The soft shuffle of feet broke the eerie silence in the Root base as four masked ninjas cautiously entered. Their mission was over, and they had come to report directly to Danzo. But the moment they stepped inside, the faint coppery scent of blood reached their noses.
"What is this?" one of them whispered, his voice trembling beneath his mask.
The dimly lit corridors were littered with bodies. Root operatives—men and women they had trained alongside—lay lifeless in grotesque silence. Pools of blood reflected the faint torchlight, and the metallic tang grew stronger as they ventured deeper.
"Everyone, stay on guard," ordered their leader, his voice cold but steady. His grip on his sword tightened, his instincts screaming that whatever had happened here wasn't over.
They moved in formation, checking every corner, every shadow. The deeper they went, the worse it became. The bodies were not just slain—they were executed with precision. Each had a single, clean wound to a vital organ. No signs of struggle. No wasted movements.
"This... this wasn't an attack. It was a massacre," another whispered.
Finally, they reached the heart of the base—the command chamber. There, amidst a sea of corpses, lay Danzo Shimura himself. His form was barely recognizable, bloodied and battered. His robes were torn, and both of his arms were missing, severed at the shoulders.
The leader rushed forward, crouching beside Danzo. His hand trembled as he checked for a pulse.
"He's alive," the leader said, exhaling sharply. "Barely. Grab his arms. We're taking him to the hospital."
One of the others hesitated before gingerly picking up Danzo's severed limbs. The group moved quickly but cautiously, their senses heightened for any signs of danger.
Konoha Hospital
Danzo's arrival at the hospital caused a stir, even among the seasoned medical staff. The Root operatives who carried him in refused to let anyone but the doctors near. Whispers spread through the halls, rumors of the near-death of one of Konoha's most secretive and powerful figures.
Hokage's Office
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat at his desk, his weathered hands clasped together. Across from him stood Shikaku Nara, ever composed and analytical, and Fugaku Uchiha, the head of the Uchiha clan. The conversation revolved around the delicate peace talks with Kumogakure, a task that weighed heavily on the aging Hokage.
"In a few months, the talks will begin," Hiruzen said, his tone firm. "Shikaku, I want you to gather every shred of intelligence on Kumo's potential demands. Prepare appropriate countermeasures so we're not caught off guard."
"Understood, Lord Hokage," Shikaku replied, nodding.
Turning to Fugaku, Hiruzen continued, "I want the police force on high alert. Be wary of spies or anyone suspicious entering the village. Any unusual activity must be reported directly to me."
"Consider it done," Fugaku said with a respectful bow of his head.
Just as Hiruzen was about to address the next topic, an ANBU ninja flickered into the room, his masked face revealing nothing of the urgency in his voice.
"Lord Hokage, Danzo has been brought to the hospital by Root operatives. He is gravely injured, and both of his arms have been severed."
"What?" Hiruzen's voice rose, his normally calm demeanor shattered. He stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the wooden floor.
"We do not know the full details, Lord Hokage. The Root operatives are refusing to allow anyone but the doctors near him," the ANBU continued.
Before Hiruzen could respond, another ANBU flickered into the room. His mask bore the distinct markings of a reconnaissance operative.
"Lord Hokage," he began, his tone grim, "I inspected the Root base. All of Danzo's men have been killed. The scene is... devastating."
Hiruzen's face darkened, the gravity of the situation pressing heavily on his shoulders. Shikaku, ever the strategist, stepped forward.
"May I ask some questions?" Shikaku said.
"Of course," Hiruzen replied.
"To the ANBU who investigated the base—was there any sign of a struggle? What can you tell us about the way the Root operatives were killed?"
"There were no signs of struggle," the ANBU reported. "Each operative was killed with a single strike to a vital organ. The wounds were precise, made with a blade rather than ninjutsu."
Shikaku frowned, crossing his arms in thought. "A single strike, every time? No wasted movements... This wasn't just skill. It was perfection. Whoever did this is a master of kenjutsu."
"What are you implying?" Fugaku asked, narrowing his eyes.
"The perpetrator is likely a shinobi of Konoha," Shikaku began. "If it were an external enemy, they wouldn't bother targeting Root. Root is loyal only to Danzo, not to Konoha. This was personal. Whoever did this had a grudge against him."
Fugaku's expression soured, his sharp gaze darting to Shikaku. "Are you suggesting the Uchiha are responsible?"
Shikaku raised a hand, his tone calm. "Not at all. The Uchiha have no history of such precise kenjutsu skills, and you wouldn't be able to hide an operation like this. No, my suspicions lie elsewhere."
Hiruzen looked at Shikaku, his brow furrowing. "You don't mean... Kakashi?"
Shikaku nodded. "It's too much of a coincidence. He returned to the village yesterday. He has the skill, the precision, and the motivation."
Hiruzen sighed heavily. "Summon him."
Training Grounds.
Unaware of the former events, Kakashi was at the training grounds with Guy and Naruto. The crisp morning air carried the faint sounds of birds chirping as Guy stretched dramatically, his green jumpsuit glinting in the sunlight.
"Naruto, stay back, see that three go there" Kakashi said, his tone unusually firm.
Naruto frowned but obeyed, moving to a safe distance of a few hundred meters near a large tree.
"Come on, Kakashi!" Guy said, his voice booming with enthusiasm. "It's been two years! Aren't you excited?"
Kakashi sighed, pulling up his headband to reveal his Sharingan. "I suppose I am. Let's see how much you've improved."
They began with basic exchanges of strikes, both testing the waters. Guy's punches were fast and powerful, but Kakashi countered them with ease, his Sharingan predicting every move.
"Don't hold back, Guy. I won't," Kakashi said, his tone sharp.
Guy grinned. "Then let's make this interesting!"
He opened the first gate, his speed doubling instantly. The ground beneath his feet cracked as he launched a flurry of attacks. Kakashi dodged with minimal movement, his Sharingan glowing faintly.
The fight escalated gradually, each movement becoming more precise, more dangerous. Guy opened gate after gate, his power growing exponentially. Kakashi responded in kind, his Sage Mode enveloping him in a faint aura.
Naruto watched from afar, his mouth agape. The sheer force of their battle caused shockwaves that rattled the trees. He could barely keep his eyes on them, their movements too fast for him to follow.
As the fight continued, more and more shinobi were drawn to the commotion. Jonin, ANBU, and even the Uchiha Police arrived, their eyes widening at the spectacle. Among them were Shisui and Itachi, both stunned by the level of power on display.
"Kakashi-senpai and Guy... are they really this strong?" Shisui murmured.
Itachi nodded silently, his fists clenching.
The battle reached its climax when Guy opened the Seventh Gate, his body radiating blue energy. Kakashi, in turn, unleashed his Chidori, the crackling lightning illuminating the field. The clash of their final attacks sent a shockwave that flattened the surrounding area.
When the dust settled, both men stood panting, their clothes torn and their bodies bruised.
"Hahaha... I lost this time, Kakashi," Guy said, his voice weak but filled with admiration.
"It was close," Kakashi admitted, lowering his hand.
As the onlookers dispersed, murmurs of awe filled the air. Shisui and Itachi exchanged glances, silently acknowledging the gap between them and the two combatants.
Kakashi turned to Naruto, giving him a rare smile. "That's the strength you'll have to surpass someday."