If the medical ninja was the most important member of a ninja squad, then the Sensor Ninja was no less important.
Detecting the enemy first gave a squad the greatest advantage in battle.
But just like medical ninjas, Sensor Ninjas were difficult to train.
And Yamanaka Tsuki, who now knelt respectfully on one knee before Shihōin Naraku, was an excellent Sensor Ninja.
Not only was she powerful, but she also possessed outstanding sensory abilities.
That was why Naraku had summoned her first.
Of course, it was also because Yamanaka Tsuki was the captain of the Anbu's Moon Squad!
"Drink this!"
Naraku pushed the cup of medicinal liquid he had prepared in advance toward Yamanaka Tsuki. She merely glanced at him before picking it up without hesitation and drinking it in one gulp.
"Don't swallow!"
Ninjas from Root had this advantage: once their superior gave an order, they would carry it out to the letter.
There was no helping it. That was simply how Danzo operated.
Following Naraku's instructions, Yamanaka Tsuki held the medicinal liquid in her mouth without swallowing.
Naraku rose and walked over to Yamanaka Tsuki. Her puffed-out cheeks looked a little comical, but he immediately composed his expression and began.
"Stand up first..."
With the liquid still in her mouth, Yamanaka Tsuki naturally could not reply. She immediately stood straight, facing Naraku.
Watching Yamanaka Tsuki's fair neck, Naraku rapidly formed hand seals with both hands, then extended his index and middle fingers together, gathering chakra around them.
Then, like lightning, Naraku pressed his fingers against Yamanaka Tsuki's slender neck.
"Seal Release!"
Immediately afterward, Naraku watched Yamanaka Tsuki's face darken. She could barely resist spitting out the liquid in her mouth.
"You can spit it out in ten seconds..."
"...Blech!"
Ten seconds passed, and Yamanaka Tsuki could no longer hold back, spitting out the liquid.
The originally red liquid now looked as though it had been completely stained black with ink.
The Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal had been removed!
Even if Yamanaka Tsuki had not understood what her superior was doing at first, she now had a vague idea.
Shihōin Naraku reached for a mirror and held it before Yamanaka Tsuki.
Yamanaka Tsuki immediately stuck out her tongue, staring excitedly at her reflection.
Sure enough, the sealing formula of the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal had completely disappeared.
"Lord Naraku!!!"
Overcome with excitement, Yamanaka Tsuki dropped to one knee before Naraku again, expressing her feelings.
"All right. You've followed me on all sorts of dangerous missions lately. This is your reward."
Shihōin Naraku understood why Yamanaka Tsuki was so excited. After all, nobody wanted a seal placed on them for no reason.
"From now on, I am willing to follow your every instruction, my lord."
"I hear you..." Shihōin Naraku watched Yamanaka Tsuki thoughtfully and had her raise her head. "But Yashiro Ao recently joined the emergency medical unit. Do you think you would be suited to it?"
"Although I've already left the emergency medical unit, I can still get you in, if you're willing. That way, you can work with your former colleagues..."
Former colleagues?
The Anbu?
Or Root?
"I am willing to follow your instructions, Lord Naraku!"
"Life in the Anbu is very good. I like it here!"
Yamanaka Tsuki's response did not surprise Naraku. Sure enough, he had not imagined her attempts to draw closer during their previous missions.
During those missions, Naraku had noticed that Yamanaka Tsuki carried out his orders exceptionally well.
Of course, Naraku would not trust her so easily. Only after investigating her in secret had he decided to accept her allegiance.
"By the way, your older brother..." Shihōin Naraku looked at Yamanaka Tsuki and asked, "Where is Yamanaka Fū?"
"Fū?!"
Surprise flashed through Yamanaka Tsuki's eyes. She had not expected her superior to be so well informed that he even knew of Yamanaka Fū's existence.
"Yamanaka Fū should be Elder Danzo's guard. After Lord Hokage forcibly disbanded Root, most of its members joined the Anbu, while some returned to ordinary ninja life. But there were others whose whereabouts became unknown."
"However, through our clan connections, I happened to discover that Yamanaka Fū is still protecting Elder Danzo."
"But..."
Yamanaka Tsuki looked up at Naraku. Seeing no change in his expression, she immediately continued:
"Elder Danzo has a secret base inside No. 0 Training Ground. I entered No. 0 Training Ground once while escorting supplies."
"But I didn't get inside the base. I only handed over the supplies outside."
Danzo had a base inside No. 0 Training Ground?
That was a decent discovery. Naraku was not at all surprised that Danzo had a secret base.
Orochimaru dug holes and built bases everywhere like a rabbit. It would be perfectly normal for Danzo to have some contingency plans.
But when Naraku recalled the situation at No. 0 Training Ground, he realized it really was an ideal place to build a secret base.
After all, the training ground had been closed decades ago. Apart from the many rare and dangerous exotic beasts still inside, ordinary people were forbidden from entering.
Shihōin Naraku committed this information to memory, then set it aside for the moment and continued asking:
"Do you think there are any other suitable people?"
Naraku's gaze fell on the medicinal liquid he had concocted to remove the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal, and Yamanaka Tsuki immediately understood what he meant.
He wanted her to name former Root members who would be suitable as Naraku's subordinates.
"The members of Moon Squad can all be trusted. I am willing to vouch for them!"
"In Squad Three, led by 'Three,' there should only be one person you can trust, my lord."
"And among the other candidates in the Anbu, there are also..."
Yamanaka Tsuki shared all the intelligence she knew. Since she had already pledged herself to Naraku, there was no need to hold anything back.
Besides, given Naraku's background and experience, he might become Hokage at any time. Between Danzo and Naraku, the choice was obvious.
"All right. Bring them here!"
These candidates were much the same as those Naraku had selected himself. There was only one person he knew little about due to limited intelligence, so he had not known that person had once been a diehard Danzo loyalist.
As for why he trusted Yamanaka Tsuki, this was actually a simple test for her as well. If any problems arose, Naraku would only take it up with Yamanaka Tsuki.
As for himself, he was the leader, the superior. None of that was his concern.
Soon, Naraku personally removed the sealing jutsu from these former Root members.
From this moment on, they were Naraku's loyal subordinates.
As for returning to Danzo, once their sealing jutsu had been removed, given Danzo's personality, he would never trust them again, not even if his life depended on it!
After all, how could Danzo be certain what intelligence these former subordinates had leaked to Shihōin Naraku after their seals were removed? There was no way to clear that up.
And indeed, Naraku had already dug some secret intelligence about Danzo out of them.
"Is No. 0 Training Ground that important?"
Once these subordinates left, Naraku began thinking it over carefully.
From what they had said, he discovered that Danzo paid considerable attention to the closed No. 0 Training Ground.
He had originally thought there was, at most, a small base there. But judging by his new subordinates' intelligence, there was more to this training ground than met the eye.
"What exactly is in that place?"
"And why do I feel like I've overlooked something? Did I read something about it somewhere?"
"Forget it. I can't remember. I'll go see the Third Hokage first. Today, I'm going to demand my pay from him!"
Before you continue