simply combined basic taijutsu to steadily wear Chen down.

Chen's body was already covered in bloody gashes.

Damn it, am I unable to even protect someone else? Wait, that is! Chen's gaze swept over the water prison, and suddenly, he desperately parried the Cold Root Ninja's short blade and sprinted toward the prison nearby.

"A futile struggle? Goodbye, Chen!" The Cold Root Ninja poured all his strength into the tip of his blade!

The next second.

Squelch!

Hum!!!!

A scarlet Sharingan flared to life behind Chen's pierced body. The Cold Root Ninja's momentary lapse in focus was seized upon by Chen, who, in a final burst of strength, slashed his throat open, sending blood spraying out.