Joining the Root Organization

"Teacher!?"

The words of the middle-aged man before him made Sosuke freeze!

He couldn't help but size him up with serious, careful scrutiny.

Is he the Danzo that those guys were talking about earlier today? To think he could drag me into a genjutsu without me even noticing; if it weren't for Kyoka Suigetsu, things would have been disastrous just now.

Sosuke narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking to himself.

Danzo, standing before him, seemed completely unaware of his suspicion. His eyes were almost slits, and his glowing pupils stared at Sosuke through those tiny gaps as he muttered to himself.

"Sosuke, surname unknown, a survivor from the Wave Ninja Village in the Land of Fire. Nine years old this year. Excellent performance at the academy, with solid grades in both taijutsu and ninjutsu."

Hearing Danzo's words, Sosuke's expression darkened slightly, and he fixed a cold gaze upon him.

Yet, Danzo seemed entirely indifferent to Sosuke's anger. Without even a flicker in his eyes, he continued.

"You have deep ties with Tsunade, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and others. Not long ago, you had a conflict with the Uchiha Clan, after which you displayed extraordinary strength and released an unknown ninjutsu. It is suspected that you possess a kekkei genkai."

Danzo spoke these words with great calm, his voice neither cold nor warm, as if he were merely reciting a file on Sosuke.

Hearing this, Sosuke's eyes turned icy!

A kekkei genkai? Is the power of Kido being mistaken for a kekkei genkai? That's fine, it saves me the trouble of explaining.

Thinking this, Sosuke looked up at Danzo and said softly.

"What are you trying to express by saying all this to me?"

Upon hearing Sosuke's words, Danzo's stone-like expression finally shifted. He let out what sounded like a cold, mocking laugh.

"The Konoha Military Police Force has already set its sights on you. From the moment you clashed with the Uchiha Clan, from the moment you defeated them, your fate was sealed. Joining Root is your only choice; your talent should not be buried."

Sosuke was taken aback by Danzo's words.

The Konoha Military Police Force? The department where the Uchiha Clan resides? Could they really hold a grudge against me just because of one taijutsu test? Is this guy in front of me reliable!?

Just as Sosuke was pondering this, Danzo, standing opposite him, continued to chuckle, his voice rasping like rotting wood.

"Still doubting? Do you still hold onto that sliver of hope for that degenerate clan? The divide between nobles and commoners can never be erased. Only by coming to Root will you truly see the depths behind the surface and be able to protect yourself."

Standing to the side, the transparent Kyoka Suigetsu looked at Sosuke and said.

"Listen to him, Sosuke. This man is drenched in a great deal of dark energy. You cannot resist him right now, even if you use my ability."

Hearing Kyoka Suigetsu's words, Sosuke finally truly began to take the middle-aged man before him seriously!

To be rated so highly by Kyoka Suigetsu—this guy must be incredibly strong!

He locked eyes with the squinting Danzo.

He couldn't fathom what was going on inside this man's mind at all.

In the end, Sosuke accepted Danzo's premise. Regardless of whether it was true, he had indeed offended the Uchiha Clan. If that clan decided to act against him, he had no way to resist with his current strength!

"What do I need to do!? Become your disciple and join the Root organization?"

Sosuke said softly, burying his other emotions deep within and maintaining a gentle, agreeable facade.

He was a smart guy who knew how to use any resource to protect himself.

If it were true, as Danzo claimed, that the Uchiha Clan had turned their anger toward him, there was no way he could escape their suppression as a mere commoner!

Submitting to Danzo for now was not out of the question. At this thought, a cold glint flashed deep in his eyes.

Danzo looked at Sosuke for a moment after hearing his response before letting out a soft chuckle.

"A clever brat indeed. I hope I haven't made the wrong choice. Starting tomorrow, someone will bring you to the Root base. Given your strength, I expect you can handle some missions now."

"Becoming my disciple is simple: survive those missions. Only blood and pain are the best teachers. All I can give you are difficult missions that force you to grow. Completing them is all you need to do."

Danzo spoke in a raspy voice, as if he were discussing something perfectly mundane, which left Sosuke somewhat surprised.

Following this, Danzo turned slowly and began to walk away with a limping gait.

"I will find a way to block the Uchiha Clan's targeting of you. As for yourself, if you want to be able to contend with such a behemoth, then strive to grow."

As Danzo walked further away, his voice grew fainter as it reached Sosuke's ears.

He remained curious as to why Danzo would suddenly choose to take him, a commoner, as a disciple. Sosuke didn't believe he was important enough for the leader of such a hidden power in the village to value him so highly.

Thus, Sosuke adjusted his glasses and suddenly spoke up.

"Why choose me? What is your purpose in making me your disciple? I don't believe I have enough potential for you to risk offending the Uchiha Clan just to protect me."

In the distance, Danzo's figure stopped, his raspy voice carrying on the wind.

"Hiruzen Sarutobi chose three outstanding disciples, yet in my eyes, even the best talent cannot become a true ninja without being tempered by steel and blood! I chose you to carry on my path. I once lost to Hiruzen Sarutobi, and my disciple must not lose to his!"

"As for the Uchiha Clan, rest assured. Even if the Root organization is weak right now, we can still manage to protect one child. You only need to focus on becoming stronger."

"Tomorrow, you will officially enter the Root organization. Someone will tell you everything you need to do there."

As his voice faded, Danzo's figure vanished into the darkness outside the house.

His words still echoed in Sosuke's ears, and he thought to himself.

Did he lose to the Third Hokage? This inexplicable fellow was actually capable of rivaling the Third Hokage; his strength was truly formidable!

To the side, Kyoka Suigetsu watched Sosuke with a relaxed expression, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she parted her crimson lips to speak.

"How does it feel, Sosuke? What is your impression of his strength?"

Hearing Kyoka Suigetsu's words, Sosuke merely cast a light glance at her and spoke softly.

"It's hard to gauge. A figure capable of rivaling the Third Hokage possesses at the very least the strength of a Kage. He didn't show even a shred of his true power in front of me."

"Rest assured, you will become stronger than him in the future," Kyoka Suigetsu said with a light chuckle, as if this were a very amusing matter.

Looking at her, Sosuke said nothing more.

His mind wandered to what tomorrow might bring.

Outside, the moon hung pale and wan.

The night passed in silence.