Kakashi followed the ANBU captain who led their team into the Root headquarters.
As soon as they entered, two Root shinobi blocked their path.
"Halt! State your purpose!" one demanded coldly.
The ANBU captain stepped forward and announced, "Lord Hokage has summoned Lord Danzo. I've been instructed to inform him that Lord Hokage requires his immediate presence."
The captain produced an official letter bearing the Hokage's seal.
After receiving the letter, the Root shinobi replied with typical Root indifference, "Danzo-sama is not present. When he returns, I will relay this summons."
"Where is he now?" the ANBU captain demanded.
The Root shinobi remained stoic. "We don't know. It's not our place to track Danzo-sama's movements."
The ANBU captain's voice hardened. "This is a direct order from Lord Hokage. We don't care about your protocols. Lord Danzo must report to Lord Hokage immediately."
"This is Root territory," the shinobi replied coldly. "ANBU has no authority to make demands here."
The ANBU captain glanced at Kakashi. "Kakashi, use genjutsu to subdue them."
Without hesitation, Kakashi activated his Sharingan and cast a genjutsu on one of the Root shinobi, who promptly collapsed.
The second Root operative lunged at Kakashi, but the Copy Ninja was faster. In one fluid motion, Kakashi drew his tantō and pierced the attacker's shoulder, driving him to the ground. The blade pinned the Root shinobi down as Kakashi cast another genjutsu.
"Kakashi!"
The ANBU captain and the other five ANBU operatives stared at Kakashi in shock.
None had expected him to draw blood so quickly. This would likely escalate the situation.
Kakashi calmly withdrew his tantō, tucked it under his elbow to wipe the blood clean, then sheathed it.
"He attacked first," Kakashi stated matter-of-factly. "I was merely defending myself. I showed restraint—otherwise, their throats would have been slit. They're under my control now. Ask them whatever you need."
The ANBU captain gave Kakashi a solemn look, then crouched beside one of the genjutsu-controlled Root shinobi.
"Where is agent 'A'?" he questioned.
Just as the Root shinobi began to answer, alarms blared throughout the entire facility.
Suddenly, Danzo appeared before them, flanked by a dozen Root operatives.
"Lord Danzo," the ANBU captain's voice deepened, "are you defying Lord Hokage's orders?"
Danzo scoffed. "This is Root. Hiruzen's commands hold no weight here. Within these walls, my word is absolute! If you think you can trespass into Root territory and harm my shinobi without consequences, you're sorely mistaken."
Danzo's gaze fixed on Kakashi, particularly on his Sharingan.
The Sharingan Danzo currently possessed had been collected for him by Sora years ago. Except for the one used in experiments, the Sharingan in Danzo's right eye was nearly blind now.
It wasn't a Mangekyō Sharingan—just a regular three-tomoe Sharingan.
Unlike Kakashi, who merely suffered chakra depletion when using his Sharingan, Danzo's transplanted eye had shown rejection. During use, the Sharingan gradually lost activity, leading to blindness.
Seeing Kakashi's functioning Sharingan, Danzo mentally planned to capture it as a replacement for his failing right eye.
"Seize them all," Danzo ordered the Root shinobi behind him.
"Yes, sir!"
Before the Root operatives could move, Kakashi had already appeared amidst the crowd behind Danzo, lightning chakra surging through his body.
Kakashi's hand gripped his tantō's hilt, his voice cold as ice. "You want to capture me? You're welcome to try—if you have the ability."
"Thunder Breath Style Two: Chidori Release—Lightning Flash!"
Kakashi channeled his Chidori into the tantō, causing the blade to glow with blue lightning. The moment he activated his breathing technique, he executed five lightning-quick slashes.
Because the tantō was infused with Chidori's power, both the electrical damage and attack range increased dramatically.
In an instant, four Root shinobi fell to Kakashi's blade.
Sora had once told Kakashi that his Chidori was still immature with significant room for improvement, encouraging him to develop derivative techniques based on the original.
Since then, Kakashi had worked tirelessly to evolve his signature jutsu.
However, progress had been disappointing. Though he'd created several Chidori variants, none matched the effectiveness of the Thunder Breath techniques.
Rather than continue developing inferior techniques, Kakashi had a realization: why not combine Chidori with Thunder Breath? Using Thunder Breath as the foundation and Chidori as enhancement, he could amplify the breathing technique's power.
Thus, Kakashi's unique Thunder Breath Chidori sword style was born.
Danzo and his Root shinobi were shocked by Kakashi's audacity—the young jōnin had fearlessly attacked and killed their comrades.
The remaining Root operatives immediately rushed toward Kakashi.
Seeing the swarm of Root shinobi charging at him, Kakashi smiled mockingly beneath his mask.
"Thunder Breath Style Six: Chidori Release—Electric Storm!"
Centered on Kakashi, countless lightning-shaped slashes erupted in all directions, accompanied by sounds reminiscent of a thousand birds chirping.
"AAAGH!"
The Root shinobi could not defend against the omnidirectional lightning assault.
It was obvious these shinobi had never properly studied Thunder Breath techniques—or perhaps they'd only learned a watered-down version without the crucial breathing methods. Otherwise, they would never have chosen to rush Kakashi en masse.
For opponents using such tactics, an area-of-effect lightning attack was most effective.
Danzo's expression had hardened to stone.
To have his men slaughtered so easily within Root headquarters—wasn't this a direct challenge to his authority?
Danzo struck the ground heavily with his cane.
More Root shinobi appeared, including several elite operatives.
Just as Danzo prepared to order these fresh forces to attack Kakashi, he sensed movement above and looked up.
The corridors overhead were filled with ANBU operatives.
Simultaneously, a figure descended beside Danzo.
Danzo regarded the newcomer solemnly. "Hiruzen!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke calmly. "I know you've harbored resentment toward Kakashi, but I hope you won't sacrifice talented shinobi of the village because of it. Moreover, you were the first to disobey orders."
Danzo feigned confusion. "What are you talking about, Hiruzen? I bear no grudge against him. He attacked my Root shinobi first. I merely intended to detain him, not harm him. And I've disobeyed no orders."
Sarutobi Hiruzen gave Danzo a sidelong glance. "Your men attacked first? No. I sent you a summons, but you pretended to be absent, forcing us to take action. This operation was carried out under my direct orders!"
----------------
You can read advanced chapters here: patreon.com/GregariousLion