Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 162: The Root

In the dark, hidden underground base of Konoha, the air was thick with tension.

A dimly lit chamber held several masked, black-clad shinobi standing guard around one man.

The man in question wore an expression of deep conflict, his eyes darting toward the figure before him. This figure, cloaked in a white robe and leaning on a cane, was none other than Danzo Shimura, the enigmatic leader of the Root division.

"I believe you already know the correct choice," Danzo said in a calm yet domineering tone. "Cooperating with me ensures mutual benefit."

The conflicted ninja clenched his fists, his lips pressed into a tight line. He was clearly struggling with his decision. However, the palpable weight of the Root's presence, coupled with Danzo's commanding aura, gradually wore down his resistance.

Moments later, another Root shinobi entered the room and whispered something into Danzo's ear.

"Go. My promise remains," Danzo said, dismissing the man.

The guards escorted the hesitant shinobi out.

---

A minute later, Tonari entered the chamber.

"Lord Danzo, you summoned me?" Tonari asked calmly.

With each step forward in strength, Tonari's fear of Danzo had diminished. Now, he could meet Danzo's gaze without flinching.

Tonari still vividly remembered the tongue curse mark Danzo had placed on him—the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal. Though Danzo had provided him with numerous benefits, Tonari knew all too well that Danzo's true interest lay in the two-tailed beast, Matatabi, sealed within him.

If Tonari hadn't portrayed himself as both obedient and capable of fully controlling Matatabi, Danzo might have long since extracted the beast by force.

Though he didn't yet have the power to directly oppose Danzo or his Root division, Tonari had built enough strength to resist, if not completely fend them off.

Power often breeds confidence, and this newfound strength allowed Tonari to face Danzo without submission.

Danzo, accustomed to receiving deference, merely observed Tonari's behavior with an unreadable smile. To Danzo, most shinobi could be manipulated through coercion or temptation.

However, he recognized Tonari's independence. Similar to the skilled operative Nonō Yakushi, Tonari had his own unwavering sense of purpose.

---

"Word is that you've been promoted to Jonin," Danzo said, his narrow eyes slightly widening. "The commotion you caused in the Land of Water hasn't gone unnoticed."

Tonari wasn't surprised that Danzo was aware of their recent mission. The reach of Danzo's intelligence network was unparalleled within Konoha.

"Thanks to your guidance, I was fortunate enough to complete the mission," Tonari replied with a faint bow.

"Good. Reaching the rank of Jonin is commendable," Danzo said approvingly.

Tonari couldn't help but note the speed at which Danzo had learned of his promotion. He had barely collected his official Jonin identification when the summons came. Danzo's web of informants clearly spanned the entirety of Konoha.

"What task do you have for me?" Tonari asked directly.

"I have a mission for you," Danzo replied, pulling out a scroll and handing it over.

Tonari hesitated briefly before accepting the scroll.

"This mission will be carried out under the guise of a Root operative," Danzo continued. "A team member from Root will accompany you, and you are to follow their instructions. Once the mission is complete, you may open this scroll."

Danzo's tone brooked no argument. Without waiting for a response, he changed the subject.

"I hear your blade was damaged?"

Tonari's eye twitched slightly.

He wasn't surprised that Danzo knew about their operations in the Land of Water. However, the fact that Danzo was aware of his broken blade—something he hadn't shared with anyone—was unsettling.

"A damaged blade is the result of inferior materials. If you complete this mission successfully, I'll arrange for it to be reforged with higher-quality resources," Danzo offered confidently.

Though the promise piqued Tonari's interest, he knew better than to trust Danzo fully. Still, the prospect of a reforged blade and the necessity of maintaining appearances left him little choice.

"I'll complete the mission," Tonari replied firmly.

Danzo's smile widened slightly.

---

"Akagane, he'll be joining your team for this mission. You have one day to brief him on the basics," Danzo said.

A masked figure emerged from the shadows.

"Yes, sir," Akagane responded emotionlessly.

"Follow me," Akagane instructed Tonari before leading the way out of the chamber.

---

As they navigated the labyrinthine halls of the Root's underground base, Tonari couldn't help but notice the oppressive atmosphere.

The Root's ninjas were devoid of warmth, their every action mechanical and precise. To Tonari, they resembled tools more than people—a stark contrast to the camaraderie he had experienced with other Konoha ninjas.

After a series of twists and turns, they arrived at a small room.

"This is your gear for the mission," Akagane said, gesturing toward a set of equipment. "You have five minutes to change. Once you're ready, we'll meet the rest of the team and discuss the mission details."

Tonari picked up the black uniform, white mask, and standard-issue short blade.

"And one more thing," Akagane added. "You'll need a codename for this mission."

With that, Akagane turned and left the room.

---

Tonari stared at the uniform and mask.

"Why does putting on a mask feel so... exciting?" he muttered to himself.

He quickly donned the attire, adjusting the unfamiliar short blade at his hip.

"Not quite my usual style, but it'll do," Tonari mused.

Stepping out, he found Akagane waiting outside. Without a word, they proceeded to another room where two other masked ninjas were seated.

"These are your teammates for the mission," Akagane said.

The two ninjas stood up and introduced themselves.

"Night Fox. Recon specialist. My role is intelligence gathering and sensory support."

"Furhound. Combat specialist. I specialize in Fire Release and frontal assaults."

"Akagane. Team leader and strategist. I'll handle diversions and control."

The three turned to Tonari expectantly.

"Black Cat. I specialize in medical ninjutsu, taijutsu, and kenjutsu. I'll defer to your assignments," Tonari said evenly.

---

After a brief discussion of roles, Akagane outlined the mission's objectives and distributed individual scrolls containing further details.

"Mission briefing concludes here. Do not leave the base until tomorrow night's operation," Akagane instructed.

Tonari raised an eyebrow.

"Leaving the base is prohibited?"

"Standard protocol," Night Fox replied flatly before departing with Furhound.

Tonari followed Akagane to a training room, where the latter began teaching him some of the Root's specialized techniques: extended breath control, feigned death, precision targeting of vital points, and disguises.

---

As Tonari practiced, he reflected on his evolving skillset.

"Am I truly becoming more like a 'real' ninja?" he wondered.

With that thought, he immersed himself in the training.

---

Meanwhile, back in Danzo's chamber, a new visitor arrived.

Draped in a dark cloak, the figure stepped forward and removed their hood, revealing pale skin and an unnervingly wide smile.

"Orochimaru," Danzo greeted.

The maniacal gleam in Orochimaru's eyes intensified as Danzo handed him an old scroll.

"Here's the technique you've been seeking," Danzo said.

A snake slithered out from Orochimaru's sleeve, retrieving the scroll and delivering it to its master's hand.

Gazing at the words on the scroll, Orochimaru's expression lit up with excitement before settling into cold calculation.

"What's the price?" Orochimaru asked with a sly smile.

Danzo's smile deepened.

---

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