"You're spouting nonsense again—we're in an emergency, it's about Kinoe!"
"Kinoe?"
"Got it. Okay, I'll go with you."
He handed the house key to Pakura.
"I won't go with you. I've got something else to take care of."
"Mm, go ahead."
Pakura took the key and turned to leave without asking further. Ninja had missions to carry out—there was nothing to question.
The two leapt out the window, darting across the rooftops.
"Hey, aren't you going to take care of those wounds?"
Kakashi was a mess. It had to be painful walking around like that.
"No time for that now."
Kakashi shook his head and quickly gave Kiyosuke a rundown of what had happened.
He'd been ordered by Hiruzen Sarutobi to investigate one of Orochimaru's old labs. There, he ran into Kinoe—who he didn't suspect, since they'd completed missions together before. They teamed up to explore the lab, but Kakashi was ambushed. That's when he realized Kinoe's real target was likely his Sharingan.
In their scuffle, they accidentally broke open one of Orochimaru's old experiments—a massive snake made up of countless white serpents.
The two ended up working together to defeat the white phosphorus serpent. Kakashi was poisoned, but Kinoe injected him with an antidote and he passed out. When he woke up and found his Sharingan intact, he understood that Kinoe hadn't acted against him in the end.
Normally, failing a mission would mean punishment—especially in Root. Kakashi couldn't let him suffer alone, so he reported to Hiruzen immediately, then came straight here to find Kiyosuke.
After all, only the two of them had the standing to suppress Danzō.
"I knew it. We should've taken Tenzō back from the beginning."
Kiyosuke said, "Wood Release should be under the direct control of the Hokage's ANBU, not under some Hokage advisor. What a joke."
"Let's speed up. Knowing Danzō's nature, Tenzō might still be alive since he's too valuable to kill. But he definitely isn't having a good time."
"Mm."
The two picked up speed, heading toward the Root base.
Root's headquarters were hidden deep underground on the outskirts of Konoha, extremely well concealed. Ordinary people would never find it. Only high-level personnel like Kakashi and Kiyosuke would even know where it was.
Kiyosuke kicked open Root's heavy door like some local thug causing a ruckus.
Kakashi followed behind, nodding to himself—this was exactly the kind of job this guy was suited for.
"Who goes there?! Asakawa Kiyosuke?!"
A group of Root ninja surrounded them. Seeing Kiyosuke startled them—he was currently one of Konoha's most powerful forces. Many even believed he had already surpassed the strongest Hokage.
Why was he here?
"Yūgao? Why are you still here?"
Kakashi spotted a purple-haired ANBU being held back and called out.
The woman, named Yūgao, replied,
"Kakashi-senpai, they refuse to let me through—even with a direct order from the Hokage!"
"Danzō-sama isn't here. We don't know where he went."
A Root ninja responded flatly.
Everyone knew Danzō was here. The man never went out—he practically lived holed up in the Root base. Saying he wasn't here was like saying the First Hokage never gambled or the Second Hokage didn't develop forbidden jutsu. Ridiculous.
"Not here?"
Kiyosuke tilted his head and smiled, flashing a row of pristine white teeth that somehow looked chillingly cold.
"Even better. Kakashi, come on—let's go find him!"
"Dammit! Stop them!"
Someone, apparently not valuing their life, charged at them.
Kiyosuke grabbed the ninja's arm and twisted it with a loud crack—followed by a scream.
"Seriously, what were you thinking? Running out here just to get yourself killed?"
He kicked the Root ninja across the hall and barked,
"If anyone else here has a problem, come take me down—I'm always ready. But if you don't have the strength, don't embarrass yourselves."
"Damn… So that's the power gap between us?"
The others took a step back.
The ninja who was just knocked out wasn't top-tier in Root, but he wasn't weak either—maybe upper-mid level. And yet he'd been taken out in one hit. How wide was the gap between them and him?
"Yūgao, go inform the Hokage."
"Yes!"
Yūgao nodded and turned to leave. With Kiyosuke-senpai here, she didn't need to worry about Kakashi-senpai's safety at all.
"Stop her!"
"I'd like to see you try!"
Kiyosuke spread his arms wide, unleashing a wave of fire that cleared the way.
"Asakawa Kiyosuke! This is Root—Danzō-sama's domain! Don't be so arrogant!"
"I don't give a damn! Move!"
Kiyosuke snorted and turned to Yūgao.
"Go."
"Yes!"
Kiyosuke-senpai is so cool!
Still, she knew the mission came first, so she left immediately to inform Hiruzen Sarutobi at the Hokage Tower.
Grabbing a Root ninja by the collar, Kiyosuke said,
"Kakashi, find out where Kinoe is being held."
"Got it."
Kakashi removed his mask, locked eyes with the ninja, and used his Sharingan to cast a genjutsu—forcing the location out of him.
"Let's go."
"Mm."
Without another word, they rushed deeper into the base.
The surrounding Root ninja didn't dare stop them. Even if they swarmed, they'd be incinerated by Kiyosuke's flames. They were ready to die—but still couldn't bring themselves to move.
A name carried power—and Asakawa Kiyosuke's name was already feared throughout the ninja world. In Konoha, it was legendary.
They reached a room lit by shadowless lamps. Kinoe was tied to a chair, eyes empty—clearly caught in a genjutsu.
"Release!"
Kakashi dispelled the illusion. Kinoe blinked back to awareness, confused.
"Kakashi? And… Kiyosuke-sama?"
"Yo, been a while. You've gotten taller, and that hair—definitely time for a trim. Let's go, Tenzō."
That name—Tenzō—struck a chord deep within Kinoe's heart. He nodded firmly.
"Yes, Kiyosuke-sama!"
The three of them turned to leave, but a surprised voice called out behind them.
"Kinoe?"
They turned to see a Root ninja—and Danzō, leaning on a cane.
Tenzō turned around, his hands forming a seal.
"Wood Release!"
Several thick wooden branches burst forth, forming a sturdy barricade to separate the two sides.
Kiyosuke shot Danzō a mocking look, which only filled the old man's eyes with fury.
"Let's go. No need to waste time here."
Kiyosuke said.
"This is a direct order from the Hokage!"
He led the two away, but before leaving, he turned back just long enough to give Danzō a very enthusiastic international hand gesture.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
+100 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo