Chapter 244: Yamanaka Ryo, Let Her Into Root
Purple Cat’s legs went weak, and she walked back to her own locker room.
She changed into her own clothes and body flickered away from the Anbu ceiling.
On the way home, Yamanaka Riko’s face was full of smiles. The Fox said that if they had a child with her, the child’s name should include the character for “night.”
Should it be Yamanaka Something-night, or Yamanaka Night-something?
It’s so hard to choose.
During dinner that evening, her younger sister Yamanaka Ruri secretly watched her older sister for a long time, finally unable to hold back and asked: “Older Sister, what are you giggling about!”
Yamanaka Riko immediately put on a stern face: “Eat! No talking while eating, no talking while sleeping!”
Yamanaka Ruri said: “No talking while eating? That’s a requirement only for ninja clans with extremely strict rules like the Shimura Clan and Hyuga Clan. When have we ever had such a requirement?”
Yamanaka Ruri put down her bowl and chopsticks, leaned close to her older sister’s side, and whispered: “Older Sister, I know what missions you’ve been going on every day. Are you the legendary Anbu Ninja?”
Yamanaka Riko’s eyes instantly tensed, then quickly relaxed again.
She had never told her younger sister about her mission contents, but her younger sister was too close to her and might guess something from her whereabouts.
“Nonsense, how could I possibly be an Anbu Ninja? Don’t talk nonsense. Spreading rumors will get you captured by Anbu for interrogation.”
Yamanaka Ruri immediately backed away, saying with lingering fear:
“One of my classmates was captured for interrogation because he spread rumors about White Fang Lord, and they asked him if he was instigated by someone.
After coming out of Anbu, the whole person became much more silent, having suffered a significant blow in Anbu.”
Yamanaka Riko had some knowledge of this incident. Recently, someone was building momentum for White Fang, and White Fang’s prestige was getting higher and higher.
Today the Fox and Lord Orochimaru returned from the Land of Lightning, and the next round should be building momentum for Lord Orochimaru.
At that moment, a person suddenly opened their house door.
“Riko! The Patriarch urgently summons you!”
Riko didn’t care about eating anymore and headed to the Patriarch’s Residence.
Yamanaka Ruri enviously watched her older sister’s back. The last time she saw the Patriarch and her older sister talking under the corridor, she didn’t know what they were saying; the Patriarch listened carefully, and her older sister spoke slowly.
Her older sister’s status in the clan was getting higher and higher, receiving attention from many Jonin.
Yamanaka Riko arrived at the Patriarch’s Residence and saw Patriarch Yamanaka Inoichi.
“Riko, you’ve come.” Yamanaka Inoichi said:
“Time is pressing. Has something happened between Anbu and Root recently? Why has Danzo Advisor been entering each ninja clan compound one by one since this afternoon?”
Normally, Yamanaka Inoichi would not probe Anbu and Root intelligence, but the situation was special now.
Danzo’s actions put great pressure on the ninja clans.
Yamanaka Riko thought for a moment and said: “Patriarch, do you still remember the murders of Shimura Koh and Sarutobi Hiruzen, who were about to be promoted to Jonin?”
“I remember.”
Yamanaka Inoichi thought that those two’s strength was completely insufficient to become Jonin.
The Third Hokage and Danzo Advisor’s occasional small indulgences in power left the people below with no choice.
Yamanaka Riko continued: “Besides those two, Root has had six people killed in succession over the past few months.
I guess Danzo Advisor is entering each ninja clan compound in turn to supplement Root with powerful experts.”
Yamanaka Inoichi thought to himself, so that’s how it is.
A person hurried in from outside: “Patriarch! Danzo Advisor has entered the clan compound!”
“Please take him to the study… no, take him to the main hall. I’ll go there right now.”
Yamanaka Riko couldn’t appear; she was an Anbu Ninja, and Danzo was her superior. Whether she stood with Anbu or the family, it wasn’t appropriate, so she stayed in the Patriarch’s study.
Yamanaka Inoichi arrived at the Yamanaka Clan’s main hall and waited for Danzo.
“Please sit, Danzo Advisor.”
