107-109

Chapter 107: Master of Light and Shadow 

“I’m Danzo’s disciple now?”  

Hikari’s expression was a mix of disbelief and amusement as she listened to her Kage Bunshin’s tale. She’d only sent the clone to Konoha Hospital to study medical ninjutsu, but somehow it had not only joined the Root but also become the apprentice of Shimura Danzo, the so-called “Darkness of the Shinobi World.”  

She’d been planning to train hard, take down Danzo, and steal Hashirama’s cells. But now what? Was she supposed to fight herself? After being a Kaguya clan avenger and a Hyuga main branch rebel, was she now the heir to Konoha’s black-and-white power players and a double agent to boot? 

The Yang-style Hikari licked her lips, clearly finding the situation absurd. “The thing is, those Hashirama cells were right there. That insane life force? Hard not to be tempted! You weren’t there, but if you were, you’d have told me to do the same.” 

Hikari blinked, conceding her clone’s point. Sending a death-immune Kage Bunshin to infiltrate the Root and steal Hashirama’s cells was way safer than storming their headquarters herself. Still, the Yang-style clone’s experiences were bizarre. Danzo, who treated shinobi like tools, taking her as a disciple? That was beyond her comprehension. 

“Why the heck did Danzo want me as his apprentice?” she asked. 

“I read his emotions, and let’s just say… it’s twisted,” the Yang-style Hikari said, her face scrunching in disgust as she recalled the feelings emanating from Danzo. “When I called him ‘Teacher Danzo,’ I’m pretty sure his dominant emotion was golden pride, but there was also this faint pink… pleasure?” She practically gagged on the word, as if she’d seen something vile. 

“What?” Hikari’s jaw dropped, her body leaning back slightly. This was venturing into her knowledge blind spot. 

Seeing the misunderstanding, the Yang-style clone waved her hands frantically. “It’s not about us! He’s got some warped thing going on. I think he wants to use us to mess with Sarutobi Hiruzen. Taking me as a disciple is just part of their twisted game.” 

“That sounds even grosser,” Hikari muttered under her breath. 

“Did you actually get into the Root?” she asked. 

“Nope,” the clone replied, shaking her head. “My chakra was running low. After all that effort to infiltrate, getting exposed as a Kage Bunshin would’ve ruined everything. Danzo didn’t force me to stay either—he just placed the Tongue Calamity Eradication Seal on me and told me to go home. I’m supposed to report to the Root base tomorrow morning.” 

“He’s waiting to see if Beppu Tensen triggers any changes in you. If the Tongue Calamity Seal activates, he’ll sense it,” Hikari reasoned. 

“Exactly,” the Yang-style clone nodded, confirming her theory. 

“So, to keep Beppu Tensen’s Yin chakra intact and avoid triggering the seal, you can’t dispel yet,” Hikari said, scratching her head. 

“That’s the third thing I wanted to talk about,” the clone said, extending both hands. “In about two hours, I’ll run out of chakra and vanish. But I remember Kurama can lend chakra to others. Since we inherit its good-evil sensing ability, we should be able to borrow its chakra too.” 

“If we can keep the Kage Bunshin intact, we’ll have dual identities. The main body stays safe to grow stronger, while the clone infiltrates the Root to find a way to fix the Shikotsumyaku’s flaws.” 

Hikari and her clone’s thoughts synced perfectly, their voices harmonizing. Their Byakugan and kaleidoscope eyes locked, and their four identical hands clasped tightly, purple chakra illuminating the space around them. 

“Do you trust me, main body?” the clone asked. 

“I only trust myself,” Hikari replied. 

They shared a knowing smile. Purple chakra flowed through their hands into their meridians, channeled by Hikari into their hearts. One real, one illusory, their hearts beat in unison, an invisible thread tying them together. 

“What is this?” they said in sync. 

A spark of realization hit them. They released each other’s hands and stepped back. The thread between their hearts stretched like a high-speed conduit, purple chakra spiraling between them, transforming and merging. When a Kage Bunshin dispelled, its chakra returned to the main body through some channel. This was it. 

As the distance grew, the “bridge” remained unaffected, their chakra flowing back and forth. Knowledge, memories, and a day’s worth of training from Hikari’s main body and other clones synced rapidly with the Yang-style clone. The clone’s medical ninjutsu knowledge and memories of fighting the Root and facing Danzo poured into Hikari’s mind. Their chakra blended seamlessly, erasing any differences from their separate experiences. 

With identical thoughts, power, and chakra, trust issues between a Kage Bunshin and its main body were impossible. 

Zzt! 

