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JST Chapter 42: The Root Exposed
🕑 Added 2024-09-03 05:16:57 +0000 UTCSarutobi Hiruzen rudely interrupted Shimura Danzo's chatter and pointed at him sternly: "Kazuki's whereabouts and future are directly connected to me, the Hokage, and it is not your turn as the Hokage's assistant to make decisions!"
"You have secretly used the root to hide information from me, you have seriously injured one of the most talented shinobi in the village..."
"In the past, when you blackmailed the shinobi of the Yamanaka and Aburame clans, at least you negotiated with them in words, and I, the Hokage, could also help you appease them a little in the name of expanding the power of the root to defend Konoha."
"Nowadays, you are becoming more and more arbitrary, and you are simply an asshole!"
"Danzo, you are too presumptuous!"
Shimura Danzo's eyes went dark.
In fact, he didn't hear what Sarutobi Hiruzen said later.
Just hearing 'I am the Hokage' and 'You, the Hokage's assistant', his blood pressure began to rise.
It's like this again!
It's always like this!
The title of Hokage Assistant is only two words more than Hokage, but it is a chasm that cannot be overcome no matter how hard you try!
With just one word from Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzo has no ability to resist, and even loses his position.
This is the Hokage, the only existence of Konoha...
"Why, Hiruzen?"
Shimura Danzo's eyes were full of anger, and he said viciously: "You blame me for a kid from the Uchiha clan. Have you forgotten how Tobirama-sensei views the Uchiha clan?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen sneered. "Danzo, this is why I am the Hokage."
"Tobirama-sama can cultivate shinobi like Kagami, not by brainwashing and curse seals in the root, but by the will of fire that gathers people's hearts."
"The root is buried in the darkness, do what you should do, and don't think about competing with the leaf for nutrition."
Shimura Danzo's eyes suddenly became dangerous.
He doesn't want to be a root for life, he wants to climb to the top step by step and be the shining leaf!
But Hiruzen did not fear him. In fact, he added something that made Danzo's heart shudder.
"You and Orochimaru are doing human experiments secretly, do you think I don't know?"
"Danzo, I've been waiting for you to confess to me, but now it seems that you just want to hide it from me..."
Danzo's dangerous look instantly changed to one of uncertainty.
Sarutobi Hiruzen actually knows his roots so well.
It's only been a few days, and Kinoe has just awakened his talent for wood release, and Sarutobi Hiruzen has arrived at the door?
For a while, Shimura Danzo didn't even trust the roots.
The Root was surely infiltrated by Hiruzen! He must have spies among them!
"Remove you from your position as assistant to the Hokage and confine yourself to your home for three months. Reflect on it, Danzo."
Sarutobi Hiruzen coldly issued an order to Danzo and waved his hand.
In an instant, countless black shadows appeared from all directions, half-kneeling in front of the Hokage.
The ANBU is directly under the orders of the Hokage.
And among them, one of the most powerful shinobi in Konoha today: Hatake Sakumo.
"Sakumo, you lead the team to thoroughly investigate the Root."
Sarutobi Hiruzen said coldly: "The members of the Root must also be checked from inside to outside, and don't worry about Orochimaru if you meet him."
"The darkness in the village cannot grow without restraint."
Shimura Danzo immediately clenched his teeth.
Not only did this mean the loss of a shinobi with Wood Release abilities, but the root could also be severely weakened.
Sakumo nodded, not even looking at Danzo, and turned to leave quickly.
"Hatake Sakumo..."
Shimura Danzo stared at his back. He had already hated this person. Not only was he one of the obstacles to his ascension to the top of the Hokage position, but he was also Sarutobi Hiruzen's loyal dog.
If he couldn't face Hiruzen directly, he would cut off his wings first.
"It's no good for the village to treat the Root like this!"
Shimura Danzo was still making his last effort, and roared angrily: "Hiruzen, you will regret it!"
"Danzo, I am the Hokage!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen waved his hand and responded very smoothly.
This conversation has been played out countless times in the decades that the two have worked together.
Shimura Danzo turned around and left, furious.
But after taking two steps, he seemed to feel something was wrong.
This is not the Hokage's office, there is no door for him to slam...
