Naruto: I Kizaru Took Over Team 7

At this moment, in the woods not far from Konoha Village, under the shadow of the dense trees, a collection of secret buildings stood. This was the headquarters of Root.

Root, also known as the "Anbu Training Department," was a mysterious organization founded and led by Shimura Danzo. Its purpose was to operate in the shadows of Konoha, working to eliminate any threats to the village's prosperity in secrecy. Root's activities were far more covert and ruthless than those of the regular Anbu, and it existed with the tacit approval of the Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen. Over time, Danzo and Root had become Konoha's most effective and lethal tools for eliminating threats, adopting a "better safe than sorry" approach—if an individual was suspected of being a problem, they were eliminated, no questions asked.

Inside a thatched hut, Danzo, wrapped in bandages around his head and arms, studied the latest intelligence report. As his eyes scanned the document, the veins on his face became increasingly prominent, a sign of growing frustration and anger.

The report had just been delivered to him by one of Root's ninja. It detailed the entire operation in the Land of Waves, where Kirito had led Team 7. This information was strikingly similar to the report Sarutobi Hiruzen had received earlier, and it contained shocking revelations.

Danzo's eyes narrowed in disbelief, his shock turning to fury as he continued reading. Kirito, whom he had underestimated, had become a significant figure, defeating Mei Terumi, a Kage-level ninja, with ease. Danzo had originally planned to eliminate the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Uzumaki Naruto, and dispose of Kirito, someone he deemed unfit for use. However, the plan had backfired. Instead of eliminating his targets, Kirito had only gained fame.

"Kirito... he's stronger than I thought," Danzo muttered to himself, his anger boiling over. "Even Mei Terumi, a Kage-level ninja, was no match for him. What are you planning, Sarutobi?"

Danzo's mind raced as he glared out the window into the dark woods. "You ruined my plan, Kirito. But if you think you can escape..."

He paused, fear flashing in his eyes. "I can't let someone like him live. Go monitor his every move. Report anything unusual back to me."

Without a word, the Root ninja disappeared into the night, leaving Danzo brooding over the consequences of his failed plan.

---

Meanwhile, back in Konoha Village, Kirito, wearing his signature sunglasses, had just finished answering questions from Yuhi Kurenai, Might Guy, and the others. After a long day, he lazily returned home. As he lay on his wooden bed, his mind buzzed with the day's events. Suddenly, a system prompt echoed in his mind.

[Ding! Host has attempted to conceal an S-level mission as a C-level task. The behavior and attitude are noted. Reward granted.]

[Ding! Behavior aligns with the 'lying flat' philosophy.]

[Ding! Host gains 1% of the Yellow Monkey template role-playing degree.]

[Ding! Host unlocks the ability to open the second gate of the Eight Gates of Physical Arts.]

[Ding! Reward completed. Host's Yellow Monkey role-playing degree is now at 41%.]

The voice faded, and Kirito felt a strange surge of power, like a golden light entering his mind. The world around him suddenly became sharper, more vivid. His awareness extended beyond what his eyes could see, allowing him to sense everything within his vicinity. This was the power of Observation Haki, a skill known throughout the pirate world. Kirito knew that if he mastered this ability, he could predict the actions of his opponents, like Katakuri, and strike before they could react.

His mind raced with possibilities. As his Yellow Monkey template role-playing degree increased, perhaps he would unlock even more abilities—like the power of Armament Haki. But before he could delve deeper into these thoughts, he felt something unusual.

His senses extended, and he detected the presence of someone watching him from outside his window. A shadowy figure was spying on him. Kirito's expression darkened, and he lowered the curtains with a frown. The next moment, his body flashed, disappearing from his room in a golden streak.

In an instant, he arrived at the house where the spy was hiding. With a swift kick, he shattered the door and confronted the masked ninja inside.

The Root ninja, clad in a black combat uniform, stood frozen, his eyes wide with shock. He couldn't comprehend how Kirito had discovered his presence, let alone tracked him down so quickly.

Before the ninja could react, Kirito landed a powerful punch to his chest. The Root ninja was sent flying, crashing through the wall. He lay on the ground, badly injured, his eyes filled with despair. He had no chance to fight back against someone as powerful as Kirito.

Kirito approached slowly, his eyes cold. "Where is Root's headquarters?" he demanded, his voice like thunder in the ninja's mind.

The ninja, his identity stripped away by Root's methods, had no name, no past, and no future. His sole purpose was his mission. But knowing that his mission had failed, he had no choice. Before Kirito could make another move, the ninja swallowed a special poison hidden in his mouth. His eyes went blank, and he collapsed, lifeless.

Kirito stood there for a moment, surprised by the ninja's decisiveness. He hadn't expected the man to take his own life. "Impressive... Danzo's control over his people is as ruthless as ever."

---

Meanwhile, in the Root headquarters, Danzo was in a dark room, surrounded by strange symbols and seals. Suddenly, the seal he had placed on the Root ninja monitoring Kirito disappeared. His subordinate was dead.

A flash of fury crossed Danzo's face. "Damn it! Who killed him?"

His eyes burned with hatred. "Kirito... You've made an enemy of me. Let's see how long you can survive."

The tension in the air was palpable as the battle between Kirito and Danzo's shadowy organization continued to unfold.