Sasuke

Inside Danzo's Root office.

Hyuga Hiashi explained his purpose to Danzo.

Abolish the elder system and the main-family/branch-family system.

Danzo finally understood why Hyuga Hiashi had asked whether he intended to groom Uzumaki Menma as Root's next-generation leader.

If Hyuga Hiashi requested Root's assistance, the Hyuga Clan and Root would become connected. Yet Hyuga Hiashi did not trust Root—or rather, he did not trust Danzo.

Therefore, Hyuga Hiashi would only ask Root for help after confirming that Danzo intended to groom Uzumaki Menma as Root's next-generation leader.

Danzo's index finger tapped rhythmically against the desk as he thought.

Each tap made Hyuga Hiashi a little more tense.

Danzo did not immediately agree to Hyuga Hiashi's request. Instead, he asked, "Why haven't you gone to Hiruzen about this?"

Hyuga Hiashi answered, "Lord Danzo, you know as well that Konoha is a ninja village founded by the gathering of many ninja clans. Every clan possesses independent autonomy, and the Hokage cannot interfere with a clan's internal systems. Even if I asked the Hokage, it would most likely come to nothing."

After saying that, Hyuga Hiashi smiled bitterly.

If he had any other choice, he definitely would not have come to Root to seek Danzo's help.

Danzo stopped tapping his fingers and stared sharply at Hyuga Hiashi. "Not enough!"

Hyuga Hiashi frowned in confusion. "What's not enough?"

"The stakes aren't high enough. I won't interfere in a ninja clan's internal affairs and help you abolish the Hyuga Clan's system for a promise that may never be fulfilled."

"Then what stakes does Lord Danzo want?"

"I need Hyuga Clan shinobi. I need some of your clan's shinobi to join Root!"

"That's impossible!" Hyuga Hiashi refused emotionally.

Hyuga Hiashi knew how Root trained its shinobi.

Shinobi who joined Root underwent training to erase their identities. To ensure secrecy, they were also branded with cursed seals, thoroughly cultivated into pawns who carried out missions without question.

Danzo understood Hyuga Hiashi's concerns and explained, "If you're worried about Root's training methods, then there is no need to be. To pave the way for Menma's future, those methods have already been abolished. If you still cannot rest easy, you may come to Root for inspections regularly.

"However, the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal must be applied. This seal will only activate if its bearer speaks of anything concerning Menma or me. It will paralyze the entire body, leaving them unable to speak or move. So long as it is not triggered, it is merely decoration."

When Danzo decided to groom Uzumaki Menma into the Hokage, he had already abolished Root's "identity erasure" training, so that Uzumaki Menma would not be criticized for it when he competed for the position of Hokage in the future.

Hyuga Hiashi's expression became rather strange. Why did it feel as though all of Root was now serving that brat Uzumaki Menma?

Danzo said bluntly, "If you agree, I will help you abolish the Hyuga Clan's elder system. Otherwise, there is nothing more to discuss."

Hyuga Hiashi pondered.

If Hyuga shinobi who joined Root would not undergo that kind of "identity erasure" training, then it was acceptable. Danzo had also shown his sincerity by allowing him to enter Root for regular inspections.

The Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal was not like the Caged Bird Seal, where one's life was controlled by another. As long as they did not speak of matters concerning Danzo, they would be fine.

Thinking about it that way, joining Root was not entirely unacceptable.

Hyuga Hiashi agreed, "I can send some Hyuga shinobi to join Root, but only after the Hyuga Clan's elder system and main-family/branch-family system have been abolished."

"Fine. However, the first batch of Hyuga shinobi must join Root within one month afterward. After that, it will be entirely voluntary—there will be no coercion. When you are ready to put your plan into action, just let me know."

Hyuga Hiashi rose, intending to leave.

When he reached the door, Hyuga Hiashi could not help asking, "Lord Danzo, why have you devoted so much effort to Uzumaki Menma?"

Shimura Danzō recalled the face of Uzumaki Menma, shamelessly calling him Grandpa Danzo.

"Heh. He is the grandson of Shimura Danzō. Isn't that reason enough?"

Hyuga Hiashi froze for a moment, then smiled. After giving Danzo a slight bow, he left Root.

After leaving Root, Hyuga Hiashi turned back for one look at the Root base.

Root is completely different from before. Uzumaki Menma... that kid is truly uncanny. Together with Naruto Uzumaki, he even improved the relationship between Hinata and me. What an unexpected little brat.

The sun was gradually setting.

Uzumaki Menma said goodbye to his friends.

Today, Naruto was going to Root with Uzumaki Menma to mooch a meal.

They had eaten and drunk so well at their other friends' homes lately that they actually missed Root's "nutritious meals" a little.

They walked along the road by Konoha's riverbank.

When Naruto saw a boy about their age sitting by the riverbank, with black spiky hair, he suddenly stopped in place.

Uzumaki Menma asked curiously, "What's wrong, Naruto? Do you know him?"

Naruto shook his head. "No, but it feels just like when I first met you, Menma. I feel like he and I are supposed to be friends too."

"If that's the case, go introduce yourself to him."

Naruto felt that Uzumaki Menma was right, so he acted on it and walked over to the black-haired, spiky-haired boy.

"I'm Naruto Uzumaki. What about you?"

The black-haired, spiky-haired boy stared blankly at Naruto. When their eyes met, he had the same feeling Naruto did—the feeling that they should have been friends.

"Sasuke... Sasuke Uchiha," Sasuke answered softly.

Naruto asked happily, "Sasuke, will you be friends with me?"

Sasuke's little face turned bright red, making him look very cute.

Sasuke nodded his little head. "Okay!"

At that moment, Uzumaki Menma came over to the two of them and asked Naruto, "Naruto, how did it go?"

"He's Sasuke. We're friends now."

Uzumaki Menma looked at Sasuke in surprise.

So he was Sasuke Uchiha?

The Uchiha Sasuke, one of the legendary Four Laughing Heroes—the Uchiha Sasuke who went, "The sky is clear, the rain has stopped, I can do it again"?

Looking at Sasuke's cute expression, a little shy and a little excited.

He was rather different from what Menma had imagined.

Was it because he was only three years old, just like them, and had not become that way yet?

Uzumaki Menma suddenly felt like playing a raising simulation game.

Uzumaki Menma introduced himself to Sasuke. "I'm Uzumaki Menma. That makes us friends from now on. It's getting late today, so how about we meet on the streets of Konoha tomorrow? Naruto and I can introduce you to our other friends."

Sasuke nodded his little head in agreement.

"Okay!"