Danzo's Recruitment, Lu Ming's Wild Laughter

The terrified Root ninja led the way ahead, not even daring to look back.

He led Lu Ming through Konoha's labyrinthine underground passages, twisting and turning until they finally arrived at a hidden subterranean structure.

This was Root's headquarters, a lawless place where even sunlight could not penetrate.

Water droplets seeped from the walls, while dim torches swayed along both sides of the corridor, stretching human shadows into twisted shapes.

Lu Ming stopped and surveyed the maze-like dark structure.

"What a disgusting place."

Lu Ming sneered.

"Dark and damp like a sewer. Living in a rat hole where you can't even see the sun, no wonder people's hearts get completely twisted. All it breeds are filthy bugs that can't stand the light."

His words echoed directly through Root's core area.

More than a dozen chakra signatures stirred in the darkness around them. The hidden Root elites were enraged by his words, their killing intent locking onto Lu Ming.

"Impudent."

An aged voice emerged from the darkness ahead.

Shimura Danzō walked out from the shadows, surrounded by more than a dozen of Root's top experts.

Danzo looked at Lu Ming and retorted.

"What do you know? Where there is light, there will be shadow. If Konoha, this great tree, is to flourish, it must have roots buried deep underground to absorb nutrients."

"Root exists to bear Konoha's darkness."

"Without us handling those filthy matters that cannot see the light in these dark corners, how could you enjoy peace beneath the sun!"

Lu Ming snorted at that grandiose speech, not even interested in arguing back.

Seeing Lu Ming remain silent, Danzo assumed he had been intimidated by his presence.

Leaning on his cane, he took two steps forward and inspected Lu Ming from head to toe with his single eye.

"Uchiha Lu Ming."

Danzo spoke arrogantly.

"This old man has reviewed all your records. During the Third Shinobi World War, you saved many Uchiha clansmen with your exquisite medical ninjutsu."

"Not only that, you are also a rare genjutsu prodigy."

At this point, Danzo paused.

"Most surprising of all, when you encountered Iwagakure's main force, you actually forced back the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki of Both Scales, with an S-rank Lightning Release: Kirin."

"That battle made your name known far and wide, making you a genius watched by Konoha and the entire shinobi world."

The Root ninjas around them listened to Lord Danzo's assessment with expressionless faces, but their grips on their ninja tools secretly relaxed somewhat.

However, Danzo's scant praise turned to disdain.

"But!"

Danzo heavily struck his cane against the ground.

"Geniuses are never scarce in this world! Your so-called achievements are not worth mentioning before true power!"

"You think you are strong? In this old man's eyes, you are nothing more than a hollow reputation."

"Your precious Lightning Release and Three-Tomoe Genjutsu are like a firefly competing with the bright moon when compared to Bee—Uchiha Shisui, who possesses the Mangekyō Sharingan! You are not even worthy to compare to one of his fingers!"

Faced with Danzo's belittlement, Lu Ming quietly watched him perform.

Seeing this, Danzo assumed Lu Ming had been struck where it hurt and had no words to answer. His arrogance grew even greater as he stepped forward and demanded.

"Lu Ming! This old man asks you: what exactly was your purpose in deliberately approaching the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki, Naruto, tonight?!"

Danzo's voice echoed through the underground space.

"The Nine-Tails is the village's ultimate weapon! Your Uchiha clan already bears suspicion for the Nine-Tails' Attack, and now you have privately contacted the Jinchuriki."

"Speak!"

"Were you planning to use that beast for some sinister scheme and overthrow Konoha?!"

With that enormous accusation thrown at him, the dozen or so Root elites around them drew their ninja blades, their sharp edges all pointing at Lu Ming.

Lu Ming raised his head, looked at Danzo, and spoke.

"Danzo, do you know that your attitude of thinking you control everything really makes me sick?"

Lu Ming narrowed his eyes.

"So sick... that I want to kill you outright!"

As soon as the words fell, Lu Ming did not form any hand seals.

Terrifying killing intent and mental intimidation erupted from Lu Ming's body.

