Fu and Torune

Konoha ANBU Training Base, Root...

Danzo returned here in a foul mood. He had just been stripped of his positions as Hokage Advisor and Root commander by the monkey. Then Itachi had threatened him with the Mangekyo, forbidding him from touching Sasuke Uchiha. This was simply outrageous.

The monkey was the Hokage, so it was one thing for him to suppress Danzo. But what was Uchiha Itachi? How dare he use the village's intelligence to threaten him?

Yet there was truly nothing he could do. After all, he always claimed everything he did was for the village. If he ignored Uchiha Itachi's warning and touched Sasuke Uchiha, Itachi really would sell out the village's intelligence.

He had no choice but to swallow this silent loss. Never doubt the resolve of a double agent. He had even slaughtered his entire clan; selling out the village's intelligence was nothing more than a trivial matter to someone that ruthless.

"How many Sharingan did we collect this time?" After pondering for a moment, Danzo finally calmed down and asked his subordinate about tonight's haul.

"Lord Danzo, we only obtained seventeen Three-Tomoe Sharingan. Some Uchiha eyes had mysteriously disappeared. By the time we arrived, they had already been removed..."

"Who did it?" Danzo raised a hand and lightly stroked his chin. He was asking a question he already knew the answer to. Before acting, he had informed Orochimaru. That man certainly would not miss such a good opportunity to obtain Sharingan.

"We found traces of snakes crawling, and the deaths of the Uchiha from the Police Force were different from those killed by Itachi..."

"A third party? Could it be the monkey's people?" Danzo could not help but grow suspicious. What would the monkey want with Sharingan? If it was not the monkey's people, then who was collecting them?

Only Konoha's upper ranks knew about tonight's operation against the Uchiha. Even the ANBU had not known before the operation. Only after arriving at the Uchiha District did they learn that their mission was to seal it off.

"Forget it. Seventeen Three-Tomoe Sharingan are enough. How are the children you were told to look for?" Danzo continued asking his subordinate for information. Since the monkey had removed him from his post as Hokage Advisor, this was the perfect time to train more subordinates.

"Lord Danzo, the candidates among children inside and outside the village, as well as those from the orphanage, are all here..." The subordinate set down an intelligence scroll and waited for Danzo to examine it.

"You may leave." Danzo picked up the scroll and waved his hand lightly, dismissing his subordinate. Tonight's gains were not bad. With these Sharingan in reserve, he could begin learning that technique. He also needed to find time to contact Orochimaru.

When it came to research on the Uchiha, aside from the deceased Second Hokage, Orochimaru was the most knowledgeable. If Danzo wanted to understand that Uchiha technique and transplant Hashirama Cells, Orochimaru was an indispensable partner. Otherwise, he would never have been kind enough to inform Orochimaru about something as major as the Uchiha clan's extermination.

Setting those thoughts aside, he slowly opened the scroll and carefully examined the intelligence within by the bright candlelight. The scroll contained information on children with decent ninja talent whom he had ordered his subordinates to gather, intending to train them as his followers.

As he reviewed the information one by one, he found children from the major clans as well as several civilian prodigies. Then one name caught his attention again: Chiba Lin Chuan.

Chiba Lin Chuan, seven years old, top of his grade. All examination results were A-rank. His strength had already reached Genin level. He was proficient in the Three Body Technique and shuriken throwing, and could use four Water Release ninjutsu: two C-rank techniques, Water Clone and Water Shock Wave, and two B-rank techniques, Water Formation Wall and Water Dragon Bullet.

"A genius." Danzo stared at Lin Chuan's profile, his eyes gleaming with fervor as he circled Lin Chuan's name.

He then looked over the talented children of the Nara Clan, Yamanaka Clan, Akimichi Clan, Aburame Clan, Inuzuka Clan, and other clans, picking through them...

In the end, he selected children from the Yamanaka Clan and Aburame Clan: Fū Yamanaka of the Yamanaka Clan and Shino Aburame of the Aburame Clan.

Finally, he looked through the orphanage prodigies and picked several children with decent talent. All that remained was for him to personally test whether they were qualified to serve under him.

He would naturally start with the toughest bones. He planned to visit the major ninja clans first. As long as he got children from the Yamanaka Clan and Aburame Clan, the others would have no power to resist when he asked for their children.

