Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 163: Boil Release

Tonari didn't spend much time in the training area.

He had heard of the Root's underground library, said to house a vast collection of documents, and his curiosity led him there after leaving the training area.

Over the course of the night, Tonari pored over numerous scrolls, most of which were older mission records from around three or four years ago—during the Second Shinobi World War.

Back then, Konoha had been relatively united, and Danzo, along with the Root, had played a pivotal role in clandestine operations. One notable achievement included persuading Hanzo of the Rain, the leader of Amegakure, to ally with Konoha against the forces of the Wind and Earth countries.

The records in the library detailed some of the preemptive missions undertaken by the Root to facilitate this alliance. While they covered only a fraction of the entire operation, knowing the outcome allowed Tonari to piece together some intriguing details.

Among the archives were numerous accounts of the Root's activities, many of which revealed the brutal, unrelenting nature of their missions. It was a sobering glimpse into the true face of the Root.

---

The following evening, Tonari arrived at the same meeting room from the night before.

Inside, Akagane, Night Fox, and Furhound were already waiting, appearing as though they'd been there for some time.

"Looks like I'm the last to arrive," Tonari said with a casual shrug.

"You're right on time. Punctuality is good. Let's move," Akagane replied without wasting words.

Leading the group, Akagane exited the room, guiding them out of the Root's hidden base and leaving Konoha.

The black outfits, designed with night operations in mind, allowed them to move swiftly and silently. Utilizing a secret passage exclusive to the Root, they slipped out of the village without attracting any attention.

As they journeyed, Tonari noticed the group heading in the general direction of the Land of Taki and the Land of Iron.

The other three members, cold and reticent, made no effort to share information. Tonari realized that any questions he had would have to remain unspoken; asking would yield no answers.

The vague nature of their mission left him feeling uneasy, but he couldn't deny the professionalism of his Root companions. They adhered strictly to protocol—speaking only when necessary and operating with precision.

Tonari couldn't help but think, If given the choice, wouldn't anyone want subordinates as disciplined as this?

Due to their collective Jonin-level skills and relentless pace, the team reached the Fire Country border by dawn.

Tonari's earlier assumptions about their destination proved slightly off. Their target wasn't the Land of Taki or the Land of Iron, but rather the Land of Fields (Tanokuni), a small, overlooked country sandwiched between larger nations.

---

In the world of shinobi, where villages and ninja served as the primary military force, minor countries like Tanokuni were often perceived as lambs to the slaughter—vulnerable and defenseless.

Unlike other nations, Tanokuni lacked a formal shinobi village. At most, its daimyo could afford to hire a few rogue ninja as personal bodyguards.

Bordered by the Land of Fire to the south, the Land of Iron to the west, and parts of the Land of Hot Springs to the east, Tanokuni's territory wasn't particularly small. It was significantly larger than the Land of Waves and had access to the sea, supporting a stable fishing industry.

Thanks to the absence of a shinobi village, Tanokuni's economy was relatively healthy, as funds weren't drained by the high costs of maintaining ninja forces.

However, this stability came at a price. Tanokuni paid a substantial "protection fee" to the Land of Fire, ensuring its sovereignty.

Tonari had heard that the daimyo of Tanokuni shared a bloodline connection with the Fire Country's daimyo—a relationship that likely played a role in this arrangement.

Many of the world's daimyos were interconnected through familial ties, a result of intermarriage among noble families.

Thus, Tanokuni served as a loyal ally of the Land of Fire.

Some might wonder why Tanokuni's daimyo didn't establish a ninja village to bolster his country's defenses. However, not all daimyos supported the concept of shinobi villages.

To many, ninja were nothing more than tools, and a shinobi village was merely a repository of such tools. From this perspective, the financial strain of maintaining a village outweighed its benefits.

Furthermore, many daimyos, such as the daimyo of the Wind Country, held deep-seated disdain for their ninja villages. The Wind Country's daimyo frequently slashed funding to Sunagakure, forcing the village to rely on its own resources and resilience to survive.

