Why would anyone from Root come looking for me?
Lin Mu had only just resolved one question when another surfaced in his mind.
But a few seconds later, he realized why.
This was a secret organization founded and commanded by Shimura Danzō, one that operated even deeper in the shadows than the Anbu!
Its activities were even less fit to see the light of day, and Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi had tacitly permitted its existence.
Danzo and Root had thus become Konoha's most direct and effective blade, eliminating every threat inside and outside the village with the attitude that it was better to kill an innocent than let a threat escape.
After the Uchiha Clan Massacre, Sarutobi Hiruzen had ordered Danzo removed from his position as the Hokage's aide and demanded that he disband Root.
Although the organization had subsequently been disbanded, many of its members still served in the Anbu, remaining loyal to Root and doing Shimura Danzō's bidding!
The organization also had a great need for people with unusual abilities.
Kakashi Hatake and Yamato, for example, had both been members of Root, only leaving later on.
This man might have approached him because he coveted his Wood Release abilities and wanted to recruit him into Root, turning him into another of Shimura Danzō's lackeys.
After all, everyone knew what Wood Release ninjutsu represented. He was simply too valuable.
Lin Mu's gaze swept over the group again. He knew that if he refused to return to Konoha with them...
Then these Masked Men would kill him at any cost.
"Hahahahaha! You're quite knowledgeable for a brat. To think you even know we exist."
After the Masked Men had stood in silence for a long while, their leader spoke again, his tone returning to exactly what it had been before.