Joining Root

"Teacher!?"

The middle-aged man's words made Sosuke's expression stiffen.

He couldn't help but study him carefully.

Was this the Lord Danzo those people had mentioned during the day? He had dragged Sosuke into a genjutsu without him noticing. If not for Kyoka Suigetsu, things could have gone very badly just now.

Sosuke narrowed his eyes slightly and thought to himself.

Danzo stood before him, seemingly oblivious to his doubts. His eyes were almost shut, their glinting pupils fixed on Sosuke through the narrow slits as he spoke to himself.

"Sosuke. Surname unknown. Former resident of Wave Ninja Village in the Land of Fire. Nine years old. Excellent performance at the Academy, with good results in both Taijutsu and ninjutsu."

At Danzo's words, Sosuke's expression darkened slightly. He stared at him with cold eyes.

Danzo seemed entirely unconcerned by Sosuke's anger. His eyes didn't move as he continued.

"You're on close terms with Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru. Not long ago, you clashed with the Uchiha Clan. Afterward, you displayed extraordinary strength and used an unknown ninjutsu. You may possess a Kekkei Genkai."

Danzo recited this information in an even, unemotional voice, as if he were simply stating the facts about Sosuke.

At those words, Sosuke's gaze turned ice-cold.

A Kekkei Genkai? They think Kido's power is a Kekkei Genkai? That works for me. It saves me the trouble of explaining.

Sosuke looked up at Danzo and asked quietly, "Why are you telling me all this?"

At Sosuke's question, Danzo's stony expression finally changed. With what might have been a sneer or a taunt, he said, "The Konoha Military Police Force has their eye on you. From the moment you clashed with the Uchiha Clan—from the moment you defeated them—your fate was decided. Joining Root is your only choice. Your talent shouldn't be wasted."

Sosuke was taken aback by Danzo's words.

The Konoha Military Police Force? The department the Uchiha Clan belongs to? Are they really hostile toward me because of one Taijutsu test? Can I trust this man?

As Sosuke considered this, Danzo continued with a soft laugh, his voice low and hoarse like a rotting tree root.

"Still having doubts? Do you still cling to hope for this degenerate clan? The divide between nobles and commoners can never be erased. Only by coming to Root can you truly see the depths that lie beneath the surface and protect yourself."

Kyoka Suigetsu, standing nearby and invisible to Danzo, looked at Sosuke and said, "Listen to him, Sosuke. He's steeped in darkness. You can't resist him right now, even if you use my ability."

Only then did Sosuke truly take stock of the middle-aged man before him.

Kyoka Suigetsu thinks that highly of him? He must be incredibly strong!

Sosuke met Danzo's narrowed gaze. He couldn't read what the man was thinking at all.

In the end, Sosuke accepted Danzo's reasoning. Whether Danzo was right or not, Sosuke had offended the Uchiha Clan. If they decided to do something to him, there was little he could do with his current strength.

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

Sosuke spoke quietly, burying his other emotions deep inside and leaving only a mild expression on his face.

He was clever and knew how to use any resource available to protect himself.

If the Uchiha Clan really had taken offense to him, there was no way his status as a commoner would protect him from their oppression.

At this point, turning to Danzo for help wasn't out of the question. A cold glint flashed deep in Sosuke's eyes.

Across from him, Danzo gazed at Sosuke for a moment after hearing his answer, then let out a chuckle.

"Clever little brat. I hope I haven't made the wrong choice. Starting tomorrow, someone will bring you to Root. With your abilities, you should be ready to take on a few missions."

"Becoming my disciple is simple. Survive those missions. Only blood and pain are the best teachers. All I can offer you are difficult missions that will help you grow. Completing them is your responsibility."

Danzo's voice was hoarse as he spoke, as if he were discussing something perfectly ordinary. Sosuke was somewhat surprised.

As he spoke, Danzo slowly turned and shuffled toward the exit.

"I'll find a way to shield you from the Uchiha Clan. As for you, if you want to stand against that colossus, you'll have to work hard and grow stronger."

Danzo walked farther and farther away, his voice fading as it reached Sosuke.

Sosuke had been wondering why Danzo had suddenly chosen a commoner like him as a disciple. He knew he wasn't important enough for the leader of one of the village's hidden factions to take such an interest in him.

He adjusted his glasses and suddenly called out, "Why did you choose me? What's your reason for making me your disciple? I don't think I have enough potential to make you risk offending the Uchiha Clan to protect me."

In the distance, Danzo stopped. His hoarse voice carried through the wind.

"Sarutobi Hiruzen chose three outstanding disciples. But in my eyes, even the finest talent can't become a true shinobi without being tempered by steel and blood! I chose you so you could carry on my path. I lost to Hiruzen Sarutobi once, but my disciple won't lose to his!"

"As for the Uchiha Clan, don't worry. Even if Root is weak right now, we can still protect one child. You just need to focus on making yourself stronger."

"Tomorrow, you'll officially join Root. Someone will tell you everything you need to do there."

With that, Danzo's figure vanished into the darkness outside.

His words still echoed in Sosuke's ears as he thought to himself, He lost to the Third Hokage? This mysterious man was on par with the Third Hokage? His strength really is extraordinary!

Beside him, Kyoka Suigetsu looked at Sosuke with an easy smile. Her red lips parted as she asked, "What do you think, Sosuke? How strong is he?"

At Kyoka Suigetsu's question, Sosuke glanced at her and replied quietly, "It's hard to say. Anyone who can match the Third Hokage must be at least Kage-level. He didn't reveal even a fraction of his true strength to me."

"Don't worry. You'll become stronger than him someday," Kyoka Suigetsu said with a laugh, as though she found the idea amusing.

Sosuke looked at her but said nothing.

He wondered what tomorrow would bring.

Outside, the moon was pale as bone.

The night passed in silence.