Konoha Root.
Danzo had a headache because the three little brats—Naruto, Shikamaru, and Choji—had come to Root looking for Uzumaki Menma.
After all, none of the three were ordinary.
A Root ninja thoughtfully asked, "Lord Danzo, should we drive them away?"
Danzo fell silent for a while, considering it in his mind.
Given Konoha's current situation, choosing the Fifth Hokage was still a distant prospect. At the very least, it would not happen within the next few years.
There were only two people in Konoha currently suited to succeed as the Fifth Hokage.
Tsunade and Jiraiya.
However, both had already left Konoha for their own reasons.
Tsunade had suffered the deaths of her younger brother Nawaki and her lover Dan Katō. She remained trapped in psychological trauma and had developed hemophobia. Even if she returned to Konoha, she would not be fit to become Hokage in her current state.
Jiraiya was a wanderer by nature and could not stay in one place. Besides, he was currently wholly focused on finding Orochimaru.
As for the next generation, Konoha's backbone, people like Asuma, had yet to mature and could not possibly take over as Hokage.
Danzo guessed that Hiruzen Sarutobi would likely remain in the Hokage's seat for the next ten years.
Although Danzo dearly wanted to sit in that Hokage's seat himself, as long as Hiruzen Sarutobi was around, the position might remain forever beyond his reach.
But Uzumaki Menma was different.
The son of the Fourth Hokage, who had died fighting to protect Konoha—this identity alone was enough.
Compared with the seemingly endless distance between himself and the Hokage's position, Uzumaki Menma had a far better chance.
But that was only if Uzumaki Menma could grow up.
As long as Uzumaki Menma could mature, and with him, the leader of Root, pulling strings, there was a strong possibility that Uzumaki Menma could ascend to the Hokage's seat.
And Nara Shikamaru and Akimichi Choji, still little brats now, would become Uzumaki Menma's right-hand men in the future.
Furthermore, Root was not conducting any forbidden experiments at present, so he had nothing to worry about.
In any case, ever since he had adopted Uzumaki Menma, everything in Root had effectively been exposed to Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes.
After giving it some thought, Danzo said to the Root ninja, "Forget it. Let them in and take them to Menma. In the future, when they come to Root, there is no need to report to me. Just take them directly to see Menma."
After the Root ninja left.
Danzo summoned Yamanaka Fu.
Danzo said viciously, "Kaede, starting tomorrow, as long as it doesn't kill Menma, train him to death!"
Yamanaka Fu said in surprise, "But Young Master Menma's training intensity is already very high. Even some Genin may not train as hard as he does. And Young Master Menma is only three years old. If we increase the workload further, it really could cause irreversible damage to his body."
"Don't judge Menma by the standards of ordinary people. The Nine-Tails is inside him, and he also has half the bloodline of the Uzumaki Clan. His healing ability is beyond that of ordinary people. Squeeze him hard and force him to grow. My expectations for him go far beyond becoming an ordinary ninja!"
Since Danzo had put it that way, Yamanaka Fu said no more.
After replying, "Yes," he left the office.
After Yamanaka Fu left, Danzo summoned several researchers.
"Starting today, all of you will devote yourselves to researching the Uzumaki Clan's bloodline. There is only one goal: make Uzumaki Menma fully awaken the complete abilities of the Uzumaki Clan!"
After arranging everything, Danzo leaned back in his chair, his eyes half-closed.
The Uzumaki Clan's unique abilities could suppress tailed beasts, and they possessed vast amounts of Chakra. As long as Uzumaki Menma awakened the Uzumaki Clan's abilities, he would be able to suppress the Nine-Tails.
Then he would teach him all of the Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques and have Uzumaki Menma learn to control tailed beasts.
But there was one thing Danzo had never understood.
Why had the two children born to Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki both failed to inherit red hair?
And why had Uzumaki Menma's hair changed from blond to black?
Danzo tapped the tabletop with his index finger and muttered, "Once Menma is a little older, I'll get the Flying Thunder God Technique from Hiruzen and see whether Menma can learn it. If he does, with the Nine-Tails' power and the Flying Thunder God Technique, let's see who else dares sit in that Hokage's seat!"
The entrance to Root.
"Come with me. I'll take you to Young Master Menma."
Naruto, Shikamaru, and Choji followed the Root ninja into Root.
Naruto had been here once before and was no longer curious.
But it was Shikamaru and Choji's first time here, and they were curious about everything in Root.
Root's gloomy, sinister atmosphere gave Shikamaru and Choji an inexplicable sense of dread.
As they passed through one internal passage after another, Shikamaru and Choji clicked their tongues in amazement.
This place was way too big!
Finally, the Root ninja stopped outside a room.
"Young Master Menma is inside. Go on in."
"Thanks, Uncle!"
The Root ninja instructed, "Remember, many things here are Konoha secrets. You must not wander around freely."
Naruto, Shikamaru, and Choji nodded their little heads. "We understand."
After the Root ninja left, Naruto knocked on the door.
However, there was no response.
Naruto knocked a few more times, but there was still no reaction.
Choji asked doubtfully, "Could Menma not be here?"
"We'll know if we go inside and take a look."
Naruto stopped knocking and directly turned the handle to open the door.
When he pushed it open, Uzumaki Menma was lying on the bed, fast asleep.
Naruto ran to Uzumaki Menma's bedside and shouted, "Menma! We came to play with you! Wake up!"
Uzumaki Menma jolted in fright and sprang from the bed.
His eyes were still closed as he said reflexively, "Uncle Yamanaka, I'll train right away. Please don't extend the time!"
When Uzumaki Menma opened his eyes, he discovered that it was Naruto, Shikamaru, and Choji.
Uzumaki Menma thought he was still dreaming.
After all, how could Naruto, Shikamaru, and Choji possibly come to Root to find him?
Uzumaki Menma then intended to lie back down on the bed.
Naruto grabbed Uzumaki Menma directly. "Stop sleeping. It's already afternoon. Hurry up and let's go play, or it'll be dark soon."
Uzumaki Menma looked at the three of them in disbelief. "It really is you? How did you get in here?!"
With both hands behind his head, Shikamaru complained, "The uncle at the entrance brought us in. You really can sleep, Menma."
Uzumaki Menma's mind was still foggy. He found it hard to believe and felt as though he were dreaming.
This was Root. Could they really get in so easily?
"All right, we can talk after we get out. It'll be too late soon!"
Naruto grabbed Uzumaki Menma's hand and ran outside, with Shikamaru and Choji following close behind.
"Hey, wait! Let me put on some pants before we go out!"
Before you continue