Chapter 16: Establishing Differences, Determining Life and Death

To celebrate our 500th collection, I'm releasing a bonus chapter. Envoy ! (Next bonus chapters when we get 1000 collections)

Haru slowly typed a question mark in his mind.

How did Kakashi end up here?

This wasn't his concern.

If he hadn't jumped in out of nowhere, Haru would have already dealt with these ROOT ninjas himself.

"These people are ROOT ninjas trained by Danzo."

Kakashi adjusted his headband, revealing his hidden left eye shrouded in darkness.

Dealing with several ROOT ninjas while ensuring Haru remained unharmed would clearly be unrealistic.

"I'll protect you, don't worry."

As Kakashi spoke, he remained alert, keeping an eye on the gathering ROOT members.

This kind of incident wasn't the first of its kind.

Back when the Third Hokage resumed his position, Danzo had once sent his ROOT to assassinate him.

But just like that time, Kakashi would not allow them to succeed.

"How did you get here?" Haru couldn't help but ask.

In his impression, Kakashi at this time wasn't particularly warm-hearted; in fact, the opposite was true.

Because of Obito and Rin's deaths, he had never forgiven himself.

It was their deaths that drove Kakashi to join the Anbu, taking on dangerous missions in hopes of finding relief through death.

"It was the Third's order."

Kakashi fell silent for a few seconds before slowly bringing up the Third Hokage.

In reality, the Third hadn't given any orders regarding Haru's protection.

The Anbu, under the Third Hokage, had duties beyond various missions; ensuring the safety of the jinchuriki was also part of their responsibility.

Today, it just happened that he was on duty.

While observing the jinchuriki, Naruto, he noticed something unusual with the ROOT members.

To his surprise, Danzo's ROOT had intended to privately execute Haru.

Although he didn't understand Danzo's motives for doing this, Kakashi's intuition told him that if the Third Hokage knew about it, he would never allow such a tragedy to occur.

Fortunately, when he caught up, the ROOT ninjas had just drawn their kunai to attack Haru.

"Didn't you see me take down two ROOT members earlier?" Haru frowned. If Kakashi had seen that scene, he shouldn't think Haru needed protection.

"Be careful, they're coming!"

Suddenly, eight ROOT ninjas sprang into action at the same time. The leader signaled with a gesture, ordering everyone to disperse and reform their formation.

Three of them charged directly at Kakashi, wielding long swords, making powerful slashes or sweeps, while intentionally shifting directions to attack him from the left, right, and front simultaneously.

The intention of these three ROOT ninjas was quite clear: even if they couldn't secure a one-hit kill, they could at least restrain Kakashi to create an opportunity for the others.

Haru glanced at the positions of the others. Although he didn't possess Kakashi's Sharingan, his basic attributes were stronger than Kakashi's.

He suddenly took a few steps back to distance himself from Kakashi, clenched his fist, and struck at the first ROOT ninja that approached him.

With the effect of releasing chakra, Haru's fist formed a chakra gauntlet, directly striking the ROOT ninja's blade.

Bang!

The sound exploded between them, followed by the long sword shattering.

"Ha!"

Haru advanced in a low stance, delivering a punch directly to the opponent's abdomen.

However, the other ROOT ninjas weren't pushovers either; in their mindset, they had no concept of comradeship.

Even when acting together, they wouldn't care about each other's lives.

To them, the death of this ROOT member would only matter in terms of value.

If he could create opportunities for their subsequent assassination, then it was a worthy death.

In a blink, the remaining four ROOT ninjas charged from different directions.

In fact, one of the ROOT's blades pierced through the ninja in front of Haru, aiming to drive the sword through Haru's throat.

Cruel and merciless.

Haru looked coldly at the incoming blade, understanding that these ROOT members were no longer human and could never return to being so.

Their existence had only one value: to clear obstacles for Danzo.

Snap!

Haru seized the blade with his chakra defenses, then with a powerful shake, he sent his chakra along the weapon, reflecting it outward.

Boom!

With a tremendous noise, Haru snapped the blade in half, then turned and threw it.

Whoosh!

Haru's movement was clean and efficient, the flying short sword stabbed into the left eye of the pursuing ROOT ninja, piercing through the back of his head.

Thud!

The ROOT member didn't even make a sound before collapsing at Haru's feet.

The remaining ROOT members were equally astonished by Haru's skills.

Not to mention a student who hadn't even graduated from the ninja academy, even seasoned jonin might not have been able to move as fluidly as he did.

Most importantly…

Every strike from Haru was aimed at vital points.

He was neither afraid nor anxious, as if he had already weathered great storms and understood what ninja combat entailed.

Clearly establishing differences, and deciding life and death!

A decisive killer!

"This is what you asked for," Haru said in a cold tone, quickly forming hand seals.

This was the only jutsu he had mastered.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

As the final incantation erupted from Haru's throat, a large fireball swiftly shot from his mouth, forming a massive sphere.

However, unlike Sasuke, who merely maintained the fireball in front of him, Haru forcefully separated the Great Fireball from himself, rolling it forward to crash into the two ROOT members and continue roaring into the nearby forest, incinerating them completely.

"Ha…"

Haru took a deep breath and turned to see Kakashi still engaged in a back-and-forth with the last three ROOT members.

As expected of him.

Haru couldn't help but rub his forehead.

The title of "evenly matched" was indeed well-deserved.

He could hold his own against anyone.

"Need any help?"

Haru shook his head helplessly and asked.

While Kakashi was still not at a disadvantage against the three ROOT members, winning was just a matter of time.

But Haru didn't have time to waste!

He had to get up for school tomorrow!

Moreover, he was only thirteen years old in this reincarnated body!

If he didn't get to sleep early, how would he grow taller?

Girls cared about height… and other things!

However, a sound from behind made Kakashi pause.

What did Haru mean by needing help?

Wasn't it his job to protect him?

Thinking of this, Kakashi instinctively glanced back. Using his Sharingan, he made sure the next enemy attack wouldn't affect him.

But when he caught a glimpse, he nearly froze in place.

He saw several ROOT members lying awkwardly at Haru's feet, unable to move.

He didn't need to think hard to know what had happened.

Suddenly, Kakashi's mind conjured the face of that man.

'Uchiha Itachi!'

Haru and he were geniuses of the same caliber!

In fact, he might even surpass him!