The Ten Roots—Konoha's most elite assassins from the Root Organization. Under Danzo's command, three top-tier shinobi were deployed: Aburame Ryoma, Aburame Takezo, and Yamanaka Kaze. These ten operatives formed a kill squad rumored to be powerful enough to annihilate an entire small village in one night.
If the Root Organization was the darkness of Konoha, then the Root Ten were its most lethal enforcers.
Following Danzo's order, all ten members mobilized and moved into position.
Around the Uzumaki compound, Root operatives had already blanketed the area with surveillance.
At the entrance of the courtyard, a small boy poked ants with a twig—only if one looked closer, the twig had sprouted tiny buds.
Inside, Takayama Haru lay on his bed, staring at his attribute panel:
[Name: Takayama Haru]
[Power: Standard Jonin Level]
[Rank: Genin]
[Character Card: SSS-Rank Hashirama Senju (Fusion Rate: 5.79%)]
[Bloodline Limit: Divine Wood Release (Bound to Character Card)]
[Jutsu: Flying Thunder God Lv3, Dust Reincarnation Lv3, Lightning Chidori Lv1]
"Hashirama's card is insane. Just a 5% fusion already puts me at elite jonin level."
Wanting to stay up all night wasn't odd—after all, Hashirama was known as the God of Shinobi, a legend on par with Madara Uchiha.
At his peak, Madara once fought five Kage alone, showing strength well above the Kage class. So a 5% fusion of Hashirama's power being on par with a high-level jonin wasn't exaggerated.
Moreover, Haru had inherited all of Hashirama's jutsu and combat experience.
The system calculated his combat power based on chakra capacity, jutsu mastery, and skill levels—labeling him as a standard jonin. But Haru felt that even elite jonin weren't his match.
"If I was supposed to fuse from 5% to 100% in one year… Now with the speed boost, it'll only take 18 days?"
"Nice. That works for me."
Just then—BANG—the door burst open.
"Haru."
It was Kushina Uzumaki.
She had changed into a blue dress, her vibrant red hair falling over snow-pale skin.
"You doing okay? It's still early. Want to go visit Minato? He got injured the other night."
"How's his condition? Will it cost a fortune?" Haru asked dryly.
Kushina paused, then burst out laughing. "Wasn't it your fault? I mean, after you hit him, I heard Raikage showed up. He was undercover, trying to rescue a hidden agent from Kumo and capture them near Minato."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah. Luckily, Lord Orochimaru arrived in time and pulled them out safely. I heard he got hurt too, but he didn't look too bad this morning."
Haru now understood why Orochimaru seemed so weakened earlier—he really had been injured.
Still, once Haru's fusion progressed, not even Orochimaru would be a challenge.
"In a week, I'll hit 30% fusion. At that point, taking on Orochimaru will be a piece of cake."
"Haru, let's go see Minato and Sakumo. They risked their lives to save me."
[Ding! Please choose an option:]
[Option 1: Happily visit Minato in the hospital. Reward: C-rank Jutsu – Jade Dew Senbon]
[Option 2: Flatly refuse and kick Kushina out. Reward: Kushina's Favorability -10, B-rank Psychic Jutsu – Earth Pursuit Fang]
[Option 3: Postpone the visit and laze at home. Reward: Hashirama Card Fusion Speed x10, B-rank Taijutsu Skill – Spell Song of Love]
Haru glanced at Kushina, then laid back down.
"I'm kinda tired. Let's go another day. Minato won't be discharged so soon."
Kushina suddenly put her hands on her hips, angry. "Haru, you're such a slacker!"
"Ugh, I'm sleepy!"
Frustrated, Kushina stomped out.
Hearing from her that Haru was napping again, the beautiful matriarch of the Uzumaki clan shook her head. She had never seen such a lazy boy.
Uzumaki Mito thought for a moment. "Kushina, do you think Haru might be feeling unwell after awakening his bloodline limit?"
Kushina, still a little irritated, immediately grew concerned. "Mito-obaachan, what should I do?"
Mito murmured, "Let me call Shizune over to check on him. She just returned to the village."
Since Tsunade wasn't in Konoha, Shizune—her most trusted student—was the best option. Mito trusted her deeply.
…
In his room, Haru lay down, idly grinding skills in his sleep.
The life of a lazybones really was simple… and boring.
Suddenly—BANG—the door slammed open.
"Who's there?"
He looked up and saw the old lady, Kushina, and a petite girl walk in.
"This is…"
"Haru," said Mito, "you seemed unwell, so I asked someone to check on you."
"This is Shizune, Tsunade's student."
Shizune? Tsunade's disciple? That little girl?
She was adorable!
Haru smiled faintly.
Shizune nodded politely and looked at Haru with interest.
She visited Konoha only every few months to check in and gather intel, sometimes picking up funds for her master.
This time, she had heard about the Kumo spy incident and Kushina's near-kidnapping, plus the Raikage and Yugito sneaking into Fire Country.
She also knew of Haru's involvement.
Without hesitation, she agreed to examine him.
Shizune's first words upon entering:
"Haru-kun, take off your shirt so I can take a look…"