Naruto: I, Shikotsumyaku, Byakugan Princess

Chapter 185 Light and Darkness

The autumn wind, carrying clouds, drifted over the Death Forest, instantly turning the once golden water surface into a pool of black water, shrouded in shadow.

"So the Root organization was jointly established by you and Danzo, in order to suppress the Senju, Uchiha and other powerful clans that did not obey your control."

Listening to Hiruzen Sarutobi recount his past deeds with Danzo, Hairi finally understood why Danzo had such a vast power in Konoha.

When the First and Second Hokage were alive, the Senju clan was in charge of the medical and educational departments, the Hyuga clan was in charge of the sensory and reconnaissance department, and the Uchiha clan was in charge of the guard force.

Further down.

All matters, big and small, and all rights in the village were divided up by various small and medium-sized ninja clans. Even the Anbu, which nominally obeyed the Hokage's orders, were secretly controlled by the major clans. The Third Hokage was practically sidelined.

The Root organization, founded by Danzo, was actually Hiruzen Sarutobi's idea.

Unable to eliminate key personnel from the Dark Division, he simply started a new Dark Division that would obey his orders. Thus, under the guise of training members and providing fresh blood for the Dark Division, he created another Dark Division, which is now known as Root.

The Root's composition is exactly the same as the Anbu's, with seventy full-time members of Chunin rank or higher, and over a hundred other support personnel.

With the full support of various secret techniques, ninja tools, and resources, and the free viewing of forbidden techniques, the aim is to attract more ordinary geniuses and ninjas from small clans.

After that, Hiruzen Sarutobi collaborated with smaller families such as Nara and Yamanaka.

They sold the prime location in the center of Konoha to these families at a low price and handed over important departments such as reconnaissance and command to their clan leaders.

The Nara Herbal Medicine Shop, Yamanaka Flower Shop, and Akimichi Barbecue Restaurant on Central Street today are all prime locations that were sold to them back then.

Having benefited from these advantages, these clans, in turn, must provide Root with talented ninjas.

Yamanaka Fu, Aburame Torune, and others were victims of such political activities.

Everyone knows that the Root is not a good place; following Danzo means facing nine deaths and one life.

But there's no such thing as a free lunch. This was the price their family had to pay after gaining benefits from Hiruzen Sarutobi.

These commoner geniuses and secret ninjas were nominally only responsible to their leader, Shimura Danzo, but in reality, they secretly eliminated dissidents for Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Danzo was his black glove.

Danzo and Root were the ones who offended people, while Hiruzen Sarutobi, as the Hokage, was responsible for maintaining stability. He was kind and compassionate to the small and medium-sized clans, and showed a friendly attitude and humanitarian concern to the large clans that were persecuted by Danzo.

If Danzo really went too far, he would feign anger, picking it up high and then gently putting it down.

The two played opposite roles, one good cop and the other bad cop.

Only by bringing the major clans of Konoha under control can Konoha maintain stability from the impending crisis of internal strife.

The Uchiha clan's rebellion and subsequent massacre, setting aside Danzo's underhanded machinations, was actually something Root had always been doing; it was part of their job.

Until today.

They have firmly grasped the power of Konoha, and the once arrogant and domineering clans now have to rely on them for survival.

"He once sacrificed everything for Konoha and for me, burying himself deep in darkness. Even his own clan refused to associate with him, fearing they would be implicated by powerful clans." Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up at the sky, this being the first time he had spoken to anyone about his relationship with Danzo.

In the past, when many people asked him why he was so biased towards Danzo, he never said a word.

Now that the Senju and Uchiha clans have been wiped out, and the Hyuga clan is subservient and obedient, he can finally tell some of the truth to his last disciple who joined Root.

"I also made a promise. Even if he faces enemies everywhere in Konoha and is despised by countless people, as long as he doesn't betray the village, I will always be his strongest support."

"Even if he wants to kill you?" Hui Li couldn't quite understand Hiruzen Sarutobi's thought process. Isn't it common sense to just throw away the black gloves after use?
Why are you treating it like a treasure and treating it like a precious artifact?

“You don’t understand, he’s just pushing me. And the roots can never be eradicated, even if Danzo dies, the roots will not disappear.”

Gray Glass frowned deeply:

"why?"

"Because the current Dark Side is what was once the Root."

what?
Gray Glass's pupils suddenly contracted, as if a thunderclap had flashed through his mind, and all the information seemed to come together at once.

"The Dark Side training department—this isn't just empty talk." Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to sense the turmoil in the hearts of those behind him, turning to Kairi and calmly stating:
"The old members of the Anbu have either died or retired. Most of the senior members in the Anbu now are former subordinates who followed Danzo in his activities."