Lightning crackled over the Yang-style Hikari’s body, electric serpents slithering across her skin like living creatures, moving with explosive speed. She felt not only a fiercer destructive power but also a boost in physical defense compared to before. 

“You got stronger,” the clone noted. 

“Just a bit,” Hikari replied, grinning as she formed a finger gun gesture at her clone. 

While the clone was out causing chaos, Hikari hadn’t been idle. She’d officially mastered the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, cracking its defensive capabilities. The defense came from two parts: the enhanced physical resilience from an electrified body and the offensive nature of Lightning Release itself. Much like her Wind-enhanced Huitan technique, the Lightning Armor’s defense worked like a porcupine—any attack triggered an instantaneous counterstrike from the lightning coating the user, neutralizing the assault. The stronger its offensive power, the stronger its defense. 

The Second Raikage, who developed this technique, was a genius. He’d turned the Yugakure clan’s lightning resistance into an offensive force and then converted that offense into defense. Lightning Release was like a needle—strong at the tip but weak elsewhere. The Lightning Armor, a close-combat technique, hid most of its chakra flows inside the body, with only the “needle tips” forming the outer armor. To counter it with Wind Release, you’d need to target the internal weak points, but that required breaking through the armored surface first. This gave the Lightning Armor strong resistance to Wind Release, far surpassing standard Lightning techniques. 

Before, the Lightning Chakra Mode was just good for speed. Now, it truly lived up to its name as Kumogakure’s ultimate Lightning Armor. 

Zzt zzt zzt! Lightning flowed over the Yang-style Hikari as she closed her eyes, absorbing the main body’s chakra and savoring the new technique’s intricacies. 

“Pretty impressive. With the Lightning Armor’s defense, I’m even less likely to get hurt. We can keep this lie going,” the clone said, punching her own shoulder. Her fist clashed with the lightning, sparking brilliantly but leaving her unscathed. 

“You got the medical ninjutsu memories, right?” Hikari asked. 

“Yeah. Transferring life force from other creatures is way simpler than we thought,” the clone replied. 

Hikari closed her eyes, sorting through the clone’s transmitted memories, including her conversation with Chihaya Tou. “We’ve got new ideas, but the Shikotsumyaku issue is life-or-death. We can’t skimp on medical ninjutsu or Hashirama’s cells.” 

“Same page,” the clone agreed, pointing to her kaleidoscope eyes. “You were stuck on Yin Release progress, right? Now you’ve got the so-called strongest genjutsu, Beppu Tensen, right here. Study it, see if you can replicate it with enough tries.” 

With the chakra and information transfer complete, Hikari stretched tiredly. Looking up, she saw the sun had set, leaving only a full moon and faint starlight flickering through the clouds, lulling her into drowsiness. 

“That’s your job, clone,” she said. 

“Main body trying to slack off?” the clone teased. 

“Your fatigue all comes back to me. What slacking?” Hikari shot her a look. 

The clone’s crimson kaleidoscope eyes gave her delicate face an eerie edge. “You’d better cover those eyes. Hard to explain if someone sees.” 

“Mutated gray Byakugan, half-evolved Shikotsumyaku, fake kaleidoscope Sharingan, plus the fused powers of the Three-Tails and Nine-Tails,” the Yang-style Hikari mused, stroking her cheek as the four-bladed pinwheel spun in her eyes. “Think that sneaky masked guy would call me ‘Mama’?” 

Hikari rolled her eyes. “I’m making dinner.” 

She turned and left the training ground, sometimes marveling at her own wild thought process. 

After dinner, the exhausted duo fell asleep in each other’s arms. Since the clone couldn’t dispel, they had to share a double bed—a lifestyle that might continue for a while. Together, they weighed over half a ton, and Hikari felt the creaky wooden bedframe at the Hatake house was under more strain than her clone infiltrating the Root. 

The next morning, as dawn barely broke and the red bedside alarm clock ticked on, Hikari slept soundly. The Yang-style Hikari stirred groggily, her kaleidoscope eyes sharpening. A small trick of bodily control—her internal clock—had woken her. 

The silver-haired girl beside her slept peacefully, her perfect profile sinking into the pillow like a work of art. Gorgeous, the clone thought, then cringed. Bit narcissistic. 

Muttering internally, she carefully pried Hikari’s arms off her. The main body frowned, stirred awake, then rolled over, pulling the blanket over her face to sleep more. Training with seven clones while bearing the Shikotsumyaku’s toll left her exhaustion overwhelming. 

“I’m not making breakfast,” Hikari mumbled. 

The Yang-style clone shook her head, made breakfast for her main body, and slipped out the door. The fatigue would hit Hikari later anyway—morning exhaustion just became evening exhaustion, like borrowing comfort on credit. 

