Job Interview

Aburame Ryūma believed he had already thought highly of Hyuga Yu.

When Hyuga Yu's resume and letter of appointment were intercepted from the Hokage Building and sent to him, he had already sensed something was amiss.

This brat seemed to be hiding something, yet there was nothing truly worth hiding about him.

Byakugan, Taijutsu, Medical Ninjutsu.

These three things constituted the outside world's evaluation of Hyuga Yu's worth—

A stubborn ninja with poor aptitude, who thought himself clever, and tried his best to become a Chunin.

Then, Aburame Ryūma retrieved the videotape of Hyuga Yu's match during the Chunin Exam from last year.

From the videotape, it was clear that Hyuga Yu had indeed given his all. Whether in Taijutsu or tool throwing, his performance was no less than that of Uchiha Obito (before he awakened his Sharingan).

Furthermore, during the Chunin Exam, he used his most powerful technique, [Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms], nearly sealing all of Uchiha Obito's Chakra points. However, due to insufficient Chakra, he couldn't land the final few palms and ended up unable to fight further, thus losing the match.

From this perspective, within the ninja world's standard framework of evaluating a ninja based on mission performance, Hyuga Yu's "value" was limited to this.

However, This was merely an evaluation for a standard ninja. If evaluated according to the training standards of Root, which operated outside the normal ninja system, Hyuga Yu's value would instantly magnify more than tenfold!

In solo operations, intelligence gathering, stealth assassinations, dismantling enemy tactical systems, turning the tide of information and battles, and coercive interrogation, Hyuga Yu had displayed a wealth of "value" far beyond that of a normal ninja.

He was like a proud, solitary lion.

As if he was born to be a ninja who moved in the shadows!

Frankly speaking, Aburame Ryūma felt a sense of "seeing a worthy opponent."

This was a subtle emotion of seeing someone worthy of passing down all his hidden, obscure skills—skills he would take to his grave—and then watching that person surpass him step by step, venturing further down the path of the ninja's dark side until even he could no longer see their silhouette.

But, It was still not enough.

If it were only this, then even with his help, Aburame Ryūma, resolving some of his Chakra deficiency, the result would only be a second Aburame Ryūma.

A second-in-command of Root.

He (Hyuga Yu) was still separated by an insurmountable chasm from the Chief of Root, from that old man directly named "The Dark Side of the Ninja"!

He had to become dirtier, more shameless, abandon more things, and further excavate his own potential!

He had to... demonstrate greater value!

At this moment, even though deep down he acknowledged Hyuga Yu's performance in this mission and decided to take him under his wing, Aburame Ryūma still suppressed his emotions. Then, with a seemingly mocking chuckle, he looked at Hyuga Yu expressionlessly and gave his answer:

"Not enough."

"Your value is insufficient to warrant Root's recruitment. You should understand your identity—"

"A member of the Hyuga Branch Family, who could leak secrets at any moment and be controlled by others."

"Unless..."

Hyuga Yu also smiled and repeated, "Unless?"

Aburame Ryūma said calmly, "Unless you still have something hidden, a trump card you haven't revealed until now."

"And..."

"You must prove you have the... capital to resist the Caged Bird!"

Hyuga Yu took a deep breath, straightened his back slightly, and looked at Aburame Ryūma with a serious expression, asking:

"So, is this considered a formal interview for Root?"

Aburame Ryūma's eyes narrowed beneath his sunglasses. He was somewhat uncertain, then he let out a low chuckle and said calmly:

"Don't try to provoke me with such petty tricks."

"You are a smart person, and also an ambitious ninja. But sometimes, if your value cannot match your ambition, the outcome will only be tragic."

"You know very well that the so-called Root extras are just pawns that can be sacrificed at any time."

"And to change that, you can only show Root greater 'value'."

It was like the two ends of a scale, one end weighing the Hyuga Clan's [Byakugan], and the other, you with ulterior motives.

Aburame Ryūma paused, looking at Hyuga Yu. A palpable killing intent rose in his eyes as he spoke indifferently:

"I don't mind speaking more clearly—"

"Consider this an investment."

"You want to use Root to escape the Main Family, no problem."

"You want to use Root to improve your strength, no problem."

"What Root can give you will even exceed your imagination!"

"But if the value you show is not enough to offset your identity, if your strength is not enough to match your ambition..."

"Then—"

"I will kill you immediately."

As the words fell, Hyuga Yu felt a chill run down his spine. He clearly sensed the resolute killing intent in Aburame Ryūma's words, and a feeling of being on the verge of death at any moment, a detachment from this world that came with it.

However, Hyuga Yu just raised his head, casting aside all discomfort, and looked at Aburame Ryūma with a calm expression.

"Then, what are the standards for this interview?"

"Bring back the [Byakugan]."

"Okay."

Hyuga Yu agreed to Aburame Ryūma's absurd request without a second's hesitation, at lightning speed.

Bringing back the [Byakugan] had two meanings:

First, to reach Hyuga Genko, a member of the Main Family, knowing that ahead lay Ao of the Mist, the sensory Jonin of Ao's squad, the combination of the Mist's Seven Ninja Swordsmen's [Exploding Blade] Munashi Jinpachi and [Longsword] Kushimaru Kuriarare, and a Mist squad of over 20 people.

Second, to dig out Hyuga Genko's [Byakugan] while bearing the [Caged Bird] curse mark that could render him powerless at any moment.

At the same time, Hyuga Yu had his own goals to achieve.

To rescue Hyuga Natsu while fulfilling all the above conditions.

And to accomplish all of this, Hyuga Yu was just a Genin.

Under these circumstances, Hyuga Yu felt no fear, nor did he lose his reason. He frantically thought about how to accomplish this impossible task.

Then, He took the first step—

Hyuga Yu took two steps forward, arriving before Kurenai, who was in so much pain he was about to faint. He condensed a ball of pale green light in his palm with his remaining Chakra.

"Curse Removal Technique!"

This was a medical technique that separated toxins and pathogens at the cellular level. It required the user to have the diagnostic ability to identify the affected area, surgical skills, and perfectly accurate Chakra control to master this B-rank Medical Ninjutsu.

But as everyone knew, When Medical Ninjutsu wasn't used for healing, it often produced unexpected results.

For example, Chakra Scalpel could be used like the Hyuga's Gentle Fist when fighting.

And similarly, the Curse Removal Technique, which could peel off cellular-level substances, could naturally peel off other things perfectly.

Kurenai's eyes widened.

"Wait, you... what are you doing now!!"

"No, don't, don't!"

"Ugh ah ah ah ah ah ah ah!!!"