Chapter 60: Touched!

"Eh..."

Princess Kuro emerged from a swirl of white smoke, casting a disdainful glance around the dark prison cell.

She hopped onto Shinji's shoulder delicately, as if avoiding the dirty floor of the cell with her pristine white fur.

Shinji extended his hands, spreading the chains. "Quick, use Wind Release to help me break these chains!"

Wind Release was renowned for its cutting prowess. At higher levels, it could even breach the defenses of Susano'o.

Kuro seemed dissatisfied. "You summoned me here just for this kind of rough work?"

Knowing Kuro's pride, Shinji coaxed her. "This is about saving my life! You wouldn't want me to die with only single-digit years left, would you?"

Kuro lifted her head defiantly. "Fine, I'll save your life then!"

She swiftly formed seals and aimed at the chains binding Shinji's wrists. "Wind Release: Shockwave!"

In an instant, a wind blade shot from Kuro's mouth, colliding with the chains with a resounding clang. The wind blade dissipated, but the chains remained unbroken.

Shinji gave Kuro a look that silently questioned her ability.

This infuriated Kuro!

She formed seals again, gathering chakra on her claws before pouncing on the chains. "Wind Style: Cat Cut!"

Clang!

The chains snapped sharply.

"So strong," Shinji marveled inwardly.

After freeing his legs from the chains, Shinji instructed Kuro to use Wind Release on his cell door, creating the illusion of a breakout from within. Then, he hurried to Sasuke's neighboring cell and unlocked it.

Sasuke looked puzzled. "Shinji, what are you..."

Ignoring Sasuke's confusion, Shinji directed Kuro, "Quick, free him too!"

"What a hassle," Kuro complained, but her claws were sharp, and she effortlessly sliced through Sasuke's chains in a few swift strokes.

Watching the white cat easily sever chains that had resisted his own strength, Sasuke's eyes widened. He turned to Shinji. "Is this cat your summoning beast? Were you talking to her in the cell next door?"

"Yeah, no time to chat now. Let's get out of here!" Shinji called out, prompting Sasuke to escape the prison area with him.

During their escape, Sasuke kept a wary eye on Kuro, perched on Shinji's shoulder. He hadn't expected Shinji to be so versatile. Not only did Shinji surpass him in ninjutsu, taijutsu, and ninja tool usage, but he also possessed a summoning beast even before graduating from the ninja academy.

A sense of urgency gripped Sasuke's heart. His only advantage seemed to be his Sharingan. If Shinji caught up to him, Sasuke feared he would be completely overshadowed.

Unaware of Sasuke's thoughts, Shinji calculated the timing carefully.

In the original timeline, the Third Hokage personally led an Anbu raid on Danzo's base to retrieve Yamato, who had mastered Wood Release.

Anticipating the Third Hokage's imminent arrival, Shinji needed to disrupt the situation quickly, creating opportunities for his shadow clones and Yukimaru on the other side.

He deliberately led Sasuke past a hidden alarm he had discovered.

Beep beep!

Instantly, the alarm blared throughout the Root base.

Startled, Sasuke exclaimed, "Oh no!"

Maintaining his composure, Shinji reassured, "If we encounter enemies, I'll handle them. You find a way to escape and seek help from the Hokage!"

Reluctantly nodding, Sasuke knew Shinji's plan was their best chance. If Sasuke engaged the enemy, they both might be captured.

Soon, several Root ninjas blocked their path.

"Kid, how did you escape?"

"Was it that ninja cat?"

"I should've sealed him tighter!"

Observing Kuro, perched on Shinji's shoulder, several Root ninjas deduced how Shinji had managed to escape and looked embarrassed at their oversight. Danzo was strict; such mistakes could mean severe punishment.

Seeing the approaching Root ninjas, Shinji stepped forward. "You go, Sasuke. I'll hold them off!"

Moved, Sasuke's eyes welled with emotion. "I promise, I'll come back for you!"

Feeling guilty, Shinji couldn't meet Sasuke's gaze. Stepping aside, he inadvertently moved towards Danzo's secret vault.

Meanwhile, Sasuke fled towards the vault, glancing back periodically. Witnessing Shinji's resolute stance, Sasuke's eyes filled with tears. "Why... why can't I ever help anyone?"

The Root ninjas prioritized capturing Sasuke. Seeing him escape, they pursued.

Shinji called to Kuro, "Use Wind Release, I'll use Fire Release!"

Kuro retorted while forming seals, "Don't you dare burn my fur or I'll break our contract!"

Despite their first-time cooperation, they synchronized effortlessly.

Completing his own seals swiftly, Shinji unleashed, "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Simultaneously, Kuro released her jutsu, "Wind Release: Great Shockwave!"

Boom! The wind bolstered the fire, expanding Shinji's fireball to twice its size, filling the corridor!

"What? How is this possible?" the Root ninjas exclaimed, taken aback.

While they had seen potent Fire Release techniques before, they hadn't expected such mastery from an eight-year-old academy student.

Realizing resistance was futile, the Root ninjas abandoned the chase and dodged.

Danzo's Root base, designed like a descending circular chimney, amplified the fireball's intensity.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Explosions reverberated through the base, drowning out even the blaring alarm.

None had anticipated such force from a single jutsu. The Root ninjas, including Shinji, exchanged astonished glances.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Amidst the echoes, figures descended the spiral staircase.

Shinji looked up to see the Third Hokage in his Hokage robes, leading a battalion of fully armed Anbu. Behind him stood Danzo, scowling.

Danzo fixed Shinji with a severe gaze before questioning his subordinates, "Where is Uchiha Sasuke?"

A Root ninja hurried forward, gesturing towards the secret vault. "Sir, Uchiha Sasuke fled in that direction."

Boom!

Another explosion cut short the ninja's report, the blast originating from the direction of the secret vault.

End of chapter