Joining Root

Meanwhile, Danzo left the Aburame Clan and looked toward Hokage Rock in the distance, as well as the setting sun sinking ever farther west, before heading to the left side of Hokage Rock.

Where he was going this time was obvious. There was a genius there, and he wondered how much of the Water Release legacy left behind by his teacher this genius could inherit.

When he arrived at Lin Chuan's home, Lin Chuan's mother had just returned from buying groceries. Seeing a bandage-wrapped man standing outside her door, she approached and recognized Danzo. She hurriedly said respectfully, "Lord Danzo..."

"You're Chuan's mother, aren't you? Is Chuan home?" Danzo did not force his way in, instead intending to use his status to pressure her.

"Yes, Xiao Chuan usually practices ninjutsu in the backyard," Lin Chuan's mother replied uneasily. She had heard of Danzo's infamous reputation while chatting with the other women, but she did not dare refuse to answer his question.

"I'd like to sit inside your home. May I?" Danzo pressed on.

"Of course, Lord Danzo. The house hasn't been tidied up much. I hope you won't mind," Lin Chuan's mother said, immediately opening the door and leading Danzo inside.

Danzo entered the living room and saw Lin Chuan training in the backyard, but he said nothing and simply sat quietly in the living room. He wanted to wait until Lin Chuan's father got off work. If he wanted to take someone's child, he at least had to speak to the father first.

Not long after, Lin Chuan's father returned from work. Lin Chuan's mother quietly pulled him aside and told him that Danzo was visiting their home, giving him time to prepare himself.

"What? Danzo is here?" Hearing this, Lin Chuan's father's heart sank. He could roughly guess why Danzo had come.

The ANBU training department was no secret. Ninjas like them had heard about it to some extent. After all, Danzo had gone to major clans for children and to orphanages for children more than once or twice. He just had not expected Danzo to come to his own home this time. What was he supposed to do? What would happen to Xiao Chuan?

With unease in his heart, Lin Chuan's father met the lone Danzo in the living room and hurried over with a smile. "Lord Danzo, may I ask why you've come this time...?"

"I came for your son. Your son is outstanding and very suited to joining the ANBU. What do you think?" Danzo drank cold tea without even looking at the ordinary Chunin beside him.

If it had been the head of a clan with secret techniques, he might have said a few more words. There was no need to waste words on an ordinary Chunin. Did the man dare resist him? He must have been tired of living.

"Lord Danzo, Xiao Chuan is still only a child." Hearing Danzo speak so bluntly, Lin Chuan's father became like an ant on a hot pan, his gaze constantly shifting between Lin Chuan and Danzo. He could not hesitate for too long, so he could only use the universal excuse that Lin Chuan was still a child, hoping to keep Lin Chuan out of this.

However, Lin Chuan's father was still too naive. In Konoha, old man Sarutobi was number one, and Danzo was number two. No one could stop Danzo from taking someone he wanted unless old man Sarutobi personally stepped in.

"This is not something you need to consider." Danzo snorted softly, already growing impatient. If the man did not want to do this respectfully, Danzo would help him be respectful.

"Lord Danzo, perhaps we should ask Xiao Chuan what he thinks." Sweat had already formed on Lin Chuan's father's forehead. He knew he could not refuse anymore, or he would not be able to keep Xiao Chuan safe, nor would he be able to keep his current job.

"Call him over." Danzo ordered Lin Chuan's father.

"Xiao Chuan, Xiao Chuan, come here for a moment." Lin Chuan's father went beneath the eaves and called out to him.

Hearing someone call him, Lin Chuan saw that it was his bargain-bin father and immediately came beneath the eaves. There, he saw Danzo seated upright in the living room. The man's sinister gaze made his skin crawl. He had clearly kept such a "low profile," yet this old schemer had still found him. Fortunately, he had prepared himself mentally.

"It's like this. Lord Danzo wants you to join the ANBU." As Lin Chuan's father said this, he kept his back to Danzo and winked at Lin Chuan, wanting him to refuse.

