Naruto: Binding Uchiha Sasuke, Hundredfold Return

The mission was over, and Team 7 was disbanded.

Kazuki transferred to the sleeping Utatane Clan, a clan in even worse shape than before.

They had seen some intact houses in the Mitokado Clan earlier, but now only a burned-open space remained in the Utatane Clan's area. The flames had razed the entire family to the ground, but even from a quick glance, it was clear there were no clues here.

However, Kakashi still led Kazuki and Sakura to stand there for a long time before leaving.

Next, they were headed to Konoha's morgue.

The bodies of members from two major families, as well as two councillors, were there. But when they arrived, they were informed that the bodies had been burned and buried.

The clue was gone.

The investigation was suspended.

"Tomorrow, we'll go to the place Sasuke was last seen," Kakashi said, announcing that the team was disbanded. In a flash, he disappeared.

"Kazuki-kun, do you think Sasuke was really captured? Is his life in danger?" Sakura asked with concern.

"Not likely," Kazuki replied.

"How do you know?" Sakura pressed.

Kazuki shook his head and didn't answer. "You'll find out soon enough."

With that, he left as well.

Kazuki could tell that Kakashi had discovered something. This last mission wasn't about finding Sasuke, it was about testing him.

The next day, Kakashi took Kazuki and Sakura to Sasuke's residence again. The daily items were still untouched, giving the impression that Sasuke had left in a hurry.

They visited the old Uchiha district and Sasuke's training ground, but found nothing of value—just more wasted time.

A week passed like this, with Kakashi still unwilling to call the mission off. Finally, Kazuki approached him.

"Will the mission continue?" Kazuki asked.

"It depends on when you want it to end," Kakashi replied enigmatically.

...

On the rooftop, Kakashi leaned against the railing, while Kazuki quietly smoked a cigarette. The silence between them was thick.

After a long pause, Kakashi broke the silence.

"Why did he do it?"

"He was seeking revenge," Kazuki replied.

"For the Uchiha massacre?"

"Yeah."

Another moment of silence passed.

"Did they really deserve it?"

"Yes."

Kakashi sighed.

It was hard to encourage others to stay on the right path when they'd been wronged so deeply. If his whole clan had been wiped out... But then again, Kakashi didn't have a clan.

"Any more questions?" Kazuki asked.

"Where is he now?"

"He's in a very safe place."

"Does it have anything to do with Danzo?" Kakashi asked, his voice more serious now.

Kazuki remained silent.

Kakashi got up, brushing off his vest. "The mission is over. Team 7 is disbanded."

Kazuki flicked the cigarette butt to the ground, turned on his heel, and walked away. He wasn't sure whether Kakashi was disappointed or relieved by the outcome.

Team 7 had been the first team Kakashi ever led. Although they had grown up together and shared many bonds, they had now all embarked on paths Kakashi could never have imagined.

The next day, Kazuki was promoted to Jōnin by Danzo and was assigned his own team.

Sakura, Shikamaru, Hinata, and Karin were all promoted to Chunin. Sakura, Hinata, and Ino were placed under Kazuki's leadership.

With Danzo's endorsement, Karin no longer had to be called Gekko Tsukiko— she could finally use hER true name.

(T/N: Karin hidden name is Tsukiko)

Regarding the trouble brewing in Kusagakure, Danzo had made his stance clear:

"What of Kusagakure? If they dare mess with us, Konoha will crush them!"

A bold claim, but Danzo's political bluster didn't match Konoha's current strength.

After the incidents involving Orochimaru and Sunagakure, Konoha was still recovering. Fighting Kusagakure was manageable, but they lacked the resources and manpower to take on a Great Shinobi Village.

Despite Danzo's tough talk, Konoha needed time to recover.

In the following months, all of Konoha's shinobi were called back and reintegrated into the village. The goal was twofold: to introduce everyone to the new leadership and to root out dissidents while promoting loyalists.

On the night Danzo targeted Kazuki, many of Danzo's Root members were killed.

Danzo needed new allies and fresh faces for ANBU. Some of the old Root members were brought in to fill the gaps, and soon, Danzo had assembled a force of hundreds of ninjas loyal to him.

To Danzo's surprise, several familiar faces appeared in his newly reformed ANBU.

Hatake Kakashi, Tenzo!

At first, Sarutobi Hiruzen suspected ulterior motives, given their past differences. But after consulting Kazuki, Danzo approved their applications. Both Kakashi and Tenzo were assigned to lead ANBU teams.

While ANBU underwent its transformation, Root was no exception.

The leadership of Root was handed over to Sasuke. The entire branch now followed Sasuke's commands. His codename was simply "0", but within Konoha, his influence rivaled Hokage's.

No one could have predicted that Konoha's S-Rank Rogue Ninja would return and become the new leader of Root.

This new Root, however, was not the same as before. No longer was it Konoha's tool for dirty work and backroom deals. Instead, it had become a pair of sharp scissors and an axe—an instrument of retribution.

And its blade was aimed squarely at Konoha's leadership.

Fear spread among Konoha's high-ranking officials, and they remained silent.

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The fanfic is finished on p@treon/tambeerg