Chapter 30: Root’s Hidden Base
In the brilliant moonlight, Mirai continued through the dense forest, the branches casting a network of black shadows. He effortlessly bypassed obstacles and animals in his path, all the while maintaining a cautious distance from the Kikaichū. His senses were finely tuned to their movements, alert to the tiniest forms flitting in the darkness.
Soon, he approached the distant edge of the forest, where a clearing with scattered stone boulders came into view.
He noticed the insects passing through an unnoticed cracks created in the rock.
To an untrained eye, the boulders seemed ordinary, but Mirai, with his expertise in Fuinjutsu and sensory abilities, quickly discerned the presence of a seal.
This discovery confirmed the identity of his prey. A hidden base in the heart of Konoha could only mean one thing, Root had infiltrated the great tree of Konoha more deeply than he had ever imagined. Even after its disbandment, its remnants still lingered.
Frowning darkly, he muttered. "Truly, the best Root are dead Root."
Mirai approached the unassuming rock that bore the seal, examining it closely. He realized it was a barrier, a protective measure to guard their base, shutting access to anyone not permitted entry or clueless about the required counter technique that granted the user passage.
As Mirai examined the intricate formula, he murmured. "I guess this was never going to be simple."
He discovered that the seal was designed to not only block intruders but also to warn and signal the user. This was more than just a barrier—it was a sophisticated alarm system, that would activate the moment anyone tried to tamper with it.
Retreating to a safe distance, Mirai, without hesitation, retrieved a small scroll from the many tucked in his ninja pouch. With a swift unsealing, a mass of Mercury emerged in a cloud of dissipating white smoke.
The mercury hovered around him, shimmering and fluorescing in the moonlight, looking almost ethereal. It flowed, and compacted, morphing into a massive drill that began to gain speed and momentum, spinning faster and faster.
Directing the drill with his arm and making a throwing motion with his hand, he said calmly. "Since you intruded on my home, I'll be returning the favor."
With that, he fired the mercury drill toward the center of the engraved boulder. The impact was so powerful that it caused a gust of wind, ruffling Mirai's clothes and the surrounding trees. The silver drill clashed with the huge rock, generating sparks as it spun against the barrier without budging it.
But Mirai persisted, frowning. He knew that overpowering the seal with brute force and overwhelming it past its limits was the fastest and surest way. He pressed on, the force of his will driving the drill deeper and deeper into the seal.
Shortly, the boulder began to show cracks spreading along its surface. The fissures grew wider and more pronounced until, with a resounding crack, the boulder exploded in a shower of pebbles and stones. Prompting Mirai to instinctively raise his arms, crossing them in front of his face to shield himself from the debris.
Undeterred, the mercury drill continued its relentless path, digging further into the now exposed entrance. The force of its movement caused the entrance to crumble even more, sending up a thick cloud of smoke and dust.
As Mirai approached the newly created gap, a mild headache throbbed in his temples. A furrow crossed his brow as he whispered to himself. "I'm still not there yet."
The strain of continuously pinpointing the whereabouts of each insect and tracking them with his [Bio-Magnetic Fields Perception] technique amidst the countless creatures in the forest was taking its toll. The constant influx of information put pressure on his brain, causing a dull, persistent ache.
Ignoring the headache, Mirai closed his eyes for a moment, checking his chakra reserves before pressing on.
Reaching the recently made hole, he discovered a long, wide and dark tunnel, from which an eerie and cold air emanated.
With calm determination, Mirai stepped inside, the mercury breaking down and swirling around him protectively.
Soon, multiple chakra signatures and bio-magnetic fields entered his range.
As he continued walking, Mirai encountered the first source of light, a lone torch hanging on a smooth wall. Its flickering flame cast a limited glow, illuminating only a small area nearby.
Suddenly, a Root operative emerged from the shadows, clad in the standard black cloak and mask. The light casting an eerie glow on his figure. With an emotionless voice, he demanded. "How did you discover this place?"
Mirai remained silent, his gaze steady. He slowly looked towards the darkness, sensing the presence of several other Root operatives silently surrounding him. His eyes then settled on the Aburame ninja, who was hosting the same insects he had been tracking.
The Aburame operative remained impassive, but internally, he was startled, realizing that his insects had betrayed their location. How had Namikaze Mirai done it? These insects were a special breed, created with the cooperation of countless researchers and through numerous experiments. They had been used successfully for countless spying and blackmailing missions, and today marked the first time they had been discovered so early.
The same unease spread to the operative who had addressed Mirai. His mind raced with possibilities, trying to understand how they had been discovered. He recalled Mirai's profile, which described him as a proficient sensor without any mention of particular or distinctive traits.
Mirai observed the operative calmly, not surprised that his secret ability to perceive bio-magnetic fields remained hidden. It was a trump card he intended to keep to himself. The only one who knew about it was Minato.
He composedly remarked, counting about thirty operatives encircling him. "In the end, you're the only ones left, still attached to Danzo's ideals. Isn't that right, Hinoe?"
Mirai easily recognized the masked operative, already familiar with the man who always accompanied Danzo in his dealings, acting as his bodyguard.
Hinoe replied coolly. "It doesn't matter if you know my identity, only one of us will walk away from here alive." Clenching his fist, he continued. "As for those traitors who have forsaken Danzo-sama's goals and ideas, we'll settle the score with them afterward."
He remained impassive but continued with a fervor that belied his stoic exterior. "Danzo-sama epitomized the ideal ninja, sacrificing everything for the village. The Root was his tool to maintain peace and eliminate threats." He clenched his fist, adding with intensity. "And you… you killed him and destroyed everything he worked for."
Mirai scoffed dismissively. "It takes a mere second for a treasure to turn to trash. From what I've seen, in Danzo's hands, power brought nothing but ruin."
Observing the surrounding operatives, Mirai remarked. "Despite priding yourselves on being emotionless, killing any sense of sentiment and emotional attachment, the human part of you still exists, hidden somewhere below the cold surface." As he spoke, he shaped and hardened mercury into multiple spears, their gleaming tips pointing menacingly.
"And now," Mirai continued, "that humanity manifested in its most vile and darkest form, in your hatred and unhinged desire for revenge."
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