Naruto: Troublesome Ninja Haruta

Chapter 28: A Ruthless Plan—Attacking Root?!

—A Grilled Fish Restaurant in Konoha.

"Welcome back."

Haruta smiled as he handed over a freshly grilled salt-roasted sea bream.

He knew that Kabuto loved this dish.

Back in the orphanage, Nonō Yakushi had made it for him personally.

"Thanks."

Kabuto glanced at the fish but hesitated.

Perhaps recalling the beating he had endured in Root, he merely gave a wry smile.

Then, with a sigh, he muttered,

"Not that it matters… I doubt I'll ever be able to return to the orphanage anyway."

Haruta nodded.

Root operatives were forbidden from contacting their former loved ones.

Danzo had already warned him not to be foolish.

Haruta had, of course, ignored that warning—but he also knew it was pointless.

Nonō was already gone.

She had been sent to infiltrate Iwagakure.

"Let's talk about Sunagakure."

Haruta's tone shifted as he quickly formed a hand seal.

A soundproof barrier appeared around them.

Kabuto's eyes flickered in understanding.

He subtly lowered his head to hide his mouth before speaking.

"Do you think… the director is still alive?"

"That question… I can't answer."

Haruta watched Kabuto closely, pleased by his caution.

This kid really knows how to play the game.

No wonder Orochimaru liked him so much.

"But I do think… she might be your next mission target."

"What do you mean?"

Kabuto frowned.

He trusted that Haruta wouldn't joke about something like this—

But he still didn't understand.

Would Danzo really let them reunite?

Haruta chuckled.

Kabuto was still too naive.

It was time to teach him a lesson.

Haruta had already ensured that Danzo was now hated by both Sasori and Sunagakure.

Danzo would inevitably take the fall.

So why not… make things worse for him?

"It's simple. You and the director… are both in danger."

Haruta lowered his voice.

"You've made it clear that you want to leave Root once your mission is complete. But think about it—Do you really think Root will just let you go?"

Kabuto's body stiffened.

"And what about the director?"

Haruta continued,

"She still believes in Danzo, doesn't she? That's already a ticking time bomb."

Haruta's words hit Kabuto like a hammer.

He wanted to believe in Danzo.

He wanted to believe in Konoha's leadership.

But deep down, he knew…

"Do you remember how Danzo forced the director into Root in the first place?"

Kabuto's lips tightened.

He had once overheard Danzo and Nonō talking.

He had personally witnessed how Danzo manipulated her.

That memory alone was enough to shatter his last bit of faith.

"And do you know why I think you'll be sent to the same place as her?"

Haruta tapped the table.

A subtle signal for Kabuto to control his expression.

Then, he spoke in a slow, deliberate tone.

"Back when I was in Root, I overheard something interesting. The director asked Danzo for photos of us."

Kabuto's face paled.

"Think about it. If I were Danzo, and I had a disobedient subordinate like you…And if the director shared your mindset…The best way to deal with both of you… would be to eliminate you."

Kabuto's hands clenched into fists.

Haruta continued,

"But how do you kill you both without getting your own hands dirty? It's easy. Give the director fake photos. After all, when we entered Root, we were just children. It's been years. By now, even if you met her again, she wouldn't recognize you."

Kabuto's face turned ashen.

"Or…Danzo could give her the real photos. Then order her to assassinate the targets in the pictures. And when it's over…He tells her the truth."

Kabuto's breath hitched.

He didn't even need Haruta to finish the sentence.

"She wouldn't be able to live with herself. She'd take her own life."

Kabuto felt like the ground beneath him had vanished.

He could already see it happening.

And he knew—

The director would never survive that kind of betrayal.

Haruta sighed.

"Not everyone can be Uchiha Itachi or Uchiha Obito. One killed his own teacher. The other massacred his entire clan. Normal people? They break."

Even Kabuto himself wasn't immune.

When he eventually killed Nonō and realized she didn't remember him—

He lost it.

"So you see… you've already doomed a lot of people. Yourself. The director. And me."

Haruta leaned back, letting his words sink in.

Then, he added,

"Of course, this is all just speculation. We'll find out soon enough…Like when you get reassigned to another mission."

Kabuto was silent.

His mind was a whirlwind of confusion.

He wanted to believe in Danzo.

He wanted to believe in Konoha.

But Haruta's logic was airtight.

And Kabuto trusted him.

After all, they had grown up together in the orphanage.

And Haruta's capabilities had been undeniable in the Land of Wind.

He had to take this seriously.

Finally, after a long pause, Kabuto whispered,

"What… do you want, Haruta?"

Haruta blinked.

Then, he smirked.

"Me?"

He stroked his chin, then grinned.

"I want multiple wives and an easy life. After all, didn't the Buddha say—'Without indulgence, life has no joy'?"

"...."

What the hell?!

Is that REALLY what the Buddha said?!

Kabuto stiffened.

He was about to retort when Haruta's expression turned serious again.

"But if I want a peaceful life...There are certain things I need to take care of first."

Haruta's gaze sharpened.

"Root is a bottomless abyss. As long as we remain powerless, we will always be mere tools. If we want to climb out—if we want to stop being used—We need to start moving up."

Kabuto's breath caught.

"Why should we let Danzo keep us under his thumb? Why should he be the one controlling our lives?"

Haruta's voice lowered.

"And tell me… Why can't we be the ones sitting at the top?"

He had played the lazy, indifferent role for long enough.

But the truth was—

He wasn't content.

He wasn't willing to remain a pawn.

He had grown up watching Sun Wukong.

If someone tried to chain him down—he'd break free.

Of course, Haruta knew this wasn't something he should be saying to Kabuto.

But he also knew—

If he didn't leave him something to think about, Kabuto would never fully trust him.

"Aren't you afraid I'll tell Danzo?"

Kabuto finally asked.

Haruta laughed.

"Not at all."

He pointed at himself—then at Kabuto.

"I just completed a major mission for Danzo. And he knows how I treated you when I first joined Root. If you accuse me… Who do you think he'll believe?"

Kabuto's eye twitched.

Damn it, he's right.

Even if Danzo suspected Haruta… I'd already be dead.

Just then—

A masked ANBU ran up to them.

"Orders from the Hokage. Arm yourselves and report to Root immediately."

Haruta froze.

"Wait… are we attacking Root?!"

....

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