Uchiha Makoto lay on the tatami, seemingly fast asleep.
He knew tonight would not be peaceful.
Sure enough, rustling came from next door.
His Sharingan activated silently, his red pupils glowing faintly in the darkness.
Through the thin wooden wall, Uchiha Makoto "saw" Kazuya quietly putting on his shoes, fastening his Ninja Tool Pouch, then opening the door and slipping outside.
His movements were so practiced it almost hurt to watch.
Why would someone from Root head out instead of sleeping in the middle of the night? Uchiha Makoto wondered. Does he have some secret mission?
As he considered whether to follow and watch the fun, another door next door opened.
Kakashi.
The silver-haired boy slipped out just as silently, glanced in the direction Kazuya had gone, and followed.
His movements were even quieter than Kazuya's. His Anbu fundamentals were solid.
Well, well. Looks like Kakashi noticed something was wrong too. I just don't know whose side he's on, Uchiha Makoto thought with amusement. Now this is an exciting script.
He closed his eyes and concentrated chakra into his hearing.
Little by little, the sounds from the woods west of the village reached his ears.
In the woods.
The canopy shattered the moonlight into fragments, scattering mottled patches across the ground. Kazuya stood in a clearing, planted there like a wooden post.
Kakashi hid behind a tree twenty meters away, keeping his breathing to a minimum. Even his heartbeat had slowed by three beats.
This was an Anbu tracking technique.
Ten minutes later, footsteps approached. Not one person, but a group.
Kakashi's pupils contracted.
The "villagers" from earlier that day emerged from the depths of the woods, one after another. Leading them was the middle-aged man who had called himself the village chief.
But now, not a trace of that simple, honest demeanor remained on his face.
His gaze was sharp, his steps steady. Though he deliberately suppressed his chakra fluctuations, they could not escape Kakashi's eyes.
Ninja.
At least Chunin.
"Kazuya," the man said, his voice low. "Where is it?"
Expressionless, Kazuya took out a scroll and handed it over.
The man accepted it, glanced at it, and nodded in satisfaction. "Lord Danzo will remember your contribution."
"The mission," Kazuya said tersely.
"Don't worry." The man put away the scroll. "That kid's asleep. We'll make our move shortly. Just cooperate."
"Take him alive?"
"Yes, alive. Lord Danzo wants him alive."
Behind the tree, Kakashi's heart lurched.
That kid? Uchiha Makoto?
Danzo wants to capture Uchiha Makoto alive?
These "villagers"... are Root operatives in disguise!
The Kumogakure invasion, the mission-it's all a trap!
Kakashi's mind raced.
There probably was not enough time to go back and wake Uchiha Makoto.
He could rush out and stop them, but they had too many people. As a Chunin, he stood no chance of winning.
In that instant of hesitation-
"Who's there?!"
The man abruptly turned, his gaze flashing like lightning toward Kakashi's hiding place!
They've spotted me!
Kakashi's heart sank, and he stepped out from behind the tree.
Moonlight illuminated his face: silver hair, a mask, and dead-fish eyes.
Kazuya's gaze flickered when he saw him, but his expression quickly returned to its lifeless stillness.
"Kakashi Hatake!" The man narrowed his eyes. "We know you. Konoha's genius. Planning to get in our way?"
"What are you doing?" Kakashi asked coldly. "Disguising yourselves as villagers and gathering here at night."
The man laughed at Kakashi, his laughter dripping with mockery.
Kakashi might have been a genius, but to these fake villagers, he was still a child, and a rather naive one.
Wasn't it obvious?
Kakashi reached for the short sword on his back.
Seeing his movement, the man's eyes turned cold. "Still trying to resist? I could have given you a quick death. Now, don't blame me."
He waved a hand.
Ten "villagers" moved at once, spreading out in an instant to surround Kakashi.
Their coordinated movements and seamless teamwork were clearly the result of long training.
Kakashi tightened his grip on his sword's hilt.
