Life—
Seemed so insignificant before Raiden.
In the shinobi world, a Jonin was a figure of prestige.
Yet here—
He was no different from an ant.
A single finger.
Raiden's fingertip hadn't even touched Yamanaka Fū—
And a terrifying force surged forth.
"…A demon?"
That was Fū's final thought.
Then—
Everything went silent.
Centered on where he stood—
A crater about five meters wide formed instantly.
Fū himself—
Had already turned into dust.
Only a pool of blood remained.
"This way… you won't feel any pain."
"This is my final mercy."
Raiden's eyes were calm—
Cold, yet carrying a trace of compassion.
If anyone from his original world saw that expression—
They would be terrified.
Because once he showed that look—
Everything that opposed him had already been reduced to nothing.
"Danzo."
"Since you're looking for death… I'll grant it to you."
As his voice fell—
Raiden vanished.
—
He walked along Konoha's streets.
Behind him, the moon hung cold and distant.
The entire world seemed to carry a chilling aura.
"Root…"
"I'm coming."
The usual carefree expression on his face disappeared.
In its place—
Was calm.
A calm so deep—
It inspired fear.
This—
Was the expression he wore before killing.
Following Fū's directions, in just a few breaths—
Raiden arrived at the entrance to Root's underground base.
The heavy gate was tightly sealed.
Without a key—
No one could enter.
But to Raiden—
It was meaningless.
He stepped forward—
And lightly tapped it.
Boom!
The gate collapsed instantly.
Nearby, a resident stirred in their sleep.
"…Was that an earthquake?"
Muttering drowsily, they sensed nothing unusual.
"…Must be my imagination."
They turned over and went back to sleep.
Root's surroundings were heavily restricted, with few civilians nearby.
Raiden's actions—
Did not draw attention.
He might kill without hesitation—
But he would never drag innocent people into it.
—
Inside Root—
The moment the tremor was felt—
Elite shinobi gathered instantly.
"An intruder!"
"Alert!"
"Prepare an ambush!"
Root operated with absolute discipline.
Their response was immediate.
—
Step. Step. Step.
Raiden made no attempt to hide.
He walked calmly through the passage, descending deeper underground.
At the end—
A vast subterranean space unfolded.
Interwoven stairways stretched in all directions.
Silent.
Oppressively silent.
The moment Raiden appeared—
Ten Root shinobi materialized, surrounding him.
"Who are you, to dare trespass into Root's base?"
"That person… looks like Raiden. Lord Danzo mentioned him."
"What? Him? Didn't Yamanaka Fū lead a team to assassinate him? Did they fail?"
Shock flickered across their faces.
"It doesn't matter who he is. Anyone who enters Root… dies."
"He's dangerous—attack together!"
"Formation!"
In perfect coordination—
They moved.
Some formed hand seals for ninjutsu.
Others unleashed volleys of shuriken.
Facing them—
Raiden remained calm.
There was even a trace of pity in his eyes.
He had no intention of wasting time on them.
His target—
Was Danzo.
Anyone who blocked him—
Anyone who carried killing intent—
Would die.
The ten shinobi focused entirely on him.
But—
There was no counterattack.
Raiden simply continued walking.
That indifference—
Infuriated them.
But before that anger could even fully rise—
Raiden spoke.
"Die."
A single word.
Clear.
Echoing through the underground chamber.
"He's about to attack!"
"Be careful!"
They tensed—
Preparing for retaliation.
But—
There was no "battle."
There never had been.
The moment that word left his lips—
Something incomprehensible happened.
Boom!
All ten shinobi—
Exploded into blood mist.
Instantly.
No resistance.
No struggle.
Gone.
Blood filled the air.
It coated the corridor.
Raiden exhaled lightly—
And the mist scattered, leaving not a single stain on his clothes.
"What… was that?!"
A Root shinobi who had just arrived as reinforcement—
Witnessed everything.
He froze in terror.
At that moment—
A figure passed him like lightning.
Raiden.
"By compressing sound… and sending it into their bodies…"
"…it detonates them from within."
"They died because they couldn't withstand even a trace of killing intent carried in my voice."
Raiden's voice echoed beside him.
"He… knows what I'm thinking…"
"What kind of monster have we provoked…?!"
The shinobi's fear reached its peak.
But—
It didn't last long.
"You didn't attack."
"But I still felt your killing intent."
"As a courtesy… I told you how they died."
"So… you can die with understanding."
Raiden's tone was cold—
With a faint trace of mercy.
As he passed by—
He raised a finger.
And tapped the man's head.
Pop.
Blood splattered.
His head shattered instantly.
Raiden didn't use sound this time.
Because that would create blood mist—
And he'd have to blow it away again.
Too troublesome.
This—
Was simpler.