Chapter 58: Ambushing Konoha's Root
"Water Style — Great Waterfall Technique!"
A sharp shout rang out through the forest.
Zabuza stared at the surging torrent in disbelief before the massive wave crashed down on him with a deafening roar.
Boom!
The explosion of water engulfed him completely. Moments later, Haku appeared, whisking Zabuza's unconscious body away. On the other side, Kakashi collapsed as well, and Naruto and Sasuke quickly carried him to the home of the bridge builder, Tazuna.
After both sides retreated, three figures appeared silently at the site of the earlier battle.
"Zabuza-senpai really embarrassed himself this time," said Ringo Ameyuri coldly, her voice dripping with disdain. "To be outplayed by that Konoha shinobi, Hatake Kakashi—what a disgrace."
Though Zabuza was a rogue ninja, he had once been one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. Losing in a fair fight was one thing—but to fall for simple tactics? That insulted the very name of the Seven Swordsmen.
Yuto stifled a yawn, his tone lazy. Zabuza's defeat was indeed senseless.
The Sharingan was known throughout the shinobi world. Even if the other villages didn't understand its exact abilities, they knew enough to recognize its power.
And Zabuza, of all people, should have known better—Kakashi was called "the man who copied a thousand jutsu."
So how could he still be shocked to see his own technique mirrored back at him?
Yuto smirked inwardly. Perhaps this was just the power of a protagonist's halo.
"Suigetsu, you've been awfully quiet today," Ringo said, glancing sideways.
"I just find that black-haired brat annoying," Suigetsu muttered. "And that masked 'Hunter-nin' who took Zabuza away… something's off about them."
"A brat?" Ringo sneered. "Aren't you one too?"
She looked him up and down mockingly, then suddenly chuckled. "That masked one—looked like they were working with Zabuza, didn't they?"
Yuto's expression brightened slightly, amusement flickering in his eyes.
"Forget Zabuza," he said calmly. "I'm more curious—when Kakashi fainted, didn't either of you feel the urge to kill him?"
"Kill Kakashi?" Suigetsu blinked, caught off guard. He hadn't even considered it.
Ringo hesitated too. She had wanted to, but she'd restrained herself. Killing Kakashi would have brought immense trouble—Konoha might pressure the Mist Village, or even start a war.
Then, as if struck by a realization, Ringo's eyes widened.
Yuto reached out and gently patted her head, his tone soft but deliberate.
"That's right," he said. "We're here to start a war. But not between Konoha and the Mist. We're going to make Konoha fight the other four villages."
His quiet words lingered in the air, echoing in both Ringo's and Suigetsu's ears.
Ringo's cheeks flushed faintly at his touch, but her eyes gleamed with excitement. "A war, huh? Sounds interesting."
Suigetsu grinned, baring his sharp teeth. "I've never been to Konoha before. Guess this is my chance."
Yuto looked at their eager faces, momentarily surprised by their enthusiasm. His voice carried a hint of amusement as he replied—
"You two don't seem worried at all."
"Heh, if this were the old Kirigakure, we'd never dare start a war with a village like Konoha. But now that Yuto-sama is here, what's there to be afraid of?" Suigetsu grinned, his tone full of confidence.
Ringo Ameyuri nodded in complete agreement. It wasn't just the two of them—everyone in the Mist held absolute faith in Yuto.
Watching their calm, unwavering expressions, Yuto couldn't help but shrug. Maybe he was the one overthinking it.
"Let's go," he said casually. "Before the show begins, we'll kill a few people first."
"Who?" Suigetsu asked curiously.
"Obviously, Konoha's people."
Ringo rolled her eyes at him, her expression making it clear she thought he was an idiot.
In the next instant, the three vanished from sight.
—
Near the border of the Land of Waves.
Four masked shinobi dressed in the black uniforms of Konoha's Root Division stood alert, scanning their surroundings carefully. After confirming no one was nearby, one of them spoke quietly.
"If our intel is correct, Kinoshita Jirō has already entered the Land of Waves."
"It's an island nation," another replied. "If he wants to hide, it'll take time to track him down."
The group fell silent. Danzo hadn't given them much time, and the longer they delayed, the greater the risk of complications.
"Then we split up," their leader said coldly. "Once anyone locates Kinoshita Jirō, signal immediately. If there's combat, you know the protocol."
The others nodded. For now, it was the only viable plan.
But as they spoke, the air around them began to grow thick with mist.
"This is bad—Hidden Mist Technique!"
One of the Root operatives shouted the warning. The others immediately shifted into formation, standing back-to-back, each covering a direction.
"Wind Style — Great Breakthrough!"
One of them formed seals rapidly and exhaled a massive gust of wind, attempting to scatter the fog.
"Too late. Water Style — Water Gun Technique!"
From within the dense mist, Suigetsu's mocking voice rang out as he raised his hand in the shape of a pistol and fired a high-pressure jet of water.
"You talk too much."
Ringo shot him a sidelong glance, lightning crackling violently around her twin blades. With a sharp movement, she blurred forward, the air filling with the sound of thunder.
"There are two of them," one Root shinobi said calmly, sensing chakra approaching from both sides. "Doesn't seem to be Kinoshita Jirō."
(End of Chapter)
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