The morning breeze was cool, mist lingering. Her cloak concealed her, but the chakra link to her main body remained unbroken. They’d tested the clone’s chakra transfer multiple times after dinner. The results were promising: no time or distance limits, minimal loss, and memories could be sent via chakra flow, creating a kind of real-time communication. Requesting chakra from the main body took less than two seconds to deliver. 

The clone’s endurance was now near-epic, matching the main body’s combat strength except for its fragility. 

Whoosh! The cool mist swirled as dim lights flickered from a breakfast shop’s window. A white figure darted silently through the empty streets, her black ninja boots striking the ground soundlessly, her core strength channeling her weight into the earth. Hikari’s form cut through the fog like a sword, heading west of Konoha Hospital toward her destination: the secluded forest from last night. 

Danzo had said a Root ninja would meet her there to escort her to their base. Her anticipation for the mysterious Root was high. With the main body supplying chakra in real-time, she could finally use her chakra freely. 

Lightning cycled through her legs. In just over ten minutes, she crossed the village to the battleground from the previous night. 

Step. 

The dew-soaked leaves felt softer than the crisp, dry ones from yesterday. Hikari found the tall tree from the night before. The pits and scars from the battle had been filled with Earth-style jutsu, the surface flawless. But her Byakugan revealed mask fragments and black blood mixed with soil five meters underground. 

Her eye veins pulsed, the Byakugan briefly overriding the kaleidoscope as its vision radiated outward. Three familiar Jonin-level chakra signatures appeared nearby, sensing her arrival and rushing toward her. 

In moments, three Anbu in standard gear, distinguished only by their mask designs, surrounded her. 

“Tsume Hikari, the Lord requests your presence,” said the ninja with a bear-shaped mask, his voice low and raspy, like iron scraping in his throat. It was the Earth-style ninja from yesterday’s ambush. 

The other two were familiar: the Wind-style ninja with green beast patterns on a white mask, and the sensory ninja with purple streaks on their mask—the one whose genjutsu Hikari had shattered, misleading Danzo and the Root. 

“Where’s Danzo?” Hikari asked. 

“The Lord awaits you at the base,” said the green-patterned ninja, “Storm,” his tone laced with anger. 

The sensory ninja, “Butterfly,” glanced at Storm, remaining silent and submissive. The sinister purple chakra flowing from Hikari, stickier than glue, felt like a demonic sea creature, its terrifying, mysterious aura constantly pressing on his mind. 

Sometimes, he envied the ignorant. 

Chapter 108: Ne (Root) 

The air was thick with choking morning mist. 

Arashi glared down at Hikari’s petite figure, his sharp features hidden behind a mask, brimming with irritation. 

Unlike the cold-blooded machines raised by Ne from childhood, he was a ninja who’d joined voluntarily after learning about Ne and its dark heroic ideals while serving in the Anbu. After grueling training and countless trials, he’d earned his place as a proud member of Ne. 

Yet here was Takanotsume Hikari, personally recruited by Danzō-sama, taken as his disciple to carry on his legacy. Despite such favor, she showed not an ounce of gratitude or respect. 

Danzō-sama was a disciple of the Nidaime Hokage, the Hokage’s advisor, a steely hero who’d forsaken honor and emotion to dwell in the shadows. And she dared to call him by name! 

“You don’t get to speak Danzō-sama’s name so casually,” Arashi growled, his voice like a biting winter wind. Purple-blue jealousy and red-hot anger betrayed his emotions completely. 

“Oh, whatever. Let’s just head to Ne,” Hikari said, glancing at the emotional glow above his head and dismissing him entirely. Why waste energy arguing with one of Danzō’s brainwashed tools? 

Who’d bother bickering with a lunatic? 

“You—!” 

“Arashi!” Iwakuma’s deep, commanding voice cut through Arashi’s rising fury. 

Faced with his captain’s warning glare, Arashi’s lips trembled as he swallowed his words. 

Back during Ne’s training, Iwakuma had been his instructor. Arashi knew better than anyone the brutal methods his captain employed. Normally mild-mannered and easygoing, Iwakuma’s anger was like an earth-shattering storm that chilled the bones. 

“Sorry!” Iwakuma said, retracting his warning gaze and turning to Hikari with a quiet apology. His massive frame shifted slightly to clear her path. 

He pointed deeper into the dense forest. “That way’s Ne’s Base No. 3. Danzō-sama’s been waiting, so Arashi’s a bit on edge.” 

“You’re the captain? What’s your name?” Hikari asked, dispersing the Fūton (Wind Release) chakra swirling around her fingers, studying the burly ninja with interest. 

