Chapter 16: The Root of Darkness
Naruto stared at the fading curse mark on the dead ANBU's tongue, his expression hardening.
Only Root places curse seals on their agents' tongues.
Root. The organization Danzō had built in secret, beneath the shadow of the Hokage's authority. The curse seal was Danzō's method of control—a failsafe to ensure his subordinates could never betray his secrets or speak of Root's existence. The moment anyone attempted to reveal information about Danzō or his operations, the seal would activate, killing them on the spot.
That was why this ANBU had refused to answer Naruto's questions. He had known from the beginning that speaking would mean death. And even in failure... the root had no good end.
It was Danzō.
Naruto had already suspected as much, but confirming the target sent a chill through him nonetheless.
Is Konoha moving against me?
He considered the question carefully, then dismissed it. No. If the village truly wanted to eliminate him, they wouldn't send a single Root operative in the middle of the night. They wouldn't need to be so secretive. And most importantly, Third Hokage would not be kept in the dark about such an decision.
No, this was Danzō acting alone. A personal move, hidden from the Hokage's watchful eyes.
He's growing impatient.
Naruto exhaled slowly, his fists clenching at his sides. He had known for years that Danzō wanted to control him—to take him into Root, to brainwash him into a weapon. Years ago, Danzō had sent agents to capture him, but each time, Third Hokage's ANBU had intercepted them before they could get close. Naruto had never seen those clashes, but he had felt them—the distant tremors of conflict, the lingering tension on his rooftop some nights.
Now, for reasons Naruto could only guess at, Danzō had tried again. Was it connected to Mizuki's death? Perhaps the old war hawk saw an opportunity. Perhaps he was simply growing bolder.
Naruto took a deep breath, calming the rapid beat of his heart.
It didn't matter. Not anymore.
He now possessed the power to protect himself. He had just killed a Jōnin-level operative—not with difficulty, not with desperation, but with cold, controlled ease. His first real use of Senbonzakura's Shikai had been devastating. The ANBU hadn't stood a chance.
That wasn't even my full power.
True, this Jōnin was far below the caliber of Kakashi or the other elite veterans. But he was still Jōnin. And Naruto had killed him like swatting a fly.
With the Eight Inner Gates, with Senbonzakura, with his Byakuya Kuchiki template now unlocked to nearly 90%, Naruto was confident he could face even Danzō himself if it came to that.
But more importantly, Danzō would not find it easy to move against him again. Third Hokage would not allow his precious Jinchūriki—monitored and controlled for years—to fall into someone else's hands. That would threaten the balance of power. That would weaken Hiruzen's position.
Politics, Naruto thought bitterly. They fight over me like dogs over a bone.
The Third Hokage might not have known about tonight's attack. But if Danzō tried again, Hiruzen would notice. And he would act.
After all, if Danzō could hide one attempt, could he hide two? Three? If he could, then the Hokage was not worthy of his hat.
Naruto disposed of the body quickly and efficiently—erasing all evidence of the struggle. The blood was cleaned, the broken kunai collected, the corpse hidden where no one would find it. To any observer passing by, the street would look as empty and peaceful as ever.
Then, as if nothing had happened, Naruto walked the remaining distance to his apartment, climbed the stairs, and went inside to rest.
Tomorrow would bring new challenges. And tonight... tonight would remain a secret buried in darkness.
——————————
Elsewhere, in a dim, windowless basement lit only by flickering candles, an old man sat in meditation.
Shimura Danzō's eyes were closed, his bandaged form still as a statue. The only movement was the slow rise and fall of his chest.
Then, abruptly, his eyes snapped open.
A curse seal had vanished from his感知—one belonging to the Root operative he had dispatched to capture the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
Dead.
Danzō's face, already grim, darkened further. His visible eye burned with cold fury.
"Sarutobi..." he growled, the name dripping with venom.
At the sound of his voice, several masked Root operatives materialized from the shadows, dropping to one knee before him.
"Danzō-sama. What has happened?"
"The agent sent to retrieve the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki is dead," Danzō said, his voice a low, dangerous rasp.
A ripple of shock passed through the kneeling operatives. "What?! Who would dare—"
Danzō cut him off with a sharp gesture. His eye narrowed to a furious slit.
"Who else?" he spat. "That old fool Sarutobi. Who else in this village would dare lay a hand on my Root?"
He rose from his meditation seat, his cane clicking against the stone floor as he paced.
"Sarutobi has always kept me from the Jinchūriki. We have clashed over this a dozen times. And now... now he sends a message." Danzō's voice dripped with barely suppressed rage. "A warning. 'Stay away from the demon fox.' He killed my operative to prove a point."
The kneeling Root agents exchanged uneasy glances but said nothing.
"Do you wish us to demand an explanation?" one asked cautiously.
Danzō whirled on him, his eye blazing. "Demand? From the Hokage? And say what? 'Why did you kill my secret operative who was trying to steal your Jinchūriki?'" He scoffed, turning away. "No. We will not confront him openly. Not yet."
His voice dropped to a sinister whisper.
"Our roots have not yet grown deep enough to challenge the Hokage's authority. But when they do... when the time is right... I will make Sarutobi understand. His decisions are weak. His mercy is foolishness. And the village will only be strong when I am the one leading it."
Danzō's fingers tightened around the handle of his cane, his knuckles white.
For now, he would swallow this loss. He would retreat into the shadows and wait.
But he would not forget.
And he would not forgive.