Joining Root

If Ryosuke had known Itachi was right outside, he might have thought it over a little more.

After all, Itachi had nearly fallen out with the Konoha Military Police Force over their differences in allegiance.

But Itachi was the clan head's son. As a war orphan, Ryosuke didn't have that kind of standing.

It was precisely because Ryosuke had been so compliant that Fugaku merely gave him another glance before discussing other clan matters with Keita and the others.

Only then did Ryosuke breathe a sigh of relief.

Not long afterward, someone escorted him out of the shrine.

It seemed they had matters of state secrets to discuss.

Ryosuke started toward Sasuke's house.

But halfway there, he stopped.

"Itachi, that's you, isn't it? Come out."

Ryosuke spoke calmly.

Itachi appeared a short distance in front of him.

"You agreed to join the police force and become a double agent for the village?"

Itachi asked bluntly.

Ryosuke's mouth twitched.

"Something like that. Aren't you doing the same?"

Itachi froze for a moment, then said, "If it's you, you should be able to see that the Uchiha Clan wants war."

Ryosuke fell silent.

In truth, wasn't war also the fastest way for him to grow stronger?

His Plunder System let him plunder an enemy's ninjutsu only by killing them.

But that wasn't the real reason Ryosuke had agreed.

He had been forced into it, too.

"You saved me during that mission, didn't you? Thanks."

As he spoke, Ryosuke brushed past Itachi.

He really wanted to have a proper talk with Itachi.

But when he remembered that Itachi was the one who would carry out the Uchiha Clan Downfall Night, he held back.

The more Itachi learned about him, the sooner he might die.

Itachi watched Ryosuke's retreating figure, lost in thought.

"So you have something you can't let go of, too?"

Suddenly, an old voice came from nearby.

Then a figure seemed to grow out of a tree.

He was a long-haired man wearing a one-eyed mask and a black conical hat.

"This isn't the place to talk."

Itachi said, then ran deeper into the forest.

"Madara" glanced toward the spot where Ryosuke had disappeared, his Sharingan flashing.

Then he vanished.

Meanwhile, Ryosuke, who had been walking along the road, suddenly disappeared like a bubble.

He reappeared behind the tree where Itachi had just been, the black cube in his hand slowly fading away.

"So this genjutsu really can't be detected even by a Three-Tomoe Sharingan. Then Itachi must have reflected Kurenai Yuhi's genjutsu with the Mangekyō Sharingan."

Ryosuke looked toward the direction Itachi had left, but didn't follow.

He was still very wary of "Madara"—or rather, Obito.

Although he knew the weakness of Obito's Space-Time Ninjutsu, he still didn't have the means to counter it.

"Itachi and Madara are meeting more and more often. Does that mean the 'Uchiha Clan Downfall Night' might happen sooner?"

"Danzo, that old fox, was involved in that as well. I should keep tabs on Root's movements, too."

Having thought it through, Ryosuke returned to Sasuke's house.

Just like the day before, Uchiha Mikoto forced a late-night snack on little Sasuke and him before finally letting them return to their rooms.

Then Ryosuke helped little Sasuke with his homework before going to bed.

Early the next morning, he took little Sasuke to the Ninja Academy first.

Then he headed to Guy's Dojo.

But at the entrance, he used the Shadow Clone Technique and sent his clone to a secret Root hideout.

"Ryosuke, you're here."

Guy was already waiting for him inside the dojo, looking full of energy.

Ryosuke's mouth twitched. He'd been beaten up badly the day before.

"Let's start with some training, shall we? Two thousand one-arm push-ups and a thousand sit-ups."

Guy said, clenching his fist.

This time, Ryosuke didn't refuse.

He already knew how much training could do for Taijutsu.

So the two of them began working out inside the dojo.

Meanwhile, Ryosuke's Shadow Clone had reached a Root base.

Two shinobi wearing fox masks spotted him at the entrance and immediately ran over.

One of them blew a whistle, apparently alerting the others.

"I'm here to see Danzo. My name is Ryosuke, Uchiha Ryosuke."

Ryosuke activated his Two-Tomoe Sharingan.

"It really is a Sharingan. Hurry and inform Lord Danzo."

One of them immediately said to his companion.

As soon as he finished speaking, Danzo's voice came from inside the room.

"Ryosuke, you've finally come. I've been waiting a long time."

Danzo emerged from the room, squinting and leaning on his cane.

Two masked shinobi followed behind him.

They looked quite short; they were probably children.

"I want to join Root. If there's a test, we can start now."

Ryosuke said directly.

"Haha. Your eyes alone, along with your record of killing several Cloud Ninja, are enough."

Danzo's eyes opened slightly, revealing a greedy glint.

Ryosuke knew that Danzo, like Orochimaru, had an almost fanatical obsession with the Sharingan.

He didn't know whether this would change the course of events, but keeping himself safe made the risk worth taking.

"That's all it takes? Then what about my mask?"

Ryosuke held out his hand.

Danzo looked at the child on his right. The child immediately removed his own mask and handed it to Ryosuke.

Seeing his orange hair, Ryosuke recognized him as a member of the Yamanaka Clan.

"Ryosuke, you're now a member of Root. But you're different from the others. You don't need to carry out ordinary missions. You'll remain a member of Team One. I have just one requirement: report every last detail of the Uchiha Clan's movements to me. Understood?"

Danzo's voice turned sinister.

Ryosuke nodded.

"Then, as a member of Root, what do I get?"

"Uchiha brat, what are you saying?"

Two Root operatives immediately moved toward him, but Danzo waved them back.

"As long as you prove your worth, you can have anything you want. And remember, everything you do is for Konoha."

After saying this, Danzo turned and went back inside.

The other Root operatives left as well.

They were like Konoha's shadow, rarely seen in public.

"That old fox only wants to use me. He probably has more than just me watching the Uchiha. Looks like I'll have to give him something to make him believe I'm useful."

After saying this, Ryosuke formed Hand Seals and dispelled the Shadow Clone. It vanished on the spot.

Inside the room.

The child from the Yamanaka Clan asked Danzo, "Lord Danzo, can we trust this Uchiha kid?"

"It doesn't matter whether he can be trusted. His eyes are what this old man wants. Of course, if he proves useful in other ways, I don't mind raising another dog."