What sharp battle instincts. The moment her killing intent stirred, his muscles tensed instantly, and his chakra began shifting in nature, ready to strike at any second. 

Yesterday’s brief glimpse hadn’t revealed much, but now she noticed this Doton (Earth Release) jōnin had a stern face and high brow bones. His chakra was a brownish-yellow, his entire presence like a massive granite slab—cold, hard, and rough. 

According to Sarutobi Hiruzen, chakra nature transformations could influence personality to some extent. Those skilled in Katon (Fire Release) or Raiton (Lightning Release) were often hot-tempered, while Suiton (Water Release) and Doton tended to be calmer and steadier. Fūton made people sharp and flighty. 

The more refined the nature transformation, the stronger this influence. Sometimes, you could gauge an opponent’s strength just by observing their demeanor. 

This man was clearly a master who’d honed Doton to the bone. 

“Iwakuma,” he answered in a low, gravelly voice devoid of emotion, his emotional glow barely perceptible. Hikari nodded—this was the kind of Ne ninja she’d imagined. 

Far better than that fool who didn’t know his place. 

She turned to the sensory ninja who’d been a big help. “And you?” 

“Butterfly,” Chō answered quickly, his words clipped to hide the trembling in his body. The prolonged pressure of Hikari’s chakra on his psyche was making him restless, sweat beading on his forehead. 

Six years ago, during the Nine-Tails’ attack, he’d sensed a chakra so vast it felt like an abyss—pure despair and powerlessness. Hikari’s chakra wasn’t on that level, but it carried a chilling danger and greed, like a bloodthirsty beast ready to drag you in and devour you if you let your guard down. 

The more sensitive you were to danger, the more agonizing it was to stand near her. 

He’d felt her killing intent earlier too. If Iwakuma hadn’t intervened, that idiot who kept mouthing off despite being in range of a taijutsu monster would probably be in pieces by now. 

Hikari gave Chō, sweating profusely, a curious look, unsure what he was so afraid of. Ignoring the last ninja waiting for her to ask his name, she strode toward Ne’s base. 

He’d mentioned Base No. 3, which meant there were at least Bases No. 1 and 2. 

Ne was deeply rooted in Konoha, huh? 

Seeing Hikari ignore him and walk off, Arashi let out a cold snort and quickly followed. Danzō-sama’s orders were to bring Takanotsume Hikari to the base unharmed. No matter how much he resented her, completing the mission came first. 

The two moved ahead, with Iwakuma and Chō close behind. 

Racing in the direction Iwakuma indicated, Hikari soon stopped. 

Her Byakugan activated. 

The surroundings looked like ordinary dense forest, but through her Byakugan, a faint red sealing barrier clung to the ground like a vibrant crimson meadow, completely blocking her vision. 

No surprise—this had to be Ne’s base. 

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! 

Iwakuma, Chō, and Arashi stopped as well. Chō stepped forward, his hands flying through seals. Arashi glanced at Hikari, wanting to say something but hesitating and staying silent. 

Normally, first-time entrants to Ne had to be blindfolded until they’d undergone extensive training and earned trust to learn the passage seals. But with Hikari, blindfolding her probably wouldn’t do much. 

“Release!” 

Buzz! 

The red-glowing barrier on the ground revealed maze-like, angular patterns before quickly fading. The flat grass split open, revealing a dark cave entrance. 

The cave was about four meters wide, its interior dimly lit, with only a faint glimpse of stone steps descending into shadows. 

Hikari peered down with her Byakugan. 

She could only see about three meters underground before her vision was blocked by layered cubic sealing barriers, just like before the seal was lifted. 

“Move fast. The seal only stays open for five seconds,” Chō urged, holding his hand signs. 

Whoosh! 

Arashi stepped to the cave’s edge, a lit torch now in hand. Hikari didn’t hesitate, joining Iwakuma as they descended into the cave by the torchlight. Once everyone was inside, Chō glanced around, clapped his hands together, and said, “Seal!” 

The angular patterns on the barrier faded, glowing red as the cave entrance vanished completely. 

The morning mist lingered, and the deep, withered leaves remained undisturbed. 

Inside the cave, lights flickered on one by one. Orange flames spread along hidden patterns in the stone walls, casting four head-shaped shadows. 

Hikari’s ninja sandals clicked against the edge of the steps as she followed Arashi’s back downward. 

The spiral staircase stretched on, occasionally twisting into sharp turns. After passing several forked paths, her Byakugan was suppressed by the base’s countless barriers, leaving her unsure how deep underground she was. 

She’d already climbed over two hundred steps. 

Inside the base, Iwakuma, Chō, and Arashi grew eerily silent. Even Arashi, whose emotions had been the most volatile, now seemed lifeless. 

