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Chapter 45
On the other side, Tenraku Kumo lay nervously on the operating table. A Root medical ninja brought over a jar.
Inside the jar was more than half full of nutrient solution… and a pair of one-tomoe Sharingan.
Before the surgery, the Root medical ninja said to Tenraku Kumo: "Remember—your Sharingan can't close on its own. You have to avoid that problem. Make Uchiha Itachi believe you really are Uchiha Sakyo."
Tenraku Kumo nodded solemnly, indicating she understood.
"Stop wasting words. Just start."
She had no goodwill toward the Root members either.
If not for Root, she wouldn't have ended up like this.
Volunteering for this mission had a 99% chance of death.
Who would do something like this at her age if they didn't have some deep, unspeakable reason?
Meanwhile, in another part of Root, four elite Root ninjas held hands, surrounding the one codenamed "Fire" in the center.
"Once you're there, use the medical cells immediately. Otherwise, you'll die on the spot."
Hearing the warning from his equal-rank comrade, Fire replied coldly: "I don't need you to remind me!"
"Send me over."
The other four didn't waste more words. They focused and performed the technique together…
An ultra S-rank support ninjutsu only possible with four people: Flying Thunder God Technique!
…
In the dense forest on the northeast side of the Land of Fire, Naruto was holding Sakyo's hand, trying to comfort her.
But it didn't seem to be working. Sakyo stood there as if she'd lost her mind—her face shifting between fury and heartbreaking despair. She looked like she was about to have a complete breakdown.
This sight pained Naruto, but he was completely helpless.
"Guess I have no choice."
Naruto pulled Sakyo into his arms, planning to leave the scene immediately and return to their camp.
Then he would tell the ANBU monitoring him about this, so they could report it to the Third Hokage.
But…
Swish, swish, swish~
Suddenly, more than a dozen ninjas dressed as ANBU appeared around them.
They moved like corpses—agile, professional, lifeless.
"Root…"
Naruto frowned, his eyes scanning the surroundings.
Damn it! Why were there so many?
Such a large operation—and the Third Hokage didn't know?
Once again, Naruto felt disappointed in the Third Hokage.
As the one in power, he couldn't even control Danzō. He'd been provoked by him multiple times and still did nothing.
Put nicely, it was called caution and considering the bigger picture.
Put bluntly—it was cowardice. Weakness!
The once-mighty "Hero of the Ninja World" had become a "Coward of the Ninja World." Truly lamentable.
"Third Generation jinchūriki, this isn't a place you should be."
"Put Tenraku Kumo down. You can leave."
Among this group of Root: four sealing team members, eight combat team members, two medical ninjas, one intelligence officer, one captain, one vice-captain.
What shocked Naruto the most was that the two medical ninjas were openly holding a jar of nutrient solution!
Inside the jar, a pair of pale purple eyes stood out clearly.
Naruto already understood one of their goals.
If his earlier guess was correct, Root was definitely going to make a move against him and Sakyo.
From the nutrient solution and those eyes, it was obvious one of their objectives was to replace Sakyo's eyes.
And… who the hell was Tenraku Kumo?
Team Mizuki's class leader, Tenraku Kumo?
The person Naruto was holding in his arms was Uchiha Sakyo!