At the Root base, Danzo reached up and touched the bandaged right eye that concealed the Sharingan he had acquired from Uchiha Shisui.
"Damn it… all about these Sharingan. Should I consider getting another one as a backup?" he muttered, stepping out of the dimly lit chamber. Two Root operatives were already half-kneeling at the door.
"Lord Danzo!" they said in unison.
"Target Hatake Kakashi. Objective: retrieve the Sharingan. Understood?"
One of the operatives hesitated for a second but quickly responded, "Yes, Lord Danzo."
"Make it clean. No witnesses. No mistakes."
"Yes!"
Outside Konoha's forest, Kakashi moved at blinding speed. Years of weighted training had enhanced his speed to an astonishing level—perhaps even Might Guy would have trouble keeping up at full sprint.
After receiving his mission assignment, Kakashi departed without delay. His destination: one of Orochimaru's old research labs. Or rather, another one. The man's secret bases were as widespread as they were disturbing.
Despite their past, Kakashi didn't harbor personal hatred toward Orochimaru. Rather, he was intrigued. Genius and madness were often neighbors, and Orochimaru's ambition was, in some ways, purer than many others'.
Among the legendary Sannin, none were ordinary.
Unbeknownst to Kakashi, two Root agents trailed him from a distance. His sensory abilities were acute, but the space between them was carefully maintained.
"Senior, Kakashi's speed is insane…"
"Of course. He's one of the elite in the Anbu Black Ops—formidable in every way. That's why we have to stay cautious. If we get exposed or forced into a direct clash, we won't stand a chance."
"Yes, understood."
"Keep the distance. We know the lab's location. No need to tail him too close."
"Yes, senior."
Kakashi continued on, eventually reaching the entrance to one of Orochimaru's forsaken hideouts. The entrance resembled a crater—roughly a meter wide, descending into shadow.
Peering in, he saw only blackness. The soft glow at the tunnel's edge was the only source of light.
With a sigh, he ruffled his silver hair. "Well, let's get it over with."
From his pouch, he unsealed a small oil lamp with practiced ease and sparked it to life.
Without hesitation, Kakashi dropped into the darkness.
In less than a moment, he landed softly. The space inside was wider than expected. Ahead stood a stone gate.
Kakashi approached, examining a paper seal plastered over the frame.
"Hm?"
What appeared to be a simple sealing tag—almost too basic—was far more sinister up close. A trap. Tampering with it would trigger an explosion, coupled with a Fire Release jutsu.
"Tch. Even when abandoning a lab, Orochimaru still plays games. If any random shinobi stumbled in here, they'd be roasted before realizing."
Kakashi knelt and made a quick set of hand signs. Over the past few years, he had rigorously studied fūinjutsu. While not on the level of the Uzumaki, his control and layering techniques had advanced significantly. He'd even learned to merge dual Four-Symbol Seals into a stable Eight Trigrams Seal.
Though not as legendary as Hiruzen's Reaper Death Seal, among the current generation of Konoha shinobi, Kakashi's sealing prowess was nearly unrivaled.
With precision, he dispelled the seal and burned the remaining paper with a quick Fire Release.
He then pushed open the stone door. A long, unlit corridor stretched out, visibility near zero.
He raised the oil lamp and noticed sconces built into the walls.
"So much for Orochimaru's superior vision. He did leave lighting."
Kakashi weaved hand seals.
"Fire Style: Candle Lighting Jutsu."
A flurry of controlled sparks shot from his mouth, landing atop each wick. One by one, flames sprang to life, illuminating the corridor.
"Much better."
Kakashi passed through the hall. At its end was another door. Without pause, he opened it and stepped inside.
Meanwhile, outside the base, the Root agents observed.
"Senior, what now?"
"He's inside. He'll come back out eventually. But entering now is risky. Too dark. Instead, let's lay a trap. Hit him hard the moment he emerges."
"Are you sure this is okay? Hatake Kakashi is not only a high-ranking Anbu—he's close to the Hokage."
"We follow Lord Danzo's orders. That's all that matters. Understood?"
"…Yes, senior."
The younger ninja—codenamed A—nodded hesitantly, though his eyes revealed inner turmoil.
"Kakashi once killed a teammate. Her name was Nohara Rin. A kunoichi from their genin squad."
"…What?"
A's eyes widened beneath his mask.
"She died by his own hand. Whatever the reason, he bears that sin. Trust Lord Danzo."
A bit his lip, finally whispering, "Understood."
"Good. Get into position."
"Right."
Back inside, Kakashi examined the room carefully. Dozens of scrolls were neatly arranged on shelves. He picked up one and unfurled it.
"…Basic medical ninjutsu. Vital data on human anatomy. Probably what Orochimaru deemed beneath his interest."
Still, Kakashi's sharp mind saw the value.
"Medical ninjutsu, huh? Could be useful. Might help refine lightning-style internal techniques. The Thunder-style physical enhancement method still needs a breakthrough."
He sealed the medical scrolls into a separate storage scroll. These weren't particularly rare—he wasn't worried about them being tracked.
He turned and scanned the room once more.
"Let's see what else you left behind, Orochimaru."
With caution and curiosity, Kakashi stepped deeper into the abandoned facility.
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