Compared to Sasuke and Sakura's guesses, Naruto stood off to the side still wearing his bright grin, but instead of his usual carefree self, he was oddly quiet.
So what Jiro-san told me… it was all true.
Jiro-san was such a gentle person. If he could find his wife and son, he'd definitely be happy, right?
"If you three don't want to be sent back to the Ninja Academy, then forget everything you saw today."
Kakashi-sensei looked at the three and spoke with a note of warning.
Generally, even if Root's operations aren't top-secret, they're still extremely important—and must be kept confidential.
As for everyone present, the other civilians of the Land of Waves had already gone home for lunch, leaving only Tazuna, who wasn't from Konoha.
But Tazuna-san was still under the half-built bridge, taking measurements; he probably couldn't see what happened up here.
"Kinoshita Jiro, you don't have the qualifications to negotiate with us."
A low, icy voice came from another Root ninja.
As that Root operative spoke, the whole scene fell silent. Under everyone's gaze, Kinoshita Jiro's face went a little pale. He gripped the scroll in his hands tightly, as if making some important decision.
Kinoshita Jiro? No wonder!
Hearing that name, Kakashi's expression flickered as if he'd recalled something; questions he hadn't been able to figure out suddenly clicked into place.
"Kakashi-sensei, what is it?" Sakura asked softly when she noticed his look.
Sasuke and Naruto also turned to look at Kakashi-sensei.
"The 'Jiro-san' you've been talking about isn't a wandering shinobi. He's the clan head of the Kinoshita Clan from the Hidden Mist."
"Half a month ago, the Mist issued a bounty regarding Kinoshita Jiro. The amount matches an S-rank missing-nin, but the target isn't assassination—only information on Kinoshita Jiro's whereabouts."
Kakashi-sensei's voice was low. Because of his mask, Sasuke and the others couldn't see the shock on his face.
"Is Jiro-san… a missing-nin?!" Naruto blurted, startled.
"Idiot. Kakashi-sensei made it clear—didn't you get it?" Sasuke shot him a look like he was a moron.
"Naruto, what Kakashi-sensei means is that Jiro-san is very important to the Mist. Important enough that even if he's gone missing, the Mist can only offer a huge reward to track his movements," Sakura explained, helpless.
"And posting that high a bounty also tells the other villages that Kinoshita Jiro still belongs to the Mist—so hands off," Sasuke added, giving Naruto a mocking glance, though he still explained seriously.
Naruto blinked, staring blankly at Sasuke and Sakura. How did they hear the same thing and understand so much?
He still didn't fully get it, but at least he understood this much: Jiro-san wasn't a missing-nin.
While Naruto and the others relaxed a little, Kakashi-sensei's face grew heavy. Sasuke wasn't wrong, but there was one thing he hadn't realized—the darkness between the villages.
For the Mist to post such a high bounty also meant one thing: Kinoshita Jiro held extremely critical intel.
And to the other villages, a man holding intel like that was a slab of fat meat.
Meanwhile, the tension on the other side began to drain away.
Kinoshita Jiro seemed to reach a decision. He grit his teeth, lifted the scroll, and said solemnly, "I hope Konoha keeps its word."
He then handed the scroll to the Root ninja.
The operative opened it, nodded slightly at what he saw, then rolled the scroll back up.
Right after, he gave a hand signal to another Root operative.
Not good!
Kakashi-sensei's face changed the instant he saw it. They were going to kill Kinoshita Jiro!!
Whoosh!
He kicked off the ground and lunged forward. Jiro's identity was too sensitive—if he died at Konoha's hands, it would be a huge problem.
These Root guys were utterly reckless!
As Kakashi-sensei moved, one Root shinobi rushed out to block him, voice low:
"Just do your job. Don't meddle."
The moment that ninja halted Kakashi-sensei, the other Root operative struck.
Splat!
Blood sprayed everywhere!
Before Jiro could even react, the Root operative's hand punched straight through his chest.
In the blood were shreds of viscera.
Kinoshita Jiro stared blankly at the Root ninja. A flood of blood poured from his mouth as he rasped:
"Why… tell me where… my wife… and son are…"
Splat!
More blood spattered as the Root operative yanked his arm free from Jiro's chest.
"How could this be?!"
Sakura staggered back two steps, unable to believe what she was seeing.
Sasuke's pupils shrank. It had all happened too fast; aside from Kakashi-sensei, none of them had been prepared.
"Ji… Jiro-san!!"
Naruto froze, then roared and charged forward.
"Naruto!"
Kakashi-sensei tried to grab him, but the Root ninja across from him had already locked him in place with killing intent and chakra pressure. He didn't dare move.
Naruto rushed to Jiro's side. When he saw the gaping wound in Jiro's chest, his body trembled.
"You… what are you…!"
He raised his head and roared at the Root ninja, but before he could finish, a blood-soaked hand lightly tugged at him.
"Jiro-san!"
Feeling the movement, Naruto cried out.
Kinoshita Jiro knelt weakly, struggling to lift his head toward Naruto. His voice came in broken fragments:
"You're… not… their match. I'm sorry… for lying to you at first, Naruto. It's just… I never got to see… my wife… and son… even at the end."
He raised a trembling hand and gently patted Naruto's head. The blood on his palm stained Naruto's blond hair a deep, dark red.
Yuto-sama, I've completed my mission. There shouldn't be any loose ends now… right?
A moment later, Kinoshita Jiro slowly closed his eyes and fell limp into Naruto's arms—breath gone.
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