Danzō's Recruitment

"Then I'll leave it to you, Sensei." Uchiha Ryūha gave a slight nod and didn't refuse.

Matsumoto Ryūichi was even more excited after getting the "go-ahead." He spent the entire way chattering about how he would secure benefits for Ryūha.

How to "reasonably" showcase Ryūha's abilities without drawing too much attention, how to plan Team Seven's future missions...

Haruno Kazuya and Fujiwara Itsuki followed behind, gazing at Ryūha's calm profile with admiration in their eyes.

The gap between them was simply too great now—so great that they couldn't feel even a trace of jealousy.

Their earlier jealousy had long since vanished.

In its place was a reverence bordering on faith.

To be able to stay by this lord's side, even if all they did was watch his back, was an honor, wasn't it?

The two exchanged a glance and saw the same resolve in each other's eyes.

They had to grow stronger.

At the very least, they couldn't become a burden to Lord Ryūha.

Back in Konoha, they turned in the "find the cat" mission, and Team Seven disbanded.

Matsumoto Ryūichi didn't even make Ryūha write the two reports. "How could I trouble you with such trivial matters? I'll take care of them!"

He hurriedly said goodbye and ran off toward the Hokage Building.

His steps were so hurried, as if even a second's delay would be a sin.

Haruno Kazuya and Fujiwara Itsuki also respectfully bowed to Ryūha before taking their leave.

Only then did they each head home, their backs straighter than before.

Ryūha walked alone along the road back to the Uchiha Compound.

Night had fallen, and the lights along both sides of the street were gradually coming on.

He pushed up his glasses and quietly spread out his Reiatsu perception.

Thirty meters away, an aura stirred faintly in the shadow beneath the eaves, then settled again.

Anbu?

No. That loathsome aura—it was Root!

That aura had been following them ever since they left Black Pine Forest.

Its owner was extremely skilled at hiding, but there was nowhere to hide from Uchiha Ryūha's Reiatsu perception.

It was one of Shimura Danzō's men.

The corner of Ryūha's mouth curled in the faintest smile.

It seemed today's "performance" had an audience beyond Team Seven.

He deliberately slowed his pace and stopped in front of a dango shop on the corner.

He bought a skewer of three-colored dango and ate it unhurriedly.

Through his Reiatsu perception, the aura in the shadows maintained its thirty-meter distance, following him like a shadow.

After finishing the dango, Ryūha tossed the skewer into a trash can, turned, and looked toward the shadows.

Across the entire street, his gaze seemed to pierce the night and the walls, landing precisely on the figure.

In the shadows, the Root ninja wearing an animal mask felt every hair on his body stand on end.

Had he been discovered?

How was that possible? At this distance, with these concealment techniques...

But in the next moment, Ryūha had already turned away and continued toward the compound, as if he'd merely glanced around.

The Root ninja froze in place, cold sweat soaking through his undershirt.

Was it a coincidence?

Or...

He didn't dare think about it any longer. He quickly took out a scroll and recorded the following in code:

"The target's sensory ability appears exceptionally strong. He may have noticed the tail.

The battle unfolded as follows..."

He recorded everything that had happened in Black Pine Forest in as much detail as possible, including the specifics of the "Red Fire Cannon," Ryūha's explanation, and Matsumoto Ryūichi's sudden change in attitude.

Then he bit his thumb and summoned an inconspicuous gray sparrow, stuffing the scroll into the message tube on its leg.

The sparrow beat its wings and vanished into the night.

In the deepest chamber of Root Base, Shimura Danzō sat alone on a stone chair, holding the scroll that had just arrived.

The dim yellow light cast his shadow on the wall, twisting and distorting it.

He read slowly and carefully.

When he reached the descriptions "jutsu cast without Hand Seals," "Red Fire Cannon," "a human body instantly vaporized," and "mental power replacing Hand Seals,"

his single eye narrowed slightly, glinting with cold light.

"A mental bloodline limit, combined with absolute control over Chakra..."

Shimura Danzō murmured to himself, his voice echoing through the stone chamber.

Why did the Uchiha Clan keep producing such astonishing geniuses?

He had thought that the jutsu resembling Space-Time Ninjutsu was all there was.

He hadn't expected another surprise like this.

The scroll also recorded Matsumoto Ryūichi's dramatic change in attitude.

It mentioned his plan to report to the Third Hokage and secure resources for Uchiha Ryūha.

"Hmph, Sarutobi..." Shimura Danzō sneered. "Trying to win over another genius with appeasement and shore up your rule?"

He set down the scroll, his bony fingers tapping on the armrest of the stone chair.

Uchiha Ryūha.

This Uchiha boy who had appeared out of nowhere was even more dangerous than he'd expected.

And not merely dangerous.

He was... a weapon that had to be brought under control.

If that genjutsu that controlled the five senses could be used by Root...

If that ability to cast jutsu without Hand Seals could be used by Root...

And then there was Space-Time Ninjutsu!

A flash of fervent greed crossed Shimura Danzō's single eye.

But it was quickly replaced by deeper apprehension.

A genius like that wouldn't be given up by Uchiha Fugaku, and Sarutobi Hiruzen wouldn't stand by and do nothing.

Taking him by force wouldn't work.

Assassination? Too risky, and it would completely enrage the Uchiha and the Third Hokage.

Then...

Shimura Danzō slowly rose and walked to the wall, where he pressed a concealed mechanism.

The stone wall slid open, revealing rows of scarlet Sharingan submerged in nutrient solution.

"I can't wait any longer..."

He stroked the cold glass, his eyes gleaming with mad, icy light.

"Ryūha, with talent like yours, it's a shame you were born into the Uchiha..."

"But it doesn't matter."

Shimura Danzō turned toward the figure standing like a statue in the corner's shadow.

"Fu, how is Torune's injury?"

"Lord Danzō, he's out of danger and should be able to move again in three days," came the low voice from the shadows.

"Good." Shimura Danzō slowly returned to the stone chair and sat down. "Tell Torune to approach Uchiha Ryūha once he's recovered.

No need to test him or provoke a conflict. Just... express Root's goodwill."

The figure in the shadows paused.

"Lord Danzō, you mean..."

"A genius like him shouldn't be shackled by the Uchiha's narrow-mindedness or Konoha's corruption."

Shimura Danzō's voice was calm, yet carried an unsettling persuasiveness.

"Tell him Root can give him everything he wants—knowledge, power, freedom, and... the right to stand above it all and look down on the world."

"If he has the sense to join Root... then we can give him even more than the Uchiha can.

We can even give him what the Uchiha can't."

"And if he doesn't have the sense..."

A sharp glint flashed in Shimura Danzō's single eye.

"Then let him become nourishment for Root."

"Yes." The figure in the shadows lowered his head without a sound, then melted into the darkness and disappeared.

Silence returned to the stone chamber.

Shimura Danzō sat alone on the stone chair, gazing at the scroll in his hands, motionless for a long time.

The dim yellow light cast his shadow upon the wall. It danced with the candlelight like a demon ready to devour its prey.

"Uchiha Ryūha..."

He murmured the name as though reciting a curse—or calling out to prey that would soon be his.

"We'll meet soon."