Naruto, are you all so good at self-seduction

Night in the Forest.

A blade pierced flesh, blood splattered as a Leaf Village ninja clutched his bleeding throat, gasping a couple of times before collapsing to the ground, lifeless.

Kanzuki leaped down from the branch of a nearby tree, holding a dripping blade in his hand.

Gaku had witnessed the entire battle from the sidelines; it took less than a minute from start to finish for Kanzuki to execute his opponent cleanly and efficiently.

This kid executes people even more like an ANBU than an actual ANBU...

Gaku thought to himself.

"Is it alright to leave no survivors?" Kanzuki asked as he took out a piece of white cloth to wipe the blood off his short blade before sheathing it behind him. His tone was not inquiring; it was assertive.

"It's Lord Danzo's orders. That's how Root operates," Gaku said calmly. "Once a ninja turns rogue, keeping them alive is unnecessary."

After saying this, he crouched down and searched the corpse, finding a palm-sized scroll, noticing that it seemed sealed but not attempting to open it.

"Someone's coming," Kanzuki suddenly said.

Swish, swish, swish...

Several shadows rushed through the night sky, encircling Kanzuki and Gaku.

"Root?" The lead figure, a young man with white hair and a fox mask, recognized Kanzuki and Gaku instantly and spoke with a hint of suspicion.

"Did you kill this person?"

Gaku tucked the scroll away, hands in his pockets, the dark glasses hiding his eyes, and his black hooded cloak rustling in the night breeze.

Without responding or exchanging words, Kanzuki scanned the area, instantly recognizing the figure beneath the mask.

Kakashi observed as Gaku made no attempt to hide the scroll, furrowing his brow but knowing it would be reckless to forcibly take it.

The other ANBU members stood by, waiting for Kakashi's orders.

Seeing that Kakashi made no move, Gaku instantly disappeared from the spot.

Kanzuki glanced back at Kakashi one last time; it was a shame that they were both wearing masks, so their eyes could not meet.

He turned and vanished in an instant before the ANBU, and nobody stopped him.

They know each other's identities; no one would dare intervene.

"Captain?" The ANBU members looked at the white-haired youth, awaiting his command.

After a moment of contemplation, Kakashi instructed, "Check the corpse and see if you can find any letters or scrolls."

His mission was to capture this suspected rogue ninja and bring him back for interrogation. He hadn't expected to find that the person had already been dealt with by Root by the time he arrived.

Danzo's style is still as ruthless as always...

Kakashi thought, recalling the figure of Danzo. Noticing his team had found nothing, he added, "Take the body back."

Root.

Gaku arrived alone to report on the mission, having already sent Kanzuki back.

Danzo held the scroll in his hand but showed no interest in looking at it. He was already aware of the entire operation, including the encounter with the ANBU.

"What do you think of that child?" Danzo inquired.

"Very capable," Gaku replied succinctly.

Danzo raised his eyes slightly, "How does he compare to Shisui?"

"I haven't trained with Shisui before, but Kanzuki Oboro's capabilities are outstanding among his peers," Gaku stated.

"In the ninja academy, he was second only to Shisui, and he made quite an impression during the war," Danzo spoke slowly. "It's strange that such a person suddenly vanished after the war ended."

"Isn't it due to that incident?" Gaku asked.

"That was never substantiated; it was just a comment from Tsunade that led to those rumors," Danzo replied, as if he remembered the events from the past all too well. "But such rumors can ruin a person. Do you see this child as if he's weathered through it all?"

"I've seen many exceptionally gifted ninjas," Gaku replied. "What sets them apart is not just their talent; they often harbor some confusion."

"However…" Gaku shifted his tone.

"This child does not fit that mold; he seems unburdened. He feels like a pure tool."

"A pure tool?" Danzo's face broke into a cold smile.

"Would Shisui leave someone like that to me? If handled improperly, it would hurt us instead."

"What about discarding him?" Gaku inquired.

Danzo shook his head. "That would be too regrettable. This child is no good person; as long as he harbors darkness, he can be useful to me."

"A double-edged sword used well can yield surprising results."

Kanzuki had been actively executing missions for over a week.

However, most of these missions were quite ordinary ANBU tasks, even resembling the missions he had undertaken before joining Root.

