Chapter 7 – Shinobi of the Root Division
"I don't agree," Yusuke said firmly, without hesitation.
"You insolent brat. This isn't your decision to make," Danzo growled, his voice low and dark.
"He's my little brother. If I say no, then it's not happening. Period."
"Hatake Sakumo, keep your son in check. This is not something a child should interfere with," Danzo snapped.
"No need for your concern, Danzo-sama. I'll handle my son myself," Sakumo replied with a cold chuckle. "But what he said isn't wrong. I would never allow it either."
"Hiruzen, this is for the sake of Konoha. The village cannot stand without its roots," Danzo argued, turning toward the Hokage.
"You're not wrong... Danzo does have a point," Hiruzen said with a reluctant nod. There were some things only Root could do. That was the ugly truth of war and politics.
Sakumo fell silent. He loved Konoha with all his heart—but his family came first. His sons were still young, still fragile. If he resisted too strongly now, Danzo might retaliate. And if Sakumo fell… who would protect them?
"I still refuse, Hokage-sama," Yusuke repeated, his voice unwavering.
"Young man, that's not your call to make," Homura and Koharu said coldly in unison.
"Is that so? Then let me rephrase it. Kakashi was raised by me. And if I say no, the answer is no," Yusuke said with a mocking smile.
It was true. While Sakumo had been deployed as an ANBU during the Second Shinobi World War, Yusuke was the one who raised Kakashi. They may have looked the same age—but his soul was that of a man in his twenties.
"And what's this talk about doing it 'for Konoha'? Since when is joining ROOT the only way to serve the village? Aren't shinobi already laying down their lives for missions every day? If that's how it is... then I hereby declare this—Kakashi and I will no longer be shinobi."
He removed his forehead protector and placed it in front of them, his expression burning with anger.
Family and friends—those were his weaknesses. He would never hand Kakashi over to that cursed organization.
"Don't be reckless!" a sharp voice called out. It was Sakumo.
"Then what, Dad? You've always told us being a shinobi is how we protect the village. But now? You're just going to let that masked geezer do whatever he wants?" Yusuke's voice trembled with frustration.
"Enough, Yusuke… Don't take this too far. Put your headband back on," Hiruzen said softly, stepping in to calm the storm. "I won't allow Kakashi to join ROOT either."
Why? For one, Hiruzen knew that letting a talent like Yusuke walk away would be a terrible loss—possibly even more than losing a future Hokage.
Second, the boy was right. Joining ROOT wasn't the only proof of loyalty.
And third, Danzo's scheme was obvious. By pulling Kakashi into ROOT, he would essentially gain control over Yusuke as well.
"Really, Grandpa Hokage?" Yusuke said, flashing a playful smile, intentionally calling him "Grandpa" to sweeten the mood.
"Yes, yes. Go on home now. But just so you know... you've been assigned to ANBU. Don't get it twisted—ANBU operates directly under the Hokage's orders. It's not the same as ROOT."
"Oh, like Dad's job then?" Yusuke asked innocently.
"That's right. So? You in?"
"Sure," he replied casually.
"Good. Then come back with your father tomorrow. Your new orders will be ready."
"Got it, Grandpa Hokage. I'm heading out now!"
As he turned to leave, a mechanical chime echoed in his mind:
[Ding!]
[Hidden Mission Complete: Fully Demonstrate the Six Styles to the Hokage]
[Reward Unlocked: Santoryu – Oni Giri (Three-Sword Style: Demon Slash)]
"Whoa—there was a hidden mission?!" Yusuke blinked in surprise.
[Correct, Host] the system replied, emotionless as always.
"You couldn't have told me sooner?!"
[You didn't ask.]
"Tch... Fine, you win. System, are there any other hidden missions?"
[There are. But they only reveal themselves during specific conditions and cannot be disclosed.]
"Of course there are..."
When he got home, Yusuke handed Kakashi the training manual for the Darkness Technique and the basic principles behind the Six Styles. The rest would depend on Kakashi's own effort.
As for Yusuke, he began practicing the jutsu he had just received—Bringer-of-Darkness. It was a genjutsu created by Tobirama Senju, capable of blotting out all light from the enemy's vision. A direct counter to the Uchiha clan's Sharingan.
Tobirama really was a genius.
Later that night, he headed to his workshop and forged three katanas—each similar in design to the legendary Kitetsu blades.
They were standard swords, but exceptionally sharp. He sealed them inside a storage scroll; after all, walking around with three swords wasn't exactly convenient for a shinobi.
He wasn't a swordsman—he was a ninja. Speed mattered more than flash.
But on his way home, someone blocked his path.
A masked shinobi.
"Danzo-sama requests your presence," the man said.
"Oh? And what if I refuse?" Yusuke smirked, cold and confident.
With Observation Haki, he could already tell—the man's chakra was barely Chūnin-level.
"I'll bring you in by force, then," the man declared, lunging forward.
"You're asking for it."
Yusuke pulled out a kunai and threw it without hesitation. The man dodged and retaliated with a barrage of his own.
"Earth Release: Earth Wall!"
Yusuke raised a barrier, blocking the assault.
But the attacker followed up immediately.
"Fire Release: Fireball Jutsu!"
Yusuke countered with a smirk. "My turn."
His fist surged with white energy.
The moment he punched forward—CRACK!—the very air shattered like glass, scattering in all directions.
The shockwave tore through the fireball, erasing it completely.
"What the—?!"
The ROOT shinobi froze. His jutsu was shattered… was this kid using a Kekkei Genkai?
"Fire Release: Phoenix Fire Jutsu!"
Tiny fireballs spread out in a fan.
"Still not enough... Air Shock."
Yusuke clenched his fist, and the air around him vibrated violently—shattering every fireball on impact.
Then—he vanished.
"Shave."
In a blink, Yusuke reappeared right next to the enemy.
"So fast—!"
Before the man could react, Yusuke landed a brutal blow. Bones cracked under the force, and with one final stab to a vital point, it was over.
Yusuke didn't feel a shred of remorse.
Those who live by the blade die by the blade.
He chose the path of the shinobi. Death came with the territory.
"So weak," he muttered coldly.
He still didn't realize just how powerful he had become.
After all, the Gura Gura no Mi wasn't some petty ability.
And his enemy had made one fatal mistake—
Underestimating him.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
📚 Want to read more chapters or get early access?
Join my Patreon here:
🔗 patreon.com/FaaanzKun
✅ Enjoy 15 chapters ahead of WebNovel
✅ Get 1-2 new chapters every day exclusively on Patreon
☕ Prefer one-time support instead of a subscription?
You can donate here:
🔗 ko-fi.com/faaanzkun
Join now and dive deeper into the story—weeks ahead of public release!
Thank you for your amazing support 💖
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —