3:18 AM.
In the shadow-clad corridors of the ROOT headquarters, the air hung heavy with an unusual silence. It was a little over 3 am, a time when darkness was deepest, cloaking all activities in the shadows.
Clone Daichi had assumed the formidable guise of Monkey D. Dragon. The transformation was flawless, a variation of the one his former teacher Tsunade uses.
His aura was now emitting a palpable sense of danger and command. He had one mission. infiltrate the Root and complete his quest. He sensed the presence of two ninjas a short distance away from his position the moment he entered the base.
'Just as I thought. Danzo has guards at the entrance. He's a paranoid guy but then again, it's not paranoia if it's true... I need to neutralize them before they cause me any headaches. And I can't let myself get hit even once or it's game over.'
Daichi's senses were heightened, his every step was calculated as he moved deeper into the den of covert warriors.
Ahead, two Root ninjas stood guard, their masks blank and yet their eyes sharply scanning the surroundings. They were trained to detect the slightest disturbance, warriors honed to perfection under Danzo's rigid tutelage. Their thoughts were filled with duty to the Foundation, their senses fine-tuned to any anomalies.
The moment Daichi opened the entrance the two Root ninjas sensed a disturbance. A slight shift in the air flow, the barely audible sound of stones moving and the sixth sense they've honed through their careers.
One of the root ninjas tensed, hand inching towards the kunai strapped to his thigh. "Did you feel that?" he murmured, his voice barely audible.
"Yeah." The second guard scanned the corridor, his senses honed from years of living in the shadows. "Someone must have opened the barrier."
"But they didn't trigger any traps. Are we expecting someone?"
"Must be the ones Lord Danzo recalled... Still, we should make sure." With a swift hand signal, they acknowledged each other's readiness, their bodies tensing for combat.
Yet, before they could fully react, someone was upon them.
The intruder's approach was like a blur, his speed otherworldly. It showed his ninja origin and displayed a mastery of movement that was almost unnatural.
The first guard barely had time to draw his kunai before 'Dragon' was on him. With a swift, precise motion, the transformed Daichi broke his wrist and disarmed him, sending the kunai spinning in the air.
The Genin quickly and expertly caught the kunai and plunged it deep into the eye socket of the guard and snapped his neck for good measure.
The second root ninja was surprised at the quick deadly way his fellow ninja was dispatched. 'Who the hell is he?'
He didn't care about the root member who's body just hit the ground as his attention was completely on the intruder. The second guard reacted with more speed, drawing a short sword and lunging forward in a desperate attempt to kill the enemy.
But Daichi, embodying the mysterious and powerful persona of his identity, vanished from guard's view.
'Where did he-'
Before the man could complete his thought he felt a sharp pain coming from the back of his head. He sensed something entering his brain and saw the end of a sword appearing between his eyes. In seconds he slumped to the ground joining his comrade.
Before his eyes completely lost their light he looked at the other fallen guard and it was only then that he noticed the man's short sword missing.
Daichi stood still for a moment, his breathing even. He scanned the area to ensure no alarm had been raised. The fight had been swift, silent, a deadly match that ended as quickly as it had begun.
The disguised 'Dragon' now alone, felt the weight of his actions, the adrenaline slowly ebbing from his veins.
He looked at the two dead bodies and he didn't feel any joy or agony over their death. 'You were both destined to die today. Either by my hands or the Hokage's. I won't take your body and use you for any reanimations. It's the least I'm going to do for you two. Consider it a courtesy.'
With both guards dispatched, Daichi moved forward, deeper into the heart of Root, his mission only beginning. The silence of the corridor swallowed the echoes of the brief conflict as if there was none to begin with.
Daichi sensed the second clone entering the base and soon a new message came from the clone.
'I think I sensed Zetsu just when I entered the base.'
'Are you sure? Was it black Zetsu?' Came the query from their original.
'No. I'm pretty sure it was a white Zetsu.' The second clone replied.
'We're not changing our strategies are we? This was part of the plan after all. If someone else were watching we'd want them to know about 'Dragon' to keep their attention for a while. Take their focus away from 'us'.'
The first clone chimed in and the original Daichi agreed. 'Yes. I was expecting this. Right now the village is in a state of high alert. I had a feeling Obito would have Zetsu spy on the movements of the village. If he sees the Hokage gathering his people to attack the Root, he'll inform Obito. He'll definitely come to the village to muddy the waters.'