Tanokuni's daimyo shared a similar sentiment, viewing ninja as expendable. Rather than invest in a village, he opted to use those funds for personal indulgence, confident that the Fire Country's protection sufficed.

---

As the team crossed into Tanokuni, their pace slowed considerably. By this time, the sky had begun to brighten with the first light of dawn.

"Rest for an hour to recover. Be prepared for combat at any moment," Akagane instructed, immediately setting up basic defensive measures.

The others, including Tonari, silently complied, sitting cross-legged to recover their energy.

Tonari was gradually adapting to the Root's mission style—following orders without question or hesitation. The indoctrination of Root members was evident in their unwavering obedience.

Root's ethos was clear: its members had no names, no emotions, no past, and no future. Their sole purpose was to serve as the hidden foundation supporting Konoha, like roots anchoring a great tree.

While this ideology was noble in theory, in practice, Root had devolved into a mere extension of Danzo's ambitions.

---

The hour passed swiftly, and the group resumed their journey, navigating treacherous terrain and dense forests.

Eventually, they reached a vantage point overlooking Tanokuni's capital city.

"Night Fox, scout the area and gather intel from the town," Akagane commanded.

Night Fox silently extended his arms, releasing tendrils of dark, mist-like smoke that dispersed into the surroundings.

Observing this technique, Tonari's eyes narrowed slightly.

Parasitic insects.

This Root operative was undoubtedly a member of the Aburame clan.

While Tonari found it slightly surprising, it wasn't entirely unexpected.

Root recruited orphans and outcasts, many of whom didn't survive the grueling training. Those who did were turned into tools, devoid of individuality.

In some cases, promising young ninja from established clans were also recruited into Root, subjected to Danzo's indoctrination.

The Aburame clan's reserved nature and low-profile demeanor made them ideal candidates for Root. They excelled at blending into society while serving as potent weapons under Danzo's command.

"An Aburame," Tonari mused internally. "I wonder if Akagane and Furhound have clan affiliations, or if they're orphans like me..."

Night Fox and his parasitic insects vanished into the forest.

Akagane and Furhound seemed unperturbed, remaining alert but calm.

Tonari, meanwhile, sat down, allowing two small snakes to slither out from his sleeves.

The moment they touched the ground, Akagane turned his head sharply toward Tonari, his senses on high alert.

The faint rustle of snake scales against dry leaves had immediately caught his attention.

Tonari couldn't help but acknowledge Akagane's heightened perception.

---

Three hours later, Night Fox's insects reappeared, signaling his return.

The team stood at the ready, anticipating his arrival.

Soon after, Night Fox stumbled into view, his movements unsteady and his body covered in blood.

Tonari's face darkened.

What kind of opponent could have injured a Jonin-level operative so severely?

"Carry him," Akagane ordered Tonari, his tone as cold as ever. "Furhound, eliminate our tracks."

Tonari didn't hesitate, hoisting Night Fox onto his back and leaping into the treetops.

Behind them, Furhound unleashed a massive wall of fire, obliterating the team's previous location.

---

Reaching a hidden base, Tonari carefully set Night Fox down.

"Heal him," Akagane commanded. "If you can't, at least wake him. We need the intel."

Without a word, Tonari activated his medical ninjutsu.

Night Fox's injuries were worse than expected. His ribs were fractured, his internal organs were damaged, and his body bore signs of severe trauma.

This kind of damage... Whoever did this has incredible strength, Tonari thought grimly.

Using his medical skills and a potent stimulant, Tonari stabilized Night Fox's condition.

Finally, Night Fox groaned and opened his eyes.

"Intel," Akagane demanded, crouching beside him.

Night Fox coughed violently, spitting out dark, clotted blood.

After a moment, he rasped out two words:

"Rock ninjas."

Tonari's expression darkened further.

"Details?" Akagane pressed.

Night Fox hesitated before uttering one more word:

"Boil Release."

(End of Chapter)

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