Soon, they reached another forked path. 

“Arghhh!” 

“Wail…” 

Faint, anguished cries and moans echoed from the right tunnel, muffled by layers of walls. If the group hadn’t been moving so quietly, they might not have heard them at all. 

Hikari glanced at the Ne members. Iwakuma, Chō, and Arashi offered no explanation, their masked faces calm, as if accustomed to such sounds. 

“This is it,” Arashi said, nodding toward the left tunnel and quickly entering. Hikari cast a lingering look at the mysterious right tunnel before following. 

Tap, tap, tap. 

As soon as Hikari entered, a long corridor came into view. 

It was twice as wide as the staircase, ending in a dark wooden door. Intricate root-like patterns extended from the door, carved into the stone walls on either side, far more aesthetic than the cramped stairs. 

Orange wall lamps hung near the ceiling—not bright, but better than the pitch-black earlier. 

Whoosh! 

Arashi blew out his torch and took the lead. After a few steps, two shadowy figures emerged from the dark corners by the wooden door. 

Hikari’s eyes narrowed. Even her Byakugan hadn’t detected them until they appeared. 

Buzz! 

The shadows crawled along the walls, two heads slowly emerging. 

The figures materialized, each wearing a half-mask. 

As Hikari and the others approached, their eyes opened. 

Black-red. Red-black. 

Two crimson Sharingan stared out, their twin tomoe spinning diagonally at 180 degrees, exuding an eerie menace. 

“Takanotsume Hikari,” Arashi said quickly, his throat bobbing as he stepped aside. Iwakuma and Chō stopped, slightly bowing, clearly wary of the wall’s ghostly figures. 

The Sharingan locked onto Hikari. 

The tomoe spun. 

Their shadows on the wall twisted, an invisible Yin Release force manipulating the darkness like a tidal wave surging toward her. 

Zzt, zzt… 

Crackling lightning wrapped around her body, arcs spreading to form a blinding Raiton armor. As the shadows reached her feet, the electric arcs zapped them, sending white smoke rising. 

“What’s this about?” Hikari asked, tilting her head. 

“You must be searched before entering the meeting hall. It’s Ne’s rule,” Chō whispered from behind. 

Her lightning-clad foot crushed the creeping shadows again. Facing the crimson Sharingan, Hikari grinned and spread her arms. “I’m all for following rules. If I can’t enter without a search, then I won’t. Doesn’t matter to me.” 

“You have to go in! Danzō-sama’s waiting in the meeting hall!” Arashi hissed, barely keeping his voice low to avoid disturbing Danzō. 

“That’s his problem, not mine,” Hikari’s unyielding voice echoed through the corridor. She was here to steal Hashirama’s cells, not to be Danzō’s errand girl or submit to his obedience tests. She wasn’t buying it. 

Danzō had lost several special jōnin, exposed his Mangekyō, Chihaya Toru, and Ne’s base, and put Betsutenjin on cooldown—all high costs. She, on the other hand, had none. Worst case, her clone died, returned as chakra to her real body, and she could report Danzō to Sarutobi, maybe even get his Mangekyō confiscated. 

“If you won’t let me in, I’m leaving.” Hikari turned to go, eyeing the two creepy, half-human figures blocking the door. 

“Enough!” Arashi snapped, unable to tolerate her arrogance any longer. He drew a short blade from his thigh holster. 

One second, four seals. 

Buzz! 

Fūton chakra coated the blade, screeching like twin chainsaws. Eyes blazing with killing intent, Arashi swung the wind-infused blade at Hikari’s heart. 

Wind countered lightning. Her still-unpolished Raiton chakra mode couldn’t possibly block such a powerful Fūton attack—that’s why he dared challenge the girl who’d killed an elite jōnin. 

Vrrr! 

The chainsaw-like wind blade sliced through the air toward the lightning-clad Hikari. In an instant, the blade was inches from her clothes. 

Too late to dodge. This would cripple her, if not kill her. Arashi smirked, already pronouncing her death sentence in his mind. 

But. 

It wasn’t wild lightning that met him—it was explosive fire! 

Whoosh! 

Her white cloak flared up. 

Brilliant sparks flew, igniting into roaring flames the moment they touched the wind blade. All the Fūton chakra on the blade caught fire, its advanced nature and form transformations rendered meaningless. 

The blazing flames raced up the blade toward Arashi’s hand. 

Before the fire even touched him, the searing heat blistered his hand. Arashi recoiled in pain, dropping the blade. 

Clang! 

The scorching blade hit the ground. 

