No need to explain—lead the way!
All Anbu present, follow me. The rest keep securing the perimeter.
Move out!
Kakashi was blunt; the order left his lips in an instant.
The two Root Ninja cooperated fully, stepping forward to guide the way.
The Anbu trailed Kakashi and the two Root operatives as they departed; the remaining Ninja resumed their defensive positions.
Of course.
Though Kakashi wanted to settle accounts with Danzo, he hadn't forgotten to report to the Village.
He summoned his ninken and sent it racing toward New Konoha at top speed.
Time crept by.
Barely half an hour later, the group reached a dense forest.
Kakashi and the Anbu melted into concealment while the two turncoat Root members, trembling, formed a peculiar set of hand seals; the air rippled, revealing a modest hill and a pitch-black entrance.
Two Root guards emerged.
Only the two of you?
Where are the others?
At the guards' question, the defectors froze, unsure how to answer.
Then, the next second—
Kakashi's Anbu burst from the undergrowth.
Damn it!
You two—traitors!
The gate sentries roared in fury, but as they moved to slay the betrayers, Kakashi flashed white and cut them down, kicking the gate open and plunging inside.
The other Anbu didn't pause;
they swept in right behind him through the dark doorway.
As for the two Root defectors, Kakashi's team didn't spare them another glance—whether they left to become rōnin or sought refuge in New Konoha was irrelevant.
Join another hidden Village?
Impossible.
No Village would trust them; they'd be drained of every secret and then killed.
Become Rogue Ninja?
They weren't even worth the bounty—New Konoha wouldn't bother to list them.
What do we do?
One defector asked, looking to his companion.
To that,
another sighed softly: Head for New Konoha. With this merit, we'll probably keep our heads.
Sounds good, the other nodded.
Immediately,
the two set off toward New Konoha.
It was the sensible choice;
whether as wandering Ninja or hermits, life anywhere else would be harsher than in New Konoha.
Besides, tonight they had earned a little credit. Meanwhile—
New Konoha.
When Tsunade received Kakashi's ninken Pakkun's message, she smashed her desk in rage.
Pursuing Root was important, but it wasn't tonight's primary mission; Kakashi's stunt was reckless—he was the frontline commander!
If he went after Danzo, who would hold the forward camp?
Furious as she was, she woke Uchiha Jin.
Kakashi?
He's off to avenge his father.
Understandable, but the law is the law.
When this is over, a week in solitary and six months' pay docked.
Still, we can't let Danzo escape.
Send Shisui and Fugaku to help—let Kakashi's dog guide them.
Put Nara Shikayasu in charge of the checkpoint and registration outside the Village.
As for the siege commander against Old Konoha—drag Akimichi Torifu out of retirement.
He was the Second's pupil; I trust his ability. Let him reunite with his old teammates.
Uchiha Jin was livid;
he'd just fallen asleep and now this—blame Kakashi.
But punishment would have to wait until the Old Konoha affair was settled.
He didn't fault Tsunade;
she lacked authority for such orders, and he wouldn't allow it—only he could redeploy a general.
Personally chase Danzo?
Please.
Danzo wasn't worth it; he had plenty of strong subordinates.
With that,
he went back to bed, leaving Tsunade seething.
She slogged like a dog while the Hokage enjoyed high status, broad authority, and hardly any chores.
She wanted that job!
But never mind.
She liked the Village now; no more slacking. After a resigned sigh, she got to work.
Shisui and Fugaku obeyed at once and raced toward Danzo.
The Uchiha's grudge against Danzo couldn't be summed up in a few words.
Given the chance to end him, they wouldn't waste breath.
Only Akimichi Torifu was disgruntled.
I'm to command the front line?
Tsunade—you—no!
That lunatic Uchiha Jin—do you know how old I am?
Freshly roused from bed, Torifu's face was all irritation.
Since Hiruzen Sarutobi's rise he'd stepped away from power, their views incompatible.
Yet now,
years later, old as he was, he was expected to slave away again.
To that,
Tsunade merely said calmly, It's the Hokage's order, Elder Torifu. Don't be difficult—Shikayasu and I are swamped.
Fine, Torifu sighed.
But I'm no youngster—let me pick a few helpers.
Shikaku, Inoichi, Chōza—the three of them with me, agreed?
He had no choice.
He longed to refuse, but the world had changed.
He might ignore Hiruzen or even brawl with him inside the Village.
The problem was,
power now lay with the Uchiha, and he had no ties to them.
Uchiha Kagami had died too young; for the sake of the Ino–Shika–Chō clans living in New Konoha, he accepted the Hokage's order.
Of course,
as he'd said, he was long out of practice.
So
he would summon the original Ino–Shika–Chō trio.
To that,
Tsunade didn't hesitate and nodded at once.
No problem, go ahead.
Uchiha Jin isn't planning to purge them. Since the Nara were among the first to join us, the Hokage must reward them as an example to others.
If you want them, take them, elder.