Naruto, are you all so good at self-seduction

Many people misjudged Kanzuki Oboro.

The Third Hokage believed that Oboro was someone who had lost his fighting spirit due to an incident and had resigned to decline.

Danzo viewed him as a tool who had lost his personal goals, willingly descending into darkness.

Shisui thought he was a radical punishing himself for past deeds.

Solemn, withdrawn, and indifferent—this was the impression Oboro left on others.

Yet Oboro, having lived two lives, was fully aware of his situation. He understood that everything he did was purposeful and rooted in his own will.

Anything he opposed was simply rejected by his own volition.

That is, if he didn't want to do something, he simply wouldn't.

If he didn't want to speak or explain, he wouldn't say a word more.

Unwilling to cater, he simply refused.

No matter the reason, no matter the attitude, and no matter what others thought.

To outsiders, he seemed like a person half-immersed in darkness, but in fact, Oboro merely used it as a barrier to avoid disturbance.

Shisui was the only one present within this barrier.

For someone like Oboro, who viewed everything with indifference, so-called social interactions were nothing but meaningless affairs, as they brought him nothing worthwhile.

Just like a normal person might respond to Anko's initial goodwill with equal kindness.

But Oboro felt irritated.

"You have no value; stay away from me."

Within the canyon lay the designated meeting place.

Surrounded by towering rock walls, there were only two narrow paths for passage.

"Is this the place?" Gai scrutinized the surroundings, his brow slightly furrowed.

The terrain here resembled a trap.

"This is where we agreed to meet," a comrade replied.

"Be careful."

The group was now acutely aware, becoming cautious and vigilant.

"Where are the people from the Land of Woods?"

Before long, a team of four slowly walked into the canyon, each wearing black cloaks and oni masks.

"Just as I expected," Oboro remarked from the shadows.

"The Hannya Group from the Land of Woods," Kakashi added, "Have you met them before?"

Each masked figure was unlikely to be recognized.

"I killed their leader."

"…"

Kakashi then understood what Danzo had meant about having dealt with them before.

"Just some old fool." Noticing Itachi's surprised expression, Oboro added, "They have secret dealings with the Iwa-nin. This meeting will undoubtedly end in betrayal."

As he spoke, Gai had already begun exchanging scrolls with the opposing team, but as the other party handed over the scroll, Gai suddenly kicked it skyward.

Boom!

The scroll exploded violently in mid-air, with flames and thick smoke erupting instantly.

The scroll contained an Explosive Secret Technique, which Gai had seen through at a glance.

"Wasn't the scroll supposed to be the item of exchange?" Gai sneered.

The Hannya Group retreated to the rock wall, and their masked leader proclaimed, "Konoha has suddenly attacked us, so we must retaliate."

"That's some bold talk." Gai didn't appear surprised, as if he had anticipated this outcome.

"It's you who are betraying us!"

The enemy seemed disinterested in defending themselves, launching an immediate attack instead, forming hand seals as they did.

"Earth Release: Rock Lodging Destruction!"

Boom!

The rock wall crumbled instantly, roaring like thunder, with debris and dust cascading down towards Gai and his team below!

Gai furrowed his brow. As a taijutsu specialist, he might evade with his exceptional speed, but his teammates wouldn't necessarily manage the same.

Just then, two figures in ANBU gear suddenly appeared before him.

"This is our fight. You all should retreat," Kakashi said.

"You… are ANBU?" Gai's teammates exclaimed in surprise.

"Reinforcements." Gai breathed a sigh of relief; he recognized his old friends even beneath their masks.

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

Boom!

A giant earthen wall shot up from the ground, blocking the incoming threats. The wall bore carvings of four fierce dogs, preventing the falling boulders from crashing down.

Undeterred, the Hannya Group continued their assault, trying to shatter the rock wall to eliminate their enemies.

Gai stood steady, but in an instant, he exploded with overwhelming chakra. His hair stood on end, veins bulging, he transformed into a green flash charging upward toward the enemy, undeterred by the rain of boulders.

Itachi was astonished by Gai's display; it was his first time witnessing such taijutsu.

The dust storm obscured the battlefield.

As the Hannya Group looked on with confusion, cries erupted from among their ranks.

"Enemies!"

In surprise, they spotted a figure with a flaming patterned mask standing nearby wielding a blade.

"Get him!"

"Kill him!"

The Hannya Group rushed forward, but as they approached Oboro, each one halted abruptly.

They realized that the figure before them had transformed into a gaunt, white-haired old man.

"Leader?"

"Leader, you aren't dead?!"

"It's an illusion!"

The masked woman yelled, alerting her comrades, "It's an illusion! An illusion!"

Gai, Kakashi, and their team surged up the rock wall, beginning their cleanup of the enemies.

The Hannya Group was thrown into disarray, and the few coherent members couldn't match Kakashi and the others.

Seeing the dire situation, the masked woman shouted urgently, "Retreat! Quick, retreat!"

As she turned to escape, an invisible force suddenly pressed upon her, immobilizing her like a nightmare.

Genjutsu: Body Binding... another illusion...

Despair filled her heart as she saw a flash of lighting speed approaching.

After eliminating the leader, Kakashi glanced towards Oboro's direction.

How did he cast the technique from that position?

He felt puzzled.

The Body Binding Technique wasn't a high-level jutsu, but it wasn't commonly used either, and its execution was demanding. It required either a master of genjutsu or a significant disparity in strength between the parties involved.

Itachi moved methodically, delivering final blows to the enemies ensnared by illusions, adhering to the mission requirement of leaving no survivors.

Observing this carnage, Gai couldn't help but interject.

"This is our mission." Kakashi said, handing the mission scroll to Gai.

"But it shouldn't be like this! Stop it, Kakashi!" Gai urged.

Kakashi frowned. "How can you call out the name of an ANBU member while they're executing a mission?"

"You…"

"Captain, all enemies have been eliminated." Itachi reported, approaching with a bloodied blade.

Gai stood stunned, staring at the two masked figures. He finally comprehended the meaning behind what the Third Hokage and Danzo had said when they refused him entry into ANBU.

"Lacking the aptitude, lacking the darkness." Was that what it referred to...?

Gai unconsciously clenched his fists.

Was it enough for you to be satisfied, Kakashi?

"The cleanup will be handled by us; you can go back now." Kakashi said.

Gai left, rejoining his earlier comrades.

Oboro had already begun moving the bodies, stacking them together. Kakashi and Itachi joined in the grim work.

"Should we burn them?" Itachi asked.

"Yeah."

Itachi unleashed a small Fire Release, and the pile of bodies immediately ignited, emitting a mix of strange smells—both meaty and charred.

The flames danced before the three, waiting for everything to be cleansed.

"That genjutsu was impressive," Kakashi remarked suddenly.

"They were just fodder; a senior like you could handle it alone," Oboro responded.

"This mission seems to have concluded," Kakashi said, as he removed his mask. Itachi quickly followed suit, mimicking his captain.

Oboro remained indifferent.

"This might be a bit forward..."

"Could you tell me your name?" Kakashi inquired.

"Does it really matter?" Oboro countered.

"It's just out of curiosity," Kakashi continued. "You're different from some of the Root ninjas I know."

Even in their detachment from Root, Heaven's Grave wouldn't say something like "Darkness is a quagmire."

It wasn't a question of enlightenment or perspective; rather, their positions wouldn't allow them to have an identity beyond being tools.

But this Katsura seemed to lack such awareness.

"Those words weren't meant for you," Oboro suddenly said.