The two departments, the Dark Side and the Root Side, which were clearly distinct, have actually become intertwined in secret, inseparable.

Only Danzo could unite all these people from the Root Sect.

I need him to continue managing Root and Anbu to maintain stability, while Konoha needs him to do some less-than-honorable things. Even you need him, don't you?"

Hui Li's eyes flickered, but she remained silent.

Without the Hashirama cells and Sharingan provided by Danzo, as well as a large amount of information on the development of Yin-Yang Release, her Reverse Eight Gates would still be just a beautiful idea. In some ways, Danzo's help to her was even greater than that of Hiruzen Sarutobi.

As for where these things came from, everyone knows perfectly well.

They committed atrocities such as ransacking homes and exterminating clans, murder and robbery, and capturing ninjas and civilians from other villages for human experimentation.

Since she herself was unwilling to get her hands dirty, she could only steal Danzo's hard-earned fruits of labor. In essence, she was no different from Hiruzen Sarutobi, who enjoyed the fruits of his labor.

If Danzo dies, someone will have to take over all the mess and dirty business in Konoha. Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't find a suitable candidate, and given his decades-long friendship with Danzo, he naturally had to turn a blind eye to many things.

After all, there was no replacement.

The Root organization's affairs are a legacy of history. They suppressed countless ninja clans in the past, and now they have to pay the price.

"I have a way to solve the root problem."

Seeing that both the main body and Hiruzen Sarutobi had fallen silent, the Yang Release clone hesitated for a long time before finally raising its hand, like a well-behaved student who was not confident in its answer but still actively answered the teacher's question.

"Do you have any idea?"

Upon hearing the words of the Yang Release clone, not only Hiruzen Sarutobi but also the main body of Kairi was taken aback.

During this time, she was immersed in the development of ninjutsu and had not received the memories of Yang Release clones for a long time. According to the habit of thinking, it was natural to assume that she was absorbing chakra for her at Root every day and researching the Mangekyou Sharingan.

"any solution?"

Hui Li looked at her clone with its kaleidoscope eyes wide open and couldn't help but feel curious.

“I have a very suitable candidate who can manage the Root and Danzo’s old followers, and also handle the dirty and hard work in Konoha.”

"who is it?"

Hearing the words of the Yang Release clone, even Hiruzen Sarutobi became interested. Danzo and Root had become too powerful to be controlled, and he had actually been trying to find a way to stop them for a long time.

However, Konoha cannot do without Root's dark methods, which creates a conflict between the two, so the effect of curbing their power is naturally minimal.

The most perfect solution would be to find a trustworthy person who is willing and capable of taking over the Root organization and who is slightly more moderate in his actions than Danzo.

"I don't know if you've heard of him, but he's a Root member named Aburame Ryoma."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes showed a thoughtful expression, but after a moment he remembered the man who always stood behind Danzo, with a cold expression and wearing sunglasses. "That Aburame clan member with a purple tattoo on his face?"

"it's him!"

The Yang Release clone nodded quickly: "He is Danzo's right-hand man. Everyone in Root calls him 'Captain,' which corresponds to the rank of Anbu Captain."

Danzo's former subordinates should all recognize Aburame Ryoma. Since Danzo is usually not in Root, Ryoma is in charge of all affairs. Making him the leader of Root would be a natural progression.

“I know, Danzo told me about him.”

He's efficient and decisive, a man of few words, and possesses the reliable strength of an elite Jonin. If I remember correctly, that person should be one of Danzo's henchmen.

As the actual beneficiary of the Root, Hiruzen Sarutobi was clearly a key figure who had systematically learned about the area.

As the second-in-command of Root, Aburame Ryoma had followed Danzo for many years and had long been known to him.

They were indeed assassins; they dreamed of killing Danzo.

The Yang Release clone silently complained in his mind, then quickly said, "He is now my subordinate. As long as Danzo disappears, Ryuma will naturally be able to manage Root. At that time, we can slowly transform Root and return it to its original state."

Boom!

The waterfall crashed against the stubborn rocks in the pool, creating white foam. Hiruzen Sarutobi's cloudy eyes were calm, and he rubbed his fingers together without saying a word for a long time.

Hui Li's expression was not very good.

Hiruzen Sarutobi has a lot of eloquent words, but it seems he still can't bring himself to kill Danzo!
The older people get, the more they cherish old memories.

When Hiruzen Sarutobi let Orochimaru go, he did the same thing. However, there are good and bad aspects to everything. If he were as ruthless and heartless as Danzo, he would be a real problem to deal with.

"The matter of Danzo must be resolved. If one day he orders me to assassinate you, a conflict will inevitably break out between us; it's only a matter of time."

