In the evening, Mokgetsu didn't go to the Main Konoha District but stayed in the house near the Southern Border Forest to study Fuinjutsu.
Noticing someone moving swiftly nearby, Mokgetsu temporarily set aside his training and went out.
"Yo, Danzo-sama wants to see you," the Root Ninja said flatly.
"Do I need to put on the uniform?" Mokgetsu asked.
Although he didn't have an official position in Root, he still had the Root uniform and mask.
"No need, just follow me," the Root Ninja shook his head and said.
Mokgetsu silently followed behind the Root Ninja, vaguely guessing something in his heart.
The day before yesterday, he was told to be careful not to reveal his identity; today, he was openly brought to the Root Base.
Apparently, his identity no longer needed to be hidden.
Most likely, today or yesterday at the Hokage Office, an opportunity or regret occurred.
Although he was going to the Root Headquarters next, Mokgetsu wasn't too panicked inside.
A few days ago, he had just reported the situation to Danzo, revealing all the rewards he received from the Third Hokage, showcasing his utmost loyalty.
Now, he was registered under the Third Hokage and presented himself as unfailingly loyal in Root — maintaining a stable appearance.
"Danzo-sama," upon reaching the Root Base, Mokgetsu greeted Danzo with a respectful face.
"Yo, you're very talented," Danzo suddenly said.
"It's all thanks to your guidance, Danzo-sama. Without your nurturing, I would just be an ordinary orphan," Mokgetsu replied respectfully.
"Did you know, the Third Hokage values you very much," Danzo continued.
"Perhaps, on the day the special training ended, he praised me many times and awarded me two ninjutsu and three hundred thousand ryo," Mokgetsu replied according to his previous report.
"Oh, and today, my position at the Ninja Academy was also promoted to the first-grade Director, probably due to support from the Third Hokage," Mokgetsu added.
Danzo nodded, showing a thoughtful expression.
Danzo was probing whether Mokgetsu knew about Sarutobi Hiruzen wanting to take Mokgetsu away.
After some probing, combined with the mission report from a few days ago, along with confidence in his brainwashing techniques, Danzo tentatively determined Mokgetsu was loyal to him.
"I discussed with the Third Hokage and thought that your talent should be used in the Ninja Academy for nurturing ninjas, rather than remaining in Root," Danzo said after thinking for a while.
"Tomorrow, I'll go to the Hokage Building to remove the Root Curse Seal from you, so you will no longer be a ninja of Root."
"Danzo-sama, is it because I did something wrong? Why are you expelling me from Root?" Mokgetsu asked with a face full of fear.
"Danzo-sama, I want to stay and protect Konoha with you!"
At this moment, Mokgetsu's heart was extremely calm. He didn't believe Danzo's lies; the discussion with Sarutobi Hiruzen was likely about forcibly taking him away.
Since Danzo wanted to put on an act, Mokgetsu decided to play along.
Danzo was acting as the good leader willing to sacrifice his own interests to let his subordinates showcase their talents, while Mokgetsu was the loyal subordinate devoted to Root.
Seeing Mokgetsu's performance, Danzo nodded in satisfaction. Regardless of what happens, Mokgetsu currently seemed loyal to Root and to Shimura Danzo.
"No, you did very well. It's just that now you have a more important task," Danzo slowly said.
"Even if you are no longer a member of the Root Organization, if my orders ever reach you again in the future, will you still carry them out?"
"Of course, I will complete them. Danzo-sama's missions are all important for protecting Konoha," Mokgetsu said without hesitation.
Danzo smiled, then handed Mokgetsu two scrolls.
"Inside these is an advanced Fire Release Ninjutsu from the village and a Cultivation Elixir. Continue to work hard and I will let you know when you are needed," Danzo said.
Danzo wasn't worried about his investment going to waste. Even if Mokgetsu's loyalty wavered in the future, Danzo had ways to ensure his loyalty.
Resources from Root weren't so easily handed out.
"I definitely won't disappoint your expectations, Danzo-sama," Mokgetsu said, looking moved.
"If Root had more ninjas like you, Mokgetsu, I wouldn't worry about having no one to protect Konoha," Danzo said with satisfaction.
"You can go back now, train well, and await my summons."
Mokgetsu finally left with a look of reluctance, giving Danzo an assessment before leaving.
[Name: Shimura Danzo]
[Chakra: 69000]
[Skills: Wind Attribute Chakra Nature Transformation (Master: 5000/15000), Wind Release: Vacuum Wave (Master: 2100/15000)...]
[Potential: S (Basic Talent + Sharingan)]
As he expected, Danzo should have Kage-level strength, but not particularly outstanding.
Compared to his old colleague, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzo's stats were lacking; his chakra was over ten thousand less, his skills couldn't compare, and unlike Sarutobi Hiruzen, all five major basic elements were not at master level. Additionally, Danzo's master-level skill proficiency was much less than Sarutobi Hiruzen's, and he had fewer master-level ninjutsu, mostly Wind Release.
However, Mokgetsu didn't underestimate Danzo; no matter what, Danzo was much stronger than him for the time being.
Even though he didn't have many master-level ninjutsu, Danzo mastered quite a few kinjutsu; in real combat, he was still quite difficult to deal with. As seen in his battle with Mangekyo Sasuke, without Obito's help, Sasuke might have been defeated.
After walking a distance from the Root Base, Mokgetsu's expression gradually returned to calm.
"Even after the Third wants someone, you still don't want to let go. Being overly persistent can be really annoying," Mokgetsu sighed softly.
He genuinely wanted to quietly develop, do what he could once he reached a certain level of strength.
But it seemed Danzo didn't want to let him have peace; suddenly, there would be Root Ninjas appearing in his yard, and even when letting someone go, they call Mokgetsu back to Root.
Mokgetsu was very dissatisfied with Danzo, dissatisfied with Root, and dissatisfied with this dangerous, maddening world.
If in the future his strength reached a level that could suppress everything, Mokgetsu wouldn't mind standing above the heavens once, making this world a bit more normal.
After returning home, Mokgetsu took out the scrolls Danzo gave him and glanced at them.
Discovering that the so-called advanced Fire Release Ninjutsu was the Fire Dragon Flame Bomb he had already mastered, Mokgetsu immediately lost interest, and as for the Cultivation Elixir, Mokgetsu couldn't even be bothered to look at it and just tossed it into a corner.
Mokgetsu continued to study Fuinjutsu; given the current situation, it seemed Danzo wanted to use him as a nail driven into the Third Hokage's inner circle.
Thus, the study of Fuinjutsu could not stop because maybe one day Danzo would suddenly want to place another Curse Seal on him, although Mokgetsu thought it wouldn't be on the day it was removed, as getting caught by Sarutobi Hiruzen would be rather embarrassing.
"Finally mastered it," Mokgetsu nodded to himself upon finally getting the hang of the Five Elements Seal, then directly used a Skill Scroll, flooding his mind with a wealth of knowledge on Fuinjutsu.
In a world where strength is paramount, only your own strength can truly be relied upon.