Joining the Root

Had Ryosuke known that Itachi was right outside, he might have reconsidered his actions.

After all, Itachi had once nearly come to blows with the Uchiha Police Force over matters of allegiance.

Yet, Itachi was the clan head's son, while Ryosuke, as a war orphan, lacked that kind of status.

Precisely because of Ryosuke's compliance, Fugaku merely glanced at him once more before turning to discuss other clan matters with Keita and the others.

Only then did Ryosuke heave a sigh of relief.

Shortly after, he was escorted out of the shrine.

It seemed they were about to discuss confidential matters.

Ryosuke began walking toward Sasuke's house.

However, halfway there, he came to a halt.

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

Ryosuke said indifferently.

Itachi appeared a short distance in front of Ryosuke.

"You agreed to join the Police Force and become a double agent for the village?"

Itachi asked bluntly.

The corner of Ryosuke's mouth twitched.

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

Itachi was stunned for a moment, then continued, "If it's you, you should be able to see it—the Uchiha clan wants war."

Ryosuke remained silent at this.

In truth, for him, wasn't war the fastest way to increase his strength?

Because his Plunder System required killing enemies to plunder their ninjutsu.

But that was not the real reason Ryosuke had agreed.

He had, in a sense, been coerced.

"You were the one who saved me during that mission earlier, right? Thank you."

As Ryosuke spoke, he brushed past Itachi.

He actually wanted to have a proper conversation with Itachi.

But the moment he remembered that this was the man who would carry out the Uchiha Clan Downfall Night, he suppressed the urge.

The more Itachi understood him, the faster he might die.

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

"So, even you have things you cannot let go of?"

Suddenly, an aged voice drifted from not far behind Itachi.

Then, a figure "grew" out of a tree as if from thin air.

It was a long-haired man wearing a one-eyed mask and a black cloak.

"This is not the place to talk."

Itachi said, sprinting toward the depths of the forest.

Madara glanced at the spot where Ryosuke had vanished, his Sharingan flickering.

Then, he disappeared entirely.

Meanwhile, the Ryosuke who had been walking on the main road suddenly vanished like a bubble.

He reappeared behind a tree near where Itachi had been standing, the black cube in his hand gradually fading away.

It seems this genjutsu really is impossible to detect even with a Three-Tomoe Sharingan. That means Itachi's ability to reflect Kurenai Yuhi's genjutsu back then must have been a power of the Mangekyo Sharingan.

He watched the direction in which Itachi had left, but did not pursue.

He was still deeply wary of Madara, or rather, Obito.

Although he knew the weakness of the man's space-time ninjutsu, he still lacked the means to sufficiently counter it.

Itachi and Madara are meeting more and more frequently. Does this signify that the 'Clan Downfall Night' might be moved up?

That old fox Danzo is also involved in that affair. It seems I should also keep track of the movements of Root.

Having figured this out, Ryosuke finally returned to Sasuke's house.

Just like yesterday, he and little Sasuke were force-fed a late-night snack by Mikoto before being allowed to return to their room.

Ryosuke then tutored little Sasuke on his schoolwork before finally falling asleep.

Early the next morning, he first dropped little Sasuke off at the Ninja Academy.

Afterward, he headed to Guy's Dojo.

However, at the entrance, he used the Shadow Clone Technique, sending his clone toward a secret base belonging to Root.

"Ryosuke, you've arrived."

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

This made the corner of Ryosuke's mouth twitch; after all, he had been thoroughly thrashed yesterday.

"How about we start with some training? Two thousand one-handed push-ups and one thousand sit-ups."

Guy said, clenching his fists.

This time, Ryosuke did not refuse.

He already understood the effect training had on taijutsu.

And so, the two began to exercise inside the dojo.

Meanwhile, Ryosuke's Shadow Clone Technique had already arrived at a base belonging to Root.

The two ninjas wearing fox masks at the entrance spotted him and immediately ran over.

One of them even blew a whistle, apparently to notify their other companions.

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

Ryosuke activated his Two-Tomoe Sharingan.

"It is indeed the Sharingan. Go and notify Lord Danzo immediately."

One of them said to his companion at once.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Danzo's voice echoed from within the room.

"Ryosuke, you have finally come. I have been waiting for you for a long time."

Danzo walked out of the room, squinting his eyes and leaning on his cane.

He was followed by two masked ninjas.

Judging by their appearance, they were not very tall; they were likely just children.

"I want to join Root. If there are any tests, we can start now."

Ryosuke said directly.

"Haha, based on nothing more than those eyes of yours and your record of killing several Cloud Ninja, that is already enough."

Danzo's eyes widened slightly, revealing a look of greed.

Ryosuke knew that Danzo, much like Orochimaru, possessed a near-fanatical obsession with the Sharingan.

He did not know if doing this would change the timeline, but for the sake of his own safety, it was a risk worth taking.

"Is that all it takes? Then where is my mask?"

Ryosuke held out his hand.

Danzo looked at the child on his right; the child actually took off his own mask and handed it to Ryosuke.

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

"Ryosuke, you are now a member of Root. However, you are different from them; you do not need to carry out general missions. Your identity remains as a member of Team One. I have only one requirement: you must report every movement of the Uchiha Clan to me, no matter how trivial. Do you understand?"

Danzo's voice turned gloomy.

Ryosuke nodded.

"Then, as a member of Root, what can I expect to receive?"

"Uchiha brat, what are you talking about?"

The two Root members immediately surrounded him, but were waved away by Danzo.

"As long as you can prove your worth, you can have anything you desire. Furthermore, everything you do is for the sake of Konoha."

After saying this, Danzo turned and returned to the room.

The other Root members also departed.

They were like the shadows of Konoha, rarely appearing before others.

This old fox, it seems he only wants to use me. He likely has more than just me monitoring the Uchiha. It seems I will have to give him some sweetness to make him believe in my value.

After saying this, Ryosuke formed hand seals to dispel his Shadow Clone, vanishing from the spot.

Inside the room.

The child from the Yamanaka Clan said to Danzo, "Lord Danzo, is this brat from the Uchiha Clan trustworthy?"

"Whether he is trustworthy or not is unimportant; his eyes are what this old man desires. Of course, if he has other uses, I wouldn't mind keeping another dog."