Naruto, are you all so good at self-seduction

The autumn rain fell softly, like silk and mist.

Kanzuki Oboro stood at the doorway of the Hokage's office, looking out at the hazy scene in the corridor with a sense of boredom.

Voices came from the room behind him, but he couldn't make out what was being said through the door.

"Starting today, you will serve as Danzo-sama's bodyguard."

Finally having become a close aide, Oboro was currently on standby for the meeting between Danzo and the Hokage.

"Are you a newcomer?"

Standing guard on the other side was a member of the Hokage's direct ANBU.

With a fox mask and white hair.

A signature look.

"Hmm." Oboro responded casually.

"You look somewhat familiar."

"Can your Sharingan even see through masks, Senior?"

"We should have met before." Kakashi said while glancing at Oboro's mask.

"We're from the same village; is it strange to have seen each other?" Oboro replied calmly.

"That night in the forest, it was you, wasn't it?" Kakashi asked directly.

Oboro didn't respond, having already been recognized by Kakashi.

Suddenly, the voices in the room grew louder, seeming to turn into an argument. Kakashi immediately fell silent.

Before long, the office door was pushed open, and the Third Hokage stepped out.

"Kakashi."

"Yes."

"I've only publicly dispatched a team, but Danzo believes the mission has deeper implications, so he will privately dispatch a separate task force."

Kakashi had already realized this would be his task, "So, it's not Hokage-sama's direct order?"

"Follow Danzo's instructions."

With that, the Third Hokage slowly departed.

Danzo then emerged from the office, leaning on his cane, and addressed Kakashi. "On the surface, this is a peaceful diplomatic mission, where we will exchange information with the Hannya Squad from the Land of Woods at the border. However, I suspect this is likely a trap set by the enemy, and the Third agrees."

"So, we need to send ANBU to protect the publicly deployed team, and if the opposition betrays us, they will attack our troops."

"We'll kill them, leaving none alive."

Kakashi remained unusually calm. "Annihilation, then?"

"They need to know that Konoha cannot tolerate betrayal," Danzo replied coldly.

"I want to take Itachi on this mission," Kakashi said.

"Katsura will accompany you as well." Danzo glanced at Oboro, who was standing to the side.

"He has dealt with the Hannya Squad before."

"Yes," Oboro affirmed.

Katsura... is that a codename?

Kakashi briefly eyed Oboro, pondering.

"Kakashi, I've always admired your work in ANBU," Danzo suddenly remarked.

"I even consider bringing you back to Root."

Kakashi was taken aback but maintained his composure. "Please don't joke."

"No, you have that potential," Danzo continued.

"Darkness has its potential."

"…"

Oboro followed Danzo out, and as they exited the Hokage building, he heard Danzo speak.

"Keep a close eye on that Uchiha Itachi during this mission and report back on his performance."

"Yes."

"This boy's talent is on par with Shisui's and he is the eldest son of Fugaku Uchiha; he could be of great use in the future."

"…"

Danzo stole a glance at Oboro behind him.

"Aren't you curious why I'm telling you all this?"

"Not curious."

Danzo squinted. "You seem to lack interest in everything."

"Is there something wrong with my conduct?" Oboro replied calmly.

"No, your demeanor is more like that of a true ninja."

Danzo turned his gaze away, his expression inscrutable.

Hypocritical compliance.

But it doesn't hinder that you're a smart person—putting chains on you makes you useful to me.

The rain had cleared.

At Konoha's gate, a four-person team departed the village after an exuberant declaration from their enthusiastic leader.

Oboro hid in the shadows, quietly watching them leave. He recognized the leader—Might Guy.

His bright green attire was undeniably eye-catching.

"You're really early."

A voice suddenly sounded beside him. Kakashi had arrived with a black-haired boy.

"This is Itachi," Kakashi said.

"During the mission, let's not use real names." Oboro, still wearing his mask, said to Kakashi.