Endless, tiresome tests of loyalty.

Danzo's suspicions were much heavier than Kanzuki had anticipated.

Nonetheless, Kanzuki was not in a hurry; even if Danzo remained vigilant about him, he had his final trump card.

After taking a shower at home, washing away the fatigue of the day.

He changed into his casual at-home clothes and tossed aside his forehead protector, as if shedding a burden, laying it carelessly on the table.

The refrigerator contained just bread, milk, and some fruits that had begun to smell off.

Since joining Root, he hadn't cooked for himself nor bought any meat or vegetables.

Throwing the spoiled fruits into the trash bin, Kanzuki sat in a chair, staring blankly at the instant noodle cup in front of him.

No matter which world he lived in, his life always seemed to be in disarray...

The excitement and anxiety he felt upon arriving in the Hokage world had long since vanished. Living alone in any world was the same; what did it matter how life was led?

Knock, knock, knock!

A sudden knock on the door broke Kanzuki from his thoughts.

Who is it? Shisui?

There wouldn't be many others who would knock on his door.

Kanzuki got up and walked to the entrance.

"Good evening, Oboro!"

Tenten stood at the door, hands clasped behind her back, smiling brightly at him.

"I'm here to get you to dinner; my mom is out of the village."

"...Where's your mom?"

"She went out of the village to stock up, and won't be back until tomorrow."

"Can't you cook for yourself?"

"I can, but I don't feel like it," Tenten shrugged.

"I can smell something cooking; are you eating?" She said casually, pushing past Kanzuki and entering the room, only to spot the steaming instant noodles on the table.

"If you want some, I can make you a bowl."

Kanzuki moved to the noodle box and retrieved another cup, placing it next to the first one. He then noticed Tenten looking at him with an annoyed expression.

"Don't glare at me; there's nothing in the fridge, and I can't cook," Kanzuki replied helplessly.

"I could go to your place and whip something up for you." He finally compromised.

Tenten suddenly broke into a bright smile. "Oboro! Let's go out to eat!"

"But I've just finished cooking my noodles..."

"Noodles aren't worth eating after coming all this way," Tenten replied in a voice reminiscent of a little adult, tugging Kanzuki out of the house.

The night was still young, and Konoha's streets remained vibrant.

Tenten held various snacks in her hands as she skipped ahead, her two buns swaying charmingly with each bounce.

"Are you taking me out to dinner, or just buying me snacks?" Kanzuki asked slowly, trailing behind her.

"Aren't they basically the same?" Tenten looked back at him with a beaming smile.

"Here, want some?"

She extended a squid skewer toward him, not noticing the person behind her as she bumped into someone.

Thud!

"I'm so sorry!" Tenten quickly turned around to apologize, knowing it was her fault.

"No worries…" The person, also dressed as a ninja, didn't seem to care much about Tenten, but when he saw Kanzuki behind her, his expression froze in surprise.

His eyes seemed to recognize Kanzuki, but Kanzuki didn't remember this person.

Displaying a look of disdain, the ninja spat on the ground and turned to leave.

Tenten stood there dazed, staring blankly at the person walking away.

"I..."

"It's nothing to do with you." Kanzuki glanced at the retreating figure, speaking calmly.

"But I was the one who bumped into him…"

"He only reacted like that after he saw me."

Tenten hesitated for a moment, then her face grew angry. "Why should he do that?!"

"…"

Kanzuki shifted slightly, saying nothing.

"Damn it! I want him to apologize to you!" Tenten declared as she turned to chase after him, but Kanzuki held her back.

"Forget it; it's no big deal."

"But he treated you like that!" Tenten fumed.

"Even if I bumped into someone, they shouldn't act that way!"

Kanzuki held onto her arm, guiding her away. "Come on; we haven't eaten yet."

"Eh, wait?!"

Tenten, unable to match Kanzuki's strength, was dragged along as they walked away.

"Oboro! You're hurting me; let go!"

"Only if you stop making a fuss."

"Alright, alright, I get it, geez! I'm just trying to help you out..."

"…I actually don't need your help."

"Oboro, where are we going to eat?"

"How about noodles?"

"Why eat noodles when we're already out?"

"This place is different."