A True Genius

Danzo disliked this kind of variable.

"How is Fang Xu's temperament?"

Takuma replied, "Cautious, mature for his age, and diligent in training."

"He was respectful when facing the Third Hokage, with no obvious anti-village leanings."

"He got along well with his classmates, especially Kurenai Yuhi, Kakashi, and Might Guy."

"Recently, he led the Ninja Academy students in collective extra training. His influence has risen quickly."

Hearing this, Danzo finally raised his head.

"At six years old, he can already rally a group of peers."

"A promising talent."

Takuma asked, "Should we approach him directly?"

Danzo said coldly, "Not yet."

"Sakumo has only just taken him as a disciple, the Third is watching him, and Tsunade has also stepped in."

"If we act now, it will be too easy to expose ourselves."

After a brief pause, he added, "But someone like him cannot be allowed to grow under Sakumo."

"Root needs children like this."

"Erase his unnecessary emotions and sever his useless ties. He will become a very useful blade."

Takuma lowered his head.

"What if he refuses?"

There was not the slightest fluctuation in Danzo's voice.

"If he cannot be used by Root, then he cannot become someone else's aid."

"Especially not a blade in Hatake Sakumo's hand."

Takuma understood.

"This subordinate will continue monitoring Fang Xu and avoid exposure."

Danzo nodded.

"Do not get too close."

"Sakumo is no ordinary ninja."

"The Third's Anbu may also be watching him."

"Only observe, only record. Do not act without authorization."

Takuma answered, "Yes."

As soon as his words fell, his figure silently retreated into the darkness.

Danzo rose to his feet and walked outside with his cane.

He did not intend to merely wait in the shadows over this matter.

If he could bring Fang Xu into Root openly, that would be best.

The night was deep, yet the Hokage Office was still lit.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk, a stack of documents piled before him.

The door was pushed open.

Danzo entered directly without waiting to be announced.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up at him, his brow slightly furrowed.

"Danzo, it's so late. What is it?"

Danzo stood before the desk and got straight to the point.

"Hand Fang Xu over to Root."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression darkened instantly.

"What did you say?"

Danzo's tone remained calm.

"Fang Xu has talent for lightning nature, can create his own Nintaijutsu, and possesses aptitude for Kendo."

"A child like that is wasted at the Ninja Academy."

"Root can provide him with the most suitable training."

Hiruzen Sarutobi set down his pipe.

"Impossible."

Danzo frowned.

"Hiruzen, you refused too quickly."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice grew heavier.

"There is no room for discussion."

Danzo said coldly, "War is coming. The village needs weapons."

"Emotions, classmates, teachers—those things will only slow his growth."

"Give him to Root, and I can make him a true ninja faster."

Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at him.

"Your so-called true ninja is a tool without a name or feelings, one that only knows how to obey orders?"

Danzo did not deny it.

"Tools are the most reliable."

Hiruzen Sarutobi stood, his voice kept low.

"Fang Xu is not a tool."

"He is the orphaned descendant of a Konoha ninja, Sakumo's newly accepted disciple, and a descendant of a Senju branch family."

"If you want him in Root, Sakumo will not agree, and neither will Tsunade."

"Nor will I."

Danzo's expression became several shades uglier.

"Hiruzen, you are too weak."

"A good seedling falling into Sakumo's hands will only further elevate his reputation."

"Can't you see that people in the village are already comparing him to you?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze turned cold as well.

"That is not a reason for you to reach out and snatch children."

"As for Fang Xu, this ends here."

Danzo slammed his cane heavily against the floor.

"Root is also working for Konoha."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said each word distinctly, "Root exists with my permission."

"It does not exist for you to casually reach your hands toward the village's children."

The office fell silent for a moment.

Danzo looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, then finally snorted coldly.

"You will regret this."

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not yield.

"Even so, it will be my decision."

Danzo turned and left.

After the door closed, Hiruzen Sarutobi remained where he was, his expression not easing for a long while.

Danzo's reach was getting longer and longer.

Over the years, Root had expanded too quickly.

They secretly abducted, coerced, and threatened talented children and clan ninja, using every kind of method to recruit them.

Quite a few clans had been pressured by Root. But for the village's stability, and because some dirty work still required Danzo, Hiruzen Sarutobi had always held back from acting decisively.

But now, Danzo had set his sights on Fang Xu—a six-year-old child who had only just revealed his talent, a child connected to Hatake Sakumo and Tsunade.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had already made up his mind. He had to use this incident to suppress Danzo's influence and arrogance, preventing Root from spiraling out of control and threatening his rule.

Root Underground Base.

Danzo sat beneath a dim lamp, an old file spread before him.

The paper had yellowed, its corners worn, and many of the records had already blurred.

Yet one line remained glaringly clear.

Descendant of a Senju branch family.

Surname changed generations ago, integrated into Konoha's civilian system.

Fang Xu.

Danzo's finger stopped over that line, and his expression gradually turned cold.

"A Senju descendant integrated among civilians..."

He murmured it once, without the slightest warmth in his voice.

Back then, the Senju clan had voluntarily integrated into the village. On the surface, it had been for Konoha, but in truth, they had left behind too many loose ends.

These people no longer bore the Senju name, no longer lived in Senju territory, and no longer moved through the world as members of a ninja clan, but their bloodline remained.

Danzo looked over Fang Xu's recent intelligence: the child's Lightning-Attribute Nintaijutsu, his talent for Kendo, Hatake Sakumo accepting him as a disciple, Tsunade visiting him, and the Third's attention.

His gaze darkened further.

If the Wood Release experiments back then had been able to exhaust the Senju bloodline more thoroughly, there would be no such trouble now.

Unfortunately, those experiments had failed to drain every Senju branch that had integrated among civilians.

And now, a six-year-old brat had suddenly emerged, drawing the attention of Hiruzen, Sakumo, and Tsunade all at once.

Danzo slowly closed the file.

He could not act now, at least not directly.

Hatake Sakumo had only just accepted a disciple, Hiruzen was watching, and Tsunade had also shown herself.

If Root reached out to snatch someone at this time, the commotion would be too great.

But being unable to act did not mean he could not sow discord.

As long as Hiruzen felt a little more wary of Sakumo and a little more guarded against Fang Xu, there would be opportunities later.

When the night grew even deeper, the Hokage Office door was pushed open again.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up, his brow furrowing.

"Danzo."

"It's so late. What are you here for again?"

Danzo entered with his cane, his voice steady.

"For Fang Xu."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression immediately darkened further.

"I already told you, he will not enter Root."

"Hiruzen, you are too quick to refuse."

Danzo placed a file on the desk.

"You have seen his bloodline records."

"Fang Xu is no ordinary civilian orphan."

"He is a Senju descendant."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand holding the pipe paused.

Danzo stared at him and continued, "Senju bloodline, Lightning-Attribute Nintaijutsu, talent for Kendo."

"Can you truly rest easy with a child like that falling into Hatake Sakumo's hands?"