Deep within the Forest of Death, the Root base lay hidden. Inside the vast, silent, and empty underground facility, the stillness was shattered by the sound of something being dragged across the floor.
Standing in the central clearing, Danzo heard the noise behind him and frowned. He turned. Immediately, he saw the Root chunin, his arms severed, dragging his own torso.
"Alive?"
Danzo's voice was ice-cold, devoid of emotion.
"The mission failed. The target is alive. Menma has reappeared, and he's already mastered the chakra of the Three-Tails…"
The one-armed Root ninja reported, head bowed. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, betraying his inner turmoil.
"I'm asking, why are you still alive?"
Danzo interrupted him, his eyes filled with a chilling coldness.
"I… Menma asked me to deliver a message to you."
The one-armed ninja's voice trembled. Although he had undergone extensive training within Root and considered himself fearless, he truly didn't want to die.
"Speak," Danzo said, his words still brief.
"He said… he told you to make sure you washed your backside clean so he wouldn't get his feet dirty when he kicked you…"
After saying this, the one-armed ninja knew he couldn't survive. He immediately stood up, turned, and slammed his head against the wall in front of him.
"For Lord Danzo! For Root!"
The one-armed ninja's loyal shouts and the sound of him bashing his head against the wall didn't elicit the intervention he hoped for. A loud thud followed, and blood splattered across the stone surface.
Watching his loyal subordinate die in the line of duty, Danzo's expression softened considerably.
"Ninjas must be prepared to sacrifice themselves. They've all died. How can you live on alone?"
"Don't worry, my good child. I will avenge you."
Waving his hand toward the darkness, Danzo turned back to his thoughts. Just as he did, he saw a thin, blood-red line emerge from the corpse of the one-armed ninja and the torso. This blood-red line instantly floated to the front of the corpse, transforming into Menma's Three-Tailed Chakra Mode form. After glancing at his surroundings, Menma charged directly at Danzo, whose back was turned.
"It's a jinchuriki!"
"Master, watch out behind you!"
A Root ninja, who had just leaped out of the darkness to dispose of the corpse, moved to block Danzo's path. But his speed was no match for Kage-level taijutsu combined with the Three-Tailed Chakra Mode. In the blink of an eye, Menma appeared behind Danzo.
Hearing the shout, Danzo turned around in shock and anger, only to see a face looming before him.
"Naruto—no, it's Menma!"
"That's right. Have you washed your ass clean?"
Danzo didn't answer. Instead, he retreated as quickly as possible, rapidly forming hand seals, intending to destroy the shadow clone. Although it was only a shadow clone formed from chakra, its speed was almost equal to that of the original. Danzo had just raised his foot when he felt a powerful kick to his rear.
"Damn it!"
Staggered by the kick, Danzo cursed angrily, then immediately turned his head, his cheeks puffing out. The next second, high-pressure wind bullets erupted from his mouth, tearing through the air toward the ethereal Menma.
B-Rank ninjutsu, Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!
Facing the attack, Menma made no attempt to defend or dodge. Looking at the furious Danzo, a mocking smile spread across his lips.
"Old Geezer, don't go out this week. You wouldn't want someone to see your period."
As the words fell, the high-pressure wind bullets pierced through Menma's slightly ethereal body.
Poof!
A sound like a balloon bursting rang out, and Menma vanished in a puff of green smoke.
"Damn it. What the hell is this bastard doing?"
Seeing Menma disappear so decisively, Danzo's face darkened considerably. Did he send a shadow clone all the way back from his base just to kick him?
Before Danzo could figure it out, he heard his subordinate's voice again.
"My lord, there's a blood-red footprint on your butt… on your back."
Upon hearing this, Danzo immediately removed his outer robe, but when he looked, there was no blood-red footprint on the robe at all.
"My lord, the footprint is still there! It didn't come off with your clothes!"
As if realizing he couldn't explain himself clearly, the Root ninja formed a hand seal, creating a water curtain in the air. Through the reflection, Danzo clearly saw the blood-red footprint on his buttocks. Without hesitation, he removed another layer of clothing. The footprint, as expected, didn't come off but appeared on the next layer.
"Menma!"
"You're very good!"
Danzo, his face as black as coal, didn't remove any more clothes. This was clearly Nine-Tails chakra attached to his body. No wonder the shadow clone became illusory before even touching the high-pressure wind bullet.
It could be said that it wasn't very harmful, but it was extremely humiliating. After instructing his subordinate to continue the mission, he quickly left the clearing.
---
Meanwhile. Inside Gato's cabin in the woods—
The Hidden Mist ninja who had previously escaped was now respectfully reporting the situation to Zabuza.
"A Hidden Leaf Jōnin, white-haired, masked, only one eye showing, and three genin?"
Based on the information he received, Zabuza frowned. If he guessed correctly, this white-haired man was likely the legendary Copy Ninja, Kakashi Hatake.
"An enemy of this caliber deserves extra pay!"
Before he could go to Gato, the door was forcefully pushed open.
"Damn it! Your men failed!"
Leading two bodyguards, Gato angrily pointed at Zabuza.
"I've paid a hefty price. Send even stronger ninjas now!"
Upon hearing Gato's words, Zabuza gripped his Executioner's Blade and swung it instantly. A blood-splattering head flew high into the air.
"You… what are you doing!?"
Gato was completely stunned by Zabuza's swift strike.
"We Hidden Mist ninjas only fight to the death!"
"Even if it's due to incorrect intelligence, those who fail must die!"
Zabuza sheathed his Executioner's Blade, glancing sideways at the dumbfounded Gato.
"I won't pursue the matter of incorrect intelligence. I will personally take action later. But now, we need to renegotiate the price."
"What!!"
Upon hearing the price, Gato instantly snapped back to reality and exploded in anger. He stormed up to Zabuza, pointing his finger at him and yelling.
"Damn it! I've already given you plenty of money. What else do you want to talk about!"
Zabuza didn't speak. Haku, the white figure standing behind him, moved with lightning speed, grabbing Gato's arm.
Crack!
"Ah!"
The sound of breaking bone accompanied Gato's scream.
"I agree to more money! I agree!"
…