“Urgh…” Arashi froze, enduring the agony in his hand. He looked down. A pale, delicate hand had somehow slipped into his left ribcage. 

“Gah!” 

The Fūton-coated hand sliced through the membrane between his ribs. Her slender fingers curled, grazing the fascia along his bones. 

Pain surged through his body. Adrenaline dulled his nerves slightly, but bloodshot eyes betrayed his fear. He didn’t dare move—his body was no tougher than paper against her cutting Fūton. 

“Hardening!” Iwakuma, having just finished his seals, encased himself in dense, iron-gray rock and charged to support Arashi. 

Hikari, one hand gripping Arashi’s ribs, aimed a lightning-charged sword finger at Iwakuma’s lower abdomen. 

Crack! 

Like a spear piercing armor, the high-energy chakra flow pierced his Doton. 

Iwakuma’s eyes flashed with ferocity. Ignoring the finger in his abdomen, he raised his knee and slammed his elbow down to shatter her hand. 

Crunch! 

His rocky elbow cracked. Her Raiton armor struck back fiercely, shattering the Doton. Her lightning-clad fingers, hard as diamond, took no damage and burrowed deeper into his abdomen. 

Zzt, zzt, zzt! 

Her steel-like fingers twisted inside, the electric current invading his abdominal nerve plexus. Iwakuma, mid-attack, went numb and collapsed, paralyzed. 

The Sharingan grew redder. 

Shadows writhed on the stone walls, shadow beasts climbing with cautious steps. 

Hiss, hiss, hiss! 

Slithering with forked tongues, massive water pythons stretched their bodies, scales scraping the walls. Their cold, water-colored slit eyes locked onto the shadow beasts. 

Chapter 109: Twin Flower Red Staff 

The narrow corridor was dimly lit, the flickering light casting eerie shadows. 

“Breathe… breathe…” 

Harsh, ragged gasps echoed through the hallway. 

Arashi, holding back saliva he dared not swallow, stood frozen as the girl gripped his soft ribs. Warm blood soaked his clothes, staining them a dark crimson. The slicing Fūton (Wind Release) grazed his bones, sending shivers of dread from the inside out. 

Iwauma, brimming with killing intent, trembled uncontrollably. Raiton (Lightning Release) coursed through his nerves, rendering his muscles useless. 

The three of them were locked in a tense, motionless standoff. 

A lone tanto lay abandoned on the floor, eerily casting no shadow. 

At the door. 

The contrast between black-red and red-black grew starkly vivid. 

A pitch-black shadow beast prowled across the ceiling, surrounding them from all sides. Four massive water serpents twisted protectively behind the girl, arching their necks, baring their fangs in a silent roar. 

Subduing the two who had lunged at her, Hikari shot a glare at Chō, who was pretending to weave hand signs for a Genjutsu (Illusion Technique). Her gaze shifted back to the two freaks at the door, each with transplanted Sharingan eyes. 

Their shadow manipulation techniques likely belonged to the Nara clan. 

No hand signs were needed—just a focused release of ocular power to control shadows from thin air. The Nara’s secret shadow-binding technique, combined with the Sharingan, produced such a synergistic effect! 

With a stockpile of Sharingan and Hashirama cells as support, the Root’s secret technique ninjas were far more troublesome than she’d imagined. 

“Hmph!” 

Feeling the small hand on his ribs tighten, Arashi let out a pained grunt. Blood still flowed freely from his abdomen, and his legs were starting to feel weak. 

He hadn’t expected her to be proficient in Katon (Fire Release) as well. 

No hand signs, no warning, and even the way she unleashed flames was unlike any conventional Katon ninja. Who could shoot fire from their back? For a close-combat Fūton specialist like him, facing an opponent like this was a nightmare. 

“All the Root higher-ups are in the meeting hall. If you kill me—argh!” 

Her fingertip grazed his ribs, and Arashi’s body visibly stiffened. 

Seeing him quiet down, Hikari glanced at the wooden door at the corridor’s end. Above it, tiny insects glowing with chakra were rapidly crawling out. 

Brought here by Arashi and the others, she’d noticed something odd above the door. 

There was an Aburame clan expert inside Root. Danzō likely already knew everything happening outside. 

She had no intention of killing anyone here. 

As they said, killing a Root ninja in front of the meeting hall would be like slapping Danzō’s face, guaranteeing the failure of her plan to steal Hashirama cells. 

No leader could tolerate such humiliation. 

But her actions weren’t meaningless. 

Strike once to avoid a hundred blows. Showing her strength and attitude was about securing a higher position and resources, not about pointless bravado. 

Just as Danzō tried to intimidate her with those two freaks, she needed to show him her stance. 

