"I have to say, Danzo," Naraku commented as he struck down another ninja, "your people are far more capable than Hiruzen's men."
Danzo had sacrificed a Sharingan and lured Naraku into a tactical trap, just to activate a well-coordinated ambush. Ninjas using Earth Release had attempted to crush him from both sides—cleverly planned and brutally executed.
When facing someone with overwhelming offense and defense, tactics like these were practical.
In the original timeline, when Gaara battled Kimimaro, he buried him two hundred meters underground. A technique like that would immobilize nearly any shinobi. With no room to move or breathe, even the strongest ninja would eventually be worn down.
But that only worked on ordinary shinobi—not on monsters like First Hokage, Madara Uchiha... or now, Naraku.
Kimimaro had survived due to his kekkei genkai. And though Naraku was wounded slightly, it barely inconvenienced him.
As he spoke, Naraku's assault continued without pause.
Using the Body Flicker Technique, he appeared in front of the final Earth ninja. His heavy fist drove forward like a cannon.
"Earth Release: Hardening Technique!"
The ninja had no time to dodge and hastily encased his body in rock-like armor, reinforcing himself with Earth chakra.
"It's useless," Naraku said coldly.
His fist shattered the hardened armor with ease. The ninja spat blood and was hurled backward by the force.
[Victory over Root ninja – Chakra +20][Victory over Root ninja – Chakra +20]
The system messages blinked across Naraku's internal display.
Most of these attackers were chunin-level—but their power almost reached special jōnin. Beating them netted him roughly 20 to 25 chakra points each.
The Root operatives were clearly stronger than the average ninja from Sarutobi's, Mitokado's, or Koharu's clans. Many of those shinobi had never set foot on a real battlefield. Even the exams they passed were softened by politics and privilege.
By contrast, Root ninjas were forged in crisis. Even under overwhelming odds, they didn't panic. They counterattacked with precision.
Naraku didn't like Root's training methods—but he had to admit: under Danzo's leadership, Root had become a formidable force.
Danzo, however, didn't appreciate the "compliment." His face twisted with frustration.
He had planned to sacrifice yet another Sharingan with Izanagi—but the tide wasn't turning in his favor. Worse, an ominous feeling gripped his chest.
"Plan B! Go!" he barked.
Two Root ninjas responded immediately, forming seals.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
This technique, in its original form, required 44 hand seals—the most for any jutsu. Even the Second Hokage had found it excessive.
But Danzo, student of Tobirama Senju, had long since acquired a simplified version. For him and his operatives, using this technique was no challenge.
Two enormous water dragons surged toward Naraku.
He remained unfazed. "Good ninjutsu—but underwhelming."
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
Three blazing fire dragons burst forth from his mouth, colliding with and overpowering the water dragons. The two Root shinobi were engulfed in flame. If they survived, they would be too maimed to serve as shinobi again.
Suddenly—
A large black bird flew from the dispersing steam, formed from ink and chakra.
Root! A sealing tag was drawn on its back.
Next came a massive white tiger with black stripes, leaping from a scroll straight at Naraku.
"They're using the Super Beast Imitation Drawing?" Naraku smirked. "Then allow me to show you a real super beast."
He pulled out a scroll and brush, dipped in ink—tools he now carried regularly while studying yin–yang release and sealing arts.
His brush danced across the page.
In moments, real, living ink beasts—tigers and unicorns—roared to life, charging forward with terrifying presence.
"What?!"
The Root ninja specializing in the Super Beast Scroll Technique was stunned.
He was used to being the hunter—but now, he had become the prey. His tiger was torn apart by Naraku's creations, reduced to a puddle of ink after a few brutal swipes.
"This is a solid technique," Naraku muttered, still drawing as his beasts surged toward the remaining enemies.
Suddenly—
"Mind-Body Disturbance Technique!"
A hidden shinobi from the Yamanaka clan launched his jutsu. His fingers formed a specific, complex hand seal.
Naraku felt a foreign chakra intrude into his mind—trying to bind his consciousness.
"Heh," he sneered. "This little trick won't work on me."
His spiritual chakra surged, repelling the invasive technique.
"Pfff!" The Yamanaka ninja coughed blood and collapsed—but he smiled faintly.
Even a moment's delay was enough.
"Parasitic Destruction Insect Technique!"
A new enemy emerged from the shadows: a ninja in a black hood, sunglasses over his eyes—Aburame Rema.
Second only to Danzo, he was the true #2 of Root.
Years ago, when Danzo visited the Konoha Orphanage to recruit Kabuto, Rema had stood beside Orochimaru. That alone proved his strength.
Now, he unleashed his ace: a nanoscopic swarm of poisonous chakra-consuming insects.
They poured forward in a black-purple wave—impervious to lightning, resistant to fire, and capable of draining chakra at devastating speed. Even elite jōnin would be dry husks in seconds.
Naraku's chakra barrier surged outward—a light blue armor gleaming around his body.
He simply nodded. "Aburame Rema... impressive. But your bugs won't get past this defense."