"I'm Katsura; let's set off directly."

Imposing and decisive…

Itachi watched the unfamiliar Root ninja, lost in thought.

Kakashi had already informed him of the mission details, and the three promptly stopped dawdling and left the village.

Guy's team wasn't moving fast, so they soon caught up, then concealed themselves, silently tailing them.

All three were not talkative individuals, maintaining an unusual silence that stood in stark contrast to Guy's lively team ahead.

"With such a configuration, this team seems unreliable," Itachi couldn't help but comment on the team ahead. "No wonder they need protection in secret."

"Don't judge by appearances; their strength is not inferior to ours," Kakashi replied.

Itachi was somewhat surprised. In his impression, Kakashi was an enigmatic figure, a high-ranking shinobi and an elite among Jonin. After all, he had quite a reputation.

Looking at Guy's team ahead, the goofy appearance of Guy seemed like he could fall apart at any moment, accompanied by an old man carrying cooking utensils.

It was quite impressive that he was still on missions at such an age.

During their midday break, they were already close to the border, and Guy's team openly lit a fire in the forest to cook, four of them starting to happily prepare a hot pot.

"It's really nice to have Kosuke with us on this trip," Guy said while holding a bowl, looking quite satisfied.

"Not enough? I've got more," Maruboshi Kosuke replied with a grin.

"Everyone, eat more to build up your chakra and stamina," Guy declared loudly.

Cooking Ninjas had always been a unique profession, providing better nourishment than Soldier Pills and dried rations while on missions, and they were quite welcomed within the ninja community.

"Is this really okay, Captain?" the other two team members seemed a bit worried.

"The bonfire is so bright, it exposes our position. What if an enemy attacks?"

Guy, however, was unperturbed. "Let them come; our mission is likely to determine whether they are really the enemy."

Itachi, hidden among the branches, was surprised by Guy's remarks. "I didn't expect him, not knowing the mission details, to perceive the essence of the task."

"We should replenish ourselves too." Kakashi took off his mask.

"Yes."

Itachi, like him, took out a Soldier Pill and swallowed one.

Meanwhile, Oboro remained unmoved, standing on the branch.

Noticing this, Itachi hesitated but still asked, "Don't you need to replenish?"

"No need."

All he received was a cold response.

"He is a Root member; his way of doing things is slightly different from ours," Kakashi interjected from the side.

Root... under Danzo-sama's command?

"Isn't Root the training division of ANBU?" Itachi asked curiously.

"That's what they say, but in reality, it's also a mature elite force in all aspects," Kakashi explained.

"So, what's the difference between such a department and ANBU?"

Kakashi paused, unsure how to explain.

Although ANBU already existed, what was the purpose of Root?

This elite force, yet still obeying Danzo…

Itachi couldn't help but think.

"They do things that you are not convenient to handle," Oboro suddenly spoke up from his silence.

Itachi was taken aback.

Kakashi couldn't help but be surprised.

This Root ninja… was a bit talkative…

He naturally didn't know that Oboro was prompted to say this due to Shisui.

"Just like the mission before," Oboro said, glancing at Kakashi.

"A suspected traitor to the village."

"If it's an ANBU operation, they would arrest him and bring him back to the village for interrogation."

"But if it's a Root operation, it would be an immediate execution."

Itachi pondered this.

Kakashi couldn't help but say, "Is it good to speak of your own department this way?"

"It's not a secret," Oboro replied flatly.

"Didn't you also spend some time in Root? You should be well aware of this."

Itachi looked at Kakashi in surprise, while Kakashi remained silent, his gaze flickering at Oboro.

"But in any case, Root and ANBU are essentially similar products," Oboro continued, stating this for Itachi's understanding.

"They are hidden daggers in the dark, driven by others, often doing things that cannot be seen."

"Darkness is a quagmire—easy to sink into, hard to escape."

Kakashi felt somewhat surprised inside; such words were not typical for a Root member to say.

This guy…