Root's Reaction: Did the Two Elope?

Amemiya Aki and Cross Fang's disappearance caused quite a stir within the Root Tendrils organization that very night.

Unlike Uchiha Osamu and his three generations of family, Amemiya Aki had to come out and handle affairs every day. Once the orphans arrived, she was also responsible for registering and assigning them.

Yet the orphans had returned, while the person in charge was nowhere to be found. The people below were bound to notice.

At first, they thought Amemiya Aki had merely gone to the restroom or something, until they discovered that crucial account books and documents from her office had vanished as well.

Clearly, this was not Amemiya Aki going out somewhere for fun or using the restroom. She had disappeared.

Moreover, the missing documents meant that Amemiya Aki had not simply gone missing. She had most likely defected.

The people below swiftly reported the news to Takahashi Tooru, the Root ninja assigned to supervise the Root Tendrils organization.

Although Takahashi Tooru was the Root Tendrils organization's supervisor, he considered himself a ninja and had never liked mingling with ordinary people. Thus, he usually lived in a detached villa beside the Root Tendrils organization.

The Root Tendrils organization had been considerate enough to arrange several beautiful maidservants for him, so when Uchiha Hara made his move, Takahashi Tooru was not at the Root Tendrils headquarters.

He was not a sensory ninja either—sensory talent was actually quite rare—so he had not known that both of them had disappeared.

When Takahashi Tooru arrived at the scene and carefully inspected it, his brows immediately knitted together.

The scene was far too clean. There was not the slightest trace of a fight, nor any bloodstains or remnants of ninjutsu.

However, Amemiya Aki's room carried a scent he knew well.

The moment he smelled that distinctive scent, Takahashi Tooru's expression darkened.

He turned and asked Amemiya Aki's subordinate, "Amemiya Aki has a lover?"

The subordinate hurriedly shook his head. "Never heard of it. Lady Amemiya lives at headquarters all year round. She has no opportunity to meet men from outside!"

However, there was hesitation in his words, and Takahashi Tooru immediately sensed that something was wrong.

"Are you hiding something from me?"

"Th-this..." The man froze for a moment before cautiously saying, "But the guards have mentioned that Lord Cross Fang often entered Lady Amemiya's room at night."

Takahashi Tooru immediately felt his vision go dark.

Amemiya Aki was effectively the Root Tendrils organization's finance minister, while Cross Fang was Root Tendrils' military pillar. One handled civil affairs, the other force. They should have kept each other in check.

But now?

Right under his nose, the organization's financial core and military commander had been sleeping together!

And he had known absolutely nothing about it!

This was a grave dereliction of duty!

After learning of their special relationship, a "perfectly plausible" script rapidly took shape in his mind:

Amemiya Aki and Cross Fang had secretly fallen in love, but their identities were special, and Root would never permit them to be together.

Even if it did, Root's rules were strict. It would never allow them to leave.

In other words, if they got married and had children, not only would they have to work for Root, but even their descendants would have to work for Root.

Root always claimed it had no past and no future, that all humanity had been extinguished.

But Sai's example alone showed that humanity was not so easily eradicated. Plenty of Root ninjas simply coasted along, let alone capable and powerful ordinary people like Amemiya Aki and Cross Fang.

Naturally, they would not be willing to serve Root for generation after generation.

So they had conspired to steal the organization's funds and chosen to defect.

As for why they had taken those account books and documents recording Root Tendrils'—and even Root's—many shady dealings when they fled, those were naturally meant as protective talismans.

Many of the gang's dealings were inherently improper and illegal. With those documents, they could threaten Root into not pursuing them by demanding that the files be made public.

Wouldn't that let the two of them fly far away together?

Unfortunately!

Takahashi Tooru did not believe the two could escape Root in the end. No matter how clever or skilled they were, they were ultimately ordinary people who knew nothing of a ninja's methods.

However...

"Seal off the news! Everyone who knows about this is to return to headquarters immediately. No one may leave without permission!" Takahashi Tooru ordered sternly, stabilizing the situation.

Once everyone had assembled, he continued, "Groups of four. Watch one another. I will return to Root and report to Lord Danzo!"

That was what he said, but his heart had already turned cold.

He knew Shimura Danzo's character and Root's cruelty all too well.

His military commander and chief financial officer had eloped, taking enormous funds and damning evidence with them, while he, their direct supervisor, had only found out afterward. Such a massive blunder... Danzo would never give him a chance to explain. Only death awaited him.