However, Danzo didn’t sit. Standing, he said to Yamanaka Inoichi:
“Inoichi Patriarch, although the Second Ninja War has ended, the village’s safety is not optimistic.
People hiding in the darkness are frequently provoking the village, killing the village’s key ninjas.”
Yamanaka Inoichi thought to himself, the provocations aren’t against the village; it’s probably you, isn’t it.
“Root and Anbu urgently need powerful ninjas to protect the village in the darkness and complete missions that ordinary ninjas cannot.
I have already successively notified the Aburame Clan, Hyuga Clan, and other ninja clans.
Sacrificing for Konoha, every ninja clan has no choice but to comply.
The Yamanaka Clan is the same: regularly send two ninjas to Root—one an elite Chunin or Special Jonin with outstanding immediate combat ability, and the other a young child with high talent who has not yet entered the Ninja Academy.”
Yamanaka Inoichi’s eyes were full of confusion. He knew he couldn’t avoid Danzo’s demands; he could understand a Special Jonin, but why a child?
Yamanaka Inoichi asked: “Danzo Advisor, my Yamanaka Clan is willing to offer a Chunin or Special Jonin to Anbu, but taking a child who hasn’t entered school yet—isn’t that somewhat inappropriate?”
Danzo said: “There’s nothing inappropriate. Root will cultivate them from a young age; only then can outstanding Root Ninjas be trained.
This child will eat and live in Root from childhood and will not return to the Yamanaka Clan.
Not only you; the other ninja clans are the same.”
Yamanaka Inoichi’s expression turned somewhat ugly.
This demand was too excessive.
He said: “Danzo Advisor, the original purpose of establishing Konoha Village was to prevent 10-year-old children from going to the battlefield.
Now, does that mean 4-year-old children should enter Root for training?
I absolutely will not…”
Before Yamanaka Inoichi could finish speaking, a cold wind suddenly rushed in.
Danzo’s four white eyes had small, ruthless pupils staring at Yamanaka Inoichi.
The cold wind poured into Yamanaka Inoichi’s sleeves, making him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.
Even so, Yamanaka Inoichi still said: “No, I do not agree to a 4-year-old child entering Root for training!
Danzo Advisor, in the past year, my Yamanaka Clan has already sent many ninjas to Anbu and Root.
As of now, Root and Anbu each have one Yamanaka Clan Ninja.
Not only do Root and Anbu need Yamanaka Clan Ninjas; the Interrogation Unit and Barrier Unit also need us.
We are still willing to send ninjas to Root and Anbu, as you said, sacrificing for Konoha—my Yamanaka Clan has no choice but to comply.
But producing a 4-year-old child, I must regrettably decline!”
Behind Danzo, Prop lowered his head.
He was the Yamanaka Clan Ninja serving in Root that the Patriarch mentioned.
Anbu Ninjas could go home on evenings without missions. Root Ninjas had to stay in Root 24 hours, always awaiting Lord Danzo’s summons.
Prop very much wanted to tell the Patriarch that Lord Danzo wanted 4-year-old children to cultivate absolutely loyal subordinates from a young age, subordinates untainted by family influence.
“Yamanaka Inoichi, even Nara Shikaku said nothing. Are you going to be the first to stand up and oppose me?”
Hearing that Nara Shikaku didn’t oppose, Yamanaka Inoichi’s aura instantly weakened, and he painfully narrowed his eyes slightly.
If Shikaku agreed, it proved Shikaku’s judgment that this matter was unavoidable.
Prop didn’t dare say anything and could only hope the Patriarch would quickly agree.
With such great losses in Root, Lord Danzo was bound to strengthen Root.
3- or 4-year-old children, cultivated from young, were the easiest to turn into emotionless mission machines.
If not told their identities, they wouldn’t even know who they were, with no concerns about loyalty.
Yamanaka Inoichi hesitated again and again, finally sighing and saying: “Sorry, Lord Danzo. I was mistaken just now and got a bit emotional.”
Danzo said: “I’ll name one person: Chunin Yamanaka Ruri.
Have her enter Root. Her older sister’s strength is good, so Yamanaka Ruri’s talent must be good too.
Yamanaka Ruri, plus a 4-year-old child—send them to Root tomorrow.”
