Chapter 324 - Daichi's Calculations: Root Under Siege 02

Around Daichi, stood rows upon rows of shelves, each laden with scrolls and documents bound in nondescript covers. Daichi's eyes roamed all around and he inwardly snorted.

'All these scrolls have traps on them and if someone not authorized gets in here, all these will be reduced to ash… So that's why Danzo chose to keep records and not outright destroy them. The barrier seals placed for protection are impressive.'

The Gamer ninja walked closer and looked at the scroll and files stored on the shelves.

'Looking at the mundane appearance of these scrolls, very few might think they have explosive secrets that could shake entire nations.'

Daichi's eyes scanned the room, taking in the meticulous organization, each section marked with cryptic labels that only the most initiated could decipher.

'Most of these are encrypted. But thankfully that won't be too much of a headache for me.'

With no time to waste, Daichi disabled all the traps and approached the first section, labeled "Geo-political Routes." He was able to quickly decipher the coded intelligence.

In his hands were maps and documents detailing the hidden paths leading into and out of various nations—a network of routes used by spies and ANBU operatives for covert missions.

Daichi's fingers traced the lines connecting the Land of Fire to neighboring countries, noting the less guarded, more vulnerable passages that could serve as entry or escape routes in times of conflict.

The Genin's eyes widened and he quickly searched for the nearby scrolls and soon he opened a red colored scroll. It had notes on secret passageways into the Land of Earth and Hidden Stone Village.

'This… This will definitely come in handy.'

Moving quickly, he delved into the next section, "Underground Organizations." This was a compendium of detailed reports and dossiers on various clandestine groups across the shinobi world, including the infamous Akatsuki.

Profiles of some members, known affiliates, and speculated goals filled the pages. Daichi absorbed the information, the depth of ROOT's knowledge both impressive and chilling. 'Danzo doesn't know the identity of the current members except Itachi, Kisame, Sasori and Orochimaru. But he has several speculations. This might be more information than what even the Hokage has.'

Another shelf was devoted entirely to "ROOT Operations." Here, the scrolls were sealed with blood-red wax, each one detailing a different mission carried out by the shadowy operatives of ROOT. These missions ranged from assassination and sabotage to espionage and manipulation of political events within and outside Konoha. Daichi skimmed the documents, each revelation was evidence to the lengths Danzo and his organization would go to protect and control the ninja world.

'This guy… If I'm reading these right…then…'

Daichi was genuinely surprised as he decoded and read the information on the scrolls. He sighed and quickly stored the object in his inventory and moved on to the next.

Further along, the young ninja found the "International Ninja Database." The section contained detailed information about key ninjas from other villages: their strengths, weaknesses, known jutsu, and psychological profiles. It was a gold mine of intelligence, offering insights into potential allies and enemies alike.

Lastly, he reached a smaller, more secure vault within the archives labeled "Classified Operations" in encryption. With a careful application of chakra to bypass the advanced sealing jutsu, Daichi quickly accessed the contents.

These were the darkest secrets of ROOT—operations so sensitive and devastating that their mere existence could lead to wars or the downfall of the current ninja system. Here, Daichi found evidence of manipulation of the Chunin Exams, secret alliances with rogue nations, and even plans to overthrow a certain Kage.

'These are analysis on the Wind country and Village of Sand… These reports predict the downfall of Hidden Sand Village if the current status quo is maintained… Danzo… He knew that if the Sand Village doesn't get a higher influx of missions their village will go under. He predicted that the Kazekage might take drastic actions before then to protect his village…'

Suddenly Daichi found the answer to a question that was plaguing him. 'Why did Orochimaru kill the fourth Kazekage in canon? I had several hypotheses but now it's clear… It was Danzo's orders. Danzo used Orochimaru to kill the Kazekage, weaken the Sand Village so they wouldn't do anything rash and the Leaf could still maintain the alliance. He must have known that Orochimaru's invasion would be a failure.'

As Daichi absorbed the contents of the scrolls, his mind raced with the implications of what he held. Each piece of information was a powerful weapon in its own right, capable of altering the balance of power in the shinobi world.

As Daichi looked around he noticed a small hidden seal. He quickly studied it and understood it's purpose.

'A timer seal. The information on these scrolls are too dangerous. If I take them out of the shelf for much longer the seal will trigger and send a message and Root will be alerted to the theft.'

Now that he knew he couldn't remove anything from the archives without alerting ROOT to the breach, he decided to take everything important without wasting time and store it in his inventory.

