In a dimly lit corner, Uzumaki Sora silently picked up the Flying Thunder God Kunai from the ground, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings.
Night had just begun to fall, and the streets of Konoha not far away still buzzed with activity. Lanterns swayed gently in the breeze, casting long shadows on the village walls. Without any sense of urgency or the air of an intruder, Sora stepped out from the alley and walked casually toward the heart of the village.
"Teuchi-san, a bowl of ramen in dashi broth."
Sora's voice was calm as he took a seat at Ichiraku Ramen, the familiar scent of soy and bonito enveloping him. After finishing a steaming bowl of the village's signature dish, he placed the payment on the counter, intending to leave quietly and get on with his mission.
But just then, the sound of laughter and the rustle of the entrance curtain made him pause.
Kabuto entered the shop with two cheerful children from the orphanage, their voices full of joy.
"The ramen here is so good! If we help the dean clean again next month, I'll bring you back."
"Kabuto nii-san, I wanna eat barbecue! Barbecue's better!"
"If we help next month too, can we go for barbecue instead?"
Kabuto looked a little embarrassed, rubbing the back of his head as he laughed awkwardly. Though he had been earning a bit of money lately thanks to missions from the Fourth Hokage, most of it still went back to supporting the orphanage.
'...I'm really short on cash', he thought with a grimace.
Behind the curtain, unseen, Sora quietly pulled out some ryō from his pouch and handed it to the waiter exiting the kitchen.
"The kids from the orphanage will be coming in. Please give this to one of them named Kabuto. Tell him it's from his 'older brother'."
Teuchi smiled knowingly. "No problem. Those little devils are regulars around here. But hey, I haven't seen you in a while."
Sora returned the smile. "Been busy lately. It's rare that I get to come back."
With that, his figure flickered and vanished.
He had business to attend to — and it was better not to run into Kabuto just yet. Especially not tonight. The Fourth Hokage... couldn't act freely on matters like this.
After all, the man he would soon confront... was a lifelong comrade of the Third.
…
*Da… da… da…*
Soft footsteps echoed through the darkness.
"Who's there?! Halt!"
"No entry beyond this point. Trespassers will be executed!"
The stern warnings rang out, but the approaching steps did not stop. Silent figures emerged from the darkness, closing in on the lone figure in the center — Uzumaki Sora.
"Kill him!"
With that single command, Root operatives moved in, assuming the worst. If a target didn't respond to orders, they were enemy.
*Swish!*
One ninja lunged forward, but before his blade could even reach its mark, his throat was opened cleanly by a flash of silver. His sword clattered to the ground, and his eyes widened in disbelief as blood bubbled in his mouth.
"You're too slow." Sora murmured. "I didn't even need to use Flying Thunder God. Is this really the best the Root can offer?"
The other Root operatives, who had charged forward, instinctively leapt backward and regrouped mid-air.
"Fast... Execute the sealing formation!"
Half of the squad immediately began weaving hand seals.
*Bang!*
Sora parried an oncoming blade effortlessly.
"Wind Style ∙ Wind Cutting Technique!"
A massive wind blade rushed from behind him. The enemy ninja who had pressed in for close combat quickly retreated.
But Sora simply smirked—and vanished.
*Swish!*
He reappeared directly behind the retreating enemy. With the Flying Thunder God already marked, he was instantly upon him.
"Did you really think you were faster than me?"
A single slice — and another body hit the ground, head rolling in a pool of blood.
"Fire Style ∙ Great Fireball Technique!"
"Wind Style ∙ Breakthrough!"
A massive wall of flames surged forward, intensified by the wind.
*Fwoosh!*
Sora threw two kunai ahead and disappeared. The enormous firestorm consumed only empty air.
*Puff!*
Sora reappeared behind the pair who had cast the jutsu, and with two clean strikes, slit both their throats. Blood sprayed as they collapsed.
"Now!" shouted a squad leader.
In response, four shinobi finished their seals.
"Lightning Style ∙ Four Pillar Binding!"
Four stone pillars erupted around Sora, crackling with blue electricity. Lightning surged inward, locking him in place.
Above, the sky darkened.
"Earth Style ∙ Buta Futa!"
A massive green disc formed high in the air and descended rapidly, aiming to crush Sora where he stood.
Sora tilted his head and sighed.
"You're really using something that couldn't trap a Hellhound from the Animal Path... on me?"
He raised his fist and swung it skyward.
*BOOM!*
With a deafening impact, the Earth-style dome shattered into dust.
Next, Sora turned and waved his hand at the four lightning-infused pillars.
*CRACK!*
The electrical bindings disintegrated instantly.
"He shattered it?! That strength… It's like the Chakra Enhanced Strength Technique!"
The four shinobi staggered backward in disbelief.
"Retreat! He's too powerful—engage with long-range ninjutsu!"
*Swish!*
Sora was already behind the speaker.
"At this speed." he whispered, "Do you think long-range ninjutsu would save you?"
*Puff!*
The man's head dropped to the ground before the final syllable was spoken.
Sora turned to the last remaining operatives. "Anyone feel like telling me where Danzo is hiding? If you answer, I might spare you."
"Oh, fine don't bother. That Curse Seal of Tongue Eradication won't let you speak of that old dog anyway."
He casually pulled out three Flying Thunder God Kunai and tossed them into the air.
*Swish!*
In the span of two seconds, Sora vanished and reappeared over a dozen times.
Mangekyō Sharingan gleamed crimson in his eye sockets. He didn't need genjutsu — his speed and precision were terror incarnate.
*Slash!*
*Bang!*
*Thud!*
With every flash, another Root ninja fell, their bodies torn open. Blood soaked the dirt, pooling beneath the corpses.
When the last one fell, only the squad commander remained, desperately blocking a slash with his blade.
*CLANG!*
"You caught it." Sora noted. "Not bad. Are you the Root's squad leader?"
The masked ninja grunted and stared in disbelief. "Uzumaki… Sora? It's you?!"
Sora smirked. "Surprised? Last time, I let Danzo escape because I hadn't adjusted to my powers. But tonight…"
He vanished.
*Swish!*
And reappeared behind the man, slicing his neck cleanly.
"…Tonight, he won't be so lucky."
The squad leader dropped, lifeless.
"You weren't there during the Nine-Tails' rampage… during Otogakure and Sunagakure's Konoha Crush plan… not during Pain's invasion either. You people only appear to prey on your own. Do you think the enemies of Konoha fear a village like that?"
Sora stared into the blood-soaked dark.
"It's laughable."
*****
Support me on my pat reon and gain early access to my creations.
https://www.pat reon.com/RroY28 (remove the space)
You can access up to 30 advanced chapters.