"Tsk tsk… Speed and strength on par with a genin, and your taijutsu is almost at the peak of genin level. Looks like all that morning training paid off. And that preemptive insight ability? Yeah… that's seriously impressive."
Yuantai let out a low chuckle as he spoke, then shifted his tone.
"But if I'd intended to kill you, a chūnin like me could have done it easily. You've got no real combat experience. Even if you can predict someone's moves, if I'd gone all-out earlier, you'd already be dead."
Uzumaki Tong froze for a moment, then understood immediately.
Even though his chakra levels had grown, and his speed and strength were at genin level, his lack of battle experience was a major weakness. If his taijutsu were stronger, then paired with the Strongest Eye and Chakra Scalpel, maybe he could fight on a chūnin level.
But real combat experience made a world of difference.
A seasoned chūnin would easily defeat another chūnin with zero combat experience. Just like Naruto, despite having the power of the Nine-Tails, if he faced someone like Itachi, the outcome would still be death.
"How about it? Want to become my student? Haha! I may not be the strongest in Root, but I can train someone like you."
Tong was stunned. Root? Was this guy really from Root?
But… weren't Root operatives supposed to have no emotions?
Then again, he remembered the two bodyguards Danzo brought to the Five Kage Summit. Those two had been incredibly loyal and emotional types—and seriously strong, too.
He furrowed his brow but slowly relaxed. Taking a deep breath, he asked cautiously:
"What exactly is Root? And… why are you interested in me? Also—why were you spying on me?"
With someone like this, he needed to be careful. He was just a seven-year-old kid, after all. If he acted like he knew too much about Root, it would raise suspicion.
Yuantai laughed again, then raised a finger. "First—what is Root? I'll only tell you… If you agree to become my student."
Then he raised a second finger. "Second—why are we interested in you? Heh, you'd have to ask our boss that. But rumor has it you possess exactly the kind of power the Uchiha want. A fusion of Uchiha and Uzumaki blood… I don't know much, honestly."
"And as for the third—why are we watching you? Simple. We wanted to see if you'd awaken some kind of power. And now… your chakra volume and ability to predict enemy movements? Yeah, that's something."
With all three reasons given, it was Uzumaki Tong's turn to make a choice.
He had no way of knowing what Root would do if he refused.
Would they just kill him as a future threat, or let him go?
No one could say for sure.
Yuantai seemed to read his thoughts. He smirked and said, "You can go home and think it over. But next time… not choosing might mean you die."
And with that, he vanished in a flicker of movement.
"Now that Root has shown up… the Uchiha clan is probably next," Tong muttered with a frown, sensing Yuantai's departure.
"But judging from how things are going, they're not gonna show up with anything nice to say."
He shook his head.
Whatever. Worst case scenario, he'd end up like Itachi—a double or even triple agent.
That thought oddly relieved him, and he ran back home.
When he opened the door, he was surprised to find his mother, Uzumaki Keiko, already home—unusually early-and dinner ready.
She seemed to be muttering something under her breath.
"Mom? Why are you home so early today?"
Tong looked at her with wide eyes. For some reason, his vision felt sharper than usual… and he noticed something he'd never seen before: tear stains at the corners of her eyes.
Startled, he rushed to her side.
"It's nothing… I was just thinking, my little Tong has grown up." Keiko suddenly hugged him tightly, almost like she wanted to melt him back into her body.
"Mom… you already know about my chakra explosion at school today?"
Tong felt a little annoyed. It hadn't even been that long—Root already knew, and now even his mom?
But as soon as her body tensed up slightly, he realized… maybe that wasn't it. Maybe she was worried about something else.
He frowned lightly and smiled. "Wait… you didn't know?"
Keiko blinked and ruffled his hair with a playful smile. "You trying to get something out of your mom, huh? Heh… you are a little grown-up now."
But her compliment didn't make Tong happy. It made him more anxious. If she wasn't telling him the truth, he couldn't just press her for answers.
Root Headquarters – Underground
Danzo looked busy, scribbling something with focused intent. At that moment, Yuantai appeared before him.
"Is it really like you said? If properly trained… he might even surpass Itachi?" said another ninja in a flak vest standing beside Danzo.
Danzo frowned. He snorted coldly, set down his pen, and replied, "Jitai, never underestimate the power of the Sharingan."
"If you haven't fought against someone with the Sharingan, you'll never understand how terrifying it is. Unless you have the power of the First or Second Hokage…"
At that, the ninja named Jitai immediately knelt on one knee.
Danzo stood and asked seriously, "What about his bloodline? Has it awakened?"
As always, Danzo's primary concern was bloodline power.
Jitai said nothing, but Yuantai laughed and answered, "Didn't see any sign of a Sharingan. But the weird part is… he can read my movements. And when I got close, he even noticed we were tailing him."
"Oh? What do you mean?" Danzo looked to Jitai for a more detailed report.
Jitai nodded and said, "While we were observing him, he spotted us. Then he had a massive chakra surge at school. That's when I rushed back to report. The combat test—that was Yuantai's doing."
Danzo turned his gaze to Yuantai and said coldly, "Tell me everything about your engagement with him. In full detail. Don't try to gloss over anything—you know what Root does to liars."
He sat back down and returned to his paperwork.
"Yes, Lord Danzo," Yuantai responded quickly. Seeing Danzo still visibly displeased, he reported seriously:
"His speed and strength are at genin level. That predictive ability of his… I don't know what it is. Maybe some kind of mutated bloodline technique. Also, he used something like a Chakra Scalpel. Not sure if it was the real thing—I'm not a medical ninja. But his combat experience is… extremely poor. I don't think he's ever been in a real fight. A single chūnin could overpower and kill him."
Danzo nodded slowly, tapping his finger rhythmically on the desk.
After a long pause, he asked again, "You're sure there was no trace of a dojutsu?"
Yuantai hesitated, then shook his head. "It felt like a dojutsu—his insight was that sharp. But no visible eye technique."
Danzo waved his hand. "That's enough. You're dismissed."
"…Lord Danzo," Yuantai suddenly blurted, "I want to take Uzumaki Tong as my student. Please grant permission."
Danzo and Jitai were both surprised.
Then Danzo gave a faint smile and said seriously, "If you can recruit him into Root… I'll allow it."
Yuantai dropped to one knee immediately. "Thank you, Lord Danzo!" Then, with a flicker, he disappeared.
"…Why did you agree to that?" Jitai began, but Danzo cut him off.
"As a loyal warrior turned ninja, Yuantai still has a passion for swordsmanship. If he sees potential in someone with talent for the blade… let him pursue it."
Danzo narrowed his eyes and muttered,
"Who knows? He might mold him into a true swordsman…"