Daichi moved like the wind and used 'Observe' to find the most critical of scrolls and documents. The moment his fingers touched the scroll, he disabled the protection seals and stored them in his subspace.

A few minutes later Daichi was done with his task and took a final glance around the dimly lit room. A room that was previously filled with the silent whispers of a thousand secrets.

Daichi nodded to himself and disappeared to complete his second task, aware that the knowledge he now possessed made him one of the most dangerous individuals alive.

He slipped out of the archives, blending back into the shadows, a ghost among the halls of the Root. His mission was far from over, but tonight, he had taken a significant step towards unraveling the depths of ROOT's influence.

'I've raided the archives. I'm heading towards the other section of this building. I'll try to collect as many hidden jutsu scrolls as possible. But I'm not sure how long I have.'

The clone sent an update and silently, invisibly moved through halls.

He suddenly got a reply on the message array from the other clone. 'My mission is half completed but I have a problem to deal with. Once you've completed your task, dispel.'

—-

With the First 'Dragon' Clone.

Several minutes ago.

'I found Danzo. I'm heading straight for him. I don't sense the Hokage or Obito. They're not here yet but they will be soon.' The first shadow clone sent the message as he moved through the ceiling.

He kept to the shadows and soon reached a corner. He sensed several guards present and two powerful chakras in the room at the end of the hall. He created a clone without alerting anyone and gave instructions to stay hidden and wait.

'If I attack these guys Danzo might try something. He's crafty and ruthless enough to destroy Shisui's eye if he feels that it will fall into enemy hands. I need to strike at him first.'

Daichi was under his Mana cloak skill which made him completely invisible. He moved forward and surveyed the guards hidden throughout the hallway.

'I need a distraction. Thankfully the Hokage's going to provide one. I have a feeling that once he breaches the building these guys will move to defend. Some might stay behind but a majority of these guys will rush upstairs to defend this location.'

Daichi moved closer to the room and he didn't have to wait long. A faint tremor ran through the building and the Root ninjas quickly rushed to investigate.

Inside the sparsely decorated room, Danzo Shimura sat behind a heavy desk, his single visible eye narrowed in concentration. Beside him, his second in command stood alert, his hand never straying far from the hilt of his sword. "Sir, that felt like—"

"Go, check the perimeter. Leave no stone unturned," Danzo commanded, his single eye narrowing as he sensed the shift in the air.

"I will identify the source of that tremor," the second in command announced, his voice steady despite the growing alarm.

Danzo nodded, his gaze still fixed on the papers before him. "Be swift, and alert our forces. We cannot afford any disturbances tonight."

The door to the room opened and the Root ninja that was with Danzo also disappeared in a body flicker jutsu. As the second in command exited, the door closed softly behind him. Danzo was left alone but he was unaware of the invisible threat lurking just a breath away from him. Daichi's clone, now in the room with Danzo, paused, his Hypercognition skill kicking in.

Simulation 01.

In his mind, Daichi visualized rushing forward, attacking Danzo directly from behind. The simulation showed Danzo reacting to the small disturbance in the air flow and with unexpected agility, he rolled aside and drew a concealed kunai from under his desk. The encounter ended with a fierce exchange.

Simulation 01 End.

'There are too many variables. Too much left to chance. I don't want a silent assassination to turn into a full blown confrontation. At least not before I get what I want.'

Simulation 02.

The clone entered the room undetected, staying invisible. It positioned itself strategically behind Danzo, waiting for the opportune moment when he is most absorbed in his reading. The clone moved like a ghost, a mere whisper of existence behind the elderly but deadly shinobi.

Seeing his opportunity, Daichi struck with a chakra-infused strike aimed at his neck, a deadly silent attack.

The blow was a controlled force, aimed to sever the spinal cord instantly. But Danzo, ever the survivor, had one last trick. His body flickered and the next moment it disappeared in a puff of smoke. A shadow clone.

The real Danzo, having anticipated an attack tonight of all nights, stepped out from the shadows, his eyes not surprised but resigned. "I expected someone might make a move on me, but I thought I could identify my enemy. I half expected Hiruzen but you're not him. It baffles me how an unknown like you got here so easily. Who are you?"

The question went unanswered and a battle began. The commotion drew in the guards from outside and shortly after seeing the outcome of the fight not in Danzo's favor, he destroyed Shisui's eye.

Simulation 02 End.

The mental simulation stopped and the images began to replay backwards. The simulation was created based on all the intelligence Daichi compiled on Danzo. Not even a second passed in the real world as Daichi went through two scenarios of confrontation in his mind.

