Bloodbath at Root, Snatching Nonō

The endless mountain range along the Land of Earth's border disappeared into the deep night as the twilight slowly faded.

In a hidden valley more than ten kilometers from the canyon, killing intent filled the air. Towering cliffs on all sides cut off every route of escape. This was the death ground Root had carefully chosen.

Ye sped through the dense forest toward the valley. The overwhelming power of his Sage Body gathered in his legs, and every kick shattered the earth beneath his feet. Kabuto hung in midair, pulled along by chakra threads, staring into the howling wind ahead with intense killing intent in his eyes.

The system notification sounded in his mind right on time, just as he was about to reach the battlefield.

"Ding. Detected that the host is about to intervene in Root's purge. Options triggered."

"Option One: Use the Concealment Technique to infiltrate the battlefield, secretly rescue Nonō, and quickly escape. Reward: Advanced Substitution Technique."

"Option Two: Stand by and let events unfold. After Nonō dies, gain Kabuto Yakushi's ultimate hatred. Reward: C-rank Fire Release."

"Option Three: Directly crush all traps, wipe out every Root member present, openly declare war on Orochimaru and Konoha, and display absolute dominance. Reward: Super S-rank Improved Four Violet Flames Formation and the Uzumaki Clan's forbidden technique, Adamantine Sealing Chains."

"I choose three!"

In an instant, a strange energy bestowed by the system filled his entire body. Countless complex formation patterns for advanced barrier techniques appeared in his mind, along with complete mastery of the ancient sealing arts of the Uzumaki Clan.

The scene in the valley had already entered his sight.

The former orphanage director lay bloodied in the mud, her body covered in wounds cut by kunai. She struggled to breathe, her vision already blurred. Directly in front of her, two Root elites wearing animal masks drew their ninja blades and approached step by step, preparing to carry out the final execution.

Farther away, within the shadows of the cliff, a small white snake coiled with its tongue flicking. Orochimaru was using it to observe the slaughter below, planning to appear at the very end and take Kabuto Yakushi, a target of immense value.

But Orochimaru's plan for tonight was destined to fail completely.

"Do it."

Ye whispered, then abruptly leaped from the cliff. Clad in black, he fell straight from the sky and slammed heavily into the open ground at the center of the valley.

Boom!

The ground shook violently as dirt and shattered stones surged outward in all directions. The two Root ninja who had been about to swing their blades were blown several meters away by the powerful blast of air. They turned back in terror.

Before they could steady themselves, Ye did not even form a single hand seal. He directly poured a massive amount of his newly acquired chakra into the ground.

"Four Violet Flames Formation, rise!"

Four enormous pillars of violet flame shot skyward from the valley's four dead corners. The high-temperature barrier, glowing with an eerie purple light, closed in an instant and sealed the entire valley without a single gap. Powerful chakra fluctuations coursed over its surface, cutting off every possibility of entry or escape.

"Who are you?! Who's there?!"

The two Root members were utterly horrified. They immediately raised their hands to form seals, preparing to unleash large-scale ninjutsu.

Two streams of crimson blood ran down from the corners of Ye's eyes. He gave them no chance. Raising his head, his originally black eyes instantly turned scarlet, and the intricate patterns of the Mangekyō Sharingan spun rapidly within his pupils.

The right eye technique, Yomotsu Hirasaka, activated.

The hands of the two Root ninja were forcibly slowed dozens of times over. The surrounding space became incomparably sluggish in that instant. Terror filled their eyes as they watched the black-clad youth walk toward them with steady steps.

To kill them outright, Ye made no sound.

Six golden chains condensed from high-density chakra shot from his body at extreme speed. Brilliant light burst from Ye's back, and amid a piercing scrape, the Uzumaki Clan's Adamantine Sealing Chains activated.

A dull sound of sharp weapons piercing flesh rang out.

The two Root ninja had their hearts directly pierced. The muffled sound of flesh being penetrated echoed through the valley as golden chains suspended them in the air. Blood dripped from the metallic surfaces onto the ground, and the screams beneath their masks lasted only half a second before vanishing completely.

The two instantly lost all signs of life.

The white snake on the hidden cliff noticed the scene. Sensing that powerful chakra it had encountered before, Orochimaru's true body at the distant base immediately felt danger. This was the Uchiha clansman who had destroyed Susanoo's outer shell barehanded in the Land of Rain. Orochimaru did not hesitate. He immediately severed his connection to the white snake, used the Shedding Technique, abandoned all his plans, and fled in the opposite direction. He absolutely did not want to encounter such a terrifying opponent again.

Two mangled Root corpses lay on the ground, while the purple barrier in the valley continued to emit a dim glow.

Kabuto, his emotions completely out of control, rushed out from behind Ye. He threw himself beside Nonō, gathered high-intensity medical chakra in both hands, and pressed hard against the deep wound on her neck.

"Director... Mother! Don't die! Look at me! Just look at me! I'm Kabuto! Look at me!"

Kabuto's voice was shrill and miserable as he released all the chakra in his body without reserve.

The fatal wound had been successfully avoided due to the momentary spatial slowdown Ye had created. Under Kabuto's powerful medical ninjutsu, Nonō suddenly coughed up a mouthful of clotted blood and slowly opened her eyes.

Her once-blurred memories finally aligned with reality. She gazed at the silver-haired youth before her, his glasses removed, his face streaked with tears and blood.

"Kabuto... it's you, isn't it? You've grown up. It really is you."

Nonō tremblingly reached out and touched Kabuto's cheek.

Within the violet barrier, the blood covering the ground formed a stark contrast with the two people embracing and weeping. Extreme brutality and faint vitality existed side by side.

Ye watched the scene before him as the Mangekyō Sharingan slowly faded and his black eyes reappeared. He stopped a few steps away, looking down at the disheveled pair on the ground.

Nonō immediately tightened her arms around Kabuto and warily stared at the black-clad youth who had just caused such immense destruction.

Ye paused slightly, then took out a clean white handkerchief and tossed it before them. His eyes carried an aura of absolute suppression.

"Let's get acquainted again. I'm your future boss, and also..."

Ye turned his gaze toward Konoha.

"The one who will erase Konoha from existence."