Chapter 85: Ambush
Days spent focused on research pass just as quickly as those spent slacking off — gone in the blink of an eye.
Early in the morning, Haruta and Yugao prepared to head to the Anbu headquarters together.
Since they lived under the same roof, they usually went out together, which naturally strengthened their bond.
The only downside, perhaps, was that the Senju clan's ancestral home was just too big, with far too many rooms.
"Not to mention... I'm still a bit too young."
With a faint sigh in his heart, Haruta quickly brushed the thought aside as they arrived at their destination.
To their surprise, there was a newcomer at the Anbu today.
"Uchiha Itachi?"
Yugao looked at Uchiha Itachi with some surprise, clearly not expecting the eldest son of the Uchiha clan to be here.
Haruta, on the other hand, remained calm. After all, Uchiha Itachi joining the Anbu was just the first step — wasn't this guy going to slaughter his entire clan later?
"Haruta, you're here."
Shisui approached with a cheerful smile, dragging his young comrade along as a form of casual greeting.
"I suppose there's no need for introductions — you two already know each other, right?"
"Greetings, senior. I've always wanted to thank you for saving my life, but I never had the chance."
Itachi spoke with surprising enthusiasm, though the corner of his mouth twitched slightly as he did.
He had heard about the events of that night. To be honest, he often found himself pondering a particular question:
If Uchiha Obito hadn't shown up, what would Haruta have done?
After thinking it over repeatedly, Itachi concluded that this Anbu "senior" would most likely have just strangled him to death and dumped his body in the wilderness to clear his name.
"Time flies, kid. I never thought the same you who once took the Chunin Exams would now be my comrade."
Haruta wasted no time putting on the airs of a senior, patting Itachi's shoulder in what was meant to be an encouraging gesture. Itachi's eye twitched even harder.
"So, whose team are you on? I might know your captain."
"Captain Kakashi."
Forcing a smile, Itachi answered, and Haruta immediately sighed.
"Ah, Captain Kakashi... He's a good leader, but I've heard he's always late. Plus, ever since the incident with Uchiha Obito, his mood swings are pretty intense..."
"Hey, hey, Haruta — badmouthing people behind their backs isn't a great habit."
At that moment, Kakashi strolled over with Yamato in tow, his exposed eye rolling into a classic dead-fish stare.
"And for the record, I'm much calmer now. I'm not as unstable as you're making me out to be. You saw that for yourself when we trained together in the Anbu, didn't you?"
Maybe it was acceptance of reality, or maybe Kakashi had already made peace with his own thoughts. Either way, his mood no longer fluctuated as wildly. Back when they trained in the Anbu, their relationship was fairly amicable — though that never stopped Haruta from poking fun at him.
"Good morning, Haruta."
Yamato, ever the straightforward type, greeted Haruta with a nod and a smile.
Ever since Haruta awakened his Wood Release, Yamato's attitude toward him had noticeably improved.
After all, both of them had come from Root, and now both could use Wood Release. Even if Yamato's ability was the result of an experiment, the fact remained — they were cut from the same cloth.
"Morning."
Haruta returned the nod before Kakashi spoke again.
"Alright, now that the introductions are done, Haruta — your team will accompany mine to meet the Hokage."
"Huh?"
Haruta and Yugao exchanged puzzled glances, and even Shisui's expression turned a bit odd.
Sensing their confusion, Kakashi didn't keep them in suspense.
"It seems there's a mission. Our two teams will be working together, so let's move."
A mission?
Haruta blinked. He had thought he'd be patrolling Konoha and slacking off for a bit longer, but it looked like fate had other plans.
Meanwhile, inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was grim.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado remained silent, while Danzo Shimura appeared somewhat agitated.
"This is clearly a scheme! It's obvious that Kumo is trying to provoke us, and Iwagakure is looking for an opportunity to stir up trouble!"
"We know that, Danzo, but this still needs to be investigated."
Hiruzen sighed. Frankly, he didn't want to get involved either — the whole situation reeked of a trap.
But Konoha couldn't simply ignore it. Just as they had cornered the Fourth Raikage with their own strategic moves, this was now a game of political maneuvering between villages.
