Naruto: Strongest Shinobi System With a Glitch Chapter 164

"Lady Tsunade."

Haru bowed slightly before speaking. "We’ve located Torune Abura—he’s being held in a Root training base inside the Forest of Death."

Every mber of Root was forced to undergo its brutal training and relentless brainwashing.

And Torune... he was still just a child.

Like Shino, he was only seven years old.

"Prepare an Anbu squad to go with imdiately," Tsunade ordered, rising to her feet.

Haru hesitated for a mont. "Would the team from last ti be suitable?"

"Kakashi and Itachi? Yes," Tsunade nodded. "They’ll do. Assemble them."

"Understood."

Haru departed swiftly, and within minutes four masked Anbu appeared before Tsunade and Kitazawa. At their head stood Kakashi and Itachi.

The mont their eyes landed on Kitazawa, surprise flickered across their faces. Haru had told them only of a mission with Tsunade to confront Root—Kitazawa’s presence was unexpected.

But after the Grass Hidden Village ordeal, they quickly composed themselves.

"Follow ," Tsunade commanded, striding out.

Danzo’s intelligence network was vast; hesitation could an failure. If Root detected them early, there was no predicting the consequences.

The squad moved at high speed, slipping into the Forest of Death.

"This way," Kakashi called, leading them toward the Root base.

The hideout lay hidden in a valley, its entrance guarded by two Root operatives.

Without slowing, Tsunade approached.

"Lady Tsunade?" The guards stiffened in shock but stepped forward, blocking her path.

"Without Lord Danzo’s order, you cannot enter," one of them said flatly.

"I carry the Hokage’s orders," Tsunade replied, producing the seal of Hiruzen.

"We require Lord Danzo’s order," the guard repeated, unmoved.

Tsunade’s expression darkened. "Audacious fools! Are you Konoha ninja or not? How dare you ignore the Hokage’s authority?"

"We are Konoha shinobi," the Root guard answered in a chilling monotone, "but we are also Root."

"Itachi." Tsunade’s patience snapped.

In the next instant, the young Uchiha stepped forward. His crimson Sharingan flared to life, tomoe spinning as his genjutsu washed over the guards. Both n froze, eyes glazing over, before collapsing unconscious as Itachi struck them down.

Watching this, Kitazawa felt a ripple of unease.

’In my past life, the Uchiha massacre hinged on a single deal—Itachi’s fateful conversation with Danzo. But now, with Tsunade openly opposing Root... will that agreent ever take place?’

He wasn’t sure, but the odds seed far slimr.

Tsunade pressed forward into the valley. The hidden base sprawled before them: barracks, training fields, and grim facilities built for one purpose—conditioning soldiers.

From dawn, groups of Root recruits were already in training.

"Children?" Tsunade’s voice seethed with disgust. "Danzo truly has lost his mind."

Most of the trainees were painfully young, few even close to eight. This wasn’t warti necessity—it was manipulation. Root wasn’t raising shinobi. It was cultivating weapons.

Suddenly, the whisper of steel cut through the air.

Eight masked Root operatives closed in, surrounding them.

"Lady Tsunade, halt," their leader intoned, as cold and detached as the guards before.

Tsunade didn’t bother replying.

Her fist shot forward, the sheer force bending the air itself.

BOOM!

The lead operative flew back like a fired cannonball, crashing into his comrades. Even those bracing to catch him stumbled under the shockwave.

"It feels better to let my fists talk," Tsunade smirked.

Kakashi’s chest tightened at the display. It was one thing for her to level enemy shinobi in Grass Country—but to treat Root, fellow Konoha operatives, with such raw violence? She was as fearless as her reputation claid.

Itachi’s eyes flickered. For a heartbeat, envy stirred within him. How simple it would be—if he could smash away every conflict, even the growing rift between the Uchiha and Konoha, with strength alone.

The leader lay unconscious, but the others surged in, calling to the young trainees for support.

In monts, Tsunade’s group was surrounded by several tis their number.

"I am Tsunade, here under the Hokage’s orders!" she roared, her killing intent crashing over them like a storm. "Who dares raise a hand against ?"

The effect was imdiate—hesitation rippled through the ranks. So of the newer recruits faltered, fear showing through their indoctrination.

But a Root commander barked back coldly: "Defy Lord Danzo, and you know the consequences!"

