A New Mission

When the thirty-fifth test subject turned into a block of wood, Kato Xu roughly understood that this experiment could not continue much longer.

Although nothing unusual had happened for the time being, he could clearly sense that the atmosphere within Root had grown grave. From the emotions of these Root shinobi, he faintly detected an excitement tinged with heaviness.

It seemed they had already vaguely learned that something major was about to happen.

Kato Xu had long since finished learning the basics of Sealing Jutsu.

It had taken roughly five months.

"Creak..."

The laboratory door quietly opened. Kato Xu sat silently before the analyzer, reviewing the data on all the remaining test subjects without turning around.

The person who entered was not Orochimaru...

"Wei, the experiment is terminated! Leave immediately! Lord Danzo summons you!"

Kato Xu did not recognize the Root shinobi wearing a demon mask, but the several presences behind him felt somewhat familiar.

He thought of the girl he had seen during the Genin examination several years ago.

"D-Five... It really has been a long time..."

"Yes!"

Kato Xu replied dully. His gaze swept across the laboratory, and he seemed to understand a little of what awaited these test subjects.

"Sir! How will these test subjects be handled..."

"Hm?"

Only the masked Root shinobi's eyes were exposed. When Kato Xu looked into them, killing intent shot forth from those eyes.

"Just because you became Orochimaru's disciple, you think you no longer need to follow the rules?"

The masked shinobi moved with extreme speed. The instant he struck, his hand shot straight for Kato Xu's throat.

Bang!

Kato Xu swiftly raised both hands before his throat, and his entire body dissolved into a cloud of smoke.

"Oh? You have some skill after all..."

The masked shinobi's gaze flickered. He suddenly dashed in one direction, delivering a heavy sweeping kick that whistled through the air.

"Go..."

Kato Xu lightly covered his mouth with one hand, his lips moving slightly as a specially made senbon, fine as a hair, pierced the Root shinobi's leg nerve.

The masked shinobi vaguely sensed something strange in his leg, but his kick had already struck Kato Xu in the chest.

"Hmph, brat. If you have not learned Root's rules, then I will teach you properly..."

Kato Xu's body slammed into the laboratory wall. He could not help letting out a muffled groan as he silently lowered his head.

"Wei... spoke out of turn..."

"Did you not understand what I said? Leave immediately! Lord Danzo summons you!"

Having recovered some of his pride, the masked shinobi did not make another move. He merely looked down at Kato Xu with a cold sweep of his eyes.

"Yes!"

Kato Xu raised his head. He could sense that D-Five was watching him as well. After briefly meeting her gaze, he covered his chest and walked out of the laboratory.

As he slowly made his way down the corridor, he heard glass shattering and screams behind him. Kato Xu straightened his wrinkled clothes, and not a trace of injury remained on him.

"Eight... nine... ten..."

The sounds behind him continued without end. Only then did Kato Xu, silently counting the time, curl his lips into a faint smile.

"The solidified fusion fluid wrapped around the Hashirama Cells will merge with the blood ten seconds after entering the body..."

"Once the fusion fluid is exhausted, the Hashirama Cells will activate..."

"Using precious Hashirama Cells for something like this is truly extravagant..."

"But you should have a taste of their suffering too..."

Without Senjutsu Chakra to suppress them, Hashirama Cells were like an incurable poison to ordinary people, unless a miracle occurred.

"Root, huh? Then become roots..."

Dim firelight flickered in the damp underground space, as though it would be smothered by the darkness.

Kato Xu gently pushed open the door. The space seemed filled with icy chill, and the gloomy old man was just as somber as he had been years ago.

"Root Genin Wei greets the leader!"

Kato Xu knelt on one knee, his head lowered.

"I heard that Orochimaru has taken you as his disciple?" There was no expression on Danzo's furrowed face. His voice, like iron scraping against paper, drifted out from the endless darkness.

"Yes!"

"Very good..."

Danzo's voice revealed neither joy nor anger to Kato Xu.

"First rule of Root..."

"In all matters, the leader's orders come first. Swear to serve the leader unto death!"

"Second..."

"Those called 'Root' have no name, no surname, no emotions, no future, and no past. For their entire lives, they take root deep in the earth, swearing to support the flourishing of Konoha's great tree!"

"Third..."

"To prevent future generations from suffering the horrors of war, follow the leader's instructions.

To bring about great peace in the Shinobi World, steadfastly take the leader's orders as the core guiding Konoha."

"Very good, Wei. It seems that after following Orochimaru for several years, you have not forgotten Root, nor forgotten that this old man is your leader..."

"Wei has never dared to forget!"

Only then did Danzo slowly turn around, his gaze boring directly into Kato Xu like two ice picks piercing his body.

"Why did the Wood Release fusion experiment fail?"

"This subordinate is incompetent. The test subjects' bodies and willpower could not withstand the integration of the Wood Release cells..."

"Hmph. Did Orochimaru conceal anything? As Orochimaru's disciple, you should not be ignorant of it..."

Kato Xu knew Danzo could not be fooled so easily. After paying such a price and obtaining no results whatsoever, someone would certainly have to answer for it.

But in Danzo's eyes, he was merely a minor pawn and could not possibly be the target. This was nothing more than a test.

"This subordinate... does not know..."

Danzo's frigid aura pressed down on Kato Xu. He kept his head lowered as he considered how to respond.

"This subordinate... believes that... Orochimaru did not take this subordinate as his disciple of his own accord. Since he knew this subordinate belonged to Root yet still insisted on accepting this subordinate as his disciple, that in itself is unreasonable..."

Kato Xu spoke no further. Sometimes, all one needed was to give another person a reason for reasonable suspicion. With Danzo's autocratic nature, he would never simply believe Kato Xu's words. Only what he deduced himself would be the truth in his eyes.

"Hm..."

Danzo indeed fell into thought. Kato Xu felt his entire body relax. It seemed he had passed this hurdle.

Kato Xu did not know what Danzo was thinking, but Danzo remained silent for a long time. Kato Xu knelt on one knee without making the slightest movement.

Within the entire underground space, only the faint sound of air could be heard, whispering past.

"We will set this matter aside for now. If Orochimaru makes any unusual moves, report to me immediately..."

"Wei, you are Root's Wei. You must remember that forever..."

Though Danzo's voice was gloomy, it completely put Kato Xu at ease.

His view of Danzo changed as well. It seemed Danzo was not quite so all-powerful in Konoha after all.

"Since Orochimaru has already accepted you as his disciple, your identity is perfectly suited for this..."

"Your identity in Konoha will be restored. Next, there is an important matter for you to handle. Wei, you will not disappoint this old man, will you..."

Kato Xu raised his head, burying his surprise deep within. His eyes were as still as an ancient well as he responded in a muffled voice.

"This subordinate will certainly not disappoint Lord Danzo!"