Showdown with Root

Sasuke and Chiye Jun left Sasuke's house and headed to the academy together.

Noon.

Chiye Jun returned home, took out some ingredients, and decided to try the god-tier cooking skill rewarded by the system.

Before long, a bowl of golden egg fried rice was ready.

It also had ham, diced carrots, and chopped scallions, with a small plate of pickles set beside it.

Though simple, its aroma filled the air, enough to whet anyone's appetite with a single whiff.

Chiye Jun picked up a spoon and wolfed it down.

"Holy crap! I made this?"

After one bite, he finally understood what it meant for flavor to bloom on the tongue!

It was only an ordinary bowl of egg fried rice, yet it was this delicious!

"Burp..."

Chiye Jun patted his stomach in satisfaction.

"Just as expected of god-tier cooking. With this skill, I'll never have to worry about meals again. I can even start some culinary diplomacy, hehe."

At first, he had thought the reward was a bit of a rip-off, but that feeling had now completely vanished.

After resting for a while at noon, he returned to the academy to shoot the breeze.

After school, Chiye Jun and Naruto left the academy.

Suddenly, several men in black appeared and blocked their path.

"Lord Danzo wishes to see you," one of the men in black ordered coldly.

"Who's Danzo?" Naruto asked curiously.

"Konoha's Shadow Hokage..."

Chiye Jun then began guessing at their purpose.

Were they trying to recruit him or assassinate him?

Seeing that he did not react, a Root member urged again, "Lord Danzo wishes to see you."

"Tell him to wait. I'm busy today!" Chiye Jun shot him a glance and replied without the slightest politeness.

"Wow! That was so badass." Naruto's eyes lit up.

"Come on, let's go home and play games." Chiye Jun grabbed Naruto and started to leave.

In truth, Chiye Jun was testing his own guess.

Sure enough, just as he had expected, the Root member stepped forward to seize him.

They're here with ill intent!

If Danzo wanted to recruit me, he wouldn't treat me so roughly.

Chiye Jun had figured out their purpose:

Assassination!

His existence had become an obstacle on Danzo's path to becoming Hokage.

Smack!

With a sidestep, Chiye Jun dodged the man's grab.

In an instant!

The atmosphere became taut, ready to explode at any moment.

Naruto looked worried and even stepped forward to shove the man in black.

"Don't touch my friend!"

Just then, the system appeared.

[Ding! New plot check-in mission issued: Intimidate the enemy]

All right.

It seemed there was no avoiding this.

But Chiye Jun was not afraid.

Leaving aside his god-tier Fireball Jutsu, even his unlimited Chakra output was more than anyone could withstand.

Not to mention his powerful Dead Bone Pulse and Monster Strength.

"Naruto, let's play another day."

Then, without caring about Naruto's reaction, he strode out of the academy gates alongside the men in black.

At that moment, he had only one thought:

Intimidate them thoroughly, complete the mission, and get an awesome reward!

The streets were crowded, making assassination inconvenient.

The black-clad ninjas formed a cross-shaped formation, surrounding Chiye Jun in the middle as they headed toward the outskirts of the village.

Hehe, they're afraid I'll escape. They've blocked off my route and plan to take me somewhere secluded to finish me off, Chiye Jun sneered inwardly.

By then, the sun was setting and the sky was gradually darkening.

They moved farther and farther away from the center of the village.

Only after reaching the edge of the forest did Chiye Jun stop and stretch his limbs.

"This grandpa doesn't feel like walking anymore!"

"Keep moving."

Seeing him stop, one Root member stepped forward and tried to press down his arm.

Chiye Jun decisively gathered Chakra and unleashed Monster Strength.

Boom!

With a thunderous blast, the man in black was sent flying. He rolled several times across the grass before coming to a stop.

His internal organs had ruptured, and he vomited blood before dying!

Chiye Jun swept his gaze over the remaining nine men, his voice cold enough to freeze bone.

"I know you're here to carry out an assassination mission. Then come at me together!"

