Hokage: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 92: Danzo: Who Are You?

In a remote, eerie forest, the sounds of clashing metal, grunts, and bodies hitting the ground echoed continuously. After a final burst of dust settled, everything became eerily quiet.

This was the Forbidden Forest area designated by the Hidden Leaf Village. Only Root ninjas were permitted here; ordinary villagers and Leaf ninjas were strictly forbidden. Due to its remote location, even though fierce battles were occurring, the village remained largely unaware. Even if nearby Leaf ninjas sensed something amiss, Danzo's notorious reputation kept them from acting without explicit orders.

In a clearing littered with kunai, shuriken, and corpses, Hagoromo Gengetsu held a Root ninja aloft, his dark eyes rapidly spinning as he extracted information. After a minute, he tossed the ninja aside. The ninja’s head struck a kunai embedded in the ground, ending his life instantly.

With this, the team sent to capture Souke and his associates was completely annihilated. Hagoromo Gengetsu didn’t linger and swiftly moved toward the Root base’s location as per the information he had obtained.

Ten minutes later, Hagoromo Gengetsu arrived at an area indistinguishable from any other part of the forest. Yet, this was the infamous Root base. Following the instructions from the captured Root ninja, he performed a series of hand signs, dispelling an invisible barrier.

Before him, an iron gate leading underground appeared. This was the headquarters, officially known as the “Anbu Training Department.” Without hesitation, Hagoromo Gengetsu smashed the gate open with a punch and boldly walked in.

“Who dares?!” “Stop right there!” 

The two Root ninjas on guard duty were stunned to see the entrance breached—a first in the base’s history. They immediately launched an attack. In an instant, they were blasted back like cannonballs, embedding deep into the wall and bleeding heavily.

The sound of firm footsteps echoed through the cold, dark underground base.

“Dare? Stop? Today, Root will be erased from the ninja world,” Hagoromo Gengetsu declared as he emerged from the shadows, facing the fully activated Root base.

Alarms blared throughout the base. In a hidden chamber, Danzo’s already grim face grew darker with the approaching commotion. Soon, a Root ninja reported, “Lord Danzo, an intruder has entered the base.”

“Just one person?” Danzo asked, surprised. “Who is he?”

“Based on appearance, he seems to be Souke.”

“Impossible!” Danzo immediately rejected this absurd conclusion. The idea that a mere medical ninja like Souke would storm the Root base was preposterous. 

“Knowing his identity was exposed, yet not fleeing but instead coming to us—what audacity!” Danzo’s voice was icy. Never had he encountered someone who so blatantly disregarded Root.

“Gather our forces. We will eliminate the intruder!” Danzo ordered, his cane striking the floor. He intended to personally confront this brazen enemy.

“Lord Danzo, should we inform the village about the attack on Root?” Aburame Torune, one of Danzo’s guards, asked.

“No need.” Danzo rejected the idea outright. Root’s existence was tolerated by the Leaf’s higher-ups because it was a lethal weapon against enemies. If the blade appeared dull, Root’s purpose would be questioned. Thus, not only did they need to keep this incident secret, but they also had to swiftly eliminate the intruder.

Without further delay, Danzo, Torune, and a group of Root ninjas headed to the battlefield.

Ninja tools flew from the shadows towards Hagoromo Gengetsu, but he dispersed them with a violent gust of wind. Suddenly, a Root ninja wielding a wind chakra-infused kunai charged at him. Hagoromo Gengetsu intercepted the attack with a finger, shattering the kunai and forcing it back into the ninja's heart. The ninja collapsed in disbelief.

Hagoromo Gengetsu continued his march, grabbing the kunai and infusing it with wind chakra. In a flash, he was among a group of Root ninjas, striking with lethal precision. Despite their resistance, they fell one by one, their blood forming a path guiding Hagoromo Gengetsu deeper into the base.

Soon, after passing twenty bodies, Hagoromo Gengetsu arrived at a spacious underground chamber. He was about to swat an annoying insect when—

“Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!” A compressed air bullet shot towards him.

Hagoromo Gengetsu caught and crushed it, looking towards the source. Danzo stood on a suspended walkway with a large group of Root ninjas, his eyes filled with a mixture of cold intent and suspicion as he glared at Hagoromo Gengetsu.

Seeing Hagoromo Gengetsu pause, Danzo struck his cane down and coldly demanded, “Who are you?”