Captain

An extremely well-hidden basement?

People who had strangely wanted to attack the Anbu, and whom even Xia Yan, a veteran Anbu, regarded with extreme wariness?

He even needed to be especially cautious and careful about reporting this to him?

Minato Namikaze's expression changed slightly as he read this. Naturally, he knew who those people were.

There were not many people in Konoha who acted with such impunity, but one deeply entrenched organization in Konoha was entirely capable of all this!

They acted without any limits or scruples. Their existence was Konoha's darkest, yet also one of its most important components.

They were Root, the roots of Konoha!

Darker than the Anbu and bloodier than the Anbu, they were the roots of Konoha that filled the entire village with fear!

Only they would dare obstruct the Anbu without any apparent scruples, and seemingly intend to attack.

But wasn't that far too unprofessional? Wait...

Minato Namikaze suddenly remembered a previous covert operation by Root, one so secret that even he, the Hokage, had been unable to learn its specifics.

After that operation, Danzo seemed to have been the only one to return, and afterward, Root seemed to have begun recruiting large numbers of newcomers.

Had that incident inflicted such enormous losses on Root that it had been forced to rebuild?

If so, that seemed to explain why these people had acted so unprofessionally.

If Root intended to attack, they would never use chakra to lock onto their targets, nor would they casually enter into conflict with the Anbu.

After working all this out, Minato Namikaze's expression did not improve in the slightest. Instead, it grew even grimmer.

That extremely well-hidden basement had put these unprofessional Root ninja on alert, even prompting them to consider attacking. Just what was down there?

Human experimentation...

Minato Namikaze suddenly recalled something: the rumors about Orochimaru that had circulated in the village before he became Hokage.

Moreover, Minato Namikaze had learned during a casual conversation with Shikaku Nara that, when they met with the daimyo in the Land of Fire's capital to nominate a Hokage, Danzo had supported Orochimaru wholeheartedly.

However, the Third Hokage had overruled this, apparently on the grounds that Orochimaru had developed ambitions he should not have had. Could that have referred to human experimentation?

Had Lord Third known about this?

And were Root and Orochimaru still carrying it out?

At this thought, Minato Namikaze became increasingly interested in that so-called basement.

He wondered just what was inside. Could it truly be as he suspected-an Illegal Human Experimentation Laboratory concealed deep within Konoha?

I have to get to the bottom of this. No matter how troublesome it is, I must find out!

Minato Namikaze silently made up his mind. Although doing so might bring enormous trouble, as Hokage, he had to shoulder his responsibilities.

Aside from that, Xia Yan really has given me a surprise...

Setting down the scroll in his hand, Minato Namikaze turned his gaze toward Kakashi, who was still kneeling on one knee.

When Kakashi had arrived that day, he had noticed a great change in the boy's demeanor.

At first, he had not understood what had happened, but after reading this scroll, particularly the latter half about Kakashi and Xia Yan's visit to the Heroes' Cemetery, he seemed to understand completely.

Failure is life's main theme? It sounds extremely pessimistic, but only after carefully understanding its meaning can you see just how optimistic and positive its essence is.

Indeed, when he first read those words Xia Yan had said to Kakashi, Minato Namikaze could not help shaking his head.

Only after reading the whole thing did he realize that Xia Yan had actually been using this approach to console Kakashi.

Moreover, Minato Namikaze had to admit that Xia Yan's words made a great deal of sense. This boy really was both insightful and gentle.

Also, does this boy seem to be planning to learn sealing jutsu?

Minato Namikaze silently considered things. He already had a few ideas, and he thought perhaps he could meet this young Anbu.

Whether to thank him or for some other purpose.

At this thought, Minato Namikaze raised his head and looked at Kakashi. "It seems I really ought to thank Xia Yan properly, wouldn't you say, Kakashi?"

"Lord Hokage..." Kakashi lowered his head even further.

"All right, you may go." Minato Namikaze waved a hand casually. "It's your day off today. Get some proper rest, and once your days off are over, bring Xia Yan to see me."

"Yes, Lord Hokage." Kakashi nodded earnestly.

His teacher wanting to meet Xia Yan did not seem to surprise Kakashi. Xia Yan knew a great many things, and his teacher probably wanted to learn about them too.

Aside from that, Kakashi could also tell that his teacher did not intend to let certain matters get out. Otherwise, he would not have said anything about "thanking Xia Yan properly."

Clearly, that was an excuse.

Kakashi obediently stood up, turned, and left the Hokage's office.

As far as he was concerned, he had finished reporting everything he needed to that day. As for what would happen next, Kakashi was not quite sure, but he did not dwell on it.

Still, I'd better go let Captain know now.

With that thought, Kakashi simply ran toward Xia Yan's home.

Since Xia Yan was his captain, Kakashi had naturally made some inquiries about him. Interestingly, Might Guy and the others seemed quite familiar with Xia Yan.

Whether it was his personality or where he lived, Might Guy knew it all, apart from what exactly he did for a living.

This made Kakashi realize that Xia Yan seemed to have that gentle disposition wherever he went.

Still, he was a little puzzled. Why would someone as gentle as Xia Yan choose to join the Anbu?

Clearly, in his view, the Anbu was not a suitable place for Xia Yan. Although Kakashi had only joined recently, he had already learned a great deal about it.

Thinking about this as he went, he soon reached Xia Yan's home. To his disappointment, Xia Yan did not seem to be there.

However, a neighbor told Kakashi that Xia Yan had gone out very early and seemed to have headed to a nearby training ground.

With that information, Kakashi did not linger and quickly headed toward that training ground.

It looks like Captain is a very disciplined person.

Someone who did not forget to keep training even during his time off certainly deserved respect.

Now Kakashi also seemed to understand why Xia Yan had been unremarkable at the academy, yet was so frighteningly strong now!

Having witnessed Xia Yan's speed, he knew very well that he probably would be no match for Xia Yan going all out, even with his Sharingan.

Being able to see Xia Yan's movements was one thing, but being able to keep up was another matter entirely.

Before long, Kakashi reached the training ground and soon found Xia Yan in its innermost section.

He did not think much of it, perhaps because he trusted Xia Yan. He simply walked up and called out:

"Captain..."