Part Time Employee in Konoha

The rules of the ninja world are cruel indeed.

Even a child is considered a tool for ninjas.

During the Great Ninja Wars, villages would send children as young as six to battle, which was not uncommon.

The only slightly conscience-stricken...

Is probably that Uzumaki Naruto's parents were heroes.

Naruto's father was Namikaze Minato, the Fourth Hokage of the Konoha, and his mother was Uzumaki Kushina, the former Jinchuriki of Nine-Tails.

During the Nine-Tails' attack, the couple sacrificed themselves to protect the village.

They might have thought the village would take care of their orphan.

After all, Minato was the Fourth Hokage, close to the Third, and had many comrades in the village.

They might have believed that the village would protect the Jinchuriki, as Kushina was the previous Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and was well-protected, hardly facing any discrimination or exclusion.

Regardless, they are both dead now.

Only a child named Uzumaki Naruto is left to face this dangerous world alone.

"The Jinchuriki of Nine-Tails..."

"The most malevolent of Tailed Beasts..."

"Also the strongest weapon of war in the world!"

Danzo put down the list in his hand and muttered coldly, "If Wood Release can suppress the Nine-Tails… then we can implement a real Jinchuriki training program, turning the Jinchuriki into the sharpest weapon for the Konoha!"

Danzo's dreams were simple.

First, to become Hokage and reach the pinnacle of life; second, for the Konoha to unify the ninja world and reach its zenith.

Unfortunately.

Neither dream was realized, and as Danzo grew older, they were almost becoming a fantasy.

But great dreams always start with a first step, and Danzo thought of Akihara Kagura, brought from Orochimaru, feeling a surge of ambition!

If this child's talent in Wood Release is strong enough, let him seize the opportunity to kill Sarutobi Hiruzen and help Danzo become Hokage; then use the child's Wood Release to refine the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki into a weapon of war, leveraging the Nine-Tails' power to ignite a great ninja war to unify the ninja world!

Now...

It's time to take that first step!

First step, test Akihara Kagura's Wood Release talent!

Knock knock knock…

A knock came from the door.

"Come in."

Danzo invited the person in.

"Yes, Lord Danzo."

Aburame Tatsuma and Akihara Kagura walked in.

Danzo looked up and saw that Aburame Tatsuma had bandages wrapped around his shoulder, and frowned unconsciously, "Tatsuma, are you injured?"

"This is…"

Aburame Tatsuma hesitated, finding it hard to speak.

"I injured him."

Akihara Kagura interrupted Aburame Tatsuma, saying, "The room arranged for me by the senpai wasn't comfortable. He helped me loosen my bones, and I helped him bleed a bit."

...

Aburame Tatsuma couldn't help but glance sideways.

...

Shimura Danzo's expression was somewhat displeased.

"Don't indulge in momentary pleasures."

After Danzo sternly rebuked him, he suddenly thought of something and abruptly asked, "Did you two have a fight? Who won?"

"Senpai changed the room to a more comfortable one."

After Akihara Kagura finished speaking, he continued nonchalantly, "It's just a minor injury, it won't kill him. I wanted to come to see Lord Danzo quickly, but the senpai insisted on dressing the wound first..."

...

Aburame Tatsuma's eyelid twitches.

Is this kid speaking human language?

Although coming quickly to see Lord Danzo is indeed more important, there wasn't any particularly urgent task today. Besides, they came on the way to bandage their wounds, so it shouldn't be wrong in any way!

...

Danzo felt something was not quite right.

Theoretically speaking, there's nothing wrong with what Aburame Tatsuma did, but Akihara Kagura's words also made sense. Not willing to meet him sooner because of dressing a wound...

Root...

Everything should be based on his own Will.

Members of the Root...

Always ready to sacrifice their lives for missions...

Aburame Tatsuma has always been his guard, and the tasks he performs are becoming easier. Has he fallen to the point where he can't even tolerate a minor injury?

No!

That's not the point!

The point is that the young man won over Aburame Tatsuma!

Even if Aburame Tatsuma's reputation isn't prominent, being only skilled in infiltration and intelligence gathering, he's still an experienced Jonin of Konoha, and he lost to a young man!

A hint of turmoil arose in Danzo's heart as he stared intently at the young man before him. As he stood up, intending to say something, he suddenly stopped.

"Tatsuma, go to the Land of Water."

"Perhaps you have grown too comfortable by my side."

"So much so that you have forgotten that ninjas do not fear sacrifice."

Danzo turned his head to look at Aburame Tatsuma, and commanded in a deep voice, "I remember you are the best in the Root at infiltrating and spying. Investigate the intelligence of the Land of Water and find out what conspiracy Mist Village is hiding."

"Yes, Lord Danzo."

After accepting the mission, Aburame Tatsuma raised his head, wanting to explain to Danzo that he was not that kind of person.

"I..."

"Lord Danzo!"

Akihara Kagura interrupted Aburame Tatsuma, saying, "Why not entrust this mission to me? I haven't done a single thing for Lord Danzo yet!"

"No need."

Danzo shook his head and continued, "This mission is too dangerous. It's too soon for you. The Wood Release Kekkei Genkai in you is more important than anyone else's..."

"Since you were able to defeat Tatsuma, it proves your strength has surpassed his. Stay by my side as my attendant for a while, and I will teach you the Will of the Root..."

As Danzo spoke, he slowly stood up from the table: "Come to the practice field with me, I will teach you new Wood Release Techniques..."

"Yes."

Akihara Kagura hurriedly followed.

"..."

Aburame Tatsuma stood at the door, watching the old and the young leaving. His eyes revealed a sense of confusion.

What has happened in the meantime?

Never mind.

Aburame Tatsuma no longer dwelled on it.

As long as he returns from the mission in the Land of Water, time will prove everything. Lord Danzo will see that he is never the type of ninja who clings to life out of fear of death.

On the corridor bridge.

The young man followed the old man with a calm and focused expression.

Even if the ninjas of the Root always obey Danzo's will, they are ultimately not the same person and will walk different paths due to differences in their words.

It was doomed from the beginning.

Because Danzo never fully trusts the members of the Root; otherwise, he wouldn't have placed a curse seal on the tongues of the Root members to prevent them from leaking information.