Chapter 12

The next day, I was asked to give my blood samples. I was told that the region they found me, there was a disease and they wanted to make sure I wasn't infected.

I knew that was a lie, but it was just a blood sample. What could they do with it? And then, from that day, I was given missions occasionally and sent to kill people on the bingo book.

Everyone I received were the ones with low bounties. I wasn't sent on any important missions, but I had seen other members of the root go on missions.

I met one while we both were on our missions. He was killing a 12 year old kid. The sight did have signs of fighting, so could deduce that the root ninja was sent to kill a talented ninja.

Danzo had a certain mentality "If I can't have him, no one will." but it wasn't in a high level.

I remember incidents of him from the show where he would go around recruiting talented kids and kill them if they refuse, saying, "Nip it in the bud, he could be a threat to Konoha."

I wasn't bothered about Danzo or his idiotic thinking, so I continued to do my missions for a whole month.

The only strange thing I noticed was that Kaze wasn't there in the root base the whole month. I asked about it and our instructors said that he was sent on a mission which was far from the base.

I didn't bother much as, he was strong and highly talented. Above all, I didn't know him for long. We only has small conversations here and there, sure Kaze has been talking to me more now that before, but it wasn't what I would call close.

But u would be lying if I said that I didn't miss him. In the base, he was the only one who would talk to me casually. Others only talk when there is some work.

I was practicing my taijutsu when a root ninja landed beside me and said "Danzo sama has summoned you."

I nodded and left with him to meet him. It wasn't me going with him voluntarily, but me being ordered to go. I landed before Danzo, knelt before him and asked "Danzo sama, you called for me?"

Danzo sent away the root ninja that brought me there and said "Hakuto, today I called you here, not to send you on bounty hunting, but to assign an important mission."

I was already having a bad feeling. "Would he ask. me to kill a kid that refused to join root?" I thought. Danzo said "This is a root ninja that abandoned his home and his purpose. He holds many secrets about us. I want you to kill him before he spreads the information about us." and handed me a photo of the ninja.

It made me momentarily open my eyes wide in shock. Danzo also said "I know it would be different from killing rogue ninjas, but root are the force protecting konoha from the shadows.

We are the roots of the tree hidden deep underground and help support the huge tree. We need to kill any person who threatens the peace of konoha."

I nodded and said "I will definitely kill him and help keep konoha's peace." leaving from there. The photo I had in my hand was a face I could easily recognize. It was the face of my roommate that I saw almost everyday waking up, Kaze.

(I really didn't want to do this so early. I was still in a dilemma about this and this took time to update. But this incident is too important for the story as Hakuto is going to get a last name.)

I left the base and left to search for him. I couldn't decide what to do. I wasn't a noble soul that would put himself in risk to save someone. I was supposed to easily kill him, but I had a weird feeling telling me that it was wrong.

I only knew him for around 18-19 months and we weren't that close to even call us friends, acquittance is what I would call him.

But every time I thought about me killing him, I felt something inside me. Is that what they call guilt? I didn't know.

I decided to think about all this after I find Kaze. I really needed to grow stronger and leave root. It is making me uncomfortable and even think if I am actually even living properly.

In my previous life, I was in a status that, even if I wanted to go the house next door, I would travel in a car. Sure, I wasn't born rich and rose from the bottom, doing all sorts of traumatizing things, but this life is even worse.

At least in my previous life, I was the master of my own family, but here I have to always think of the consequences of my actions before I do anything.

I kept complaining about life as I went around searching for Kaze. I was told that he didn't leave Land of Fire.

I searched continuously for two weeks and finally found him near a cliff. It was evening and the sky was red.

I approached him without trying to conceal my presence. Kaze didn't even look back and said "Hakuto, you really shouldn't approach enemies like that. They could easily kill you."

I didn't know what to say, he would always advice me things like this. Unconsciously, I actually considered him a brother. So, I didn't want to kill him, but I was being surveyed by a root ninja. I guess the root did teach me how to become a ninja.

I stood behind him as I said "Kaze, I know this might sound like bullshit, but I actually consider you as my big brother, always looking out for me and stuff. I was told to kill you. I know of a way to fool them. Can you cooperate?"

I was confident that the root ninja was far enough to not be able to hear us.

Kaze didn't turn back and asked "Oh, you want to do the same thing you did with Hiro?"

I had my eyes open in shock again. I immediately asked "How did you know?"

I didn't ask that in an angry tone, but more of a tensed tone. I needed to know how he discovered that. If a kid could figure out what I did, then the root could easily get to know about it.

Kaze said "Don't worry, you executed the plan perfectly. We can talk about 'how I know that' later. Now Hakuto, do you have time to sit and chat for a while?"

I wanted to do the same, but we had a creepy guy stalking me. Kaze smiled and said "Don't worry, according to him, we should be fighting now."

"Genjutsu?" I questioned and sat beside him. He was sitting at the edge of a cliff. The setting sun made the atmosphere a pleasant one for us to sit and talk.