Chapter 71

Naruto continued to smile, listening to Sasuke and Sakura's guesses, but at the same time maintained a completely unusual silence.

So Uncle Yoshiro told him the truth...

It's hard to imagine how happy a kind and gentle man like Uncle Yoshiro will be when he finally finds his family!

“I advise you to forget about what you saw if you don’t want to return to the academy...” Kakashi warned the trio of Genin.

There is no need to dwell once again on the actions of the Root, even if they are not conducted in secrecy, because any actions of the secret branch of the Anbu are of extreme importance.

After all the residents of the Land of Waves left for lunch, only Tazuna remained at the pier besides Yoshiro and the Konoha shinobi.

Fortunately, he was currently taking measurements under a bridge under construction, and should not have caught the eye of the Root shinobi.

“You are in no position to bargain with us, Yoshiro... Kinoshita!” – the Root shinobi responded unusually coldly.

After these words there was a tense silence.

And the sharply pale Yoshiro, holding a scroll in his hand, seemed to be making some important decision under the gaze of those around him.

“You mean Yoshiro Kinoshita? Now everything is clear!" – Having heard this surname, the thoughtful Kakashi remembered something and immediately clarified for himself many questions that had not been answered before.

- Kakashi-sensei, what is it? – Sakura couldn’t resist whispering carefully, noticing the sharp change in the Jounin’s gaze.

After her question, Sasuke and Naruto also stared at the teacher.

“This Yoshiro turned out to be not a wandering shinobi, but the Head of the Kinoshita Clan from Kirigakure... quite recently, Kirigakure put up a huge reward for Yoshiro Kinoshita, which is usually offered for the most dangerous renegades of Rank-S. But at the same time, it wasn’t even asking for his head, but simply information about him,” Kakashi answered even more quietly with a sincerely shocked expression on his face under the mask.

– Is Uncle Yoshiro... a renegade? – Naruto scratched the back of his head.

“You stupid head, the teacher made it clear!” – Sasuke lamented the impenetrable stupidity of the Uzumaki.

- Naruto... actually, Kakashi-sensei meant that Yoshiro-san is very important for Kirigakure, since after his disappearance they offered a huge reward for information about him! – Sakura sighed helplessly.

“Besides, such a high reward could serve as a kind of warning to other villages that Yoshiro Kinoshita is still part of Kirigakure,” Sasuke added derogatoryly.

Naruto looked at his comrades with his mouth agape, wondering how they managed to understand so much, although they heard the same thing as him.

Uzumaki didn’t understand everything even after Sasuke and Sakura’s explanation, but he still realized that Yoshiro was not a renegade.

Except Kakashi wasn't as relaxed as his Genin.

Sasuke's words certainly made sense, he just didn't fully understand the depth of darkness that reigned between the Great Shinobi Villages.

Such a high reward for Kirigakure also means that Yoshiro most likely has extremely important information that could become a tidbit for other Great Shinobi Villages.

As they spoke, the tension on the other side gradually eased.

“I hope Konoha keeps its word!” – Yoshiro finally made a decision, clenched his teeth tightly and carefully extended his hand with the scroll.

He eventually handed the scroll into the hands of the Root shinobi.

And he, in turn, busily unrolled the scroll, carefully checked the contents and rolled it back with a satisfied nod.

After which he made a simple hand gesture to his companion.

Things are bad!

Seeing this, Kakashi's face changed dramatically.

Root is going to kill Yoshiro!

Phew!

Without thinking twice, the Jounin rushed forward. After all, based on what he knows, the murder of Yoshiro may well entail serious consequences for Konoha.

The root, as always, acts recklessly!

“You have your own mission here, and we have ours... mind your own business, Hatake Kakashi!” – one of the Root shinobi exclaimed coldly, immediately rushing towards him.

And while the Jounin was blocked by one member of the Root, another took over.

Pooh!

Splashes of blood flew in all directions!

He coldly pierced the stunned Yoshiro's chest with his palm.

Even pieces of internal organs were visible in the splattered blood.

“For... why... at least tell me... my wife and son, they...” Yoshiro spat out blood, looking stunned into the eyes of the Root shinobi.

Pooh!

Blood spattered again.

The Root shinobi detached his hand from Yoshiro's chest.

- Why... why?! – Sakura stepped back in fear.

And Sasuke standing next to him squinted in disbelief.

Only Kakashi was ready for such a turn of events.

Naruto froze in place in shock at first.

- Uncle... Uncle Yoshiro! - and then rushed forward with a loud cry.

- Naruto, stop! – Kakashi’s face changed sharply and tried to stop Naruto, but the untouchable Root shinobi stood in his way.

Naruto ran towards the fallen Yoshiro and shuddered all over when he saw the gaping bloody hole in his chest.

“Youyyyy...” Naruto looked up at the Root shinobi and let out a ferocious roar, but then a bloody hand touched him, so he looked back down and exclaimed in concern. - Uncle Yoshiro!

– You... can't... cope with them. I'm sorry... that I didn't tell you at first. I just wanted to see my wife... my wife and son before I die.... - Yoshiro raised his head with difficulty and said intermittently.

After these words, his trembling hand gently touched the stunned Naruto's head, dyeing the boy's light yellowish hair, exactly like his, red... bloody.

“I completed my last mission almost flawlessly, are you satisfied, Yudao-sama?” – with such thoughts, Yoshiro slowly closed his eyes, going to the pure world in the arms of Naruto!