The Root, Not Just Any Tom, Dick, or Harry

Konoha, Hokage Office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen sat in the Hokage's chair, clutching the battle report sent from the front lines, his brows arched high, his face full of astonishment.

They actually wiped out the entire Seven Ninja Swordsmen?

Might Duy has truly given me a massive surprise.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had a well-known little hobby.

He loved to keep his Crystal Ball close at hand, hiding in his office to peek around using the Peeping Bathhouse Technique.

Hardly anything that happened in the village could escape his eyes.

Therefore, he naturally knew that Might Duy's status as a veteran genin was merely a facade.

The man had been practicing the Eight Inner Gates; his strength was far from what it appeared on the surface.

Yet, even so, he had still underestimated Might Duy's power.

Sarutobi Hiruzen had previously mused that Might Duy's strength was at most comparable to an average jonin, and that it would be good enough if he could just help hold the line at the front.

Never in his wildest dreams did he expect this guy to take out the Seven Ninja Swordsmen in one fell swoop.

It was simply absurd!

Sarutobi Hiruzen stroked his chin, nodding to himself.

It seems that this kid, Duy, has already cultivated the Eight Inner Gates to a remarkably profound level.

He knew clearly that this forbidden technique, once the eighth gate was opened, would cost the user their life, but in exchange, it granted terrifying power that could surpass the Five Kage for a short time.

Once Duy returns to the village, I shall have that girl Tsunade check on his condition.

If she can help him recover quickly, it might just play a pivotal role in the entire war effort.

Sarutobi Hiruzen thought to himself.

Tsunade had already returned to the village.

Although during the Second Shinobi World War, the successive deaths of Nawaki and Dan Katō had caused her to develop hemophobia, rendering her unable to return to the battlefield.

After that, she had not remained in Konoha, choosing instead to wander the world with Dan's niece, Shizune, bringing fortune to gamblers across the shinobi world.

However, as soon as the Third Shinobi World War broke out, Tsunade still kept the village in her heart and took the initiative to return to Konoha.

Even though her hemophobia prevented her from fighting on the front lines, she had contributed significantly to the war effort by staying in the rear to guide medical ninja and treat the wounded.

After all, she was the number one medical ninja in the entire shinobi world.

Sarutobi Hiruzen set aside his thoughts on Might Duy, his gaze falling back onto the battle report as he noticed another name.

Aragaki Yasushi.

Speaking of Aragaki Yasushi, Sarutobi Hiruzen was not a stranger to him at all.

After all, this was the partner he had carefully selected for his own rebellious second son, Asuma.

Over these years, Sarutobi Hiruzen's assessment of Aragaki Yasushi had changed three times, and each time, it had left him feeling deeply surprised.

When Aragaki Yasushi was still at the Ninja Academy, Sarutobi Hiruzen had observed him for a long time, feeling that he was a steady and hardworking child.

Moreover, this kid's understanding of the Will of Fire was deeper than many of the jonin in the village; even at a young age, he could think about problems from the perspective of a Hokage.

That was why he had personally made the decision to place Aragaki Yasushi in the same squad as Asuma, hoping that Yasushi could guide Asuma and help him restrain his rebellious nature.

As for Yuhi Kurenai in the same squad, she was merely an incidental addition.

Sarutobi Hiruzen could naturally see that Yuhi Kurenai liked Aragaki Yasushi, while Asuma liked Yuhi Kurenai.

However, a love triangle was just a standard program for Konoha's squad assignments, an inevitable part of the experience.

It was perfectly normal for children to have crushes on one another; it could even deepen their bonds, so why not let it be?

But once Aragaki Yasushi reached the battlefield, Sarutobi Hiruzen's assessment of him changed.

This kid was simply not a creature meant for a small pond!

He had actually managed to develop a secret technique like Paper Style on his own!

At this rate, it seemed the village would soon have a new ninja clan.

And to be able to develop a secret technique through his own efforts—this kid's talent was actually stronger than his own!

He was a research-type ninja, just like his teacher Senju Tobirama and his student Orochimaru.

In the future, this kid would surely become a pillar of the village, a precious legacy he would leave for the next Hokage.

Once he fully matured, he would be more than qualified to be a candidate for the Fifth Hokage.

As for why Aragaki Yasushi didn't stand out much at the Ninja Academy, yet acted like he was using cheats the moment he hit the battlefield?

In Sarutobi Hiruzen's view, this was perfectly normal!

After being assigned to a squad, Aragaki Yasushi had a jonin as a mentor and gained access to advanced knowledge he couldn't have touched at the Academy; his rapid growth in strength was completely logical.

Thinking of this, Sarutobi Hiruzen even felt a sense of secret pride.

It was my good eye for talent that led me to choose a jōnin as a mentor for Aragaki Yasushi.

Otherwise, wouldn't Aragaki Yasushi's talent have been wasted in vain?

Yet, at this moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen had to admit that he had still underestimated this kid.

Aragaki Yasushi's growth rate was even more terrifying than he had imagined; it was as if he were riding a rocket!

To think he could go head-to-head with the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and, together with Might Duy, wipe them all out?

In Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes, this was simply a younger version of Minato, perhaps even more outstanding than Minato.

Even Minato, at that age, hadn't been this exceptional!

Thinking of this, Sarutobi Hiruzen took a blissful puff from his pipe, the corners of his mouth curling up toward his ears amidst the swirling smoke.

He felt that the future of Konoha was bright, filled with an endless stream of emerging talent.

With these young people around, the village would surely prosper forever, and he, as Hokage, could finally retire in peace.

Just as he was secretly gloating, a "clack-clack-clack" sound echoed, moving from the distance toward him.

Someone was coming, and judging by the sound, it was a disabled person leaning on a cane.

The smile on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face vanished instantly, and he furrowed his brows.

He could guess who it was with his eyes closed, and he could even guess the purpose of this visit.

Sure enough, the next second, a loud bang erupted as the door to the Hokage Office was violently shoved open from the outside.

Shimura Danzō walked in, leaning on his cane with a gloomy expression, the low pressure radiating from him almost overflowing.

Having barely steadied himself, Danzō got straight to the point, his tone forceful: "Hiruzen, that child must join Root!"

"Only in Root can his value be fully realized. With him, the village will surely win this war!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly exhaled a smoke ring and asked with feigned confusion: "Are you talking about Might Duy?"

As soon as these words left his lips, Shimura Danzō lost his composure; his face turned shades of green and white, rendered speechless on the spot by Sarutobi's act of feigned ignorance.

The air remained silent for a full three seconds before he gritted his teeth and spoke coldly: "Root doesn't take just any stray cat or dog."

"You know who I'm talking about: Aragaki Yasushi, that brat who uses Paper Style!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen dropped his act of feigned ignorance, furrowed his brows, and spoke with a firm tone: "Yasushi cannot be handed over to you; he is the future of the village."

"And the future of the village should not dwell in the darkness of Root; it should bathe in the sunlight so that it may grow strong and healthy."