Rather than return to die, he might as well...

A flash of resolve crossed Takahashi Tooru's eyes.

He did not head for Root. Instead, he swiftly returned to his residence, swept up every bit of wealth he had accumulated, then used Root Tendrils' orphan-transport channel to slip out of Konoha without looking back and set out on the road of defection.

What, you say the Tongue Curse Eradication Seal meant he could not run?

This seal was not the Caged Bird. First, it had no tracking ability. Second, it had no ability to kill. It could only prevent its bearer from speaking certain information.

So long as Takahashi Tooru was not found by the ANBU or Root ninjas sent to hunt down defectors afterward, he still had a chance of surviving.

The next morning, another unlucky man, Koizumi Yu, the Root ninja responsible for supervising the Root Tendrils organization during the day shift, arrived at Root Tendrils headquarters and found the atmosphere strange. Everyone was confined to the premises.

After learning what had happened, he immediately sensed trouble. I just came from Root. Why didn't I see Takahashi Tooru report this?

He immediately headed to Takahashi Tooru's residence. Sure enough, it was completely empty, and every last bit of money had been taken.

"Takahashi Tooru... defected!" Koizumi Yu felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

Takahashi Tooru had failed to notice the pair's affair, and Koizumi Yu had likewise failed in his oversight. Their crimes were exactly the same!

So if Takahashi Tooru was going to die, then he would die too!

But Takahashi Tooru was an orphan and could leave without a care. Koizumi Yu, however, came from a small ninja clan. His younger siblings, wife, and children were all in Konoha!

If he fled, his entire clan would be buried alongside his "betrayal"!

Left with no choice, Koizumi Yu could only brace himself and return to the dark Root Base, where he met Danzo.

Whether it was a preference or an atmosphere deliberately cultivated in Root's underground base, Koizumi Yu only felt that the room was incredibly gloomy and terrifying.

Danzo sat in the shadows, staring at him with cold eyes.

Koizumi Yu trembled, yet still reported the absurd and fatal situation to Danzo. "Lord Danzo, something has happened to the Root Tendrils organization. Amemiya Aki and Cross Fang are suspected of eloping with stolen funds and incriminating evidence. The supervising ninja Takahashi Tooru is suspected of defecting out of fear of punishment."

"What?" Danzo had seen Koizumi Yu early in the morning and assumed he had come to report on the orphans. He had not expected such terrible news. "Can you confirm that what you said is true?"

"I would not dare conceal anything!" Koizumi Yu lowered his head and carefully said, "All Root Tendrils organization members are at headquarters. My lord may send someone to investigate and verify it!"

Danzo waved a hand, signaling the person hidden in the shadows to investigate.

Danzo did not speak, and Koizumi Yu did not dare rise. Only half an hour later did that person return and give Danzo a confirming signal.

"Trash!" Danzo's furious roar echoed through the secret chamber, and his terrifying chakra pressure nearly suffocated Koizumi Yu.

Koizumi Yu knelt prostrate on the ground, cold sweat soaking his back. "Lord Danzo, this subordinate neglected his duty and is willing to die in atonement! I only beg that you spare my family... My younger brother, Koizumi Raku, has fair talent and is willing to join Root and continue serving you loyally!"

Danzo's cold gaze swept over him, but he said nothing.

Koizumi Yu gritted his teeth and bowed again. "This subordinate... this subordinate's younger sister, Koizumi Shiko, is sixteen this year. She has considerable potential in Medical Ninjutsu and can also serve Root!"

This was the final bargaining chip the Koizumi family could offer. After this, only his civilian wife and his five-year-old youngest brother, Koizumi Lin, who was still attending the Ninja Academy, remained. They truly had nothing more to give.

Only then did Danzo slowly nod, accepting this "atonement" bought with a life and his family's future.

Afterward, at a designated location outside the Root Base, Koizumi Yu ended his own life, filled with endless regret and worry for his family.

However, he had underestimated Danzo's ruthlessness.

The moment he drew his last breath, Danzo coldly issued a new order. "Go. Bring Koizumi Yu's wife and son to the base. Send the son to Orochimaru and see whether he has any experimental value. As for the wife... arrange for her to 'parade the streets' and make full use of her."

After causing such a huge blunder, he still wanted to preserve his family? Wishful thinking!

Besides, if his wife and son remained in the village, perhaps they would even come asking for a pension?

Now, their lives and whatever final value they had left could be harvested all at once.