6 6. Action of the Root
Name: Tazuna Senzo
Race: Human
Age: 26 years, 7 months
Class: Anbu (Root)
Combat Strength: Mid-tier Chunnin
Title: Shadow of the Root
Strength: 35 Vitality: 30 Agility: 40 Dexterity: 25 Endurance: 30 Resilience: 27 Stamina: 23 Chakra: 50
Hidden Stat: Intelligence: 15 Spirit: 25 Loyalty: 90%
Title Effect: Shadow of the Root: Increases loyalty to the Root by 50%.
"Ah!"
Akio is startled to see the stats of the Root shinobi.
'His stats are almost 3-4 times that of a civilian. Is this the strength of a Chunnin? Also, what's the deal with these hidden stats and that absurd title?'
Akio cautiously scrutinizes the Root member.
Outside the shopping district,
Hmm…
Ajuka frowns and takes out a scroll from his pocket. His expression turns grim as he reads the message on the scroll.
"I knew it! These Root shinobi aren't up to any good. I don't even know why father even allows Foundation to exist. Quick!"
He hurriedly leads his team inside the shopping district.
Hmm…
The expression of the sensor ninja changes. He raises his head and stares out of the house.
[A group of shinobis is approaching this house!]
He quickly warns his teammates.
[What are you waiting for? Get rid of the other boy and capture the target. We don't want any pieces of evidence in case the anbu members search here!]
"Alright!"
Swish…
The root members take out a kunai from his holster and give Akio an emotionless stare.
'Ah! Those bloodthirsty eyes!'
A shiver runs down Akio's spine and his hairs stand on the end as the Root member targets him.
'They are the same eyes as the killer who killed me back then, the eyes with no remorse.'
Whoosh…
The shinobi disappear from his vision.
'Is this the end of my short life in this world?'
Akio closes his eyes.
Slash…
A trail of blood rises in the air and paints the wall.
Argh…
The root member screams in pain and retreats with blood dripping from his right hand.
Huh?!
Akio slowly opens his eyes. The joy of avoiding death is suppressed by confusion as he blankly stares at Yamato.
"Nii-san! I won't let them harm you."
Yamato is shielding him from the root members. His right hand has turned into a large wooden stake and there is blood laced on the sharp end of the pike.
'So, that's the legendary wood release!'
Akio stares at the Yamato's wooden hand with worry.
"I… I…"
Akio's vision blurs. A feeling of drowsiness hits him and he staggers on his foot.
"Nii-san!"
Yamato hurriedly supports him.
"What… what's going on?"
Akio clutches his forehead and stares at the Root members.
One of the root members at back is slowly releasing green smoke from his hands. The smoke has spread through the entire room.
"Poison Gas?"
Akio's consciousness slowly fades away.
'Mother! She is downstairs. I hope she is fine!'
Bang…
He falls to the floor and loses consciousness.
"NII-SAN!!"
Yamato frantically shakes Akio's body.
"Don't leave me alone, Nii-san! Wake up!"
[Grab the target and leave!]
The captain commands his team and stares at the injured member of his team.
[You failed to fulfill my order and almost led to the failure of the mission. Just wait for your punishment!"]
Ah!
Yamato clutches his forehead as a sense of dizziness hits him.
"N-nii-san!!"
He falls to the floor and loses consciousness.
Swish…
The captain makes a cut-throat gesture towards the third member of the team.
Whoosh…
The root shinobi flicker beside Akio and Yamato. He grabs an unconscious Yamato in his arm and aims the kunai at Akio's neck with the other.
Swish… swoosh… clang…
Before the Anbu member could execute Akio, a kunais flies out of the window and strikes the kunai in his hand.
Tch…
The Captain clicks his tongue and takes out smoke bombs from his holster.
Boom… Boom…
He detonates the smoke bomb on the ground and escapes with the rest of the Root members.
Phew…
"That was a close call!"
Ajuka heaves a sigh of relief. He quickly orders his team to enter the house and ensure the safety of the family.
The Anbu member clears the smoke and the poisonous gas in the room. They quickly arrive with two unconscious bodies.
Hmm…
Ajuka stares at the unconscious Akio.
"Medics hurry up and treat them!"
Ajuka signals the medics to treat the mother-son pair.
"Now for the Root shinobis!"
Ajuka's expression turns cold. He signals a sensor shinobi in his team to track down the whereabouts of the Root members.
"Found them! They are quickly moving towards the west side of the village." The sensor ninja informs him.