'Yes. He'll come. If he hasn't already. We should be on alert.' The second clone spoke even though he knew his doppelgangers were all vigilant.
'I'll find Danzo. You head to the archives and storage.' The first shadow clone gave the order and the second clone agreed. The two infiltrators moved in different directions.
The intelligence they gained from the two reanimated ninjas were not completely outdated. Thanks to them Daichi knew precisely where most things were in the headquarters. Including the archives where information was stored and protected, Danzo's main quarters and the rooms where hidden jutsu were stored.
Both clones used their Mini-Map and Mana skills to determine the location of all living creatures present in the base. He didn't use chakra sense skill since he knew there were sensor ninjas.
'I found Danzo. I'm heading straight for him. I don't sense the Hokage or Obito. They're not here yet but they will be soon.' The first shadow clone sent a message and vanished. He made a beeline for the leader of the Root while avoiding all patrolling ninjas.
'Based on the number of guards I'm sensing near the lower west corner I'd say Danzo hasn't changed the location of the archives. I'm heading there now.' The Second Shadow clone gave an update and disappeared into the wind.
But their hopes were immediately crushed as they miscalculated. They heard the sounds of flesh being pierced in the distance and a small thud.
The two remaining ninjas gripped their weapons tightly.
Thud
Thud
Thud
Soft footsteps were heard through the darkness coming towards them. And soon a man in a dark green cloak became visible. The ninjas could barely make out the Dragon shaped mask on the man's face.
Suddenly killing intent flooded the hallway and paralyzed the two Root ninjas. Despite Danzo's training to turn them into emotionless killers they still felt unfathomable fear.
"W-who-"
Two sword strikes landed precisely on their vitals before they could even complete the question. The bodies of the two guards slumped to the ground, lifeless, their eyes still wide with the shock of an unseen, unfathomable opponent.
Daichi paused for a moment, his breathing steady, his mind clear. Just like before there was no pleasure in his actions.
To Daichi this was just a necessity, only the cold calculation of a mission that required silence and swiftness. Even the reason he showed his mask to the last two was part of his plans.
'The Hokage will definitely investigate my attack. I'm sure Inoichi or some other Yamanaka will go through their minds to find out any clues. This way they'll have someone to go after.'
With a final glance at the ROOT ninjas, ensuring none were left to sound the alarm, Daichi stepped over the fallen guards and reached for the door of the archives. His fingers traced the intricate seals that guarded it.
'An advanced third level protection barrier seal attached with a trap seal. Not bad. Observe.'
The information gathering skill showed the details of the seal and how to open the vault door.
Daichi swiftly made the required seals and injected his chakra. A pulse of energy, foreign yet masterfully controlled in a unique pattern, and the seals parted for him, an unwilling invitation into the heart of Root's secrets.
The door to the archives opened. Their shelves were heavy with scrolls and documents. Daichi stepped inside and the door shut behind him, enveloping him in the musty air of hidden truths waiting to be uncovered.
'I have very little time. The absence of those guards would soon be discovered, by Danzo or the Anbu that's coming. I need to find what I came for quickly and escape.'
Daichi's eyes scanned the labels, each meticulously organized and coded. He moved with purpose, his fingers tracing the spines of the scrolls and files. He soon came across what he wanted. Daichi immediately checked for hidden traps and dismantled the ones that were found.
After that he quickly began storing the documents in his inventory.
Bang.
The room slightly shook and dust along with small gravel fell from the ceiling. Daichi immediately sensed multiple new chakras entering the headquarters from all directions.
'Looks like the Hokage has entered the party. There is still no word from the other clone... I'm sure he'll get it done. I just need to focus on my end.'
With that thought the shadow clone refocused his attention on the vast intel before him.
Time: 3:34 am
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Author's Note.
Some of you might wonder how Daichi got to the location so fast and killed the guards.
He was under mana cloak skill. Making him invisible to everyone.
Speed is his greatest asset with multiple skills supporting it. He attacked from the shadows with the goal to finish his enemies quickly.
He knew the location from the two reanimated ninjas.
And yes. I planned all of this from the moment I started planning the Yota rescue mission in chapter 40. Even the Orochimaru attack was planned at that time.
Every mission till now is connected to a larger plot. They played small or big parts but they are all connected.
How do you like the fight scene? I'm just getting started.
Spoiler.: Hiruzen vs Danzo is coming.
If you like my story and want to read ahead, then check out my P.a.T.R.E.0.N page. I've uploaded up to 30 additional chapters there.
Patre /MonkWithAPen (No space)