This elite Root squad was personally led by Kinoe, Danzo's most trusted subordinate.
They had just come up empty at the port in the Land of Waves.
They had found nothing but a pile of worthless scraps in the Iron Fist Chamber of Commerce's warehouse.
The crafty Kinoe immediately realized they had been tricked and decisively followed the cargo ship's course all the way to this deserted island.
"So this is the overseas base the target established?"
Kinoe stood at the bow, coldly watching through his mask as the black beach gradually came into view.
"Hmph, what an arrogant brat, building his hideout somewhere this remote."
"All units, scatter and conceal yourselves as soon as we land."
"Locate the lumber warehouse and the target. Prioritize setting the fire, then capture Senju Kenya alive!"
"Yes!"
More than twenty Root ninja answered in unison.
They nimbly vaulted off the boat and stepped silently onto the deserted island's beach like black phantoms.
However.
They had barely taken ten steps forward.
"Since you're here, don't be in such a hurry to leave."
An icy voice, thick with the scent of blood, suddenly rang out across the silent beach.
The Root ninja were startled and immediately drew the short swords on their backs, scanning their surroundings warily.
From behind a massive reef rock ahead.
A tall man with bandages wrapped around the lower half of his face slowly emerged.
His upper body was bare, his muscles knotted, and a black iron greatsword broader than a door rested on his shoulder.
It was Zabuza, who had finished a day's brick-hauling and been sent by Kenya to "welcome the guests."
"Kirigakure's missing-nin, Zabuza Momochi?!"
Kinoe immediately recognized the Demon renowned on the black market, his gaze sharpening slightly beneath his mask.
"Didn't the intelligence say you were still roaming the Land of Water?"
"Why are you playing watchdog for a missing-nin from Konoha?"
Zabuza snorted and looked at Kinoe as though he were an idiot.
"Watchdog? I'm the chief brick-hauling supervisor here!"
"You skulking rats dare cause trouble on the boss's turf? None of you are walking away today!"
No sooner had Zabuza finished speaking than he swung his heavy black iron greatsword and charged into the Root squad like a tiger among sheep.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The black iron greatsword carried terrifying weight and wind pressure, every swing erupting in a deafening clash of metal.
The Root ninja's short swords were as fragile as toys before the greatsword.
In just one exchange, five or six Root elites were smashed flying, swords and all.
"Scatter! Don't take him head-on! Use ninjutsu to keep him occupied!"
Kinoe calmly issued his orders.
He had keenly noticed that the weapon in Zabuza's hands was astonishingly hard. They absolutely could not withstand it in close combat.
The remaining Root ninja immediately pulled back, their hands rapidly forming hand seals.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
The wind fed the flames, and a massive sea of fire instantly engulfed Zabuza.
"Now!"
A ruthless glint flashed in Kinoe's eyes. He took a deep breath and forcefully spat out a cloud of thick, purplish-black mist.
"Poison Mist Technique!"
It was a highly poisonous nerve gas.
A single breath would instantly paralyze the entire body, leaving the victim unable to fight.
Blown by the sea breeze, the purple poison mist rapidly spread, enveloping more than half the beach.
"Well done!"
At the sight, the Root ninja all broke into cruel sneers.
As far as they were concerned, no matter how strong Zabuza was, once he inhaled the poison mist, he would be completely at their mercy.
However.
Just as the poison mist was about to swallow the entire beach.
A languid voice suddenly came from midair.
"Coming to someone else's doorstep in the middle of the night to release poison gas."
"You Konoha ninja really have less and less martial honor."
Kinoe jerked his head up.
At some point, Senju Kenya had appeared in midair.
With both hands tucked into the pockets of his beach shorts, he stepped on the air with Geppo, looking down at them from above.
"Senju Kenya! He really is here!"
Kinoe felt both shock and wild delight.
He was shocked that his opponent could hover in the air.
And delighted because, as long as he captured him, Lord Danzo would surely reward him handsomely!
"Forget Zabuza! Focus everything on capturing Senju Kenya alive!"
Kinoe roared, preparing to personally lead his men forward.
But Kenya did not give them the chance.
"Want to catch me? Have a taste of your own poison gas first."
Kenya sneered.
He formed no hand seals, merely pulling his right hand out of his pocket.
Armament Haki instantly wrapped around his palm, turning it pitch-black.
Then he thrust his palm fiercely at the purple poison mist below!
"Fist Wind Great Breakthrough!"
There were no chakra fluctuations whatsoever, only the terrifying fist wind unleashed by raw physical strength.
BOOM!!!
A blast of air a hundred times more violent than a force-twelve typhoon erupted from Kenya's palm!
The air was compressed to the extreme, forming a transparent shock wave visible to the naked eye.
The purple poison mist that had been spreading toward the island's interior.
Instantly rolled back before this overwhelming fist wind!
It moved more than ten times faster than before!
"No! Hold your breath!"
Kinoe shouted in utter horror.
But it was already too late.
The violent fist wind swept up the highly concentrated poison mist and instantly swallowed every Root ninja like a tsunami.
"Cough, cough... ah!"
Amid piercing screams and bouts of coughing.
The Root elites who had been so overbearing moments earlier dropped onto the beach one after another like dumplings tumbling into a pot.
The potent poison instantly paralyzed their nerves, leaving them unable to move even a finger.
They could only roll their eyes helplessly and foam at the mouth.
Kenya landed lightly on the beach and waved his hand in disgust, dispersing the lingering poison mist.
Zabuza approached from the distance, dragging his black iron greatsword.
Although the Fire Style had scorched his clothes in a few places, he had suffered no real injuries.
"Boss, what do we do with these guys?"
Zabuza looked at the Root ninja twitching all over the ground, killing intent plain in his eyes.
"Slaughter them all?"
"What a waste that would be. These are walking ATMs."
Kenya walked up to Kinoe and nudged his masked face with the tip of his foot.
"Haku, come out! Time to work!"
Kenya called toward the woods.
Haku hurried out carrying a small basket.
"Uncle, what do you need me to do?"
Kenya pointed at the twenty-odd Root elites on the ground, an utterly nasty grin appearing on his face.
"Since these guys came all this way to bring us some warmth."
"We can't neglect our guests."
"Zabuza, Haku, strip off every ninja tool, scroll, Explosive Tag, and anything valuable they're carrying!"
"Don't even leave their clothes! Leave them nothing but their undies!"
Zabuza and Haku froze for a moment, then understood Kenya's intention.
This move truly maxed out both damage and humiliation!
Half an hour later.
A small mountain of ninja tools, scrolls, and high-grade ninja uniforms had appeared on the beach.
As for those twenty-odd Root elites.
They were now lined up in a perfectly neat row.
Each wore nothing but a pair of white undies, shivering in the sea breeze.
Although the poison left them unable to move, their flushed faces and blazing eyes were enough to reveal the humiliation and fury they felt.
This was ten thousand times worse than being killed!
Kenya admired his handiwork with satisfaction and rubbed his chin.
He walked up to Kinoe, who had been stripped down to nothing but pink undies.
"Tsk, tsk. A distinguished Root elite with such unique taste."
Kenya chuckled and patted Kinoe's icy cheek.
"Send Danzo a ransom letter."
"One million ryo a head. One coin short, and I'll plaster photos of you in your undies through every street and alley in Konoha."