'I don't know what he'll do for certain but I can't make this a drawn out battle. I need to take the perfect kill strike. And observe just showed that he isn't a clone. So that's good.'

Daichi continued with his mental calculations.

Simulation 03.

In his mind Daichi stayed invisible and lunged forward as fast as he could with ferocious intensity. A swift decisive decapitation before Danzo could activate Izanagi or destroy Shisui's Sharingan.

However, as the blade sliced through the air and neared his neck, the hairs on the old veteran ninja's body stood. Danzo's instincts honed over decades of conflict kicked in as he sensed his impending death quickly approaching. With a sudden, almost unnatural twist of his body, Danzo narrowly avoided the lethal strike. Daichi's sword cut a few centimeters into Danzo's neck and blood flew in the air. But thanks to Hashirama's cells those wounds were quickly healed.

Danzo's eye flared ominously. It was a clear warning that he was ready to rewrite his fate with Izanagi if pushed further. Seeing his assassination strike fail, Daichi, still invisible, used lightning chakra string to restrain Danzo's body.

The strings paralyzed the man's body and Daichi moved in for the prize Sharingan. But the instant Danzo felt the invisible man's fingers nearing his face he knew what the enemy was after and he disappeared from his position the next instant.

Daichi was shocked at the sudden turn of events and had to immediately dodge several vacuum air bullets coming his way. He turned around and saw Danzo with the mangekyo activated in Shisui's eye.

[Powerful Mental intrusion detected]

[Gamer's Mind has partially neutralized the attack.]

[Gamer's Mind has completely neutralized the attack.]

"You forced me to throw away my most valuable Sharingan. You'll pay for it with your life." The fury in Danzo's voice was evident and immediately a battle between Daichi and Danzo ensued.

Daichi's attacks that landed were quickly nullified and after about a minute Daichi saw Shisui's eye losing its light showing that it used Izanagi.

Simulation 03 End.

Daichi reviewed the information in the third simulation and he couldn't help but inwardly curse the old timer in front of him.

'A split second movement. A tilt of the head driven by sheer survival instinct made me miss my mark. This guy… was it luck or unnerving intuition…? Damn it. I need to keep going.'

Simulation 04.

In the next simulation, Daichi chose a brutally efficient tactic. Remaining invisible, he closed the distance between himself and Danzo, his target unaware of his approach. With a precise slice, his blade aimed not at Danzo's body but at his arm—the one bearing the array of Sharingan.

The hand was severed cleanly, falling to the ground with a sickening thud. Danzo, shocked and pained, instinctively turned to his forbidden techniques. He tried to activate Kotoamatsukami to manipulate Daichi's will, but the trauma and suddenness of the attack coupled with Daichi's strong mind rendered the attempt futile.

In a desperate pivot, Danzo sacrificed Shisui's eye to enact Izanagi, erasing the severance from existence. His hand returned as though it had never been lost, the Sharingan eerily intact.

Simulation 04 End.

A second passed in the real world as Daichi kept calm but he was beginning to get slightly annoyed.

'If he sees that victory is not possible he'll sacrifice the Kotoamatsukami and I'll fail. Such a headache.'

The gamer ninja ran through multiple simulations. In several simulations Danzo called for backup to help him fight or to escape. In some, he destroyed the eye to keep Daichi from getting it. In several others he used Kotoamatsukami and if it didn't work and if he fell into a desperate state, he'd use his suicide jutsu to kill Daichi alongside him.

After cycling through two dozen simulations, each ending with Danzo narrowly escaping or countering effectively, Daichi realized the daunting complexity of his mission.

'This is harder than I thought but still… Now I have a plan.'

Each scenario provided Daichi with invaluable insights into Danzo's capabilities and the extreme measures he would take to survive. With this knowledge, the Genin prepared to execute the plan that balanced risk with the greatest chance of success.

He sent a message to his clone and waited.

—--------------

Author's Note.

What do you guys think of all these possibilities? Comment if you guys find any flaws in my reasoning or if you want to share any interesting simulations…

There is something I have to mention. The simulation. Daichi knows about Danzo through all the information he learned from reanimated root ninjas he Interrogated, and the information compiled by Kensei throughout his career. And what he knows from his previous life.

He also factored In the reaction based on the high intense battle he had with Tsunade and Kensei during their training. All these plus a really smart brain helps Daichi makes the simulations.

Also Daichi can account for most variables but he can't account for all variables. He can predict most reactions but he can't predict every action Danzo might take in an infinite scenario. Daichi has formed a plan based on the information he learned. It might be perfect or it might not... He's good but not omniscient is what I'm trying to say…

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