If he doesn't slam something, he really can't vent the suppressed anger in his heart!
[Bang!]
So, Shimura Danzo slammed his crutches to the ground, snorted as if in protest, and left quickly.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Shimura Danzo who was in a bad mood but shook his head and chuckled.
"You are still so naive, Danzo. If you don't make any progress, how can you surpass me?"
"However, you have reminded me that I should think of a suitable teacher for Asuma and Kazuki... Asuma has suggested Tsunade to me. It is not a bad choice, but I need to consider it carefully..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen pondered.
Choosing Asuma and Kazuki's teacher, in the context of the tradition of Hokage and his disciples, was not an easy task...
...
Konoha.
Root.
Sakumo led the group of ANBU, advancing at the front while inspecting every corner of the Root base.
The gloomy and terrifying Root is the most mysterious building and area in Konoha.
Ordinary jonin are reluctant to get too close to here, so as not to attract the attention of Shimura Danzo and cause unnecessary disasters.
But tonight, Konoha White Fang, who received the order of Sarutobi Hiruzen, led the ANBU to tear open this mysterious veil.
The so-called Root is nothing more than a detachment of the ANBU.
It's just that under the indulgence of Shimura Danzo, the Root used the power of the group to abuse individuals, and established his personal prestige with this behavior, which is essentially bullying...
But the Root shinobi who still resisted were unable to stop the advance of the squad led by Sakumo.
So, the secret of the Root was completely torn open.
A laboratory door opened, and Orochimaru slowly walked out, his eyes narrowed as he watched Sakumo. Frowning, he thought to himself, 'Danzo... Did he inadvertently anger the Old Man? How could they send Sakumo to storm the Root with such force? This is serious...'
'It's troublesome. It's not easy for me to deal with this guy...'
Hatake Sakumo stood in front with an expressionless face. Sarutobi Hiruzen gave him a very clear order: Don't worry if you meet Orochimaru.
Orochimaru, with his arms crossed, looked at the ANBU who had already searched every corner of the Root, and said in a low voice: "Everyone, this is my laboratory, there is no violation."
"Sakumo, what do you want to find? Maybe you can ask me..."
"Orochimaru, I have received orders from the Third Hokage to inspect the entire Root. Step aside."
Orochimaru looked at Sakumo with dangerous eyes and, sticking out his tongue, licked his lips.
In the laboratory behind him, there is not only a full set of experimental data on Hashirama's cells, but also the only successful degradation product at present: Root Kinoe, the first shinobi with wood release created by Konoha, that is, the future Yamato.
Due to the appearance of Kazuki, Shimura Danzo concluded that he would get a better Sharingan, so he did not hide Yamato from Orochimaru, but took him out as a material for researching a stronger wood release.
"Sakumo, I am the disciple of the Third Hokage."
"I only follow the orders of the Hokage."
Hatake Sakumo confronted Orochimaru, not giving him any face at all.
Orochimaru's face was a little embarrassed, and his pupils stood up like snakes.
"Remember this, Sakumo. Don't forget what you've done today."
Although he was a little resentful in his heart, Orochimaru still got out of the way very sincerely. What else could he do?
Hatake Sakumo led a large group of ANBU, and still searched under the order of the Hokage...
Orochimaru stared at the ANBU swarming in and shook his head.
If Kinoe and Hashirama's cells, even if these seemingly precious research materials are lost, Orochimaru is not sad.
In recent research, Orochimaru discovered that although Wood Release is indeed a very powerful Kekkei Genkai, it is not much stronger than other Kekkei Genkai in the shinobi world.
The biggest feature is that it has a special attack effect on the tailed beasts.
But in today's Konoha, there is still the Uzumaki clan's Adamantine Sealing Chains, which is no worse than the Wood Release's effect against tailed beasts.
And if it is to fight against shinobi, Wood Release does not have too many advantages.
Konoha has always wanted to reproduce the power of Senju Hashirama by reproducing Wood Release.
But Orochimaru believes: The reason why Senju Hashirama is so powerful is because of his chakra, physique, Sage Mode and other reasons. Wood Release is just one of the links, not the fundamental decisive factor.
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and let the ANBU search through his experimental data and take Kinoe away.
Wood Release is no longer what he needs.
