Part Time Employee in Konoha (Completed)

On the way back to Konoha.

Shimura Danzo always thought that Akihara Kagura was a well-behaved child, as children used as experiment subjects are usually scared into obedience by the terrifying human experiments.

However,

This little guy was an exception.

Throughout the journey, Akihara Kagura showed great curiosity about the outside world, even asking if they could fish while resting by the river.

Fishing?

Only those with a lazy approach to life would fish!

As the Konoha's darkness, the Root, how could they waste time on such things? Even in desperate times, they would only resort to spearing fish for food!

Shimura Danzo realized this child might have a great curiosity about the world, perhaps never having seen real darkness. He thought he needed to nurture him properly once they got back.

Just let the little guy see the cruelty of the world, and he would surely become obedient and sensible. Danzo prided himself on being good with children, especially turning a relatively normal child into a merciless killing tool.

However...

Akihara Kagura quickly changed his mind.

"Wood Release: Piercing Technique!"

Akihara Kagura demonstrated a fish-spearing technique using Wood Release by the river!

A wooden spike emerged from the young boy's palm, fiercely thrusting into the river and piercing through a meter-long fish, which started to struggle violently!

In the next moment!

The boy's fingers came together!

The wooden spike astonishingly branched out and grew further!

A dense cluster of wooden spikes grew inside the fish, completely piercing through its body, and blood instantly stained the river red!

This Wood Release...

Looked extremely cruel.

"Lord Danzo, I caught a fish!"

Akihara Kagura looked at Shimura Danzo with a face full of joy.

The boy's smile was pure and innocent, yet it appeared exceptionally cold-blooded and merciless against the backdrop of his bloody fishing method, as if taking lives was a pleasure for him.

He was a natural-born killer.

"Not bad..."

The old man watched this bloody scene and slowly expressed a rare compliment: "An exquisite Wood Release, a good child..."

Regardless of the boy's Wood Release Kekkei Genkai or his attitude towards life, Shimura Danzo felt that he really found a good seed this time, ensuring his future loyalty.

Konoha Village.

The wealthiest ninja village.

Worried about his whereabouts being discovered and eager to see the full extent of Akihara Kagura's Wood Release talent, Shimura Danzo hurriedly brought the boy back to Konoha.

Shimura Danzo never liked to enter through the main gate when returning to the village. Instead, he preferred sneaking in through the back mountain of Konoha, opening the sealed barrier, and returning to the Root Organization's base.

Akihara Kagura followed Shimura Danzo and jumped into a well, entering the Root organization's base, immediately feeling the sinister and gloomy atmosphere.

This superior...

Had an overly dark style!

The entire base of the Root organization was hidden underground.

Even the classical pavilions and towers built within the headquarters of the Root organization, some luxuriously clinging to the cliffside, couldn't dispel the gloomy feel shrouded in darkness.

The dull sound of knocking on wood echoed underground.

A group of people couldn't help but turn their heads towards the boy who suddenly started knocking on the railing.

"A."

Danzo looked displeased and coldly said to the boy, showing dissatisfaction with his behavior, "What are you doing? Be quiet."

"Yes, Lord Danzo."

Akihara Kagura responded and explained, "I originally thought it would be a stone railing, but to my surprise, it's wood. Lord Orochimaru once mentioned..."

"Shut up!"

A trace of anger appeared on Shimura Danzo's face as he stared at the boy and coldly said, "A, from today onwards, forget the name Orochimaru completely!"

"Yes, Lord Danzo."

Akihara Kagura complied once more and continued, "That person had mentioned that the underground air is humid, and wooden structures easily rot."

...

Everyone present fell silent.

Shimura Danzo thought his earlier words might have been too subtle and wanted to reiterate to the boy to forget not just the name of Orochimaru but the person entirely, yet he felt it would seem too petty.

"I'm off to handle official business."

Shimura Danzo, somewhat helplessly, waved his hand and instructed his subordinate, "Tatsuma, arrange his accommodation and make him understand the Will of Root before bringing him to me."

"Yes."

Aburame Tatsuma nodded respectfully and coldly looked at the boy, "Follow me, don't wander off, this base is full of traps and forbidden areas."

"I understand."

Akihara Kagura obediently followed behind Aburame Tatsuma.

The Root organization's headquarters was vast.

The whole base was like a giant well, with tall classical buildings clinging to the stone walls, and bridges connecting these structures.

"A, this is where you'll be staying."

Aburame Tatsuma led Akihara Kagura to a dormitory.

The room only had one cabinet, the floor was covered with a bedding, a lamp was placed in the corner of the wall, and it looked a bit empty.

"Um..."

Akihara Kagura glanced at his dwelling and made a request, "Get me a bed, I don't like sleeping on the floor..."

"No."

Aburame Tatsuma shook his head and said coldly, "Members of the Root do not need useless emotions and external sensations; your only task is to accept the arrangements."

"..."

Akihara Kagura raised his eyebrows and asked, "This... are you my boss? Or are you going to be my boss in the future?"

"No, and I will not be."

Aburame Tatsuma shook his head again and answered, "Only Lord Danzo is the sole leader; everyone acts based on Lord Danzo's commands."

That's the theory.

In reality, the Root also has some unwritten rules. As Danzo's close guard, Aburame Tatsuma's status is obviously higher than other members.

However, the hearts of the Root members are devoid of distractions, only focused on the tasks assigned by Lord Danzo. When have they ever cared about hierarchical status?

"Now I convey to you the Will of Root..."

Aburame Tatsuma didn't notice the young man's emotions and continued on his own, "Members of the Root have no names, no emotions, no past, and no future. Only the mission is in their hearts, supporting the great tree of Konoha in the background, is the deeply rooted will of us 'Root'..."

"What's your name?"

Akihara Kagura asked his first question.

"Aburame Tatsuma."

"Isn't that a name? Aren't you a member of the Root?"

"That's not a name."

Aburame Tatsuma's answer was very quick, as if he had been indoctrinated before, "Aburame Tatsuma is my code name in the Root. Lord Danzo is familiar with my past, so he made my past name my code name in the Root."

"You remember you have a past..."

Akihara Kagura seemed to find a loophole and slowly said, "This doesn't quite align with the will of our Root…"