You’re the one begging me to join Root. Enticement is fine, but coercion won’t do. 

Kōtsu. 

As the standoff continued, more insects crawled from the door’s cracks, drawing everyone’s attention. 

Buzz! 

The Kikaichū (Parasitic Insects) swarmed, soon forming a humanoid shape at the door. 

“Let her in.” 

A muffled male voice came from the insect-formed head. After issuing the command, the insect clone dispersed, ignoring their reactions. 

“Yes!” 

The two guards at the door responded softly. 

The tomoe in their Sharingan stopped spinning, slowly closing. The shadow beasts lining the corridor instantly flattened against the walls, taking the forms of Hikari and the others. 

A thin black shadow appeared beneath the fallen tanto. 

The shadows in the corner twisted, and the two guards’ bodies faded and vanished. 

Splat! 

Blood dripped. 

Hikari slowly withdrew her hands from Arashi and Iwauma, pulling out a spray of blood. Their bodies trembled in unison. 

The water serpents tilted their heads, forked tongues licking the crimson from her fingertips. 

Chō, unscathed, hurried to support his two injured teammates. 

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to help—he was a Genjutsu specialist, nearly useless in this situation. In such a confined space, facing an elite close-combat Jōnin like Hikari, surviving was already a miracle. 

Outside, he might’ve had a chance, but in this unfavorable environment, even their whole team couldn’t take her down. 

Step, step, step… 

With the obstacles cleared, Hikari waved away the water serpents and strode toward the mysterious wooden door that her Byakugan couldn’t penetrate. Chō, supporting the injured duo, hobbled behind her. 

At the door. 

She scanned the shadows in the corner. Even with her Byakugan fully activated, she detected no trace of chakra. The two hidden in the shadows seemed to exist outside this world. 

Impressive. 

Shaking her head in admiration, Hikari pushed open the wooden door and stepped into Root’s meeting hall. 

The hall was a stark contrast to the cramped, dim corridor—a massive hollowed-out chamber, brightly lit, with countless chakra signatures flooding her Byakugan. 

A single chair sat on a towering platform. 

An old, one-eyed man leaned on his staff, looking down from above. 

To his left stood a man in a black cloak, wearing sunglasses, with a purple mark on his right cheek. His chakra signature matched the Kikaichū from the door. 

The others, dressed in uniform black hooded cloaks, stood below the platform. As Hikari entered, they all turned to face her. 

Their uniquely patterned masks reflected the light, exuding an eerie chill. 

Ignoring their oppressive stares, Hikari’s Byakugan swept the room, cataloging everyone’s chakra: 

Kage-level: one. 

Elite Jōnin: one. 

Chūnin and Jōnin roughly equal in number, fewer than ten combined. Special Jōnin: fifty-three. 

Judging strength by chakra alone could be misleading, but barring prodigies like Naruto, it was generally accurate. 

Including Arashi’s trio from the entrance, exactly seventy ninjas were gathered here—a force capable of wiping out any nation outside the Five Great Countries. 

Is Root really this strong? 

Raising an eyebrow in surprise, Hikari climbed the steps on the right side of the platform toward Danzō under the silent gazes of the crowd. 

“Teacher.” 

Her clear voice echoed in the stone chamber. The Root ninjas below remained silent, staring up at the three on the platform like statues. 

If not for the faint emotional fluctuations she could sense above their heads, Hikari might’ve doubted they were alive. 

Thud, thud, thud… 

A faint golden-pink emotional glow flickered. Hikari, repulsed, licked her back teeth, struggling to face the so-called “Darkness of the Shinobi World.” 

Danzō stared at the silver-haired girl. 

The two shadow guards and Arashi’s trio were his attempt to intimidate her. He’d already learned the outcome through Aburame Ryōma. 

Bad news: Hikari wasn’t very obedient. She didn’t even allow a simple pat-down, rendering his intimidation futile. 

Good news: she could fight. 

Sizing her up, Danzō hadn’t expected Hiruzen Sarutobi’s rumors—about her gravely injuring and counter-killing an elite Kumo Jōnin—to be completely true. If anything, they seemed understated. 

Who killed whom? 

Are Kumo’s elite Jōnin really that strong? 

Excluding himself, Ryōma, and some hidden experiments, Root had only eight Jōnin. 

The two at the door were experiments, plus three Jōnin—five Jōnin-level fighters. Yet Hikari had instantly taken down two, and in that cramped corridor, the other three wouldn’t have stood a chance either. 

Ryōma could likely do the same, but he excelled at infiltration and reconnaissance, not raw combat power like Hikari. 

