Root

Hiruzen's words about effort ultimately proved to be just empty talk; the will of Konoha's higher-ups wasn't so easily swayed.

However, Orochimaru wasn't one to give up so easily. He even went to persuade Konoha's higher-ups. Regrettably, on this decision, Konoha's higher-ups displayed an extremely resolute stance.

Several days of fruitless effort caused Orochimaru's gaze to grow colder. In front of Ye Zi, he made no effort to conceal his fluctuating emotions, as if trying to convey to Ye Zi that his own attempts to find a solution would also end in futility. Thus, mentally, he was already preparing to act.

He notified Ye Zi in this manner, leaving the choice of whether to act up to Ye Zi.

From the time his parents died when he was just a boy, Orochimaru's blood had gradually grown cold. It wasn't until he became accustomed to life and death that his blood truly chilled. It wasn't until he met Ye Zi, until his empty home gained another person, that, without him realizing it, his cold blood slowly regained a trace of warmth, even though his expression and eyes remained so indifferent.

There are always so many things in this world that are beyond one's control...

Like the casual fire a strong person might set for the weak.

Like the unfairness bestowed upon one's body from birth.

Like opening one's eyes again to find only icy rain and biting wind before them.

Like being brought here with no power to resist, only to be casually thrown out in the end.

This night, there was no wind and no clouds; the moon was round and bright.

Ye Zi wore combat attire, packed all sorts of ninja tools needed for a mission, and then prepared a very lavish meal.

The dishes were abundant, but they were basically all made with eggs as the main ingredient, filling the entire table.

This was because Orochimaru liked eggs.

After preparing the meal, Ye Zi sat quietly, looking sideways at the verdant courtyard.

In the past, there was only a single, lonely old tree in that courtyard, which was also Ye Zi's initial training ground. It wasn't until Ye Zi, no longer content with training in the courtyard, moved to Konoha's specialized training grounds that the courtyard gradually gained some plants and flowers, until now, it had become a proper courtyard, complete with flowers and grass.

He sat in silence for a while until he heard movement at the entrance. He then straightened himself, looking straight ahead without averting his gaze.

The food on the table was still steaming; he had timed its preparation perfectly.

Orochimaru, upon his return, did not change into casual clothes. Instead, he arrived in the living room wearing standard ninja attire. He looked at the table full of egg dishes and slowly sat down opposite Ye Zi.

The two sat in silence, looking at each other. After a moment, Orochimaru picked up his chopsticks first. Seeing this, Ye Zi also picked up his.

The only sounds at the dinner table were the clinking of chopsticks against ceramic bowls and the chewing of food.

He had always eaten in silence; it was the same before, it was the same now, and it would likely be the same in the future.

Whether alone or with someone else...

Half an hour later, not a single dish remained on the table. It was always like this; Ye Zi usually ate more, and his eating speed was much faster than Orochimaru's. However, by the time the last dish was finished, it was precisely when both of them were full.

"I should go."

Ye Zi looked at the remnants on the table in silence for a moment, then slowly said.

Orochimaru looked at a small piece of golden-yellow eggshell left at the edge of an empty plate and said coldly, "I gave you a chance."

His words implied that he had already informed Ye Zi, but Ye Zi had not cherished the opportunity and instead stayed to make a table full of food to wait for his return.

"Mm." Ye Zi nodded calmly. Then, ignoring Orochimaru's stern expression, he slowly stood up. As he reached the hallway, he suddenly stopped and said, "I won't clean up this time."

With that, he stepped onto the stone stairs and walked into the courtyard. He glanced at the familiar courtyard, then turned and silently looked at Orochimaru's profile before leaping over the wall and heading towards Konoha's gate.

He was forced to come to this place called Konoha, yet he was leaving through the main gate in broad daylight.

Throughout it all, Orochimaru merely stared silently at the small piece of eggshell at the corner of the empty plate. Days ago, he had said he would kill Ye Zi. Now, days later, the time had come, yet for some reason, he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Thinking that this residence would once again be empty with only himself, an inexplicable sense of melancholy arose within him.

"Orochimaru, one of the Sannin? Not even a fraction of that position." The man with a grim expression muttered coldly to himself.

The night was not yet deep, and Konoha's streets were brightly lit, hinting at prosperity.

Ye Zi ran through the streets, ignoring the surprised glances of others. He moved unimpeded all the way to Konoha's gate, and still, no one stopped him. After a careful scan, he found that none of the ninja who should have been guarding Konoha's gate were present.

Though puzzled, Ye Zi did not hesitate. He rushed out of Konoha's gate and proceeded along the straight road extending from it, the trees on either side blurring as they passed.

Screech...

Not long after leaving Konoha, Ye Zi, who was moving at high speed, suddenly slammed on the brakes, his heels leaving a rough mark on the ground. He stopped and quietly stared at a person on the road ahead.

The pure white moonlight poured onto the ground, clearly illuminating the person's face. His messy black hair was tied back, and the forehead protector on his brow was pushed towards the sky. His stern face was expressionless, with a distinct "X" scar on his chin. Even the bright moonlight couldn't conceal the sharp glint in his eyes.

The approaching figure was Shimura Danzo, the one who controlled "Root." However, Ye Zi did not recognize him. His indifferent gaze swept from Danzo's face to his red-based combat uniform, finally resting on the red hilt of a sword peeking out from behind Danzo's shoulder. He silently drew Raiya.

His eyes subtly scanned the trees lining the road, his gaze finally focusing on Danzo as he slowly tightened his grip on the hilt.

He sensed a faint yet tangible killing intent in the air. Both the person before him and the several individuals hidden in the trees undoubtedly had many lives on their hands. Furthermore, the people in the trees had concealed themselves perfectly; their breathing, almost as quiet as insects, was nearly undetectable. To possess such perfect concealment yet reveal the most easily detectable killing intent suggested that the emitted killing intent was deliberate.

Danzo saw Ye Zi's gaze drift towards where his subordinates were hidden, and his stern face softened slightly. "You're quite perceptive," he said.

Ye Zi looked at him, remaining silent.

"You wish to escape?" Danzo asked.

Ye Zi remained silent, but he had already adopted an offensive stance.

Danzo acted as if he hadn't seen Ye Zi raise his arm and continued, "No one can escape Konoha from under my nose. I'll give you two choices: die here, or join 'Root'."

"'Root'?" Ye Zi, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke.

Danzo calmly replied, "Root is the foundation of Konoha. You can think of it as a place that specifically trains the Anbu."

"Why?" Ye Zi looked at him.

Danzo let out a cold laugh. "You possess abilities that warrant my attention. Hiruzen cannot protect you, nor can Orochimaru. But I can."

This man from Root saw potential in Ye Zi, unlike Konoha's White Fang, whom he couldn't recruit. Ye Zi, at present, was still in a period of rapid growth.