mouth, a massive coiling dragon of flames roared into existence.

The moment it struck, I moved-not away, but toward it.

At the last possible second, I flickered-disappearing from my previous spot.

I landed on its back.

The fire coiled and shifted, but I ran along its body as though it were solid ground. My feet barely touched the flames, chakra control negating the burn.

The user's eyes widened.

I pushed off mid-air, launching myself downward. My heel descended in an axe-kick.

My foot connected with his shoulder. A sickening crack followed as the joint dislocated instantly. He collapsed, gasping in pain.

Only two remained.

Their hands trembled. Sweat dripped down their foreheads.

They didn't charge.

They didn't attack.

They just stood there, frozen.

Shaking.

I flickered one last time. The battle ended in a blink. Both fell unconscious before they could react.

And then-silence.

The room was littered with bodies. Some groaning, some motionless.

All twenty of them were down.

I was the only one standing.

Sixty seconds had passed since Danzo left.

I glanced around. A memory surged into my mind.

Footsteps echoed.

Danzo entered the room.

A small, satisfied smile tugged at his lips as his gaze swept across the battlefield.

"Impressive," he mused. "You trained alone very much. Even using Water and Earth Styles, despite them not being your affinities. Your speed-on par with Shisui Uchiha. Not to mention your excellent taijutsu."

His tone carried no praise, only cold observation. As if he were listing off my attributes like one would a weapon's specifications.

I brushed the words aside with a shrug.

"They were just unprepared."

-──◇◆◇──-

The next day, the air inside the underground Root headquarters was thick with unspoken tension. The walls, cold and unyielding as ever, seemed to close in around the assembled shinobi. They stood in perfect formation-silent, motionless, waiting. These were the same operatives who attacked me yesterday. Some still bore injuries from our fight, minor tremors in their hands or stiffness in their movements betraying the extent of their wounds. Others, those who hadn't been present, observed me with wary curiosity.

Danzo stood before them, his presence an immovable pillar of authority. His one visible eye swept over them, unreadable yet heavy with intention. I remained by his side, walking at an even pace, my expression neutral. My injuries were nonexistent. Every movement I made was deliberate, controlled, as if the battle yesterday had never happened.

Danzo exhaled, then spoke.

"From this moment forward, you are no longer members of Root."

A ripple of tension passed through the crowd. Some of them shifted slightly, their eyes widening by a fraction. It was a simple declaration, but the implications ran deep. Root was all they had known-an organization stripped of individuality, bound by loyalty to Danzo alone. To be told that it no longer existed was akin to having their very existence erased.

Danzo continued, his voice unwavering.

"Root is dead. But your purpose remains. From now on, your only mission is to fight and die for my cause. Konoha has lost its foundation. It has been rotting from the inside, controlled by those who have forgotten what true strength is. We will take control. We will restore its roots, even if that means becoming shadows cast away from the village."

The weight of his words settled into the silence. They understood what he meant. They were no longer hidden operatives. From this moment on, they were rogue shinobi, nameless phantoms who would exist outside the laws of the village, serving a singular ambition-Danzo's vision of control.

I observed them carefully. No one objected. Root operatives were conditioned not to. There was no fear in their expressions, no hesitation. Only acceptance. They had no choice but to obey.

Danzo turned slightly toward me, a calculated gesture that directed every pair of eyes onto me. His voice, firm as steel, continued.

"From this day forward, Kyotaka Shimura is my second-in-command."

I remained still as the words settled over the assembled operatives. Their expressions didn't change, but their breathing did.

Danzo's next words came with a weight that could crush the weak-willed.

"His orders are my orders. If he commands you to die, you will die. Any complaints?"

The silence was absolute.

I looked over them, taking in their blank stares. I could feel it-some of them resented this, but none would dare speak against it.

I turned my gaze back to him, waiting for the next directive. Danzo was testing me, in his own way. Authority was not something he would hand over lightly. This moment was meant to establish me as something undeniable-a leader in their eyes, not just in title but in presence.

Danzo allowed the silence to stretch before finally addressing me.

"What will you name our new organization?"

I did not hesitate.

"The Bishops."

Danzo considered the name for a moment, then nodded in approval. He had no complaints.

Without another word, Danzo dismissed the gathered operatives. They left in perfect unison, their silent footsteps vanishing into the corridors. Soon, it was only the two of us.

I turned to face him, waiting. He had more to say.

Danzo's voice lowered slightly, a deliberate shift in tone.

"You will have two missions from now on."

"You will lead the Bishops. You will shape them into the perfect force for our future."

That much was expected. He wouldn't give me authority just to let it stagnate. He would expect results.

Danzo's next words, however, were less predictable.

"Your second mission is to enroll in the Konoha Academy."

I held my expression steady, though I immediately analyzed the implications. The academy was for children. That meant Danzo had something specific in mind. He continued, clarifying before I had to ask.

"There are certain individuals there who must be observed. The next generation holds key pieces for Konoha's future. You will be among them, gathering information and influencing as needed."

His eye studied me closely, gauging my reaction. I gave none.

Danzo was integrating me into the village's core. On the surface, I would be an ordinary student-an orphan, alone and unremarkable. But underneath, I would be something else entirely.

"I have arranged everything," Danzo continued. "You will be registered as an orphan. Your existence will have no past, only a present that fits the academy's records. A house has already been provided for you."

It was thorough. Danzo never did anything half-measured.

I nodded once.

"Understood."

He watched me for a moment longer before adding,

"There is one more thing."

He took a step closer, his tone carrying a finality that suggested something important.

"I will be giving you a gift. But for that, an operation will be required."

I was thinking the same thing.