Whether it concerned the Uzumaki or the Senju, Konoha had to respond.
If it was the Senju, that involved the clan's reputation — especially since they had just brought Tsunade back, and now there was Haruta, a new wielder of Wood Release.
And if it was about the Uzumaki, Konoha needed to take a stand. The Uzumaki clan had already been destroyed, its survivors scattered.
As their former allies — and given the ties between the Uzumaki and Senju — Konoha couldn't just turn a blind eye.
How would the world view them if they did?
It was a direct hit to Konoha's sore spot — an undeniable power play.
"Why don't we just ignore it? Why should we care about what they're plotting?"
Danzo scoffed, though even he was curious about the situation. Still, he wasn't keen on taking any risks, especially when he considered Wood Release and the Sharingan to be his future assets.
"Danzo, none of us want to deal with this — but Onoki has already spread the news."
Koharu seemed exasperated, and Homura nodded in agreement.
"Reports suggest that Kitsuchi might even be heading there himself. If we don't respond, it'll make us look weak."
Kitsuchi's personal involvement was a clear sign of Onoki's interest in the matter. If they let Iwagakure seize the advantage, Konoha would be humiliated.
It was a delicate balance of power between villages — sometimes, they simply had no choice.
Knock, knock, knock…
Before Danzo could protest further, a knock echoed from the door of the Hokage's office.
Moments later, Kakashi entered with Haruta and the others, all immediately noticing the tense atmosphere and the presence of Konoha's four senior leaders.
They realized instantly — something big was happening.
"You're here."
Hiruzen nodded at Kakashi and the others, wasting no time in explaining the situation regarding the Land of Grass.
"The situation is quite serious. Konoha must verify the facts. I intend to merge your two teams for this mission — can you handle it?"
"Understood, Lord Hokage."
Kakashi responded swiftly, with Haruta following suit, though his expression remained slightly puzzled.
He had expected the Fourth Raikage to seek revenge — that was within his calculations.
But this… was a whole new mess.
Was the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, some kind of genius?
Sure, it was a calculated move to put pressure on Konoha — but for him to time it this perfectly was almost absurd!
"So are we dealing with Kitsuchi… or…"
Haruta didn't believe Onoki would send his son into danger without backup — there had to be something more at play.
Perhaps mercenaries hired to stir trouble?
"Could it be the Akatsuki… or some other ninja-for-hire group?"
It wasn't a secret that the Third Tsuchikage occasionally enlisted rogue ninjas to do his dirty work.
The Akatsuki, with their formidable strength, seemed like the most likely culprits.
"Prepare yourselves."
Hiruzen acknowledged their readiness, his gaze briefly flickering to Danzo before continuing.
"This mission is complicated. I'll have border patrol units near the Land of Grass support you. Additionally, I'll deploy Anbu and some Root members to assist."
"Danzo, any objections?"
"Fine."
Danzo begrudgingly agreed — he wasn't about to let Onoki gain the upper hand.
With the mission outlined, the teams left the Hokage's office.
In the Anbu, missions often came without warning. Given the current situation, there was no time to delay.
"Looks like another troublesome task."
Haruta slipped on his mask, casting a playful glance at Itachi.
"You're lucky, kid. Your first day in the Anbu, and you already get a mission like this. Be careful — don't die."
"I'll be fine."
Itachi calmly put on his mask as well, though a retort burned at the back of his mind — you're not that much older than me.
He hadn't expected his first day in the Anbu to start with a mission of this scale.
This was the path he had chosen, hoping to use his position to gather intel for the Uchiha clan.
But his heart was conflicted.
"The village and the clan… what's really happening?"
Itachi preferred to observe and draw his own conclusions rather than blindly follow his father's wishes.
"Alright, cut him some slack. With Captain Kakashi guiding him, I'm sure he'll adapt quickly."
Shisui offered a comforting word, confident in his young comrade.
"That's right, Haruta. We were just as clumsy on our first mission."
Yamato chuckled.
