The Root base was as cold and gloomy as ever.
Shimura Danzō listened to his subordinate's detailed report on Uchiha Shinsuke, his expression growing increasingly dark.
"Noha Saburou... actually fell at the hands of a twelve-year-old brat?"
"According to intelligence, Uchiha Shinsuke demonstrated masterful control of Fire Release and Lightning Release jutsu during combat, independently suppressed Noha Saburou's poison detonation, and his squad members showed seamless coordination, with all of them at chunin level," a Root ninja reported in a low voice.
Upon hearing this, Danzō's expression grew even darker.
"His growth rate is too fast, fast enough to exceed this old man's expectations."
"Compound jutsu, flawless execution of an A-rank mission..."
"This Uchiha Shinsuke is no longer merely 'worth keeping an eye on,' he is an uncontrollable variable!"
"While his wings are not yet fully grown, he is already this troublesome, and if he is allowed to continue developing, he will inevitably become a grave threat in the future!"
Killing intent was laid bare in Danzō's eyes!
"We cannot wait any longer," Danzō said slowly, "relay my order: dispatch a Root elite assassination squad and have Uchiha Shinsuke discreetly eliminated!"
"Remember, make it clean, and leave behind no evidence pointing to Root or to this old man!"
"Yes, Lord Danzō!" Several Root ninja accepted the order and departed.
...
The setting sun dyed the sky a gorgeous shade of orange-red.
Uchiha Shinsuke led his squad members, having just completed a B-rank mission and successfully annihilated a bandit group that had been raiding merchant caravans.
The consecutive high-intensity missions had left everyone feeling a touch of fatigue.
"We can finally go back and rest properly," Uchiha Kai stretched lazily, saying with a grin.
"Once we're back this time, take a week off to rest," Uchiha Shinsuke looked at the weary group and said with a smile.
"Wonderful, long live the Captain, I'm going to sleep in for a good few days this time," Uchiha Min let out a joyful cheer.
At that very moment!
[Warning! Warning! A lethal threat to the Host has been detected!!!]
[Hostile targets: Shimura Danzō's Root Elite Assassination Squad (three jonin, one of whom is an elite jonin)!]
[Threat Level: Extremely Dangerous!!!]
In his mind, the system's alarm blared like a thunderclap!
Uchiha Shinsuke's pupils instantly contracted to the size of pinpoints!
"Ambush!!!" Uchiha Shinsuke let out what was almost a roar of warning!
Before the words had even finished leaving his mouth!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Dozens of kunai and shuriken glinting with lethal cold light came shooting in from all directions like a torrential downpour!
"Scatter, form up!" Uchiha Shinsuke barked sharply.
Though stunned by the sudden attack, Min, Tetsu, and Kai reacted in an instant thanks to their long-cultivated teamwork!
The three quickly spread apart and formed a simple defensive formation back to back!
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
The crisp sounds of weapons clashing rang out without cease!
Uchiha Shinsuke's eyes were ice-cold, his two-tomoe Sharingan spinning at high speed as it took in the trajectories of every incoming projectile!
The kunai in his hand swept continuously, knocking away one lethal weapon after another!
'It's Root!' A cold weight settled in Uchiha Shinsuke's heart!
The situation was extremely bad, and if things went wrong, they might be finished here today, and it was likely that neither he nor his three squad members would escape with their lives.
'Sending an assassination squad outright... Danzō, you really do think highly of me!'
Shinsuke's eyes were filled with ice-cold killing intent!
In the instant the first wave of projectile attacks was barely fended off, the surrounding scene suddenly underwent a bizarre transformation!
The trees that had been clearly visible began to twist and blur!
Countless phantom figures surged in from all directions, charging toward them!
"Genjutsu!" Uchiha Tetsu growled under his breath and immediately attempted to dispel it.
But the level of this genjutsu was quite high, and Uchiha Tetsu failed to break it, suffering a backlash from the technique instead, immediately coughing up a mouthful of blood!
"Watch the ground!" Uchiha Min suddenly cried out in alarm!
The ground beneath their feet had, at some unknown point, become as muddy and treacherous as a swamp, restricting their movements!
Immediately after, several figures threaded out from among the phantom shadows, striking with clear purpose toward Min, Tetsu, and Kai!
The intent was obvious: eliminate Uchiha Shinsuke's squad members first.
"Bastards!" Uchiha Shinsuke roared in fury!
How could he allow his squad members to be harmed before his eyes?!
"Lightning Fire Rasengan!"
A red-and-blue intertwined chakra sphere coalesced instantly in Uchiha Shinsuke's palm, and he drove it hard into that warped genjutsu space!
"Fire Release: Flame Dragon's Roaring Song Technique!"
BOOM!!!
Ferocious chakra erupted outward!
The powerful shockwave force tore a massive breach through that intricate compound genjutsu!
The true scene was revealed once more!
All three Root ninja were jonin!
And the one at the front, wearing a wolf-face mask, emanated a chakra signature that was unmistakably that of an elite jonin, a level far above an ordinary jonin!
"Hmph, not bad reflexes, you actually managed to break through my Four-Purple Flame Mist Illusion Formation," the wolf-mask-wearing Root elite jonin let out a cold snort.
"All three of you, retreat immediately, I'll stay and cover the rear!" Uchiha Shinsuke issued the order at once.
It was obvious that under these circumstances, the slightest carelessness would mean instant death for his three squad members given their current strength.
He could not afford to look after so many people on his own.
Only by having them retreat first would he have any opportunity, whether to fight or to escape.
"Captain, we'll stay with you!"
The three said in unison.
"Follow orders, retreat, every one of them is a jonin, your strength is too low and staying will only split my focus!"
"But Captain!" Uchiha Min started to say something more, and was immediately silenced by Uchiha Shinsuke.
"Get clear fast, only once you're safe will I have a chance to leave."
"If you stay, all that happens in the end is that we all die here together."
Hearing this, the three squad members stopped hesitating and immediately leapt away into the trees.
"This is as far as you go, Uchiha Shinsuke!"
The wolf-mask elite jonin rapidly formed hand seals!
"Earth Release: Yellow Springs Swamp!"
The ground beneath Uchiha Shinsuke's feet instantly transformed into a vast expanse of quicksand and bog, its powerful suction pulling at him, threatening to drag him under!
At the same time, the other two Root jonin, one on his left and one on his right, closed in on Uchiha Shinsuke from both flanks!
Uchiha Shinsuke was immediately surrounded and trapped on all sides!
Facing the combined assault of three jonin, one of whom was an elite jonin, Uchiha Shinsuke felt a pressure unlike anything he had experienced before!
'So this is what Root's elite are... the reputation is well deserved!'
But Uchiha Shinsuke did not show a single trace of fear!
"You want to kill me, Uchiha Shinsuke? You lot... are not yet worthy!"
Uchiha Shinsuke's killing intent surged, and the two tomoe in his eyes spun rapidly.
"The ones dying today are you, come then, Root scum!"