"Consequences?" Tsunade spat, fury blazing. "Root dares defy the Hokage? Seize them all!"

Her Anbu didn’t hesitate. Though outnumbered, Kakashi and Itachi fought with ruthless efficiency, while most of the recruits were untested and weak. Only the senior Root mbers offered real resistance.

The lee erupted in chaos.

Kitazawa instantly stepped forward, placing himself between Tsunade and the battlefield.

She paused—then understood. He was shielding her from the inevitable sight of blood. Her chest ward. For once, she allowed herself to stand back, her hemophobia safely guarded by him.

Wind Release: Gale Palm!

Kitazawa’s palms clapped together, sending a slicing gust into the fray.

A Root ninja blurred aside with a Body Flicker—only to be caught by the Rasengan spiraling in Kitazawa’s hand. Impact sent him flying, unconscious before he hit the ground.

Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!

Another Root operative spewed a blazing inferno, heat scorching the valley.

Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu!

Streams of water coiled around Kitazawa, swirling into the form of a dragon that roared forward, colliding with the fireball and tearing through it.

Tsunade’s eyes widened. ’That speed... that precision... that’s Second Grandpa’s Water Dragon Bullet!’

But this wasn’t ordinary mastery—Kitazawa had improved with terrifying speed.

Had he been hiding his strength all this ti?

Whether in dical ninjutsu, genjutsu, or elental releases—wind, fire, or water—his talent was undeniable.

Perhaps he’d simply never been given the chance to show it at the Academy.

But it didn’t matter anymore. At this level, Kitazawa wasn’t just a promising shinobi—he was already treading into elite jōnin territory.

The water dragon tore through the fireball and slamd into its target, sending the Root ninja sprawling.

And so the clash of Konoha’s loyalists and Danzo’s Root ignited in full force.

Kitazawa’s Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet roared forward, effortlessly swallowing the Fire Release: Great Fireball.

But the Root operative he faced wasn’t weak—he was a Jōnin.

Reacting instantly, the man leapt back while weaving hand seals.

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

The ground split, a solid wall shooting up to block the raging water dragon.

Kitazawa’s eyes narrowed.

No three dog heads. So it wasn’t that wall.

"Wind Release: Shuriken!"

With a flick of his wrist, Kitazawa hurled a spinning blade.

Crack!

The shuriken cut straight through, shattering the stone wall into chunks.

Before the Root ninja could retreat again, Kitazawa lunged forward, one hand tucked behind his back in a casual stance.

The enemy froze, startled—then gritted his teeth and charged, kunai flashing.

"Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique!"

Kitazawa’s fingers ford a seal, his gaze locking onto the man’s eyes.

The Root ninja stiffened. His body trembled, the kunai slipping from his grasp with a sharp clang.

In his mind, the most terrifying image appeared—Danzo Shimura.

Kitazawa didn’t waste the mont. He stepped in and struck, rendering him unconscious.

Killing was out of the question. Root operatives were still Konoha shinobi. If one of them died here, the situation would escalate beyond control. Even Tsunade had been clear: subdue, don’t kill.

Suddenly—

BOOM!

The ground exploded behind him. Kitazawa turned sharply to see Tsunade’s heel crashing down, splitting the earth. Shards of stone flew like shrapnel.

The Root operative facing her scread as blood sprayed into the air.

Kitazawa’s stomach dropped.

He flickered forward, planting himself between Tsunade and the spray of blood.

"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"

A fierce gust roared outward, scattering the tallic stench of blood.

Behind him, Tsunade’s hand clutched his shoulder, her body trembling as she fought to steady herself.

"Lady Tsunade, are you alright?" Kitazawa asked, quickly glancing back.

Her face was pale, her pupils unfocused.

"I... I’m fine," she muttered, shaking her head.

She hadn’t seen the blood, only slled it. The effect wasn’t crippling, but it had rattled her.

Kitazawa exhaled quietly in relief. Staying planted like a fortress, he cycled through Wind, Fire, and Water Releases, suppressing the enemy until, one by one, the seven official Root mbers were subdued.

The remaining recruits were swiftly surrounded by ANBU—more than half unconscious already.

"Who is Torune Abura?" Kitazawa called out on Tsunade’s behalf.

Silence hung in the air until a young man finally raised his hand. His face, blank like the others, betrayed itself through his eyes—hesitant, uncertain, not completely brainwashed.