If you find it difficult, then let me do it, just don't get in my way at crucial moments.

She simply laid it all out in the open.

Danzo must die.

That Mangekyou Sharingan that can alter one's will is always a threat. Just like how Uchiha Shisui was immediately assassinated by Danzo after revealing Kotoamatsukami, she could not allow such a will-altering ninjutsu to exist.

There are dozens of pairs of three-tomoe jade at the base. If used to cast Izanagi, that would be dozens of lives. The life force of the Thousand Hands Tree, the reversed Eight Gates, the perfect combination, and the agreement between Aburame Ryoma and the Yang Release clone that was just transmitted.

She and Danzo were destined to clash; there was no room for reconciliation.

Sensing the resolve in Hairi's words, Hiruzen Sarutobi, caught between his disciple and old friend, was torn.

Thinking of Orochimaru, who betrayed the village, and Jiraiya and Tsunade, who remained outside the village and refused to return, it seems that he is about to break with his own disciples.

Does a person have to fall in the same place four times?

He neither wanted to nor was willing to.

The image of his old friend's gentle smile flashed through his mind, and Hiruzen Sarutobi felt as if something was stuck in his throat, preventing him from making a sound for a long time.

Danzo became what he is today because of him. Anyone in this world can criticize Danzo, but Hiruzen Sarutobi has no right to do so.

Shaking his head and sighing helplessly, Hiruzen Sarutobi slumped his shoulders and walked back the way he came, leaving only a hunched back view for Kairi:

"Do not do anything that endangers the safety of Konoha. Do not use Konoha ninjas for human experiments. Do not harm civilians or comrades. Try to avoid large-scale clashes between Root and Anbu to prevent casualties."

"Don't tell me about your fights anymore. No matter who wins or loses, as long as you don't cross this line, I won't interfere anymore." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was incredibly heavy, and he seemed to have aged ten years in an instant.

A hint of surprise flashed in Hui Li's eyes. After exchanging a glance with Yang Dun after their parting, she watched his lonely figure disappear into the sunlight.

From now on, she will face no further obstacles in dealing with Danzo's affairs.

That's fine.

She didn't intend for Hiruzen Sarutobi to personally attack Danzo. Their decades-long friendship was genuine, and it would be as difficult as asking Naruto to personally kill Sasuke.

"Grey Glass!"

Upon hearing her name, Hui Li looked up in surprise at Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was standing in the distance.

He stood in the golden light, his face half-turned, his aged face expressionless, as if hiding all his emotions in the deep furrows.

"From now on, the Death Forest will be designated as a forbidden area by the village. No one except you will be allowed to enter it. You can safely treat your bloodline disease here."

If you encounter any problems during the development of ninjutsu, feel free to contact me anytime.

Furthermore... if you inherit the Root and, like Danzo, become immersed in darkness, as long as you don't commit any fundamental errors, I will not harm you either!

But your teacher hopes you can stay true to yourself and not end up like Danzo!

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was deep, his eyes complex yet bright, but Hairi could see the sincerity in his gaze from above.

"Thank you, Sarutobi-sensei."

Hui Li also sincerely clasped her hands together and bowed in gratitude.

Although she and the other party were master and apprentice, their relationship was more about mutual benefit.

Hiruzen Sarutobi admired her talent and hoped that she could protect Konoha in the future and support this half-rotten tree to continue moving forward.

She was after the secret techniques of Konoha and wanted to become Sarutobi's apprentice to facilitate her personal training. However, this purely self-interested relationship has now been mixed with some feelings.

Glancing at his disciple's immature figure, Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head and sighed, "You should thank your senior brothers and sisters! I've already had enough lessons!"

Without pausing, he leaped into the withered tree and disappeared in a few bounds.

Call ~
The withered leaves spun around on the ground, and the decaying weeds clung tightly to the surface, resembling a patch of dark green moss.

In this dead zone, only Hui Li and his clone remained.

"In that case, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo deserve great credit for keeping Konoha in such a precarious state until now."

The Yang Release clone lowered its head and covered its eyes with Black Orb. These Mangekyou Sharingan were still too frightening. No one who knew Kotoamatsukami dared to look them in the eye. In a critical moment, they might be used as flashbangs.

"They were both good and bad! Without them, Konoha would have collapsed long ago, but with them, Konoha is indeed not as prosperous as it used to be."

Forget about them!

Hui Li gestured with her chin at the Yang Release clone: ​​"Where's the stuff?"

"here!"

The Yang Escape clone took out a white sphere that was neither gold nor jade from his bosom, and it shimmered with a warm light in the sunlight.

That was the very treasured bamboo shoot that was snatched from Obito Uchiha!
(End of this chapter)