The rules of the Ninja World are cruel like this.
Even a child is a tool of the ninja.
During the Ninja World Wars, it was not uncommon for each Ninja Village to send six-year-old children onto the battlefield for the sake of victory.
The only slightly heartless...
Is perhaps the fact that Naruto Uzumaki's parents were heroes.
Naruto's father was the Fourth Hokage of Konoha, Namikaze Minato, and his mother was the past Nine-tails Jinchuriki, Uzumaki Kushina.
During the Nine-tails' rampage, this couple sacrificed themselves to protect Konoha.
Perhaps they believed the village would take care of their orphan.
After all, Namikaze Minato was the Fourth Hokage and had always had a close relationship with the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and over the years had many comrades in the village.
Perhaps they believed Konoha would protect the Nine-tails Jinchuriki. After all, Uzumaki Kushina was also the previous Nine-tails Jinchuriki, and Konoha Village had always protected Uzumaki Kushina well, with her experiencing almost no discrimination or exclusion.
No matter what, they are already dead.
Leaving only a child named Naruto Uzumaki to face this world alone, confronting its ever-present dangers.
"The Nine-tails Jinchuriki..."
"The most ferocious Tailed Beast in this world..."
"Also the most formidable war weapon in this world!"
Shimura Danzo put down the list of newborns in his hand and murmured coldly to himself: "If Wood Release can suppress the Nine-tails... we can implement a true Nine-tails Jinchuriki cultivation plan, forging the Nine-tails Jinchuriki into Konoha's sharpest weapon!"
Shimura Danzo's ideals are very straightforward.
First, to become the Hokage himself and reach the pinnacle of life; second, for Konoha to unify the Ninja World and stand at the peak of the Ninja World.
Unfortunately.
Neither ideal has been realized, and with Shimura Danzo's advancing age, those ideals have almost become dreams.
However, great ideals always require a first step, and Shimura Danzo remembered Akihara Kagura, whom he brought back from Orochimaru, and couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement!
As long as this child's Wood Release talent is strong enough, he could find an opportunity to kill Sarutobi Hiruzen, assisting him in rising to the position of Hokage; then use this child's Wood Release to refine the Nine-tails Jinchuriki into a war weapon and launch a Ninja World War with the Nine-tails' power to unify the Ninja World!
Now...
It's time to take that first step towards his ideals again!
Step one, test Akihara Kagura's Wood Release talent!
Knock knock knock...
There was a knocking sound from outside the door.
"Come in."
Shimura Danzo called out for the person to enter.
"Yes, Lord Danzo."
Aburame Ryuma and Akihara Kagura walked in.
Shimura Danzo looked up and saw that Aburame Ryuma's shoulder was wrapped in a bandage and subconsciously frowned: "Ryuma, are you injured?"
"This is..."
Aburame Ryuma hesitated to speak.
"I injured him."
Akihara Kagura interrupted Aburame Ryuma, speaking up: "The room the senior arranged for me was uncomfortable, so he helped me stretch my bones, and I helped him bleed a little."
"..."
Aburame Ryuma couldn't help but glance sideways.
"..."
Shimura Danzo's expression was a bit displeased.
"Jia."
"Do not seek temporary comfort."
After reprimanding in a stern voice, Shimura Danzo suddenly thought of something and abruptly asked: "You two had a private conflict... who won?"
"The senior arranged for me a more comfortable room."
After saying this, Akihara Kagura nonchalantly continued: "It's just a minor injury, it's not like I'm going to die. I wanted to come quickly to see Lord Danzo, but the senior insisted on bandaging first..."
"..."
Aburame Ryuma's corner of his eye twitched.
Is this kid speaking human language?
Even though coming quickly to see Lord Danzo is indeed more important, there's no particularly important task today, and on their way here they also just incidentally found some bandages to wrap the wound. There's really nothing wrong with that, is there?
"..."
Shimura Danzo felt something was a bit off.
Theoretically speaking, Aburame Ryuma actually had no problem, but what Akihara Kagura said also made sense; refusing to come to see him earlier because of wound dressing...
In Root...
Everything should adhere to his will first and foremost.
Members of Root...
Have always been willing to sacrifice their lives for missions...
Aburame Ryuma has been his guard, with increasingly easier missions, and has actually fallen to the point where he can't endure even a minor injury?
Wrong!
The point isn't this!
The point is that this kid won against Aburame Ryuma!
Even though Aburame Ryuma isn't known for much, being skilled at infiltration and intelligence theft, he is still a battle-hardened Konoha Jonin and yet lost to a kid!
Shimura Danzo's mind stirred, his gaze fixed on the young man in front as he stood up to say something, but abruptly halted.
"Ryuma, go to the Land of Water."
"Perhaps staying by my side has been too comfortable for you."
"To the point that you've forgotten that a ninja does not fear sacrifice."
Turning to look at Aburame Ryuma, Shimura Danzo instructed in a deep voice: "I remember that you are Root's most adept at infiltration and intelligence gathering. Go investigate the information on the Land of Water and uncover what plots the Hidden Mist Village has."
"Yes, Lord Danzo."
After accepting the task, Aburame Ryuma raised his head, wanting to explain to Shimura Danzo that he was not that kind of person.
"I..."
"Lord Danzo!"
Akihara Kagura interrupted Aburame Ryuma, speaking up: "Why not give this task to me? I haven't done anything for Lord Danzo yet!"
"No need."
Shimura Danzo shook his head and continued: "This task is too dangerous; it's too early for you. Your Wood Release Bloodline is more important than most..."
"Since you've defeated Ryuma, proving your strength exceeds his, for now, you will follow by my side as my retainer, and I will properly teach you the inheritance of Root's will..."
Speaking slowly, Shimura Danzo supported himself on the table and stood up: "Come with me to the training ground, and I will teach you a new Wood Release Ninjutsu..."
"Yes."
Akihara Kagura quickly followed.
"..."
Standing at the doorway, Aburame Ryuma watched the elder and the young leave with a sense of confusion in his eyes.
In between...
Did something change?
Forget it.
Aburame Ryuma decided not to dwell on it anymore.
As long as he returns from his mission in the Land of Water, time will prove everything, and Lord Danzo will see that he was never a ninja who clings to life and fears death.
On the covered bridge.
The young man followed behind the elder with calm and focused eyes.
Even though Root ninjas are forever compliant with Shimura Danzo's will, they ultimately are not the same person, and differences in words will lead them down divergent paths.
It was destined from the start.
Because Shimura Danzo would never completely trust Root members; otherwise, he wouldn't have planted the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal on their tongues to prevent them from leaking information.