"Kazuya." The man looked at him. "Go capture that kid. Leave this to us."
Kazuya nodded and turned to leave.
"Stop!"
Kakashi's figure flashed. Drawing his short sword, he swept past the villagers and thrust straight at Kazuya's back!
Fast!
But Kazuya seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. He sidestepped the attack and countered with a kunai thrust toward Kakashi's throat!
Clang!
Metal collided, sending sparks flying.
They exchanged more than a dozen blows in an instant, moving faster and faster. The clash of metal sounded especially piercing in the silent woods.
The longer Kakashi fought, the more alarmed he became.
This Kazuya... is ridiculously strong!
His taijutsu was refined, his reactions lightning-fast, and his combat experience far too extensive for an eleven-year-old child.
Is this what Root's training produces?
"Worthy of being the son of Konoha's White Fang, Kakashi Hatake." Watching from the side, the man clicked his tongue in admiration. "Unfortunately, you won't be leaving today."
He waved again, and ten ninja formed hand seals simultaneously.
"Ninja art: Binding Body Formation!"
Ten chakra chains erupted from the ground, coiling toward Kakashi like snakes!
Kakashi's pupils contracted.
Sealing jutsu!
And a high-level sealing jutsu performed by several people working together!
He tried to dodge, but Kazuya's attacks suddenly intensified, keeping him pinned down.
One second.
That single second of delay was enough for the chains to wrap around his ankles.
Cold and heavy, as though he had plunged into an icy cavern.
His chakra flow slowed instantly. His body felt filled with lead, his movements reduced to less than half their speed.
This is bad!
"It's over." The man approached, looking down at him. "Why couldn't you just accept death quietly? You had to choose the most painful way."
Kakashi gritted his teeth and struggled, but the sealing jutsu was too powerful. Even lifting a finger was difficult.
"Go, Kazuya," the man said. "That kid should still be asleep. Be careful. Don't kill him."
Kazuya nodded and headed toward the village.
Kakashi could only watch him leave, his eyes reddening.
Frustration, anger, despair.
If Uchiha Makoto gets captured...
"Wait."
A voice rang out.
It was calm.
Far too calm for a situation like this.
Everyone turned.
At the edge of the woods, a figure slowly emerged.
Moonlight fell over him: a dark blue, high-collared short-sleeved shirt, black shorts, and a Konoha Forehead Protector gleaming faintly on his forehead.
Uchiha Makoto.
His hands were in his pockets, his expression indifferent. Even facing so many enemies, he showed no fear.
"Throwing a party out here instead of sleeping in the middle of the night?" He tilted his head. "Mind if I join?"
The man's expression changed. "You... when did you..."
"Ever since Kazuya left his room." Uchiha Makoto smiled. "I'm a light sleeper. The slightest noise wakes me up."
He looked at Kakashi, trapped in the chains, and raised an eyebrow. "Hey, Kakashi. That look of yours... pretty unique."
Kakashi: "..."
Is this really the time for jokes?!
"Uchiha Makoto." The man's face darkened. "Since you've delivered yourself to us, that saves us the trouble. Come quietly if you don't want to suffer."
"Come with you?" Uchiha Makoto blinked. "You think you're enough?"
The man's gaze turned utterly cold.
"Get him!"
Ten ninja lunged at once!
But Uchiha Makoto was faster.
Shave: Flash Step!
His figure flickered, vanishing from where he stood.
When he reappeared, he was already beside Kakashi.
"This sealing jutsu looks pretty sturdy." He crouched and poked one of the chains with a finger.
"Get out of here!" Kakashi growled. "Forget about me!"
"Can't do that." Uchiha Makoto shook his head. "If I leave a teammate to die when he's in trouble, how am I supposed to show my face once word gets out?"
Breaking the sealing jutsu was simple. All he had to do was kill the people who had cast it.
Then the sealing jutsu would unravel on its own.
Before you continue