She was a prodigy—mastering Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and resistant to Genjutsu, more versatile than Hiruzen and more gifted than any ninja he’d ever seen. With her current strength, as her body and chakra matured, Kage-level was inevitable. 

Looking at her youthful face, Danzō felt a flicker of satisfaction. 

He was glad he’d acted decisively, using Betsutengai (Kotoamatsukami) to snatch her from Hiruzen while her mind and body were still immature. 

If she fully matured, short of sealing techniques, he’d have no way to counter her. 

“Teacher Danzō?” 

Hikari met his silent gaze, her disgust growing. 

Is he deliberately staying quiet to make me call him “teacher” so he can secretly revel in it? 

Hiruzen Sarutobi really messed up! 

“Starting today, you officially join Root.” 

Unaware of her thoughts, Danzō’s hidden Mangekyō Sharingan slowly opened behind his bandages. 

Her mind glowed with the lingering effects of Betsutengai. He could sense its power remained intact, untampered. 

She wasn’t obedient yet, but no will could resist the Mangekyō’s power. Turning her into an emotionless tool was only a matter of time. 

He was still healthy enough to wait. 

Satisfied, Danzō’s tone softened slightly: 

“All Root members not on missions gather here every weekend for regular meetings. This is a good chance to introduce you.” 

He gestured to the crowd below. 

Introduce? 

More like cementing her status as a Root member. 

Seeing through his intent, Hikari glanced indifferently at the lifeless Root members below. 

She had no qualms about joining Root. 

First, she had no interest in the Hokage position. Being a reviled Root member carried no political weight for her. 

Second, Danzō’s Betsutengai was a perfect shield—she could claim she was manipulated, not acting of her own will. 

Finally, once she obtained the Sage Body, it would not only solve her bone-related issues but also let her prove herself in combat. Then, the scholars could debate her choices. 

“I’m Hikari Tsuihi, Teacher Danzō’s new disciple, officially joining Root today.” 

Too lazy to play games with Danzō, her introduction was short and direct. 

The Root members below remained silent, the room deathly quiet. 

“Didn’t you hear?” 

Danzō’s cold voice echoed. The ninjas below snapped to attention, but facing the silver-haired girl on the platform, they hesitated. 

“Greetings, Lady Hikari!” 

Chō, ever quick-witted, shouted and bowed, dragging the injured duo to follow suit. 

Their actions prompted the others. 

“Greetings, Lady Hikari!” *n 

A sea of heads bowed in unison, their emotionless greetings perfectly synchronized, echoing through the vast chamber. 

Despite her young age, Hikari looked down at the bowing ninjas and couldn’t help but understand why so many craved power. 

This feeling was intoxicating. 

“So, how is it? 

Your old teacher, Hiruzen Sarutobi, never gave you this kind of treatment, did he? He didn’t even dare acknowledge your relationship!” 

Leaning forward slightly, Danzō watched her expression, his right Mangekyō gleaming. 

Invisible Inton (Yin Release) chakra activated, its illusory spikes piercing her mind. 

Betsutengai couldn’t be reused for a long time after activation, but its influence lingered in the target’s mind. With ocular power, he could nudge her will. His right eye’s Betsutengai wasn’t inferior to the left—it lacked permanent will alteration but allowed flexible, real-time control. 

The ultimate Genjutsu, Betsutengai, shone brightest when both eyes worked in tandem. 

Hikari shook her head slightly. 

Unaffected by the Genjutsu and reading his emotions like an open book, she knew exactly what Danzō wanted to hear. 

“Teacher Danzō’s treatment is a cut above.” 

“Hmph.” 

Pleased, Danzō chuckled, his mood visibly lifting. 

Having Hiruzen’s prized disciple call him “teacher” and admit he surpassed Hiruzen—few things in the world could bring him more joy. 

Perhaps only having her betray Hiruzen and help him become Hokage could top it. 

“You’re all dismissed!” 

Having publicized Hikari’s status, Danzō waved the crowd away. 

“Yes!” 

The ninjas responded in unison, vanishing in flashes of Shunshin (Body Flicker). Only three figures remained, limping toward the door. 

“Ryōma.” 

“Sir.” 

Hearing Danzō’s voice, Aburame Ryōma, cold as ice, turned and bowed, his face expressionless. 

“Take her to the equipment room for a Root uniform and mask. After registering, send her to Sōtō.” 

“Yes.” 

Ryōma’s demeanor remained flat. 

“Why isn’t Dr. Sōtō at the meeting?” 

Hearing Sōtō’s name, Hikari realized he was absent. Given his position that day, he should’ve been a core member. 

“He’s handling more important matters. You’ll find out after registering with Ryōma.” 

Danzō’s lips curled into a sinister grin.