Hidden Leaf Village, Root Organization Base!
"Danzo-sama…"
A middle-aged Ninja knelt on one knee in the dark and gloomy Root Organization Base. A ray of moonlight, from an unknown source, illuminated the area, making the environment even more chilling.
Tap, tap, tap…
The sound of a cane striking the ground echoed as an old man slowly emerged from the darkness. A thick robe enveloped his body, and his head was heavily bandaged, with one eye also covered.
At first glance, he seemed like an old man who had suffered severe injuries, now barely clinging to life.
But in the entire Ninja World, no one would underestimate this old man.
Danzo Shimura!
Hokage Advisor of Hidden Leaf Village!
Leader of the Konoha Village Root Organization!
A schemer with grand ambitions, willing to do anything to become Hokage!
"Hiruzen has appointed you to manage the Medical Emergency Team?"
Danzo Shimura narrowed his exposed eye and slowly said, "Only you? Ao!"
"And Elder Homura Mitokado and Elder Utatane Koharu. The Hokage appointed me to assist the two elders."
"Another insignificant balance, Hiruzen is still so weak!" Danzo's voice was soft but undeniable. "Do you understand your mission, Ao Yagami!"
"Yes! I understand!"
"I will take control of the Medical Emergency Team in the shortest possible time, for Danzo-sama!"
"Very good, you may leave!"
"Yes!"
Ao Yagami quietly departed.
"Hmph! Hiruzen Sarutobi! Naraku Shihouin!"
Danzo gripped the cane in his hand, his open eye gleaming with unceasing ambition.
"Root Organization will return soon!"
In Konoha Village, Danzo once commanded his exclusive military organization, Root Organization!
Root Organization acted with cruelty and ruthlessness. Every action, on the surface, was for the development of Konoha Village, but secretly, Danzo's own agenda was always infused.
Because of this, Danzo's position in Konoha Village was very high.
Later, due to the Uchiha clan massacre, Danzo's position was revoked by Hiruzen Sarutobi, and he was forced to disband Root Organization.
However, with the exception of a few individuals, most of Root Organization's members returned to Anbu. They continued to secretly pledge allegiance to Danzo and awaited Root Organization's restoration.
This time, Danzo made a move, joining with Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu to recommend his subordinate, Ao Yagami, to become the head of the Medical Emergency Team. This was not only a test but also a way to accumulate his strength.
Danzo surveyed the silent, dark Root Organization Base, then slowly turned and left.
"No one can stop my return!"
...
Name: Naraku Shihouin
Gender: Male
Age: 26
Physique: A
Spirit: S+
Chakra Amount: A+ (Already surpassed ninety-six percent of Ninja in the Ninja World!)
Chakra Nature: Fire, Wind, Lightning, Water, Earth, Yin, Yang
The attribute panel provided by the system gave Naraku Shihouin a general understanding of his strength.
It could be said that his current strength was not only at the upper level in Hidden Leaf Village but also in the entire Ninja World, though still far from the top-tier individuals.
"So, from now on, to continue with the lottery, I need to work hard to get promoted. No, for Hidden Leaf Village, for the development of the Ninja World, I need to work hard to get promoted!"
Hidden Leaf Village Medical Department Vice Director!
Hidden Leaf Village Anbu Vice Captain!
"Why are they all 'Vice'?"
Recalling the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's appointments, Naraku Shihouin pondered.
System, promotion, Anbu, Medical Department!
Hiruzen Sarutobi, Homura Mitokado, Utatane Koharu, Danzo, Ao Yagami!
Naraku Shihouin's thoughts gradually became clear; he had figured out the whole story.
"I thought they would continue to endure!"
"So, it seems our Hokage-sama doesn't want me to continue managing the Medical Emergency Team either."
Looking back at the Hokage Tower, illuminated by lights in the distance, Naraku, who had just returned from the training ground, smiled.
"Dango! Delicious three-color dango!"
"Would you like a drink, customer?"
"Newly arrived Ninja tools! The finest kunai…"
Walking along the bustling commercial street, Naraku Shihouin was about to get his dinner when he saw someone approaching from another direction.
"That direction… Is he going to pay respects at the memorial stone for Obito and Rin Nohara again?"
"Kakashi!"
Walking quickly forward, Naraku called out.
Kakashi Hatake, completely immersed in his own emotions and unable to extricate himself, didn't notice Naraku Shihouin's arrival until he called out, at which point he reacted.
"Oh, Naraku."
Naraku didn't mind Kakashi Hatake's listless appearance. "Come on, I have something to tell you, and you're paying."
"Huh?"
Kakashi Hatake's deadpan eyes showed confusion. "I'm very busy today."
Reaching into his pocket to feel a book, Kakashi Hatake absolutely did not want to pay.
Today, he had waited in line for a long time to get the new edition of "icha icha paradise" released by Jiraiya-sama; he was planning to go home and enjoy it.
"Busy?" Naraku looked disdainful. "Someone went to line up for a 'little emperor' book before dawn…"
"I'll pay!"
Kakashi Hatake immediately agreed to pay.
...
In the quiet private room of the izakaya.
"Come to Anbu?" Kakashi Hatake looked at Naraku. "You are certainly suitable for the position of Anbu Vice Captain, but what about the Medical Department?"
In Kakashi Hatake's opinion, Naraku was most suited to manage Konoha Village's Medical Department.
"What? Worried I'll take your Anbu Captain position?"
"No."
Kakashi Hatake thought for a moment, then spoke:
"What about the Medical Department then? Who will take over your position?"
"Ao Yagami. But I've also been promoted, becoming the Medical Department Vice Director, and I'm also in charge of the Cadaver Disposal and Veterinary institutions."
"How could it be him? Could it be…"
Kakashi Hatake's reaction was quick; he immediately thought of something Something is wrong with Ao Yagami as the choice.
"You're right."
Naraku nodded, confirming Kakashi Hatake's thoughts: "That guy is also from a Medical Ninja background, and he's very experienced."
But Ao Yagami was a member of Root Organization, and also a subordinate of Danzo.
Both of them understood that while Root Organization appeared to be disbanded and Danzo currently held no official positions, everyone knew what was happening behind the scenes.
Kakashi Hatake disliked Danzo very much, and also disliked Root Organization's methods.
Indeed, Kakashi Hatake was once a member of Root Organization.
He even received orders from Danzo to assassinate the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, though Kakashi ultimately sided with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Because of this experience, Kakashi Hatake was very familiar with Root Organization.
He didn't believe that Danzo couldn't control the original members just because Root Organization was disbanded.
"Anyway, it's none of my business." Kakashi yawned. "It's good that you're coming to Anbu; it'll save me a lot of trouble."
At this time, Kakashi Hatake was the Captain of Anbu. Aside from the Third Hokage, his authority in Anbu was the greatest.
However, Kakashi Hatake didn't care about these things. For him, besides normal missions and work, he would rather spend his free time reading.
"You have a good idea, but don't even think about it."
Looking at Kakashi's face, which was covered by his mask, Naraku asked:
"I came to you because I wanted to understand things about Anbu…"
"Oh, I see…"
Given Naraku's identity, there was indeed nothing that couldn't be said, apart from some highly confidential matters.
Kakashi Hatake also had no intention of hiding anything. With over ten years of Anbu experience, it could be said that few people understood the department better than him.