Movements in the Shadows

Dan Katō a slight bitterness in his heart. Just as he had thought, this matter was simple to talk about, but in reality, it was the most difficult thing to do.

Generally speaking, when Jonin leads a team, the Genin under his command are cannon fodder who can be discarded, since the value of a Jonin far exceeds that of a group of Genin.

However, this is only in general terms, and it refers to those who lack potential and have virtually no hope of breaking through to Jonin in the future. Of course, these people make up 90% of the Genin ranks. Subordinates like these can be replaced no matter how many die, so their value is very low. Calling them cannon fodder is not an exaggeration at all.

Genius teenagers like Katsuki and Nawaki, who come from distinguished families and possess exceptional talent, require the careful protection Jonin their supervising Jonin. If any of their geniuses makes a mistake, the supervising Jonin will also be held responsible.

"Remember, their safety is paramount. If necessary, you can abandon the mission, abandon everyone around you, and even... abandon your own life. Of course, this is the worst-case scenario. In short, they are both very important."

The Third Hokage generation stared at Dan with a serious expression.

"I understand. Don't worry, I will bring them both back safe and sound, even if it costs me my life." Dan Katō nodded solemnly.

"Go!"

The Third Hokage waved his hand.

Dan Katō bowed slightly and withdrew.

As I brushed past the blond boy in the corridor, I couldn't help but glance back at him.

"A vitality comparable to the First Hokage, truly astonishing... Or is this the power of the Uzumaki Clan?"

In the dimly lit, secret room, an oil lamp sat on the table, its tiny flame flickering gently with the breathing of the figure behind it, causing the long shadows on the wall to sway in unison.

Danzo his hands on the table, his chin on his hands, and stared at the report laid out before him in the dim candlelight.

He has read this report more than twenty times since he received it six days ago, and each time he felt an uncontrollable tremor in his heart.

He was a disciple of the Second Hokage, but he was of the same generation as Hiruzen. He had also witnessed the legendary power of the First Hokage. All he could feel was the overwhelming sense of oppression, which he still remembers vividly. From this report, he seemed to see a tender seedling with the shadow of the First Hokage, struggling to grow and taking its first steps toward the path of the First Hokage's unparalleled dominance.

"A limitless future... Bloodline, bloodline, a good birth is truly enviable."

Danzo sighed softly, his eyes revealing undisguised envy. He didn't have a powerful bloodline; he was chosen as a disciple by the Second Hokage solely because of his exceptional talent. As his horizons broadened and time passed, the once spirited young man had become middle-aged.

His long lifespan allowed him to witness the superiority of those with Kekkei Genkai. The presence or absence of a bloodline limit had almost become a marker of strength. At the same level, those with bloodline limits were bound to be stronger than those without. This was already a consensus, and there were very few ninjas who could break this consensus.

What was the result?

Danzo raised his eyelids and looked at the ninja who had suddenly appeared and was kneeling in front of the table.

"Your subordinate is incompetent. Uzumaki Katsuki has been staying with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and there are too many powerful individuals hiding in the shadows to protect them. Your subordinate has tried several times but has been unable to get close."

The subordinate lowered his head deeply.

"·····"

Danzo frowned, his lips pressed tightly together, and the crisscrossing scars on his chin twitched slightly, revealing his turbulent emotions.

Root was still a relatively new organization. After failing to become Hokage in the competition with Hiruzen, Danzo focused on cultivating his own power. He disagreed with Hiruzen's overly naive and appeasement strategy. Konoha did not need weakness, but the Hokage's authority was something he could not challenge.

All he could do was gather like-minded people, mainly those in the village who admired martial arts, and establish the 'Root' organization.

Hiruzen turned a blind eye to this, pretending it didn't exist. It was good to gather the members of the martial arts faction together like this, so that they wouldn't cause trouble every few days. With the restraint of an organization, things would be calmer. He was confident that he could suppress Danzo's ambition with his own skills.

Otherwise, no matter how Danzo was, he wouldn't have been able to use the Anbu, this old hen, to hatch the egg that belonged to him.

Almost everyone who joins 'Root' shares the same ideals as Danzo: to intimidate nations with force and restore the glory of the First Hokage, rather than the appeasement strategy currently pursued by the Third Hokage. It is this shared ideology that attracts so many elites to join.

In order to strengthen Root, Danzo great lengths to promote Root's ideology and recruit like-minded people. At the same time, he had a long-term vision and did not only focus on the elites who had already made their mark, but also paid attention to the huge group of Genin who were cannon fodder.

Even the most outstanding ninjas begin their legendary journey as cannon fodder.

Among them, boys with extraordinary lineage, such as Nawaki and Katsuki, are the focus of special attention.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to obtain the report submitted by Uchiha No so quickly.

Where is "Uzumaki Katsuki" now?

"Before I arrived, I personally witnessed him entering the Hokage Building with Dan Katō, and he is very likely still inside."

"Dan Katō, Spirit Transformation Technique? Tch, what a waste of talent. This kind of power should be unleashed within the 'Root'... What a waste, what a waste! Hiruzen, that guy... what a waste!"

He muttered to himself, expressing his envy and jealousy of Hiruzen. Elite talents like Dan Katō no longer have any of his 'roots', while Hiruzen's inner circle is full of talented people. It's hard not to be envious.

"... Go to Uzumaki Katsuki openly and honestly, tell him our philosophy, don't force him to make a choice, just express our beliefs, I believe a genius like him... will make a reasonable judgment."

Danzo his scattered thoughts and gave the order.

"Yes, I understand!"

The ninja, kneeling on one knee, responded loudly, forming hand Hand Seals, and suddenly vanished from his spot. Only the candlelight flickered and leaped up, and the shadows on the wall swayed violently along with the flickering flame.

After leaving the Hokage Building, Katsuki went straight home.

During the martial law period, there were very few pedestrians on the streets, and many shops were closed and suspended business. The pedestrians on the road were either ninjas in a hurry, or housewives going out to buy groceries. These were the two main types of people.

"Damn it, this war."

"Those damned turban bastards, why don't they just die...?"

The grumbling pedestrians hurried past, their whispered curses melting away like ice blocks under the scorching sun, leaving no trace.