"Gorou, Hattori! You two stay behind and defend these two. The rest of you follow me to chase after those Root rats!"
"Yes, Captain!" The Anbu members quickly follow Ajuka.
Ajuka leads the members of his Anbu team to chase after the Root shinobis. The sensor ninja in his team keeps a track of the root members.
Ajuka grits his teeth as he remembers the moment of Akio almost dying under the hands of the Root ninja.
"I almost broke my promise to Sensei to keep his family safe. Sensei sacrificed himself for our sake and here I cannot even protect his family!"
Ajuka clenches his fists and increases his pace.
"I need answers from Danzo. He won't get away scot-free this time."
Whoosh…
The Root shinobis arrive at their base and enter it.
"Quick! Inform Lord Danzo, the anbu members are on our heels."
The captain hurriedly signals to another Root shinobi.
BOOM…
A large explosion occurs at the entrance of the Foundation. Ajuka clenches his fists as flames run across them.
"Fire Release: Fists of Eastern Fire God!"
BAM… BAM…
He continues to punch the gate of the Root headquarter.
BANG…
With another powerful punch, Ajuka shatters the gate and barges in. The nearby Root members are sent flying by the impact of his jutsu.
"Danzo! Get out here."
Ajuka roars in anger.
Whoosh… whoosh…
His anbu team quickly follows him as one of the senior members, who is also the vice-captain of the team, warns him.
"Captain! It's not a great idea to barge in Root without a warrant."
"Senjuro-san! I have orders from the Hokage to track them down. We witnessed the Root members barges into a civilian's house and attempted to murder them."
"Well!"
Senjuro frowns as he is unable to refute Ajuka's words.
"Alright! Just in case, I will send someone to inform Hokage-sama!"
Senjuro quickly dispatches the fastest member of his team to inform Hiruzen.
Swoosh… swoosh…
Multiple root shinobis surround Ajuka and his group.
"Do you think I am afraid of you?"
Ajuka summons metal gloves from his storage and wears them.
BAM… BAM…
He slams his fist together and infuses them with fire.
Swish… Swish…
"Intruder! Stay where you are and put down your weapons?"
One of the Root captains warns him.
"Shut up and summon Danzo!"
Ajuka glares at him and punches him.
"Fire Release: Fist of the Northern Fire God"
Ajuka punches the air towards the captain.
BOOM…
A gigantic fist of fire forms in the air and charges towards the captain.
The captain turns pale as the flaming fist approaches him. He hurriedly makes some hand signs.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet"
The captain spews out a gigantic bullet of water which morphs into a dragon and charges towards the flaming fist.
BOOM…
The flaming fist slams into the dragon. It evaporates the water and continues to charge towards the captain.
A hint of fear appears in the emotionless eyes of the captain.
BAM… BAM… BAM…
Multiple earth walls erupt from the ground and block the attack.
The flaming fist shatters almost 80% of the earth's walls before it dissipates.
Tch…
Ajuka clicks his tongue and makes some hand signs to prepare for his next attack.
"Attack!"
The various Root captains signal their men to attack the Ajuka's team.
Swish… swish…
Multiple kunais, shurikens, and other throwing weapons rains down on the group.
"Quick! Get into the formation."
The Vice-Captain commands the Anbu members.
Whoosh… whoosh…
The Anbu members arrange into a hexagon formation and slam their palms on the ground to plant a sealing tag.
"Barrier Method Formation: Twin Triple Protection Formation"
The group overlaps two triple barrier formations to create a stronger hexagonal barrier. A blue glow emits from the sealing tag and erects a dark blue barrier.
Boom… Boom…
Root shinobis continue to rain attack on the barrier.
"Captain! We are in the middle of the base of the Root and are unable to effectively counterattack in this strictly closed space. The enemies have a home ground advantage."
The Vice-Captain reports to Ajuka who is recuperating some of his lost chakra.
"Senjuro-san! I feared such a situation will arise, so I came prepared."
Swoosh…
Ajuka summons a giant scroll from his storage.
"Secret Scroll of Weapon sealing!!"
Senjuro's eyes widen in surprise.
"Ca… captain! Is it alright to use such a powerful weapon against the members of the Root? The root is also the organization working for the welfare of Konoha in shadows. If you plan to destroy it, then I am afraid the consequences won't be in Konoha's favor."
Senjuro sternly warns him.
"I have decided! If Danzo doesn't answer my questions, then I won't hesitate to destroy the Root using the legacy of the First Hokage."
Swoosh…
Ajuka unfurls the scroll with a cold expression.