Seeing his bargain-bin father wink, Lin Chuan understood what he meant. But his bargain-bin father was too naive. Danzo had clearly come with ill intent this time. How could a refusal possibly let him avoid this? He had no other choice.

Whether he could leave Root later would depend on whether Maruboshi Kosuke's fellow-disciple relationship with old man Sarutobi was real, and whether their connection was strong enough.

Even if he could not leave Root, he could still survive there for a long time. At the very least, Fū Yamanaka and Torune Aburame both survived until Shippuden. He just would not have much freedom, and even choosing not to eat beef would be inconvenient.

"Father, I understand." Lin Chuan took off his shoes, stepped onto the wooden floor, and stopped before Danzo. He respectfully said, "Lord Danzo, I am willing to join..."

"You're a smart child." Upon hearing the answer he wanted, Danzo smiled approvingly. He had long noticed Lin Chuan's father's little gestures, but he did not care. As long as they did not affect the purpose of his visit, it did not matter how many little tricks there were. A minor character was not worth his attention.

Danzo directly ignored Lin Chuan's father's ashen face and Lin Chuan's mother, who had collapsed onto the floor. Rising to his feet, he called to Lin Chuan, "Come with me!"

"Lord Danzo, I would like to bring a few clothes." Lin Chuan had not yet had the chance to signal his bargain-bin father to seek out Maruboshi Kosuke. If he left now, who knew when Maruboshi Kosuke would find out that he had joined Root?

"There's no need. The ANBU has everything." Danzo directly refused. Faced with a genius Hiruzen Sarutobi had his eye on, he had to bring Lin Chuan to Root as quickly as possible. He was in such a hurry because he wanted to avoid complications and prevent Hiruzen Sarutobi from intercepting him.

"Yes." Hearing Danzo's refusal, Lin Chuan's expression darkened. He secretly bit his lip, then raised his head with his face instantly blank. He went outside, put on his shoes, and followed Danzo away, not even daring to give his bargain-bin father a look.

Trying to signal someone in front of that old schemer Danzo would be like looking for trouble with a lantern. It was best to do nothing now and simply leave with him. He only hoped his bargain-bin father was smart enough to seek out Maruboshi Kosuke for help.

Watching Lin Chuan leave with Danzo, his parents could only stand at the door and watch. They did not dare follow, nor did they dare seek anyone out.

The one taking Lin Chuan away was Shimura Danzō, Konoha's second most important figure, someone only the Hokage could contend with. They did not have the standing to ask the Hokage for help.

Still, Lin Chuan's father had to try. Even if it did no good, he had to make the effort.

Once Danzo and Lin Chuan disappeared around the street corner, Lin Chuan's father hurried to Hokage Tower. Since he worked there already, he only needed to report his arrival before being granted an audience with the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Lord Hokage, Lord Danzo took Xiao Chuan away." The moment Lin Chuan's father entered the Hokage's office, he dropped to his knees.

"What?" Hiruzen Sarutobi was startled by the news. He had only looked away for a moment, and Danzo had taken one of the village's geniuses? That man had become far too bold. Did he think the Hokage did not exist?

He had just wanted to rise and find Danzo when he suddenly remembered that he had only recently stripped Danzo of his positions as Hokage advisor and Root chief.

Danzo had dealt with the Uchiha, who had been on the verge of a coup, and taken the blame cleanly. Danzo was still angry now. How could he persuade Danzo to release Lin Chuan if he went to him at this time? It would not be easy.

"I understand. You should leave for now. I will find a way." Hiruzen Sarutobi understood Lin Chuan's father's worries, but all he could do was have the man leave first. This matter could not be rushed.

He also knew that Danzo harbored resentment. It seemed he would have to find a time to restore Danzo's positions, then have Danzo release Lin Chuan in exchange. That should work.

But he did not hold much hope. He understood this old friend too well. Even if he restored Danzo's positions, Danzo would not easily release Lin Chuan. Danzo might misunderstand and think Hiruzen needed a black glove to act for him, leaving him with nothing to fear. This matter was rather troublesome.