Kakashi Hatake took out a piece of paper and said somewhat helplessly for the third time: "Sasuke, you and Shikamaru are the only two candidates who passed this Chunin Exam, and your Jonin promotion report has also been approved. A Jonin at twelve already is..."
"Sensei."
Uchiha Sasuke glanced at the Jonin promotion report in Kakashi Hatake's hand, interrupting him for the third time: "Even becoming a Jonin can't change anything..."
The gaze of this black-haired boy was like a wounded beast, his voice unusually calm and subdued: "Sensei, don't you remember? You were also a twelve-year-old genius Jonin, I've heard my father praise you before..."
"But..."
"What can a twelve-year-old genius Jonin do anyway?"
Uchiha Sasuke's smile was somewhat cold and merciless, as if mocking Kakashi Hatake, or perhaps mocking himself: "You can't even decide your own student's future, only following orders from above..."
"..."
Kakashi Hatake was suddenly silent.
Indeed...
What can a twelve-year-old genius Jonin do?
Kakashi Hatake's fingers unconsciously tightened around that Jonin promotion report, pain spreading from his heart, feeling a helplessness he hadn't experienced in a long time, the last time being when Rin passed away...
"Sensei."
"No matter how strong our abilities are, our fate is nothing more than a game for those above us. To escape a miserable fate, we must become one of the above..."
Uchiha Sasuke seemed to see through the essence of the world, continuing indifferently: "In any case, Danzo has already agreed with me, at least for me, it's an opportunity. As long as I become the leader of Root, I will ascend to the village's upper echelons..."
"As for the darkness of Root..."
"Wherever there is light, there will always be shadows..."
While Uchiha Sasuke spoke, his tone softened a bit: "Coincidentally, that Naruto guy wants to become Hokage, and in the future, someone will always have to protect him in the darkness. Let me, his life-dependent teammate, handle that!"
"If Kakashi sensei wants to help me..."
"In the future, help me figure out a way to ensure Shimura Danzo keeps his promises! Once I become Root's leader, I won't be restrained by him anymore, and you won't need to worry about me getting into trouble..."
"..."
Kakashi Hatsake felt himself being convinced.
No...
That's not right...
Getting close to Shimura Danzo is dangerous!
Kakashi Hatake remembered how Shimura Danzo once tried to lure him, and even later sent someone to assassinate him, trying to take away his transplanted Sharingan!
Clearly...
Shimura Danzo has always coveted the Sharingan!
After all, Sasuke's Sharingan level is high, sure to attract Danzo's coveting!
"Sasuke..."
"Danzo is just after your Sharingan..."
Kakashi Hatake could only disclose this secret, speaking of his past experience: "I've had dealings with Root before, they once tried to assassinate me, wanting to take away my eye, you should understand the darkness there..."
"Thank you, Kakashi sensei."
Uchiha Sasuke nodded, speaking softly: "But the Mangekyo Sharingan is beyond his grasp, my power is enough to protect myself..."
"Alright."
"Let's leave it at that..."
Uchiha Sasuke took out a scroll and tossed it to Kakashi Hatake: "Kakashi sensei, here's a gift for you. Danzo found out about my space-time talent and gifted me the Flying Thunder God Jutsu, I want a copy of the Fourth Hokage's notes..."
"..."
Kakashi Hatake instinctively raised his hand and caught it.
"Don't let me surpass you too much, sensei."
Uchiha Sasuke threw a Kunai engraved with a fan mark to Kakashi Hatake, then turned and walked towards the depths of the forest, his voice echoing in Kakashi Hatake's ear: "Sensei, Team 7, I will always remember."
"..."
Kakashi Hatake watched the disciple heading into the depths of the forest, as if seeing a child leaving home in search of a future, making this teacher feel exceptionally powerless.
Kakashi Hatake felt warmth in his eyes, causing him to unconsciously touch his eye, the eye that Obito left him…
A blade of grass suddenly broke off.
Because the stem was twisted by an inexplicable space force.
"This is..."
Kakashi Hatake's pupils widened, realizing at last the mysterious power contained in the eye that Obito had left him!
This is...
The power of the Mangekyo Sharingan!
Elsewhere.
The pitch-black Root Base.
Shimura Danzo had also regained the authority to rebuild Root, allowing this pitch-black underground base to finally light up again, no longer needing to worry about Dark Department's prying.
Of course.
This does not mean Root's crisis has vanished.
In fact...
Root's crisis has only just begun.
A black-haired boy with a Ninja Sword on his back, dressed in a gray Dark Department uniform, stood expressionlessly at the Root gathering place, none other than the newly joined Uchiha Sasuke.
"Why aren't you wearing a mask?"
A Root Ninja saw Uchiha Sasuke and wanted to remind him: "Root must hide their..."
Crunch!
This Root Ninja's neck was directly snapped!
Uchiha Sasuke never hesitated to kill Shimura Danzo's confidants!