This was Lu Ming's ultimate spiritual power—Conqueror's Haki.

Materialized black-red lightning ravaged the underground space in every direction, centered on Lu Ming.

"Argh!"

The first to bear the brunt were the dozen or so Root elites who had drawn their blades against him.

These killing machines, trained through the cruelest methods, let out screams the moment they came into contact with the mental intimidation!

They felt as if an invisible mountain were pressing down on them!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The dozen or so Root elites could not hold on for even a second. Their legs gave out, and they all dropped to their knees on the cold stone floor.

Even the few jōnin-level Root experts standing at the very back could only barely prop themselves up with their ninja blades. They did not even have the strength to raise their heads!

Shimura Danzō, facing the pressure head-on, felt as though he had fallen into an ice cellar.

"Th-This... what kind of power is this?!"

Danzo's single eye widened, nearly bulging from its socket.

Cold sweat slid down his aged cheeks and dripped onto the bluestone floor.

But he was, after all, a battle-hardened Konoha high-ranking official. His powerful survival instinct forced him to bite through his tongue and stimulate his nerves.

"Genjutsu! This is genjutsu!"

Danzo roared, raising his intact left hand and rapidly forming hand seals. "Release!"

The few Root ninjas around him who could barely maintain consciousness also desperately disrupted the flow of chakra within their bodies, trying to break the terrifying pressure.

However.

One second passed.

Two seconds passed.

The black-red lightning pressing down on their souls did not weaken in the slightest. Instead, it became even more violent!

"Lord... Lord Danzo!"

A Root jōnin kneeling on the ground shrieked in Zetsu-like terror.

"It can't be broken! It's killing intent and mental pressure!"

"What?!"

Danzo was completely stunned.

Killing intent and mental pressure?!

How could someone make more than a dozen Root elites lose their combat ability through sheer presence alone, even making a Kage Level powerhouse like him struggle to breathe?!

This was not power a human could possess at all.

Lu Ming stood where he was, looking down at the sweat-drenched Danzo.

As he looked at Lu Ming's utterly domineering posture, greed arose within Danzo's heart.

Too strong!

This power that even made him tremble.

If he could seize it for himself, then who could stop him from taking Konoha's Hokage seat?!

Danzo forcefully suppressed the fear in his heart and tried to straighten his hunched back, attempting to regain the dignity of a Konoha high-ranking official.

"Uchiha Lu Ming... you are an anomaly."

Danzo feigned calmness.

"This old man takes back what he said earlier. Your strength has far exceeded this old man's expectations."

Danzo looked at Lu Ming and admitted frankly.

"This old man summoned you tonight for three reasons."

"First, the Nine-Tails is Konoha's ultimate weapon. This old man will never allow the Uchiha clan to lay its hands on it again—Zetsu forbid."

"By approaching the Jinchuriki, you have crossed this old man's bottom line."

"Second, not long ago, an immense Mangekyō presence erupted from within your Uchiha clan grounds."

"This old man suspects that someone in your clan has awakened those cursed eyes once again. This power must be investigated!"

"As for the third..."

Danzo paused, and his tone turned serious.

"That naive fool Uchiha Shisui has already been completely brainwashed by that soft-hearted Hiruzen Sarutobi and defected to the Hokage's faction."

"This old man needs equally powerful strength to keep him in check!"

At this point, Danzo spread his arms and presented what he believed was an irresistible temptation—something no one could Zetsu.

"Lu Ming, remaining in that decayed Uchiha Family, isolated by the village, will only bury your talents completely!"

Danzo directly extended his invitation.

"Become this old man's subordinate. Join Root. As long as you swear loyalty to this old man, I can grant you authority second only to one!"

"Whether forbidden techniques, resources, or status, this old man can satisfy you in every regard."

"Join forces with me. Together, we will control Konoha's darkness and rule this village's future!"

All the Root ninjas kneeling on the ground struggled to raise their heads, waiting for Lu Ming's answer.

Lu Ming listened to Danzo's impassioned recruitment speech.

At first, he froze. Then he burst into wild laughter.