Senju Haruto's mind filled with a silent question mark.
Kakashi? What is he doing here?This situation had nothing to do with him.If he hadn't jumped in midway, Haruto could've taken care of these Root operatives himself.
"These men are Root—trained by Danzō," Kakashi said calmly, straightening his tilted forehead protector to reveal the eye hidden beneath it, the one steeped in darkness.
Fighting off multiple Root operatives while simultaneously protecting Haruto… it was clear that Kakashi couldn't afford to hold back.
"I'll protect you. Don't worry."
As he spoke, Kakashi kept a sharp eye on the gathering Root agents.
This wasn't the first time something like this had happened.Back when the Third Hokage reassumed power, Danzō had once sent Root agents to assassinate him.Just like then, Kakashi would never allow such treachery to succeed.
"Why are you even here?" Haruto couldn't help asking.
From what he remembered, this version of Kakashi wasn't exactly the caring type.Haunted by the deaths of Obito and Rin, Kakashi had never forgiven himself.It was their deaths that led him to join the Anbu in the first place, throwing himself into dangerous missions as a form of self-punishment.
"Orders from the Third," Kakashi said after a few seconds of silence, finally giving a reason.
In truth, the Third had given no such order about Haruto.
As a member of the Third Hokage's Anbu unit, Kakashi's duties included not just carrying out missions—but also watching over the village's Jinchūriki.And today, he happened to be on duty.
While keeping an eye on Naruto, he noticed suspicious movement from Root agents.What he didn't expect was for Danzō's men to be trying to eliminate Senju Haruto in secret.
Kakashi didn't know why Danzō would go that far, but his instincts told him that if the Third Hokage found out, he'd never allow such a tragedy to unfold.
Thankfully, he arrived just as the Root agents were pulling out their kunai to strike.
"Didn't you see me take out two of them already?" Haruto frowned.If Kakashi had been watching, he wouldn't think Haruto needed protecting at all.
"Watch out—they're moving!"
Suddenly, eight Root agents sprang into action.The one in front made a quick hand signal, commanding the rest to split up and form a new battle formation.
Three of them lunged straight at Kakashi, swords drawn—slashing, sweeping, and angling their attacks to strike from the left, right, and head-on simultaneously.
Their intentions were clear:Even if they didn't kill Kakashi in one blow, they would suppress him enough to give the others a chance.
Haruto quickly assessed the positioning.He didn't have a Sharingan like Kakashi, but his base stats were stronger.
He swiftly stepped back a few paces to give Kakashi room, then clenched his fist and punched at the first Root agent approaching him.
With chakra bursting outward, his punch materialized into a visible chakra gauntlet, colliding directly with the enemy's blade.
BOOM!
The clash exploded between them—and the long sword shattered on impact.
"Hah!"
Haruto took a forward step, dropping into a low stance and slamming his fist into the ninja's gut.
But the other Root agents weren't amateurs.
To them, the idea of "comrades" didn't exist.Even when fighting together, they never cared about each other's lives.
They saw the death of one ally as acceptable—so long as it created an opening for the rest.
Before Haruto could take another breath, four more Root agents charged in from different angles.One even went so far as to stab through his own teammate, just to plunge the bloodstained blade through Haruto's throat.
Inhuman.
Haruto stared coldly at the incoming blade. He understood now—these Root agents weren't human anymore.They'd been hollowed out, repurposed into nothing but tools to remove Danzō's obstacles.
CLANG!
Haruto caught the sword with his bare hand, his chakra shielding his skin.With a burst of force, he pulsed his chakra into the blade—sending a shockwave straight through it.
BOOM!
The sword cracked and split. Haruto spun around and hurled the broken blade.
WHOOSH!
It flew cleanly through the air and pierced a Root ninja's left eye, exiting through the back of his skull.
THUD!
The man collapsed without a sound, falling stiffly at Haruto's feet.
The other Root members were stunned.Not just because of Haruto's skill—but because his movements were so smooth, so calculated.
Even among seasoned jōnin, few fought with such natural killing intent.
Every strike he threw aimed directly for the vital points.He wasn't scared. He wasn't anxious.He moved like someone who had seen true war—who understood the blood and death that defined a shinobi's life.
"This is the path you chose," Haruto said coldly.
He quickly formed hand seals—his only known ninjutsu.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
With a deep breath, flames surged from his mouth, forming a massive rolling fireball.
But unlike Sasuke, who would simply hold it in place—Haruto launched the fireball like a wheel of death, letting it roll forward and slam into two Root agents, then continue roaring through the nearby forest, igniting everything in its path.
"Phew…"
Haruto exhaled slowly, turning to look at Kakashi—who was still locked in combat with the last three Root operatives.
No surprise there.
Haruto rubbed his forehead, shaking his head.
The legendary 50/50 king lived up to the title.No matter who Kakashi fought, it always ended in a draw.
"Need some help?"
Haruto asked, not bothering to hide his frustration.Kakashi wasn't losing, but finishing off his enemies was clearly taking too long.
I've got school tomorrow, you know!He thought to himself.I'm only thirteen! If I don't get enough sleep, how am I supposed to grow taller?Girls care a lot about height!
Behind him, Kakashi faltered for a moment when he heard Haruto's casual tone.
"Need help?"Wasn't I supposed to be the one protecting you?
He turned instinctively, giving Haruto a quick glance—but his Sharingan still allowed him to dodge the next strike with ease.
Still, in that brief glance…He froze.
Several Root agents were lying limp at Haruto's feet, their bodies twisted and broken.He didn't need to think to know what had happened.
In that moment, a figure appeared in Kakashi's mind—Uchiha Itachi.
Senju Haruto…He was a genius on that level.No—perhaps even greater.