"I heard from some of our old Root colleagues that you used to hide at the back during missions. Though to be fair… you didn't change much afterward either."
"That's nonsense!"
Haruta immediately protested — though, admittedly, there was some truth to it.
Back then, working for Danzo didn't appeal to him, so he had a habit of hanging back during missions.
"That was me observing the battlefield — don't talk if you don't understand!"
"Sure, sure."
Yamato nodded, not wanting to push Haruta's buttons any further.
"Alright, let's head out. The Land of Grass isn't far."
Kakashi broke the tension, steering the conversation back to the mission.
"Can't believe I'm heading back to the Land of Grass…"
"Got fond memories there, Captain?"
Haruta asked with a curious glance at Kakashi.
"Though… wasn't Uchiha Obito not dead?"
"…"
Kakashi fell silent, thoroughly regretting bringing Haruta along.
Obito was indeed alive, but the Obito of the past had long been buried.
The Uchiha Obito standing now was nothing more than a hollow shell — a man consumed by rage, a monster desperate to unleash his fury.
Yet, deep down, Kakashi still clung to a sliver of hope. No matter how grim the consequences, he wanted to bring Obito back to Konoha. Even if Obito faced punishment, at least that would be a form of redemption for his sins.
Kakashi genuinely wished Obito could reclaim his humanity instead of wandering the world like a vengeful ghost.
"You wouldn't understand, and honestly, I hope you never have to. It's a painful thing."
Kakashi sighed, unwilling to explain further. Haruta glanced at him but chose not to push the matter.
He didn't fully grasp Kakashi's pain — but scenes like this were hardly unfamiliar to him.
Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara.
Jiraiya and Orochimaru.
Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke.
It was a tale as old as time.
Kakashi and Obito's tragic bond was just another thread in the web of fate. Haruta understood that much.
Once their preparations were complete, the six-man squad set off.
As for how many others might be trailing behind them in secret — that wasn't their concern for now.
Their journey through the Land of Fire was relatively peaceful. They crossed paths with wandering ninjas and samurai from time to time, but most behaved themselves.
However, everything shifted the moment they crossed into the Land of Grass a few days later.
Banditry was rampant. Robberies, murders, and looting were almost daily occurrences — the chaos here was on full display.
"Why is this place such a mess?"
Itachi frowned. He'd been to the Land of Grass before — the first time was when his dear father brought him to face Iwagakure's forces on the battlefield — but it hadn't seemed this chaotic back then.
"This is pretty normal for smaller nations."
Kakashi glanced at their surroundings and shook his head.
"Ignore it. Let's focus on our mission."
"But… why is it like this?"
Even Yugao couldn't help but ask, though she had seen such disorder before. It was a question that had long puzzled her.
"You really don't get it, do you?"
Haruta shrugged with a helpless smile.
"Small nations are basically vassals to the great ninja villages. Their main purpose is to generate missions for us to take.
These bandits and thieves aren't dealt with for one simple reason — they can't be eliminated."
"They can't be eliminated?"
Yamato furrowed his brow. In Root, his only job was to kill. Danzo never bothered to explain the politics behind it all.
"More or less."
Kakashi sighed. Since Haruta had already started the explanation, there was no point in holding back.
"The villages need a steady stream of missions to earn money — but ideally, they don't want bandits wreaking havoc inside their own borders.
So, smaller countries are left to 'supply' these missions by allowing bandits to run wild, forcing their people to issue mission requests to us."
"And clearing out these bandits also lets young ninjas gain combat experience. Plus, it helps boost a village's reputation by showing off their strength."
Haruta smirked at Yugao, picking up where Kakashi left off.
"These bandits aren't just tolerated — they're necessary for the system to work. Without them, how would young shinobi earn their stripes?"
"That's… how it works?"
Yugao's expression darkened at the revelation. She had never imagined things were this twisted.
Even Itachi seemed shaken. Though he usually kept his thoughts to himself, he listened carefully to everything.
Was this… really how the village operated?
"Don't look so upset, Yugao."
Haruta, unconcerned with Itachi's thoughts, gently squeezed Yugao's hand with a smile.
"Think about it. Why do these bandits exist in the first place?
