Chapter 40
**Night.** A weary Danzo returned to the Root base located beneath the Death Forest.
He unfolded the scroll detailing the assassination plan for the Third Hokage.
The outcome of his failure was already evident, and he didn't dwell on it too much.
Until the news of capturing Uchiha Haneda and Hatake Kakashi appeared before him, he completely lost control.
A Root jōnin was actually killed by two little brats?!!
The Uchiha brat, born evil, created at least B-rank lightning techniques to take out a jōnin in an instant?!!
Muramasa exploded himself at the moment of death, and Kakashi actually took an attack for Uchiha Haneda?!!
Absurd feelings boiled up within him.
Danzo held the scroll close to his eyes, reading it word by word.
The more he read, the more astonished he became, and his expression grew stranger.
A lowly genin, Might Guy, obliterated thirty Root ninjas, saving the Hokage's guard from peril?!!
With one move, "Day Tiger," he killed seven Root elites, including three jōnin and two special jōnin?!!
Ridiculous!
Absolutely ridiculous!!
"Who wrote this report? Where did the intel come from?!" Danzo roared.
"Reporting to Lord Danzo, the intel comes from the spies embedded in the Hokage's office and the returning ninjas," a cautious Root ninja replied.
BANG!!!
The sound of slamming the table echoed through the empty base.
Danzo propped his hands on the stone table, staring intently at the path leading to Konoha.
"Hiizashi! You've gone too far!!!"
---
**Night Moon.**
The Third Hokage sat in his office, writing an apology letter to the feudal lord.
Suddenly, a surge of memories washed over him, and his calm expression turned to shock.
The lowly genin, Might Guy, unleashed a forbidden technique, instantly raising his power to the level of a Hokage, and kicked to death seven elite Root ninjas.
How terrifying!!
Just the aura of the "Day Tiger" from the memory made the Third Hokage hesitant to face it directly.
That kick would surely either kill or severely injure anyone!!
What surprised him even more was that Haneda and Kakashi managed to counterattack against the Root jōnin!
Every Root ninja had undergone countless life-and-death battles.
The missions they executed started at least at the A-rank level!
The blood on their hands could drown a person!
Let alone the elite jōnin!!
The Third Hokage took a deep drag on his pipe; the nicotine stimulated his brain, allowing him to fill in the battle scene with vague impressions.
Haneda and Kakashi first tested the waters with shurikens and explosive tags, following the proper procedure.
But when Haneda charged forward with that kick, he felt reminiscent of Tsunade.
Both were filled with violence; Tsunade used her fists, while Haneda used his legs.
The elite of the Root were undoubtedly very wary and had planned thoroughly, using shadow clones to attract Haneda and Kakashi's attention.
Meanwhile, the real body remained hidden behind a mound of dirt, in a position almost everyone would instinctively overlook.
In the darkness beneath the light, Haneda and Kakashi had undoubtedly fallen for the trick.
At that moment, the Root jōnin, taking advantage of the dust, swiftly took control of Haneda as he broke free.
But then Kakashi began to perform.
He utilized a prepared mirror in conjunction with Haneda's Sharingan, forcing the Root ninja to avert his gaze.
Haneda seized the opportunity to escape.
The battlefield was rapidly changing; at the moment of crisis, Kakashi managed to devise a method for Haneda to get away.
Haneda immediately understood Kakashi's intention and performed a genjutsu in cooperation.
Without a doubt, Kakashi was not only a genius in ninjutsu but also a genius in tactics.
And Haneda was a highly competent ninja, very adept at cooperating with his teammates.
This brief exchange already represented a peak that most ninjas could never hope to reach.
The subsequent battle further elevated the psychological warfare and combat collaboration to new heights.
Haneda used shadow clones to obscure Kakashi's vision, and Kakashi took the opportunity to use shadow clones and transformation techniques.
The real body transformed into Haneda's form, leading the Root jōnin to mistakenly believe it was Haneda's shadow clone, while the shadow clone confused the Root ninjas' vision.
At that moment, Kakashi's shadow clone threw Wind Shadow shuriken at the Root jōnin, and Haneda's major action seemed to counterattack.
This motive made the Root jōnin subconsciously think that the two were about to launch a counterattack.
But at that moment, Haneda and Kakashi's shadow clones simultaneously chose to flee!!
This move was truly a stroke of genius, dispelling all the doubts of the Root jōnin.
The counterattack was a façade, while the retreat was the strategy.
But who could have imagined that in a battle where delaying time was bound to lead to victory, two disadvantaged individuals would choose to counterattack?
With the added tactical misdirection, the Root jōnin had certainly fallen for it.
And the real Haneda, hiding as a Wind Shadow shuriken, along with Kakashi's real body disguised as Haneda, were both mistakenly thought to be tools for buying time.
At that moment, the counterattack began!
Kakashi locked eyes with the Root jōnin and cast a genjutsu.
In that instant, the Root jōnin had no chance to evade and could only break the genjutsu first.
Meanwhile, the Haneda who had turned into a Wind Shadow shuriken had already circled around behind him, delivering a lightning jutsu that ended his life.
Simultaneously, he cast a genjutsu, attempting to completely control him without leaving any chances.
But unexpectedly, the Root jōnin had already completed the action to disrupt his own chakra.
With the last of his consciousness, he initiated self-detonation!
This will and awareness were truly awe-inspiring.
The Third Hokage took several deep puffs on his pipe, trying to calm himself.
He recalled that incredible battle and suddenly let out a long sigh.
Haneda had used a lightning technique in that battle that he had never seen before; its power was at least B-rank.
If it were self-created, then his ninjutsu talent was indeed rare for a hundred years.
Even his most accomplished disciple, Orochimaru, could not compare.
And precisely because of Haneda's talent, this matter became even more troublesome.
After the surprise attack, Haneda fainted from excessive chakra use, and Kakashi was gravely injured while shielding Haneda.
This entire incident was instigated by himself and Danzo, which meant the higher-ups of Konoha...
Dealing with Might Guy, who had a good relationship with Haneda, would be easy; a little manipulation would suffice.
But dealing with Shikaku, who had already gone through the murky waters of Konoha's high-ranking officials, would be much more challenging.
Moreover, the Uchiha clan was watching from the sidelines, ready to act.
Hatake Shikaku, Might Guy, Uchiha Kenji, and the Uchiha clan...
Both high-end and mid-low-end combat powers were already in place; if they provoked them to launch a coup...
The consequences would be unimaginable!!
The Third Hokage rubbed his temples, his expression weary.
He believed that people like Hatake Shikaku and Might Guy wouldn't betray the village, but the Uchiha clan was uncertain.
"Uchiha Haneda, Hatake Kakashi…"
"It seems I need to think about how to compensate them."
The Third Hokage stood up and asked the hidden ANBU around him:
"Where are Uchiha Haneda and Hatake Kakashi? Are they in any life-threatening danger?"
"They are currently being urgently transported to Konoha; neither is in life-threatening danger at the moment."
"Where is Tsunade now?" the Third Hokage asked again.
"Lady Tsunade is currently at XX casino, with a ninja school student named Shizune."
"Shizune… is also in Haneda and Kakashi's class." The Third Hokage murmured and ordered the ANBU,
"Bring Tsunade to see me. No, just tell her about Haneda and Kakashi and ask her to go to the hospital."
***
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