Chapter 39: You Youngsters Have No Honor! Sneak Attacks, Really?
The dim lamps on the walls cast flickering shadows, and the pathway spiraled downwards. The railing on the side bordered a bottomless darkness, impossible to see what lay beneath.
"Just as I expected from Root..." Kazuya mused to himself.
This was his first time entering the infamous Root base.
Who knows how long they had been descending through the spiraling passage when the Root ninja suddenly stopped in front of a door. Bowing slightly, he said, "Captain Kazuya, Lord Danzo is waiting for you inside."
"Alright," Kazuya nodded. "Thank you."
"It was my pleasure... Captain Kazuya, you're too kind!" The Root operative now sounded much more polite.
Root trained its members to be emotionless killers, willing to sacrifice even their comrades for the mission. But even in such a cold, calculated environment, true fear could still surface when faced with overwhelming power.
This particular Root member was no exception. Even when his comrades were captured, he remained unflinching. But in the presence of Kazuya, he was shaken to his core by the sheer force radiating from him.
Kazuya pushed open the door and stepped inside.
In the room sat a man in a black robe, his body wrapped in bandages. Danzo Shimura, head of Root, stared at Kazuya with cold, calculating eyes.
"Welcome," Danzo said, his voice carrying an unmistakable chill, "It's a pleasure to meet you... Kazuya."
[You have gained 200 Chakra Points.]
[You have gained 200 Chakra Points.]
[You have gained 100 Chakra Points.]
[You have gained 100 Wind Release Proficiency Points.]
[You have gained 100 Wind Release Proficiency Points.]
[Your Wind Release has leveled up to Level 5 (0/1000).]
The moment Kazuya entered the room, he had already racked up 500 Chakra points and leveled up his Wind Release ability to Level 5.
Not bad! This new character introduction was already yielding some impressive loot!
"Likewise, it's a pleasure," Kazuya responded with a genuine smile.
Danzo raised an eyebrow. The excitement in Kazuya's tone was puzzling—why did he seem so eager? It was incomprehensible.
Behind his mask, Kazuya's expression grew playful.
"Should I pick a fight? Maybe stir up some trouble with Danzo..."
He was tempted. Danzo, with his mastery of Wind Release, was a formidable foe, on par with Orochimaru. If they fought, Kazuya could likely max out his Wind Release proficiency in one go!
It was tempting...
And with his current power, Kazuya felt confident that he would win the fight. He just had to be cautious of Danzo's notoriously tricky sealing techniques.
Just as Kazuya was considering his next move, Danzo suddenly reached into his sleeve and pulled out two scrolls, laying them on the mat in front of him.
"Kazuya," Danzo began, his voice dripping with false sincerity, "You and I are both destined for greatness, so I won't beat around the bush."
"I admire you greatly."
He gestured to the scrolls. "One contains the forbidden technique, Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu. The other is a letter of recommendation from me."
Danzo's gaze locked onto Kazuya as he continued, "Join me, and I will personally recommend you for a position in Konoha's Administrative Department. I guarantee that within five years, you'll take over the roles of Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado."
The Konoha Administration Department, responsible for advising the Hokage and managing relations with the Land of Fire's daimyo, was a position of considerable influence.
In Danzo's mind, this was an irresistible offer—an elite position in the upper echelons of Konoha's government.
"Kazuya, I truly believe in your potential," Danzo said with a smile that feigned sincerity. "I hope you make the right choice."
The Administrative Department?
Full of weaklings and bureaucrats. Kazuya would rather die than get stuck there.
And Danzo, offering all this so kindly? Yeah, right!
Kazuya, who was well-versed in the true nature of the world, knew exactly who he was dealing with. Danzo was a man who would betray his closest allies in pursuit of power.
Admire him? More like Danzo was plotting something.
Behind his mask, Kazuya's expression grew thoughtful.
Danzo's sudden friendliness was suspicious. What was his true motive?
It couldn't be as simple as recruiting him. No, it was more complicated.
Kazuya's eyes narrowed. Could it be that he had risen through the ranks too quickly, getting too close to the Third Hokage's faction?
Maybe the Third had made a move in his absence, binding Kazuya even more firmly to his cause. That would explain Danzo's sense of urgency.
Even in Konoha, a newly risen elite like Kazuya was a valuable asset.
This meeting? It was likely staged to throw the Third off, to sow discord.
Danzo probably knew he wouldn't succeed in recruiting Kazuya, but even if he didn't, it would still create doubt. Just the fact that Kazuya was meeting with Danzo in secret could plant seeds of suspicion.
A clever play—classic Danzo.
Recruitment or not, Danzo would still get what he wanted. It was a no-lose situation for him.
Well played, Danzo.
But Kazuya smiled softly. He had no intention of letting Danzo get what he wanted so easily.
"I happened to gather some interesting information during my fight with Orochimaru," Kazuya said slowly.
"Information?" Danzo's expression darkened instantly.
Then, in a tone laced with righteousness, Kazuya declared, "Danzo, I have reason to believe that you've been colluding with Orochimaru's faction. You need to answer for your actions to the village—to the Hokage."
"So…" Kazuya stepped forward, his voice growing cold, "Surrender now. The village will give you a fair trial."
Before Danzo could even react, Kazuya blurred forward, a kunai flashing toward Danzo's throat.
What the—?!
Danzo's eyes widened in shock.
Didn't this kid just say "surrender"?
Then why was his kunai aiming for his neck?!
This was insane!
"Youngsters today have no honor! This is a sneak attack!" Danzo barely managed to flip the table in front of him, narrowly avoiding the lethal strike.
Swish, swish, swish!
In an instant, a dozen Root operatives rushed into the room, surrounding Kazuya.
…