Kakashi pressed forward and soon arrived at a secluded spot within Konoha's forest.
There, a barely noticeable pit lay hidden.
After surveying the surroundings, Kakashi leapt down.
Moments later, another figure followed him—someone in ANBU attire, wearing a cat-faced mask. The figure was short, clearly young.
A rumbling noise soon echoed from below.
From above, Natsuki approached the pit, rubbing his chin.
That person who just went down—wasn't that Yamato? Ah, right, at this point he was still called "Kinoe."
So, Danzō really sent him to gouge out Kakashi's eye?
Natsuki couldn't tell whether Danzō was overconfident or just out of his mind.
Or perhaps he just placed blind faith in Yamato's Wood Release.
Suddenly, Natsuki sensed movement and sprang into the trees.
Swish, swish, swish! Three Root operatives arrived at the pit.
Two concealed themselves, while the third leapt down.
Ah, so that was Danzō's backup plan—surveillance and substitutes. If Kinoe failed, there would be others.
Inside the cavern, Kakashi's anguished voice rang out:
"A mission isn't everything. If a mission demands you kill your comrades, then that mission is wrong!"
"They call me the one who betrayed my comrade… but I never—never wanted to kill Rin!
"She died because I couldn't protect her! Because my Chidori failed to save her… failed to save her…"
"Kinoe, abandon Root's mission."
"In Root, it seems you're taught to discard all emotions."
"Not just emotions. We discard names, the past, and the future—living only to complete missions."
"I'm your enemy. Letting you die should be natural for me… and yet, I don't—don't want to kill my comrades!"
After some time, one of the Root operatives tailing Kinoe emerged first, pretending to wait at the entrance.
Not long after, Kinoe surfaced as well.
He pulled out a jar containing an eyeball and exchanged a few words with the operative.
Natsuki recognized this scenario clearly—Kakashi had already swayed Kinoe. He had fabricated a Sharingan to bring back to Danzō.
Later, the Third Hokage and Kakashi would storm Root and forcibly take Kinoe out, renaming him Tenzo. After the Kazekage Rescue Mission, he'd adopt the codename "Yamato," which stuck thereafter.
But then—
"You dared to fake this!"
A furious shout yanked Natsuki back to the present. Wait, discovered this early!?
"Take him down!" Three more Root operatives leapt from hiding.
"As expected… Lord Danzō never trusted me," Kinoe muttered.
He offered no resistance, allowing himself to be bound. The other three dropped into the pit, presumably to hunt Kakashi.
"Kinoe, why did you fake the eye?"
His dead-fish eyes betrayed little, though his tone was heavy. "I no longer understand the meaning of this mission to kill a comrade. So I abandoned it."
"That's outrageous!" the one called "Ni" barked. "Lord Danzō's missions are absolute!"
"But Kakashi is also a Konoha ninja—our comrade. Is it really right to kill a comrade!?"
Ni shoved Kinoe to the ground. "Remember this! The only comrades you have are us—members of Root!"
"Isn't Root still part of Konoha!?" Kinoe gritted his teeth.
Ni's face turned reverent, almost fanatic. "Root is the unseen underground, silently supporting Konoha's great tree. Just as a tree has both roots and branches, Root exists independently."
"A Root shinobi has no name, no feelings, no past or future. Only the mission exists in his eyes."
Suddenly, Kinoe struggled fiercely. "No! I am a Konoha shinobi! Not just Root—I am part of the branches, the leaves… all of Konoha! Every ninja in Konoha is my comrade!"
Ni pressed down on him coldly. "Who deceived you!? I'll take you back so Lord Danzō can recondition you!"
"Obviously, Danzō's the one who deceived him."
A lazy voice drifted over.
"Who!?" Ni broke out in a cold sweat. Someone had approached unnoticed.
"Ugh—!" Before Ni could even turn around, pain struck his head, and he collapsed unconscious.
"Get up," Natsuki said, untying Kinoe.
"You are…?" Kinoe didn't know him, but judging from his attire, he recognized him as an Uchiha.
"My name is Uchiha Natsuki," Natsuki said flatly, debating whether he should go down and save Kakashi.
Or maybe… simply let Root take Kakashi's Sharingan out for him.
"You're the Uchiha's vice clan leader!? Why would you save me?"
Kinoe had heard of him—Danzō's bane, who had caused him countless losses and even cost him his elder advisor seat.
"I just enjoy going against Danzō. Who you are doesn't matter."
"But…" Natsuki smirked. "I do know you."
"You… know me?"
"Weren't you one of those sixty infants Danzō stole?"
"What!?" Kinoe stiffened in shock.
"Lord Danzō… stole us!?"
Natsuki nodded. "Yes. Danzō took you away, and Orochimaru performed human experiments on you. Looks like you're the only one left now."
Kinoe's voice shook. "Do you have proof!?"
Natsuki lifted his eyelids lazily. "I have my own intel channels. I've no intention of proving anything to you. Believe it or don't."
"All these years, Danzō has gathered people under the excuse of protecting Konoha, just to pursue his own ambitions."
Kinoe's heart reeled. So the man I've been loyal to… was this kind of person all along!?
From within the pit, the sound of Chidori's crackling echoed—chirp, chirp, chirp…
"Damn! Kakashi-nii!" Kinoe suddenly realized—Kakashi was still inside!
He leapt to rush back in.
But Natsuki blocked him with one hand. "No need. He'll be up in a moment."
As if on cue, Kakashi vaulted out of the pit.
Natsuki immediately noticed that Kakashi's Sharingan was intact. Though injured, he was mostly fine.
Tch. Natsuki clicked his tongue inwardly.
So useless—three against one, and Root still got taken out.
Kakashi landed and instantly spotted Uchiha Natsuki by the entrance.
He raised his guard at once. "Lord Natsuki, why are you here!?"
Unfortunately, as tempting as it was, Natsuki still hadn't decided to rip out Kakashi's eye himself.
"You'd better go find the Third quickly. Danzō's men will be coming soon."
He ignored Kakashi's question, tossed out the line casually, and vanished in a flicker.
"Kakashi-nii! Are you okay!?" Kinoe hurried to check him over.
Kakashi staggered but waved it off. "I'm fine. But why was Natsuki here…?"
"Let's not stay here. We need to report to the Third Hokage. I'll explain on the way." Kinoe supported him as they set off.
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