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Chapter 41: Rescue
Kakashi moved forward, soon reaching a hidden spot in the Konoha Forest.
There was a barely noticeable hole in the ground.
He looked around carefully, then jumped down.
Moments later, another figure appeared—wearing a cat-faced mask. The person was young and not very tall.
A rumbling sound echoed from below.
Kaien stood by the entrance of the cave, rubbing his chin.
"The one who just went down… seems to be Yamato? Oh right, he's called 'A' now."
He smirked.
"Did Danzo send him to gouge out Kakashi's Sharingan?
I can't tell if Danzo is confident, delusional, or just superstitious about Yamato's Wood Release."
Suddenly, Kaien sensed something. He leapt into a nearby tree.
Three Root operatives had arrived at the cave entrance.
Two hid themselves while the third jumped in.
"No wonder Danzo always has a backup plan—surveillance, replacements, and if A fails, others are ready to act."
"Missions aren't everything. If a mission requires killing a comrade, then the mission is wrong."
"People say Kakashi betrayed his comrades, but I never wanted to kill Rin at all!"
"I couldn't protect her. That's why she died. I used Chidori to protect her, but I failed..."
"A, abandon the Root mission."
"Root shinobi are taught to give up all emotions."
"It's more than just emotions—they give up their names, their past, and their future, living only to complete missions."
"If I'm your enemy, then dying by your hand is expected."
Kaien waited a while. The Root operative who was tailing A came out first, pretending to stand guard at the cave entrance.
A short time later, A emerged.
He took out a jar containing an eyeball. The two exchanged glances.
Kaien, watching from the trees, recognized the situation.
Kakashi had already won A over.
A had forged a fake Sharingan and planned to report back to Danzo with it.
After this, Kakashi and Mishiro Shingen would help A shed his "Root" identity and give him the name "Tenzo."
Later, during the recapture of the Kazekage, A would be known by his codename—Yamato.
"How dare you deceive us!"
A loud shout snapped Kaien out of his thoughts.
Had they discovered the eye was fake?
"Attack!" Three Root operatives suddenly emerged.
"Looks like Lord Danzo didn't trust me after all," A muttered.
He didn't resist as one of them tied him up.
The other three jumped into the hole, likely to find Kakashi.
"A, why did you lie!?"
A's expression remained emotionless, his dull eyes betraying nothing, but his voice was tinged with sadness.
"B, I don't understand this mission of killing a comrade. So, I chose to abandon it."
B was furious.
"A mission from Lord Danzo, the leader of Root, is absolute!"
"Kakashi is a Konoha ninja too. He's our comrade. Isn't it wrong to kill him?"
B pushed A to the ground and growled,
"Remember this: only Root members are your comrades! No one else!"
A gritted his teeth.
"Isn't Root supposed to be part of Konoha?"
B's expression turned fanatical.
"Root is the invisible foundation that supports the great tree of Konoha. Just like how a tree has visible branches and invisible roots, Root exists independently."
"A Root ninja has no name, no emotions, no past or future. Their only purpose is to complete missions."
A Suddenly began to struggle violently.
"No! That's wrong! I'm a Konoha ninja—not just Root! I have branches, leaves, and comrades throughout Konoha! All of them are my comrades!"
B glared coldly.
"Who's been feeding you this nonsense!? I'll take you back to Danzo-sama and have you reconditioned!"
A soft, melodic voice interrupted:
"Ah, but of course—it was Danzo himself who confused him."
"Who's there!?"
B was suddenly drenched in cold sweat. He hadn't even sensed the presence.
Thud!
Before B could turn around, he felt a sharp pain in his head. His consciousness faded instantly.
"Get up," Kaien said, untying A.
"You are…?" A didn't recognize Kaien personally, but he could tell from his clothes that he was from the Uchiha clan.
"My name is Kaien Uchiha," he replied calmly, still debating whether to go down and help Kakashi or just let the Root operatives gouge out his Sharingan.
"You're the deputy head of the Uchiha clan!? Why did you save me?"
A had heard of Kaien—Danzo's long-standing nemesis, the man who recently got Danzo removed from the council of elders.
"I just enjoy going against Danzo. It doesn't matter who you are."
"But…"
Kaien smirked.
"Though I do know who you are."
"You know what I am?"
"Aren't you one of the sixty babies Danzo stole years ago?"
"What!?" A was stunned.
"Danzo-sama… stole us?"
Kaien nodded.
"Yes. He stole you, and Orochimaru used you for human experiments. From what I know, you might be the only survivor."
"Do you have any proof!?" A asked, agitated.
Kaien raised his brows.
"I have my intel sources. I'm not here to prove anything. Believe it or not."
"Danzo has kidnapped, manipulated, and experimented on countless people—all under the excuse of 'protecting Konoha.'"
A's heart trembled. Is this the man I've sworn loyalty to?
Suddenly, the chirping sound of Chidori echoed from the cave.
"Ah! Big Brother Kakashi!"
Only now did A remember that Kakashi was still inside.
He rushed toward the cave, but Kaien stopped him.
"No need. He'll be up soon."
Just as he said that, Kakashi jumped out of the hole.
Kaien quickly observed that Kakashi's Sharingan was still intact. Though he was injured, he seemed generally fine.
"Tsk," Kaien clicked his tongue.
"Those Root guys are useless. Three of them, and they still got wiped out?"
Kakashi landed at the cave entrance, spotting Kaien immediately.
He raised his guard.
"Kaien-sama!? Why are you here!?"
Kaien, having no intention of taking Kakashi's eye, didn't answer the question.
"You'd better go find the Third Hokage. Danzo's people will be coming soon."
With that, Kaien vanished in a blur.
"Kakashi-san! Are you alright!?" A rushed forward to help.
Kakashi staggered.
"I'm fine. But what was Kaien doing here?"
"Let's find the Third Hokage first. I'll explain everything on the way," A replied, supporting him.
…
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Translated By – Ancient Lores
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