Chapter 245: The Village Feels A Bit Off Tonight
Yamanaka Riko waited a long time in the study but did not see the clan head.
She arrived at the Yamanaka Clan’s clan meeting main hall with worry, but still did not see the clan head.
She heard others say that after the Danzo Advisor left, the clan head hurriedly went to the neighboring Nara Clan compound.
Yamanaka Ruri searched everywhere in the clan compound for her older sister and finally found Yamanaka Riko in the main hall.
“Older sister, you left halfway through your meal, so I brought you some rice balls.”
Yamanaka Riko ate the rice balls and said, “I didn’t raise you in vain; you even know your older sister is hungry.”
A few hours later, Yamanaka Ino returned from the Nara Clan compound.
He immediately had Yamanaka Riko come to see him.
Entering the clan head’s study, seeing the clan head’s pained expression, Yamanaka Riko immediately understood that something terrible must have happened.
Yamanaka Ino said slowly, “Riko, I just talked for a long time with the Nara Clan Head and the Akimichi Clan Head.
The Danzo Advisor wants every ninja clan to send talent to Root. Shikaku said this matter has no solution.
The Third Hokage extremely relies on the Danzo Advisor. Many tasks that the Hokage cannot handle personally or that require leaving the village for a long time are handled by the Danzo Advisor.
The Danzo Advisor’s Root has suffered a heavy blow from unknown individuals and urgently needs reinforcement.
Shikaku said this is not only the Danzo Advisor’s request but also the Hokage’s intention.
Lord Danzo bears much karma and the anger of unknown individuals on behalf of Konoha.
If it weren’t for Lord Danzo, others would be hated by Konoha’s enemies.
Konoha cannot be without Root.
As the Hokage’s supporters, the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans must step forward and set an example.
The Danzo Advisor wants an elite chunin or special jonin, as well as a child who has not yet reached the age to enter the Ninja Academy and has outstanding talent. We can only agree.”
Yamanaka Riko was stunned: “How can we let a child enter Root? Is this to brainwash and train them from a young age into mission machines?”
“The Danzo Advisor despises betrayal and emphasizes absolute loyalty.” Yamanaka Ino looked at Yamanaka Riko, his eyes full of guilt:
“Riko, let’s not talk about the child entering Root for now. The Danzo Advisor specifically named Yamanaka Ruri to enter Root and undergo Root training.”
“What!”
Yamanaka Riko could not help but step forward, her eyes full of anxiety:
“Clan Head, last year when Root came to the clan to select people, I volunteered to go to Anbu for the clan!
I am willing to resolve a trouble for the clan and protect my younger sister.
Clan Head, I have already served the clan in Anbu. How can you still let my younger sister go to Root?”
Yamanaka Ino was equally pained: “Riko, I feel worse than you do, but I can’t find any good solution. The Danzo Advisor is aggressive.
At this time, Danzo cannot be resisted head-on.
His Root has the righteousness of executing dark missions for the village and the support of the Hokage. I really want to refuse, and I have refused before.
But the situation forces my hand; I really have no choice.
After Root suffered heavy losses, the Danzo Advisor will never yield to us. He can’t find the killer who assassinated the Root ninjas, but he can find us—we’ve always been right here.
Sorry, Riko.
The same thing is happening in every ninja clan.
You don’t need to worry too much either. After Root training, not everyone will enter Root; some will enter Anbu.
What I can do is try to arrange for Ruri to enter Anbu.
Prop has already entered Root. The previous few Ding were also Yamanaka Clan ninjas and sacrificed in the Land of Rain.
This is the life of a ninja; cruelty always accompanies us.”
Yamanaka Ino sympathized greatly with Yamanaka Riko, but he was truly powerless.
As supporters of the Hokage, they certainly enjoyed many benefits, such as the rapid increase in the number of jonin and special jonin.
However, when the Third Hokage made a request, they were also the ones who could refuse the least.
Yamanaka Riko left in pain; she did not know how to face her younger sister.
Yakushi Nonou’s Orphanage.
Danzo suddenly appeared in the corridor with Prop and Ketsu.
Zhen Li was the first to notice someone in the corridor. She quickly got up and woke the vice principal.
Prop said, “Root is conscripting orphans. Open the dormitory; I need to test the orphans’ ninja talent.”
The vice principal said, “Ninja Lord, this is the orphanage founded by Miss Yakushi Nonou. They haven’t gone to the Ninja Academy yet; they’re so young—how can they be conscripted?”
Prop formed hand seals and instantly controlled the vice principal. The vice principal’s strength was average and could not resist the Yamanaka Clan secret jutsu; she collapsed against the wall.
Zhen Li stepped forward, but Ketsu quickly reached out, his fingertip pressing on Zhen Li’s ninja headband.
“Chunin Zhen Li, do you intend to defy the village’s orders?”
Zhen Li glanced at the Danzo Advisor behind Ketsu and knew there was no way out today.
Danzo said, “Konoha Village cannot provide a safe environment for orphans in vain. From now on, orphans have the obligation to serve Konoha.
Only when the village is safe can this orphanage enjoy safety.”
Prop entered the dormitory.
It was called a dormitory, but it was just one large room.
A curtain hung in the middle. On the large bed on the south side of the curtain, more than 20 girls slept crowded together. On the large bed on the north side, more than 20 boys were squeezed in.
Prop successively touched his finger to the top of each child’s head and soon selected 6 children.
Some children woke up in a daze, unaware that their fate was about to change dramatically.
After Danzo and the others left, Zhen Li first carried the unconscious vice principal to the bed, then hurried to contact Director Yakushi Nonou.
At Tsuruzuki Izakaya, Yoru was adding water to the water jar in the backyard when he suddenly set down the bucket, jumped onto the rooftop, and looked into the distance.
Qiao Yi asked from the courtyard, “What’s wrong?”
“The village is a bit strange tonight, but it’s none of our business.”
Yoru thought to himself, I’ll talk about it when I go to Anbu tomorrow.
Jumping down from the rooftop, Yoru picked up Qiao Yi.
Qiao Yi wrapped her arms around Yoru’s neck: “You scared me; I thought you wanted to get intimate on the rooftop tonight.”
“Oh? You reminded me—how about at the entrance tonight?”
“No way! What if ninjas jump over from the rooftop and see us?”
“You have to trust my strength; I’ll notice in advance.”
Investigating at the entrance, sometimes even pushing into the courtyard, and after finishing the investigation, feeling refreshed.
The next morning, Yoru entered Anbu early.
Unexpectedly, Purple Cat had arrived before him.
Yoru touched his lower abdomen; he had been too excited in the new environment last night, and doing it again in the morning was a bit difficult.
So early, with few Anbu around, was Purple Cat waiting specifically for him?
Purple Cat said urgently, “Captain, you’ve seen my research data. I have a younger sister who was specifically named by the Danzo Advisor yesterday to enter Root for Root training.
The Danzo Advisor’s specific naming, the Yamanaka Clan cannot refuse. The clan head said he would try to get my younger sister into Anbu instead of Root.
Anbu is dangerous, but better than Root.
Captain, do you have any way to help my younger sister?”
Yoru was stunned—Purple Cat’s younger sister had been taken?
Yoru still remembered that on the Land of Rivers battlefield, Purple Cat’s younger sister had just been assigned to an Ino-Shika-Cho squad.
Purple Cat had even assassinated the Nara Clan ninja in it because that Nara ninja had previously turned a teammate into a shadow puppet.
How long had it been since Purple Cat’s younger sister graduated?
