Naruto: Get Stronger by Spoiling My Sister

Boom!

Two powerful jutsu clashed head-on, compressing the air for a breathless instant before erupting into an ear-splitting explosion. The blast echoed through the entire Root base, making the very ground tremble.

Crash!

A wave of invisible pressure surged outward like a blade of wind, razor-sharp and unstoppable, instantly slicing through a support bridge below.

In that moment, everyone's expression changed. They instinctively leapt back the force was far too sharp to face head-on.

But that was only the aftershock. Just the aftershock. And it had already caused such terrifying damage. One could only imagine the devastating force at the heart of the explosion.

All of Konoha was jolted awake. The quiet of the night, once peaceful and calm, was shattered by the sudden pounding of explosions and screams. Now, a strange tremor rolled through the village.

In such stillness, the disturbance was impossible to ignore. It was too sudden, too unnatural.

"What the hell is Danzo up to now?"

Inside the Hokage Building, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado were briefing Tsunade on village affairs. But the relentless noise from the Root headquarters drew a sharp frown from Koharu.

That Danzo, always so uncooperative. Even if he harbored resentment, he shouldn't be causing such a disruption. Tomorrow was the formal Hokage succession ceremony.

"Could it be an intruder?" Homura asked.

"Let him deal with it himself. Root shouldn't have any trouble with a few intruders," Koharu replied coldly. Ever since Neji's public confrontation with Danzo, she'd harbored deep suspicions about the man if not outright dissatisfaction.

Now, even if Root were under attack, she had no intention of helping. Just not making things worse for him was already generous.

No way she'd step in.

"No," Tsunade stood up. She hadn't forgotten Danzo had once sent assassins after her.

And Neji's words still echoed in her mind. What was Root hiding? On this night, with all the strange signs, her gut told her she had to see it for herself for the village, and for her own sake.

At the same time, at the Hyuga compound, Hiashi stood in the courtyard, gazing into the distance. His Byakugan eyes glowed with worry.

"That's the direction of Root. What's going on? An invasion? That can't be..." After a moment, he turned to leave. No matter what, he had to find out for himself.

"Tokuma, bring Neji to me."

His voice drifted into the shadows. A figure slipped away silently.

Having already decided to groom Neji as the next clan head, Hiashi naturally wanted to involve him more, to train him from every angle.

"But still," Hiashi muttered with a sigh, "Konoha has been getting stranger and stranger lately."

Not long after, Hyuga Tokuma returned alone. The result was predictable. If he'd actually found Neji, it would have been a miracle.

"Strange... where did he go?" Hiashi frowned. "Forget it. We're heading to the Hokage Building."

Root wasn't just any place one could walk into. The operations there were darker and more ruthless than even the ANBU. Without the Hokage's permission, no outsiders were allowed in. A reckless approach could easily be branded as treason not a label just anyone could afford to carry.

So, the only choice was to go to the Hokage Building. The ceremony hadn't officially happened yet, but everyone knew Tsunade was already the next Hokage. Danzo wouldn't dare to challenge her openly.

Meanwhile, other clans across the village began gathering on their own, holding the same thoughts, making their way to the Hokage Building.

And so, in the dead of night, the front of the building became a sea of people, thick with anticipation and curiosity.

Just as Tsunade, Koharu, and Homura stepped out, the crowd erupted.

"Lady Tsunade, what's happening? What's with all the tremors?"

"Are we under attack?"

The voices overlapped in a rising wave of noise. Everyone was shouting, venting their restlessness. Yet beneath the noise, there was something else a quiet joy, if one listened closely.

Let's face it. Everyone knew the commotion was coming from Root. There was no real invasion. But that didn't stop them from stirring the pot. Many of these clans had been monitored or even persecuted by Root in the past. Now that Root was finally taking a hit, how could they not jump in?

Their expressions left nothing to the imagination. Not a hint of concern over an enemy infiltration only thinly veiled glee.

Koharu and Homura weren't surprised. They had seen this coming. If these people were really here to help Root, pigs would fly. Tsunade raised an eyebrow.

Just how much resentment had Root earned? It was supposed to be an elite division, created by the Second Hokage. But if it could be invaded without a sound, the intruder had to be at least Jonin-level.

Then again, judging by these people's faces... well, Tsunade shared the same sentiment. But she was Hokage now. She couldn't just stand by and do nothing.

"The division Tobirama-sensei created maybe it was never meant to last."

Then she raised her voice.

"Quiet! Everyone, follow me to Root."

Meanwhile, inside the Root base, the scene was deathly still. Neji let the body of Aburame Torune drop to the floor, his cold gaze shifting toward the remaining Root agents.

Bathed in the flames of his "Flaming Rotation," the nanoscopic poison bugs that clung to Torune had all been incinerated. His body was scorched red-hot, a shell left behind in death.

"No way…" The Root members stared in shock. Both Yamanaka Fuu and Aburame Torune dead.

Yet their opponent remained completely unharmed.

How were they supposed to fight someone like this?

"Heh." As Shouju trembled uncontrollably, Neji reached out and placed a hand gently on her head.

"When it doesn't concern you personally, you can all be so heartless. But when it does how many people can stay detached?"

His hand moved slowly through her soft hair.

"Emotions aren't something that can just be cast aside."

Suddenly, his hand paused. Neji smiled.

There was a light in his eyes.

____________________

NEXT CHAPTER : The End of Root

(Neji finally breaks past his greatest limitation, unlocking a massive boost in chakra and with it, terrifying new power. As Root's final operatives make their last desperate stand, Neji unleashes a relentless barrage of earth-shaking jutsu, crushing resistance with cold efficiency.

But beneath the surface of this brutal battle lies something more:The story of Root ends here but Neji's has only just begun.)

Want to read 35 chapters ahead? Join me on P@treon, the story is on sale now!

[email protected]/_tey 

Change @ to a.