You Don't Quite Fit the Will of Our Root Organization

On the way back to Konoha.

Shimura Danzō had always believed Akihara Kagura to be an obedient child. Most children used as experimental subjects were frightened into becoming timid and compliant by the horrific human experiments.

However.

This little fellow was an exception.

Along the way, Akihara Kagura displayed tremendous curiosity about everything outside. When they rested by the river, he even asked whether they knew how to fish.

Fishing?

Only people with a lazy attitude toward life would go fishing!

As the Root that supported Konoha's darkness, how could they waste time on something like that? Even when absolutely necessary, they would only use fish spears to replenish their food supplies!

Shimura Danzō realized that this child might be far too curious about the world. Perhaps he had never seen true darkness. Once they returned, he would need to train him properly.

As long as the little fellow witnessed this world's cruelty, he would surely become obedient and sensible. Shimura Danzō considered himself quite skilled at raising children, especially at turning children with somewhat normal temperaments into tools capable of slaughter.

However...

Akihara Kagura quickly changed his mind.

Wood Style: Impaling Technique!

Akihara Kagura used Wood Style to demonstrate some fish-spearing by the river!

A wooden spike shot out from the youngster's palm and stabbed fiercely into the river, piercing through a fish over a meter long. The fish immediately began struggling violently!

The next moment!

The youngster pressed his fingers together!

The wooden spike branched and grew again!

A dense mass of wooden spikes grew inside the fish's body, thoroughly piercing it through. Blood instantly dyed the river's surface red!

This Wood Style technique...

Looked exceptionally cruel.

"Lord Danzō, I caught a fish!"

Akihara Kagura looked delightedly at Shimura Danzō.

The youngster's smile was utterly innocent and pure, yet against such a bloody method of fishing, it seemed especially cold and ruthless, as though taking life was a source of enjoyment for him.

He was a natural-born killing tool.

"Truly..."

The old man watched the bloody scene before him and slowly offered a rare compliment. "Exquisite Wood Style. He is a good child..."

Whether it was the youngster's Wood Style Bloodline or his attitude toward life, Shimura Danzō felt that he had truly found a promising seedling this time. In the future, he only needed to ensure the boy's loyalty to him!

Konoha.

The most prosperous ninja village in the shinobi world.

Worried that his movements would be discovered and wanting to see just how perfect Akihara Kagura's Wood Style talent truly was, Shimura Danzō hurriedly brought the youngster back to Konoha.

Shimura Danzō never liked entering through the main gate when he returned to the village. Instead, he preferred to secretly open the sealing barrier from Konoha's Back Mountain and return to the Root Organization Base.

Akihara Kagura followed Shimura Danzō as he jumped into a well. Upon entering the Root Organization Base, he was immediately met by a grim and dark atmosphere.

This superior...

His way of doing things was far too dark!

The entire Root Organization Base was hidden deep underground.

Even though the base contained quite a few classical pavilions and towers, some even extravagantly built against the mountain walls, none of it could dispel the gloom beneath the darkness.

Knock, knock, knock...

The dull sound of wood being struck echoed underground.

A group of people could not help turning to look at the youngster who had suddenly begun knocking on the railing.

"Kou."

Shimura Danzō's expression darkened slightly. Dissatisfied with the youngster's behavior, he said coldly, "What are you doing? Be quiet."

"Yes, Lord Danzō."

After responding, Akihara Kagura explained, "I thought the railing would be made of stone, but it turned out to be wood. Lord Orochimaru once mentioned..."

"Shut up!"

Anger surfaced on Shimura Danzō's face as he stared at the youngster and said in an icy voice, "Kou, from today onward, completely forget Orochimaru's name!"

"Yes, Lord Danzō."

Akihara Kagura agreed again, then continued, "That lord mentioned that underground air is damp, so wooden buildings can easily rot."

"..."

Everyone present fell silent.

Shimura Danzō felt that perhaps he had phrased things too subtly just now. He wanted to repeat himself and make this little fellow forget Orochimaru himself rather than merely forget Orochimaru's name, but that would make him seem overly petty.

"I have official business to attend to."

Shimura Danzō waved his hand helplessly and instructed his subordinate, "Ryoma, arrange accommodations for him. Make him understand the will of Root, then bring him to see me."

"Yes."

Aburame Ryoma nodded respectfully and looked coldly at the youngster. "Follow me. Do not wander around. This base has quite a few traps and restricted areas."

"I understand."

Akihara Kagura obediently followed behind Aburame Ryoma.

The Root Organization Base was enormous.

The whole base resembled a massive well. Tall classical buildings clung to the stone walls, connected by covered bridges.

"Kou, this is your residence."

Aburame Ryoma brought Akihara Kagura to a dormitory room.

The entire room contained only a cabinet. A blanket and bedding were laid out on the floor, while a lamp sat in the corner. It looked rather empty.

"Mm..."

Akihara Kagura looked over his quarters and made a request. "Get me a bed. I do not really like sleeping on the floor..."

"No."

Aburame Ryoma shook his head and said coldly, "Root members do not need useless emotions or external sensations. All you need to do is accept the arrangements."

"..."

Akihara Kagura raised an eyebrow and asked, "Are you... my superior? Or rather, will you be my superior in the future?"

"No, and I will not be."

Aburame Ryoma shook his head again and answered, "Only Lord Danzō is the sole superior. Everything everyone does originates from Lord Danzō's orders."

That was true in theory.

In reality, Root had some unwritten rules. As Shimura Danzō's personal guard and close attendant, Aburame Ryoma clearly held a higher status than other members.

However, Root members had no distracting thoughts in their hearts. They only had the missions assigned by Lord Danzō. When had they ever cared about concepts like superior and subordinate status?

"Now, I will impart the will of Root to you..."

Aburame Ryoma did not notice the youngster's mood and continued on his own. "Root members have no names and no emotions, no past and no future. There are only missions in their hearts. What supports the great tree that is Konoha from behind is the will deeply rooted within us, the 'Root'..."

"What is your name?"

Akihara Kagura asked his first question.

"Aburame Ryoma."

"Then you do have a name. Are you not a Root member?"

"That is not a name."

Aburame Ryoma answered quickly, as though he had long received similar indoctrination. "Aburame Ryoma is my code name in Root. Lord Danzō knew my past, so he designated my former name as my code name in Root."

"So you remember that you have a past..."

Akihara Kagura seemed to have found a loophole and spoke slowly. "That does not quite fit the will of our Root..."

Good morning!

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I changed the code name and used Kou again, because while reviewing, I discovered Root already had an Otsu.