All nine of them froze.

No one had expected the boy to react this way.

Danzo had assembled a ten-man assassination squad to deal with a single boy, which had already seemed incomprehensible to them.

Wasn't he just a child in his teens?

No matter how capable he was, how strong could he possibly be?

Yet Danzo had mobilized such a large force.

But what they had just witnessed left them dumbfounded.

That looked like the Senju Clan's Monster Strength...

After the assassination squad leader came to his senses, he immediately gave the order:

"Move!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

They drew the katana at their waists and charged at Chiye Jun.

They were well-trained, clean and efficient. Cold flashes of steel arrived first, their blades aimed directly at his throat and other vital points.

Anyone else would likely have fallen already.

But a layer of White Bone Armor suddenly appeared over Chiye Jun's entire body!

"Haha, it finally appeared automatically!" Chiye Jun was overjoyed.

On top of that, a blue Chakra cloak emerged around him.

Clang!

The katana struck the white bone, producing a piercing metallic screech.

In an instant!

A crack appeared along the blade, rapidly spreading across the entire sword.

With a crisp snap!

The katana shattered into pieces.

Bang!

Chiye Jun used the Body Flicker Technique, appearing behind one ninja in a flash and grabbing him by the throat.

Then Chakra gathered beneath his feet, and he launched a flying kick that crushed the man's balls!

The man clutched his groin and collapsed in agony, dying soon after.

Even in the face of Chiye Jun's overwhelming strength, they showed neither fear nor retreat.

"Root really is emotionless."

Chiye Jun could not help but sigh.

At that moment, the White Bone Armor disappeared.

Seizing the opportunity, the assassination squad swiftly adjusted their formation and pulled out kunai, preparing to throw them.

Just then!

A kunai shot out from the distant forest!

In an extremely strange manner, it neutralized the assassination squad's attack.

Clatter!

Several kunai fell to the ground.

The Root members immediately turned toward the forest in alert.

Chiye Jun also looked in the direction from which the kunai had come.

In an instant!

A black shadow darted from the woods and landed steadily before them.

The man had white hair and wore a mask. His forehead protector covered his left eye, revealing the other side's distinctive dead-fish eye.

Holy crap!

Kakashi Hatake, the Copy Ninja!

Why was he here...?

Seeing Chiye Jun's astonished gaze, Kakashi said softly, "Don't worry. I'll protect you."

Chiye Jun was completely baffled.

Why had Kakashi appeared?

A huge question mark seemed to appear on Chiye Jun's face.

"The Third's orders."

Kakashi straightened his slanted forehead protector and spoke directly.

So the old man has been protecting me in secret all along, Chiye Jun thought with a smile.

But he also understood that protection was only one part of it.

More importantly, Kakashi had been sent to secretly monitor and assess him...

Seeing Kakashi's arrival, the remaining eight ninjas were clearly taken aback.

They immediately scattered.

Four of them charged straight at Kakashi with their blades raised.

The other four focused their attacks on Chiye Jun.

Dance of the Larch!

Dance of the Camellia!

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Bone swords collided with katana, sending out sparks.

Relying on the taijutsu of the Dead Bone Pulse, Chiye Jun effortlessly maneuvered around the enemy.

The Root ninjas were in turmoil inside, but their faces remained expressionless.

Pfft!

One man had his throat pierced by a bone spike from the Dance of the Larch and died on the spot.

The fiercer their attacks became, the more violently they were repelled by the bone spikes.

Only three enemies remained on Chiye Jun's side.

The bone sword whistled through the air, becoming a trail of afterimages as its attacks grew faster and faster.

Squelch!

The bone sword pierced straight through one man's right eye, bursting out from the back of his skull and spraying white brain matter.

He did not even have time to groan before falling stiffly to the ground.

Chiye Jun suddenly remembered the mission the system had issued: intimidate the enemy!

Wasn't that intimidating enough already?

Why hadn't the reward appeared yet...?