Look Into My Eyes

Watanabe Tsuyoshi, a member of the first generation of the "Root" organization.

Though he was only a Chunin, he was honored to have been chosen as a member of "Root."

His ancestors had all been Ninja, and they had followed the Senju Clan since long ago.

After years of war during the Warring States Period, the conflict had finally ceased thanks to Senju Hashirama, an Unworldly Genius.

He still remembered the heartfelt excitement of his Parents on the day Konoha was officially established, when he had still been a Child.

But good times did not last. With Senju Hashirama's death, the nations began stirring once more.

Not long after, the First Shinobi World War erupted.

After returning from one mission, he had found his Parents' bodies covered in white sheets.

He had not cried at the time, because he knew this was the fate of Ninja.

But from then on, he completed every mission with even greater diligence.

Yet the brutality of this war had exceeded everyone's imagination.

On the eve of peace, the seemingly omnipotent Second Hokage had died after being injured in a shameless Ambush.

After returning to the village, Danzo, who had followed that person, decided to inherit his will and establish the "Root" organization.

As a follower of the Senju Clan, Watanabe Tsuyoshi had joined "Root" without hesitation when Danzo invited him.

"We are the guardians beneath Konoha's shadow, driving our roots deep into the darkness."

Watanabe Tsuyoshi had always remembered that creed Danzo spoke to everyone when he first joined.

After joining the organization, he had never left the village again.

He became an eye in the darkness, monitoring every person who posed a threat to the village according to Danzo's orders.

This afternoon, a mission had suddenly arrived from Danzo.

The mission instructed him to begin monitoring a Child named Kagura from the Uchiha Family starting today.

Looking at the eight-year-old Youth in the distance, Watanabe Tsuyoshi did not believe someone that age could do anything to the village.

But the organization's teachings kept him calm, and he faithfully carried out his mission.

As he watched the Youth happily hum along the road, the joyful aura made a faint smile unconsciously appear on his face.

But for some reason, the Youth suddenly stopped and looked around in front of and behind himself.

After standing silently in place for A long time, he suddenly smiled as if possessed and continued forward.

Watanabe Tsuyoshi frowned, assuming it was merely a Youth's fickle Mindset, and continued his mission.

Night had fallen by then, but the Youth did not seem eager to return home. Instead, he wandered all around the village.

As he wandered, the two gradually arrived in a remote corner of the village.

Surveillance was a skill in itself. As the surroundings changed, it became increasingly difficult for Watanabe Tsuyoshi to find places to hide.

Just as he leaped into a concealed spot atop a house, an accident occurred.

At an intersection, Watanabe Tsuyoshi had barely blinked when the Youth suddenly vanished from his sight!

Startled, he no longer cared about concealing himself and rushed straight to the center of the intersection.

As he looked around in confusion, a voice came from behind him:

"Look into my eyes."

His Heart Sank, and he immediately turned around. A pair of Two-Tomoe Sharingan filled his vision...

Let us turn back time slightly.

The instant Kagura realized he was being watched, every muscle in his Whole Body tightened, and he was about to charge toward that gaze.

But A moment later, he relaxed and remained where he was.

Just then, the system's slowly spinning roulette wheel finally stopped.

The skill he had drawn this time was actually—Kotoamatsukami.

This was a ninjutsu hailed as the Strongest Genjutsu!

When Kagura saw this technique, a smile rose from the bottom of his heart.

With a thought, he continued walking as if he had not noticed the surveillance.

As he slowly followed the road back to the village, Kagura began considering who was monitoring him.

First, he ruled out enemies from other nations.

The First Shinobi World War had only just ended, and the defenses around the entire village were extremely strict.

Otherwise, Hiruzen Sarutobi would not have dared to send Genin like them to gather in the forest outside the village.

If enemies from outside truly wanted to invade, they could not possibly infiltrate so silently.

Having figured that out, Kagura had abandoned his intention to attack earlier.

But if the watcher was from Konoha, why were they monitoring him?

And he had been in this world for five years already, so why had they only begun monitoring him today?

What was different about today from usual?

The assessment... revealing his strength... the Uchiha Clan...

After linking those clues together, he felt that he had grasped the truth.

As a Genius of the Uchiha Clan, he had displayed strength far beyond his usual level today.

That was the cause of everything.

He knew Hiruzen Sarutobi's personality. The Third Hokage preferred guidance over violent enforcement.

His ideals for the village leaned more toward Hashirama's, so this was unlikely to have come from his order.

Besides, as the direct Teacher of his Team 7, he himself was the best person to monitor Kagura.

There was no need to send someone who could be discovered so easily to watch him.

Then, in the present-day Konoha, there was only one person with the intelligence network to learn about this afternoon's events immediately, who harbored hostility toward the Uchiha Clan and could send someone to monitor him:

Danzo.

So the person who had come was from "Root"?

Relying on his familiarity with the plot, Kagura instantly figured everything out and learned the watcher's identity.

But the question was, what should he do next?

Pretend he did not know he was being watched?

No, that would not work. He was hardly innocent.

If he was monitored for a Long Time, some of his secrets might not remain hidden.

Kill the watcher?

That would not work either. The other person was only watching him, and he would kill them for it?

Then tell Konoha's higher-ups that he was innocent?

In the end, he would likely have no choice but to become a Rogue Ninja and flee the village.

He had spent Over the Years training precisely to avoid being slaughtered by that kid Uchiha Itachi and to survive.

If he directly became a Rogue Ninja now and was wanted by the entire village?

That would be practically begging for death.

As he thought, he noticed the Kotoamatsukami he had just obtained from the system, and an idea came to him.

He deliberately headed toward a secluded area. Using the cover of night, he finally lured the watcher out of the darkness.

"Look into my eyes!"

The instant Watanabe Tsuyoshi turned his head, those Two-Tomoe Sharingan were imprinted upon his mind.

Looking at the enemy before him, now dazed and muddleheaded, Kagura could not help marveling at the power of Kotoamatsukami.

Perhaps after creating this technique, its author had felt it was too overpowered and added restrictions to it.

Unless one possessed Senju Hashirama's Chakra or was Shisui Uchiha himself, even someone who obtained Shisui's eyes would need to wait more than a decade between each use of this technique.

Of course, that restriction did not exist for Kagura.

After thinking for a moment, Kagura began controlling Watanabe Tsuyoshi's consciousness.

Inside Watanabe Tsuyoshi's world.

Upon hearing that voice, he immediately turned around and assumed a guarded stance.

But he never expected the person standing behind him to be Danzo!

He hurriedly put away his Shuriken and dropped to one knee in salute.

"Danzo" looked at him but showed little reaction, merely saying calmly:

"I came to inform you that the mission has changed.

"From now on, you no longer need to monitor Kagura.

"Go to Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately and begin observing his every move."

This...

Watanabe Tsuyoshi wore a confused expression.

Though it had not yet been officially announced, everyone in the village knew that Hiruzen Sarutobi would become Konoha's new Hokage.

After all, this appointment had come directly from Senju Tobirama, the previous Hokage.

"Danzo" snorted coldly and continued:

"Have you forgotten the oath you swore when joining 'Root'?

"You do not need to think about why. You only need to faithfully carry out the orders I give."

"Yes, Danzo!"

The confusion vanished from Watanabe Tsuyoshi's face. He lowered his head toward the "Danzo" before him in acknowledgment.

Watching Watanabe Tsuyoshi leave with a resolute expression, Kagura once again marveled at the power of Kotoamatsukami.

I hope Teacher Sarutobi understands what I meant to convey to him...

Having completed his arrangements, Kagura set off again, humming as he headed home.