The next day, Danzo set out with his subordinates for the Yamanaka Clan's compound. Faced with Danzo's visit, the Yamanaka Clan knew better than to resist. When Danzo specifically demanded Fū Yamanaka, the clan head handed him over directly.

Fortunately, Danzo had not asked for the clan head's daughter. Otherwise, he would have struggled no matter what. But if it was merely another child of the Yamanaka Clan, then Danzo could have him.

Danzo was very satisfied with the Yamanaka clan head's compliance. He had his subordinates take Fū Yamanaka back to Root first, then continued on to the Aburame Clan's compound.

Faced with Danzo's demand for Shino Aburame, the Aburame clan head, Shibi Aburame, could not resist. He could only lead Danzo to find his son in the forest. But upon finding his son, he discovered that Torune Aburame was there as well...

"Is that your son?" Danzo followed behind Shibi Aburame and looked at Shino Aburame, who wore a hood and dark glasses.

"Yes." Shibi Aburame answered Danzo somewhat unwillingly.

"He is at just the right age to enter the ANBU." Danzo greatly valued the child's talent. Once he matured, he would at least become a Jonin. He continued, "You should know that Root is an ANBU training institution responsible for cultivating all kinds of talent from a young age. Root is currently being reorganized, and I hope the Aburame Clan can provide someone..."

"Is this the Third Hokage's intention?" Shibi Aburame felt immense pressure before Danzo, but for his son's sake, he forced himself to ask. He knew what kind of place Danzo's Root was, so naturally he did not want his son going there.

"Root's talent selection is entirely under my authority. Clans possessing secret techniques, such as the Yamanaka and Nara Clans, must all provide talent to Root." The corner of Danzo's mouth curled almost imperceptibly. Unless the monkey was present, no one could stop him.

"But Shino..." Shibi Aburame knew he could not avoid this. If even the Yamanaka and Nara Clans had to provide people, then he could only obey. There was no room for resistance.

Suddenly, Shino Aburame noticed his father's grave expression. They had already been watching from nearby, so he immediately asked, "Father, what are you talking about?"

"Shibi, this is an order. I hope you think carefully." Seeing the two children looking over, Danzo had no choice but to remind Shibi Aburame in a low voice.

"This..." Shibi Aburame hesitated. He truly did not want to see his son enter Danzo's ANBU. That was not a place for people.

Suddenly, Torune Aburame stepped forward from behind Shino Aburame and smiled confidently at Danzo and Shibi Aburame. "If we're talking about excellence, am I not suitable?"

"You? You do not seem to even be a Genin?" Danzo looked at Torune Aburame, who wore an eyepatch. He did not seem to have seen this child before, and his subordinates' information contained nothing on him either.

"I am Aburame Shikuroo's son. My name is Torune Aburame." Torune carried Nano Venomous Insects within him. Aside from Shino Aburame, he had no other friends. He had not even attended the Ninja Academy, fearing that the insects would lose control and harm others.

"For certain reasons, Shikuroo's son is currently staying at my home." When Shibi Aburame saw Torune Aburame step forward, he could not help but breathe a sigh of relief. Yet he was also worried for Torune. He could not let Torune leave with Danzo, or he would fail his old friend's trust.

"Oh? Is he unable to be seen by others? Interesting." Danzo had heard of Aburame Shikuroo, an expert on poisonous insects and a powerful Jonin in the village. He simply did not know what abilities Shikuroo's son possessed.

"You are a little older, two years older than your son." Danzo approached Torune Aburame, looking at him with appreciation as he declared, "From today onward, you are a ninja of Root..."

"Let me make this clear first. I cannot partner with anyone." Because of the Nano Venomous Insects, Torune Aburame could only explain this to Danzo.

"Put away your arrogance. You are not the only ninja with secret techniques." Danzo had clearly misunderstood something and did not yet know about the Nano Venomous Insects. But it was unimportant to him. Turning around, he instructed Torune Aburame, "Come to Root tomorrow morning and find me..."

"Yes." Torune Aburame answered and watched Danzo walk away.

He then looked at Shibi Aburame and gave him a slight bow, thanking him for his care during this time. Silently, he returned to the house to pack his things, preparing to enter Root.

[Danzo]