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Chapter 10: Since I'm Already Here, Might as Well Tour Konoha!
After eliminating the pursuing Root operatives, Oborotsuki didn't leave immediately.
He searched the bodies and found a classified document.
Combined with the captain's earlier question about killing the Daimyō's aides, he confirmed: Root had simply been tasked by the Fire Daimyō's office to hunt down the assassins of key political figures.
"They haven't discovered our real purpose yet… but still."
Oborotsuki stood, leaped onto a tree branch, and gazed into the distance.
Konoha was only a few dozen kilometers away. Since he was already here, why not take a look?
Beyond further terrain scouting and preliminary reconnaissance, he also wanted to personally confirm how long until Uzumaki Kushina gave birth.
With that thought, his figure flickered and vanished.
…
Konoha Hidden Village, Hokage's Office.
"Lord Third."
Kakashi appeared before Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato Namikaze. "We just received word—Root intercepted a letter from the Daimyō's office."
"After verification, it's a report on the recent aide murders and a request for Konoha's assistance."
"Danzo intercepted the Daimyō's plea for help…?"
Hiruzen's expression darkened as he slowly lit his pipe, deep in thought.
"Lord Third, should I head out personally?"
Minato turned to him.
After a puff, Hiruzen glanced over. "Danzo blocking the Daimyō's request for aid isn't simple."
"If Root catches the killers before you do, it'll be a serious blow to your reputation as the soon-to-be Fourth Hokage."
"The Daimyō's office will also have complaints."
Hiruzen's words were a clear hint: Minato could go after them himself.
"Understood, Lord Third."
"I'll head out now."
Minato turned to Kakashi, currently in ANBU. "Any detailed intel on the enemy?"
"Not yet, but we have the direction Root's secret team moved in…"
Kakashi relayed the ANBU investigation findings.
"I'll be back soon."
Minato nodded, then activated Flying Thunder God and vanished.
"Kakashi, return and guard Kushina."
"This is a sensitive time—stay vigilant!"
Hiruzen ordered the still-kneeling Kakashi.
"Understood."
Kakashi disappeared.
…
Kakashi crouched on a rooftop, eyes scanning the night-shrouded Konoha.
Inside the house below was Kushina, heavily pregnant and resting.
She was quietly chatting with the baby in her belly—little Naruto—murmuring lovingly.
Kakashi listened with calm warmth.
Then, a young voice suddenly spoke nearby.
"This place was harder to find than I thought… Konoha really is huge…"
"Who's there?!"
Kakashi leaped up, alert, eyes locking onto the source.
A figure carrying a massive blade materialized like a ghost.
Seeing Oborotsuki appear, Kakashi's pupils contracted. His hand instinctively gripped the tanto on his back.
"Who are you?"
He demanded, tense, tracking every movement.
One wrong twitch and he'd strike with full force.
"Oh… someone's actually here."
Oborotsuki recognized Kakashi instantly. No need for talk.
He activated his Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Those eyes…"
"You're an Uchiha?!"
Kakashi's shock was immediate at the swirling pattern.
But the next instant, his body trembled.
"I… can't move."
Cold sweat dripped down his cheek. His pupils flickered in disbelief—he'd been paralyzed by genjutsu in a single glance.
He hadn't even had time to activate his own Sharingan.
Is this the gap between me and a true Uchiha?
Kakashi watched Oborotsuki approach step by step, feeling genuine fear for the first time.
…
Minato used Flying Thunder God, following Kakashi's clues out of the village.
Soon he reached the battlefield—and immediately frowned.
The dark forest reeked of thick blood.
Bad sign.
Pushing forward, he found the twelve Root corpses.
"All killed in one hit. Death times almost identical. No signs of resistance at all…"
"The enemy struck incredibly fast."
"And they're strong!"
Minato didn't touch the bodies.
He'd seen plenty of traps on enemy corpses—explosive tags, hidden seals.
A quick scan was enough for judgment.
Someone capable of instantly wiping out twelve Root ANBU was rare.
He searched the area—no further clues.
Things felt even worse.
"Better get back to Konoha and check the situation!"
Worried for the village, Minato decisively activated Flying Thunder God and left.
As for the Root bodies, he'd noticed on the way here that Danzo had other squads en route to recover them.
They'd arrive soon enough.
…
Oborotsuki had expected Konoha to be stronger at this stage.
After all, besides Tsunade, both Jiraiya and Orochimaru were still in the village, and Minato was about to become Fourth Hokage.
But infiltrating personally revealed the truth: the so-called strongest ninja village's defenses were… mediocre.
The anti-intrusion barrier was completely ineffective against space-time ninjutsu.
Aside from a few elite fighters, ordinary ninjas posed no threat.
Even the Uchiha Police Force patrols on guard duty barely detected him.
It wasn't quite "walking through unimpeded"—Kakashi had eventually spotted him.
But that wasn't Kakashi being weak.
It was just that, facing Mangekyō power for the first time, caught off-guard, and struck first—falling to genjutsu was inevitable.
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