To Be Both Superior and Decisive
Xu Fan slowly typed a question mark in his heart.
How could Kakashi be here?
There was no reason for him to appear.
If he hadn't suddenly intervened, Xu Fan would have already dealt with these Root ninjas himself.
"These people are Danzo's Root operatives," Kakashi said, adjusting his forehead protector diagonally to reveal his left eye, hidden in the shadows.
Fighting multiple Root ninjas while ensuring Xu Fan's safety was no easy task—it was unrealistic to think he could hold back.
"I'll protect you. Don't worry," Kakashi assured him, staying alert as the Root operatives gathered.
This wasn't the first time something like this had happened.
Back when the Third Hokage reclaimed his position, Danzo had sent Root to assassinate him.
But just like back then, Kakashi would never allow them to succeed.
"Why are you here?" Xu Fan couldn't help but ask.
In his memory, Kakashi at this time wasn't the type to be particularly concerned about others—quite the opposite.
Still burdened by the deaths of Obito and Rin, Kakashi had never forgiven himself.
Their loss drove him to join the Anbu, take on dangerous missions, and seek solace in death.
"It was an order from the Third Hokage," Kakashi replied after a brief silence.
But in truth, the Third Hokage had given no such order.
As a member of the Hokage's Anbu, it was Kakashi's duty not only to carry out missions but also to ensure the safety of the village's Jinchūriki.
Today, he had simply been on duty.
While observing Naruto Uzumaki, he had noticed unusual Root activity.
What he hadn't expected was that Danzo's Root would attempt to execute Xu Fan.
Kakashi didn't know Danzo's motives, but his instincts told him that if the Third Hokage were aware of this, he would never allow such a tragedy to unfold.
Fortunately, Kakashi had arrived just as the Root operatives were drawing their kunai to strike.
"Didn't you see me kill two of them earlier?" Xu Fan frowned. If Kakashi had witnessed that, he wouldn't think Xu Fan needed protection.
"Be careful, they're coming!"
Suddenly, eight Root ninjas moved simultaneously. Their leader signaled for them to disperse and form a new formation.
Three of them rushed at Kakashi, their long swords slashing and sweeping from the left, right, and front, deliberately staggering their attacks.
Their goal was clear: even if they couldn't land a fatal blow, they intended to suppress Kakashi and create an opening for their comrades.
Xu Fan assessed the others' positions. Though he didn't have Kakashi's Sharingan, his physical abilities far exceeded his.
He swiftly stepped back to create distance, clenched his fist, and threw a powerful punch at the first enemy to approach.
As his chakra surged, a chakra-enhanced glove formed around his fist, meeting the enemy's sword head-on.
Boom!
The clash sent shockwaves through the air, shattering the blade into fragments.
"Hah!"
Xu Fan lunged forward, driving his fist into the enemy's abdomen.
But the other Root operatives weren't so easily intimidated.
They had no concept of camaraderie.
Even when acting in groups, they cared nothing for their comrades' survival.
To them, the death of an ally was insignificant—so long as it created an opportunity for the mission to succeed, any sacrifice was acceptable.
Within a single breath, four more Root ninjas charged from different directions.
One of them thrust his blade through his own ally's chest, aiming straight for Xu Fan's throat.
Cold and ruthless.
Xu Fan stared at the incoming blade, unfazed. He knew these Root operatives were no longer human.
They had been stripped of their humanity, molded into tools for Danzo's ambitions.
Click!
With sheer chakra-enhanced strength, Xu Fan caught the sword barehanded. His chakra surged along the weapon's length—
Boom!
The sword shattered instantly. Xu Fan spun and hurled the broken blade.
Whizz!
The projectile flew cleanly into the left eye of an approaching Root ninja, piercing straight through the back of his skull.
Thud.
The ninja collapsed at Xu Fan's feet without a sound.
The remaining Root operatives were visibly shaken.
Xu Fan's combat skills far exceeded those of an average ninja academy student.
Even fully trained shinobi might not be as proficient as he was.
Most importantly—
Xu Fan's strikes were deadly precise.
He neither hesitated nor faltered, moving with the confidence of a battle-hardened warrior.
Superior and decisive.
Ruthless and efficient.
"This is what you asked for," Xu Fan said coldly, his hands forming seals at lightning speed.
This was the only ninjutsu he had mastered—
Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!
With the final hand seal complete, a massive fireball erupted from Xu Fan's mouth.
Unlike Sasuke's version, he didn't merely release it—he kept the fireball burning in front of him, then forcefully launched it forward.
The scorching sphere engulfed two Root ninjas before continuing into the forest, setting the trees ablaze.
"Hah…"
Xu Fan exhaled deeply, then turned to check on Kakashi—
Only to see him still engaged in battle with the last three Root operatives.
As expected.
Xu Fan sighed and rubbed his forehead.
The infamous "Fifty-Fifty Kakashi" was truly living up to his reputation.
He could fight anyone to a stalemate.
"Need help?" Xu Fan asked, exasperated.
Although Kakashi would eventually win, Xu Fan had no patience to wait.
He had school tomorrow morning!
And as a thirteen-year-old in this new world, he needed proper sleep to grow.
Height was important!
Girls cared about height!
Kakashi, hearing the voice behind him, momentarily faltered.
Need help?
Wasn't he supposed to be protecting Xu Fan?
A glance back—
And Kakashi nearly froze.
Several Root operatives lay scattered at Xu Fan's feet, lifeless.
Without needing to ask, Kakashi understood exactly what had happened.
For a brief moment, an image flashed in his mind—
Uchiha Itachi.
Xu Fan was a genius on the same level.
No… perhaps even beyond him.