A Shadow Within Root – Terai Receives His Orders**
Deep underground, within a dimly lit chamber, the air was damp and cold. Flickering candlelight cast faint shadows on the walls, illuminating the silent figures clad in dark cloaks, standing like statues.
At the center of the room, Tairo Mizuiro—the captain of Root—sat on a simple wooden chair, his hands resting on his knees, his icy gaze locked onto the kneeling figure before him.
He let out a quiet sigh before issuing his command.
"Lord Danzo has ordered us to monitor Satoru Hoshino."
"Gather all possible information on him. If he shows any suspicious behavior, report immediately. If he becomes a threat… eliminate him."
The kneeling figure slowly raised his head, his vacant eyes devoid of emotion.
Terai.
A shinobi as cold and unfeeling as a lifeless doll.
No emotions. No hesitation. No doubts.
He was not a man—he was a machine programmed for one purpose.
His dry, hollow voice responded without delay:
"Understood."
Without another word, he vanished into the darkness, as if he had never been there.
Tairo watched his departure, then scoffed.
"Another monster… Root is full of monsters."
Outside the chamber, the wind howled through the trees, rustling the leaves with an eerie whisper under the cold night sky.
---
**Extreme Training – When Satoru Pushes His Limits**
The setting sun painted the sky crimson, casting a golden-orange hue over the western forests of Konoha. Under the towering trees, Satoru was engaged in his daily training routine.
Before him stood a massive boulder, weighing no less than 300 kilograms.
With his hands planted firmly on the ground, he balanced his entire body upside down, performing push-ups in a handstand position.
His muscles tensed, veins bulging slightly under the pressure, each fiber of his body working in unison as he moved up and down in steady, controlled motions.
"Hngh—! Haa—!"
His breathing was rhythmic, his sweat trickling down his sculpted physique, reflecting the golden glow of the sunset.
Each drop of sweat hit the ground, merging with the earthy scent of the forest floor.
A gentle breeze rustled through the leaves, carrying the scent of damp soil and fresh wood.
Under the final rays of sunlight, his skin gleamed, his chiseled muscles radiating an untamed, primal energy.
Satoru could feel every joint, every sinew in his body.
"I haven't reached my limit yet."
"I can get even stronger."
---
**Three Brats Show Up – When Their Teacher's Muscles Are Too Distracting**
Not long after, three small figures emerged at the edge of the forest.
Obito, as usual, was the first to sprint forward—only to stop dead in his tracks.
His eyes widened, mouth gaping open as if he had just witnessed an otherworldly creature.
Gai's reaction was no different, his mouth forming an exaggerated 'O,' while Kakashi merely furrowed his brows, a flicker of surprise flashing in his gaze.
"S-Sensei…!! What are you doing!?" Gai exclaimed as he rushed forward.
Obito, still fixated on Satoru's physique, couldn't resist the urge to reach out and… poke.
Poke.
Poke, poke.
"Hey! These muscles are real!?" Obito gasped, poking again.
Gai, not wanting to be left out, grabbed onto Satoru's bicep and squeezed.
"Sensei, is this the true power of Taijutsu!?"
Kakashi: "…."
Satoru: "…."
SMACK!
Satoru gave both brats a light chop on the head, making Gai laugh sheepishly while Obito clutched his head in mock pain.
"Enough fooling around. Get to training!"
---
**Brutal Training and the Sound of Fists Smashing Stone**
The forest echoed with the sounds of impact, yelps, and groans.
SMACK!
"Obito, stop flailing your arms around!"
SMACK!
"Gai, stop aiming for my nose!"
SMACK!
"Kakashi, could you at least pretend to struggle!?"
Blindfolded, the three brats attempted to sense chakra around them, but all they managed to hit were trees, the ground, or—most frequently—each other.
Then suddenly—
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The trio snapped their heads toward the source of the sound—and froze.
Before them, Satoru stood amidst massive boulders.
Each of his punches created deep, thunderous echoes, sending cracks sprawling across the rocks as dust swirled around him.
Shards of stone scattered with every blow, and under the moonlight, his fists gleamed—coated in an inky black layer.
Obito gulped, his body stiff with dread.
"If Sensei punched me like that…"
"My head would probably fly clean off…"
Without realizing, he took a step back, swallowing hard.
"From now on, I'll be more polite to Sensei. He deserves to be spoken to with great respect…"
---
**A Meal to End the Day**
After training, the trio collapsed onto the ground, panting.
Obito rubbed his head, grumbling:
"Sensei's getting scarier by the day…"
Gai, however, clenched his fists, eyes sparkling:
"Amazing! That's the pinnacle of Taijutsu, isn't it, Sensei!?"
Satoru chuckled and shook his head.
"No, Gai. Believe me, the peak of Taijutsu is far beyond this."
Kakashi glanced at him, eyes gleaming with curiosity, though his face remained unreadable.
At that moment, Kakashi pulled out a large bundle and unwrapped five golden-brown roasted chickens, along with a massive pot of rice that Obito had lugged along.
As soon as Satoru laid eyes on the food, he didn't waste a second.
"Itadakimasu!!"
He immediately grabbed a whole chicken, tearing into it like a ravenous beast, shoveling rice into his mouth without pause.
Gai, eyes gleaming, clapped his hands together.
"This roasted chicken embodies the spirit of youth…!"
Obito, staring at Satoru's monstrous appetite, turned to Kakashi with horror.
"Kakashi… I swear, Sensei is actually a villain in disguise. He's going to eat all our rations!"
Kakashi, setting his rice bowl down, locked eyes with Satoru and asked bluntly:
"Sensei, what was that black stuff on your fists?"
Obito instantly leaned in, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"Teach us, Sensei! I beg you!!"
Satoru, mouth still stuffed with rice, casually flicked Obito's forehead.
SMACK!
Obito flinched, clutching his forehead, still traumatized by the stone-shattering punches from earlier.
Satoru laughed, patting his head.
"Patience, brats."
"I'll teach you… once you finish your current lessons."
---
**A Hidden Threat – When a Root Shinobi Lies in Wait**
As the children ran back to the village, Satoru remained in the empty forest, alone.
Night had fully descended, the only sounds being the distant chirping of insects.
Then—
*Ting!*
[System Warning: Caution. You are being watched.]
Satoru narrowed his eyes, sensing the faintest trace of killing intent.
A smirk curled on his lips as he spoke, voice steady.
"Come out."
"I know you've been waiting for me to be alone."
The atmosphere turned heavy.
A figure stepped from the darkness.
Terai.
A Root shinobi without emotions, without hesitation—just an executioner following orders.
Satoru clenched his fists.
For the first time, he was about to step into a life-or-death battle.