"Co here," Kitazawa said firmly. "I’m Shino’s teacher. The Abura Clan sent to bring you back."

"Shino?" Torune’s mask cracked. His eyes widened, life returning to them as if a puppet had beco human again.

"That’s right," Kitazawa nodded. "Shino Abura. Your closest friend."

mories flickered in Torune’s mind, softening his rigid expression. Slowly, he stepped forward.

If it were just Kitazawa, he wouldn’t dare leave Root—fear of retaliation against his clan would’ve kept him shackled. But Tsunade’s presence changed everything. With the Abura’s direct request, there was no reason to remain.

"...Tsunade!"

The ground trembled with the weight of the angry voice that approached.

Danzo appeared, leaning on his cane, one eye burning with fury.

"What do you think you’re doing?" His voice was cold. "Attacking fellow Konoha shinobi—are you trying to defect?"

"That’s my line." Tsunade snapped, producing the Hokage’s directive. "Does Root, which only answers to you, still rember it belongs to Konoha?"

"You—!" Danzo’s cane quivered with restrained rage. He had rushed here the mont he heard of the attack. The last thing he expected was Sarutobi’s direct order.

’Damn you, Hiruzen. What are you playing at? Have you truly discarded our decades of camaraderie?’

"Who’s to say that directive isn’t forged?" Danzo barked. "Even if it’s real, does it say you can storm Root headquarters?"

"That much is true—it doesn’t." Tsunade pocketed the scroll. "But your Root broke the rules first. I’m simply correcting that."

Danzo’s jaw clenched. "What rule justifies forcing your way into Root?"

Tsunade crossed her arms, glaring him down. "I forced my way in. What can you do about it?"

Danzo nearly choked on his own fury. He wanted to unleash Kotoamatsukami, but Itachi’s silent presence stopped him cold. Using Shisui’s eye here was too great a risk.

"Rules are dead. People are alive." Tsunade’s tone was ice. "Torune Abura is coming with . If you object, take it up with the Hokage."

Danzo’s eyes narrowed in sudden realization. ’So that’s her goal—Torune.’

His pulse quickened. The Abura clan siding with Tsunade? That ant... she was truly moving to claim the Hokage’s seat.

"Let’s go," Tsunade ordered coolly, brushing past him.

Kitazawa guided Torune after her, with Kakashi, Itachi, and the ANBU lting into the shadows behind.

Danzo stood frozen, his insides burning. He wanted to scream for Root to strike them down—but he knew better. Killing Tsunade here would bring not just Hiruzen’s wrath, but Jiraiya’s and countless others’.

After they vanished, his composure shattered.

"Damn it! Damn it all! You’ll pay for this!" he howled, his Root shinobi trembling at the sight of their master’s rare loss of control.

[Mission Complete: Retrieve Torune Abura]

[Reward Issued: Cursed Tongue eradication Seal.]

A flood of knowledge filled Kitazawa’s mind as the system prompt appeared.

The cursed seal—Danzo’s sinister trademark. In the original tiline, Root operatives bore this curse on their tongues, sealing their secrets. Attempt to speak, and their entire body would lock, paralyzed. Neither voice nor written words could escape.

The only release: the caster’s will... or their death.

Kitazawa had once wondered if Root shinobi could bypass it by writing instead of speaking. Now he understood. The seal wasn’t so lenient—it bound thought itself.

Back in Konoha, Tsunade issued her final command.

"Kitazawa, take him directly to the Abura clan. I’ll explain everything to Hiruzen personally. It’s not enough to retrieve Torune—I want Root’s recruitnt practices redefined."

"Understood," Kitazawa nodded.

Tsunade took a few steps, then stopped, turning back.

"Starting tomorrow," she declared, "you’ll be training under in Super Strength."

Kitazawa blinked. "...Huh?"

He hadn’t seen that coming.

"Don’t get the wrong idea," Tsunade huffed. "Watching you fight today—you were too indecisive, too flashy. You need sothing more direct."

’But isn’t that just how ninjutsu users fight...?’ Kitazawa muttered inwardly.

Still, he couldn’t hide his excitent. Tsunade’s Super Strength wasn’t just taijutsu—it was raw, overwhelming power. A technique that could even shatter Susanoo with a single punch.

------------------

AN: Check out my P@treon For 40 extra Chapters.

Thank You For your Support!!

/noviceauthor777