Fū vanished from where he stood.
The room blurred.
A killing strike—fast, precise, aimed straight for Arata's throat.
Too fast for an ordinary chūnin.
Too fast even for most jōnin.
But Arata had already stepped aside.
No hand seals.
No visible movement.
Fū's strike cut through empty air.
Golden lightning flashed.
Not violently.
Not explosively.
Just enough.
Crack.
Fū's body slammed into the wall, embedding him halfway into solid wood.
The entire exchange lasted less than a second.
Arata stood where he was, expression unchanged.
"…That was a mistake," he said quietly.
Fū struggled, blood running from the corner of his mouth.
He stared at Arata as if looking at something inhuman.
"This speed… this control…" Fū muttered. "You're not chūnin-level."
Arata didn't deny it.
He walked closer, stopping just outside Fū's reach.
"Listen carefully," Arata said. "I don't belong to Root."
"And I never will."
Fū clenched his teeth.
"You think refusing is that simple?" he hissed. "Once Danzō takes interest in you, there's no—"
"There is," Arata interrupted. "Because I don't need Root."
He raised one finger.
Golden chakra flickered faintly.
"If you try this again," Arata continued evenly,
"I won't just throw you out of my house."
"I'll make sure Danzō understands exactly how expensive I am to touch."
Fū went still.
For the first time in his life as a Root operative, fear surfaced clearly.
This wasn't bravado.
This wasn't a threat made in ignorance.
This boy knew what he was saying.
After a long pause, Fū exhaled slowly.
"…I'll report this," he said.
"You do that," Arata replied. "And tell him one more thing."
Fū looked up.
"I'm loyal to Konoha," Arata said.
"But I choose how."
Golden lightning flickered once more.
The next instant, Fū was gone—thrown clear of the compound, vanishing into the darkness.
The room fell silent again.
Arata closed the window and leaned against the wall.
"…Troublesome old man," he muttered.
He already knew what would happen next.
Danzō wouldn't give up.
But he also wouldn't act rashly.
Not after tonight.
Arata lay back down, staring at the ceiling.
"If even Root is moving now…" he thought,
"then the Third's plan is already accelerating."
He closed his eyes.
Tomorrow—
He would go to the Archives.
And start preparing properly.
Because from this moment on,
he was no longer just a promising ninja.
He was a piece on the board.
And he intended to decide his own moves.
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read 50 chapter ahead on P@treon if you're interested: patreon.com/MrSenpai0