"...Have Aburame Ryoma come see me."
"Yes, sir."
Uchiha Itachi left to carry out the order.
When they were not away on missions, the Anbu's elite were generally gathered in the Hokage Building.
So Aburame Ryoma arrived very quickly.
Only half a minute passed.
Then Aburame Ryoma arrived at the Hokage's Office.
Having brought him over, Uchiha Itachi tactfully withdrew from the Hokage's Office, closing the door behind him and continuing to stand guard outside.
"Fifth Hokage."
Aburame Ryoma wore a standard Anbu uniform and an animal mask, his posture as he knelt on one knee impeccable.
"Anbu member Aburame Ryoma, awaiting your orders."
"Aburame Ryoma."
Uchiha Minamoto did not grow angry. He simply sat behind his desk, his tone as calm as if they were chatting.
"Did you never consider running away?"
"Fifth Hokage."
Aburame Ryoma remained kneeling, his eyes beneath his mask fixed on the floor of the Hokage's Office.
"I don't understand what you mean."
"Then let me make myself clear."
Uchiha Minamoto leaned forward, interlacing his fingers and resting his hands on the desk.
"After the missing-nin Shimura Danzō was publicly executed, you were the one responsible for cleaning up what remained of Root, weren't you?"
"Yes, Fifth Hokage."
Aburame Ryoma answered without the slightest hesitation, then added,
"But those were orders given to me by Lord Third."
"Are you saying..."
A half-smile appeared on Uchiha Minamoto's face.
"The Third Hokage betrayed the village too?"
"I wouldn't dare!"
Aburame Ryoma instinctively raised his head to deny it, then lowered it again to look at the floor.
"That was absolutely not what I meant!"
"...Forget it."
Uchiha Minamoto shook his head, no longer pursuing that minor issue.
Since Aburame Ryoma dared to appear before him in person, Uchiha Minamoto would not wipe him out as he had