More often than not, it's because the feudal lords and nobles bleed their own people dry. Those who survive have no choice but to turn to banditry.
Aside from the occasional true lunatic, who would willingly become a bandit if they had another way to live?"
"Alright, enough of this conversation!"
Kakashi finally lost his patience. Having a sharp, observant teammate was a double-edged sword — especially when that teammate spoke so freely about taboo topics.
This wasn't the sort of thing shinobi were supposed to talk about.
Besides, why should they care about how others ran their countries? Konoha had profited handsomely from the missions these bandits indirectly generated.
Like it or not, this was the reality of survival for small nations in the shinobi world — something no one could change.
"Let's just focus on the mission. Some things are beyond our control."
"Understood."
The team fell into an uneasy silence. Aside from Kakashi and Haruta, everyone's mood seemed a little heavy.
Kakashi shot Haruta a sharp look — though his thoughts were already wandering elsewhere.
Did Danzo teach him all this?
Kakashi's expression grew complicated. Haruta had been trained by Danzo from a young age — that much was clear — but this level of cynicism set him apart from Yamato.
The difference between the two Root operatives was striking.
That old schemer Danzo…
Kakashi had never seen Danzo in a positive light — not after being tricked into attempting to assassinate the Third Hokage, nor after learning about Danzo's human experimentation.
And as Kakashi gained more experience, he heard whispers about Danzo's involvement in his father's downfall…
But suddenly—
"Hm?"
Kakashi halted, eyes narrowing.
Yamato noticed and asked quietly, "What's wrong?"
"Something's off."
Kakashi scanned their surroundings, nostrils flaring slightly as he picked up the faintest scent in the air.
His sense of smell wasn't as sharp as the Inuzuka clan's, but it had saved him countless times during the Third Shinobi War.
At the same time, Haruta's sensory abilities flared to life — and his face instantly darkened.
"Ambush!"
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The moment Haruta spoke, a chain of violent explosions erupted around them. Flames roared, sweeping toward the team with fierce intensity.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
Haruta and Kakashi moved in unison, forming hand seals.
Twin walls of water surged from the ground, clashing against the incoming fire, sending thick steam billowing into the air.
But before the mist could fully settle—
The ground rumbled beneath them. Haruta's sharp gaze caught the movement, and he immediately grabbed Yugao, leaping into the air.
"Watch your feet!"
The warning barely left his lips when jagged stone spikes shot up from the earth, aiming to skewer the team.
Thanks to Haruta's quick reaction, everyone dodged the attack in time.
"Looks like we've got quite the welcoming party."
Haruta's eyes narrowed as he scanned the mist-shrouded battlefield, his sensory abilities locking onto the hidden enemies.
Then, a voice echoed from above—
"So your name is… Haruta Shigaru? You're just a kid."
A powerful gust of wind tore through the water mist, revealing a figure standing atop a puppet — the legendary Third Kazekage puppet, cloaked in black iron sand.
It was Sasori.
"I've been looking for you for quite some time."
Another voice, calm and eerie, chimed in from the side.
A man in a black cloak with red clouds, his small, beady eyes glimmering, stepped forward.
It was Kakuzu.
"I heard your team has a Mangekyou Sharingan user… someone who knows both Wood Release and the Flying Raijin Jutsu.
I'm very curious to see just how powerful you all are."
Kakashi's stomach dropped.
He'd known this mission would be dangerous — the Hokage himself had warned them — but this was worse than he'd expected.
Sasori's puppet techniques were even more terrifying than the intel suggested.
And Kakuzu…
Kakashi only knew fragments about him — a bounty hunter with an undefeated record.
This is bad.
"Well, if it isn't my old friend," Haruta suddenly said, smirking at Sasori.
"Last time in Sunagakure, thanks for the hospitality. Without you, our mission wouldn't have gone so smoothly."
Kakashi's jaw nearly dropped.
Seriously?
Was Haruta trying to provoke them?
Sure enough, Sasori's already cold expression twisted further.
After a brief silence, Sasori chuckled softly.
"That was my mistake. But this time…"